IF 4.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Animal

Pub Date : 2025-11-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2025.101553

W. Pittroff , M.M. Kothmann

In 1999, we were invited to review the literature on feed intake control in ruminants for the V^th International Symposium on the Nutrition of Herbivores (Pittroff and Kothmann, 1999). Our key findings were: (1) the dominating bi-phasic intake control model, with physical intake control at low DM digestibilities changing to metabolic control at higher DM digestibilities, is not supported by experimental evidence; (2) although main substrates in energy metabolism differ between ruminants and monogastrics, principal intake control mechanisms appear to be the same; (3) the most likely central intake control element is ATP generation in the liver; (4) peripheral anabolic and catabolic processes, which change fuel supply to the liver, produce predictable adjustments in feed intake: (5) tissue-available N for synthesis plays a pivotal role in the dynamics of nutrient allocation and therefore in fuel storage, and fuel oxidation in the liver and periphery. From these findings, it follows that multiple interactions between feed components, and between feed components and animal characteristics determine feed quality in the ruminant. Consequently, static factorial feed requirement systems cannot optimise the match between feed supply and animal requirements. We were asked again to review the literature on feed intake control for the 11th ISNH and conclude, 25 years later, that important new experimental evidence supports our original conclusions and hypotheses. However, although key elements of our new theoretical concept were taken up by other authors (albeit unreferenced), corresponding new developments in feed requirement prediction models did not occur and consequently, major progress in optimising feed resource utilisation in ruminant production is absent. We discuss the reasons and future research directions, including a brief critical review of ‘big data’ proposals for the optimisation of ruminant nutritional management.

1999年，我们受邀为第五届国际草食动物营养研讨会（Pittroff and Kothmann, 1999）综述反刍动物采食量控制的文献。我们的主要发现是：(1)主导的双相摄入控制模型，即低干物质消化率时的身体摄入控制转变为高干物质消化率时的代谢控制，没有实验证据支持；(2)虽然反刍动物和单目动物能量代谢的主要底物不同，但主要的摄入控制机制似乎是相同的；(3)最可能的中央摄入控制因素是肝脏中ATP的生成；(4)外周合成代谢和分解代谢过程，改变肝脏的燃料供应，产生可预测的采食量调整；(5)用于合成的组织可利用氮在营养分配动态中起关键作用，因此在肝脏和外周的燃料储存和燃料氧化中起关键作用。由此可见，饲料成分之间以及饲料成分与动物特性之间的多重相互作用决定了反刍动物的饲料质量。因此，静态因子饲料需求系统无法优化饲料供应和动物需求之间的匹配。我们再次被要求回顾第11届ISNH采食量控制的文献，并在25年后得出结论，重要的新实验证据支持了我们最初的结论和假设。然而，尽管我们的新理论概念的关键要素被其他作者（尽管未被引用）所采用，但饲料需求预测模型的相应新发展并未出现，因此，在优化反刍动物生产中饲料资源利用方面缺乏重大进展。我们讨论了原因和未来的研究方向，包括对优化反刍动物营养管理的“大数据”建议进行简要的批判性回顾。

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引用次数: 0

Review: Biological consequences of the inhibition of rumen methanogenesis 回顾：抑制瘤胃产甲烷的生物学后果

IF 4.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Animal

Pub Date : 2025-11-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101170

E.M. Ungerfeld , D. Pitta

Decreasing enteric CH₄ emissions from ruminants is important for containing global warming to 1.5 °C and avoid the worst consequences of climate change. However, the objective of mitigating enteric CH₄ emissions is difficult to reconcile with the forecasted increase in production of ruminant meat and milk, unless CH₄ production per animal and per kilogram of animal product are decreased substantially. Chemical compound 3-nitrooxypropanol and bromoform-containing red algae Asparagopsis are currently the most potent inhibitors of rumen methanogenesis, but their average efficacy would have to be increased to mitigate enteric CH₄ emissions to contain global warming to 1.5 °C, if the demand for ruminant products increases as predicted. We propose that it may be possible to enhance the efficacy of inhibitors of methanogenesis through understanding the mechanisms that cause variation in their efficacy across studies. We also propose that a more thorough understanding of the effects of inhibiting methanogenesis on rumen and postabsorptive metabolism may help improve feed efficiency and cost-effectiveness as co-benefits of the methanogenesis inhibition intervention. For enhancing efficacy, we examine herein how different inhibitors of methanogenesis affect the composition of the rumen microbial community and discuss some mechanisms that may explain dissimilar sensitivities among methanogens to different types of inhibitors. For improving feed efficiency and cost-effectiveness, we discuss the consequences of inhibiting methanogenesis on rumen fermentation, and how changes in rumen fermentation can in turn affect postabsorptive metabolism and animal performance. The objectives of this review are to identify knowledge gaps of the consequences of inhibiting methanogenesis on rumen microbiology and rumen and postabsorptive metabolism, propose research to address those knowledge gaps and discuss the implications that this research can have for the efficacy and adoption of inhibitors of methanogenesis. Depending on its outcomes, research on the microbiological, biochemical, and metabolic consequences of the inhibition of rumen methanogenesis could help the adoption of feed additives inhibitors of methanogenesis to mitigate enteric CH₄ emissions from ruminants to ameliorate climate change.

减少反刍动物的肠道 CH 排放量对于将全球升温控制在 1.5 °C，避免气候变化的最坏后果非常重要。然而，除非大幅减少每头动物和每公斤动物产品的 CH 产量，否则减少肠道 CH 排放的目标很难与反刍动物肉类和牛奶产量的预期增长相协调。化学合成物 3-硝基氧丙醇和含溴甲烷的红藻是目前最有效的瘤胃甲烷生成抑制剂，但如果对反刍动物产品的需求如预测的那样增加，则必须提高它们的平均功效，才能减少肠道 CH 排放，将全球变暖控制在 1.5 °C。我们建议，通过了解导致不同研究中甲烷生成抑制剂功效差异的机制，有可能提高这些抑制剂的功效。我们还提出，更透彻地了解抑制甲烷生成对瘤胃和吸收后代谢的影响，可能有助于提高饲料效率和成本效益，这也是抑制甲烷生成干预措施的共同效益。为了提高效率，我们在此研究了不同的产甲烷抑制剂如何影响瘤胃微生物群落的组成，并讨论了一些机制，这些机制可能解释了甲烷菌对不同类型抑制剂的不同敏感性。为了提高饲料效率和成本效益，我们讨论了抑制甲烷生成对瘤胃发酵的影响，以及瘤胃发酵的变化如何反过来影响吸收后代谢和动物表现。本综述旨在找出抑制甲烷生成对瘤胃微生物学、瘤胃和消化后代谢的影响方面的知识差距，提出解决这些知识差距的研究建议，并讨论这些研究对甲烷生成抑制剂的功效和采用的影响。根据研究结果，对抑制瘤胃甲烷生成的微生物、生物化学和代谢后果的研究可能有助于采用饲料添加剂甲烷生成抑制剂来减少反刍动物肠道甲烷排放，从而改善气候变化。

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引用次数: 0

Review: A hierarchical research model to foster dialog between grazing ecology and beef cow energetics to support ecological intensification of native grassland 综述：促进放牧生态学与肉牛能量学对话的分层研究模型支持原生草地生态集约化。

IF 4.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Animal

Pub Date : 2025-11-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2024.101372

P. Soca , M. Do Carmo , I. Paparamborda , V. Figueroa , S. Scarlato , A. Ruggia , S. Dogliotti , M. Claramunt

Cow-calf systems grazing native grasslands must transition toward improved economic performance simultaneously with the conservation and improvement of ecosystem services they provide. We present an innovation model with this objective based on a hierarchical model that links functional relationships between state variables, grazing experiments and its validation, and co-innovation at the farm level. This paper describes the hypotheses, designs, and results of the studies, and the role of grazing ecology and herbivore nutrition to support the process of ecological intensification of livestock systems on native grasslands. The model consists of records analysis, grazing experiments, employment of econometric and simulation models, and proposal of validation and co-innovation studies in production systems. Analysis of records could identify forage height and cow body condition score at calving as state variables and their relationship with pregnancy rates. Grazing experiments were designed to identify seasonal levels of state variables, and a management model was proposed to enhance cow-calf performance. The next stage examined the effects of Forage Allowance (FA) levels (Low [3] vs High [5] kg DM/kg BW) on state variables, main ecosystem processes, and beef production per cow and hectare. High FA increases forage production, forage intake, and energy use efficiency of cows, which explains the 30–50% improvements in meat production per hectare. The increase in FA was associated with improved forage structure, cow DM intake, and levels of metabolic hormones. A validation of the management proposal and ‘optimal’ FA coefficients from analytical research confirmed improvements in productive and economic commercial systems results. Co-innovation on 60 livestock farms led to better economic results through increased meat production per hectare without elevating production costs. This adjustment, along with a small reduction in stocking rate, helps account for the reduction in CO₂ equivalent emissions per product unit. The innovation platform promotes a hierarchical model linking Grazing Ecology and Herbivore Nutrition and contributes to improving the sustainability of livestock systems on native grasslands.

放牧原生草原的牛-小牛系统必须向提高经济效益的方向转变，同时保护和改善它们提供的生态系统服务。我们提出了一个基于层次模型的创新模型，该模型将状态变量、放牧实验及其验证以及农场层面的共同创新之间的功能关系联系起来。本文介绍了研究的假设、设计和结果，以及放牧生态学和草食营养在支持天然草原畜牧业系统生态集约化过程中的作用。该模型包括记录分析、放牧实验、计量经济模型和模拟模型的应用、生产系统验证和协同创新研究的建议。分析记录可以确定产犊时草料高度和奶牛体况评分为状态变量，并确定二者与妊娠率的关系。设计放牧试验以确定状态变量的季节水平，并提出提高犊牛生产性能的管理模式。下一阶段研究了饲料供量（FA）水平（低[3]vs高[3]kg DM/kg BW）对状态变量、主要生态系统过程以及每头奶牛和每公顷牛肉产量的影响。高FA增加了奶牛的饲料产量、采食量和能量利用效率，这解释了每公顷肉产量提高30-50%的原因。FA的增加与饲料结构、奶牛DM摄入量和代谢激素水平的改善有关。管理方案的验证和分析研究的“最佳”FA系数证实了生产和经济商业系统结果的改进。60个牲畜养殖场的共同创新在不提高生产成本的情况下提高了每公顷肉类产量，从而取得了更好的经济效益。这一调整，加上放养率的小幅减少，有助于解释每产品单位二氧化碳当量排放量的减少。该创新平台推广了一种将放牧生态学和草食动物营养联系起来的分层模型，有助于提高原生草原上牲畜系统的可持续性。

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引用次数: 0

Genomic scan of selective sweeps in an alpaca population subjected to directional selection for fibre quality traits 对纤维品质性状进行定向选择的羊驼种群的选择性扫描。

IF 4.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Animal

Pub Date : 2025-11-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2025.101674

K.D. Arias , M. More , F. Goyache , A. Cruz , A. Burgos , G. Gutiérrez , I. Cervantes , J.P. Gutiérrez

Improving fibre quality traits is a key objective in alpaca breeding programmes. A total of 630 alpaca individuals managed at the Pacomarca experimental farm located in Puno, Perú, and subjected to selection for fibre quality traits were genotyped using the Affymetrix Custom Alpaca genotyping array (76 508 SNPs). Two tests, the integrative Haplotype Score (iHS) and the number of segregating Sites by Length (nSL), aimed at identifying incomplete sweeps, were applied on all sample genotypes to identify selective candidate genomic regions spanning genes putatively involved in fibre production. The Cross-Population Extended Haplotype Homozygosity (XP-EHH) statistic was applied to two divergent subpopulations included in the total genotyped population: one less selected (reference; 49 individuals) and one highly selected (target; 127 individuals) to assess if some of the selective sweeps identified with both iHS and nSL were fixed in the target subpopulation. A total of 544 single−nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified as candidate selective signals using both the iHS and nSL tests. Furthermore, 27 SNPs were identified as surrounding selective signals and further considered as candidate selective signals as well. A total of 509 candidate selective genomic regions covering 14.6 Mb of the alpaca genome were constructed. Gene-annotation enrichment analyses enabled to identify 293 candidate genes in these selective candidate genomic regions. Up to 11 candidate genes (e.g. PTPRN, FRK, PTPN23, and PTPRT) were associated with Gene Ontology (GO) terms related to phosphorylation and dephosphorylation and 28 candidate genes (e.g. FOXP1, MITF, RNF10, and ZNF664) with GO terms related to RNA polymerase activity. These genes have been reported to play a crucial role in the development of animal hair follicles, as well as in regulating hair growth and quality across different livestock species. Functional annotation conducted allowed to identify four significantly enriched functional term clusters including a total of 32 candidate genes. These functional clusters may be involved in the modulation of fibre growth and quality as well as skin and hair follicle development. Moreover, enrichment analyses within candidate selective genomic regions identified with XP-EHH allowed to identify 54 candidate genes, 10 of which were also identified using both the iHS and nSL tests. However, no functional clusters were identified. The results presented suggest that the genomes analysed were shaped by directional selection for fibre quality traits, involving multiple chromosomal areas of the alpaca genome. This fits well with traits expected to be mainly controlled by genes of additive effect.

提高纤维品质是羊驼育种计划的一个关键目标。利用Affymetrix定制羊驼基因分型阵列（76 508个snp）对位于Perú普诺市的Pacomarca实验农场管理的630头羊驼进行了纤维品质性状的选择。两项测试，整合单倍型评分（iHS）和长度分离位点数量（nSL），旨在识别不完全扫描，应用于所有样本基因型，以确定选择性候选基因组区域，这些区域跨越了被认为参与纤维生产的基因。跨群体扩展单倍型纯合性（XP-EHH）统计应用于总基因型群体中的两个不同亚群体：一个较少选择（参考，49个个体）和一个高度选择（目标，127个个体），以评估被iHS和nSL鉴定的一些选择性扫描是否固定在目标亚群体中。使用his和nSL检测，共鉴定出544个单核苷酸多态性（snp）作为候选选择信号。此外，27个snp被确定为周围选择性信号，并进一步被认为是候选选择性信号。共构建了509个候选选择性基因组区域，覆盖14.6 Mb的羊驼基因组。基因注释富集分析能够在这些选择性候选基因组区域中鉴定293个候选基因。多达11个候选基因（如PTPRN、FRK、PTPN23和PTPRT）与磷酸化和去磷酸化相关的基因本体（GO）术语相关，28个候选基因（如FOXP1、MITF、RNF10和ZNF664）与RNA聚合酶活性相关的GO术语相关。据报道，这些基因在动物毛囊的发育以及调节不同牲畜的毛发生长和质量方面发挥着至关重要的作用。通过功能注释，鉴定出4个显著富集的功能术语簇，共包含32个候选基因。这些功能团簇可能参与纤维生长和质量以及皮肤和毛囊发育的调节。此外，在XP-EHH鉴定的候选选择性基因组区域内进行富集分析，鉴定出54个候选基因，其中10个也通过his和nSL检测鉴定出来。然而，没有功能簇被确定。结果表明，所分析的基因组是通过纤维质量性状的定向选择形成的，涉及羊驼基因组的多个染色体区域。这与预计主要受加性效应基因控制的性状吻合。

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引用次数: 0

Editorial: Keynote lectures of the 11th International Symposium on Herbivore Nutrition (Brazil, 2023) 编辑：第11届草食动物营养国际研讨会主题演讲（巴西，2023）

IF 4.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Animal

Pub Date : 2025-11-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2025.101688

P. Gregorini

引用次数: 0

Review: A vade-mecum for ruminant grazing and health 综述：反刍动物放牧与健康的真空真空。

IF 4.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Animal

Pub Date : 2025-11-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2025.101548

A. Fleming , P. Wescombe , P. Gregorini

Plant phytochemicals are a diverse group of compounds with a range of bioactive functions in pastoral ecosystems. A vast collection of literature examining the pharmaceutical benefits of plant phytochemicals in human health exists and research has identified several benefits in grazing ruminants. However, there has not been a comprehensive evaluation of the phytochemical composition of forage species commonly used in pastoral grazing systems and their wider heterotrophic implications. This research presents a comprehensive review of the phytochemical composition of common pasture species, with each plant species evaluated independently and data manually extracted and compiled into a single database, a vade mecum (a handbook or guide that is kept constantly at hand for consultation). Twenty-seven plant species were selected including a range of forages including grasses, forbs, legumes, and brassicas and 488 different compounds including phenolic, terpenoid, glucosinolates, alkaloid and other organic compounds were identified. In livestock, phytochemicals were found to play a wide range of growth-promoting, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, antibiotic, rumen microbial altering and anti-methanogenic functions, although there were many knowledge gaps identified. The literature describing the key compounds selected and human metabolism was more diverse than livestock, and most compounds were found to have been studied for pharmaceutical properties. For example, flavonoids were identified as a key group of phytochemicals as they relate to livestock and human welfare. The purpose of this research is to provide a vade mecum for the ongoing investigation of additional plant species and quantification of their bioactive components and their ability to transform foodscapes into healthscapes.

植物化学物质是一类具有多种生物活性功能的化合物。大量文献研究了植物化学物质对人类健康的药物益处，研究已经确定了放牧反刍动物的几种益处。然而，目前还没有对放牧系统中常用牧草的植物化学成分及其更广泛的异养意义进行全面的评价。本研究对常见牧草物种的植物化学成分进行了全面回顾，对每个植物物种进行了独立评估，并人工提取数据并汇编成一个单一的数据库，即vade mecum（一本随时准备查阅的手册或指南）。选取了27种植物，包括牧草、牧草、豆科植物和芸苔属植物，鉴定出酚类、萜类、硫代葡萄糖苷类、生物碱等488种不同的有机化合物。在牲畜中，植物化学物质被发现具有广泛的促生长、驱虫药、抗炎、抗氧化、镇痛、抗生素、改变瘤胃微生物和抗甲烷功能，尽管存在许多知识空白。文献描述的关键化合物的选择和人类的代谢比牲畜更多样化，大多数化合物被发现已经研究过药理学性质。例如，黄酮类化合物被确定为一组关键的植物化学物质，因为它们关系到牲畜和人类的福利。本研究的目的是为正在进行的其他植物物种的调查和量化其生物活性成分及其将食物景观转化为健康景观的能力提供一个基础。

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引用次数: 0

Title page 标题页

IF 4.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Animal

Pub Date : 2025-11-01 DOI: 10.1016/S1751-7311(25)00290-3

引用次数: 0

Effects of grass silage-based feeding strategies and carcass weight on performance and environmental impacts of finishing beef on dairy crossbred heifers 青贮饲喂策略和胴体重对育肥牛生产性能和环境影响的影响

IF 4.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Animal

Pub Date : 2025-11-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2025.101676

K. Manni , S. Hietala , M. Pesonen , A. Huuskonen

When targeting low-carbon feed production and feeding cattle with non-human-edible feeds, in practice, this means maximising the use of forages such as grass. However, there is a gap in knowledge of the environmental impacts when carcass weight increases and/or concentrate is excluded from grass silage (GS)-based diet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different GS−based diets and three carcass weights on performance and environmental impacts of growing heifers. The experiment was conducted using 84 crossbred heifers (Holstein or Nordic Red × Blonde d’Aquitaine). Two experimental diets were GS alone (GSA) and GS supplemented with barley grain (285 g/kg DM; GSB). Both diets contained a mineral-vitamin mixture (15 g/kg DM). The heifers were fed total mixed rations ad libitum. The animals were slaughtered at three BWs, targeting carcass weights of 300 (LCW), 325 (MCW) or 350 (HCW) kg. Life cycle assessment approach was used to compare climate change, eutrophication, and acidification impacts for both feeding treatments across three carcass weights. The experimental treatments had no effects on daily DM intake, but total DM intake was 13% higher for the GSA compared to GSB (P < 0.001) and 37% higher for HCW compared to LCW (P < 0.001). Barley grain supplementation increased daily energy intake by 14% (P < 0.001). Excluding barley grain from the diet decreased carcass gain by 20% (P < 0.001). Feed conversion (kg DM/kg carcass gain) declined when barley grain was excluded from the diet (P < 0.001). Carcass weight had no effect on growth rate and feed conversion. For GSA, the dressing proportion was 3% (P < 0.001) and carcass conformation 11% (P = 0.018) lower compared to GSB, but they were not affected by carcass weight. For carcass fat score, feeding × carcass weight quadratic interaction was observed (P < 0.016). Compared to GSA, GSB animals were fatter and carcass fat cover was affected to a greater extent by carcass weight. At the same carcass weight, the climate change impact of GSB was 10–11%, eutrophication potential 13–15%, and acidification potential 20–23% lower compared to GSA. Increasing carcass weight raised all impacts by 4–9% per functional unit within both dietary treatments. For all carcass weights, GSB showed consistently lower environmental impacts than GSA. In conclusion, including concentrate in the diet improved performance of the heifers and decreased environmental impacts.

在实践中，当以低碳饲料生产为目标，用非人类食用饲料喂养牛时，这意味着最大限度地利用草等牧草。然而，对于胴体重增加和/或精料被排除在以草青贮（GS）为基础的日粮之外对环境的影响，人们的认识还存在空白。本研究旨在评价两种不同的gs型饲粮和3种胴体重对生长期母牛生产性能和环境影响的影响。试验选用84头杂交小母牛（荷斯坦或北欧红×金发阿基坦）。试验饲粮为单用GS （GSA）和添加大麦粒（285 g/kg DM； GSB）的GS。两种饲粮均含有矿物质-维生素混合物（15 g/kg DM）。这些小母牛被随意饲喂全混合口粮。动物在3个胴体体重时屠宰，胴体体重分别为300 （LCW）、325 （MCW）和350 (HCW) kg。采用生命周期评估方法比较气候变化、富营养化和酸化对3个胴体体重的影响。试验处理对每日干物质摄入量没有影响，但GSA的总干物质摄入量比GSB高13% (P

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引用次数: 0

Do early life experiences influence ear necrosis development in weaned pigs? 早期生活经历是否影响断奶仔猪耳坏死的发展？

IF 4.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Animal

Pub Date : 2025-11-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2025.101675

L. Markland , K. O’Driscoll , F.C. Leonard , L.A. Boyle

Ear necrosis is a welfare concern in weaned pigs but there is poor understanding of the causes and risk factors, including the role of potentially stressful management practices such as handling and mixing. The study investigated the effect of frequent handling prior to weaning and mixing at weaning on ear necrosis development up to 43 days postweaning. The early life stress associated with handling, and ear scratches associated with mixing aggression were hypothesised to increase the risk of ear necrosis. At farrowing, litters (N = 37) were randomly assigned to either a Control (n = 18; 239 piglets) or Handled (n = 19; 271 piglets) treatment. Control piglets were handled 3 times from birth to weaning for routine weighing and processing procedures, whereas Handled piglets were weighed an additional 5 times during the same period. At 28 days of age, pigs were weaned into 36 mixed-sex pens as either Un-mixed (litter groups; n = 18 206 pigs) or Mixed (housed with pigs from multiple litters; n = 18 204 pigs). Preweaning, diarrhoea scores and faecal cortisol levels were assessed. Ear scratches were counted at 24 h postweaning, and ear necrosis was scored weekly from 0 (none) to 5 (substantial degradation and loss of the ear pinna). Pre- and postweaning growth was measured. Handling resulted in higher diarrhoea scores preweaning and a higher prevalence of mild ear necrosis postweaning, but there was no difference in faecal cortisol levels, moderate to severe ear necrosis, or tail lesions. Although Mixed pigs had a greater number of ear scratches, there was a higher prevalence of ear necrosis in the Un-mixed group. At the individual pig level, and irrespective of treatment, ear scratches at weaning were not associated with subsequent ear necrosis. While neither the preweaning nor postweaning treatments impacted growth, pigs with ear necrosis had lower average daily gain than pigs without. In conclusion, results suggest that scratches caused by weaning aggression do not play a role in the aetiology of ear necrosis. Although handling led to more pigs affected with mild ear necrosis, multiple factors are likely to play a role in overall ear necrosis development and its progression to moderate and severe scores.

耳部坏死是断奶仔猪的福利问题，但对其原因和风险因素的了解甚少，包括处理和混合等潜在压力管理措施的作用。该研究调查了断奶前频繁处理和断奶时混合对断奶后43天耳坏死发展的影响。据推测，早期生活中与处理相关的压力以及与混合攻击相关的耳朵划伤会增加耳朵坏死的风险。分娩时，将37窝仔猪随机分为对照组（18头，239头）和处理组（19头，271头）。对照仔猪从出生到断奶期间被处理3次，进行常规称重和加工程序，而处理仔猪在同一时期被额外称重5次。28日龄时，将断奶仔猪送入36个混合型猪圈，分为非混合型（窝产组，n = 18 206头）和混合型（多窝产组，n = 18 204头）。评估断奶前、腹泻评分和粪便皮质醇水平。断奶后24小时计数耳部划伤，每周对耳部坏死进行评分，从0（无）到5（耳廓严重退化和丧失）。测定断奶前和断奶后的生长情况。处理导致断奶前腹泻评分较高，断奶后轻度耳部坏死发生率较高，但在粪便皮质醇水平、中度至重度耳部坏死或尾巴病变方面没有差异。虽然混合猪有更多的耳朵划伤，但未混合组的耳朵坏死发生率更高。在个体水平上，无论处理方式如何，断奶时耳朵划伤与随后的耳朵坏死无关。虽然断奶前和断奶后处理均不影响生长，但耳朵坏死猪的平均日增重低于未处理的猪。综上所述，断奶攻击引起的抓痕在耳部坏死的病因中不起作用。虽然处理导致更多的猪受到轻度耳部坏死的影响，但多种因素可能在整个耳部坏死的发展及其向中度和重度评分的进展中发挥作用。

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Patterns of plasma sexual steroids in Duroc and Pietrain crossbred male pigs in organic farming and prediction of boar taint risk according to slaughter weight 有机养殖中杜洛克和皮特兰杂交公猪血浆性类固醇的分布规律及根据屠宰体重预测公猪感染风险。

IF 4.2 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Animal

Pub Date : 2025-11-01 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2025.101673

A. Prunier, B. Lebret

Boar taint risk in pork highly depends on fat tissue concentrations of androstenone and skatole, and indole to a lower extent. During pubertal development, androstenone is increasingly produced by testes and accumulates in fat tissues. Skatole and indole are produced and absorbed along in the colon and also accumulate in fat tissues. Skatole and indole are catabolised in the liver, but sexual steroids (including androstenone) inhibit their liver degradation. Therefore, slaughtering pigs before the pubertal peak of steroid production should reduce boar taint risk and thus make it possible to raise male pigs without inflicting detrimental castration. In the present experiment, non-castrated male pigs from two genotypes differing in their propensity to accumulate androstenone and skatole in backfat were compared: Large White × Duroc (D; n = 47) and Large White × Pietrain crossbreds (P; n = 34). Blood samples were drawn from the jugular vein two times during growth (at around 85 kg BW and 133 days of age, and around 105 kg BW and 153 days of age) and the day before slaughter (around 125 kg BW and 174 days of age). Plasma testosterone and 17β-oestradiol, whose concentrations increase during sexual development, were measured in all samples and correlated with backfat concentrations of androstenone, skatole and indole measured at slaughter. Plasma concentrations of both hormones increased (P < 0.05) from the first to the second, and from the second to the third sampling stage (P < 0.05). Plasma testosterone concentration did not differ between genotypes (P > 0.1) whereas plasma 17β-oestradiol was more than twice higher in D than in P pigs (P < 0.001) regardless of the age. Plasma 17β-oestradiol concentration measured the day before slaughter was highly correlated with backfat androstenone (r = 0.91, P < 0.001). Estimating backfat androstenone concentration from that of plasma 17β-oestradiol allowed to predict that reducing slaughter BW from more than 125 kg to less than 110 kg would reduce the percentage of carcasses with androstenone concentration above 1.7 µg/g liquid fat (severe threshold limit for boar taint) from 42 to 29% in D pigs and from 10 to 0% in P pigs, and with androstenone concentration above 3 µg/g (less severe limit for boar taint) from 19 to 7% in D pigs, whereas none of the P pigs would be above this limit regardless of the age. In conclusion, pig genotype and reducing slaughter BW (and age) are strong levers to avoid boar taint.

猪肉的公猪污染风险高度依赖于雄烯酮和粪臭素的脂肪组织浓度，吲哚的浓度较低。在青春期发育过程中，雄烯酮越来越多地由睾丸产生并在脂肪组织中积累。粪臭素和吲哚在结肠中产生和吸收，也在脂肪组织中积累。粪臭素和吲哚在肝脏中分解代谢，但性类固醇（包括雄烯酮）抑制它们在肝脏中的降解。因此，在类固醇激素分泌高峰期之前屠宰猪可以降低公猪感染的风险，从而可以在不进行有害阉割的情况下饲养公猪。在本试验中，比较了来自两种不同基因型的未阉割的公猪：大白×杜洛克（D; n = 47）和大白×皮特兰（P; n = 34），它们在背脂肪中积累雄烯酮和粪臭素的倾向不同。在生长期间（约85公斤体重和133日龄，以及约105公斤体重和153日龄）和屠宰前一天（约125公斤体重和174日龄）分别从颈静脉抽取两次血液样本。所有样本的血浆睾酮和17β-雌二醇的浓度在性发育过程中升高，并与屠宰时测定的雄烯酮、粪臭素和吲哚的背脂肪浓度相关。两种激素的血浆浓度均升高（P < 0.1），而血浆17β-雌二醇在D组比P组高2倍以上（P < 0.1）

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