Translational Animal Science最新文献

{"title":"Effect of nursery phase feeding budgets on growth performance and economics in weanling pigs.","authors":"Julian Arroyave, Jordan T Gebhardt, Mike D Tokach, Jason C Woodworth, Joel M DeRouchey, Katelyn N Gaffield, Robert D Goodband, Jorge E Estrada, Eric Parr","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txag026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of nursery phase feeding budgets on weanling pig growth performance and economics. In Exp. 1, a total of 630 pigs (initially 6.0 ± 0.09 kg) were sorted by body weight (<b>BW</b>) and then randomly assigned to treatments arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial under a generalized randomized block design. Main effects included nursery phase feeding budget (high, medium, or low) and BW category (light, medium, or heavy). There were five pigs per pen and 14 pens per interaction mean (42 pens per main effect). The feed budgets for high, medium, and low programs were 1.8, 0.9, and 0 kg/pig for phase 1, and 5.4, 3.6, and 1.8 kg/pig for phase 2, respectively. After the allotted feed budgets were finished, all pigs transitioned to a common diet until day 42. Diets were formulated to provide the same amino acid concentrations but using different ingredients to reduce diet complexity between phases. Phase 1 was formulated with specialty animal protein and lactose products and contained 18.0% lactose with 16.3% soybean meal. In phase 2, specialty protein sources and the lactose level were reduced, with diets containing 7.2% lactose and 22.5% soybean meal. Phase 3 was a common corn-soybean meal-based diet with no specialty protein or lactose sources. In Exp. 1, the response of the budget program was independent of initial BW. Overall, no differences were observed between budget programs for any performance criteria. To validate these results, an experiment was conducted in a commercial research facility. A total of 1170 pigs (initially 5.7 ± 0.32 kg) were used in a 63-d experiment with 26 pigs per pen and 15 pens per treatment. Pigs were randomly assigned to one of three budget programs in a randomized complete block design. Feed budgets were identical to those used in Exp. 1. followed by common diets until d 63. Pigs fed the high-budget program tended (<i>P</i> < .10) to have increased daily gain and feed intake during period 2 (d 14 to 33); however, by d 63, no differences between nursery budget programs were observed for any of the response criteria. In both experiments, feed cost and feed cost per kg of gain decreased (<i>P</i> < .001) as feed budget was reduced and simpler diets were used. Income over feed cost was maximized (<i>P</i> ≤ .004) with the use of the low-budget program in both experiments. In conclusion, reducing phase 1 and 2 budgets improved economic outcomes without affecting overall growth performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag026"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12989104/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147469446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison between phase feeding and diet blending on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and diet economics of finishing pigs raised in a commercial environment.","authors":"Ron Aldwin S Navales, Mike D Tokach, Mike E Reard, Alan J Warner, Chad Hastad, Joel M DeRouchey, Katelyn N Gaffield, Jordan T Gebhardt, Robert D Goodband, Jason C Woodworth","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txag027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A total of 2160 pigs (initially 24.8 ± 0.97 kg) and 962 pigs (initially 26.5 ± 0.37 kg) were used in 2 experiments to compare diet blending with phase feeding on growth performance and profitability. Pigs were housed in mixed-gender pens with 20 and 26 pens per treatment in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. Pens were assigned to treatment in a randomized complete block design and blocked by initial body weight. In Exp. 1, pens were assigned to treatments arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial comparing feeding strategy (phase feeding vs. diet blending) and standardized ileal digestible <b>(SID)</b> Lys (90 or 100% of requirement estimates). Phase-fed pigs were fed diets in 5 phases. For diet blending, low and high SID Lys diets were blended daily to achieve 90 or 100% of SID Lys requirements. Overall average daily gain <b>(ADG)</b> was not influenced by feeding strategy, but diet blending decreased (<i>P</i> = 0.002) average daily feed intake <b>(ADFI)</b> and increased (<i>P</i> < 0.001) gain to feed ratio <b>(G:F)</b>. Hot carcass weight <b>(HCW)</b>, fat depth, and loin depth were not affected; however, diet blending tended to reduce (<i>P</i> = 0.074) carcass yield and increased (<i>P</i> = 0.094) percentage lean. There was a tendency for greater (<i>P</i> = 0.066) income over feed cost <b>(IOFC)</b> with phase feeding under low ingredient prices, but diet blending had lower (<i>P</i> = 0.049) feed cost/kg gain under high prices. Lysine level did not affect overall growth performance, but pigs fed the 90% SID Lys diets had lower (<i>P</i> < 0.001) feed cost. In Exp. 2, two feeding strategies were compared. Phase-fed pigs were provided with diets in 3 phases until 114 kg with a common diet thereafter. Pigs fed the diet blending strategy used 2 of 3 diets mixed daily to follow the requirement estimate curve until 114 kg, then fed a common diet from 114 kg to market. Overall ADG was not influenced by feeding strategy, but diet blending decreased (<i>P</i> = 0.017) overall ADFI. Diet blending increased G:F (<i>P</i> = 0.019) from 26 to 114 kg, but not overall. In the experimental period, IOFC was unaffected by treatment, though feed cost per pig tended to be reduced (<i>P</i> ≤ 0.096) with blended diets. In conclusion, phase feeding and diet blending supported similar growth and carcass traits. Although IOFC was generally unaffected, diet blending reduced feed usage and feed cost/kg gain compared to phase feeding.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag027"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13005690/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147499635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pork carcass fabrication economics: drivers of profitability and an explanation of costing models.","authors":"B M Bohrer","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txag024","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pork carcass fabrication is a central determinant of value realization within packing and processing systems, translating biological variation in carcass weight and composition into economic outcomes under dynamic market conditions. The objective of this review is to synthesize current knowledge on the economic drivers of pork carcass fabrication, with a specific focus on the interactions among carcass characteristics, fabrication strategies, and value realization. Regional differences in cutting specifications and market orientation are discussed as key factors shaping primal yields, market allocation, and value distribution across domestic and export channels. The economic contributions of primals, subprimals, trim, fat, and by-products are examined in the context of wholesale pricing signals, carcass merit programs, and packer-specific specifications that link production decisions with downstream processing requirements. Fabrication strategies, including depth of fabrication and primal-specific cutting decisions, are evaluated with respect to yield optimization, labor and packaging costs, and market flexibility. The influence of carcass weight and composition on fabrication efficiency, trim generation, and fixed cost allocation is highlighted, illustrating trade-offs between biological performance and processing constraints. Technological advancements, including instrument grading, automation, and data integration, are reviewed for their role in improving yield prediction, carcass sorting, and operational consistency, while emerging tools such as predictive modeling are identified as promising approaches for managing variability and economic risk. Price volatility, biological variability, and supply chain disruptions are identified as persistent challenges to fabrication economics, underscoring the need for resilient and adaptable processing systems. Beyond economic performance, fabrication decisions are discussed in relation to labor welfare and sustainability outcomes. Collectively, this review emphasizes that optimal pork carcass fabrication is achieved through the strategic integration of biological inputs, economic signals, and operational capabilities. Improved data transparency and collaboration between industry professionals are essential to develop integrated biological-economic frameworks that enhance value realization and long-term sustainability across the pork supply chain.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag024"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12978301/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147445126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of cow efficiency phenotype on performance, energy partitioning, ultrasound carcass composition, and gas exchange during gestation and lactation.","authors":"Mariana E Garcia-Ascolani, Mikayla Moore, Emma Briggs, Paul Beck, Eric DeVuyst, David Lalman","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag021","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txag021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the effects of residual feed intake (RFI) and residual net energy recovered (RNE) classifications on the performance, carcass composition, milk production, and gas exchange of crossbred Angus beef cows consuming an unprocessed forage diet during gestation and lactation. Thirty-six multiparous fall-calving cows were monitored for feed intake, body weight, body condition, ultrasound-based carcass traits, milk yield and quality, carbon dioxide and methane emissions, and oxygen consumption using automated feeding and gas measurement systems. Cows were retrospectively classified as efficient, moderate, or inefficient for RFI and RNE during each physiological stage. RFI-efficient cows consistently consumed less forage, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of body weight during gestation (both, <i>P</i> < 0.01) and lactation (both, <i>P</i> ≤ 0.03). Divergence in RFI did not have negative effects on body weight, average daily gain (ADG), body condition score or carcass composition at gestation (<i>P</i> ≥ 0.13) or lactation (<i>P</i> ≥ 0.13). However, RFI classification significantly affected allocation of energy to maintenance in gestating (<i>P</i> < 0.01) and lactating (<i>P</i> = 0.02) cows, with inefficient cows allocating more metabolizable energy to maintenance (MEm) compared to moderate and efficient cows. RNE-efficient cows had greater ADG during gestation (<i>P</i> < 0.01) and had a similar tendency in lactation (<i>P</i> = 0.10), allocating more net energy to tissue accretion (<i>P</i> ≤ 0.05, both stages). Neither RFI nor RNE classification affected milk yield or composition (<i>P</i> ≥ 0.18), except for RNE-efficient cows having greater milk lactose concentration (<i>P</i> = 0.01) than RNE-moderate cows. Methane emissions per kilogram of DMI were greater in RFI-efficient cows during gestation (<i>P</i> < 0.01) but not during lactation (<i>P</i> = 0.22). Notably, while feed intake was more persistent across stage of production (<i>r =</i> 0.66), efficiency classifications were not stable across physiological stages (<i>r =</i> 0.33 and 0.25 for RFI and RNE, respectively). In addition, there was a moderate relationship between RFI and RNE at gestation (<i>r =</i> 0.36) and weak relationship during lactation (<i>r =</i> 0.24). These findings suggest that RFI and RNE are complementary but distinct measures of efficiency, and that selection for either trait can improve feed efficiency and a more targeted achievement of objectives in beef cow herds without compromising productivity or maternal performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag021"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13010307/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147515095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction to: Filling the sustainability gap: what beef industry stakeholders can learn from ranchers on new practice adoption, grazing management plans, and sustainability.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txag003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1093/tas/txaf045.].</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag003"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12929175/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147310417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of Agolin® Pig on sow and piglet performance and sow fecal microbial communities during lactation.","authors":"Alexandra E Fisk, Wenxuan X Dong, Timothy A Johnson, KaLynn Harlow, Taw J Scaff, Ashley E DeDecker, Marlin J Hoogland, Michael A Parsley, Brian T Richert, Kara R Stewart","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag023","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txag023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Essential oils are increasingly evaluated as alternatives to antibiotics in swine nutrition. This pilot study investigated the effects of Agolin Pig, a blend of microencapsulated essential oils, on sow performance, piglet growth, and sow fecal microbiota during lactation. Twenty-five sows were randomly assigned to either a control group (CON; <i>n</i> = 13) or a treatment group supplemented with Agolin Pig (AGO; <i>n</i> = 12; 200 ppm) from two weeks pre-farrowing through lactation. Diets for both groups met NRC (2012) nutrient requirements. Sow average daily feed intake (ADFI), body weight, body condition score (BCS), and Knauer Caliper measurements were collected at baseline, one week post-farrowing, and weaning. Piglet average daily gain (ADG) was recorded throughout lactation. Sow fecal samples were collected on d-14, d-7, d0, d8, and d16 relative to farrowing for microbiome analysis. Performance data were analyzed using PROC GLM or MIXED (SAS 9.4), with parity, number nursed, number weaned, and lactation week included as covariates. Microbiota data were analyzed in QIIME2 (v2022.8) and R (v4.2.3). Agolin Pig supplementation did not affect sow ADFI, piglet ADG, or colostrum and milk composition. However, AGO sows lost significantly less body condition during lactation, as measured by the Knauer Caliper (<i>P</i> = 0.010). Beta diversity differed between treatments on d8 (<i>P</i> = 0.029) and tended to differ on d16 (<i>P</i> = 0.066). Additionally, <i>Clostridium</i> and <i>Streptococcus</i> increased in CON but not AGO sows on d8 and d16, respectively. In summary, Agolin Pig supplementation reduced body condition loss and altered sow fecal microbiota diversity during lactation. These findings highlight the potential of essential oils to support sow health and productivity and warrant confirmation in larger studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag023"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12965740/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147378628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ruminal and gastrointestinal degradability of protein in alfalfa and tannin-containing birdsfoot trefoil estimated by an improved three-step procedure.","authors":"John H Grabber, Wayne K Coblentz","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txag022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Birdsfoot trefoil (BFT, <i>Lotus corniculatus</i> L.) fed as pasture often contains a desirable type and quantity of condensed tannins (CT) for improving the utilization of crude protein (CP) by ruminant livestock. However, dairy cattle are usually less responsive to BFT fed as hay or silage, and this might be related to the relative partitioning of rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) into gastrointestinal-degraded protein (GIDP) and truly undegradable protein (UP). To investigate this, we prepared hay and silage from two cuttings of one alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) cultivar lacking CT and five BFT cultivars containing up to 3.1% CT on a dry matter (DM) basis and subjected them to a three-step in-situ ruminal incubation followed by an in-vitro gastric and intestinal digestion with enzymes. Linear relationships between various CP fractions and CT, expressed as a percent of CP, were examined at <i>P</i> = 0.05, using a means model for intercepts and an effects model for slopes. A standard 0-h washing machine extraction of samples within in-situ bags indicated insoluble CP increased from 45.3 to 51.4% in hay and from 18.7 to 32.0% in silage as CT increased from 0 to 16% of CP. Buffer extraction and filtration revealed that an average of 8.3 percentage points of particulate-CP was washed out from in situ bags. The three-step procedure indicated UP increased from 4.5% in alfalfa to 10.5% in BFT containing 16% CT on a CP basis. A 2-point kinetic model, based on the disappearance rate of insoluble degradable CP between 0- and 12-h of ruminal incubation, was developed to more accurately estimate RUP in the three-step procedure. Two-point RUP increased from 15.3 to 25.3% in hay and from 9.9 to 17.9% in silage while GIDP increased from 10.9 to 13.9% in hay and from 5.5 to 8.1% in silage as CT increased from 0 to 16% of CP. Correction for washout of particulate-CP increased 2-point RUP and GIDP by an average of 4.2 percentage points. Hay and silage had similar slopes and intercepts for UP, and similar slopes but differing intercepts for RUP and GIDP. Our results indicate 40% of the RUP formed by CT was GIDP while 60% was UP having no nutritional value. Overall, our study suggests CT are an inefficient means for increasing GIDP from conserved forage. This suggests other approaches, such as formulating diets with a proper balance of CT-free forage, RUP supplements, and other feedstuffs may be more effective for improving the protein use efficiency and productivity of ruminant livestock.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag022"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12978303/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147445143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plasma biomarkers for residual feed intake prediction in beef bulls.","authors":"Mauro Venturini, Daniella Heredia, Maria Camila López Duarte, Kamryn Joyce, Martin Ruiz-Moreno, Federico Tarnonsky, Wilmer Cuervo, Nadia Ashrafi, Stewart Graham, William Thatcher, Joao Bittar, Jose Dubeux, Ricardo Chebel, Nicolas DiLorenzo, Angela Gonella","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txag020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency (FE) independent of growth and body weight (BW), calculated as the difference between actual and expected feed intake (FI) based on mean metabolic weight (MW) and weight gain. We hypothesized that bulls with contrasting RFI differ in plasma concentration of different compounds. RFI was evaluated in 302 bulls from 3 different ranches. After adaptation, bulls consumed the same diet for 56 d, individual FI was daily recorded, BW was measured every 2 weeks, and blood samples were taken at d 0 and 56. The bulls were ranked as low RFI (LRFI) and high RFI (HRFI), and the top and bottom 30 were used for metabolomic, hormone, and isotope analysis. Multivariate and pathway analysis were conducted with MetaboAnalyst, and univariate analysis was conducted with SAS using Mixed procedures. Additionally, for Biomarker analysis, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed with MetaboAnalyst. Sparse Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (sPLSDA) showed partial cluster separation evidenced by acceptable R² values. The model showed poor predictive power, reflected by low <i>Q</i> ² values. For LRFI animals (more feed efficient), the most abundant metabolites (<i>P</i> = 0.05) at d 0 were Cer(d18:1/24:1), TG(20:2_32:1), SM (OH) C22:1, SM (OH) C22:2, SM C24:0, TG(20:2_34:3), GCA, Choline, TG(20:2_34:4), and Hex2Cer(d18:1/14:0), while at d 56 were Cer(d18:1/18:0), Cer(d18:1/23:0), TG(14:0_34:2), C16:2, HexCer(d18:1/20:0), C16:1, lysoPCaC16:0, TG(18:3_38:5), C9, SM C24:1, SM C16:0, Carnosine, Cer(d18:2/12:0), SM C18:0, and Cer(d18:1/24:0). Primary bile acid biosynthesis pathway was enriched at d 0 (<i>P</i> = 0.008) and sphingomyelin metabolism at d 56 in LRFI (<i>P</i> = 0.041). Compounds that were identified as variable importance of projection (VIP) and were also statistically different in the univariate analysis, were used to construct ROC curves to identify their potential as biomarker for RFI. With an Area Under the Curve (AUC) value > 0.7 and p-value < 0.05 as the criteria for diagnostic potential, choline was identified as biomarker of RFI at d 0, and Cer(d18:1/23:0) and TG(18:1_30:0) were identified as biomarkers of RFI at d 56. Although multivariate model showed a poor predictive value, further exploration of individual metabolites could provide insights into the mechanisms contributing to FE differences.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag020"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12986784/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147468567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Small metabolites vary in sow milk across the course of lactation, while moringa supplementation and cooling sows exposed to heat stress conditions have limited effects.","authors":"Leriana Garcia Reis, McKeeley C Stansberry, Wonders Ogundare, Evy Tobolski, Linda M Beckett, Allan P Schinckel, Christina Ramires Ferreira, Radiah C Minor, Theresa Casey","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag007","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txag007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to characterize changes in small metabolites in sow milk over the course of lactation. The impact of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> leaf powder addition to diet and electronic cooling pads (ECP) on milk metabolites of sow under moderate heat stress was also evaluated. A 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted with Yorkshire x Landrace sows (<i>n</i> = 48) from gestation day 100 to lactation day 21. Treatments included heat stress + control diet (HS + CS), heat stress + <i>Moringa</i> (HS + M), ECP + CS, and ECP + M beginning with 12 sows per treatment. Milk was collected on lactation days 0 (D0, colostrum), 3 (D3, transitional milk), and 14 (D14, mature milk). Metabolites were extracted using the Bligh and Dyer method and then profiled using exploratory multiple reaction monitoring. Milk metabolite content varied significantly across lactation days. Diet and parity influenced milk metabolites on D0, ECP on D3, and parity on D14. The 55 metabolites increased between D0 and D3, linked to phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, starch, sucrose and galactose metabolism, while the 93 decreased metabolites were associated with protein synthesis and gut development, including phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism. Between D3 and D14, 148 metabolites increased and reflected alanine, aspartate and glutamate and galactose metabolism, while the 21 decreased included L-leucine, creatine, myo-inositol, hypoxanthine and acetyl-carnitine. The 116 metabolites impacted by parity in D0 samples, were elevated in primiparous compared to multiparous sows, and linked to arginine biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, and purine metabolism. On D14, parity affected 52 metabolites related to alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, arginine biosynthesis and pyrimidine metabolism. ECP on D3 reduced 104 metabolites involved in the citrate acid cycle, cysteine and methionine metabolism, and pyrimidine metabolism. Milk metabolite content changed significantly between the three phases of milk production, reflecting mammary secretory activity and potentially the changing nutritional needs of piglets and maternal physiological adjustments throughout lactation. These findings highlight the dynamic nature of milk composition and the potential for dietary and environmental interventions to modulate milk metabolite content under heat stress conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag007"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12965741/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147378744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Colostrum increases DNA fractional synthetic rate, villi growth, and cellular proliferation of the jejunum in neonatal gilt piglets.","authors":"Linda M Beckett, Ellie Ketcham, Yuchen Zhang, Wonders Ogundare, Amber Jannasch, Yu Han-Hallett, Theresa M Casey","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag014","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txag014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adequate versus low colostrum (COL) intake promotes feed efficiency and greater growth trajectory in swine, indicating that varying COL levels likely impact nutrient absorption. This study's objective was to determine how diet type (COL vs milk replacer [MR]), and level of intake [20% vs 10% of birth body weight (BBW)] influence jejunum deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fractional synthetic rate (FSR), and villi growth and cellular proliferation in neonatal gilt piglets. Gilt piglets were allocated to one of the following treatments: pooled COL fed at 20% (COL20; <i>n</i> = 10) or 10% (COL10; <i>n</i> = 10) BBW, MR fed at 20% (MR20; <i>n</i> = 10) or 10% (MR10; <i>n</i> = 10) BBW, stay-on-sow (SOS) to suckle COL ad libitum (<i>n</i> = 9), or zero hour (ZH), euthanized immediately after birth (<i>n</i> = 8). Following administration of 20 mL/kg of deuterium oxide (D₂O) to metabolically label DNA, dietary treatments were either bottle fed every 2 h or SOS for 24 h, then blood and jejunum were collected. Enrichment of D₂O in serum and deoxyadenosine mass isotopomers in jejunum were analyzed using mass spectrometry to determine DNA FSR of jejunum. Additionally, a separate piece of jejunum was fixed in formalin, paraffin embedded, sectioned, mounted on slides, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin to measure intestinal morphology or immunostained with Ki67 antibody to identify proliferating cells. The responses of SOS and COL20 were similar for all variables, except DNA FSR, which was greatest in SOS compared to all treatments. Villi length, width, crypt depth, total area of villi, lamina propria area of villi, and crypt cell proliferation of MR20 did not differ from SOS or COL20. Cellular proliferation of lamina propria of villi was highest in COL20 compared to MR20, COL10, MR10, and ZH, whereas cellular proliferation of the deep lamina propria was greatest in SOS, which differed from MR20, MR10, COL10, and ZH. Although MR20 increased villi growth and cellular proliferation compared to the 10% treatments, it did not stimulate similar morphological growth and development of the jejunum when compared to response of adequate COL intake (SOS and COL20) groups.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag014"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12967104/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147378657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}