Livestock Science最新文献

{"title":"Grazing lambs on a low-input, multispecies pasture for an extended period has no detrimental effect on meat nutritional or sensory quality","authors":"K.E. Kliem ,&nbsp;D.J. Humphries ,&nbsp;S. Lignou ,&nbsp;D.T. Juniper","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105629","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105629","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is an increasing interest in low-input, multispecies swards as a sustainable forage for ruminant production, but the impact of grazing these over extended periods of time on meat nutritional quality (fatty acid (<strong>FA</strong>) profile, trace minerals and oxidisability risk) and sensory properties is unclear. Thirty lambs were grazed for 133 days on either a perennial ryegrass (<strong>PRG</strong>) or botanically diverse (containing twelve plant species, <strong>BD</strong>), pasture. The effects on the FA composition of <em>musculus longissimus thoracis</em> (lean and subcutaneous fat), zinc and iron content (lean), glutathione perioxidase (<strong>GSH-Px</strong>) activity (lean and plasma) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (<strong>TBARS</strong>) content (lean) were determined, and cooked meat was assessed for sensory properties using a trained sensory panel. BD lambs were lighter (<em>P</em> = 0.014) and had a lower weekly live weight gain (<em>P</em> = 0.017) than PRG, which was probably due to the nutritional quality of the pasture. BD pasture increased (<em>P &lt;</em> 0.05) 18:2 n-6 content in lean and subcutaneous fat, and there was no effect (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05) on other polyunsaturated FA (<strong>PUFA</strong>), GSH-Px activity or TBARS content. BD pasture increased (<em>P</em> = 0.038) lean tissue zinc content compared with PRG but did not affect iron (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). Pasture type had no impact (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05) on meat aroma and flavour sensory properties. It was concluded that grazing BD for an extended period did not negatively affect the nutritional and eating quality of lamb meat compared with PRG, and as such is suitable for finishing lambs. In order to benefit economically from including a BD pasture in a lamb finishing system, producers may need to consider an earlier slaughter target weight, depending on live weight gain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 105629"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genetic parameters for the occurrence of bovine viral diarrhea virus in Holstein cattle in Brazil","authors":"Simone Soares da Silva ,&nbsp;Denyus Augusto de Oliveira Padilha ,&nbsp;Altair Antônio Valloto ,&nbsp;Rodrigo de Almeida Teixeira ,&nbsp;Laila Talarico Dias","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105645","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105645","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a significant infectious disease that affects livestock worldwide and is primarily associated with reproductive problems. Due to the absence of studies that have determined genetic parameters for the disease, the aim of this study was to estimate the heritability coefficient for the occurrence of BVDV and the correlation between estimated breeding values (EBVs) for BVDV and EBVs for productive, reproductive, and health traits in Holstein dairy cattle in Brazil. 18,464 BVDV phenotypes from animals tested between September 2015 and June 2021 across 8 commercial dairy farms were provided by the Holstein Cattle Breeders Association of Parana State, Brazil. Animals with an ELISA antigen test equal to or greater than 0.3 were classified as BVDV positive, and the prevalence of the disease was determined. For the genetic analyses, 6,202 phenotypes were used. Heritability coefficient and EBVs were estimated using a threshold animal model with GIBBSF90+ software, considering as fixed the effect of the class of animal's age (calves, from 1 to 183 days old; young animals, from 184 to 365 days old; heifers, from 366 to 599 days old; primiparous cows, from 600 to 1,000 days old; and multiparous cows, from 1,001 to 3,650 days old), as random the effect of the contemporary group (herd-year-season of the test), direct additive genetic, and residual. Pearson correlations were performed among the EBVs of bulls estimated for BVDV and the EBVs for productive, reproductive and health traits obtained from the Council on Dairy Cattle Breeding database. The overall prevalence of BVDV infection was 2.56 %. The estimated heritability was 0.18±0.09, suggesting some genetic variability. Most of the correlation estimates among EBVs were negative, non-significant, and close to zero. However, the estimates among BVDV and some traits were low-magnitude, negative, and significant (P&lt;0.05) as Productive Life (-0.13), Daughter Pregnancy Rate (-0.07), Cow Conception Rate (-0.11), Cow Livability (-0.15), Displaced Abomasum (-0.11), Ketosis (-0.06), Mastitis (-0.09), and Feed Saved (-0.07). Therefore, genetic selection has limited potential in addressing the occurrence of BVDV. Nevertheless, it is recognized that the combination of disease eradication protocols with better-organized recording of phenotypes in herds could enable farms to improve herd health and animal welfare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 105645"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of climate change on the productivity and adaptation of Ethiopia's Bonga and Menz sheep breeds","authors":"Zeleke Tesema ,&nbsp;Tesfaye Getachew ,&nbsp;Berhanu Belay ,&nbsp;Yosef Amha ,&nbsp;Mourad Rekik ,&nbsp;Barbara Rischkowsky ,&nbsp;Shanbel Besufkad ,&nbsp;Zelalem Abate ,&nbsp;Tamrat Bekele ,&nbsp;Teferi Demissie ,&nbsp;Dawit Solomon ,&nbsp;Aynalem Haile","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105633","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105633","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to derive novel phenotypes of sheep resilience and response to climate change, to estimate genetic parameters for novel phenotypes, and to evaluate the genetic correlation of resilience indicator traits with economically important traits. This study used the 14 years (2009–2022) of productive, reproductive, pedigree, and climate data to derive resilience and stability phenotypes using a random regression model fitting to the reaction norm function and genetic parameter estimates were estimated from a linear mixed model. The changes in productive and reproductive performance of both sheep breeds in response to environmental descriptors ((temperature-humidity index (THI) and rainfall (RF)) were found to be minimal and not significantly (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05) different from zero, suggesting that most of these traits showed stable performance independent of THI and RF. The direct heritability (h²) estimate (0.101–0.163) for the resilience of Bonga sheep in terms of weight gain, Kleiber ratio (KR), total lamb birth weight, and annual reproduction rate (ARR) indicated the presence of substantial genetic variance. Nevertheless, the h² for resilience and stability phenotypes of Bonga sheep in terms of other reproductive traits were found to be low (0.0001 – 0.098). The highest h² for resilience of Menz sheep was observed for total lamb weaning weight (0.416), followed by body weight (0.145), KR (0.114), and ARR (0.110). The genetic progress of THI-based resilience was favorable for most of the traits of Bonga sheep. The genetic trend for rainfall-based resilience for most productive and reproductive traits of Menz sheep was genetically decreasing slightly. In conclusion, the influence of heat stress and rainfall on the performance of both sheep breeds is minimal. But different lambs and ewes react differently to a changing climate, and there is some level of genetic contribution to the variability of reaction for some traits. This suggests the possibility of improving the resilience of sheep to weather variation through within-breed selection to sustain these sheep breeds' optimal production and reproduction performances in changing climate conditions, although the influence is minimal. Besides, the contribution of the environment to phenotypic variation of resilience and stability phenotypes was high for most traits, which calls for management intervention to enhance sheep resilience to climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 105633"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nursing frequency, duration and teat location affect immunoglobulin concentrations in piglets","authors":"Abigail K. Jenkins ,&nbsp;Courtney M. Clemons,&nbsp;William L. Flowers","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105631","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105631","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two experiments were conducted. The objective of the first experiment was to determine whether the anatomical location of teats affected colostrum quality. Colostrum composition from the first two, middle three, and last three pairs of teats from 18 sows was determined 1 to 2 h before and 24 h after the birth of the first piglet. Protein, IgG and IgA were significantly reduced (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.05), while lactose and fat tended to be reduced (0.05 ≤ <em>P</em> ≤ 0.1) in posterior teats. Immunoglobulin concentrations decreased (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.05) significantly over time regardless of anatomical location. The objective of the second experiment was to determine how much of the variation in piglet immunoglobulin levels was associated with suckling behaviors when considered in conjunction with sow and piglet birth characteristics. Piglet birth variables and suckling behaviors were recorded for 587 piglets from 43 litters beginning with the birth of the first piglet until 4 h after the sow expelled her placenta. Piglet immunocrits were measured 30 ± 3 h after the onset of farrowing. Ten variables from the multiple regression analysis were identified as sources of variation (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.15) for piglet immunocrits (model R² = 0.6486) with pigs born alive in the current litter (partial R² = 0.1596; <em>P</em> = 0.0008) and the anatomical location of the pair of teats suckled most (partial R²=0.1410; <em>P</em> = 0.0001) being the most important. Piglets that suckled the last three pairs of teats had reduced immunocrits (<em>P</em> = 0.01; 0.073 ± 0.003) compared with those that suckled the anterior (0.081 ± 0.002) and middle (0.083 ± 0.003) pairs. Piglets from litters with &gt;16 liveborn had reduced (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.05) immunocrits (0.071 ± 0.002) compared with those from smaller litters (0.079 ± 0.001). The total number of teat pairs suckled (partial R²=0.0615; <em>P</em> = 0.0489), total time observed suckling (partial R²=0.0389; <em>P</em> = 0.0498), average pigs born alive from previous parities (partial R²=0.0889; <em>P</em> = 0.0005), birthweight (partial R² = 0.0538; <em>P</em> = 0.0497), and time between a piglet's birth and the onset of farrowing (partial R² = 0.0776; <em>P</em> = 0.0007) were other variables with significant associations with immunocrits. This study demonstrated that suckling behaviors are a significant source of variation for consumption of immunoglobulins and piglets that suckle posterior teats most frequently post-farrowing are at risk for low consumption because of the reduced amount of colostral immunoglobulins produced in those mammary glands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 105631"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095440","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mode of synergistic action of hydrolyzable tannins and probiotic microorganisms on the growth performance, immunology, ileal histomorphology and microbiology in broiler chickens","authors":"Mohammad Hassan Akhoundzadeh ,&nbsp;Amir Hossein Mahdavi ,&nbsp;Mohammad Sedghi ,&nbsp;Mehdi Shahsavan","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105648","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105648","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The current study was conducted to evaluate the synergistic effects of three concentrations of either hydrolyzable tannin (HT; g/kg) or probiotic microorganisms (PM; g/kg) on the intestinal microbiota, histomorphology, immunological responses, and growth performance of broiler chickens. A total of 1404 one-day-old female broiler chickens were randomly assigned to nine experimental treatments with six replicates and each pen as a replicate contained 26 chickens. Treatments consisted of a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, consisting of 0, 0.75, and 1.5 g HT/kg of diet (0 HT, 0.75 HT, and 1.5 HT) and 0, 0.1, and 0.2 g PM/kg of diet (0 PM, 0.1 PM, and 0.2 PM). The results showed that dietary inclusion of 0.75 HT + 0.1 PM resulted in the greatest average daily weight gain (ADWG) with improved feed conversion ratio (FCR), increased immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, and total antibody titers against sheep red blood cell, increased ileal villi length (VL), and the heaviest relative weight of bursa of Fabricius (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Broiler chickens fed only with 0.75 HT benefited from the largest ADWG, smallest FCR, heterophils to lymphocytes ratio (H:L), ileal <em>E. coli</em> count, and greatest ileal villi length to crypt depth ratio (VL:CD), and immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, and total antibody titers against sheep red blood cell (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Nevertheless, feeding 1.5 HT led to a decrease in ADWG, humoral immune response, liver relative weight, VL:CD, and an increase in FCR, the numbers of goblet cells, and H:L (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Similarly, dietary administrations of 0.2 PM caused the greatest numbers of monocytes, intestinal <em>Lactobacillus</em>, lamina propria lymphoid follicles, goblet cells, and the lowest H:L as well as pH of the ileal content, and <em>E. coli</em> enumeration (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). In general, the present findings would indicate that although dietary inclusion of 0.2 PM improved the growth performance and either microbial or histological indices at the ileum of broiler chickens, feeding 0.75 HT + 0.1 PM, without an adverse effect on gut microbiota, manifested the best synergistic effects on the growth performance of broiler chickens via improvement of humoral immunity, relative weights of lymphoid organs, and the ileal absorptive area.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 105648"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of a supplement of potassium formate and/or probiotic to the feed on the protection of piglets gastrointestinal tract against the negative effects of pathogenic bacteria","authors":"Marek Pieszka ,&nbsp;Kinga Szczepanik ,&nbsp;Sylwia Orczewska-Dudek ,&nbsp;Marian Kamyczek ,&nbsp;Bogdan Śliwiński ,&nbsp;Łukasz Gala ,&nbsp;Magdalena Pieszka","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105637","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105637","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study aimed to evaluate the effects of potassium formate and/or probiotics in feed on intestinal microflora stability, gastrointestinal tissue histomorphometry, enzyme activity, and the growth of piglets. Animals in each group were kept in pens consisting of 6 litters per group. Piglets received: control (no supplement), D1 (potassium formate), and D2 (potassium formate and probiotic). Feed additives had a positive effect on piglet rearing traits, including final body weight (D2: 22.75 kg vs. D1: 20.26 kg and control: 18.96 kg). Histomorphometric analysis revealed wider ileum intestine crypts in the D1 group compared to the other groups (P = 0.048). The additives reduced acetic acid levels in D1 and D2 (48.04 and 42.02 mmol/kg vs. 63.10 mmol/kg) and increased propionic acid (23.80 mmol/kg in control to 30.27 and 33.18 mmol/kg in D1 and D2). Significant increases were also noted in butyric (9.95 vs. 16.88 and 18.98 mmol/kg, P = 0.014) and isobutyric acid levels (0.45 vs. 1.14 and 2.00 mmol/kg, P = 0.024). Jejunum saccharase and aminopeptidase N activity were significantly higher in the experimental groups, while HPT and CRP protein levels were higher in the control (19.77 vs. 16.37 and 14.22 ng/ml; 4.99 vs. 2.91 and 2.67 ng/ml, respectively). IgG content was also greater in the control group (1.945 mg/ml) compared to D1 (1.381 mg/ml) and D2 (1.432 mg/ml). The simultaneous use of potassium formate or potassium formate with a probiotic shows a great positive influence on status of health in the pre-weaning period of piglets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 105637"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The teat number in rabbits: The possibility and benefits of selection for this trait","authors":"Zsolt Szendrő","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The purpose of the review is to present the distribution of teat number in rabbits, its relationship with some reproductive traits, and the possibility and limitations of selection for increasing teat number. In many mammal species, it has been observed that the number of offspring born is typically half as many or at most equal to the number of teats (\"one-half rule\"). While this rule holds true for European wild rabbits, it is no longer applicable for domesticated rabbits. Teat numbers most commonly range from 8 to 10, while litter size of hybrid rabbits typically fall between 10 and 12. A weak correlation was found between teat number and litter size at birth, but a closer relationship was observed between teat number and the survival of suckling kits or litter size at 3 weeks, especially in litters larger than 10. The high heritability of teat number was confirmed by the distribution of the teat number of the offspring from parents with 8 or 10 teats. Selection experiments have shown that it is possible to increase the average number of teats and the proportion of rabbits with 10 teats, although rabbits with 11 or 12 teats are rarely born. When selecting maternal lines, the number of teats should be considered to increase litter size. In the short term, selecting does with 10 teats is beneficial as it increases the chances of survival for kits during nursing, as they have more opportunities to access milk. In the long-term, this selective breeding strategy can lead to improved survival rates and overall reproductive success in rabbit populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 105635"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Implications of Commercial Cross-Fostering in Large Litters when Low Body Weight of Piglets is the Main Criterion”","authors":"Dubravko Škorput ,&nbsp;Zoran Luković ,&nbsp;Danijel Karolyi ,&nbsp;Dejan Škorjanc ,&nbsp;Ana Kaić ,&nbsp;Janko Skok ,&nbsp;Maja Prevolnik Povše","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105630","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105630","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 105630"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A case study on the cost-benefit perspective on the influence of high-protein Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (HP-DDGS) pricing and inclusion levels on economic sustainability in pig production","authors":"Pollyana Leite Matioli Garbossa ,&nbsp;Mirele Daiana Poleti ,&nbsp;Cesar Augusto Pospissil Garbossa ,&nbsp;Laya Kannan Silva Alves ,&nbsp;Rhuan Filipe Chaves ,&nbsp;Vinícius de Souza Cantarelli ,&nbsp;José Bento Sterman Ferraz","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105632","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105632","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conducting an economic analysis is essential to evaluate the feasibility of including HP-DDGS in feed, aiming to optimize costs and improve economic returns for producers. In this sense, we conducted an economic analysis of high-protein Distiller's Dried Grains with Solubles (HP-DDGS) inclusion in pig diets, aiming to guide pig producers in decision-making for efficient use of production factors and favorable economic outcomes. Performance data were obtained from a nursery-to-finishing experiment with 500 piglets, assigned to one of five HP-DDGS inclusion levels: 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, and 40 %. The economic analysis, based on Neoclassical Economic Theory, considered implicit and explicit costs across production settings in two economic distinct scenarios. Additionally, two tools were developed to optimize HP-DDGS inclusion for the best cost-benefit ratio and economic return, focusing on the nutrition cost per kilogram of pig produced. Results indicated that HP-DDGS inclusion in the nursery phase could reduce feed costs and enhance economic returns. Despite being costlier than corn, HP-DDGS offered a better cost-benefit than diets without HP-DDGS. Even when feed costs rose in the scenario where HP-DDGS was pricier than corn and soybean meal, improved feed conversion and higher weights partially offset increased costs, maintaining economic viability. However, in nursery-to-finishing phases, higher HP-DDGS levels led to reduce performance. Under intermediate HP-DDGS pricing, lower production costs compensated for decrease in revenue, resulting in higher profitable. In contrast, high HP-DDGS pricing, coupled with reduced performance, led to economic inefficiency, failing to cover production costs. The challenge of HP-DDGS inclusion is balancing price and levels to minimize costs without affecting performance and revenue. Tools developed showed that when HP-DDGS costs up to 97.02 % of soybean meal and 66.75 % above corn, its inclusion at 40 % allows optimal cost-benefit and maximized returns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 105632"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dietary fibre fermentability quantitatively modulates faecal bacterial pathogens in sows and their offspring","authors":"Łukasz Grześkowiak,&nbsp;Wilfried Vahjen,&nbsp;Jürgen Zentek","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105636","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2024.105636","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dietary fibre is essential in shaping the gut microbiota of pigs, affecting their health. We hypothesised that different fibre fermentability in diets could impact the faecal microbiota and pathogen levels in pigs. The sows were fed diets supplemented with sugar beet pulp (SBP) or lignocellulose (LNC). Faecal samples from sows during gestation and lactation and from their piglets were subjected to DNA extraction, 16SrDNA sequencing and qPCR. In sows, <em>Clostridium perfringens</em> concentration was higher in LNC vs. SBP group at baseline. Seven days ante-partum, <em>Escherichia coli</em>-<em>Hafnia</em>-<em>Shigella</em> and segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) were higher in LNC vs. SBP (<em>p</em> = 0.015, <em>p</em> = 0.005, respectively), while <em>Clostridioides difficile</em> was higher in sows fed SBP vs. LNC (<em>p</em> = 0.029). One week post-partum, <em>E. coli-Hafnia-Shigella</em> and SFB were higher in LNC vs. SBP (<em>p</em> = 0.035, <em>p</em> = 0.032, respectively). Microbiota sequencing analysis showed age-based clustering of the piglets. In one-week-old piglets, the counts of <em>C. difficile</em> and TcdA were higher in LNC vs. SBP (<em>p</em> = 0.001 and <em>p</em> = 0.002, respectively). In 21-day-old piglets, <em>C. perfringens</em> was higher in LNC vs. SBP (<em>p</em> = 0.018). At weaning, <em>E. coli-Hafnia-Shigella</em> and <em>C. perfringens</em> were higher in piglets from LNC vs. SBP (<em>p</em> = 0.004 and <em>p</em> = 0.037, respectively). Two days post-weaning, <em>C. perfringens</em> was higher in piglets from LNC vs. SBP (<em>p</em> = 0.034). One week postweaning, <em>Streptococcus suis</em> was higher in piglets from SBP vs. LNC (<em>p</em> = 0.002). Two weeks post-weaning, <em>E. coli-Hafnia-Shigella</em> was higher in piglets from LNC vs. SBP (<em>p</em> = 0.048). Maternal dietary fibre influences early microbial programming in piglets, potentially affecting their susceptibility to gut pathogens. These findings highlight the importance of sow nutrition in shaping offspring resilience to infections and health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"292 ","pages":"Article 105636"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}