Physiological and behavioral indicators of heat stress in cattle are time- and labor-intensive to measure, and difficult to observe in extensive feedlot and pasture settings. We proposed to record respiration rate and standing behavior using unmanned aerial vehicles. Videos were recorded above steers on feedlot in the morning (0830–1130) and afternoon (1400–1700) over 10 d between 25 July and 10 August and cows on pasture over 9 d between 19 and 29 August In the feedlot, video recordings on 925 individuals (264 black coated, 413 red, and 248 white) were obtained, varying in breed which included Black Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Canadian Speckle Park, and Simmental. On pasture, video recordings on 267 individuals (116 Black Angus and 151 Hereford) were obtained. Observer software was used to analyze videos. Respiration rate in feedlot cattle was the highest in black cattle, followed by red cattle, then white cattle. Coat color did not affect respiration rate in cows on pasture; temperatures on pasture were lower than in feedlots and the effect of coat color may not manifest until a certain heat load threshold. The probability that cattle would be standing increased with heat load index in feedlot and pasture settings.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of including a xylanase + β-glucanase enzyme product in corn–soy-based diets on performance, caecal short-chain fatty acids and thermal profile, ileal digestibility, and intestinal kinetics of broiler chickens. A total of 744 male day-old chicks were randomly allotted to 24 floor pens and distributed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with low or standard energy level × without or with 100 g of the enzyme per ton of feed. Enzyme supplementation improved bodyweight gain from 1 to 21 d (P < 0.05). An increased caecal concentration of acetic acid was observed when the enzyme was added to the low-energy diet (P < 0.05). The pH of the caecal content was reduced (P < 0.01), and the caecal temperature was increased by low-energy diets (P < 0.05). The apparent ileal digestibility of energy was improved by the enzyme (P < 0.01). The addition of the enzyme increased the mean retention time in the distal ileum (P < 0.05). In summary, the addition of a xylanase + β-glucanase enzyme product in corn-based diets increases the retention time of digesta in the distal ileum and the caecal acetic acid concentration, improves ileal digestibility of energy and performance from 1 to 21 d in broiler chickens fed corn–soy-based diets.

This study was conducted to determine the optimum dietary glycine equivalent (Gly_equi) level in low-crude-protein diets of 181 g·kg⁻¹ containing varied concentrations of standardized ileal digestible (SID) methionine + cysteine (Met + Cys) for broiler chicks (1–21 d old). A total of 1275, 1-d-old Cobb-Vantress^® male broilers were distributed in a 5 × 3 factorial arrangement with a completely randomized design of 15 treatments with five replicates of 17 birds each. Treatments consisted of five levels of dietary Gly_equi (14.9, 16.4, 17.9, 19.4, and 20.6 g·kg⁻¹) and three concentrations of SID Met + Cys (7.70, 9.0, and 10.3 g·kg⁻¹). Interactions between Gly_equi and SID Met + Cys levels were observed for feed:gain (P = 0.055) and breast meat yield (BMY) (P = 0.017). In 7.7 and 9.0 g SID Met + Cys·kg⁻¹ diets, optimal feed:gain and increased BMY were observed at Gly_equi levels not lower than 17.9 g·kg⁻¹. In 10.3 g SID Met + Cys·kg⁻¹ diet, a lower feed:gain was achieved at 19.4 g Gly_equi·kg⁻¹. Therefore, a minimum dietary level of 17.9 g Gly_equi·kg⁻¹ is needed to increase growth of broilers fed diets containing 7.7 or 9.0 g·kg⁻¹ SID Met + Cys, whereas 19.4 g·kg⁻¹ Gly_equi is necessary in diets containing 10.3 g·kg⁻¹ SID Met + Cys for optimum growth.

This study evaluated the effects of different pre-slaughter road transportation times on sensory evaluation and instrumental measurements of Nellore cattle meat quality. About 15 farms were classified according to transportation times (five farms per transportation time group) as follows: 1 — less than 2 h (<2), 2 — between 2 and 4 h (>2 and ≤4), and 3 — between 4 and 6 h (>4 and ≤6). The experiment was a completely randomized design with 15 replications and three treatments. Meat analyses were performed on steaks taken from the longissimus dorsi muscle from the 10th rib to the third lumbar vertebra. Road transportation times had no significant effects on pH and mean shear force values. Sarcomere length, myofibrillar fragmentation index, and creatine kinase levels were also not affected by transportation time. Furthermore, road transportation times had no effect on meat tenderness, flavour, odour, and overall acceptability when evaluated by consumers. Thus, a pre-slaughter road transportation time up to 6 h does not affect the sensory evaluation and instrumental measurements of Nellore cattle meat quality when raised using a grazing system.

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of pre-treating a barley-silage-based diet with an exogenous fibrolytic enzyme derived from Trichoderma reesei (FETR, a mixture of xylanase and cellulase) on lactation performance, omasal nutrient flow and digestibility, rumen fermentation characteristics, and rumen pH profile in Holstein dairy cows during early lactation. The dairy trial was conducted using nine Holstein dairy cows (averaging 46 ± 24 days in milk and 697 ± 69 kg body weight, six cows were fitted with a rumen cannula, and three were non-cannulated). Two groups of cows were randomly assigned to each of the dietary treatments in a crossover design: control (without FETR supplementation) and supplemented [with 0.75 mL of FETR·kg⁻¹ dry matter (DM) of the diet based on our previous study]. The application of FETR tended to decrease the DM intake compared with control. There were no effects of FETR (P > 0. 10) on omasal nutrient flow and digestibility, rumen fermentation characteristics, and rumen pH profile. In conclusion, this study lacks evidence that the fibrolytic enzyme (at a level of 0.75 mL of FETR·kg⁻¹ DM) can affect nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and the performance of early-lactation cows. Further study with larger animal trials are needed.

Oregano oil and cranberry pulp supplements were added to the diets of finishing pigs to determine their effects on the meat quality of fresh loins during storage. Two and three levels of oregano oil (250 and 500 mg·kg⁻¹) and cranberry pulp (5, 10, and 20 g·kg⁻¹) were tested, according to a factorial experimental design. The loin meat was vacuum packed and analyzed at 0 (after the 24 h chilling period post slaughter), 23, 45, and 60 d of storage. Samples were repackaged under aerobic conditions after 0 or 23 d and analyzed after 4, 8, and 12 d. Oregano and cranberry supplements did not affect lipid oxidation (microgram of malondialdehyde equivalent per kilogram of meat) during anaerobic or aerobic storage. On day 0, the fatty acid profile of the loin samples demonstrated that the addition of cranberries at a dose of 10 g·kg⁻¹ was associated with a lower percentage of saturated fatty acids (P = 0.04; 42.97% vs. 40.99%) and a trend for a higher percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids (P = 0.06; 47.26% vs. 46.09%). Considering the result obtained, feeding pigs with oregano and cranberry supplements had a limited effect on meat quality parameters measured during storage.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate diet digestibility, performance, digestive parameters, and blood parameters when an enzyme complex (EC) was used in barley- and rye-based diets with different energy levels. In the digestibility assay (exp. I), 108 seventeen-day-old Cobb male broilers were distributed in a completely randomized design in 2 × 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement with two feeds (barley or rye), two EC levels (0% and 0.02%), and two energy levels [3025 and 3125 kcal apparent metabolizable energy (AME)·kg⁻¹], plus a control treatment. In exp. II, 1080 one-day-old Cobb male broilers were distributed in a completely randomized design in 2 × 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement with two feeds (barley or rye), two EC levels (0% and 0.02%), and two energy levels (2875 and 2975 kcal AME·kg⁻¹). No interactions were observed for any variables (exp. I and II). Enzyme complex improved the apparent metabolizable coefficient of gross energy (P = 0.0432) of diets. The EC provided greater weight gain (P = 0.0003) and better feed conversion (P = 0.0025). Intestinal viscosity at 21 d was reduced (P < 0.0001) with the addition of the EC. The EC improved nutrient digestibility and performance, but the effects of energy reduction on performance could not be overcome.

Spoiled silages can harbor pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant microbes. The potential of some antimicrobial additives to inhibit certain pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in air-exposed silage was measured using pure and mixed bacterial cultures. With pure cultures, laurate and monolaurin (5 mg·mL⁻¹) caused decreases (P < 0.05) of 4 to >7 log₁₀ colony-forming units (CFU)·mL⁻¹ in Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococcus faecalis compared to controls. Ten-fold higher amounts of these inhibitors were needed to equivalently decrease staphylococci. 2-Nitropropanol (1 mg·mL⁻¹) decreased (P < 0.05) E. faecalis and L. monocytogenes 2.9–3.8 and 2.4–7.2 log₁₀ CFU·mL⁻¹ after 6 and 24 h incubations, respectively. In air-exposed whole-plant corn silage the inhibitors caused decreases, although not necessarily significant, of 0.7–2.2 log₁₀ CFU·mL⁻¹ in L. monocytogenes, staphylococci and culturable aerobes after 24 h incubation, with modest yet significant (P < 0.05) inhibition (<0.1–0.3 log₁₀ CFU·mL⁻¹) of yeasts and molds. Tests for carry-over effects against ruminal microbes revealed laurate, monolaurin, and 2-nitropropanol inhibited methanogenesis by >50% (P < 0.05) after 24 h incubation and inhibited L. monocytogenes and enterococci. The antimicrobial activities exhibited by these compounds may yield opportunities to optimize their use to rescue spoiled silages.

In the experiment, six pigs fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum were fed six diets in a 6 × 6 Latin square design. Treatments were corn-soybean meal diet (CS), diet containing wheat by-products (WBP), and diet containing corn distillers dried grains with solubles and canola meal (DDCM) without or with xylanase (X) supplementation (CS-X, WBP-X, and DDCM-X). The WBP and DDCM diets had higher apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of lipids and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (P < 0.05) than CS diets. A xylanase × diet interaction was observed for the AID of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (P < 0.05) showing larger impact of xylanase in WBP than in the other diets. Using similar dietary treatments except for CS-X, growth and body composition of the sixty males (83.0 kg) at the end of the 28-day growing phase showed that pig fed the CS diet had greater average daily feed intake (ADFI) (P = 0.004) and average daily gain (ADG) (P = 0.014) for period 0–14 d but not from 15–28 d. Overall performance (0–28 d) showed higher ADFI (9.5%; P = 0.015) in CS but no difference was observed for ADG and gain to feed ratio (G:F). These results showed that diets containing a high proportion of by-products can give equivalent performance to a CS diet and that adding xylanase for this short period had limited effects.

A total of 90 finishing pigs (52 ± 1.46 kg) were randomly assigned to one of three dietary treatments as: TRT1 [CON (basal diet)], TRT2 [CON + 0.05% yeast hydrolysate (YH)], and TRT3 (CON + 0.1% YH) for an 8 wk trial. Each treatment had six replications and five (three gilts and two barrow) pigs per pen. In weeks 4 and 8, YH supplement linearly increased (P < 0.05) body weight. Moreover, average daily gain was also linearly increased (P < 0.05) with YH supplementation in week 4 and the overall trial period. At the end of the trial, apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen, and gross energy was linearly increased in pigs fed YH supplementation. In addition, fecal Lactobacillus counts, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) concentration, and the lean meat percentage were linearly increased by YH supplementation. Also, YH supplementation elicited a linear reduction on drip loss during days 3, 5, and 7. In summary, dietary yeast hydrolysate supplement positively enhanced the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, Lactobacillus count and reduced the drip loss traits of finishing pig. Thus, we infer that the application of 0.1% S. cerevisiae YH can enhance the growth efficiency of finishing pigs.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of pelleting and diet type on the apparent ileal (AID) and total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and energy in growing pigs. Six pigs were cannulated at the ileum and were assigned to treatments following a crossover design. One diet was a control diet based on corn and soybean meal (CT). Part of it was replaced by corn distillers dried grains with solubles (cDDGS), wheat middlings, and bakery meal in the second diet (ByP). Diets were in mash (CT-MH and ByP-MH) or pelleted (CT-PT and ByP-PT) form. Results showed that pelleting increased digestibility in all diets with a distinct effect on the CT diet (interaction diet × pelleting, P < 0.05). Pelleting improved the AID of dry matter, crude protein, and energy by 17%, 27%, and 17% in the CT diet and by 10%, 9%, and 17% in the ByP diet (P < 0.01). The AID of amino acids followed the effect observed on crude protein (P < 0.01). Pelleting increased AID of total non-starch polysaccharides for the CT diet by 63% and 42% for the ByP diet (P < 0.01). The pelleting conditions improved the degradability of the compounds in the diets during digestion in pigs.

Accumulating studies have indicated that the long-chain fatty acyl-CoA1 (ACSL1) gene is related to fat deposition and meat quality in mammals. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between ACSL1 and lipid deposition in ducks. To examine this, we assessed the physicochemical property, homologous alignment, and phylogenetic analyses of the ACSL1 amino acid sequence using bioinformatics tools. The analysis indicated that the ACSL1 amino acid sequence varies in animals, and the duck ACSL1 protein is most closely related to that of chicken. Two single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites were identified at 1749 and 1905 bp of the coding region of ACSL1 by sequencing. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting were used to measure mRNA and protein levels in abdominal fat, breast muscle, and liver tissue of Pekin duck (BD) and Cherry Valley duck (CD). mRNA and protein expression were significantly higher in BD than in CD in abdominal fat and liver tissue (P < 0.05). In breast muscle, the mRNA level of ACSL1 was also significantly higher in BD than in CD (P < 0.05), and protein expression in BD tended to be higher than that of CD. These results suggest that ACSL1 may contribute to lipid deposition and meat quality in ducks.

The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD; trial 1) and the apparent (AID) and standardized (SID) ileal digestibility of the amino acids (AA) (trial 2) in flaxseed meal (FM) were evaluated with the addition of exogenous multi-carbohydrase (MC) and phytase (Phy). A total of 80 28-d-old broilers were allotted in a completely randomized design to receive treatments up to 35 d of age. A 2 × 2 factorial design is used to determine the enzyme effects, on the ATTD of dry matter, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus and fiber, energy use, and the AID and SID of AA, in five replicate cages. There was synergism between MC and Phy on the ATTD of nitrogen and energy. The isolated inclusion of MC or Phy increased the ATTD of dry matter, calcium, phosphorus and fiber of FM. The enzyme inclusion on the AID and SID of AA in FM, established by comparing the means, suggested a better response to the addition of MC + Phy. Supplementation with Phy or combination of MC and Phy was a viable alternative to increase the ATTD of nutrients and energy. The combination of MC + Phy resulted in higher apparent and standardized digestibility of AA from FM.

This study evaluated the effects of biochar differing in source, inclusion level, and particle size on dry matter disappearance (DMD), total gas and methane (CH₄) production, and ruminal fermentation in a barley silage-based diet. The seven biochar products used were coconut (CP001 and CP014) or pine (CP002, CP015, CP016, CP023, CP024)-based. Experiment 1 (Exp. 1) evaluated these biochars at 4.5%, 13.5%, and 22.5% level of diet inclusion, whereas Experiment 2 (Exp. 2) evaluated CP002, CP016, and CP023 at 2.25% and 4.50% of the diet at <0.5, 0.5–2.0, >2.0 mm particle size. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS as a randomized complete block design, with biochar source, inclusion level, and particle size (Exp. 2 only) as fixed effects with run and replicate as random effects. Increasing level of biochar inclusion linearly (P < 0.01) decreased DMD in Exp. 1 and did not influence DMD (P > 0.05) in Exp. 2. Total gas, CH₄ (mL·g⁻¹ DMD), and ruminal fermentation parameters were not affected by product, inclusion level, or particle size (P > 0.05). In conclusion, biochar of varying source and particle size did not mitigate CH₄ production, but reduced DMD at higher inclusion levels in the barley silage-based diet.

This study aims to determine the effect of partial (50% and 75%) and complete (100%) replacement of barley and corn silage with whole plant faba bean silage on milk production, feed intake and efficiency, digestibility, and rumen fermentation characteristics of high producing cows. A repeated 4 × 4 Latin square (early lactating cows: four cannulated and four non-cannulated) design was used. The silage used for four treatments were different: control diet (T0; 18.37% corn silage + 12.23% barley silage), diet one (T50; 9.18% corn silage + 6.12% barley silage + 15.30% faba bean silage), diet two (T75; 4.59% corn silage + 3.06% barley silage + 22.95% faba bean silage), and diet three (T100; 30.60% faba bean silage). The results showed that fat corrected milk (3.5% FCM) and energy corrected milk (ECM) were linearly increased with increasing level of whole plant faba bean silage in the diets. The starch digestibility was linearly decreased from 95.3% to 90.4% with increasing supplementation using faba bean silage. Rumen fermentation characteristics (pH, ammonia, volatile fatty acids) were similar among all the treatments. In conclusion, the inclusion of whole plant faba bean silage improved FCM, ECM, milk fat yield, and efficiency without negatively affecting the intake of dry matter. This study showed that whole plant faba bean silage can be used as an alternative feed for dairy cows.

Twenty-four Pelibuey × Katahdin lambs (36.4 ± 2.9 kg initial weight) were used in a 77 d feeding trial in a randomized complete block design to evaluate the influence of a standardized synbiotic-glyconutrient combination (GLY) on growth performance, dietary energetic, and carcass characteristics of lambs finished during a period of high ambient temperature. Dietary treatments consisted of a high-energy basal diet supplemented (% of diet dry matter basis) with 0% versus 0.4% GLY. Throughout the study, the average temperature humidity index (THI) was 76.23, corresponding to the “alert” range, but daily maximum THI exceeded 80 for 2 to 6 h of each day of the 77 d study. Daily GLY intake averaged 0.10 g GLY·kg⁻¹ live weight. Supplemental GLY increased (P = 0.04) daily water intake, but dry matter intake was not affected. Supplemental GLY increased (P < 0.03) initial 56-d, and overall (77-d) average daily gain, gain efficiency and estimated dietary net energy. Lambs fed GLY had greater (P ≤ 0.05) hot carcass weight and fat thickness, and decreased (P = 0.02) kidney-pelvic-heart fat. Supplemental GLY did not affect (P ≥ 0.16) shoulder tissue composition or relative weight of visceral mass. Synbiotic-glyconutrient combination improved growth performance, dietary energy, and carcass weight in lambs finished in high ambient temperatures. Enhancements in growth performance and dietary energetics were most appreciable during the first 56 d of the 77 d finishing period.

This study aimed to evaluate lytic bacteriophage supplementation in pre-weaned dairy calves on disease occurrence, performance, and biochemical parameters. Two hundred Holstein × Gyr crossbred female calves were divided into two groups: CON, no supplementation; and PHAGE, bacteriophage supplementation (1 g·d⁻¹) from day 3 until day 70 of life. Calves were monitored daily for age of first diarrheal episode and its duration. Fecal samples were cultured for bacterial isolation and PCR was performed to identify Escherichia coli virulence genes and to confirm Salmonella spp. Performance outcomes were evaluated up to 80 d of age. Blood samples were collected to determine serum levels of total proteins, albumin, cholesterol, γ-glutamyl transferase, and urea. PHAGE group had fewer days with diarrhea (PHAGE: 4.68 d, CON: 6.61 d; P = 0.03). Fecal samples of three animals in PHAGE and nine in CON were positive for E. coli after PCR tests. Average daily gain of PHAGE was higher up to 80 d of life (P < 0.05). PHAGE mean was lower for albumin and higher for urea (P = 0.004 and P < 0.001, respectively). Phage therapy during the pre-weaned period reduced the duration of neonatal diarrhea, providing greater weight gain for calves.

To investigate the effect of refrigeration on the collagen and texture characteristics of yak meat, the changes in collagen content, solubility, shear force, hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness of yak meat at 4 ± 1 °C were measured. The results showed that the contents and solubility of collagen in yak meat significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The myofibrillar fragmentation index of yak meat significantly increased (P < 0.05). The shear force, hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness of yak meat significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis and histological structure analysis confirmed that myofibrillar fragmentation and collagen characteristics significantly affected the formation of yak meat texture during refrigeration. After 5 d of refrigerated storage, yak meat has a higher quality. The results provide a theoretical basis and data to support the deep processing and quality control of yak meat.

The apparent total tract digestibility and retention of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) and concentrations of digestible energy and metabolizable energy in diets fed to late-gestating sows were not affected by Ca and P levels, but they were increased by dietary supplementation with 1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol. There was no interaction between dietary Ca and P and supplementation with 1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol.

We determined the impact of creep feed provision and type on pre- and post-weaning growth performance of piglets. At 2 wk post farrow, litters (n = 50) were given no creep feed or provided a simple creep feed, a complex creep feed, or both until weaning at ∼28 d. Creep feed, regardless of type, resulted in increased growth (P < 0.05) of piglets in the final week pre-weaning and immediate week post-weaning, which was not maintained at the end of the nursery period. Piglets showed no preference for creep feed type (P > 0.05).