Animal最新文献

{"title":"The interaction between slaughter weight and sex on carcass composition and nutrient efficiencies in Piétrain crossbred pigs","authors":"S. Millet,&nbsp;F. Leen ,&nbsp;C. De Cuyper,&nbsp;M. Aluwé,&nbsp;J. Van Meensel,&nbsp;A. Van den Broeke","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101432","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101432","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pig farming plays a vital role in converting human inedible protein sources into edible animal protein. A significant portion of ingested nitrogen (<strong>N</strong>) and phosphorus (<strong>P</strong>) is excreted in the manure; however; this poses environmental challenges, particularly in regions with intensive pig production. Accurate estimation of nutrient excretion is crucial when assessing the environmental impact of pig production and management strategies. To this end, understanding how management influences BW composition is important. In the current study, the influence of sex and slaughter weight on body composition and nutrient efficiency in Piétrain crossbreds was examined in two experiments. Four sex categories were tested: entire male pigs (<strong>EM</strong>), barrows (<strong>BA</strong>), immunocastrates (<strong>IC</strong>), and gilts (<strong>GI</strong>). Experiment 1 occurred under experimental conditions (individual housing, nutrient−rich diet) while experiment 2 represented controlled farm circumstances (group housing, commercial diet). Slaughter weight in experiments 1 and 2 were 110–148 kg and 99–138 kg, respectively. Body composition was analysed at the beginning and end of the growing-finishing phase. Nitrogen efficiency, based on the conversion of ingested N into body N, was calculated. In general, slaughter weight had a clear effect on body composition and nutrient excretions in BA and a lesser effect in GI. In contrast, no effect of slaughter weight on body composition and N excretions was observed in EM and IC within the tested weight range. As slaughter weight increased in BA, CP and water content decreased while fat content increased. This resulted in increasing N excretion and decreasing N efficiency at higher slaughter weights. Only weak correlations between estimated lean meat content and N content in the body were observed. No significant effect of BW on whole−body P content or P excretion was observed. The measured body composition values can be used for future research and modelling of nutrient excretions in pig production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101432"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143402666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of fish oil in Iberian sow diets on fatty acid, oxylipins and immune traits of colostrum and milk, and suckling piglets’ growth performance","authors":"E. Llauradó-Calero ,&nbsp;J. García-Gudiño ,&nbsp;F.I. Hernández-García ,&nbsp;M. Izquierdo ,&nbsp;R. Lizardo ,&nbsp;D. Torrallardona ,&nbsp;E. Esteve-Garcia ,&nbsp;N. Tous","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101430","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101430","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Iberian sow productivity is characterised by a low number of weaned piglets with higher within-litter variation in piglet birth BW compared with conventional breeds. To overcome this, nutritional strategies, such as the dietary addition of n-3 fatty acids (<strong>FAs</strong>), are being studied to improve sow performance, as well as colostrum and milk composition. In addition, n-3 FAs and their derived oxylipins could also be beneficial for the offspring due to their anti-inflammatory roles. The present study was conducted in an outdoor production system where sows were group-fed during the mating and gestation periods, while feed intake was provided individually during lactation. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of including fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids (<strong>EPA</strong> and <strong>DHA</strong>, respectively) in Iberian sow diets on litter size, piglet growth during lactation, and the concentrations of anti-inflammatory molecules in colostrum and milk. Forty sows were randomly assigned to either a control or fish oil diet during pregnancy and lactation. Sow performance and litter traits were monitored until weaning. Colostrum and milk were collected after the birth of the first piglet and at weaning, respectively. Their FA composition, oxylipin profile, and immune indicators were analysed. Despite the piglets from the control group having greater average birth BW than those from the fish oil litters (<em>P</em> = 0.016), the fish oil piglets were heavier at weaning (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.028). Total n-3 FA concentration was increased in the colostrum and milk of fish oil-fed sows (all <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), mainly due to increases in EPA and DHA concentrations (all <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). In the same way, most of their oxygenated derivatives were also increased in both colostrum and milk (<em>P</em> ≤ 0.045). The colostrum from fish oil-fed sows also presented higher concentrations of immunoglobulins (<strong>Ig</strong>) G and A than that from control sows (<em>P</em> = 0.025 and <em>P</em> = 0.026, respectively). In conclusion, the inclusion of fish oil in sow diets increased the levels of IgG and IgA in colostrum, n-3 FAs and their derived oxylipins in colostrum and milk, and piglet BW at weaning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101430"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143403292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Genomic insights into selection signatures and candidate genes for milk production traits in buffalo population","authors":"T.X. Deng ,&nbsp;X.Y. Ma ,&nbsp;A.Q. Duan ,&nbsp;X.R. Lu ,&nbsp;H. Abdel-Shafy","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101427","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101427","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Genetic variability in livestock driven by selection leaves distinct signatures within the genome. However, the comprehensive landscape of the selection responses for milk production traits in the Chinese buffalo population remains elusive. This study employed an integrated haplotype score (<strong>iHS</strong>) and runs of homozygosity (<strong>ROH</strong>) analyses of whole-genome sequence data from 100 Chinese buffaloes to decipher selection signatures. Using iHS and ROH, we identified 1 046 and 1 045 significant genomic regions, containing 717 and 263 candidate genes, respectively. The integration of iHS and ROH revealed 258 candidate regions and 108 overlapping genes, representing true selection signatures. Additionally, 94 candidate regions overlapped with 672 previously reported quantitative trait loci associated with key economically important traits. Annotation of the genomic regions highlighted candidate genes linked to milk production traits, including <em>SNORD42</em>, <em>COX18</em>, <em>ANKRD17</em>, <em>ALB</em>, <em>RASSF6</em>, <em>CXCL8</em>, <em>TMEM232</em>, <em>ARHGAP26</em>, and <em>NR3C1</em>. Transcriptome-wide association analysis supported <em>ANKRD17</em> and <em>CEP41</em> as potential candidates for affecting milk traits. This study unveils a comprehensive selection signature profile for the Chinese buffalo population by integrating iHS and ROH methods. The findings have broad implications for improving milk production traits in buffalo populations globally, contributing to more sustainable livestock systems. The identified candidate genes shed light on the selection response for milk production traits, offering crucial insights into optimising the breeding strategies for Chinese buffaloes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 4","pages":"Article 101427"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143680734","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Growth rate, either through genetics or diet, mainly determines the outcome concerning broiler welfare","authors":"J.A.J. van der Eijk ,&nbsp;J. van Harn ,&nbsp;H. Gunnink ,&nbsp;T. van Hattum ,&nbsp;M. Wolthuis-Fillerup ,&nbsp;S. Melis ,&nbsp;D.E. te Beest ,&nbsp;I.C. de Jong","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101431","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101431","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a trend towards broiler production systems with higher welfare requirements, which often use a combination of factors to improve broiler welfare. This makes it difficult to entangle whether improvements are due to housing conditions, diet, genetics or a combination of these factors. Therefore, it remains unknown to what extent differences in welfare can be attributed to breed (i.e., genetics), growth rate (i.e., diet) or the interaction between the two. We compared fast- (Ross 308, <strong>R</strong>), medium- (Ranger Classic, <strong>RC</strong>) and slower-growing broilers (Hubbard JA757, <strong>H</strong>) receiving diets differing in balanced protein (<strong>BP</strong>) content (i.e., 80, 90 and 100%). We identified effects on behaviour, responses to behavioural tests and litter quality at three target body weights (<strong>TBW</strong>s, 0.2, 1.2 and 2.4 kg), and welfare scores and litter DM content at TBW 2.6 kg. The experiment had a 3 × 3 factorial design with four replicates (pens) per treatment (a total of 36 pens). We hypothesised that reducing the growth rate will improve the welfare of all breeds and that breeds will not differ in welfare if they have a comparable growth rate. Indeed, reducing the growth rate improved hock burn scores in all breeds. R broilers also had improved cleanliness scores and RC broilers improved gait scores. Reducing the growth rate increased the number of R broilers approaching a human and novel object and showing running behaviour in the free-space test, while it reduced the number of RC broilers approaching a human and showing comfort behaviour and did not affect behaviour in H broilers. In addition, litter quality was improved for R broilers (wetness and DM), while reduced for H broilers (DM) with reduced growth rate, and no effects of growth rate on litter quality were found for RC broilers. Thus, reducing growth rate (i.e., reducing BP in diets) improves welfare in all breeds, but breeds did respond differently concerning behaviour and litter quality, with more beneficial effects for fast-growing broilers compared to medium- and slower-growing broilers. Hardly any differences in behaviour, welfare scores and litter quality were found between breeds when they had a comparable growth rate (R80 vs RC100 and RC80 vs H100), except for R80 having better scores for cleanliness and gait scores (only males) and higher litter DM content compared to RC100. These findings suggest that growth rate, either through genetics or diet, is mainly determining the outcome concerning broiler welfare.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101431"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143403293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tail status at both individual and pen level affects tail biting victimisation in pigs over the finishing period","authors":"C. Munsterhjelm,&nbsp;M. Tuominen-Brinkas,&nbsp;H. Koskikallio,&nbsp;M. Heinonen,&nbsp;K. Ahlqvist,&nbsp;A. Valros","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101428","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101428","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tail biting is a significant welfare problem in commercial pig production. Individual tail health was assessed in non-docked pigs (n = 1 579) on five farms (180–441 pigs and 16–30 pens per farm) at introduction to the finishing unit (<strong>W0</strong>) and 9 weeks later (<strong>W9</strong>) to present longitudinal descriptive data, establish risk factors for being tail bitten and investigate possibilities to infer information about W0 tail health based on W9 tail appearance. Tail health was described in terms of posture (hanging), shortening (loss of distal flattening), lesion type (<strong>TLT</strong>; 0 = no lesion, 1 = minor lesion on intact skin; or with skin penetration 2 = &lt; 0.5 cm, 3 = 0.5–2 cm, or 4 = &gt; 2 cm), length (<strong>iL</strong>) and change therein from W0 to W9 (<strong>ΔL</strong>). ΔL may include cumulating information on received tail biting given that the variation was large and negative values were present. The average intact tail measured 22 ± 2.1 and 29 ± 2.3 cm at W0 and W9, respectively, with no effect of sex. Tail lesion prevalence decreased unexpectedly from W0 to W9, possibly due to a docking-like effect in the present population showing a relatively high injury prevalence at W0. Mixed models predicting tail health at W9 were built with pig (n = 1 323–1 492) as statistical unit and pen (n = 94–124) nested within farm as random effects. Pen-level tail appearance at W0 was included as eligible predictors. No model predicted TLT 2,3 or 4 at W9, suggesting that factors other than early tail appearance determined late victimisation. A larger ΔL was predicted by the individual-level factors barrow (vs female), a larger iL, no tail shortening and any other TLT as compared to 4 in the individual at W0; as well as smaller percentage of hanging tails in the pen, a larger average iL in the pen (<strong>px̅L</strong>) and an interaction between iL and px̅L. According to the interaction effect, two different scenarios predicted a smaller ΔL: smaller iL and px̅L, or especially larger iL and px̅L. The scenarios may be re-targeting of previous victims by individuals accustomed to an environment with tail biting and two-stage tail-biting where the longest tails were the most attractive objects for exploration. We conclude that pigs with better tail health at introduction to the finishing unit receive less injurious biting during 9 weeks. Pen-level tail health has a profound effect that is very different at extremes of tail length. One−fourth of early skin-penetrating tail injuries may not be detectable shortly before slaughter.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101428"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The development of a tool to assess cow quality of life based on system-level attributes across pastoral dairy farms","authors":"S.J. Hendriks ,&nbsp;K. Saunders ,&nbsp;K. DeWitt ,&nbsp;P. Timmer-Arends ,&nbsp;J. Jago","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101429","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101429","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Progress has been made in developing cow welfare assessment protocols that focus on the cow; however, system-level assessment has received less attention. This paper presents a process undertaken to develop a tool to identify opportunities and risks for cow quality of life at the system level across pastoral dairy farms and piloting the tool in New Zealand. The Farm System Welfare Assessment Tool incorporates elements from the Five Domains Model and is based on four domains (nutrition, health, physical environment, and behavioural interactions) and a fifth area ‘people’ with 21 system attributes captured under these areas that are assessed through on-farm visits. Overall, 222 farms were visited, and attributes were allocated a score based on the degree of risk posed to cow welfare at the system level. Results were summarised to provide an overall score for New Zealand dairy farm systems for each attribute within season. An attribute was defined as low risk when opportunities for neutral or positive experiences were provided, while negative experiences were minimised; moderate risk when some opportunities for neutral or positive experiences were provided, but negative experiences may still exist, and; high risk when opportunities for neutral or positive experiences were restricted and negative experiences exist. Overall, 85% of attributes (n = 66/78) across all seasons (19 attributes assessed across four seasons, plus one attribute which was only relevant in spring and one scored year-round) were classified as low risk, 10% were classified as moderate risk (n = 8/78) and 9% were classified as high risk (n = 7/78). From the 15 attributes that scored moderate or high risk, physical environment (40%; n = 6/15), people (27%; n = 4/15), and behavioural interactions (20%; n = 3/15) were the highest-risk areas followed by nutrition and health (both 7%; n = 1/15). Six attributes including health prevention, provision of quality feed, adequate space, good ventilation, natural lighting, and well-designed infrastructure were scored low risk across all seasons indicating neutral experiences are likely. Higher risk attributes with the potential to restrict opportunities for positive experiences included inadequate staffing, exploration and grooming during winter, and expression of maternal behaviour, while lower risk attributes with the possibility to provide opportunities for positive experiences included foraging, daily routine, and social contact. The tool was able to identify aspects of New Zealand farm systems that are likely to provide opportunities for neutral or positive experiences, where opportunities for positive experiences are restricted, and where negative experiences may occur. Future research could investigate the wider application of our approach within other dairy farm systems and countries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101429"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143395890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficiency of feed and energy use in primiparous and multiparous dairy cows fed contrasting dietary protein concentrations across lactation","authors":"S. Ormston ,&nbsp;T. Yan ,&nbsp;X. Chen ,&nbsp;A.W. Gordon ,&nbsp;K. Theodoridou ,&nbsp;S. Huws ,&nbsp;S. Stergiadis","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101426","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101426","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reducing dietary CP concentration can reduce feeding costs and N excretion in dairy production but may negatively impact productivity and efficiency. This study investigated the impact of reduced dietary CP concentration, across early, mid− and late−lactation stages in primiparous and multiparous lactating cows, on productivity, feed and energy use efficiency and CH₄ emission parameters. Twenty-four Holstein-Friesian (12 primiparous, 12 multiparous) cows were allocated to three experimental total mixed rations containing 12.2, 15.1 or 18.1% CP (<strong>LCP</strong>, <strong>MCP</strong> and <strong>HCP,</strong> respectively; DM basis), in a continuous study across lactation (days 1–305). Digestibility and gas exchanges were measured in metabolism units and indirect open-circuit respiration calorimeter chambers during early, mid− and late−lactation. Data were analysed using a linear mixed model, with repeated measures, with CP concentration, stage of lactation, parity and their interactions as fixed effects, and a random effect of cow fitted as the subject and stage of lactation as the repeated measure. When compared with LCP treatment, MCP and HCP had higher DM intake (<strong>DMI</strong>) (+1.9 and +3.0 kg/d), milk yield (+5.5 and +7.7 kg/d), energy corrected milk yield (<strong>ECMY</strong>) (+5.0 and +7.1 kg/d), and feed efficiency (ECMY/DMI, +0.13 and +0.15 kg/kg; milk solids/DMI, +16 and +20 g/kg; milk energy output (E_L)/DMI, +0.40 and 0.46 MJ/kg). Digestible energy intake (<strong>DEI</strong>)/gross energy intake (<strong>GEI</strong>), metabolisable energy intake (<strong>MEI</strong>)/GEI, MEI/DEI and milk energy output adjusted for zero energy balance (E_L(0))/MEI were higher in HCP (+0.02, +0.03, +0.02, and +0.06 MJ/MJ) than LCP while there were no differences between LCP and MCP for DEI/GEI, or between MCP and HCP for MEI/DEI and E_L(0)/MEI. Methane production per digestible DMI and ECMY were lower for MCP (−3.2 and −3.1 g/kg) and HCP (−3.8 and −3.4 g/kg), when compared with LCP. Methane energy per GEI, DEI and MEI were lower for the MCP (−0.007, −0.011 and −0.014 MJ/MJ) and HCP (−0.007, −0.014 and −0.017 MJ/MJ) than LCP. The significant interaction between CP concentration and stage of lactation on milk yield and ECMY showed that treatment differences (increased values in MCP or HCP vs LCP diets) reduced as lactation progressed. A diet containing 15.1% CP (DM basis) may be sufficient to maintain milk production and feed efficiency while reducing CH₄ yield and intensity. However, regression analysis suggests that productivity may increase further between 15 and 18% CP (DM basis) but the response to dietary CP may depend on the stage of lactation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101426"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beef cattle performance and hair cortisol accumulation in silvopastoral and pastoral systems: a 2-year assessment","authors":"A. Ripamonti ,&nbsp;G. Foggi ,&nbsp;A. Mantino ,&nbsp;L. Turini ,&nbsp;J. Goracci ,&nbsp;A. Silvi ,&nbsp;M. Finocchi ,&nbsp;M. Mele","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101425","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101425","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Mediterranean area is highly vulnerable to climate change. Silvopastoral practices, such as integrating trees into pastureland or grazing in woodland areas, are potential mitigation strategies to improve microclimate conditions and reduce heat stress risks. We conducted a 2-year on-farm experiment to compare growth performance, measuring average daily gain (<strong>ADG</strong>), hair cortisol accumulation, and blood glucose concentration in Maremmana breed steers and heifers reared in either a silvopastoral (<strong>SP</strong>) or pastoral (<strong>PA</strong>) system during spring and summer. Additionally, we monitored microclimate conditions in both systems via the black globe humidity index (<strong>BGHI</strong>) as a heat stress proxy for outdoor-reared animals. In both years, the highest ADG values were recorded in spring: 1.49 kg/day in PA and 1.25 kg/day in SP in 2021 and 1.24 kg/day in PA and 1.17 kg/day in SP in 2022. During spring, PA-reared animals performed best, likely because of favourable microclimate conditions and abundant pasture, making tree shade unnecessary. Conversely, in summer, as heat stress risk increased—indicated by higher BGHI levels—tree presence in the SP system mitigated heat stress impacts on ADG, resulting in superior SP performance over PA. The hair cortisol levels increased in both groups during the summer, with a significantly greater increase in the PA animals. In 2021, cortisol levels reached 35.04 pg/mg in PAs and 26.62 pg/mg in SPs. In 2022, cortisol levels rose further to 46.56 pg/mg in PAs and 42.94 pg/mg in SPs. A decrease of glucose levels in PA group was determined but further research is needed to clarify the effects of heat stress on physiological mechanisms that lead to a change in glucose levels. Effective pasture and system management have been shown to increase productivity, with higher spring stocking rates in open pastures improving animal performance in both years.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101425"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143349459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review: Cross-breeding, advanced reproductive technologies, and genetic selection in twelve dairy production systems in Africa","authors":"E.K. Kathambi ,&nbsp;T.S. Sonstegard ,&nbsp;P.A. Larsen","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101424","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101424","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The supply and demand for milk in Africa have been rising due to factors such as population growth, urbanization, increasing incomes, and improved living standards. Dairy production significantly impacts the economic and social development of African countries, contributing over 10% to the agricultural gross domestic product in countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. The ongoing development of the African dairy industry can be attributed, to a certain extent, to the utilization of cross-breeding strategies and advanced reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and the implementation of genomic selection programs. This review evaluates historical dairy breeding practices in twelve African countries and examines the use of advanced breeding tools to enhance and sustain cattle breeding programs across Africa. Eighteen cases from twelve African countries are reviewed to highlight the successes and reported positive impacts on dairy production, revenue, livelihoods, and genetic diversity. We have pinpointed the challenges of integrating new breeding approaches and technologies for African dairy programs, such as insufficient funding, low return on investment in biotechnology, poor monitoring and evaluation of breeding programs, and lack of developed legal frameworks on biotechnological operations. We have recommended strategies to overcome these barriers that may be employed in dairy systems to improve the adoption of breeding technologies across the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101424"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143395889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Opinion paper: Applying agroecological principles allows assessing the multidimensionality of input-use efficiency in ruminant production systems","authors":"H. Nguyen-Ba,&nbsp;P. Veysset,&nbsp;I. Ortigues-Marty,&nbsp;V. Monteils,&nbsp;G. Cantalapiedra-Hijar,&nbsp;B. Dumont,&nbsp;A. Ferlay","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101423","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2025.101423","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 3","pages":"Article 101423"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143377823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}