Animal Bioscience最新文献

{"title":"Recent progress in genomic prediction for Hanwoo cattle and its implications for beef quality: review.","authors":"Monira Akter Mou, Md Azizul Haque, Jong-Joo Kim","doi":"10.5713/ab.250562","DOIUrl":"10.5713/ab.250562","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Genomic selection (GS) has become an indispensable tool in the beef cattle industry, offering the potential to significantly enhance genetic gain and prediction accuracy by integrating genomic, pedigree, and phenotypic information to estimate genomic breeding values. Hanwoo cattle (HC) are valued in the Korean Peninsula, for their exceptional marbling and distinct flavor. Thus, genetic improvement breeding programs for Hanwoo have been undertaken to improve beef production and profitability, emphasizing particular focus on carcass and meat quality traits. The success of a breeding program that incorporates genomic information in HC is largely dependent on prediction accuracy, thereby making genomic prediction (GP) essential for accelerating genetic gain. Hence, breeders must recognize the superiority of GS and choose the most suitable prediction model based on the genetic architecture and biological nature of the trait of interest. Several GP methods have already proven superior performance regarding carcass and meat quality traits compared to the traditional pedigree-based best linear unbiased prediction method. Consequently, no alternative approaches exist for breeders to accelerate the innovative development of Hanwoo beef cattle to GS. The main objective of this review is to provide an overview of the application of GP methods in improving the ultimate meat quality of HC. Furthermore, this review presents the transversal analysis of interest in GS for Hanwoo breeders regarding the selection of best prediction methods for specific traits. This review literature is expected to serve as a significant resource for future exploitation of Hanwoo's potential in the Korean beef industry.</p>","PeriodicalId":7825,"journal":{"name":"Animal Bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"250562"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145659856","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":"Alleviating calf weaning stress: the important role of maternal bovine appeasing substance in calf husbandry management.","authors":"Tian-Lin Zhang, Jie Wang, Jie Sun, Bo-Shi Yan, Lin Wang","doi":"10.5713/ab.250567","DOIUrl":"10.5713/ab.250567","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Weaning stress impairs calf health by causing growth retardation and immune dysfunction, underscoring the need for targeted interventions. Maternal bovine appeasing substance (MBAS) has been proposed as a novel therapy for stress in cattle, but its efficacy against weaning stress remains unclear. This study assessed the health impacts of weaning and evaluated MBAS as a potential intervention.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Health impacts were first evaluated in 60 weaned Holstein calves. Then, another 60 healthy calves of similar age were randomly divided into two groups (n = 30/group). Control calves received a single 2.5 mL saline spray one day pre-weaning, while the MBAS group received a single 2.5 mL spray of MBAS (100 mg/mL).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Weaning stress increased diarrhea (56.52% to 78.26%) and respiratory disease incidence (10.17% to 15.88%), elevated exercise steps (32,196±1,267 vs 38,226±1,132, p = 0.0043), and reduced dry matter intake (2.78±0.03 vs 2.59±0.06 kg/d at D4, p = 0.0041) and average daily gain (ADG, 0.89±0.05 vs 0.71±0.04 kg/d, p = 0.0230) within 15 days post-weaning. MBAS improved ADG (0.92±0.15 vs 1.25±0.14 kg/d at D7, p = 0.0120), lowered respiratory disease (23.07% to 17.42%) and diarrhea incidence (83.70% to 52.70%), and shortened diarrhea duration (4.32±0.47 d vs 3.15±0.32 d, p = 0.0090). It also reduced serum interleukin-1 (49.39±2.40 vs 43.51±1.64 pg/mL, p = 0.0350), haptoglobin (58.29±3.3 vs 49.40±3.65 μg/mL, p = 0.0050), and cortisol (37.42±1.67 vs 33.05±2.24 nmol/L, p = 0.0310), while increasing immunoglobulin G (10.30±1.46 vs 13.50±1.58 μg/mL, p = 0.0131) and interferon-γ (6.89±0.47 vs 7.94±0.63 ng/L, p = 0.0330) on D5.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MBAS alleviates weaning stress by inhibiting inflammation, enhancing immunity, and reducing anxiety, providing an effective strategy to improve calf health.</p>","PeriodicalId":7825,"journal":{"name":"Animal Bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"250567"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145780140","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":"Genome-wide association study dissection of candidate genes for fleece traits in Inner Mongolia cashmere goats based on whole-genome resequencing data.","authors":"Huanfeng Yao, Silang Zhu, Rigan Xu, E Erke Ale de, Yongbin Liu, Jinquan Li, Qi Lv, Ruijun Wang, Yanjun Zhang, Rui Su, Zhiying Wang","doi":"10.5713/ab.250631","DOIUrl":"10.5713/ab.250631","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Genome-wide association study (GWAS) and haplotype analysis were employed to identify molecular markers and candidate genes associated with fleece traits in Inner Mongolia cashmere goats (IMCGs).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>GWASs using whole-genome resequencing data together with phenotypic data from 2,299 IMCGs, applying four models: mixed linear model, multiple locus mixed linear model, fixed and random model circulating probability unification, and Bayesian-information and linkage-disequilibrium iteratively nested keyway. We focused on the GWAS signals to conduct gene annotation and performed functional enrichment analyses to explore the biological processes underlying these signals. Additionally, haplotypes were constructed for the significant loci, and haplotype-phenotype association analyses were performed to identify molecular markers and candidate genes associated with these fleece traits in IMCGs.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified 542 SNPs and 179 candidate genes linked to fleece traits through GWAS and gene annotation. Genes such as LAMA3, KCTD1, PTK7, FGFR3, LEF1, TAPT1, PTCH1, ELOVL6, and EVC have emerged as important candidates that may influence fleece traits. Furthermore, 11 haplotype blocks related to fleece traits were constructed, among which A1A1, C1C1, E2E2, F1F1, G1G1, H1H1 and K1K1 were identified as the superior haplotype combinations for fleece traits. These could serve as important molecular markers to improve the accuracy of early selection and the economic efficiency of breeding programs for fleece traits in IMCGs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study successfully employed GWAS to identify key genetic loci significantly associated with the fleece traits of IMCGs. The genetic basis of these traits was revealed through additional gene annotation and haplotype analysis. The findings provide important theoretical and practical foundations for molecular breeding in IMCGs.</p>","PeriodicalId":7825,"journal":{"name":"Animal Bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"250631"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145780206","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":"Time-resolved transcriptomic profiling of mammary gland tissue during ductal morphogenesis, lactation activation, and involution in sows.","authors":"Yanan Peng, Biqing Xuan, Jinhao Tian, Yiyi Guo, Jinlin Cao, Linfan Zhang, Rong Xuan","doi":"10.5713/ab.250560","DOIUrl":"10.5713/ab.250560","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Mammary development and lactation are vital for piglet survival, but gene expression profiles from gestation to early involution (W2) in sows remain unclear. This study profiles key transcriptomic changes to reveal molecular features.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Mammary gland tissue samples were collected from hybrid half-sibling sows (Danish Landrace×Yorkshire) at five physiological stages: mid-gestation (MG), late gestation (LG), early lactation (EL), peak lactation (PL), and W2 (day 2 after weaning). Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on 30 samples (n = 6 per stage). Differential expression analysis and clustering were conducted to identify expression patterns. Functional enrichment, pathway analysis, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were used to identify stage-specific regulatory networks and hub genes involved in mammary gland development, metabolism, immune response, and structural remodeling.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Transcriptome profiling yielded over 61,000 expressed transcripts, with 27,244 shared across all stages. A total of 12,239 transcripts were differentially expressed, with the greatest transcriptomic shift occurring between PL and W2 (4,829 differentially expressed transcript [DETs]). DETs were grouped into five expression clusters, each showing stagespecific enrichment in biological processes. W2-associated transcripts were enriched in pathways related to cell junction integrity and apoptosis, while MG and LG stages were associated with proliferation and metabolic pathways. EL and PL stages showed enrichment in immune and lipid metabolism pathways. WGCNA identified nine gene modules, with modules linked to gestational growth (brown, blue), lactation (green, turquoise), and involution (yellow, turquoise). Key regulatory genes such as EGF, AKT1, SRC, GATA3, STAT6, TNFSF11, and NFKB1 were identified as central hubs within six major functional networks.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study constructed a time-resolved transcriptomic atlas of porcine mammary gland development, lactation, and involution. It reveals gene expression dynamics, identifies candidate pathways, and delineates molecular signatures associated with structural and functional changes in the mammary gland. The findings offer potential targets and a theoretical framework for improving sow lactation performance and regulating mammary function.</p>","PeriodicalId":7825,"journal":{"name":"Animal Bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"250560"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145562401","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":"Genome-wide association study reveals candidate genes for body size and reproductive traits in Hu sheep.","authors":"Mao Li, Xin Xiang, Wei Gao, Liran Zhao, Zhengguang Wang, Kui Li","doi":"10.5713/ab.250716","DOIUrl":"10.5713/ab.250716","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Larger body size and enhanced reproductive performance are correlated with increased profitability for sheep farmers. Hu sheep have smaller statures compared to other meat sheep breeds, necessitating improvement. The molecular mechanisms underlying the high fecundity of Hu sheep remain unclear. Body size and reproductive traits are economically important traits in Hu sheep production, necessitating further research.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted direct measurements of the body size traits, including body weight, body height and length, chest circumference and cannon bone circumference, for 558 Hu sheep. Additionally, we statistically recorded their reproductive traits, specifically litter size and teat number. Candidate genes for these traits were identified using a mixed linear model in a genome-wide association study (GWAS). The significant threshold for single nucleotide polymorphism was determined using a 1,000 permutation test. Subsequently, functional annotations were conducted on the candidate genes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified CHST3 as a key candidate gene affecting the body size, along with SCMH1 and BAZ2B as key candidate genes influencing reproductive traits in Hu sheep. CHST3 affected multiple body size traits and was highly expressed in the muscle tissues of Hu sheep. The SCMH1 and BAZ2B were significantly annotated by GWAS and selection signature, and they were highly expressed in the reproductive system of Hu sheep. Furthermore, through a phenome-wide association study in humans, we found that these key candidate genes were significantly associated with similar traits in human population.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This represents the initial evidence linking these genes to body size and fecundity in Hu sheep. These findings provide genetic markers for selective breeding, and contribute to the selection process for high-quality breeding sheep.</p>","PeriodicalId":7825,"journal":{"name":"Animal Bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"250716"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145501665","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":"Co-ensiling whole-plant mulberry with navel orange residue enhances fermentation quality, bacterial community, and in vitro digestibility.","authors":"Rongqiang Chen, Qiang Zhang, Xiang Ou, Xianhong Cao, Lijuan Wu, Hai Lian, Hualiang Xie, Xianghui Zhao, Xiaowen Lei","doi":"10.5713/ab.250683","DOIUrl":"10.5713/ab.250683","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Navel orange residue (NOR) is considered to improve the silage quality of whole-plant mulberry (WPM) because of its high water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content. In order to investigate the mechanism underlying NOR regulated WPM silage quality, the chemical composition, fermentation quality, bacterial community, and in vitro digestibility of WPM and NOR mixed silages were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>WPM and NOR were mixed at ratios of 10:0 (MCK), 7:3 (M7O3), 5:5 (M5O5), and 3:7 (M3O7) on a dry matter (DM) basis. Samples were collected after 15, 30, and 45 days of ensiling to study their chemical composition, fermentation quality, bacterial community, and in vitro digestibility. The optimal treatment was identified through membership function analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In comparison with MCK, incorporating 30%-70% NOR ensiled for 15-45 days significantly increased DM, WSC, lactic acid, and acetic acid (AA) contents (p<0.05). At the same time, it resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, pH, and NH3-N (p<0.05). The NOR addition encouraged the beneficial heterofermentative species Lactobacillus pontis, Lactobacillus panis, and Lactobacillus buchneri, whilst preventing unfavorable microorganisms (p<0.05). In addition, in vitro rumen fermentation analysis demonstrated that adding 30%-70% NOR and ensiling for 15-30 days markedly increased in vitro DM digestibility, gas production, total volatile fatty acids, AA, and propionic acid (PA) (p<0.05), along with a significant decrease in the AA/PA ratio (p<0.05). M3O7 ensiled for 15 days and M5O5 ensiled for 30 days achieved high membership function values of 0.839 and 0.732, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Co-ensiling WPM with 30%-70% NOR for 15-45 days significantly enhanced fermentation quality, improved bacterial diversity, and increased in vitro digestibility. Overall, the optimal strategies for producing high-quality silage are co-ensiling WPM with either 70% NOR for 15 days or 50% NOR for 30 days.</p>","PeriodicalId":7825,"journal":{"name":"Animal Bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"250683"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145780072","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":"New insight into the effects of integrated organic-inorganic fertilization on enhancing the rice straw productivity and silage quality.","authors":"Wenjie Zhang, Siran Wang, Nengxiang Xu, Chenglong Ding, Beiyi Liu","doi":"10.5713/ab.250793","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.250793","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The objective of this study was to determine the overall benefits of organic-inorganic integrated fertilization for the rice straw production system, including yield, forage nutritive value, silage fermentation quality, and economic returns.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The field experiment used a completely randomized design with six treatments, defined by the proportion of organic manure (OM) nitrogen substituting chemical fertilizer (CF) nitrogen: T0 (0%, unfertilized control), T1 (0% OM, 100% CF), T2 (25% OM, 75% CF), T3 (50% OM, 50% CF), T4 (75% OM, 25% CF), and T5 (100% OM, 0% CF), to assess their impacts on rice straw yield, forage quality, and silage fermentation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results from the 2023-2024 trials demonstrated that T2 performed optimally. Compared to T1, T2 showed more tiller numbers (12 vs. 9 per plant), and greater yields of fresh straw (18,033.43-19,483.17 vs. 15,474.17-15,739.34 g/kg), dry matter (DM) (5,610.20-6,061.11 vs. 5,361.80-5,454.20 g/kg), and grain (7,419.42-7,531.34 vs. 7,703.96- 7,841.05 g/kg DM). Nutritionally, T2 improved straw quality by elevating crude protein and water-soluble carbohydrate content while reducing fiber components. After 60 days of ensiling, treatment T2 achieved successful and desirable fermentation quality, as evidenced by a sufficiently low pH value (~3.84), a high population of lactic acid bacteria (5.6 log10 cfu·g-1 FM), moderate lactic acid production (~3.19 g/kg DM), and minimal protein degradation reflected by an acceptably low ammonia nitrogen concentration (~2.41 g/kg total nitrogen). Economically, T2 also achieved the highest net benefit (2,568 USD·ha-1).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The 75% chemical plus 25% organic fertilizer regime represents a viable strategy for achieving agricultural sustainability, as it effectively supports high grain production while also improving straw yield, quality, and silage fermentation, resulting in higher economic returns.</p>","PeriodicalId":7825,"journal":{"name":"Animal Bioscience","volume":"39 5","pages":"250793"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147832731","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":"Protein levels alter yak rumen microbiota profiles, meat properties, and longissimus dorsi metabolites.","authors":"Jiyuan Zhang, Shuxiang Wang, Shatuo Chai, Shengchun Xu, Ziming Zeng, Zhilong Wang, Xun Wang, Yingkui Yang, Shujie Liu, Jiaying Lv, Mingliang Wang, Xinjun Zhang","doi":"10.5713/ab.25.0027","DOIUrl":"10.5713/ab.25.0027","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The study investigated how varying protein levels in low-energy diets affected the microbiota, meat quality, and metabolomics of the longissimus dorsi muscle in yaks. The aim was to determine the optimal yak diet for growth and meat quality under low-energy conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-four adult male yaks were divided into two groups of 12: the low-energy, medium-protein (LM) group and the low-energy, high-protein (LH) group. The study analysed rumen microbiota and longissimus dorsi muscle metabolites using 16S rDNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomic analysis. The effects of the diets on growth performance, meat quality and microbial community composition were evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were no significant differences in growth performance between the LH and LM groups. However, the LH group had a lower pH value at 45 minutes after death and was better for meat colour and tenderness. There were no significant differences in average daily gain, cooking loss, hardness, elasticity, adhesiveness, chewiness, or the pH at 24 hours after death in the longissimus dorsi muscle between the groups. Microbial community analysis revealed no significant differences in diversity indices; however, it did indicate distinct bacterial composition between the groups. Predictions of function suggested the LM group had a higher level of enrichment and a greater number of unique operational taxonomic units compared to the LH group. Metabolomic analysis revealed differences in muscle metabolites and metabolic pathways, with the LM group having a higher capacity for fatty acid and selenocompound metabolism, implying greater energy utilisation efficiency and antioxidant function.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study suggests that a diet with 14% protein, as part of low-energy diets, is best for increasing yak fattening. This is because it improves energy use and antioxidant function, without affecting growth.</p>","PeriodicalId":7825,"journal":{"name":"Animal Bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"250027"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144641587","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":"Nutritional and performance effects of shrimp meal and yam bean as sustainable ingredients in laying hen diets.","authors":"Nonthiwat Taesuk, Wiriya Thongsomboon, Phatthanawan Kaeowiset, Hathaipan Kaenjak, Anchalee Namsri, Anut Chantiratikul, Doungnapa Promket, Manisa Sangkaew","doi":"10.5713/ab.250559","DOIUrl":"10.5713/ab.250559","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Rising poultry feed costs and shortages in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand, underscore the need for sustainable alternatives. This study evaluated shrimp meal (SM), a protein-rich by-product, and yam bean (YB), an underutilized energy-rich root crop, as promising alternative feed ingredients for laying hens.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An in vitro analysis was conducted to determine the chemical composition and digestibility of diets containing SM and varying levels of YB. An 8-week in vivo trial was conducted using 90 ISA-Brown hens (25-week-old), divided into nine dietary groups: one control and eight treatment groups with 10% or 15% SM combined with 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% YB. Laying performance, egg quality and composition, and nitrogen (N) retention were assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SM was rich in protein while YB contained high N-free extracts and gross energy, supporting their use as alternative protein and energy sources, respectively. The inclusion of SM and YB had no negative effect on in vitro dry matter or protein digestibility. In vivo, combined inclusion of up to 15% SM and 9% YB did not adversely affect laying performance, egg quality, nutrient composition, or N retention compared to the control. A main effect analysis revealed that SM enhanced yolk color, eggshell weight, and eggshell thickness (p<0.05), while reducing egg fat content (p<0.05). Although higher levels of SM were independently associated with reduced hen-day egg production and egg mass, these effects were mitigated when SM was combined with YB, resulting in no differences from the control group at the highest inclusion levels (15% SM and 9% YB).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The SM and YB are viable, eco-friendly alternatives to conventional poultry feed ingredients. Their combined inclusion, up to 15% SM and 9% YB, is recommended to maintain laying performance and egg quality while promoting sustainable feeding practices through the utilization of processing by-product and underutilized local crops.</p>","PeriodicalId":7825,"journal":{"name":"Animal Bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"250559"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145780233","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 prediction of final body weight in Hanwoo steers using machine and deep learning models.","authors":"Eunjeong Jeon, Joonpyo Oh","doi":"10.5713/ab.250595","DOIUrl":"10.5713/ab.250595","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Accurate early prediction of final body weight (BW) is essential for optimizing feeding strategies and slaughter planning in beef cattle production. This study compared the performance of three machine learning models (k-nearest neighbors, random forest, and eXtreme Gradient Boosting) and one deep learning model (long short-term memory [LSTM]) to forecast the final BW of Hanwoo steers at various time points prior to slaughter.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 196 Hanwoo steers (7 to 31 months of age) from a commercial farm were utilized. Input data included monthly BW and feed nutrient intake (crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrients) across three growth stages. Six input configurations (I1-I6) were designed to predict the final BW at 17, 13, 9, 6, 3, and 1 month(s) before slaughter, with a target age of 31 months. The machine and deep learning models were assessed by five-fold cross-validation (training set) and a test set and evaluated via the coefficient of determination (R²) and root mean squared error (RMSE).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the tested models, the LSTM achieved the highest prediction accuracy across all the configurations. The performance of the LSTM improved as the prediction point approached the target slaughter age: I1 (R² = 0.60, RMSE = 52.80), I2 (0.72, 45.40), I3 (0.76, 40.92), I4 (0.83, 35.84), I5 (0.90, 33.12), and I6 (0.97, 22.62).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results demonstrated that LSTM effectively captured temporal dependencies in sequential data, enabling more accurate BW forecasting under commercial conditions. While I6 achieved the highest prediction accuracy, the 3-6 month predictions (I4 and I5) demonstrated reasonably high accuracy, which could provide a practical timeframe for farm-level management and planning. This approach could be used in evidencebased decision-making in Hanwoo production by providing reliable predictions well before slaughter.</p>","PeriodicalId":7825,"journal":{"name":"Animal Bioscience","volume":" ","pages":"250595"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145501609","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}