Plant-derived additives in animal nutrition are frequently studied for their potential to enhance growth performance and meat quality. Their effects on gut microbiota composition are also evaluated in view of its fundamental role in overall animal health and metabolic homeostasis. Therefore, we investigated the effect of adding Peruvian maca (Lepidium meyenii) to the pig diet on pH, ammonia, and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the digesta and growth parameters, carcass characteristics, and gut microbiota in growing pigs using next generation sequencing (NGS). The experiment included two dietary treatments: the control (Con group), a diet without maca additive, and a Maca (maca group) diet supplemented with 1% of dried powdered roots of Peruvian maca. A total of forty gilts with an average body weight of 29 kg were equally divided into two groups and fed the experimental diets for 108 days, a period that was divided into two phases (Period 1 and Period 2). Maca supplementation did not affect growth performance during Period 1. In contrast, during Period 2 pigs receiving the maca-supplemented diet exhibited a higher average daily weight gain compared to the control group. Descriptive evaluation of pen-based production data indicated a trend towards improved feed conversion ratio, while daily feed intake remained comparable between the dietary treatments. Across the whole fattening period, maca-fed pigs maintained better growth efficiency and a lower liver-to-body weight ratio. Carcass traits were generally unaffected, with the exception of a reduced liver-to-carcass ratio in the maca group. Meat quality parameters were largely unchanged; only pH measured 24 h post mortem was significantly lower, while proximate composition and technological traits (e.g., drip loss, tenderness, water-holding capacity) remained unaffected. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significantly lower ileal pH in the maca group, suggesting a more acidic intestinal environment, whereas ammonia concentration and SCFA profiles showed no differences. Blood biochemistry indicated higher serum glucose levels in pigs fed maca. Maca supplementation affected gut pH and microbiota, suggesting potential benefits for intestinal health by increasing Lactobacillus abundance and decreasing abundance of Campylobacter, thus supporting animal welfare and sustainable production. Bioactive plant compounds appear promising as supplements, but more research is needed on their dosage and long-term effects.
Pasture quality variation may drive genotype by environment interactions (GxE) in sheep. Under harsher conditions (i.e., low pasture quality), smaller breeds may be better able to meet their energy requirements and maintain production levels compared to larger breeds. However, management interventions, such as time of turn-out and turn-in from pasture, can buffer environmental constraints, potentially mitigating trade-offs. In Norway, the two most numerous sheep breeds, the Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) and the Spel, represent a considerable size contrast (∼85 vs. ∼ 65 kg adult ewe live weight). This study investigated GxE (here breed x pasture quality) across three outfield (semi-natural unfertilized forest and mountain pastures) pasture quality levels (low, moderate and high) for both production (several growth traits) and resilience-related traits (age at first lambing, number of lambs born, number of weaned lambs and ewe longevity). In addition, potential breed-specific grazing management practices across pasture qualities (day of year and animal age at turn-out and turn-in and grazing period) were explored. The dataset included 448 NWS and 92 Spel herds, comprising 84,210 and 12,319 ewes, respectively. Pasture quality was defined based on dominant vegetation types across 31 municipalities with both breeds present. For resilience-related traits, significant GxE interaction was found for number of weaned lambs, while effect on ewe longevity approached significance (p=0.0541). The Spel responded to increased pasture quality by weaning more lambs, while the NWS only increased from low to moderate quality, no breed difference was observed on high-quality pasture (P=0.1871). The Spel demonstrated higher longevity across all pasture qualities compared to the NWS, suggesting greater robustness. However, it seems to come with a trade-off with the number of weaned lambs on low-quality pastures. Significant GxE were found for autumn weight, growth rate from birth to turn-out, and birth to turn-in, suggesting the Spel is more sensitive to environmental variations. No significant GxE interaction was found for growth rate on outfield pastures, with neither breed responding with increased growth rates beyond moderate pasture quality. Evidence of breed-specific grazing management across pasture qualities was observed, suggesting that farmers may adjust practices to compensate for, or leverage, pasture quality, to meet industry requirements regarding lamb weight. Both outfield pasture quality and management likely affected animal performance, and thereby the GxE interaction effects. Further research is needed to disentangle the effects of farmer management practices from semi-natural pasture environments to better understand the mechanisms driving the observed GxE interactions.
From an ethological perspective, human presence may serve as a potential source of social support for animals facing challenging situations. This may be particularly relevant for animals involved in animal-assisted services, where interactions with different people are an integral part of their work. This study aimed to assess whether the presence of a human, both familiar and unfamiliar, can mitigate goats’ behavioural responses to social isolation to a similar extent as the presence of a conspecific. It was also examined whether goats’ responses to human presence during isolation depend on their willingness to interact with humans in a home setting (outside the isolation context). Sixteen goats, including five adults (16 or 48 months old) and 11 younger individuals (5-6 months old), comprising 10 males and six females, were subjected to four 5-minute isolation tests, varying in the degree of social isolation: complete isolation (S1), and isolation in the presence of an unfamiliar (S2) or a familiar human (S3), or another goat (S4). Behavioural responses were coded in BORIS software. Additionally, prior to the study, touch tests were conducted to measure the goats’ motivation for human interaction. While socially isolated, the goats vocalised intensively, attempted to escape, and displayed locomotor activity. The presence of either a conspecific or a human, whether familiar or unfamiliar, reduced stress-related behaviours of highly socialised goats. No differences were noted in the effect of the support figure. This effect may reflect social buffering, although this cannot be definitely established based on the current study. The absence of differential responses to familiar versus unfamiliar humans may suggest a generalised positive response to humans, likely stemming from prior positive experiences, or simply a lack of distinction between them. Goats that accepted human touch for longer in a home setting vocalised less when isolated in the presence of humans. Hence, willingness to interact with humans may partially predict the influence of humans on goat behaviour during social isolation. No significant differences were found between males and females and between younger and older individuals. These findings suggest that, in highly human-socialised goats, human presence may provide behavioural social support during short-term isolation, regardless of human familiarity. Further studies combining behavioural and physiological measures are needed to confirm this conclusion.
The aims of the present review are to remind and give food for thought regarding the complexity of gastrointestinal functions, impacts of antinutrients and functional ingredients, and consequences of large knowledge gaps for feed formulation. Emphasis is put on organs and mechanisms in and around the intestine, i.e., cells of the epithelium and layers below, immune apparatus, and nerve system, and their interaction and regulations. Examples are picked mainly from studies the authors have been involved in, addressing responses in humans and monogastric production animals, with emphasis on Atlantic salmon. First mentioned is a series of experiments conducted to find the explanation for great differences in protein value of soybean varieties. The differences were found to be related to the variation in content of protease inhibitors. Consequently, the inhibitors became tools for the study of regulation of intestinal functions in humans, revealing very complicated mechanisms, illustrated by inhibitor induced secretion of an inhibitor resistant trypsinogen. The new insight stimulated an interest in other soybean antinutrients, enforced in the 1990s by the interest in soybean meal (SBM) as protein source for salmon. In Atlantic salmon, as well as in rainbow trout, SBM was found to reduce growth and induce intestinal inflammation, whereas alcohol-extracted SBM, i.e. soy protein concentrate, showed high nutritional value. This indicated that the antinutrient(s) causing the inflammation is/are alcohol-water soluble, such as phytoestrogens, phytosterols, and/or saponins. Physiological effects of these antinutrients are discussed briefly as a background for interpretation of the results from the follow-up studies with fish. Saponins were found to be the main inducers of the inflammation, affecting a wide range of molecular, biochemical, physiological and structural biomarkers. The results, however, indicated that at very low levels saponins may induce beneficial, adjuvant effects. The studies also documented that such effects may depend on developmental stage of the animal, animal breed, and species. Atlantic cod, for example, do not show SBM induced intestinal inflammation. Likewise, plant feed ingredients show great variation in content of antinutrients between breeds and developmental stages. Some plant breeding programs seek to reduce content of specific antinutrients, others may, unnoticed, decrease or increase content of such components. In conclusion, plant antinutrients and functional components may be beneficial or detrimental for growth and health depending on the animal species and developmental stage and may serve as important tools for the study of physiological and health aspects.
After oviposition, hatching eggs are generally stored at the breeder farm and hatchery before incubation is initiated. In certain cases, egg storage duration is extended beyond 7 days, which is referred to as ‘prolonged storage’. Prolonged storage is associated with a lower hatchability, delayed hatching, and worse chicken quality at hatch, but the underlying embryonic cellular processes that occur during egg storage are not yet fully understood. In contrast to previous targeted studies on single pathways, the current study employs a whole-transcriptome analysis to investigate physiological responses of broiler embryos to egg storage duration. Gene expression levels from broiler embryos isolated from fresh eggs (on the day of oviposition; n=10), and from eggs that had been stored at 18°C for either 4 days (n=5) or 14 days (n=5) were compared. Data were analyzed by using the CLC Genomics Workbench platform. Results showed that genes common between broiler embryos from 4-day- and 14-day-stored eggs were associated with the positive regulation of the p38 mitogen activated protein kinase cascade, controlling the balance between cell survival and death under cellular stress. Broiler embryos from 4-day-stored eggs showed gene expression levels indicative of cell cycle arrest at the Gap 1 to Synthesis transition in the cell cycle and mild endoplasmic reticulum stress compared to broiler embryos from fresh eggs. Broiler embryos from 4-day-stored eggs showed gene expression levels indicative of active cell proliferation and repair of minor DNA lesions compared to broiler embryos from 14-day-stored eggs. Broiler embryos from 14-day-stored eggs also showed gene expression levels indicative of cell cycle arrest at the Gap 1 to Synthesis transition, and additionally gene expression levels indicative of oxidative stress, apoptosis, repair of severe DNA damage, and severe endoplasmic reticulum stress compared to broiler embryos from fresh eggs. Current findings suggest that egg storage duration induced a shift from adaptive stress responses in embryos from 4-day-stored eggs to maladaptive stress responses in embryos from 14-day-stored eggs, characterized by oxidative stress, apoptosis, and severe cellular damage. This study reveals a transcriptome-wide transition underlying the decline in post-storage embryo viability with increasing egg storage durations.
Virtual fencing (VF) offers an alternative to physical fences for managing livestock, but its effectiveness may be influenced by animals’ ability to perceive and respond to virtual boundaries. We examined whether supplemental visual cues—traffic cones paired with the audio warning—modify cattle responses to a commercially available VF technology. We included three group-level replicates per treatment, located in adjacent paddocks separated by temporary electric fencing. Twenty-seven Angus heifers were randomly assigned to one of six paddocks (N=4-5 animals/paddock). Control animals were subject to eShepherd® VF, while treatment animals were subject to the same VF with supplemental visual cues placed along all virtual boundaries. The first phase—training—consisted of three 24-hour grazing periods. The next phase—exclusion zone testing (EZT)—consisted of four 24-hour periods, where each circular exclusion zone contained hay bales as attractants. The final phase consisted of conditioned-response extinction, during which the VF was disabled, but visual cues were left in place. We analysed animal locations, and auditory and electrical cues. Visually cued animals received fewer audio cues (p = 0.024), grazed more in proximity to the virtual boundary (p = 0.035) and were generally quicker to learn which hay bale-containing exclusion zones were open (no active VF) and utilize that forage resource. However, visually cued animals were generally less responsive to the auditory cue and more likely to be located outside the designated grazing area (p = 0.007). Virtual fencing with or without visual cues was an effective method for managing grazing access to resource-rich patches, but visual cues enhanced the ability for virtually fenced resource patches to influence animal movement and distribution. Ultimately, these results suggest that visual cues can supersede auditory cues and lead to a behavioural trade-off in which spatial awareness of the virtual boundary is improved while compliance is reduced. Longer term and larger scale studies will be helpful in understanding how this trade-off applies in other management contexts.
The intrinsic quality of milk is a multifactorial and multidimensional concept that is influenced by various farming practices. These latter can interact with each other to have synergistic or antagonistic effects on the different milk compounds or properties (quality indicators). This observational study was set out to identify and prioritise some farming practices that influence milk quality indicators, and to highlight the practices that have synergistic or antagonistic effects on these indicators. The study used two datasets with 233 bulk tank milks from 113 French dairy farms, both containing data on their intrinsic quality (34 quality indicators measured) and the farming practices applied in the farms at the time of collection, such as herd characteristics, feeding, housing, and milking management, and milk storage conditions. We then used regression trees to predict milk quality indicators based on combinations of the farming practices. Among the 34 milk quality indicators, the regression trees modelled 9 from combinations of farming practices with a R2 ≥ 0.30. Those regression trees enabled the identification of the most influential farming practices, the validation of practices previously reported in controlled experimental trials under commercial farm conditions, and the characterisation of synergistic and antagonistic interactions among practices. The dominant breed and the main forage in the diet were the most influential factors, followed by the proportion of concentrates, the lactation stage, and the proportion of primiparous cows in the herd. Housing conditions and milking practices did not emerge as influential on the well-performing trees. Certain practices, such as pasture grazing or the choice of Montbéliarde breed, appeared to have an overall positive effect on the milk quality indicators they influenced. However, due to antagonistic effects, it is challenging to identify practices that enhance all indicators simultaneously. Therefore, trade-offs will need to be made based on the farmers’ goals and the targeted dairy product, as different products require distinct milk qualities. Moreover, for many indicators, the part of the variability not explained by the regression trees remained significant and the trees could be refined from larger databases and from practices surveyed specifically for each indicator.
To achieve future sustainable high-quality Wagyu beef production, it is important to provide a novel approach to genetically improve Japanese Black cattle. This study assessed the possibility of genetic evaluation for adaptability to thermal environment changes in this breed by using random regression model with temperature-humidity index (THI) information. A total of 30 491 records of the total number of embryos and oocytes recovered (TNE) and the number of good embryos (NGE) per flush collected from 2,006 Japanese Black donor cows during 9 January 2008 and 29 January 2024 were analysed. First, on-farm temperature and humidity data were recorded using a data logger for 1 231 days during 9 April 2021 and 30 November 2024. Daily mean ambient dry-bulb temperature at the location of the Zen-noh Embryo Transfer Center during 1 January 2007 and 29 January 2024 were estimated using meteorological observation records from weather stations. Quadratic regression analysis was performed to provide an equation to estimate on-farm daily mean THI using estimated temperature. Estimated THI were calculated using the equation obtained with the coefficient of determination of 0.972 and estimated temperature during 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2024, resulting estimated THI ranged from 29.0 to 82.2. Next, multiple regression analyses of TNE and NGE were conducted to identify a suitable day for considering the effect of THI as a quadratic regression form. A day 13 days before embryo collection was identified as a suitable day to consider the effect of THI and the estimated curve was convex upward within the range of estimated THI for both traits. Finally, a two-trait random regression model with estimated THI at the day detected as a suitable day was fitted to TNE and NGE records to estimate variance components and predict breeding values. Given the range of estimated THI as 30 to 80, estimated heritability using the random regression model ranged from 0.22 to 0.33 for TNE and from 0.17 to 0.25 for NGE. Genetic correlation across estimated THI within trait was estimated to be generally very high but sometimes lower than 0.8 between THI <70 and THI >70. Estimated genetic correlation between the traits ranged from 0.09 to 0.65. In conclusion, this study could provide the genetic evaluation model for thermal environment adaptability in Japanese Black cattle reared in Japan using meteorological observation records and superovulatory response performance records, as well as providing fundamental insight into improving heat-tolerance in cattle.
Livestock farming has become increasingly digitalized in large parts of the world. Sensor technologies can be used to mitigate emissions from farming in several ways including improved efficiency of operations. The data that farmers collect to monitor and optimize their production offer a possibility to increase the accuracy of (GHG) emission estimation if utilized fully. However, technologies developed for farm management may not meet requirements for monitoring of GHG greenhouse gas emissions where high accuracy is required. The cost benefit and reliability of farm level data collection need to be considered before investing effort in their widespread adoption. The lack of access to data and poor interoperability of the data across different software systems also currently limits the use of data, however there are several data sharing initiatives, such as data spaces, that aim to develop the farmers right to data sovereignty and provide contractual and technical solutions for increasing data availability. This review assesses the state-of-the-art of the digital data collection and sharing usable for GHG accounting from ruminant farming systems perspective with focus on commercially available on-farm technology. A review of the accuracy of different methods and two case studies on the impact of the uncertainty of digital data sources on CH4 emission prediction uncertainty quantified using Monte Carlo simulation are presented. In conclusion the greatest potential for automating the LCA process and coverage of production for national inventories exists for dairy cattle, sheep and goat farms with daily milk yield recording and high technology feeding systems and lowest for pasture based meat production systems. The use of on-farm data for GHG accounting provides an opportunity for more targeted mitigation and even differential product pricing favouring the lowest emitting farms within a region. The reliability as well as contribution to overall emissions of each additional data source collected from farms should be assessed before it is taken into use and calibration protocols for farmers to ensure accurate data should be developed and their application monitored.
Recommendations by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for rabbit transport propose sufficient floor space for all animals to adopt ventral recumbency with the possibility to change position, and a minimum crate height allowing rabbits to sit upright without their ears touching the ceiling. However, because of the scarcity of studies evaluating the effects of stocking density and crate height on rabbit welfare during transport, these recommendations were largely based on planimetric estimations and theoretical assumptions rather than empirical welfare outcomes. For rabbits weighing 2.0–2.5 kg, EFSA proposed a stocking density of approximately 47–50 kg/m2, whereas commercial stocking densities in the European Union typically range from 60 to 90 kg/m2, with approximately 70 kg/m2 being the most common. Similarly, EFSA recommended a minimum crate height of 35 cm, while commercial crates are generally 20–30 cm high. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize truck microclimatic conditions and evaluate the welfare implications of these recommendations under commercial transport conditions during mild Mediterranean summer conditions. Three commercial batches (A–C) were assessed using three stocking densities representing approximately the EFSA recommendation (LOW: 50–55 kg/m2), common commercial practice (MED: 66–71 kg/m2) and the upper commercial range (HIGH: 81–85 kg/m2), combined with two crate heights representing commercial practice (H20: 20 cm) and a height compatible with the EFSA recommendation (H40: 40 cm). Rabbits were monitored throughout pre-transit (from catching and crating at the farm), transit (vehicle in route) and post-transit (unloading and lairage at the slaughterhouse) over 5.5–8.0 h, including 80–85 km of road transport. In-crate temperature, relative humidity, airflow, and vibration were monitored, while welfare was assessed using behavioural, thermophysiological and metabolic indicators. In-crate conditions were highly variable, with short thermal peaks of 30–33 °C during pre-transit, relative humidity ranging from 30 to 85%, intermittent airflow peaking at 1.2–3.5 m/s and vibration levels of 1.24–1.53 m/s2 during transit. Immobility predominated (>85% of observations) and exceeded 90% during transit, regardless of stocking density or crate height. Rabbits rarely sat upright with extended ears in H40 crates, particularly during transit (0.0–0.8%). No differences in thermophysiological or metabolic indicators were detected between stocking densities or crate heights. Overall, reducing stocking density from 81–85 kg/m2 to 50–55 kg/m2 and increasing crate height from 20 cm to 40 cm did not result in measurable welfare improvements under the commercial transport conditions evaluated.
Carcass traits such as slaughter weight, lean meat percentage, and meat colour are key determinants of profitability and consumer acceptance in pork production. This study integrated on-farm welfare assessments, management routines, pre-slaughter conditions, and health findings at slaughter to evaluate their combined effects on carcass outcomes in Norwegian pig herds. Data from 8 473 pigs were analysed using mixed models. The mean slaughter weight was 83.0 ± 0.1 kg, lean meat percentage 60.4 ± 0.0%, and meat colour score 48.2 ± 0.1 on the GP7 optical-probe scale, on which higher values indicate darker meat. Slaughter weight decreased with longer transport duration (P < 0.0001), overnight housing (P = 0.012), and health issues including joint inflammation (P < 0.0001), pneumonia (P = 0.037), liver parasites (P = 0.019), and open tail wounds (P = 0.023). Lean meat percentage was reduced by joint inflammation (P = 0.005) and shortened tails (P = 0.027). Meat colour increased with ear lesions (P < 0.0001), body lesions (P = 0.003), longer transport (P < 0.0001), overnight housing (P < 0.0001), chopped straw (P = 0.008), and open tail wounds (P = 0.003). Heavier pigs had darker meat (r = –0.056, P < 0.0001) and lower lean yield (r = –0.253, P < 0.0001). Application of the Critical Path Method identified transport-service confirmation, logistical and financial evaluation, loading, the maximum observed transport duration, and lairage as the stages that governed the total duration of the pre-slaughter process (151.6 h, with no temporal slack), where delays most prolong the time before slaughter. These findings highlight that welfare indicators, health conditions, and pre-slaughter handling jointly determine carcass value, linking animal welfare with economic returns and product quality in high-welfare production systems.
Genotype-by-environment interaction (G×E) plays a central role in livestock systems characterized by environmental heterogeneity, particularly under (sub)tropical conditions. In such contexts, the assumption of homogeneous genetic expression underlying conventional evaluations may not hold, limiting selection efficiency. Despite the widespread use of Angus–Brangus cattle in Brazil, the characterization of environmental sensitivity for growth traits and its genomic basis remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate environmental sensitivity for postweaning average daily gain (ADG) at both animal and genomic levels using a reaction norm (RNM) approach, quantify genetic variation in responsiveness, and assess the predictive performance of RNM relative to the conventional animal model (AM). Data from Angus–Brangus cattle raised under pasture-based systems in Brazil were analyzed using a linear RNM based on a continuous environmental gradient derived from contemporary group solutions. Additive genetic variance for ADG ranged from 6.80 (SD = 0.55) in intermediate environments to 169.29 (SD = 5.75) in favorable conditions, while heritability increased from 0.08 (SD = 0.01) to 0.66 (SD = 0.01). Genetic correlations declined with increasing environmental distance, reaching -0.73 (SD = 0.02) between extreme conditions, indicating substantial re-ranking of sires across environments. Reaction norms revealed both plastic and robust genotypes, with 76% of sire pairs exhibiting crossing points of their reaction norms, predominantly in unfavorable environments. In linear regression validation, RNM outperformed AM in restrictive conditions, whereas AM performed better in intermediate and favorable environments. Genome-wide association analyses identified 12 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms for intercept and 8 for slope, with a major locus on BTA20 (∼5 Mb) harboring STC2, and additional candidate genes including SLC25A24, FCHO2, and TNPO1. Marker effects varied across the gradient, with distinct patterns for intercept and slope. ADG in Angus–Brangus cattle shows strong environmental dependence, with substantial G×E affecting both genetic parameters and genomic architecture. Reaction norm models improve prediction under unfavorable conditions and enable identification of genotypes with differential environmental sensitivity. The detection of shared and parameter-specific loci indicates partial genetic decoupling between baseline performance and adaptability. These findings support incorporating environmental sensitivity into genetic evaluation and selection strategies under heterogeneous (sub)tropical conditions.
The Baicheng-You chicken is an indigenous Chinese breed known for its superior egg quality and stress resistance, yet the genetic basis of these traits is not fully understood. This study investigated the genomic architecture of 10 egg quality traits in 1 002 Baicheng-You chickens using whole-genome resequencing. The estimated genomic heritabilities for these traits ranged from 0.30 to 0.83. Genome-wide association studies identified 30 single nucleotide polymorphisms reaching genome-wide significant or suggestive association thresholds, which were mapped to 386 candidate genes, including ALAS1, LCORL, and CTNNBL1. Functional enrichment analysis indicated these genes are primarily involved in developmental patterning and embryonic skeletal system morphogenesis. To prioritise candidate variants, statistical fine-mapping using the Sum of Single Effects method (SuSiE) was integrated with epigenomic data (H3K27ac and ATAC-seq). Furthermore, the activity-by-contact model prioritised putative regulatory variants within enhancer regions on chromosomes 20 and 6 that may contribute to the regulation of eggshell colour and thickness, respectively. These findings improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating egg quality and provide potential genetic markers for breeding programmes in indigenous poultry.
Bovine colostrum provides crucial immune and developmental support to newborn calves, yet the roles of non-immunoglobulin bioactive proteins remain underexplored. The objective of this study was to characterize the colostrum proteome and evaluate the effects of parity, prepartum dietary metabolizable energy, and colostral immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration on its protein composition. Colostrum samples from primiparous and multiparous Angus × Simmental beef cows fed low-, control-, or high-metabolizable-energy diets during the prepartum period were analyzed by quantitative proteomics. We identified distinct proteomic signatures influenced by both parity and dietary energy. Colostrum from multiparous cows consistently exhibited an immune profile characterized by higher levels of lactoferrin, β2-microglobulin, and other immune-related proteins, particularly when fed diets high in metabolizable energy. In contrast, primiparous colostrum was enriched in structural and developmental proteins (e.g., tripartite motif-containing protein 68, growth/differentiation factor 8), with immune-related proteins increasing only under high-energy conditions. Colostrum from cows with higher IgG concentrations also contained proteins involved in innate immunity, cytoskeletal remodeling, and calcium signaling. In contrast, low-IgG colostrum showed compensatory enrichment of transcriptional and metabolic regulators. These findings reveal the interplay among parity, energy intake, and colostrum bioactivity, suggesting that cow parity and nutritional strategies should be considered to enhance colostrum quality and improve neonatal health outcomes.
Achieving sustainable and resilient livestock production depends on continued innovation in feed technology and feed additives. Automation, robotics, predictive modelling of effects, machine learning, encapsulation of nutrients and feed additives, precision nutrition, synbiotics, postbiotics and precision biotics are trending in the feed industry, although many are still in early stages of development. A deeper understanding is needed on how the nutritional composition of the feed influences the complex metabolic interactions, digestibility and performance of the host. These insights will allow a more precise feed formulation, improving feed efficiency, animal health and welfare, while reducing emissions and environmental impact of livestock production. This manuscript compiles trends and future perspectives in feed technology and feed additives that will contribute to more sustainable and resilient livestock production systems. Furthermore, the aim of this review article was to identify gaps in research in both areas in order to accelerate the introduction of promising innovations.
A meta-analysis was performed to determine whether improved forage quality is equally effective at reducing CH4 yield from cattle and sheep. Accordingly, ruminants were categorised into three classes: lactating dairy cattle, other cattle (i.e., beef cattle and non-lactating dairy cattle), and sheep. Data from 24 studies (109 treatment means) met the selection criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The relationship between CH4 yield (g/kg DM intake (DMI) and g/kg digestible OM intake (DOMI); CH4/DMI and CH4/DOMI, respectively) and forage quality characteristics (apparent total tract organic matter digestibility (%; ATTDOM), NDF content (g/kg DM), and CP content (g/kg DM)) was determined using a mixed model univariate regression procedure. The relationship between forage quality characteristics and CH4 emissions depended on the metric of CH4 emission, being consistently stronger (i.e., higher R2) for CH4/DOMI compared to CH4/DMI for the three ruminant classes. For CH4/DMI, substantial differences were observed due to differences in extent of ruminal fermentation and associated processes as well as differences in feed intake level (kg/d and g/kg metabolic BW). For lactating dairy cattle, CH4/DMI was related to ATTDOM (R2 = 0.35, slope = -0.146), NDF content (R2 = 0.68, slope = 0.014), and CP content (R2 = 0.65, slope = -0.021). For other cattle, CH4/DMI was only related to CP content (R2 = 0.18, slope = -0.008), and for sheep, tendencies for relationships in opposite directions than expected were detected between CH4/DMI and both ATTDOM (R2 = 0.39, slope = 0.064) and NDF content (R2 = 0.46, slope = -0.007). For CH4/DOMI, the relationships with forage quality characteristics were statistically significant for the three ruminant classes, and always in the expected directions, likely due to comparable (i) shifts in ruminal fermentation and consequently H2 availability, (ii) increased microbial efficiency and consequently less volatile fatty acids per unit of organic matter (OM) fermented, and (iii) methanogen activity between cattle and sheep. It is concluded that the effectiveness of reducing enteric CH4 emissions by improved forage quality differs between the three ruminant classes for CH4/DMI, being effective in lactating dairy cattle, effective to a lesser extent in other cattle, and not effective or increasing CH4/DMI in sheep, likely driven by differences in extent of fermentation and feeding level between these ruminants. For CH4/DOMI, improved forage quality effectively reduced enteric CH4 across dairy cattle, other cattle, and sheep, with ATTDOM and CP content negatively related and NDF content positively related to CH4/DOMI.
The control of diseases in livestock is important for maximising animal welfare outcomes, ensuring the incomes of livestock producers and for minimising the environmental impact of livestock production. Gastro-intestinal nematode (GIN) parasites are ubiquitous globally and infect domestic animals causing disease, deaths and production loss. Haemonchus contortus is a particularly pathogenic GIN causing widespread disease in sheep and goats. We characterised the seasonality of GIN parasites in two northern districts of the Australian state of New South Wales using data from government and commercial diagnostics laboratories. The results suggested that in these regions, parasitism with H. contortus could be reduced by changing lambing time from spring (August/September) to autumn (May/June). We conducted a sheep grazing trial over three consecutive production cycles contrasting two lambing seasons and two grazing feed regimes. Results show that changing lambing time from spring to autumn did result in a significant decrease in parasitism for autumn-born lambs relative to spring-born lambs and reduced needed treatments for lambs from 3.4 to 1.0 applications per year. We analysed a comprehensive set of other animal health and animal production data to see if the change to autumn lambing was accompanied by other important changes in the production system. Most animal health and animal production data indicated little difference between autumn and spring lambing systems. The number of lambs conceived, born and raised in the autumn lambing system exceeded the numbers from the spring lambing system. However, feed provision limitations were observed with the autumn lambing system and higher neonatal death rates were observed in autumn-born lambs. We conclude that autumn lambing systems in summer rainfall areas can be as productive as spring lambing systems, and that the benefit for GIN parasitism will make the change worthwhile, especially with higher levels of anthelmintic resistance. However, future attention to feed provision and neonatal lamb mortality in the autumn lambing system will enable a still more profitable outcome.
Sheep and goats are both small ruminants but differ to some extent in their feeding behaviour and selectivity, milk production, nutrient utilisation, and metabolism. Several studies have classified goats as intermediate feeders and sheep as grass and roughage eaters. Sheep, in general, are less productive and have shorter lactation periods. They also produce milk with higher fat and protein concentrations than goats. Moreover, in sheep, high-starch diets (above 20% of starch, DM basis) promote milk production in early lactation and body fat deposition in mid-lactation. Dairy goats, however, appear to benefit from high-starch diets throughout lactation. These differences may result from species-specific hormone levels involved in energy partitioning. This review explores how dietary carbohydrates affect the metabolic and hormonal control of nutrient partitioning in lactating dairy sheep and dairy goats, and the biological reasons underlying differences in carbohydrate utilisation, focusing on starch and highly digestible fibre. Overall, it appears that specialised dairy goats have a hormonal status (high growth hormone and low insulin concentrations) that promotes energy partitioning towards milk production. In contrast, dairy sheep exhibit low growth hormone and high insulin levels. This hormonal profile promotes the partitioning of dietary energy towards body reserve accumulation, especially during mid and late lactation. The findings suggest that to support milk production, dietary starch levels should be reduced in dairy sheep during mid-lactation by incorporating highly digestible fibre sources. In dairy goats, however, it is important to maintain a high-starch diet even during mid-lactation. The metabolic evidence discussed in this review is primarily based on studies conducted on Saanen goats and Sarda sheep under Mediterranean conditions, whereas the milk production evidence is also available for East Friesian and Assaf dairy sheep and for Murciano-Granadina and Sarda dairy goats. Thus, further studies should be considered to confirm the general applicability of these findings and the mechanism suggested in different sheep and goat breeds.
Several studies suggest that dietary supplementation with rumen-protected choline (RPC) during the transition period may support lactation performance in dairy cows, but the metabolic responses underlying these effects remain incompletely understood. We conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines to evaluate the effects of RPC supplementation on selected blood metabolites and liver-function indicators in dairy cows. A comprehensive literature search in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar identified 18 articles and one dissertation, comprising 29 studies eligible for meta-analysis. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. A one-stage random-effects dose-response meta-analysis with restricted cubic splines was used to evaluate the effect of nominal choline chloride dose on blood concentrations of free fatty acids, β-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and aspartate aminotransferase. RPC supplementation did not significantly affect blood fatty acid, β-hydroxybutyrate, or glucose concentrations before or after calving. Prepartum total cholesterol showed a non-linear response, with the greatest estimated reduction at approximately 7 g/d of choline chloride and a significant increase from approximately 27 g/d onward. Prepartum triglyceride concentrations were reduced within the 18-21 g/d dose range. Postpartum aspartate aminotransferase activity showed the greatest estimated reduction at approximately 10 g/d, with significant reductions maintained up to approximately 18 g/d. These findings suggest that RPC supplementation may influence selected lipid-related and liver-function indicators during the transition period. However, the dose-response curves are based on nominal choline chloride equivalents and should not be interpreted as estimates of absorbed or bioavailable choline supply. These findings should be interpreted cautiously because methionine supply, DM intake, and product-specific rumen-protection characteristics were inconsistently reported across studies.
Baroque horses represent a distinctive group of breeds that emerged mainly between the 16th and 18th centuries, shaped by the demands of European royalty and their courts. Although recognised as separate breeds, they share common ancestry, breeding goals, and historical gene flow. This study aimed to evaluate their genomic diversity, population structure, and admixture patterns. We analysed 1 160 individuals from eight breeds - Lipizzan, Old Kladruby Horse, Pura Raza Española, Lusitano, Friesian, Criollo, Peruvian Paso, and Puerto Rican Paso Fino - using 34 026 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, with the Croatian Arab horse included as an outgroup. The Lipizzan was further divided into national subpopulations, the two Old Kladruby subpopulations defined by colour (black and grey), and within the Pura Raza Española, the Carthusian strain was treated as a distinct subpopulation. Observed genetic diversity, measured by heterozygosity and haplotype richness, was broadly comparable across breeds, although clear differences were observed between breeds with the lowest values (Friesian) and those with the highest values (Lusitano and Criollo). Genomic inbreeding coefficients, estimated using runs of homozygosity (FROH>2Mb) and homozygosity-by-descent segments (FHBD), ranged from ∼0.06 to ∼0.29 and ∼0.14 to ∼0.27, respectively. These values indicate relatively high levels of inbreeding, which may reflect the closed breeding structure of the populations and their relatively limited effective population sizes. In contrast, most individual inbreeding coefficient (FIS) values were negative, reflecting deliberate avoidance of close-relative matings. Estimates of contemporary effective population size (NeLD) ranged from ∼50 to ∼240 across breeds, depending on the method. Historical NeLD trajectories revealed two distinct demographic decline patterns: one occurring around 12 generations ago and the other around 22 generations ago. Evidence of recent between-breed gene flow was detected among Iberian breeds and between Croatian Arab and Lusitano, whereas shared historical ancestry among Baroque breeds was evident across populations. These results provide new insights into the genomic architecture of Baroque horses and offer valuable guidance for managing their genetic diversity.
