Animal Production Science最新文献

Although beef consumption has been linked to increased blood cholesterol, it has positive impacts on human health and provides essential nutrients of high biological value.

This study investigated the effects of aging time on beef quality, the chemical composition of the Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle, and the metabolite and fatty acid profile of the subcutaneous fat from young bulls finished in feedlot with a high-lipid diet.

Fifty young bulls were divided into groups following their breed composition, Nellore (n = 25) and Angus × Nellore crossbred (n = 25), and randomly assigned into four pens. The feedlot phase consisted of 105 days of feed, and the diet (80% concentrate) was formulated to meet or safely exceed the requirements of beef cattle to achieve an average daily gain of 1.6 kg/day. After slaughter, meat samples were collected between the 11th and 13th ribs 24 h postmortem. Steaks were aged for 1, 14, 28, and 42 days.

No differences were observed for total weight loss, drip loss, and cooking loss between the genetic groups (P > 0.05). An increase in lipid oxidation was observed for TBARS in the LT beef and subcutaneous fat (P < 0.01). Shear force was influenced by breed and aging time (P < 0.01). There was a significant interaction between aging time and the parameters L* a*, b* c*, and h* (P < 0.01). The crossbred animals had greater (P < 0.01) concentrations of collagen, and Nellore had greater (P < 0.01) concentration of moisture in their LT beef. In total, 33 metabolites were identified in beef extract, and differences were observed in beef from both groups. Nellore animals had higher concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid.

The shear force, collagen concentration, and moisture were affected by breeds, while the aging time affected lipid oxidation, shear force, and colour parameters. Different breeds and a high-lipid diet modified the metabolite profile of meat and the profile of subcutaneous fat.

These findings suggest that genetic manipulation could potentially be used to improve beef quality.

The use of insects as a sustainable source of animal-based food and in the human diet is increasing. Special attention has been given to black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) because this insect can consume organic waste and convert organic matter into high-quality nutrients that can be used for animal feed. In addition, BSFL rapidly reproduce, can convert large volumes of biomass, can be fed with a variety of organic material, and present a high feed conversion rate. Recent studies have also indicated that BSFL have a lower environmental impact than has livestock production, because they use less water and land mass, although life-cycle assessment analysis is required confirm this. Moreover, this insect is a rich source of protein, lipids, and minerals, and may have beneficial medicinal effects due to the presence of bioactive compounds. However, BSFL as well as any other insect species, present some challenges regarding their low consumer acceptance and limited information related to their food safety. Therefore, this review aims to collect information from the current literature regarding aspects related to rearing conditions and characteristics of BSFL as a sustainable source of nutrients. In addition, it will summarise the nutritional profile, the main bioactive compounds, and the challenges with human consumption of BSFL.

The Biennial Conference of Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition – Australia was held on 27–28 July 2023. The special issue contains latest research in the field of animal nutrition across the most economically significant animal species, including poultry, pigs, sheep, cattle, companion animals and aquaculture.

This study assesses the monetary value of product quality information, specifically feedback from slaughter and production methods, within the Australian beef and sheep meat supply chains.

The primary objective was to investigate the value assigned by supply chain actors to product quality information, measured as willingness to pay for receiving it or willingness to accept payment for providing it. The study also aimed to explore how the value of this information varies based on information quality and quantity.

A contingent valuation approach was employed, utilising survey data from 104 producers. Logit models were used to identify the factors influencing meat producers’ willingness to accept payment and willingness to pay.

Over one-third of cattle and sheep producers expressed interest in receiving feedback from slaughter information and providing production methods information. Production methods information had the highest mean value at the premium information quality and quantity level, with values of AU$20.49/head in the beef industry and AU$10.13/head in the sheep industry. Conversely, feedback from slaughter information had the lowest mean value at the low information quality and quantity level, with values of AU$0.83/carcass in beef and AU$0.14/carcass in sheep. Farmers’ experience and education level significantly influenced their willingness to accept payment and willingness to pay for product quality information.

A significant proportion of producers within the Australian beef and sheep meat supply chains express a desire to provide or pay for product quality information. The value assigned to this information demonstrates a positive relationship with higher information quality and quantity. However, variations in expressed value of different information types, and the influence of farmer and farm characteristics, suggest the presence of chain failures that disrupt information valuation.

These findings have important implications for improving the performance of the red meat supply chains. Understanding the factors that influence the valuation of product quality information allows stakeholders to develop targeted strategies to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of information exchange. This may involve addressing chain failures, and implementing measures to ensure consistent and accurate valuation of information. Ultimately, these improvements can contribute to enhanced decision-making processes and overall supply chain performance in the Australian beef and sheep meat industry.

Meat quality is increasingly being paid more attention by customers and enterprises. However, the modern pursuit of pork production has led to a decline in pork quality. Muscle fibre type is one of the important factors affecting meat quality that can be used as a key control point.

This study set out to assess the effects of dietary guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) on the growth performance, meat quality, postmortem energy metabolism, and muscle fibre types of finishing pigs.

In total, 180 healthy Duroc × Landrace × Meishan cross castrated male pigs with the similar weight (average 90 kg) were randomly divided into three treatments, with five replicates (pens) per treatment and 12 pigs per pen, including a GAA-free basal diet and basal diet with 0.05% or 0.10% GAA for 15 days.

In longissimus thoracis muscle, the results indicated that GAA supplementation decreased the drip loss and the cooking loss in 0.10% GAA group. Meanwhile, in semitendinosus muscle, 0.10% GAA addition increased pH_45 min, and decreased the cooking loss. Additionally, GAA addition increased the content of ATP and AMP in semitendinosus muscle. The mRNA expressions of MyHC-I and MyHC-IIa were increased, whereas MyHC-IIx and MyHC-IIb were decreased. Moreover, in longissimus thoracis muscle, GAA addition promoted the mRNA expressions of CaM and NFATc1; in semitendinosus muscle, dietary GAA up-regulated the CnA and NFATc1 mRNA expressions.

GAA addition improved the meat quality, enhanced postmortem energy metabolism and promoted the conversion of fast-muscle fibre to slow-muscle fibre via activating the CaN/NFAT signalling.

The addition of GAA can improve the meat quality of post-slaughter finishing pigs and provide a theoretical basis for the application of GAA in livestock production.

Supplementing a leucaena-based diet with locally available energy sources is an important strategy to extend the use of leucaena, increase liveweight (LW) gain of Bali cattle and increase profit for the smallholder.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various local energy supplements in leucaena-based diets on the LW gain of Bali cattle and income-over-feed costs (IOFC).

Forty male Bali cattle were divided into five treatment groups (n = 8) and each was fed one of the following diets: (A) control diet, including leucaena ad libitum, with corn stover at 0.5% DM LW and mineral mix, (B) control + cassava meal at 1.0% DM LW, (C) control + cassava peel at 1.0% DM LW, (D) control + cassava peel and corn grain mix at 1.0% DM LW or (E) control + commercial feed at 1.0% DM LW. The experiment was run for 140 days, which included a 20-day adaptation period. Parameters measured included intake, digestibility, imbibed-water intake, LW gain, rumen and faecal parameters, feed conversion and IOFC.

Supplementation of local energy sources in combination with leucaena and corn stover diets increased LW gain of male Bali cattle above that of the control diet (P < 0.05). The bulls receiving the cassava peel and corn mix supplement had the highest LW gain (0.57 ± 0.09 kg/day), which was associated with an increase in digestible organic-matter intake (DOMI). There were no treatment differences (P > 0.05) in the rumen parameters (rumen fluid pH, rumen ammonia-N concentration and volatile fatty acids) and all parameters were optimum for rumen digestion.

The addition of local energy supplements supplied at 1% of LW improved growth rate and extended the use of a limited amount of leucaena and provided a higher IOFC.

Replacing approximately 40% of leucaena with energy sources can have three benefits, including an increase in LW gain, an increased capacity of farmers to feed more cattle per hectare and an increased income per cattle being fattened. This can increase the production scale and subsequent farmer income, provided that the energy sources are available at affordable prices and obtainable.

DNA metabarcoding strategy was used to sequence the 16S rRNA region of ruminal fluid samples from Nellore cattle fed with concentrate-rich diets in response to modulatory effect of buffering additives calcarea seaweed (Lithothamnium calcareum) and sodium bicarbonate.

Besides characterising the richness and diversity indices of rumen bacterial community, the impact of potentially acidogenic diets on rumen pH, blood parameters, and short-chain fatty acid profile (SCFA) was investigated for which four male Nellore cattle were used, distributed in a 4 × 4 Latin square (treatments × periods). Treatments comprised the same highly concentrated basal diet, and were as follows: T1, without additive (CON); T2, inclusion of 90 g of sodium bicarbonate (BIC); T3, inclusion of 90 g of L. calcareum (L90); and T4, inclusion of 45 g of L. calcareum (L45). Data were analysed in R, in which diversity and abundance at gender level were analysed using Friedman’s test, with means being adjusted by False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction. The analyses of pH, biochemical parameters and SCFA were analysed using Scott–Knott test and means were evaluated with a significance level of 10% (P < 0.10).

We identified 1474 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to 52 genera and 16 phyla of bacteria domain. The results showed that bacterial microbiota were dominated by Firmicutes (44.12%), Bacteroidetes (28.29%), and Proteobacteria (5.88%). Animals fed with L90 demonstrated greater abundance and ruminal diversity for the Prevotella genus (P < 0.07% and P < 0.09% respectively), whereas cattle supplemented with L45 demonstrated greater diversity of the Fibrobacter genus (P < 0.05). There were differences in molar proportion for acetic (P < 0.07%) and valeric (P < 0.03%) acids in the period before feeding. Higher blood lactate concentrations were observed in animals supplemented with L45 (P < 0.06%), while animals that received treatments L90 and BIC presented lower levels of blood lactate. This metabolite was lower in animals fed with 90 g of sodium bicarbonate and L. calcareum daily. These treatments also reduced the concentration of acetic acid and increased that of valeric acid, and improved ruminal diversity.

Our results supported this choice to improve ruminal function, with a great prospective of better weight-gain performance in Nellore cattle.

Adding fibre to the diet is one of the factors that help the growth and development of the digestive system of pullets during the rearing period. Insoluble-fibre inclusion enhances the grinding competence and functionality of gizzards and increases the retention time of digesta in the gastrointestinal tract.

The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction effects of insoluble fibre and the physical form of feed.

The interactive effect of two levels of sunflower hull (SH, 0 and 40 g/kg) and two feed forms (mash and pellet) on the growth of Hy-Line-W36 laying pullets from hatching until 8 weeks of age was investigated. For this purpose, 640 1-day-old chicks were randomly assigned to 64 cages.

Insoluble fibre had no effect on performance. Birds offered pelleted feed had a higher overall daily weight gain and daily feed intake than did those fed mash feed. A significant interaction between SH inclusion and feed form was observed for daily feed intake from 0 to 2 weeks. The pullets fed with mash feed without SH had a heavier weight of the gizzard than did the others. Feeding pelleted diets reduced caecum weight and the length of jejunum and ileum. Fibre inclusion resulted in a lower crypt depth in the jejunum. The jejunal villus height and muscle-layer thickness were higher in pellet-fed pullets. Feeding pelleted diets increased the tibia length and tibiotarsal index. The lowest propionate content of caecum was recorded in pellet-fed pullets without SH.

Overall, the inclusion of SH in diets had no significant effect on performance but improved the morphology of the intestine. Feeding pelleted diets improved the growth performance and intestinal morphology of pullets.

Compared to mash diets, feeding pelleted diets improved the performance. Adding fiber to the diet improves intestinal structure, which helps improve digestion and absorption of nutrients. Also, feed pelleting technology improves the effective parameters of the gastrointestinal tract in laying pullets. Also, the use of pelleted feed compared to mesh is associated with improved economic efficiency.

The proximity of rail corridors to livestock production enterprises poses potential risks to welfare and production. The association between these factors and production have been extensively investigated. This review aims to assess the potential impact on the basis of existing data in a livestock production context. Due to expansion of freight rail networks through agricultural land, there is a need to investigate potential impacts of rail (including train and track) noise, vibration and visual disturbance on the physiology and behaviour of the livestock and subsequent production traits. Additionally, the factors influencing the impact on animals were characterised broadly as noise, vibration, and visual and spatial disturbance. This information was used to develop conceptual frameworks around the contribution of rail impact on allostatic load, animal welfare and production. Placing rail noise in the context of other, known, noise impacts showed that proximity to the rail line will determine the impact of noise on the behaviour and physiology of the animal. Thresholds for noise levels should be determined on the basis of known noise thresholds, taking into account the impact of noise on allostatic load. Further research is recommended to investigate the behavioural, physiological and production impacts on livestock from proximity to rail corridors. Current literature suggests that the allostatic load will vary depending on the proximity of the animal to the source of stimulus, the type, size or level of stimuli, habituation and the individual animal variation in response to the stimuli.