Livestock Science最新文献

{"title":"Growth rate and carcass characteristics of Scottish Blackface and Texel x Scottish Blackface lambs offered forage brassica, perennial ryegrass or cereal based concentrate diets","authors":"M.A. Dolan ,&nbsp;T.M. Boland ,&nbsp;N.A. Claffey ,&nbsp;F.P. Campion","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105765","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105765","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examined the performance of lambs offered one of six diet types; <em>ad-libitum</em> concentrates (ALC), forage rape (<em>Brassica napus</em> L. <em>FR</em>), hybrid brassica (<em>Brassica napus</em> L. <em>HB</em>), kale (<em>Brassica oleracea</em> L. <em>K)</em>, permanent pasture (predominantly <em>Lolium perenne.</em> PP) or reseeded perennial ryegrass (<em>Lolium perenne.</em> RS). Lamb grazing days (LGD) were higher for FR, HB and K compared to PP and RS (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Lambs offered ALC had higher average daily gain (ADG) compared to lambs offered FR, HB and K (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Lambs offered PP and RS had the lowest ADG (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Texel x Scottish Blackface (TXSB) lambs achieved a higher ADG compared to Scottish Blackface (SBF) entire males or SBF castrate males offered ALC, FR, HB, K and RS (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). SBF entire males achieved a higher ADG compared to SBF castrate males offered ALC, FR and PP (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). Lambs, slaughtered at ≥40 kg live weight, offered ALC had higher slaughter and carcass weights compared to lambs offered FR, HB and K (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.0001). TXSB lambs had lower carcass fat and superior carcass conformation than SBF entire males and SBF castrate males (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). The results indicate that ALC diet maximises ADG, but lambs offered FR, HB and K outperform those offered PP and RS during autumn/winter grazing. PP and RS swards were inadequate for finishing lambs in the autumn/winter period due to the decline in nutritive quality and lower LGD compared to FR, HB and K.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 105765"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144597349","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":"Genetic parameters and single-step genomic predictions for feed efficiency, carcass, and meat quality traits in Senepol beef cattle","authors":"Clélia Soares de Assis ,&nbsp;Fernando dos Santos Magaço ,&nbsp;José António Fernandes Júnior ,&nbsp;Marcelo Neves Ribas ,&nbsp;Gilberto Romeiro de Oliveira Menezes ,&nbsp;Claudiana de Fátima Miranda ,&nbsp;Idalmo Garcia Pereira","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105753","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105753","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Improving feed efficiency, carcass, and meat quality is crucial for sustainable beef production and meeting consumer demand. This study aimed to estimate (co)variance components and genetic parameters using pedigree and genomic information and assessed the impact of genomic data on genetic prediction for feed efficiency, carcass, and meat quality traits in Senepol beef cattle. Phenotypic data were available from 4194 animals for residual feed intake (RFI), 4071 for dry matter intake (DMI), 11,411 for rib eye area (REA), 11,165 for subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT), 9563 for marbling (MAR). Additionally, 4419 animals were genotyped. Genetic evaluations were performed using the traditional pedigree-based BLUP and the single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) via Bayesian inference, single-trait and multi-trait animal models. Predictive ability was validated through linear regression (LR) analysis, excluding 50 % of the phenotypic data. Heritability estimates were consistent across methods, ranging from 0.094 for RFI to 0.25 for REA. A positive genetic correlation (0.56) was observed between RFI and DMI, indicating that selection for lower RFI reduces DMI. However, an unfavorable positive correlation was observed between RFI and MAR (BLUP: 0.447; ssGBLUP: 0.33), suggesting that the intense selection for RFI alone could reduce marbling in the evaluated population. Genetic correlations were null between RFI-SFT and RFI-REA. Notably, ssGBLUP generally resulted in slightly reduced genetic correlation estimates for some traits. Overrall, ssGBLUP consistently yielded higher prediction accuracy, with an average increase of 16.20 % across traits compared to BLUP. These results underscore that incorporating genomic data significantly enhances genetic evaluation in Senepol beef cattle, enabling more accurate selection decisions for improved residual feed intake and meat quality traits in breeding programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 105753"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144490188","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":"Genetic parameters of fiber density traits and their relationship with textile traits in alpacas","authors":"Alan Cruz ,&nbsp;Edgar Quispe ,&nbsp;Alex Yucra ,&nbsp;Renzo Morante ,&nbsp;Alonso Burgos ,&nbsp;Max David Quispe ,&nbsp;Juan Pablo Gutiérrez ,&nbsp;Gustavo Gutiérrez-Reynoso","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105754","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105754","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Genetic improvement programs for alpacas that focus on reducing fiber diameter have succeeded in enhancing fiber quality but they have also decreased fleece weight. Fiber diameter and fleece weight have an unfavorable genetic correlation, which makes it difficult to improve both traits simultaneously. This study aimed to estimate the genetic parameters of fiber density traits, and their genetic correlations with fleece weight (FW), fiber diameter (FD), density score (DS) and percentage of medullation (PM), as well as to evaluate their incorporation as selection criteria to increase fleece weight. The density traits were the number of hair ducts per mm²(HD), number of fibers per mm² (NF) and the NF/HD ratio (RT). Fiber density traits were objectively measured by using high-resolution skin images taken from 402 Huacaya alpacas. Animal model was used to estimate genetic parameters. Pedigree (15,360 alpacas) and phenotype records for FW (11,271), DS (5,752), FD (8,763) and PM (8,763) were retrieved from the Pacomarca database. The heritability was 0.40±0.05, 0.47±0.03, 0.37±0.05, 0.34±0.02, 0.31±0.01, 0.28±0.01 and 0.16±0.01 for HD, NF, RT, DS, FD, PM and FW respectively. Favorable genetic correlations were found between NF-FW, NF-FD and DS-FW, with values of 0.36, -0.50 and 0.50, respectively. However, unfavorable genetic correlations were also found between FD-FW and PM-FW, with values of 0.35 and 0.24 respectively. NF is an appropriate selection criterion for improving fiber diameter, percentage of medullation and fleece weight simultaneously in Huacaya alpacas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 105754"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144471827","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":"Exogenous enzyme supplementation for beef cattle under different nutritional strategies during the rainy season: Performance and Metabolism","authors":"Cibeli A. Pedrini ,&nbsp;Anderson P. Acosta ,&nbsp;Alexandre Perdigão ,&nbsp;Victor V. Carvalho ,&nbsp;Tiago S. Acedo ,&nbsp;Erika R.S. Gandra ,&nbsp;Rafael H.B.T. Goes ,&nbsp;Jefferson R. Gandra","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105778","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105778","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed to evaluate the performance and metabolism of beef cattle in grazing systems under different nutritional strategies with enzyme supplementation. The experiment was carried out at the DSM Experimental Center in Rio Brilhante, MS, Brazil. Experiment 1 used one hundred and two Nellore steers with an average body weight (BW±SD) of 320±0.18 kg, were distributed in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Experiment 2 used five Nellore steers rumen cannulated steers with an average (BW±SD) of 350±0.18 kg and randomly distributed in a 5 × 5 Latin square with periods of 21 days. The treatments consisted: 1) supplementation strategy (protein supplement (PRO) at 0.1 % BW or protein-energy (PPE) supplement at 0.3 % BW); and 2) increasing levels of a mixture of exogenous enzymes [0 g of enzymes; 1 g/d Ronozyme WX (xylanase) and 3.75 g/d Ronozyme VP (beta-glucanase, pectinase and hemicellulose); and 2 g/d Ronozyme WX and 7.5 g/d Ronozyme VP. Experiment 1: Nutritional plans significantly influenced final weight, average daily gain, and supplement intake. Steers receiving the PPE supplement showed superior performance, with an average final weight of 432.63 kg compared to 390.21 kg for PRO. A quadratic effect was observed for final weight and average daily gain in animals on the PPE diet, with the maximum predicted enzyme level being 4.60 g/day. PRO animals showed a linear increase in growth with enzyme inclusion, achieving 0.881 kg/day weight gain. Experiment 2: Steers on the PPE nutritional plan showed higher supplement and crude protein intake compared to those on the PRO. The addition of a carbohydrase enzyme blends enhanced pasture, dry matter and crude protein intake. Digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and NDF was significantly higher for animals on the PPE. Steers receiving the PPE also showed higher ammoniacal nitrogen concentration, ruminal pH, and acetate levels, with a quadratic effect on butyrate concentration and linear effects on several ruminal parameters. Both nutritional plans, combined with carbohydrase enzymes, significantly improved performance in Nellore steers during the rainy season in central Brazil, enhancing final weight and average daily gain (ADG). Enzyme supplementation optimized ruminal fiber degradation and nutrient digestion, with 4.75 g/day yielding the best results for PPE. For PRO, a linear increase in enzyme levels up to 9.5 g/day improved NDF digestibility and performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 105778"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144597351","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":"Optimizing lambing efficiency: Alternative management strategies for Assaf ewe flocks","authors":"Cristina Hidalgo-González ,&nbsp;M.Pilar Rodríguez-Fernández ,&nbsp;Jaime Nieto ,&nbsp;M.Elena Pérez-García ,&nbsp;Javier Plaza ,&nbsp;Carlos Palacios","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105763","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105763","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Context&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Spain is a leading sheep milk producer in the EU, characterized by a wide variety of production systems across different regions and breeds. Achieving productive efficiency is critical for ensuring the economic viability of sheep farms, particularly in less favored territories.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study aims to evaluate management efficiency in sheep farming by using lambing and its influencing factors as the fundamental reference element (Decision-Making Unit: DMU).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Method&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The study employs the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method to assess the efficiency of various farming systems. We analyzed 2474 lambings of Assaf dairy ewes of different ages, collecting both productive and economic data from the study farm. The variables considered include the percentage of concentrated feed used during milking, lambing campaign, inter-lambing interval, rest days, age at lambing, number of lambings per ewe, genetic level, liveborn lambs, and milk production per lambing. The DEA method was utilized to calculate the technical efficiency of DMUs based on the best observed practices, each DMU was compared with others using six inputs and two outputs through MAXDEA software.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results and conclusions&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The results reveal that the third lambing is the most efficient, while the first lambing is the least. The model suggests a reduction in concentrate feed during lactation by 7 to 9.4 %. Optimal lambing should occur between February and April, with matings between September and November, thus avoiding the costs associated with estrus synchronization, though this may challenge continuous year-round milk production. The model also recommends reducing the inter-lambing interval to below 300 days and cutting resting days by 33.3 % to 58.5 %. The age at first lambing should be lowered to 15 months, with selection for rebreeding advised within the first three lambings. The highest number of lambs born is observed in the fourth lambing, averaging 2.4 offspring, while the most significant improvement in milk production is seen after the first lambing.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In conclusion, the DEA method optimizes the management of dairy sheep farms, leading to improved productive and economic outcomes. It suggests improving reproductive performance in order to reduce the number of days that animals remain unproductive. This involves reinforcing matings during the milking period, reducing the number of 'open' days, shortening the interval between lambings and removing unproductive animals from the flock. Contrary to traditional resource-intensive approaches, the model recommends reducing concentrate feed consumption during lactation.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Significance&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The significance of this study is twofold: First, it introduces a novel dimension to management efficiency analysis by using lambing as a decision variable, offering new avenues for studying productivity. Second,","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 105763"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144549161","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":"Rabbit gains: Does a free-range rearing build better muscle in rabbits?","authors":"Joanna Składanowska-Baryza ,&nbsp;Joanna Żochowska-Kujawska ,&nbsp;Małgorzata Sobczak ,&nbsp;Agnieszka Ludwiczak ,&nbsp;Marek Stanisz","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105776","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105776","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effects of two rabbit housing systems—conventional cages and park platforms—on slaughter traits, meat quality, and muscle fiber characteristics in broiler rabbits (PS19 × PS59). Rabbits reared in the park system exhibited significantly higher slaughter weights and lower fat deposition compared to those raised in cages. While hot and chilled carcass weights showed a tendency to increase in park-reared rabbits, dressing percentages remained unaffected. Organ weights such as liver and skin were significantly higher in the platform group, suggesting increased metabolic activity and physiological adaptation to enhanced mobility.</div><div>Meat from platform-reared rabbits demonstrated significantly lower pH and increased redness and yellowness indices, indicating improved color intensity. Texture analysis revealed higher plasticity in these rabbits, especially in the hindquarters, reflecting softer meat without altering shear force or nutritional composition. Although the proportions of muscle fiber types (I, IIA, IIB) were consistent across housing systems, rabbits from the park system showed significantly larger cross-sectional area, perimeter, and diameters of type IIA and IIB fibers, suggesting muscle fiber hypertrophy due to increased physical activity.</div><div>These findings suggest that enriched environments, such as park systems, not only improve animal welfare but also enhance meat quality attributes desirable to consumers—such as color and texture—without compromising nutritional value or production efficiency. The study supports the adoption of alternative housing systems in commercial rabbit farming as a viable strategy for promoting leaner, high-quality meat and improved muscle development, in line with consumer expectations for ethical and sustainable animal production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 105776"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144549159","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":"Effects of replacement of soybean meal with fermented soybean meal on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics in broiler","authors":"Ali Husnain ,&nbsp;Urooj Anwar ,&nbsp;Asfa Fatima ,&nbsp;Riaz Mustafa ,&nbsp;Umar Farooq ,&nbsp;Waseem Abbas ,&nbsp;Muhammad Farooq Khalid ,&nbsp;Muhammad Ashraf ,&nbsp;Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105779","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105779","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study's objective was to evaluate the impacts of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with fermented soybean meal (FSBM) in the diet of broilers on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and carcass characteristics. A total of 800 day-old broiler chicks weighing 39 <!--> <!-->± <!--> <!-->2 g were reared for the trial of 35 days. Chicks were randomly divided into four treatments of 10 replicates, having 20 chicks per replicate. Treatments were basal diet having 0 % FSBM (control group), 2.5 %, 5 % and 7.5 % replacement of SBM with FSBM. Weekly feed intake (FI), body weight gain and mortality were determined and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was also calculated. Ileal nutrient digestibility was determined on days 21 and 35 by using an external marker method. For the evaluation of carcass parameters, two birds from each replicate were randomly slaughtered on 35th day. The results showed that dietary treatments did not affect the FI of birds (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). However, the birds fed 2.5 % FSBM-based diet showed better weight gain and decrease in FCR (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Nutrient digestibility (ether extract and crude protein) was significantly enhanced (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) by 2.5 % FSBM on day 21st and 35th day (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Similarly, no effect was shown (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05) by dietary treatments on carcass characteristics on days 21 and 35 of the experiment. In conclusion, replacing 2.5 % of SBM with FSBM in the diet improves growth performance and ileal nutrient digestibility in broilers without affecting FI or carcass characteristics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 105779"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144579258","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 comparison of three nutritional models for estimating total metabolisable energy requirements for a ewe, beef breeding cow, lamb, and a calf/yearling in New Zealand’s pasture-only system","authors":"Joseph A. Adjabui,&nbsp;Patrick H.C. Morel,&nbsp;Stephen T. Morris,&nbsp;Paul R. Kenyon,&nbsp;Peter R. Tozer","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In New Zealand (NZ), the metabolisable energy requirements (MER) of ruminants can be estimated using nutritional models from Nicol and Brookes (2017), CSIRO (2007), and NZ’s Agricultural Inventory Model (AIM) of the Ministry for Primary Industries [MPI] (2022). The aim in this study was to calculate the total MER of a ewe, beef breeding cow, lamb, and a calf/yearling in a pasture-only system in NZ under the same assumptions to assess the extent and reasons for variations among the three commonly used nutritional models, and the implications for a given farm/s. The study utilised MER models from the three sources above using a factorial method. This method determines the MER for each physiological phase of an animal, to estimate total MER for each animal. The AIM (MPI 2022) model relative to Nicol and Brookes (2017), and CSIRO (2007) models respectively, estimated 13.4 % and 8.0 % higher MER for a ewe, 16.3 % and 16.6 % for a cow, 1.1 % and 2.0 % lower for a lamb, and 9.2 % and 9.2 % higher for a calf/yearling mainly due to a higher maintenance MER compared to the other models. This has implications for feed budgeting and stocking rates (SR) for a given farm, as the AIM (MPI 2022) model leads to a lower SR than the other two models for a given level of feed available. Energy balances and productivity could be negatively impacted if a model underestimates MER. This also yields different greenhouse gas (GHG) profiles, especially enteric methane, for a given farm and could potentially have financial consequences for farmers if an Emissions Trading Scheme was introduced. For consistency in ME estimates and GHG reporting, further research (feeding trials) is required to compare these model estimates to actual requirements of ruminants under NZ conditions. This could help identify the model that most accurately reflects MER for ruminants in the country.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"299 ","pages":"Article 105766"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144534545","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":"Ingestive behavior, intake and digestibility of nutrients, and water and nitrogen balance of lactating goats fed dehydrated grape pomace","authors":"Eduardo Michelon do Nascimento ,&nbsp;Thadeu Mariniello Silva ,&nbsp;Américo Fróes Garcez Neto ,&nbsp;Félix Barbosa Reis ,&nbsp;Elice Brunelle Lessa Santos ,&nbsp;Viviane Azevêdo Silva ,&nbsp;Anny Graycy Vasconcelos de Oliveira Lima ,&nbsp;Salete Alves de Moraes ,&nbsp;Tadeu Vinhas Voltolini ,&nbsp;Mário Adriano Ávila Queiroz ,&nbsp;Sanara Adrielle França Melo ,&nbsp;Steyce Neves Barbosa ,&nbsp;Daniel Ribeiro Menezes","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105726","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105726","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of agro-industrial waste as feed for dairy goats allows farmers to integrate alternative sources with conventional feeds. This study aimed to assess the ingestive behavior, intake, nutrient digestibility, and water and nitrogen balance in lactating Saanen goats. Eight multiparous Saanen goats, approximately four years old and weighing an average of 41.2±5.57 kg of body weight (BW; mean ± standard error of the mean), were included in a double Latin square (4×4) design. The treatments consisted of partially replacing the cactus pear with dehydrated grape pomace at 0, 90, 150, and 210 g/kg levels based on dry matter (DM). The diets were isoproteic (151 g/kg of crude protein; DM) and had a 60:40 roughage:concentrate ratio. Ingestive behavior was evaluated through visual observations. Samples of the ingredients, leftovers, and feces were analyzed to determine the content of DM, crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, and ash. The total feces production was used to determine indigestible neutral detergent fiber (NDFi). Water intake was measured to assess the water balance. The nitrogen balance was calculated using urine and feces. The data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear and quadratic regression at a significance level of 5%. Rumination time and neutral detergent fiber intake efficiency increased (30.4%; P = 0.001 and 46.9%; P = 0.046, respectively), while idling time decreased (12.3%; P = 0.008) with the inclusion of 210 g/kg of pomace. The digestibility of the crude protein decreased (51.4%; P &lt; 0.001) at the highest pomace level. A quadratic effect (P = 0.008) on fecal N was observed with highest value estimated to 175 g/kg of pomace. Milk urea N increased (55.6%; P = 0.016) at 210 g/kg of pomace. In conclusion, replacing cactus pear with dehydrated grape pomace in the diet of lactating goats increased the intake. Still, it reduced the digestibility of certain nutrients and led to greater N excretion through feces and milk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"298 ","pages":"Article 105726"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144205119","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":"Milk recording data highlight improvements in fertility and somatic cell counts but worsening longevity for the UK national dairy herd","authors":"Emma N. Taylor-Holt ,&nbsp;Mohamad A. Kossaibati ,&nbsp;Kulwant Channa ,&nbsp;James Hanks ,&nbsp;Nicholas M. Taylor","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105739","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105739","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Benchmarking of key performance indicators (KPIs) can be used by farmers and technical advisors to indicate areas for improvement and enable them to make more informed management decisions. Data for selected KPIs are readily available from a variety of sources. However, longitudinal data covering a mixture of KPIs in the same dataset are limited. Herein, milk recording data are used from a cross-section of 195 UK Friesian/Holstein herds which have milk recorded for a minimum of 10 years to examine trends in the median herds’ KPIs from 2014 to 2023. Herd size has increased by 15.8 % but cows are being culled at a younger age. Fertility parameters have improved, most notably conception rates increased from 32.9 % to 40.0 % and the percent of cows conceived 100 days post-partum (DPP) increased from 30.4 % to 39.0 %. From 2014 to 2021, milk yield per cow per year increased from 8394 kg to 8797 kg and lifetime milk yield per cow per day increased from 11.7 kg to 12.8 kg, but both decreased slightly in 2022 and 2023. Many somatic cell count (SCC) related parameters improved between 2014 and 2023. Notably, the percent of cows dried-off with no SCC recordings ≥ 200,000 cells/ml during a completed lactation increased from 39.7 % in 2014 to 51.0 % in 2023. Therefore, fertility and SCC related KPIs have demonstrated improvements but milk production appears to have peaked and recently plateaued, and the longevity of cows appears to have shortened. Decreased longevity appears at odds with pressure on farmers to attain environmental targets which would favour cows with longer, more productive lives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"298 ","pages":"Article 105739"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144185743","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}