Livestock Science最新文献

{"title":"Unlocking potential, facing challenges: A review evaluating virtual fencing for sustainable cattle management","authors":"Jana Musinska ,&nbsp;Sylvie Skalickova ,&nbsp;Pavel Nevrkla ,&nbsp;Tomas Kopec ,&nbsp;Pavel Horky","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105693","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105693","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Virtual fencing systems are an innovative technology that uses GPS and wireless signals to create an invisible barrier around a designated area. It simplifies the work of the farmer, allows for easy paddock rotation, and enables real-time monitoring of the herd and animal behavior. However, more research and development is needed to fully realize the benefits of this technology. This review aimed to identify, critically appraise, and map the existing literature on the effectiveness and reliability of virtual fencing and its multifaceted impact on the welfare of cattle, considering both the positive effects and potential challenges associated with this technology.</div><div>Studies have shown that virtual fencing is highly effective and reliable for cattle. Although there have been cases of cattle crossing the virtual boundary, the vast majority of the time, the animals stayed within the designated area. It is important to provide a learning period where the animals learn to respond to the acoustic signal and respect the virtual boundary. Studies have not found any negative impact on welfare when using virtual fencing compared to conventional fences. However, future studies should focus on improving the accuracy of the system, developing alternative aversive stimuli, optimizing training protocols, investigating interindividual differences among animals, social learning and the long term effect of virtual fencing on the welfare of animals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 105693"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143799473","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":"Investigation of apparent digestibility, caecal fermentation and microbiota of rabbit fed with raffinose","authors":"Kai Yang,&nbsp;Shuo Yang,&nbsp;Zixuan Tie,&nbsp;Zhenxin Li,&nbsp;Meinan Ji,&nbsp;Kun Wang,&nbsp;Shugui Zheng,&nbsp;Fangfang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105692","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105692","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study aimed to investigate the influence on caecal microbial communities of the supplementation of raffinose (RA) in rabbit's diet, also considering apparent digestibility and caecal fermentation. Rabbits (<em>n</em> = 120) with a similar weight were randomly divided into four groups and fed a basal diet (RA0) and a basal diet supplemented with 0.5 g/kg RA (RA0.5), 1 g/kg RA (RA1) and 2 g/kg RA (RA2), respectively. 16 s rRNA high-throughput sequencing of the V3–V4 segment of the bacterial was performed on each group (<em>n</em> = 6). The results showed that, compared with the control group, dietary 0.5 g/kg RA inclusion improved the digestibility of crude protein (CP) (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Meanwhile, the proportion of volatile fatty acids, including propionate and butyrate, in the RA0.5 and RA1 groups were increased compared with the RA0 group (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Moreover, the microbiota diversity and richness of the cecum in RA0.5 group were significantly higher than other groups (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, at the phylum level, dietary 0.5 g/kg RA increased the relative abundance of <em>Bacteroidetes</em> and <em>Actinobacteria</em> (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05); At the genus level, feeding 0.5 g/kg RA increased the relative abundance of <em>Subdoligranulum</em> (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) analysis revealed potential metabolic changes associated with RA treatment, the microbial genes involved in the chlorocyclohexane and chlorobenzene degradation, phosphonate and phosphinate metabolism and methane metabolism pathways were all decreased in the present study (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Overall, diet supplemented with 0.5 g/kg RA is effective in improving CP digestibility and caecal fermentation, optimizing the cecum microflora of rabbits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 105692"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143769000","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":"Prevalence and severity of pale, soft, and exudative (PSE)-like zones in crossbred pigs (Yorkshire x Hampshire): Insights into season, gender, slaughter weight and technological meat traits","authors":"Qasim Mashood ,&nbsp;Anna Wallenbeck ,&nbsp;Susanne Eriksson ,&nbsp;Anna M. Johansson ,&nbsp;Anders H. Karlsson ,&nbsp;Katarina Arvidsson Segerkvist","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105690","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105690","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pale, soft, and exudative (PSE)-like zones in pork is a growing concern, affecting several meat quality attributes as well as production economics. This study investigates the prevalence and severity of PSE-like zones in Swedish commercial crossbred pigs (Yorkshire dam x Hampshire sire), focusing on the effects of the key factors such as season, gender, slaughter weight and technological meat quality traits. A total of 192 pigs were sampled during four seasons (autumn, winter, spring, summer) and assessed for post-slaughter PSE-like zones. Results revealed that season significantly influenced the prevalence of PSE-like zones, with a notably lower prevalence observed in summer compared to other seasons. Gender differences were also significant, with female pigs showing a higher incidence of PSE-like zones compared to immuno-castrated males. Additionally, slaughter weight was significantly associated with the prevalence of PSE-like zones, while the proportion of affected muscle weight notably influenced severity levels. Among technological meat quality traits, lightness (<em>L*</em>) and yellowness (<em>b*</em>) showed strong associations with both prevalence and severity, while redness (<em>a*</em>) demonstrated a significant association solely with severity. Additionally, ultimate temperature (Temp_24h) had a significant effect on prevalence of PSE-like zones. These findings underscore the importance of season-specific environmental management and handling practices to minimize the prevalence and severity of PSE-like zones. Future strategies integrating genetic selection, stress reduction measures, and optimized slaughter processes hold potential for improving meat quality outcomes in commercial pork production systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 105690"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143791468","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 latent variables derived from factor analysis of morphological and gait traits in Mangalarga Marchador horses","authors":"Cristian Silva Teixeira ,&nbsp;Yame Fabres Robaina Sancler-Silva ,&nbsp;Pedro Vital Brasil Ramos ,&nbsp;Eula Regina Carrara ,&nbsp;José Teodoro de Paiva ,&nbsp;Daniele Botelho Diniz Marques ,&nbsp;Moysés Nascimento ,&nbsp;Ana Carolina Campana Nascimento ,&nbsp;Tiago Toledo Bittencourt e Alves ,&nbsp;Paulo Sávio Lopes ,&nbsp;Fabyano Fonseca e Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105691","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105691","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Our aim was to assess the reduction of computational demand compared to traditional multivariate analyzes, as well as identify latent variables with biological relevance (pseudo-phenotypes) through a factor analysis for morphological and gait traits in MM horses, estimating their genetic parameters within a Bayesian framework. A total of 15 morphological and performance traits were collected from 50,172 horses: withers height, croup height, thoracic perimeter, cannon bone perimeter, head length, neck length, back and loin length, croup length, shoulder length, body length, head width, croup width, morphofunctional points, gait and total points. The dataset was provided by the Brazilian Association of Mangalarga Marchador Horse Breeders (ABCCMM). A factor analysis was performed and six latent factors that explained 73 % of the total variance of the data were extracted. From them, four factors showed biological relevance, namely: \"height\" (F1), \"gait ability\" (F2), \"robustness\" (F3), and \"head size\" (F4), and were explored in the genetic analysis. The heritability estimates for F1 and F4 were of moderate to high magnitudes (0.47 ± 0.10 and 0.39 ± 0.10 for F1 and F4, respectively). The genetic correlations ranged from zero to high magnitudes, with notable values observed between F1 and F4 (0.80 ± 0.00), F1 and F3 (0.44 ± 0.01), and F3 and F4 (0.33 ± 0.01). The factor analysis proved to be an adequate alternative for reducing the dimensionality of variables and, consequently, the computational demand in the genetic evaluation of MM horses. Moderate heritabilities indicate the possibility of effective selection of horses based on these traits. In general, the correlations suggest that the selection of factors may result in genetic gains ranging from negative to high for other factors. Therefore, two factors are recommended to be used as selection criteria in MM horse breeding programs, which could contribute to the genetic improvement of the breed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 105691"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143791466","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":"Using Bayesian regularized neural networks (BRNN) for predicting DRP of Holstein sires by including different SNP marker effects","authors":"Jeyran Jabbari Tourchi ,&nbsp;Sadegh Alijani ,&nbsp;Mohamadreza Afrazandeh","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105689","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105689","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are computational algorithm in the field of machine learning (ML) prediction methods. The aim of this research, was using two-layers Bayesian Regularized Neural Network (BRNN) by including both additive and dominance effects of SNP markers for prediction of reproductive traits’ de-regressed proofs (DRP) of Holstein sires. The studied reproductive traits were the age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), days open (DO) and daughter pregnancy rate (DPR). The genotypic information related to 2419 sires with 41,099 SNPs. DRP of these sires calculated using an animal model and the Garrick method (DRP_G). The predictive accuracy for the AFC_DRP trait ranged from 0.85 with additive effects to 0.89 when both additive and dominance components were considered. Similarly, the predictive accuracy for CI_DRP trait varied between 0.54 for additive effects and 0.55 when both dominance and additive effects were included. For DO_DRP trait the predictive accuracy ranged from 0.53 with additive effects to 0.55 with the inclusion of both dominance and additive effects. The accuracy for DPR_DRP trait ranged from 0.51 with additive to 0.53 both additive and dominance effect. For all studied traits accuracy of ANN were increased by adding dominance effect of SNP markers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 105689"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143817107","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":"Effect of feeding strategy on piglet growth and survival and milk production of loose-housed lactating sows","authors":"Signe Emilie Nielsen ,&nbsp;Julie Krogsdahl Bache ,&nbsp;Thomas Sønderby Bruun ,&nbsp;Anja Varmløse Strathe","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105668","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105668","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this study was to test how an increased number of daily feedings and different dosing speeds affect piglet growth and survival, sow BW and back fat thickness, and milk production of loose-housed lactating sows. A total of 424 parity 1 to 5 sows were allotted to one of three feeding strategies. All sows were fed the same lactation diets according to the same feeding curves. The control group (Fast3) was fed three times per day, and the entire ration was dosed at one time (high speed) into the trough. In the second group (Slow3), sows were also fed three times per day, but here, the ration was dosed at slow speed doses of 100 g of feed followed by a 60 second pause before feeding the next 100 g dose, resulting in sows standing up for &gt;20 min/feeding. In group three (Slow6), sows were fed six times per day at low speed. A colostrum sample was taken 12 h after farrowing and analyzed for DM, lactose, protein, casein, fat, immunoglobulins, and zinc. After farrowing, litters were standardized to 15 piglets. At standardization, d 6, d17, and at weaning, litter weight, litter size, sow BW and back fat thickness were registered. Milk samples were obtained at d 6 and 17 and analyzed for DM, lactose, protein, casein, fat, and zinc. Feed intake was greater in the Fast3 (7.62 kg/d) sows than in the Slow3 (7.45 kg/d) and Slow6 (7.50 kg/d) sows (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Sows in all three groups had the same litter size at weaning, average milk yield, and average daily litter gain. The composition of colostrum was not affected by feeding strategy. At d 6, the milk content and total daily output of DM, fat, protein, casein, and lactose were unaffected by feeding strategy. There was a higher zinc concentration in the milk of Fast3 sows compared to Slow6 sows (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) at d 6 of lactation. The DM, protein, and fat concentrations and total daily output of nutrients were not affected by feeding strategy at d 17. The lactose concentration of the milk at d 17 was lower in Slow3 sows than in Fast3 and Slow6 sows (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). The body weight and back fat thickness of sows were similar in all three groups. In conclusion, slower dosing of the feed ration or more daily feedings did not affect piglet survival.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"295 ","pages":"Article 105668"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143563459","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":"Phytase appeared to counterbalance the inimical effect on N balance of acidosis associated with displacing calcium carbonate with calcium chloride in grower pigs","authors":"Hengxiao Zhai ,&nbsp;Estefania Perez-Calvo ,&nbsp;Shikui Wang ,&nbsp;Jingcheng Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhenzhen Wang ,&nbsp;Aaron J. Cowieson","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105678","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105678","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The objective of this study was to evaluate CaCl₂ as a Ca source by measuring the balance of Ca, Cl, and P, as well as its effects on plasma and urine chemistry. Six experimental diets were arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial design with 3 Ca sources (limestone, CaCl₂, or their 1:1 mixture) and 2 phytase levels (0, and 1,000 FYT/kg). Each diet was fed to 8 individually housed barrows in metabolism cages, totaling 48 pigs for the study. Fecal and urinary samples were collected quantitatively for 5 days following a 5-day adaptation period. Blood samples were collected from the vena cava at the end of the study. The results showed that plasma glucose concentration was significantly higher in pigs fed CaCl₂ than in pigs fed only limestone. Gradually replacing limestone with CaCl₂ tended to increase plasma concentrations of amylase, K, Na, and P. The supplemental phytase significantly increased plasma P concentration but reduced plasma Ca and blood urea nitrogen concentrations. Urinary pH was significantly lower in pigs fed only CaCl₂ compared to other pigs. Phytase supplementation significantly reduced urinary concentration of Ca, and tended to reduce urinary concentration of N and to increase urinary concentration of P. Increasing inclusion of CaCl₂ in place of limestone resulted in stepwise increases in the apparent total tract digestibility and retention of Ca and P. The Cl intake, output through feces and urine, and retention increased stepwise with higher levels of CaCl₂ (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Phytase significantly decreased Ca and P output through feces and increased their retention. There was a decrease in retention of CP in diet including only CaCl₂ compared to other diets without phytase, but an increase in the presence of phytase. In conclusion, the current study shows that CaCl₂ has higher Ca bioavailability than limestone and can reduce urinary pH, potentially reducing emission of NH₃ from slurry. However, the accumulation of Cl in pigs can disrupt the systemic acid-base balance and might cause damage to some organs such as the pancreas. Therefore, CaCl₂ can be used as a Ca source only if its Cl contribution does not endanger dietary electrolyte balance. Additionally, phytase appeared to ameliorate the inimical effect of acidosis associated with CaCl₂ supplementation on N balance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"294 ","pages":"Article 105678"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143563161","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":"Potential of a combined diet containing probiotics and enzymes modulates the performance of fattening goats","authors":"Jiawei Lu ,&nbsp;Zili Chen ,&nbsp;Qin Gao ,&nbsp;Peizhen Li ,&nbsp;Jingang Wang ,&nbsp;Yu Cai ,&nbsp;Zhibo Wang ,&nbsp;Dongxu Li ,&nbsp;Zongyou Wei ,&nbsp;Feng Wang ,&nbsp;Yanli Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105670","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105670","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aimed at exploring the effects of the probiotic and enzyme administration on nutrient digestibility, rumen morphology, meat quality, and carcass traits in fattening (Yangtse River Delta White) goats. Sixty goats were randomly distributed into three groups, the CON group (a basal diet), the PRO group (a probiotics diet), and the COM group (a combined diet of probiotics and enzymes). The additives amount of <em>B. subtilis, B. licheniformis</em>, and enzymes was 0.06 %, 0.06 %, and 0.02 %, respectively. Probiotics consisted of <em>B. subtilis</em> and <em>B. licheniformis</em>. The composition of compound enzymes was cellulase, β-glucanase, amylase, xylanase, β-mannanase, and protease. Compared with the CON group, the COM group significantly increased the NFC digestibility (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) and tended to enlarge the NDF and ADF digestibility (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.10). Rumen morphology manifested that supplementation with probiotics and enzymes predominantly elongated the width of rumen papillae and the thickness of the muscle layer and epithelial cell layer (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Simultaneously, the PRO group and COM group dramatically improved the intensities of b* (yellowness) (<em>P</em> = 0.001) and H* (hue angle) (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) in the meat of goats. The combined diet also enriched the carcass traits of goats. Summarily, these results indicate that the combined diet improves nutrient digestibility, meat quality, and carcass traits and modulates the rumen morphology of Yangtse River Delta White goats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"294 ","pages":"Article 105670"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143520800","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":"Detection of anemic sheep using ocular conjunctiva images and deep learning algorithms","authors":"Luara A. Freitas ,&nbsp;Rafael E.P. Ferreira ,&nbsp;Anderson A.C. Alves ,&nbsp;João R.R. Dórea ,&nbsp;Claudia C.P. Paz ,&nbsp;Guilherme J.M. Rosa","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105669","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105669","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In sheep, severe anemia often results from gastrointestinal nematode infections, commonly caused by <em>Haemonchus contortus</em>, a blood-sucking nematode. The objective of this study was to develop a model to predict packed cell volume (PCV) in sheep through ocular conjunctiva images as a real-time anemia diagnosis approach. The dataset consisted of 3,441 ocular conjunctiva images collected from 392 sheep from three different farms using a smartphone camera. To identify the region of interest in the images (ocular conjunctiva), we annotated 480 images using the Segment Anything Model (SAM). Subsequently, we employed an image segmentation algorithm based on U-net, utilizing the original images and annotations obtained from SAM. We then cropped the segmented images to retain only the ocular conjunctiva region. These cropped and segmented images were used as input data, with PCV as the target variable, in both regression and classification models. We assessed the performance of three different deep neural network (DNN) architectures: VGG19, Inception v3, and Xception. For the classification tasks, a threshold of 27 % (anemic &lt; 27 %, non-anemic ≥ 27 %) was used to convert PCV into a binary variable. The dataset was split into training, validation, and testing sets using random sampling by sheep. The segmentation was evaluated using intersection over union (IoU). To compare the predictive quality in the testing set, we computed the R², Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC), and Root Mean Square Error of Prediction (RMSEP) for the regression models, and the accuracy, precision, recall, and <em>F</em>₁ score for the classification tasks. The U-net segmentation model demonstrated reliable segmentation ability, with an average IoU of 0.93, 0.84, and 0.68 in the training, validation, and testing sets, respectively. For regression, the Xception architecture provided the best performance with an R² of 0.24. For the classification models, VGG19 outperformed the other models in classifying individuals as anemic or non-anemic, achieving an <em>F</em>₁ score of 0.62, indicating its moderate ability to distinguish between these two classes. This innovative approach not only expands the possibilities for integrated high-throughput phenotyping through computer vision, but also aids in identifying anemic animals. The results suggest that integrating ocular conjunctiva images with DNN algorithms can contribute to supporting farm-level management decisions, and potentially reduce economic losses due to parasitic infections like <em>H. contortus</em>. Furthermore, this approach not only facilitates real-time anemia diagnosis but also optimizes the use of blood tests, potentially reducing associated costs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"294 ","pages":"Article 105669"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143551896","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":"Performance and feed intake of Nellore steers in extensive, intensive, and integrated pasture-based beef cattle production systems","authors":"Rolando Pasquini Neto ,&nbsp;Althieres José Furtado ,&nbsp;Gabriele Voltareli da Silva ,&nbsp;Annelise Aila Gomes Lobo ,&nbsp;Adibe Luiz Abdalla Filho ,&nbsp;Flavio Perna Junior ,&nbsp;Alexandre Berndt ,&nbsp;Sérgio Raposo de Medeiros ,&nbsp;André de Faria Pedroso ,&nbsp;Patrícia Perondi Anchão de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Paulo Henrique Mazza Rodrigues","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effects of five pasture-based production systems on the backgrounding-finishing phase performance and feed intake traits of <em>Nellore</em> steers. Over two years (2019–2021), steers (three/year/experimental unit) were randomly assigned to five treatments (with two replicates): 1) degraded pasture without nitrogen (N) fertilization (DP0); 2) silvopastoral with 200 kg N ha⁻¹ (SP200); 3) rainfed pasture with 200 kg N ha⁻¹ (RP200); 4) rainfed pasture with 400 kg N ha⁻¹ (RP400); and 5) irrigated pasture with 600 kg N ha⁻¹ (IP600). Animals grazed exclusively, receiving water and mineral-protein supplement ad libitum. IP600, RP400, and RP200 resulted in the highest Forage and Total Dry Matter Intake (DMI), correlating to superior performance. Supplement DMI was highest in DP0 and lowest in IP600. Considering the seasons, higher stocking rates [expressed in Animal Units (AU) and Equivalents (AE)] were observed in IP600 compared with SP200 (spring and winter), and with RP200, DP0 and SP200 (summer and autumn). Forage allowance and feed efficiency varied seasonally across treatments, influenced by defoliation frequency, intake patterns, and leaf preference during grazing intensity adjustments. During the dry period, performance declined across most treatments due to reduced pasture production, except for IP600, RP400, and RP200, which demonstrated resilience to drought and seasonal variability. Intensified and well-managed systems (IP600, RP400, and RP200) enhanced animal performance and feed intake, suggesting their potential as sustainable pasture management strategies. SP200 and DP0, however, may require tailored management strategies to optimize their benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"294 ","pages":"Article 105667"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143534312","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}