Livestock Science最新文献

{"title":"Effects of modulating space density via the number of pigs in a pen on feeder use and feeder access in the finishing period","authors":"Mathilde Coutant,&nbsp;Noémie Menard,&nbsp;Lene J. Pedersen,&nbsp;Mona L.V. Larsen","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105807","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105807","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High stocking density can affect how finishing pigs access and use feeders. This study investigated how different space allowances, achieved by varying the number of pigs per pen, influenced feeder use and obstruction during the finishing period. A total of 197 pigs were assigned to one of three treatments: CON (18 pigs/pen, 0.7 m²/pig, <em>n</em> = 6 pens), SP9 (9 pigs/pen, 1.4 m²/pig, <em>n</em> = 6), and SP6 (6 pigs/pen, 2.8 m²/pig, <em>n</em> = 6). Each pen had one feeder with three headspaces. At weeks 2, 5, and 10, videos were recorded between 14:30 and 16:30 and scan-sampled every 20 seconds. Feeder use was defined as a pig with its head inside a headspace; feeder obstruction as a pig sitting or lying in front of a headspace, blocking access. Queuing was also recorded. Absolute feeder use was higher in CON than in SP9 and SP6 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), although use across the afternoon did not differ clearly between treatments. However, feeder obstruction was significantly more frequent in CON, particularly at week 10 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), with up to 75% of observations showing all headspaces blocked. Queuing was rare but mostly observed in CON. Across treatments, pigs preferred the outer headspaces (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), while obstruction occurred most often near the solid floor (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). In conclusion, high stocking density increases feeder obstruction, especially in later finishing stages. Reducing pig numbers per pen may improve access, but further refinement of pen and feeder design is recommended.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105807"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144932774","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":"Unveiling regulatory network of porcine oocyte IVM using integrated multi-omics","authors":"Yufen Jiang ,&nbsp;Helin Li ,&nbsp;Na Cheng ,&nbsp;Yuchen Han ,&nbsp;Qiue Xu ,&nbsp;Mingjin Li ,&nbsp;Muhammad Ameen Jamal ,&nbsp;Jianxiong Guo ,&nbsp;Honghui Li ,&nbsp;Hong-Jiang Wei ,&nbsp;Wenmin Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105806","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105806","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>In vitro</em> matured oocytes are an indispensable biological material for reproductive biology, as well as agricultural and biomedical research. However, the mechanisms underlying the oocyte maturation <em>in vitro</em> are not yet fully elucidated. Providing a systematic and comprehensive explanation of the complex regulatory network of oocyte maturation is challenging when relying on a single omics data. Therefore, we conducted transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic analyses to investigate the mechanism underlying the porcine oocytes maturation. The results revealed a total of 2624 differentially expressed genes, 127 proteins and 17 and metabolites. Among these, 759 genes were uniquely expressed in GV-stage oocytes and 336 genes were exclusively expressed in MII-stage oocytes. Genes highly expressed at GV-stage were primarily involved in cytoplasmic-related processes, whereas those at MII-stage were associated with nuclear meiotic division. A total of 22 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were upregulated, while 105 were downregulated in the MII-stage oocyte compared to GV-stage oocytes. Furthermore, 65 proteins including RAB22A, ITPRID2, KIF14, LAMB1, BTG4 were predominantly expressed at MII-stage oocytes. Similarly, six differential metabolites (DMs) were upregulated, while eleven were downregulated in the MII-stage oocytes. Integrated transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome analyses revealed that these differentially expressed components were enriched in glutathione metabolism pathway, highlighting the regulatory roles of DNA methylation, histone acetylation, nuclear transport, translational control, and post-translational modification in oocyte maturation. In conclusion, this multi-omics approach identified key regulators of porcine oocyte maturation <em>in vitro</em>, providing some theoretical basis for understanding the regulatory mechanisms involved.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105806"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144904305","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":"Intake, growth, feed efficiency, carcass characteristics and selected meat quality traits of beef cattle offered a barley-based concentrate with increasing levels of palm kernel expeller meal","authors":"M. McGee ,&nbsp;D. Magee ,&nbsp;E.G. O’Riordan ,&nbsp;A.K. Kelly ,&nbsp;A.P. Moloney","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105804","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105804","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two experiments were carried out to determine the effects of partial replacement of rolled barley (+soya bean meal) with palm kernel expeller meal (PK) - 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 g/kg fresh weight - in the concentrate, offered for 70 days as a 3.0 kg DM supplement to grass silage (Experiment 1) or ad libitum (Experiment 2), on intake, growth, feed efficiency (Experiments 1 and 2), carcass traits and meat quality characteristics (Experiment 2) of steers. In Experiment 1, there was a tendency for a linear decrease in total DM intake as inclusion of PK increased, but live weight gain was unaffected. In Experiment 2, inclusion of PK had no effect on total DM intake but there was a linear decrease in live weight gain and slaughter weight, and a linear increase in feed conversion ratio, as PK inclusion increased. There was a tendency for a linear decrease in carcass weight as inclusion of PK increased. Concentrate treatment did not affect subcutaneous fat or <em>M. Longissimus dorsi</em> muscle colour, but had a minor negative effect on muscle fatty acid composition in terms of human nutrition. In conclusion, inclusion of PK had no impact on animal growth when the concentrate was offered as a supplement to grass silage, but negatively impacted growth-related performance when it was offered ad libitum. Inclusion of PK had no commercial impact on muscle and fat colour, and did not affect the total saturated fatty acid concentration in muscle when the concentrate was offered ad libitum<em>.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105804"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144996747","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":"Genomic scans for selection signatures revealed candidate genes for adaptation and production traits in the Thai multibreed dairy cattle population","authors":"Thawee Laodim ,&nbsp;Skorn Koonawootrittriron ,&nbsp;Mauricio A. Elzo ,&nbsp;Thanathip Suwanasopee ,&nbsp;Danai Jattawa ,&nbsp;Mattaneeya Sarakul","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105803","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105803","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The genetic improvement of dairy cattle for tropical environments demands a balance between high productivity and adaptability. Although previous studies have explored genomic signatures in various cattle breeds, limited insights exist for the genetically diverse Thai multibreed dairy cattle population developed through crossbreeding of multiple <em>Bos taurus</em> and <em>Bos indicus</em> breeds with Holstein. This study aimed to uncover selection signatures and candidate genes underpinning adaptation and production traits in this population. Using genotype data from 2661 animals (73,762 SNPs), population structure was revealed via Discriminant Analysis of Principal Components (DAPC), identifying four genetically distinct groups. Integrated haplotype score (iHS) analysis identified 376 to 500 genomic regions under selection across groups, harboring 962 to 1657 genes. Seven strong candidate genes – <em>KLF12, MAP2K6, SPATA16, LAMA2, SLC25A28, WNT7A</em>, and <em>HHIPL2</em> – were linked to milk yield, fat synthesis, immune response, and adaptation. Annotation revealed 5036 to 7970 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) per group, with 26.53 % to 28–84 % overlapping with milk traits in groups 1 to 3, and 24.96 % with meat traits in group 4. The QTL enrichment highlighted significant traits such as milk fat yield, immunoglobulin G levels, tick resistance, and coat color, reflecting environmental selection pressures. These findings demonstrate how artificial selection shaped the genomic landscape of Thai dairy cattle, influencing traits critical for productivity, health, and climate resilience. This study provides a foundation for genomic selection strategies tailored to tropical dairy systems and underscores the potential of genetic marker information to enhance dairy cattle efficiency, productivity, and sustainability under region-specific challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105803"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144864750","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 impact of heat stress on growth and resilience phenotypes of sheep raised in a semi-arid environment of sub-Saharan Africa","authors":"E. Oyieng ,&nbsp;J.M.K Ojango ,&nbsp;M. Gauly ,&nbsp;C.C. Ekine-Dzivenu ,&nbsp;R. Mrode ,&nbsp;E.L. Clark ,&nbsp;R. Oloo ,&nbsp;S. König","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105794","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105794","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sheep production in Arid and Semi-Arid lands face immense heat stress with the changing climate. This study assessed the effect of heat stress on growth and developed resilience phenotypes of sheep raised in a semi-arid environment. Heat stress was measured by Temperature-Humidity Index (THI). Live body weight records of 4078 animals, belonging to pure Red Maasai (RRRR), pure Dorper (DDDD), and their crosses: 50%Dorper-50%RedMaasai (DDRR) and 75%Dorper-25%Red Maasai (DDDR) collected between 2003 and 2024 were analysed. Random regression models fitted with reaction norm functions were used to develop two resilience phenotypes: Response and Stability, at THI 70 and THI 85 representing varying heat stress. Animal mixed models were used to estimate genetic parameters. The THI breakpoints were 78.75, 78.71, 78.42 and 77.93 with a decline rate of 0.06 Kgs, 0.09 Kgs, 0.05 Kgs and 0.15 in live weight gain per unit change in THI for RRRR, DDDD, DDRR and DDDR respectively. The breed, sex, type of birth, dams’ parity and season of birth significantly (P&lt;0.05) affected the stability of growth at low and high heat stress. The heritability estimates of resilience traits ranged from 0.12 to 0.16. Genetic correlations of resilience phenotypes at THI 85 with pre-weaning live weight gain were antagonistic and significant (P&lt;0.05). With the changing climate, resilience phenotypes should be included in selection programs for sheep in the Arid and Semi-Arid lands for robust growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"301 ","pages":"Article 105794"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144858280","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 black garlic powder on immunoglobulin protein levels, hematological indicators, antioxidant capacity, and growth performance in broiler chickens","authors":"Mokhtar Fathi ,&nbsp;Kianoosh Zarrinkavyani ,&nbsp;Zahra Biranvand ,&nbsp;Shiva Maleki","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105791","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105791","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Black garlic (BG), a fermented form of <em>Allium sativum L</em>., is produced under carefully controlled conditions of temperature, humidity, and time. It contains numerous bioactive compounds that contribute to its medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. A total of 500 one-day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five treatment groups, each with five replicate pens (20 birds per pen). Dietary treatments were as follows: (1) control (fed a basal diet), (2) BGP-10 (basal diet + 10 g/kg black garlic powder), (3) BGP-20 (basal diet + 20 g/kg black garlic powder), (4) BGP-30 (basal diet + 30 g/kg black garlic powder), and (5) BGP-40 (basal diet + 40 g/kg black garlic powder). Results showed that birds in the BGP-20 group exhibited significantly higher body weight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI), along with improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and lower mortality rates compared to other groups (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Additionally, supplementation of garlic powder at 20 g/kg and more led to increased red blood cell (RBC) counts, hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, while reducing triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels in serum (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Antioxidant analysis revealed that birds receiving up to 20 g/kg of black garlic powder had higher glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, along with lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels than those in other treatments (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, supplementation with black garlic at levels up to 20 g/kg significantly increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentrations compared to other groups (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, incorporating 20 g/kg of black garlic (the fermented form of garlic) into poultry diets may enhance oxidative balance, growth performance, and immune in broiler chickens.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 105791"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144779345","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":"Assessment of welfare in pigs with docked and undocked tails during the weaner stage","authors":"Aloma Zoratti ,&nbsp;Isabella Pividori ,&nbsp;Mirco Corazzin ,&nbsp;Gianluca Chiarelli ,&nbsp;Luigi Faucitano ,&nbsp;Anna Zuliani ,&nbsp;Edi Piasentier","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105792","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105792","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tail integrity is a key welfare target in European pig farming. This study evaluated the welfare condition of weaner (28–84 days old) pigs with docked (D) and undocked (UD) tails on a commercial farm, following National Reference Center for Animal Welfare and WelfareQuality® standards. Animal-Based Measures and the hormonal quantification of cortisol (CORT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA(S)) in bristle samples were assessed in 295 pigs distributed in 16 pens. Pigs were born from 24 homogenous sows, distributed across four consecutive weekly batches, and were balanced by sex. Compared with D pigs, UD pigs presented more injuries in the tail (<em>P</em> = 0.02) and on the body (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), with tail biting occurrences peaking halfway through the post-weaning phase. Body injuries increased over time, particularly in UD pigs, correlating with rising stocking density. D pigs displayed a straight tail posture more frequently (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01), suggesting a more positive emotional state. Regardless of tail condition, the use of environmental enrichments declined over time (<em>P</em> = 0.03) as novelty diminished. Hormonal analysis revealed sex-related differences in resilience, with females showing higher CORT and CORT/DHEA(S) ratio and lower DHEA(S) levels than castrated males (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01). There was a tendency toward higher CORT/DHEA(S) ratio in UD pigs than D ones (<em>P</em> = 0.06), indicating a greater activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to restore homeostatic conditions. Multivariate analysis linked body lesions, stress markers, and negative interactions, highlighting welfare’s multifactorial nature. Tail integrity alone may be misleading as a welfare indicator. A holistic assessment, integrating physical, emotional, and physiological factors, is crucial for improving management strategies for UD pigs on commercial farms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 105792"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144770582","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":"Feed intake, milk production, and nutrient use efficiency with early lactating Norwegian Red dairy cows fed concentrates with varying levels of local ingredients","authors":"K.S. Eikanger ,&nbsp;M. Eknæs ,&nbsp;J.K. Sommerseth ,&nbsp;I.J. Karlengen ,&nbsp;I. Schei ,&nbsp;M. Silberberg ,&nbsp;A. Kidane","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105790","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105790","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We evaluated the effects of replacing imported soya protein and carbohydrate ingredients in concentrate feeds with alkalised barley in dairy cow diets with grass silage as a basal diet. Eight multiparous early lactation Norwegian Red dairy (NRF) cows with an initial daily milk yield (MY±SD) of 30.5 ± 5.94 kg were used in a 4 × 4 replicated Latin square design experiment of four 35-day experimental periods. Four roughly isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were included: a positive control with a higher share of imported ingredients, including soya as a protein source (Soya-F), two concentrates including alkalised barley (Alka-diets), differing in pre-pelleting particle size (i.e., Alka fine = Alka-F, and Alka coarse = Alka-C), and a negative control with the same basal ingredients as the Alka-diets but with untreated barley and added feed-grade urea replacing the alkalised barley (Urea-F). Grass silage was offered ad libitum and concentrate requirement for individual cows was calculated based on Soya-F. The Soya-F was then quantitatively replaced by the other three concentrate feeds. Feed intake, nutrient digestibility, milk production, nutrient use efficiency, and serum metabolites were measured. Replacing Soya-F with Alka-diets did not affect feed intake, digestibility, and milk production. However, Alka-diets supported a greater milk yield than Urea-F, which in turn improved feed utilisation efficiency for Alka-diets without altered N efficiency. A coarser pre-pelleting structure of Alka-C resulted in a lower starch digestibility compared to Alka-F. In conclusion, alkaline-treated barley has the potential to replace soya in concentrates for NRF dairy cows without compromising production efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 105790"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144829139","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":"Intensive vs. environmentally sustainable: The livestock dilemma","authors":"Alessia Lombardi ,&nbsp;Giovanna Bifulco ,&nbsp;Giuseppe Campanile ,&nbsp;Gianluca Neglia ,&nbsp;Nadia Piscopo ,&nbsp;Antonio Paparella ,&nbsp;Luigi Cembalo","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105789","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105789","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agricultural intensification is central to the modernization narrative, promoting efficiency and productivity, particularly in the dairy sector. Despite potential efficiency gains, intensive farming faces criticism for its environmental impact, particularly concerning greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient runoff, raising concerns about their long-term environmental sustainability. This study empirically investigates the interplay of farm intensification, environmental sustainability, and economic efficiency in the livestock sector. It uniquely analyses how intensification and environmental performance, the latter measured by the Agri-Environmental Footprint Index, influence the technical efficiency of buffalo dairy farms. To this end, this research employs the Stochastic Frontier Analysis to a sample of 198 buffalo farms within Italy's Protected Designation of Origin area, using the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) for the period 2010 to 2022. Results highlighted that the adoption of intensive practices in buffalo farming represents a winning solution from the standpoint of technical efficiency, while acting sustainably does not pay off from a technical and economic point of view. These results stimulate reflections on the effectiveness of policies supporting livestock farms, offering insights for both practitioners and policymakers to improve agricultural practices while maintaining economic viability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 105789"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144770583","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":"Investigating cattle responses to acoustic signals to extend the functions of virtual fencing collars","authors":"Lisa Wilms ,&nbsp;Juliane Horn ,&nbsp;Friederike Riesch ,&nbsp;Dina Hamidi ,&nbsp;Martin Komainda ,&nbsp;Masud Hamidi ,&nbsp;Johannes Isselstein","doi":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105788","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105788","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Virtual fencing uses collars that emit acoustic signals and, if necessary, electric pulses to indicate the fence line. In Europe, legalization is lacking because of animal welfare concerns over electric pulses. This study investigated whether acoustic signals can replace electric pulses and influence grazing livestock movement. Two experiments with eight to ten Fleckvieh heifers and a prototype virtual fencing collar that emits directional acoustic signals and vibrations were conducted over 36 days in 2023 and 32 days in 2024. In the first experiment, the heifers’ responses to different acoustic signals and vibrations were analyzed. Generalized linear mixed effect models with data from behavioral observations and heart rate measurements revealed that the heifers were unimpressed by the signals, as often no response was observed and the changes in heart rate appeared to be unrelated to the signaling. Furthermore, clear signs of quick habituation were found, suggesting the need to test different signals. In the second experiment, we tested whether the heifers could be taught to adjust their walking direction to directional acoustic signals while moving toward a feed source. The training protocol used proved ineffective in teaching heifers to associate an acoustic signal with a walking direction, as generalized linear mixed effect models revealed that the heifers approached the indicated feed source in less than 50 % of the cases. Instead, side preferences were detected for some heifers. A different training protocol is recommended for further studies to test whether directional acoustic signals can influence the movement of cattle.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18152,"journal":{"name":"Livestock Science","volume":"300 ","pages":"Article 105788"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144722101","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}