Animal最新文献

{"title":"The ruminal and faecal microbiota, digestion processes, and milk composition of dairy cows are modified by the botanical biodiversity of pastures","authors":"M. Musati ,&nbsp;M. Coppa ,&nbsp;C. Delbès ,&nbsp;I. Verdier-Metz ,&nbsp;M. Popova ,&nbsp;V. Niderkorn ,&nbsp;M. Bouchon ,&nbsp;Y. Farizon ,&nbsp;F. Enjalbert ,&nbsp;M. Renna ,&nbsp;C. Lussiana ,&nbsp;G. Mangione ,&nbsp;B. Martin ,&nbsp;A. Ferlay","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101537","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101537","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pasture botanical diversity is known to change milk composition and improve dairy product quality. However, the chemical and physiological mechanisms behind this effect are only partially known and the role of ruminant’s microbiota is still unclear. To study the effects of pasture botanical biodiversity on rumen microbiota, fermentation parameters and milk composition of dairy cows, an <em>in vivo</em> experiment, including <em>in vitro</em> measurements, was carried out with two balanced groups of seven dairy cows each. After a 5-week pre-experimental period on a common permanent grassland plot, the two groups of cows grazed for 4 weeks (experimental period) on two plots characterised by contrasting levels of plant biodiversity: low diversity (<strong>LD</strong>; 19 species, mainly grasses) and high diversity (<strong>HD</strong>; 56 species, mostly dicots). Samples of simulated bites, rumen fluid, faeces, and milk were collected at the end of the pre-experimental and experimental periods. The species richness (α-diversity) of bacteria and fungi in the rumen and faeces of the cows did not differ between treatments, contrary to the composition and relative abundance (β-diversity) of bacterial and fungal communities. In addition, during <em>in vitro</em> rumen fermentation, total gas production of HD herbage was lower compared with LD, probably because of the different chemical characteristics of the substrates and the partial inhibition of bacterial activity by tannins. Furthermore, methane production <em>in vitro</em> was reduced in the HD group compared to the LD one, as indicated by the higher CO₂:CH₄ ratio. Thus, the differences in β-diversity may be explained both by herbage fibre and plant secondary metabolite contents. Plant tannins also protected dietary proteins from degradation, as indicated by the lower ammonia to CP ratio obtained <em>in vitro</em> in HD than in LD digesta. Comparable proportions of C18:3 n-3 were found in milk, despite the lower total fatty acid and C18:3 n-3 contents of the HD herbage. Plant secondary metabolites in the rumen could have partially inhibited the activity of ruminal bacteria responsible for the biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. This study explains how grazing dairy cows on permanent grasslands rich in plant biodiversity helps transferring polyunsaturated fatty acids from herbage to milk and likely reduces methane and ammonia emissions by influencing ruminal and faecal microbiota thanks to plant secondary metabolites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 6","pages":"Article 101537"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144177895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Does the diurnal pattern of enteric methane emissions from dairy cows change over time?” [Animal 12(10) (2018) 2065–2070]","authors":"M.J. Bell,&nbsp;J. Craigon,&nbsp;N. Saunders,&nbsp;JR Goodman,&nbsp;P.C. Garnsworthy","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101492","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101492","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 6","pages":"Article 101492"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144131054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic insights into growth traits in German Black Pied cattle: a dual-purpose breed at risk","authors":"P. Korkuć ,&nbsp;M. Reißmann ,&nbsp;G.A. Brockmann","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101540","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101540","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The German Black Pied cattle (<strong>DSN</strong>) is an endangered dual-purpose breed valued for its genetic diversity and high milk fat and protein content. However, due to competition with higher-yielding dairy breeds, the DSN population has declined, leading to its designation as an endangered breed. While previous research has focused on the milk production traits of DSN, this study aims to address meat traits to further understand the genetic determination of the dual-purpose characteristics of the breed. We conducted genome-wide association studies on 669 DSN bulls to identify genetic loci associated with birth weight, BW, and BW gain at different growth stages. Using imputed whole-genome sequencing data, we identified 14 quantitative trait loci across ten chromosomes. Significant associations were found for birth weight on chromosomes 5 and 18, for body weight at 3 weeks (<strong>BW_3w</strong>) on chromosomes 3 and 16, for body weight at 7 months (<strong>BW_7m</strong>) on chromosomes 3 and 10, and for body weight gain from birth or 3 weeks to 18 months (<strong>BWG_0d-18m</strong>, <strong>BWG_3w-18m</strong>) on chromosomes 4 and 7. Key positional candidate genes influencing muscle and fat tissue development included <em>RERGL</em> and <em>LMO3</em> (identified for birth weight), <em>MET</em> and <em>CAPZA2</em> (identified for BWG_0d-18m) which are essential for skeletal muscle development and actin filament regulation, respectively, <em>TLN2</em> (identified for BW_7m), <em>MYO1F</em> and <em>ADAMTS10</em> (identified for BWG_3w-18m) which are critical for actin filament assembly, cytoskeletal function, and skeletal development, respectively. Candidate genes such as <em>CPT2</em> (identified or BW_3w) and <em>VPS13C</em> (identified or BW_7m) are involved in lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function. Additionally, candidate genes such as <em>IGSF3</em> (identified for BW_7m), <em>KLRC1</em> and members of the C-type lectin family (identified for birth weight) are associated with immune regulation, and thus, suggest a potential interplay between metabolism, immune function, and growth efficiency. These findings highlight the distinct genetic mechanisms underlying growth at various developmental stages, underscoring the importance of breed-specific genetic evaluations. The identified loci also overlap with previously reported loci for meat and production traits in other cattle breeds, underscoring their relevance and potential utility in DSN breeding strategies. This study provides a foundation for conservation and genomic breeding strategies to maintain the dual-purpose characteristics of DSN through optimising both meat and milk production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 6","pages":"Article 101540"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144139549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of weaning and cow-calf contact on the physiological and clinical health, performance, and behaviour of dairy cows and their calves","authors":"S.E. McPherson ,&nbsp;E.A.M. Bokkers ,&nbsp;A.M. Sinnott ,&nbsp;M.C. McFadden ,&nbsp;L.E. Webb ,&nbsp;E. Kennedy","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101541","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101541","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cow-calf contact (<strong>CCC</strong>) systems have become increasingly popular calf−rearing systems to promote positive welfare; however, weaning and separation may cause distress. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the interaction between weaning and CCC on the physiological health, performance, and behaviour of dairy cows and calves. Three systems were compared: conventional, pasture-based Irish system (<strong>CONV</strong>; 18 pairs), cow and calf separated ≤ 2 h postbirth, cows milked twice-a-day, calves artificially reared indoors; full-time access system (<strong>FT</strong>; 14 pairs), dam and calf allowed constant, pasture-based, unrestricted access and cows milked twice-a-day; and part-time access system (<strong>PT</strong>; 18 pairs), unrestricted access at night indoors, cows grazed outdoors by day while calves remained indoors, cows milked once-a-day (0800 h). All calves were weaned at 8 weeks of age; FT and PT pairs underwent a 7 d gradual weaning and separation process (PT cows switched to twice-a-day milking) while CONV calves were gradually weaned over 12 d. Clinical health scores (2x/week), blood samples (1x/week; analysed for physiological markers of health and performance), BW (1x/week), body condition score (1x/week; cows only), and behaviour (1 d/week; scan sampling 3x/d; 24 total observations) were taken the week before (<strong>preWS</strong>) and after (<strong>postWS</strong>) the weaning and separation process. The PT cows had higher body condition scores (3.18 ± 0.034) than CONV (2.95; FT cows were similar to both, 3.05) and lower non-esterified fatty acids (<strong>NEFA</strong>; 0.40 ± 0.038 mmol/L) than the FT cows (0.58 mmol/L; CONV cows were similar to both, 0.48 mmol/L) across both time-points. All calves preWS had lower summed clinical health scores (0.91 vs 1.25 ± 0.131; <em>P</em> = 0.017), beta-hydroxybutyrate (0.07 vs 0.39 ± 0.023 mmol/L; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), and globulin (12.0 vs 14.5 ± 0.929 g/L; <em>P</em> = 0.010) than postWS. After weaning and separation, the FT (0.36 mmol/L; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) and PT (0.34 mmol/L; <em>P</em> = 0.001) calves had higher NEFA than CONV calves (0.13 mmol/L). Calf weekly average daily gain (<strong>ADGw</strong>) was similar preWS (0.9 ± 0.142 kg/d), but CONV calves had higher ADGw postWS than FT (0.42 kg/d) and PT calves (0.40 kg/d). All calves performed more (<em>P</em> = 0.009) positive behaviours preWS (4.6 ± 6.37%) compared to postWS (2.3 ± 3.38%). Our results suggest the applied CCC slightly worsened cow and calf health, performance, and behaviour around weaning and separation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 6","pages":"Article 101541"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144138952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex-specific effects of a methionine-restricted maternal diet on liver transcript levels and fatty liver production in mule ducks","authors":"A. Sécula ,&nbsp;H. Chapuis ,&nbsp;L. Bodin ,&nbsp;M-D. Bernadet ,&nbsp;X. Martin ,&nbsp;J. Barrieu ,&nbsp;E. Cobo ,&nbsp;L.E. Bluy ,&nbsp;H. Manse ,&nbsp;L. Gress ,&nbsp;C.M.D. Bonnefont ,&nbsp;M. Morisson","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101539","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101539","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sex-specific effects of maternal diet on offspring phenotypes have been reported in farm animals including in poultry. The present study was conducted in mule ducks, investigating the long-term effects of a methionine-restricted maternal diet on the production performance of the offspring of both sexes. Sixty female ducks were divided into two groups and fed either a control diet containing 4.0 g/kg of methionine or a restricted diet containing 2.5 g/kg of methionine. Next, 254 offspring were divided into four subgroups of 60–67 animals, according to maternal diet and sex. Their growth performance was recorded until 87 days of age. Then, plasma parameters were measured on these non-overfed ducks (<strong>NOFDs</strong>) at D87 and 60 of them were sacrificed, representing 15 males and 15 females in each maternal diet group. Carcass traits were recorded, and the liver transcript level of 170 genes mainly involved in energy or one-carbon metabolism was studied. The remaining 194 ducks were overfed during 12.5 days -until 100 days of age- for fatty liver production. Then, zootechnical traits and plasma parameters were measured on these 194 overfed ducks (<strong>OFDs</strong>), and the liver transcript level of the same 170 genes was studied. The results showed that the methionine-restricted maternal diet affected traits in NOFDs but in females only, with lower liver lipid and DM percentages (<em>P</em>-value = 0.006 and <em>P</em>-value = 0.004, respectively) and a lower plasma cholesterol level (<em>P</em>-value = 0.020). In OFDs, after the overfeeding period, fatty liver weight was reduced in both sexes by around 53 g, or almost 10% (<em>P</em>-value = 0.016 and 0.017 in females and males, respectively). Only females showed a tendency to lower liver lipid and DM percentages (<em>P</em>-value = 0.078 and <em>P</em>-value = 0.062, respectively) and their plasmatic aspartate aminotransferase activity was reduced (<em>P</em>-value = 0.025). In addition, 18 genes differentially expressed between maternal diet groups were identified in the liver of females only. All were up-regulated in the restricted group and involved in either energy or one-carbon metabolism. These findings showed that the methionine-restricted maternal diet had long-term effects on liver traits, impacting production performance in both sexes. Importantly, these effects were sex-specific, and robust enough to still be observed after the overfeeding period, despite the major reorganisation of metabolic pathways this implied.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 6","pages":"Article 101539"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144124014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Welfare impacts during and after reproductive procedures for in vivo embryo production and transfer in Holstein dairy heifers","authors":"D. Ledoux ,&nbsp;A. de Boyer des Roches ,&nbsp;P. de Roover ,&nbsp;C. Roque ,&nbsp;S. Lancelin ,&nbsp;B. Deloupy-Dobin ,&nbsp;P. Salvetti","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101538","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101538","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Embryo technologies are routinely used in cattle, but the links between embryo technologies and cattle welfare have been poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to describe the behavioural, physiological and clinical responses of Holstein dairy heifers during and after five reproductive procedures: dominant follicle removal (<strong>DFR</strong>) by transvaginal follicular puncture, superovulation, double artificial insemination (<strong>AI1</strong> and <strong>AI2</strong>), embryo flushing (<strong>EF</strong>), and embryo transfer (<strong>ET</strong>). This longitudinal cross-over design used twelve nulliparous pubescent and cycled Holstein heifers, each acting as their own control. Behavioural recordings (video and continuous monitoring sensors), physiological and clinical examinations, and blood sampling were performed at regular intervals on each reproductive procedure from the start of contention up to 24 h after the end of the procedure. The heifers changed their behavioural and physiological responses during and after each of the five reproductive procedures. During the procedures, they displayed more abnormal postures of the body (e.g. arched back during all procedures; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), hindlimbs (e.g. base-wide stance during all procedures except EF; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), and head (e.g. lowered head during AI2, EF and ET; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). They also displayed more signs of agitation, moving their body more (e.g. stepping aside during DFR, AI1 and ET; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), their feet more (e.g. hoof lifting during DFR, EF and ET; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) and their head more (e.g. neck stretching forward during AI2, EF, and ET; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). They also showed increases in both plasma cortisol concentration (during AI2 and EF; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) and heart rate (during DFR and AI2; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). However, we did not observe any inflammatory response in plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines and haptoglobin or in macroscopic appearance of the vulvae 2 h after the procedures. During the 24 h after the procedures, the heifers spent less time ingesting and standing up after DFR (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), less time ruminating after EF (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05), more time with activity after superovulation and more time without activity after EF (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Each reproductive procedure has specific responses in the heifers. Taken together, our findings suggest that heifer welfare was impacted both during and after the procedures involved in embryo production and <em>in vivo</em> transfer protocol. Acknowledging that some discomfort/pain may be present, it may be welfare-friendly to develop and apply refinement strategies during and after embryo technology procedures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 6","pages":"Article 101538"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144134394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impacts of digestibility stalls on the welfare of growing bulls","authors":"I. Veissier,&nbsp;R. Bellagi,&nbsp;P. Nozière,&nbsp;R. Baumont","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101513","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101513","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diet digestibility and nitrogen balance are essential indicators for studies on ruminant nutrition. Both these indicators are conventionally assessed over 1− to 2-week periods when animals are restrained in so-called digestibility stalls that largely restrict their movements. Here, we aimed to assess the welfare of bulls in digestibility stalls and to check whether stall-related welfare impacts could be limited by shortening the duration of the stay in the stall. Sixteen Charolais bulls accommodated in a large group pen were confined in digestibility stalls for 2 weeks, in two repetitions spaced 2.5 months apart. Urine and faeces were collected daily for 10 days from Day 7 in stalls. From 7 days before the bulls entered the stalls to 7 days after they exited, we measured their feed intake daily and monitored their posture (standing vs lying) and main activity patterns (eating, ruminating, other activity, inactivity) using activity sensors. External lesions (hair losses, wounds) were assessed once a week during the same period. Cortisol was determined in hair from the tail tuft at 3-week intervals from before entering the stalls to after 10 or 15 days in the stalls. Bulls responded to the digestibility stalls by eating lower amounts of feed, spending more time standing or inactive and less time eating or ruminating than when they were in the group pen. The increase in time spent inactive and the decrease in time spent eating were stronger in Repetition 2 than in Repetition 1. The time spent inactive decreased over the first few days in the stalls then increased again over the course of days when urine and faeces were collected. Bulls were more likely to be affected by lesions once they were in the stalls. Hair cortisol increased when the bulls were in the stalls, with a more marked increase after a short stay in Repetition 2. In conclusion, we find definitive evidence that digestibility and nitrogen measurements in digestibility stalls are constraining for animals, and bulls do not appear to habituate to time in the stalls. Confinement in the stalls as well as handling while in the stalls can both have negative welfare impacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 5","pages":"Article 101513"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143908243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative intake, digestibility and enteric methane emissions by growing lambs and goat kids fed a medium digestibility grass nuts diet","authors":"M.R. Quail ,&nbsp;I.G. Davies ,&nbsp;J.M. Moorby ,&nbsp;M.D. Fraser","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101489","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101489","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The availability of baseline emission data across various livestock systems is an essential component of identifying suitable mitigation strategies for the future. However, the comparative CH₄ emissions of different livestock species, particularly those that represent key small ruminants globally (sheep (<em>Ovis aries</em>) and goats (<em>Capra hircus</em>)), have not been explored in the context of diet digestibility and growth potential of the animal. This study aimed to generate baseline data through comparing weaned lambs and goat kids in relation to (1) growth performance, (2) enteric methane emissions, (3) and diet <em>in vivo</em> digestibility of a common medium-digestibility diet that reflects the pasture type that the animals might be expected to graze. Ten castrated lambs (Welsh Mountain breed) and ten goat kids (Cashmere × Boer crossbreed) of an equivalent age postweaning (c. 12 months) (avg. starting weight of 15 kg ± 0.86, and 26 kg ± 1.02, respectively) were offered a grass-nuts diet <em>ad libitum</em> whilst housed in individual pens. Dry matter intake (<strong>DMI</strong>) of feed was monitored daily throughout an 8-week growth stage, whilst liveweight was assessed weekly. Enteric CH₄ emissions of each animal were recorded for 72 h in methane collection chambers. We found significantly higher liveweight gains for the sheep compared to goats (163 and 84 g/day for lambs and kids respectively; SED = 12.8; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), as well as higher DMI (1299.8 vs 881.8 g/day; SED = 64.7; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). DM intake was comparable between species on a metabolic liveweight (W^0.75) basis. The sheep also produced higher daily CH₄ emissions (26.3 g/day, and 19.4 g/day, respectively; SED = 3.02; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) than goats. However, no effect of species was observed on CH₄ emissions per kg W^0.75 or per kg DMI. The proportion of methane energy excreted expressed as a proportion of diet gross energy (Ym) was similar for both species (4.9 and 4.6% CH₄ E/gross energy intake for lambs and kids, respectively; SED = 0.46), as were apparent whole-tract <em>in vivo</em> DM digestibility, although the sheep had a better feed conversion ratio (<strong>FCR</strong>) than the goats (6.6 g DMI/ g W^0.75 gain and 11.5 g DMI/g W^0.75 gain, respectively; SED = 1.58; <em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). Here, we found that sheep were more efficient than goats when offered an identical diet of grass nuts, giving a higher weight gain than the goats (resulting in a lower FCR), whilst also producing similar CH₄ emissions to the goats on a metabolic LW basis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 5","pages":"Article 101489"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143886435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early life reproductive investment affects longevity in ewes","authors":"L.S. Kierkegaard ,&nbsp;N.C. Friggens ,&nbsp;G. Steinheim ,&nbsp;Ø. Holand ,&nbsp;G. Klemetsdal ,&nbsp;L. Puillet ,&nbsp;B.A. Åby","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101504","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101504","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To increase lifetime production of ewes, it has been suggested to mate ewe lambs. However, research on the effect of age at first lambing on longevity has shown conflicting results. This study investigated the impact of early life reproduction (i.e., the effect of age at first lambing and litter size) and environmental conditions on longevity in a prolific sheep breed traditionally bred as lambs. Lifetime performance data were obtained from 550 884 Norwegian White Sheep born between 2000 and 2013 spread across Norway. All ewes lambed their first litter either as 1-year-old or 2-year-olds. Longevity was investigated using a linear mixed model with age at first lambing, litter size, county, the covariates early- and late parturition, and two categorical variables describing cross-fostering and success in weaning as fixed effects. Herd x year was fitted as a random effect. The lifespan of the ewes was affected both by age of the ewe at first reproduction and the reproductive investment (i.e., litter size). The predicted lifespan for ewes mated as lambs was 1 548 days (4.2 years) whereas the lifespan for those mated as 2-year-olds was 1 700 days (4.7 years). There was a curvilinear relationship between lifespan and litter size. Lifespan increased from 1 272 days (3.5 years) to 1 618 days (4.4 years) when litter size increased from 0 to 1 lamb. Further increased reproductive investment resulted in a decreased lifespan with a litter size of 4 having the shortest lifespan of 1 468 days (4.0 years). The relation between litter size and lifespan was similar but at different levels for both age groups of ewes, except for ewes rearing less lambs than they gave birth to. In that group, ewes mated as lambs had a peak predicted lifespan at 1 504 days (4.1 years) with a litter size of one lamb, whereas those first mated as 2-year-olds had their peak predicted lifespan of 1 650 days (4.5 years) with a litter size of two lambs. The relationship between longevity and reproductive investment was in some cases affected by environmental conditions. However, the effect was not consistent with latitude. In conclusion, ewes mated as lambs, in general, live shorter lives compared to those first mated as 2-year-olds but environmental importance for longevity and reproduction needs further investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 5","pages":"Article 101504"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143900002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of models of enteric methane emissions in finishing steers","authors":"J. Vargas,&nbsp;M. Swenson,&nbsp;A.K. Schilling-Hazlett,&nbsp;I.A. Reis,&nbsp;C. Velasquez,&nbsp;E.C. Martins,&nbsp;L. Sitorski,&nbsp;L.M. Campos,&nbsp;P.H.V. Carvalho,&nbsp;K.R. Stackhouse-Lawson,&nbsp;S.E. Place","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101536","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101536","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate estimation of enteric CH₄ emissions (i.e., MJ or g of CH₄/ day) in the ruminant sector is necessary for properly determining greenhouse gas emissions and developing measuring, reporting, and verification programs. However, measuring enteric CH₄ emissions under commercial conditions presents challenges due to technical and economic constraints. Thus, using prediction models allows for estimating individual enteric CH₄ emissions according to animal and dietary characteristics. When evaluated in independent datasets, there is limited information regarding the accuracy and precision of the reported equations to predict enteric CH₄ emissions in steers fed a finishing diet. This study evaluated the predictive performance of various reported equations for estimating enteric CH₄ production in finishing steers. Data used to assess the prediction equations came from 446 steers from five experiments during the finishing phase. Gas flux, nutrient consumption, and animal growth performance were evaluated in each experiment. Seventy-two equations were compared based on the mean square prediction error (<strong>MSPE</strong>), the decomposition of the root MSPE (<strong>RMSPE</strong>), and the concordance correlation coefficient (<strong>CCC</strong>). Prediction equations for estimating enteric CH₄ emissions showed lower sensitivity with RMSPE (as a percentage of the observed mean) ranging from 17.79 to 99.21 and CCC ranging from −0.07 to 0.21. The decomposition of the RMSPE showed mean bias (as a percentage of the RMSPE) ranging from 0.14 to 94.87 and slope bias (as a percentage of the RMSPE) ranging from 0 to 25.24. In addition, 49 equations underpredicted (ranging from 0.6 to 50.1%) and 23 overpredicted (ranging from 3.7 to 96.1%) enteric CH₄ emissions. The prediction of enteric CH₄ production showed greater CCC and lower MSPE when the intake of DM and ether extract were included as predictors. These results suggest a limited ability to predict enteric CH₄ by steers during the finishing phase. Further efforts are required to generate sensitive models to accurately predict enteric CH₄ emissions in finishing steers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 6","pages":"Article 101536"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144124013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}