Translational Animal Science最新文献

{"title":"Behavioral and physiological indicators of stress in horses during an equine-assisted learning program for youth with a history of trauma.","authors":"Sarah K Matlock, Ashley Singh, Temple Grandin, Tamara Merritt, Terry Nett, Sarah Jean Reega, B Caitlin Peters","doi":"10.1093/tas/txaf027","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txaf027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Equine-assisted learning (EAL) is gaining in popularity due to its demonstrated benefits to participants, including increased social-emotional competencies and self-efficacy, and decreased symptoms of depression. Accordingly, EAL is increasingly utilized as a method to build soft skills for people who have a history of trauma and/or who may struggle with emotional regulation. Within the context of equine-assisted services (EAS) broadly, there is some evidence that participants who have trauma and/or emotional dysregulation may cause increased stress to horses when compared to interactions with other types of EAS participants (e.g., participants with cognitive delays, physical disabilities, etc.). It is important to understand the impacts of EAL for individuals with a history of trauma on the well-being of the horse. The purpose of this pilot study was to identify and compare the presence of behavioral and physiological indicators of stress in horses integrated into an EAL program for youth with a history of trauma who struggle with emotional regulation (n = 11) compared to the control condition of an EAL program for young adults with developmental delays (n = 7). Indicators of stress included salivary cortisol, eye temperature, and equine behaviors indicative of stress. We did not find significant differences in the indicators of stress in the horses when interacting with the youth with a history of trauma compared to the control condition (salivary cortisol, p = 0.55; eye temperature, p = 0.39; behavioral indicators of stress, p = 0.81). Contrary to previous findings, we did not find evidence that EAL with youth with a history of trauma increased the stress of the participating horses in comparison to EAL for a different population (young adults with developmental disabilities). Furthermore, we also found that physiological measures of stress were within normal ranges for both the experimental condition and control condition, providing further evidence that EAL does not appear to increase physiological stress in horses beyond normal ranges.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"9 ","pages":"txaf027"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11971715/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143796368","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":"Feed efficiency and fecal microbiome of nursery pigs from parents with divergent breeding value for feed conversion ratio.","authors":"Yujia Wu, Paula Azevedo, Shunshun Jin, Haoxiang Xu, Huaigang Lei, Lisanne Verschuren, Argenis Rodas-Gonzalez, Martin Nyachoti, Chengbo Yang","doi":"10.1093/tas/txaf026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaf026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Improving feed efficiency (FE) is essential for the swine industry's economic and environmental sustainability. Genetic selection, particularly through estimating breeding values for feed conversion ratio (EBV_FCR), is a common strategy to enhance FE. However, the biological mechanisms underlying phenotypic variations in FE between pigs with different EBV_FCR values are not fully understood. This study investigates these mechanisms by examining growth performance, nutrient and energy digestibility, and fecal microbiota composition and functionality of pigs at the nursery stage. The study involved 128 pigs, weaned at 21 d (±2 d) and with an initial body weight of 6.87 kg (±0.34 kg). These pigs, selected from dam and sire lines with divergent EBV_FCR values, were randomly assigned to 32 pens with four pigs each. Pigs were fed a corn and soybean meal-based diet, divided into two feeding phases of 2 wk each, under similar rearing conditions. Results indicated no significant differences in average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily body weight gain (ADG), or feed efficiency (FE, gain:feed) between pigs from different EBV_FCR lines (<i>P</i> > 0.05). Similarly, nutrient digestibility showed no significant variation (<i>P</i> > 0.05). While the overall fecal microbiota taxonomic composition was similar between the groups, there was a trend toward higher beta diversity in the microbiota of pigs from parents with lower EBV_FCR (high efficiency pigs, H pigs) (<i>P</i> < 0.083). Carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism were predominant in all pigs, regardless of genetic background, with similar predicted microbiota functionality across groups. The study concluded that genetic differences based on parents divergent EBV_FCR did not affect growth performance, nutrient utilization, or microbiota characteristics at the nursery stage. This suggests that while EBV_FCR based genetic selection does not impact early-stage performance or microbiome responses, its effects may differ in older pigs, warranting further research.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"9 ","pages":"txaf026"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12012672/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144019465","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 increasing levels of mycotoxin-containing corn fines and mitigants on nursery pig growth performance.","authors":"Duncan B Paczosa, Tyler B Chevalier, Sunday A Adedokun, Lan Zheng, Merlin D Lindemann","doi":"10.1093/tas/txaf025","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txaf025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The effects of feeding corn fines (screenings) containing mycotoxin levels greater than the FDA guidance (fumonisins) and advisory (deoxynivalenol) levels were evaluated using 150 crossbred pigs (initial BW: 6.42 ± 0.06 kg; 90 barrows and 60 gilts) in an 8-wk study by adding contaminated corn fines to create six diets. The corn fines used contained prestudy analyzed mycotoxin levels of 20,334 ppb total fumonisin, 1,499 ppb zearalenone, and 5,075 ppb total deoxynivalenol. The corn fines were added into a corn-soybean meal basal diet at 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60% corn fines (Diets 1 to 4, respectively). Diet 5 was created by adding 40 ppm of boron (as sodium tetraborate decahydrate, 11.34% B) to Diet 4. Diet 6 was created by adding 0.25% Biofix Plus with FUMzyme (BPF; dsm-firmenich, Plainsboro, NJ) to Diet 4. Dietary treatments were fed for 6 wk; after that, all pigs received a common corn-soybean meal basal diet without fines for about 2 wk. The lightest, median, and heaviest pigs in a pen were selected at week 3, and serum was collected from those pigs on weeks 3, 6, and 8. Serum clinical chemistry and sphinganine:sphingosine ratio (SA:SO) were determined at week 6. Increasing fines linearly decreased ADG during weeks 1-6 (<i>P</i> = 0.03). Comparing Diets 4 and 5 to Diet 1 during weeks 1-6, there was a decrease in ADG (<i>P</i> < 0.05); subsequently, the difference in Diets 4 and 5 compared to Diet 1 was no longer significant for weeks 1-8. Comparing Diet 6 to Diets 1 and 4 during weeks 1-6, pigs fed Diet 6 were able to recover 57% of the lost ADG that occurred when corn fines were increased from 0% to 60%. During week 7-8 (all pigs on a common diet), pigs on Diets 5 and 6 had an increase in ADG compared to Diet 1. SA:SO linearly increased as fines in the diet increased (Diets 1 to 4; <i>P</i> = 0.001), but the addition of BPF ameliorated 95% of this increase. In conclusion, as mycotoxins increased, pigs exhibited negative effects in ADG, but the additive Biofix Plus with FUMzyme ameliorated a portion of these effects. Further, the recovery from week 7-8 from all pigs does show the importance of feeding clean corn to optimize ADG, ADFI, and gain/feed ratio.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"9 ","pages":"txaf025"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905220/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143624645","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":"Performance, carcass, and pork traits in barrows and gilts slaughtered over 130 kg: insights from a Brazilian perspective.","authors":"Laya Kannan Silva Alves, Bruno Braga Carnino, Bruno Bracco Donatelli Muro, Monique Danielle Pairis-Garcia, Carolina Carvalho Dipold, Fernanda Mariane Dos Santos, José Enrico Monteiro Lo Buono, Pollyana Leite Matioli Garbossa, Fabiano Vaquero Silva Júnior, Cesar Augusto Pospissil Garbossa","doi":"10.1093/tas/txaf023","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txaf023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Brazil is a major pork producer, with increasing market demands driving heavier slaughter weights. Sexual condition is a well stablished factor influencing pig performance, carcass composition, and pork quality, with previous studies focusing primarily on lighter pigs. This study compared the performance, carcass characteristics, and pork traits of heavy-slaughtered barrows and gilts. A total of 144 pigs (72 barrows; 72 gilts), with an average weight of 55.68 ± 6.48 kg, were utilized in a randomized complete block design. They were allocated into 48 pens based on sex and body weight. Each pen (three pigs of the same sex) was considered the experimental unit for performance evaluation across the growing, finishing 1, and finishing 2 phases, with ad libitum access to water and feed. After a 63-d trial, one pig per pen (n = 48; 24 barrows, 24 gilts) was slaughtered for carcass and pork trait analysis. Data analysis was conducted using SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC), and the effects of sexual condition were analyzed by ANOVA. Data were presented as least squares means, with differences deemed statistically significant at P < 0.05. Throughout the study, barrows exhibited higher average daily gain (1.306 vs. 1.206 kg, + 8.25%, P = 0.0004) and feed intake (3.378 vs. 2.957 kg, + 14.24%, P < 0.0001), while gilts showed superior feed efficiency (0.409 vs. 0.387, + 5.74%, P = 0.009). However no final weight was observed between barrows and gilts at the end of the trial, where they achieve 153 days of age (P > 0.05). Although hot and chilled carcass weights did not differ (P > 0.05), gilts had greater hot carcass yield (+ 2.83%) and chilled carcass yield (+ 3.08%) than barrows (P < 0.0001). Gilts also exhibited lower initial pH (-3.28%, P = 0.006) and initial temperature (-4.46%, P = 0.01), with no differences in final temperature. No differences were found in L* and a* color indices, but gilts had lower b* (-3.98%, P = 0.004) and Chroma (-4.06%, P = 0.008) values compared to barrows. These results suggest that increasing slaughter weight above 130 kg leads to minimal practical differences between barrows and gilts in performance, carcass traits, and pork quality, reinforcing the suitability of both sexes for heavier slaughter weights in Brazilian production systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"9 ","pages":"txaf023"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11879026/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143558161","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":"Driving change: exploring cattle transporters' perspectives to improve worker and animal well-being.","authors":"Paxton A Sullivan, Angela Varnum, Libby Bigler, M Caitlin Cramer, I Noa Román-Muñiz, Lily N Edwards-Callaway","doi":"10.1093/tas/txaf021","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txaf021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The cattle industry has made considerable efforts to adopt more sustainable beef production practices. Still, the social pillar of sustainability-especially workforce well-being-often receives less attention than the environmental and economic pillars. There is also limited information about the perspectives of U.S. cattle transporters, who play a critical role in ensuring animal welfare during the final stages of the beef supply chain. This study explored cattle transporters' perspectives on management practices related to cattle care and well-being, training, work environment, and community. Cattle transporters (N = 74) from three trucking companies operating in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas participated in focus group discussions and completed a short, written survey. In total, 12 focus groups were conducted. In the written survey, 98.7% (<i>n</i> = 73) of survey respondents agreed with the statement <i>\"I have pride in the job I do,\"</i> and 97.3% (<i>n</i> = 72) agreed with the statement <i>\"Animal well-being is a critical component of my job.\"</i> Additionally, 96% (<i>n</i> = 71) of respondents agreed with the statement, <i>\"The training I have received at this job has prepared me well for transporting cattle,\"</i> highlighting the success of current education and training programs. Thematic analysis of focus group transcripts identified ten themes, including (1) Animal Welfare and Safety; (2) Feelings; (3) Human Welfare and Safety; (4) Learning and Training; (5) Money; (6) Opportunities for Improvement Throughout the Supply Chain; (7) Pride, Responsibility, and Care in Job; (8) Specialized Knowledge, Skills, and Commitment; (9) Unique, Positive Characteristics of the Job; and (10) Work Environment. Transporters expressed a strong sense of pride and responsibility in their work and viewed their role as essential to ensuring the well-being of cattle during transportation. However, they also identified several challenges, including ensuring human and animal safety, dealing with inadequate facilities, and a lack of cohesion among different supply chain sectors. As vital links between supply chain sectors, transporters offer unique insights. Listening to their daily observations could lead to improvements in operational efficiency and cattle welfare.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"9 ","pages":"txaf021"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905222/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143626161","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":"Heart rate variability responses of horses and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder to ground-based adaptive horsemanship lessons: a pilot study.","authors":"Ellen M Rankins, Boluwatife E Faremi, Kyle Hartmann, Andrea Quinn, Hugo F Posada-Quintero, Kenneth H McKeever, Karyn Malinowski","doi":"10.1093/tas/txaf019","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txaf019","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heart rate variability (HRV) can be measured as an indicator of autonomic nervous system (ANS) balance and thus, stress and affective arousal. Mixed results have been reported in the limited literature addressing the effects of equine-assisted services (EAS) on HRV in the human and horse participants. The aims of the present study were to determine the effects of ground-based adaptive horsemanship (AH) lessons on veterans' and horses' HRV during weekly lessons as well as veterans' resting HRV outside of lessons. Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were randomly assigned to 8 wk of AH or control (CON, no changes in treatments or activities) conditions. Horses were assigned to AH or control (CON, stall in arena) conditions based on previous experience (EAS or recreational riding). Electrocardiogram traces from the veteran and AH and CON horses were recorded during the 30-min lessons. Traces were recorded during resting conditions before (PRE) and after (POST) the 8-wk period from AH and CON veterans and healthy, non-veterans. Heart rate (HR), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and low frequency to high frequency ratios (LF/HF) were calculated after identification of peaks with the Pan-Tompkins algorithm and manual correction during 5-min epochs. Data were analyzed with repeated measures, mixed model ANOVAs (SAS v9.4). HR was lowest (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.0323) in the horses and veterans during the first 10 min of the lessons. Veterans' RMSSD was higher (<i>p </i>≤ 0.0496) in weeks 4 and 6 than week 2. LF/HF was greater in veterans with PTSD than healthy, non-veterans across PRE and POST time points. Increased HR later in the lessons is likely a result of increased movement in the horses and veterans. An interval of decreased stress and increased resiliency might be present in veterans participating in multi-day AH sessions. Increased sympathetic arousal measured via LF/HF was not mitigated by 8 wk of AH. Horses appeared unstressed by the interactions as no changes in HRV were observed.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"9 ","pages":"txaf019"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11926800/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143693392","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":"Administering the maternal appeasing substance to <i>Bos taurus</i> and <i>B. indicus</i> cattle placed as yearlings in feedlots with different environmental conditions.","authors":"Reinaldo F Cooke, Shea J Mackey, Izadora S de Souza, Ingo A S Mello, Yasmin M Barreto, Vinicius N Gouvea","doi":"10.1093/tas/txaf022","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txaf022","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Two experiments evaluated growth performance of finishing cattle placed on feed as yearlings, and receiving the maternal bovine appeasing substance (<b>mBAS</b>) during stressful management events. In Exp. 1, 240 Angus-influenced yearling steers arrived at the research feedyard on d -1 after a 4-h road transport, and body weight (<b>BW</b>) was recorded upon arrival (411.8 ± 2.5 kg). Steers were ranked by arrival BW and received 1 of 2 treatments during initial processing (d 0): 1) 10 mL of a mBAS (Ferappease^®; FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals; College Station, TX) or 2) 10 mL of mineral oil (<b>CON</b>; placebo). Treatments were applied topically to the nuchal skin area (5 mL) and above the muzzle (5 mL). During initial processing, steers were weighed, vaccinated against <i>Clostridium</i> spp. and respiratory pathogens, dewormed, implanted, and then distributed into 30 drylot pens according to arrival BW and treatment (n = 15 pens/treatment, 8 steers/pen). Steers were reapplied treatments concurrently with reimplanting on d 75. Initial BW was the average BW on d -1 and 0, final BW was the average of BW recorded on d 138 and 139, and steers were slaughtered on d 139. Steers assigned to mBAS had greater (<i>P </i>≤ 0.04) ADG, final BW, and hot carcass weight (<b>HCW</b>). Feed intake was greater (<i>P </i>≤ 0.05) in mBAS steers, but mostly after reimplanting (treatment × day; <i>P</i> < 0.01). Carcass yield grade, backfat thickness, marbling score, and % Choice or better were greater (<i>P </i>≤ 0.05) in mBAS steers. In Exp. 2, Nelore (<i>Bos indicus</i>) yearling bulls (n = 2,626) arrived at a feedyard (d 0) after a 96-h road transport, and BW was recorded upon arrival (shrunk BW = 352.9 ± 0.6 kg). Bulls were assigned to receive mBAS or CON as in Exp. 1 during initial processing on d 0 (10 pens/treatment; ~130 bulls/pen) which included deworming and vaccination against <i>Clostridium</i> spp. and respiratory pathogens. Bulls were on feed for 96.0 ± 1.0 d until slaughter. Bull ADG was calculated using arrival BW considering a 14% shrink and final BW recorded when loading bulls to slaughter. Bulls assigned to mBAS had greater (<i>P </i>≤ 0.04) ADG, feed intake, final BW, and HCW. Morbidity and mortality rates due to respiratory disease were less (<i>P </i>= 0.02) in mBAS bulls. Collectively, mBAS administration during stressful management events improved growth performance, mainly by increasing feed intake, in finishing cattle placed on feed as yearlings in feedlot systems typical of US (Exp. 1) and tropical regions (Exp. 2).</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"9 ","pages":"txaf022"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11926797/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143693391","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":"Dogs fed a high protein, low carbohydrate diet have elevated postprandial plasma glucagon and amino acid concentrations and tend to have lower glucose concentrations compared to two different moderate protein, moderate carbohydrate diets.","authors":"Sydney Banton, Shari Raheb, Pawanpreet Singh, John P Cant, Anna K Shoveller","doi":"10.1093/tas/txaf017","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txaf017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As dog owners continue to seek to feed their dogs similarly to themselves, there is demand for high protein, low carbohydrate (HPLC) diets. The consumption of HPLC diets can improve glycemic control, similarly to high fiber diets. However, the effects of HPLC and high fiber diets on cardiac function have yet to be evaluated in healthy dogs. The objective of the present study was to investigate the glucose, insulin, glucagon and amino acid (AA) postprandial response and echocardiographic measurements in laboratory-housed, adult large breed dogs fed a commercially available HPLC, a moderate protein, moderate carbohydrate (MPMC), or a commercially available MPMC, high fiber, \"metabolic\" diet for 42 d. This study was conducted as a 3 × 3 Latin square where dogs received: 1) a commercial HPLC diet (48% of metabolizable energy (ME) from protein, 10% of ME from nitrogen-free extract; NFE), 2) a MPMC diet (28% of ME from protein, 39% of ME from NFE) formulated with the same ingredients as HPLC or 3) a MPMC, high fiber, \"metabolic\" (MET) diet (30% of ME from protein, 37% of ME from NFE) as a commercial control. An echocardiogram and a 12-h glucose, insulin and glucagon response and 6-h AA meal response were performed on day 42 of feeding. Data were analyzed using proc glimmix in SAS (version 9.4). All echocardiographic parameters remained within a healthy reference range for dogs of this size. Dogs fed HPLC had a larger net area under the curve (NetAUC) for plasma glucagon (P < 0.001) compared to dogs fed MPMC and MET, a smaller NetAUC for glucose: insulin (P = 0.039) compared to dogs fed MPMC but MET was similar to both. Glucose NetAUC tended to be different among treatments (P = 0.057), where dogs fed MPMC had a greater netAUC than dogs fed HPLC and dogs fed MET tended to have a greater netAUC than HPLC. Dogs fed HPLC had greater concentrations of Ile, Leu, Lys, Thr, Tyr and Val over time compared to dogs fed MPMC and MET, and dogs fed MET had greater concentrations of Gln and Met over time compared to dogs fed HPLC and MPMC (P < 0.05). Dogs fed a HPLC diet may have improved glucose uptake compared to dogs fed a MPMC diet. This research provides the first insight into the cardiometabolic health of dogs consuming three diets differing in their protein, carbohydrate and fiber content.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"9 ","pages":"txaf017"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11884650/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143574123","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":"South Dakota State University Extension's two-year beefSD program has high impact on beginning beef cattle producers.","authors":"Krista A Ehlert, Amanda D Blair, Stacy Hadrick, Kenneth C Olson","doi":"10.1093/tas/txaf020","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txaf020","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The value of Extension programming is the generation of short (knowledge gain), medium (behavior change), and long (condition improvement) term outcomes or impact for clientele. Evaluating impact is a critical step in Extension programming. Effective evaluation can be used to measure outcomes, adapt and improve curricula of ongoing programs, and document public value gained from Extension funding. Although evaluation tools administered during or at the end of program activities can measure short-term outcomes, they cannot measure subsequent change in behavior and condition as a result of the program. South Dakota State University Extension has conducted a program entitled \"beefSD\" wherein cohorts of beginning beef cattle producers have been exposed to a two-year curriculum to increase their capacity to successfully manage their beef cattle enterprises. Five cohorts completed the program between 2010 and 2022. To measure the medium- and long-term impacts of this program, an online survey instrument was administered to the alumni of all five cohorts in Fall 2022. Twenty-two percent of alumni completed the survey. Survey results indicated that since completion of the program, most respondents expanded their beef cattle enterprises, implemented goals, financial, marketing, grazing, drought, and business plans, and became more profitable. The majority of respondents found high value from practices, tools, and concepts learned in beefSD that they incorporated into their enterprise management plans. Evaluation results indicated beefSD has positively impacted the beef cattle enterprises and lives of alumni, increasing the likelihood of their improved sustainability going forward. Further, this evaluation survey clearly demonstrated program impact, documenting public value from the program. Similar Extension programs could be developed for other regions or commodities, contributing comparable outcomes with program evaluation documenting further public value.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"9 ","pages":"txaf020"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11905221/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143625029","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":"Feeding of a high protein, low carbohydrate diet leads to greater postprandial energy expenditure and fasted n6: n3 fatty acid ratio in lean, adult dogs compared to a moderate protein, moderate carbohydrate diet.","authors":"Sydney Banton, Júlia G Pezzali, Taylor Richards, Lyn M Hillyer, David W L Ma, Jesús M Pisco, James R Templeman, Anna K Shoveller","doi":"10.1093/tas/txaf018","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txaf018","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>High protein, low carbohydrate (HPLC) diets are often sought out by dog owners. They are reported to have beneficial effects on energy expenditure (EE), fat oxidation, and may alter the serum fatty acid profile. However, there is little to no data to support the feeding of HPLC diets to healthy adult dogs. Thus, the objective of the present study was to interrogate the health claims related to the feeding of HPLC diets to healthy adult dogs using a commercially available HPLC diet (48% of metabolizable energy (ME) from protein, 10% of ME from nitrogen-free extract; NFE), a moderate protein, moderate carbohydrate (MPMC) diet (28% of ME from protein, 39% of ME from NFE) formulated with the same ingredients as HPLC, and a commercially available, MPMC, high fiber, \"metabolic\" (MET) diet (30% of ME from protein, 37% of ME from NFE) as a commercial control. Diets were fed to 9 healthy, large breed dogs for 42 d in a Latin square design. Fasted blood samples were collected on days -2 (baseline), 12, 26 and 40, and indirect calorimetry was performed on 8 dogs on days 20 and 39 to measure respiratory quotient (RQ) and EE. Statistics were performed in SAS Studio (version 9.4). Dogs fed HPLC had a lower RQ at fasted (0.76), 0 to 4 h (0.78) and 5 to 10 h (0.83) post-meal compared to dogs fed MET (0.80, 0.83, 0.90) and MPMC (0.80, 0.84, 0.91; P < 0.05). All dogs had a similar EE at fasted but dogs fed HPLC had a greater postprandial EE at 0 to 4 h (5.36 kcal/kg^0.75) and 5 to 10 h (5.46 kcal/kg^0.75) compared to dogs fed MPMC (4.79 and 4.84 kcal/kg^0.75; P < 0.05). Dogs fed MET (4.98, 4.96 kcal/kg^0.75) were similar to both (P > 0.05). Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n3), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA; 22:5n3) and total n3 were all greater in dogs fed MET at each week (P < 0.05). In contrast, total n6: n3 and arachidonic acid (ARA; 20:4n6): eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n3) were both greater (P < 0.05) in dogs fed HPLC and MPMC compared to dogs fed MET at each week. This study represents the first to assess EE and serum fatty acids in adult large breed dogs consuming a HPLC diet for 6 wk. Consuming a HPLC diet led to potential beneficial effects of increased EE and fat oxidation after a meal, which has the potential to be useful in managing obesity, a common health concern in dogs.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"9 ","pages":"txaf018"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11884651/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143574124","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}