Animal最新文献

{"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}

{"title":"Rearing mealworm larvae with wheat, barley or maize grains as main source of nutrients in unbalanced or balanced substrates","authors":"D. Plonquet,&nbsp;G. Fondevila,&nbsp;M. Fondevila","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101384","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101384","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Feeding conditions of mealworm (<em>T. molitor</em>) larvae for livestock nutrition need to be optimised. The effects of the cereal offered as main nutrient source on growth performance and composition of <em>T. molitor</em> larvae were evaluated. In Experiment 1 (unbalanced diets), substrates included 80% of wheat (<strong>W1</strong>), barley (<strong>B</strong>1) or maize (<strong>M1</strong>) and 20% wheat straw. In Experiment 2 (balanced diets), substrates were formulated using wheat (<strong>W2</strong>), barley (<strong>B2</strong>) or maize (<strong>M2</strong>) as the main ingredient, combined with wheat bran or straw to contain similar N, starch and NDF contents (19.5, 520, and 270 g/kg DM, respectively). A control substrate based solely on wheat bran was also included in each experiment (<strong>C1</strong> and <strong>C2</strong>). Each treatment was replicated four times in trays containing 24 g of substrate and 60 larvae, and the experimental period lasted for 28 (Experiment 1) or 35 (Experiment 2) days. Larval weight and residual substrate were monitored weekly, and larval chemical composition was analysed at the end of each experiment. In Experiment 1, feed intake was greatest for B1 and W1, intermediate for C1 and lowest for M1 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). However, larval growth was greater for C1 than for B1 and W1, with the lowest rates observed for M1 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Consequently, the feed to gain (F:G) ratio was lowest for C1 and highest for M1 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Mortality was also greatest for M1 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). In Experiment 2, feed intake (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) and larval growth (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.01) decreased in M2 compared to B2 and W2, which in turn showed similar growth performance to C2 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). Larval composition followed a similar trend in both experiments, with the highest N content observed in larvae fed C1 and C2 (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), while DM and ether extract contents were higher in larvae reared on barley (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). In summary, maize-based substrates may compromise feed intake and growth performance of <em>T. molitor</em> larvae compared to those based on wheat or barley, regardless of the nutrient content of the diet. Apparently, larval performance does not respond to the substrate starch content but it might be influenced by the endosperm physical structure. Additionally, a lower N content in the substrate could impair growth performance, an effect that is alleviated once larval protein requirements are achieved. Larval composition was affected by the main dietary ingredient, with substrates based on wheat bran increasing the N content of larvae, whereas those based on barley resulted in increased DM and Ether extract contents.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 1","pages":"Article 101384"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142848351","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":"High-throughput untargeted metabolomics reveals metabolites and metabolic pathways that differentiate two divergent pig breeds","authors":"S. Bovo ,&nbsp;M. Bolner ,&nbsp;G. Schiavo ,&nbsp;G. Galimberti ,&nbsp;F. Bertolini ,&nbsp;S. Dall’Olio ,&nbsp;A. Ribani ,&nbsp;P. Zambonelli ,&nbsp;M. Gallo ,&nbsp;L. Fontanesi","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101393","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101393","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Metabolomics can describe the molecular phenome and may contribute to dissecting the biological processes linked to economically relevant traits in livestock species. Comparative analyses of metabolomic profiles in purebred pigs can provide insights into the basic biological mechanisms that may explain differences in production performances. Following this concept, this study was designed to compare, on a large scale, the plasma metabolomic profiles of two Italian heavy pig breeds (Italian Duroc and Italian Large White) to indirectly evaluate the impact of their different genetic backgrounds on the breed metabolomes. We utilised a high-throughput untargeted metabolomics approach in a total of 962 pigs that allowed us to detect and relatively quantify 722 metabolites from various biological classes. The molecular data were analysed using a bioinformatics pipeline specifically designed for identifying differentially abundant metabolites between the two breeds in a robust and statistically significant manner, including the Boruta algorithm, which is a Random Forest wrapper, and sparse Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (<strong>sPLS-DA</strong>) for feature selection. After thoroughly evaluating the impact of random components on missing value imputation, 100 discriminant metabolites were selected by Boruta and 17 discriminant metabolites (all included within the previous list) were identified with sPLS-DA. About half of the 100 discriminant metabolites had a higher concentration in one or the other breed (48 in Italian Large White pigs, with a prevalence of amino acids and peptides; 52 in Italian Duroc pigs, with a prevalence of lipids). These metabolites were from seven distinct super pathways and had an absolute mean value of percentage difference between the two breeds (|Δ|%) of 39.2 ± 32.4. Six of these metabolites had |Δ|%&gt; 100. A general correlation network analysis based on Boruta−identified metabolites consisted of 31 singletons and 69 metabolites connected by 141 edges, with two large clusters (&gt; 15 nodes), three medium clusters (3–6 nodes) and eight additional pairs, with most metabolites belonging to the same super pathway. The major cluster representing the lipids super-pathway included 24 metabolites, primarily sphingomyelins. Overall, this study identified metabolomic differences between Italian Duroc and Italian Large White pigs explained by the specific genetic background of the two breeds. These biomarkers can explain the biological differences between these two breeds and can have potential practical applications in pig breeding and husbandry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 1","pages":"Article 101393"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142900191","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":"Thankyou to reviewers, 2024","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1751-7311(25)00004-7","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1751-7311(25)00004-7","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 1","pages":"Article 101421"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143149772","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":"Effects of live yeast on milk yield, feed efficiency, methane emissions and fertility of high-yielding dairy cows","authors":"P.C. Garnsworthy ,&nbsp;N. Saunders ,&nbsp;J.R. Goodman ,&nbsp;I.H. Algherair ,&nbsp;J.D. Ambrose","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101379","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101379","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Live yeast (<em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em>) products have the potential to increase milk yield of dairy cows in early lactation by improving rumen fermentation. Greater milk yields, however, are sometimes associated with poorer reproductive performance. This study aimed to assess the effect of a live yeast supplement on milk yield, methane emissions and reproduction indicators in high−yielding dairy cows. Fifty Holstein cows were paired according to month of calving, parity and predicted milk yield, and allocated at random to either a Control diet or a diet containing live Yeast (Actisaf® Sc 47, 1 × 10¹⁰ cfu/g, Phileo by Lesaffre) supplying 1 × 10¹¹ cfu/cow per day (10 g). Diets were fed to cows from 7 to 128 days in milk. Live yeast resulted in higher yields of milk (50.1 vs 47.5 kg/day), energy-corrected milk (<strong>ECM</strong>; 50.5 vs 47.7 kg/day), fat−corrected milk (49.2 vs 46.3 kg/day) and milk fat (1 945 vs 1 823 g/day), compared with Control. There was no effect of treatment on DM intake (<strong>DMI</strong>), so cows fed on Yeast had greater feed efficiency (2.11 vs 1.98 kg ECM/kg DMI). Enhanced milk yield and feed efficiency were attributed to higher digestibility coefficients for DM (0.80 vs 0.77), NDF (0.66 vs 0.62) and gross energy (0.81 vs 0.78) in cows fed on Yeast compared with Control. Rumen pH, redox potential and volatile fatty acid concentrations, methane emissions, plasma metabolites and immunity indicators, and health events were not affected by treatment. There was no effect of treatment on days from calving to first milk progesterone rise above 3 ng/ml, days to first insemination, days to conception, conception rate, number of inseminations or incidence of atypical ovarian cycles. It was concluded that live yeast enhanced digestibility, milk yield and feed efficiency in high-yielding dairy cows, and that despite increased milk yield, methane emissions, reproduction and health indicators were maintained at the same levels as control cows.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 1","pages":"Article 101379"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142824583","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":"Classifying vocal responses of broilers to environmental stressors via artificial neural network","authors":"T. Lev-ron ,&nbsp;Y. Yitzhaky ,&nbsp;I. Halachmi ,&nbsp;S. Druyan","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101378","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2024.101378","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Detecting early-stage stress in broiler farms is crucial for optimising growth rates and animal well-being. This study aims to classify various stress calls in broilers exposed to cold, heat, or wind, using acoustic signal processing and a transformer artificial neural network (<strong>ANN</strong>). Two consecutive trials were conducted with varying amounts of collected data, and three ANN models with the same architecture but different parameters were examined. The impacts of adding broiler age data as an input attribute and varying input audio waveform lengths on model performance were assessed. Model performance improved with the inclusion of broiler age and longer audio waveforms when trained on smaller datasets. Additionally, the study evaluated the impact of majority vote decision-making across the three ANN model sizes, showing improvement in mean average precision (<strong>mAP</strong>), particularly for models with shorter audio inputs. Overall, the largest ANN model achieved the highest mAP score of 0.97 for the larger dataset, with small variations among different model sizes. These findings highlight the potential of using a single model to accurately classify multiple types of broiler stress calls. By enhancing the timing of human intervention during critical growth stages, the proposed method may significantly improve broiler welfare and farm management efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"19 1","pages":"Article 101378"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142848349","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}