Translational Animal Science最新文献

{"title":"Effects of feeding a <i>Bacillus</i>-based probiotic on feed intake, performance, carcass traits, and health of crossbred beef cattle fed sodium monensin and high-moisture corn-based diets during finishing.","authors":"Juan Bollatti, Federico Bernardi, Ramiro Andreola, Fernando M Clemente, Oscar C M Queiroz, Reinaldo F Cooke, Bruno I Cappellozza","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag124","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txag124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This experiment evaluated feed intake, performance, fecal nutrient concentrations, health, and carcass traits of crossbred beef cattle offered a high-moisture corn-based diet containing sodium monensin. On day 0 of the study, 402 crossbred steers [initial body weight (<i>BW</i>) 329 ± 69.5 kg] were blocked by BW and source into 1 of 28 feedlot pens (14 to 15 steers/pen). Within blocks, pens were assigned to high-moisture corn-based diets containing (<i>BAC</i>) or not (<i>CON</i>; <i>n</i> = 14) <i>Bacillus licheniformis</i> 809 and <i>B. subtilis</i> 810 (2 g/steer per day; <i>n</i> = 14). The experimental period lasted 118 days and BAC was added to a mineral-vitamin premix, which also contained sodium monensin. Throughout the experimental period, dry matter intake was determined daily, while individual BW was obtained on days 0, 35, and 118 of the study. Based on these measurements, average daily gain (<i>ADG</i>) and gain to feed (<i>GF</i>) were also calculated. Fecal samples were collected on days 20 and 70 of the study for determination of fecal starch and nitrogen (<i>N</i>). On day 122, animals were transported to a commercial slaughterhouse and carcass traits were determined. All data were analyzed with SAS (version 9.4) using pen as the experimental unit. Body weight on days 35 and 118 was greater (<i>P</i> ≤ 0.03) for BAC vs. CON, while no changes were observed on feed intake (<i>P</i> ≥ 0.40). Average daily gain was also greater for BAC from days 0 to 35 (<i>P</i> = 0.01) and 0 to 118 (<i>P</i> = 0.03). Hence, GF was improved by 8.4 and 2.9% when assessed from days 0 to 35 (<i>P</i> = 0.03) and 0 to 118 (<i>P</i> = 0.04), respectively. Hot carcass weight was also greater for BAC (+ 3.5 kg; <i>P</i> = 0.05), while <i>Biceps femoris</i> fat thickness tended to be greater (<i>P</i> = 0.07) for BAC. Carcass-adjusted final BW, ADG, and GF were also greater (<i>P</i> ≤ 0.05) for BAC. No differences were observed on fecal starch and N (<i>P</i> ≥ 0.42), but fecal score tended to be greater for BAC from days 35 to 118 and from days 0 to 118 (<i>P</i> ≤ 0.09). No treatment effects were detected for the incidence of bovine respiratory cases (<i>P</i> ≥ 0.12), while overall morbidity tended to be lower (<i>P</i> = 0.06) and fever occurrence in steers showing bovine respiratory disease was lower in steers fed BAC (<i>P</i> = 0.04). In summary, <i>Bacillus</i> spp. supplementation optimized performance, health, and carcass traits of feedlot cattle fed a high-moisture corn-based diet containing sodium monensin.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag124"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13509957/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148832528","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":"The role of critical thinking in explaining students' academic achievement in undergraduate animal sciences programs.","authors":"Hannah M Twenter, John D Tummons, Jim Spain","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag119","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txag119","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Critical thinking skills are an in-demand trait of many STEM professionals, including animal scientists. Many instructors note the importance of critical thinking, but few have a clear understanding of what critical thinking means, how to teach to enhance the development of critical thinking skills, and how to assess the critical thinking as a student learning outcome. Many higher education institutions utilize student success prediction models with the hope that early prediction can be used to provide additional assistance to students when needed to improve the student success rate. These predictive models use high school GPA and standardized test scores, like the ACT and SAT, to predict academic success in college, but models have mixed success in their predictive capacity. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent differences in critical thinking skills explain a difference between predicted and earned GPAs for first-time animal sciences students. Previous animal sciences students, on average, failed to achieve predicted overall GPAs (<i>P</i> < 0.05) and GPAs in STEM courses (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Mean student critical thinking scores of first-time animal sciences students were significantly (<i>P</i> < 0.05) below normative data. Current animal sciences students significantly (<i>P</i> < 0.05) underperformed their predicted GPA after one semester, but differences between predicted and earned GPA after four semesters were not significant (<i>P</i> > 0.05). The current university-provided predicted GPA model using standardized tests and high school GPA was significant <i>F = </i>68.13(1,103, <i>P</i> < 0.001) and accounted for 39% of the variance (<i>adjusted R²</i>  = 0.392) for rising junior students. The second model included students' critical thinking, graduating class size, and involvement in youth agriculture clubs. Model 2 was also significant <i>F = </i>17.82(3,100, <i>P</i> < 0.001, adjusted <i>R²</i>  = 0.393). No added covariates in Model 2 were significant (<i>P</i> > 0.05) and the additional factors did not improve the predictive ability of the model (Δ<i>F = </i>1.028(3,100), <i>P</i> > 0.05<i>)</i>. Researchers recommend future research exploring the developmental factors of youth critical thinking, why predictive models overestimate GPA, grading policies, and interpersonal variables which can account for the unexplained variance in the prediction model.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag119"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13506052/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148819631","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 forage NDF strategies on growth performance, starch digestion, ingestive behavior, and inflammatory responses in feedlot Angus × Nellore bulls.","authors":"Mailza Gonçalves de Souza, Jonas Gabriel Dantas, Bianca Lombardi Soares, Matheus Prestes Barros, Matheus Copeli Garcia, Paulo César Bortoleto Júnior, Dante Pazzanese Duarte Lanna","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag121","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txag121","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluated the effects of forage neutral detergent fiber (fNDF) level and feeding strategy on growth performance, carcass traits, ingestive behavior, starch utilization, and inflammatory biomarkers in Angus × Nellore bulls fed energy-dense diets. Sixty Angus × Nellore bulls (initial BW = 398 ± 10 kg) were housed in four pens (15 bulls/pen) and individually monitored using GrowSafe and Intergado systems. During d 0 to 50, bulls received diets containing either 12% or 7% fNDF. During d 51 to 100, 30 bulls remained on their original diets, whereas the remaining 30 bulls were switched to the opposite fNDF level (12→7% or 7→12%). Dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), and feed efficiency did not differ during the first period or across the overall feedlot period (<i>P</i> > 0.05). However, during the second period, bulls fed 7% fNDF exhibited greater ADG, improved feed efficiency, greater calculated energy requirements for gain (Eg; Mcal/d), greater performance-predicted dietary net energy for maintenance (NEm; Mcal/kg DM), greater performance-predicted dietary net energy for gain (NEg; Mcal/kg DM), and lower DMI required for maintenance than bulls fed 12% fNDF (<i>P</i> = 0.01). In contrast, bulls fed 12% fNDF allocated a greater proportion of DMI to maintenance requirements (<i>P</i> = 0.01). Feeding 7% fNDF increased fecal starch concentration and reduced estimated starch digestibility (<i>P</i> < 0.05), whereas increasing fNDF from 7% to 12% during the second period improved starch utilization compared with both the continuous 7% fNDF treatment and the 12→7% strategy (<i>P</i> = 0.01). Carcass traits, water intake, and the frequency of visits to the water trough were not affected by treatment (<i>P</i> > 0.05). Diets containing 12% fNDF increased chewing and rumination time during the first period (<i>P</i> < 0.05), whereas reducing fNDF, particularly following the 12→7% transition, decreased rumination time and increased idle time without affecting eating time (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and haptoglobin were not affected by treatment <i>(P</i> > 0.05), whereas serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations increased in bulls fed 7% fNDF during the second period (<i>P</i> = 0.01). The 7% fNDF strategy improved late-feedlot growth performance but at the expense of starch utilization, as evidenced by greater fecal starch concentration and lower estimated starch digestibility. In contrast, increasing fNDF during the finishing phase improved starch utilization without compromising animal performance. Although these responses were evident during the second period, they did not result in detectable differences in overall feedlot growth performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag121"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13534744/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148881687","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":"Recent feeding history drives prediction of daily feed intake in lactating sows.","authors":"Maria Victoria Souza, Alex Batista Trentin, Qianqian Huang, Hinayah Rojas de Oliveira, Brian Richert, Luiz Fernando Brito, Hyatt Frobose, Allan Schinckel","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txag118","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accurate prediction of feed intake (FI) in lactating sows is essential for precision nutrition, welfare monitoring, and sustainable production. Feed intake during lactation is influenced by both physiological and environmental factors, but the complexity of individual FI makes traditional modeling approaches challenging. Machine learning (ML) provides flexible tools for capturing nonlinear dynamics in sow-feeding datasets. This study evaluated multiple ML algorithms to predict and forecast FI using 17,171 daily observations from 898 lactating sows. Five ML algorithms were tested: Generalized Additive Model (GAM), Elastic Net Regression (ENET), Random Forest (RDF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB), and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGB). Predictors included environmental variables (daily maximum air temperature and daily maximum dew point), biological variables (parity and lactation day), and historical data derived from recent FI events (moving averages, lag variables, and intake variability), along with their interactions. An 8:2 sow-level train/test split was employed, along with grouped 5-fold cross-validation (CV) to prevent data leakage. Model performance, feature importance, and forecasting ability were assessed. All models performed similarly, with <i>R</i> ² values between 0.818 (ENET) and 0.828 (LGB) on the test sets and root mean squared errors (RMSE) between 0.993 kg (RDF) and 1.014 kg (ENET). However, GAM, ENET, and LGB showed less overfitting than XGB and RDF, evidenced by a train-test performance gap of over 5 percentage points. Forecasting accuracy remained strong for 1- to 3-day-ahead predictions (<i>R</i> ² = 0.61 to 0.71) but declined progressively thereafter, suggesting that ML models captured short-term individual dynamics but gradually reverted toward lactation-specific averages over longer periods. Historical variables contributed to 71.6% of the total predictive power, with the three-day moving average being the most influential feature, according to its mean absolute Shapley additive explanatory value (SHAP) of 0.728, followed by the one-day lag (SHAP = 0.715). Models without historical variables showed decreased performance, with errors increasing from + 0.294 to + 0.316 kg/d. Overall, this study demonstrates that ML models can accurately predict daily FI when incorporating historical data, highlighting the potential of ML-driven forecasting to facilitate personalized, data-driven feeding strategies in precision swine production systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag118"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13489702/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148798172","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":"Retraction of: Effects of supplementing crude protein to feedlot bison heifers using canola meal or wheat-based distillers' grains with solubles on feed intake, performance and carcass traits.","authors":"","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txag109","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1093/tas/txaf158.].</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag109"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13433271/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148673993","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":"Effect of increasing arginine:lysine ratio during the transition period and lactation on farrowing kinetics, milk composition, and sow and litter performance.","authors":"Sara Virdis, Abigail K Jenkins, Mikayla S Spinler, Katelyn N Gaffield, Jason C Woodworth, Jordan T Gebhardt, Robert D Goodband, Mike D Tokach, Joel M DeRouchey, Paolo Trevisi","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag116","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txag116","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present study aimed to determine the effects of feeding increasing Arg concentrations during late gestation (transition) and lactation of sows on farrowing kinetics, colostrum and milk concentration of immunoglobulins G (IgG), and sow and litter performance. A total of 90 sows (Line 241, DNA Genetics, Columbus, NE) were blocked by parity (average 2.14) and body weight (BW) on d 108 ± 1 of gestation and allotted to one of three dietary treatments of increasing SID Arg:Lys ratio (90, 105, or 120%). Sows received approximately 2.7 kg/d of their treatment diet starting from d 109 of gestation until farrowing, then allowed ad libitum access to their treatment diet. Litters were cross fostered within 48 h after farrowing to equalize litter size. At farrowing, colostrum was collected for IgG concentration analysis. Colostrum yield and intake were also calculated. Sows and one average weight barrow per litter were bled on day 18 for blood urea nitrogen analysis (BUN). On the same day, milk was also collected for proximate composition and IgG concentration. Increasing SID Arg:Lys ratio did not affect sow BW or backfat change during lactation, nor influence sow average daily feed intake (ADFI) either pre-farrow or during lactation. Average SID Arg intake increased (linear, <i>P</i> < 0.001) with increasing SID Arg:Lys ratio. Wean to estrus interval decreased then increased (quadratic, <i>P</i> = 0.044) with increasing SID Arg:Lys ratio. No differences were observed for the number of total pigs born or the percentage of total born alive, stillborn, and mummified. The SID Arg:Lys ratio did not influence litter size, litter weight, or pre-wean mortality at any time point. However, on day 10, piglets' ADG and BW tended to increase (linear, <i>P</i> = 0.051 and 0.061, respectively) as SID Arg:Lys ratio increased. Despite these increases on d 10, no differences in piglet performance were observed at the other time points. Increasing the SID Arg:Lys ratio from 90% to 120% did not affect farrowing duration, colostrum yield, colostrum intake, IgG concentration in colostrum or milk, milk composition, or BUN concentration in either sows or piglets. This data suggests that increasing SID Arg:Lys ratio from 90 to 120% from day 109 of gestation through weaning did not impact farrowing kinetics or sow and litter performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag116"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13532755/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148876011","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":"Effect of single implant and re-implant strategies on growth performance and carcass characteristics in finishing cattle.","authors":"Zachary K F Smith, Becca G Francis, Alyssa B Word, Audie Waite, Lee-Anne J Walter, Wade T Nichols, Jessica L Sperber, Marshall N Streeter, Brandon L Nuttelman, Grant I Crawford, John P Hutcheson","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag117","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txag117","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Three randomized complete block design experiments evaluated a single implant strategy versus approved re-implant strategies in feedlot cattle using trenbolone acetate (TBA) and estradiol-based implants. Revalor implants were from Merck Animal Health; Synovex implants were from Zoetis. Exp. 1: A total of 1400 steers (initial BW = 320 kg), housed in open lot, dirt-surfaced pens with a concrete apron, were assigned to either a single Revalor-XS (initial 80 mg TBA + 16 mg E2; delayed 120 mg TBA + 24 mg E2) administered 209 d pre-harvest (XS) or a re-implant strategy of Synovex-Choice (100 mg TBA + 14 mg EB) on d 0 followed by Synovex-ONE Feedlot (200 mg TBA + 28 mg EB) 60 d later (CHSOF). Pen served as the experimental unit. Initial BW differed and was included as a covariate. CHSOF increased (<i>P</i> = 0.01) DMI, and numerically increased ADG and HCW relative to XS, XS numerically improved net energy utilization by 2.27% (<i>P</i> ≤ 0.12). Exp. 2: Steers (<i>n</i> = 480; initial BW = 388 kg) were assigned to 48 open lot, dirt-surfaced pens with a concrete apron (10 steers/pen). A 2 × 3 factorial compared XS vs. CHSOF (re-implant at 70 d) across harvest times of 162, 183, or 204 DOF. Pen served as the experimental unit. Implant strategy had minimal effect on performance and carcass traits; increasing DOF increased (<i>P</i> ≤ 0.01) HCW, rib fat, and ribeye area. Exp. 3: Beef × Dairy heifers, (<i>n</i> = 685) and steers (<i>n</i> = 660; initial BW ≈ 167-170 kg) received CHSOF (d 100 and 200), CHPLUS (Choice d 200, Synovex Plus d 300), or Revalor strategies: XS (steers) or XH (heifers; lower estradiol dose) at d 100 (RevX100) or d 200 (RevX200). Cattle were hosued in open lot, dirt-surfaced pens with a concrete apron. Individual animal served as the experimental unit. RevX100 and RevX200 produced heavier (<i>P</i> ≤ 0.01) HCW than CHPLUS, while CHPLUS improved (<i>P</i> ≤ 0.01) yield grade. In conclusion, a single extended-release implant (Revalor-XS/XH) performs comparably to Synovex re-implant programs in cattle finished over 200 to 400 DOF.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag117"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13585447/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148991551","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":"Evaluating the efficiency of a progesterone radioimmunoassay to predict pregnancy and fetal numbers in ewes.","authors":"Sara C Gurule, Sergio A Soto-Navarro, Jennifer A Hernandez Gifford","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag113","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txag113","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis in late gestation is essential for adjusting nutritional demands and management protocols in sheep production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of progesterone (P₄) concentrations measured via radioimmunoassay for determining pregnancy status and estimating the number of lambs expected. Blood samples were collected via jugular venipuncture at day 100 of gestation (term approximately 150 d) from 423 ewes over an 8-year period. Serum P₄ concentration thresholds for predicting lamb numbers were established: non-pregnant (0 to 3.8 ng/mL), single lamb (3.9 to 12.5 ng/mL), and multiple lambs (12.6 ng/mL and above). Thresholds were compared with actual lambing outcomes to validate the effectiveness of the assay in detecting number of lambs. We hypothesized that using these P₄ thresholds would provide reasonable accuracy in predicting the number of lambs, enabling more precise resource allocation and improved management decisions. The P₄ radioimmunoassay demonstrated 99% accuracy for pregnancy detection and 73% overall accuracy in predicting number of lambs. Multiparous ewes demonstrated greater accuracy (84%) than nulliparous ewes (73%) in prediction of lamb number. Maternal serum P₄ was positively associated with the number of lambs born (<i>P</i> < 0.001). The P₄× lamb birth weight interaction (<i>P</i> = 0.02) indicated that lamb birth weight modified the association between maternal P₄ concentration and the number of lambs born, providing a biological explanation for some of the overlap in P₄ concentrations between singleton- and twin-bearing ewes. Accurate prediction of pregnancy status and fetal number can improve flock management by identifying non-pregnant ewes for culling and enabling nutritional and management strategies tailored to ewes carrying single or multiple fetuses, ultimately improving animal welfare, productivity, and profitability. The reliability of the model across parities and years supports its efficacy in mixed-age flocks.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag113"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13455970/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148707852","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":"Comparative effects of beef heart, liver, and kidney inclusion on quality characteristics and consumer acceptability of ground beef patties.","authors":"Savannah L Douglas, Don R Mulvaney, Jase J Ball, Soren P Rodning, Sungeun Cho, Jason T Sawyer","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag115","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txag115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Consumer demand for beef products is driven by eating quality, affordability, and versatility. Creating value-added formulations that enhance nutritional density without compromising acceptability is a crucial part of product development. Organ meats are nutrient-dense beef byproducts that remain underutilized in U.S. food systems. Edible beef by-products contribute substantially to carcass value through domestic and export markets. Incorporating beef organs into ground beef blends may provide a value-added opportunity to enhance whole-animal utilization. Objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of beef heart, liver, or kidney at 15% inclusion on product quality and consumer acceptability of ground beef patties. Patties were formulated as control (no organ) or with heart, liver, or kidney and evaluated for cooking characteristics, instrumental color, objective tenderness, and consumer acceptance. Liver and kidney patties increased redness and chroma of raw and cooked patties (<i>P</i> < 0.0001). Moreover, liver and kidney patties reduced shear force and hardness compared to control and patties containing beef heart (<i>P</i> < 0.0001). Consumer panelists rated patties with kidney as juicier (<i>P</i> < 0.0001) and more tender (<i>P</i> = 0.0004). Sensory panelists scores report similar findings for control and heart patties for overall liking (<i>P</i> = 0.5208), appearance (<i>P</i> = 0.5823), aroma (<i>P</i> = 0.1756), and texture (<i>P</i> = 0.6387). A tendency (<i>P</i> = 0.0763) was observed for flavor with control and heart patties receiving higher flavor scores than the remaining treatments. Liver patties received the lowest scores for overall liking, flavor, and texture (<i>P</i> < 0.0001) compared to all other treatments. Results demonstrate that ground beef quality and consumer perception are influenced by organ type with beef heart maintaining characteristics like control patties. Among the organs evaluated, kidney inclusion provided the greatest improvements in juiciness and tenderness for beef patties but exhibited sensory challenges. Results indicate the need for further investigation to identify an optimal inclusion rate that maximizes eating quality and consumer acceptability. Formulation estimates suggest that replacing 15% of the beef trimmings with organ meat can reduce formulation cost while improving utilization of carcass components. Results suggest the potential for incorporating beef organs into ground beef as a value-added strategy to enhance sustainability and economic efficiency.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag115"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13453333/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148702079","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":"The effect of shade on steer performance after terminal sort.","authors":"Madeline R Mancke, Brad J White, Eduarda M Bortoluzzi, Brian V Lubbers, Robert L Larson","doi":"10.1093/tas/txag088","DOIUrl":"10.1093/tas/txag088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heat stress negatively impacts performance and welfare and occurs when total environmental and metabolic thermal load exceeds an animal's ability to dissipate heat. Access to shade has been associated with reductions in body temperature and respiratory rate in cattle, but previous findings on cattle performance has been inconsistent. This pen-level randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of shade (2.8 m²/head, 100% solar block; <i>n</i> = 12 pens) versus no shade (<i>n</i> = 12 pens) on steer performance following terminal sort at a commercial feedyard in the Pacific Northwest, where animals were housed on roller-compacted concrete floors. Data collected included water consumption, feed delivery, disease events, open mouth breathing (OMB) behavior, and carcass traits. Shade reduced water consumption by 15% (<i>P</i> < 0.05), and pens without shade showed a 6% decrease in feed delivery when the previous day's temperature-humidity index (THI) was ≥ 80 (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Additionally, shade reduced OMB behavior (<i>P</i> = 0.09), the number of culled steers (<i>P</i> < 0.05), and the incidence of dark cutters (<i>P</i> < 0.05). A greater proportion of steers in shaded pens graded choice and prime (93%), compared to those in unshaded pens (91%) (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Inclusion of shade improved animal health, welfare, carcass quality, and environmental stewardship during the summer months in a commercial feedyard setting. Shade should be considered a valuable management tool for mitigating heat stress in finishing cattle.</p>","PeriodicalId":23272,"journal":{"name":"Translational Animal Science","volume":"10 ","pages":"txag088"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13418354/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148621499","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}