This study investigated the effects of an inoculant on silage fermentation, aerobic stability, and the growing and finishing performance of feedlot steers. Whole-crop barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was chopped, wilted [350-400 g kg^-1 dry matter (DM)], and ensiled without (Control) or with (Treated) a bacterial inoculant containing a mixture of Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Propionibacterium freudenreicheii (1.3 × 105 CFU g^-1 forage), as well as enzymes applied to fresh forage ensiled in mini or Ag-Bag^® silos. Inoculation resulted in a pH decline (P < 0.05) from 6.0 on the day of ensiling to <4.0 after 3 d. In contrast, it required more than 20 d for the pH of the Control silage to fall below 4.0. Inoculant reduced (P < 0.05) the concentration of acetic acid and aerobic stability of silage, as evidenced by a higher (P < 0.05) temperature and pH in aerobically exposed silage. Although the inoculant accelerated pH decline during ensiling, it did not improve the growth performance (P < 0.05) or alter the carcass traits of steers. It is possible that a reduction in the aerobic stability of the inoculated silage may have contributed to this outcome.

The objective of this study was to assess the acceptance and safety of two species of food-grade clams, ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) and Atlantic surf clam (Spisula solidissima), for consumption by fur-farmed American mink (Neovison vison). These clams contained thiaminase that can lead to weight loss, paralysis, and death. Across 19 wk, 39 black, adult female mink divided into three groups were fed a standard chicken-based control diet, 10% clam diet, or 20% clam diet and assessed for feed consumption rates, body weights, locomotor stereotypic behavior, overall activity levels, and ability to complete a novel tunnel climbing task. The 20% clam group consumed significantly less metabolizable energy compared with the control group, but there was no significant difference in weight gain between groups. There were some inconsistent group differences in stereotypy and overall activity with all groups showing significant behavioral differences across study weeks; possibly related to ambient weather and photoperiod. There were no significant group differences in their ability to complete the tunnel task. Based on our results, no negative effect of clam consumption was observed in adult female mink, but further studies are needed to determine clam safety to both male and female mink from all life stages.

Recent research indicated that reduced carcass muscling and weight are associated with beef dark cutting. Existing data from a single farm (44 heifers, 136 steers) from three normal beef quality grades (Canada AAA, AA, A) and the dark cutting grade (Canada B4) (n = 35, 106, 28, and 11, respectively) were used to identify relationships between sex, live animal, and carcass characteristics and the incidence of dark cutting. Categorical modelling showed a trend (P = 0.106) for heifer carcasses to have a greater probability [11.36 ± 4.78% standard error of the mean (SEM)] of dark cutting than carcasses from steers (4.4 ± 1.76% SEM). Mixed model analysis of variance indicated dark cutting heifers weighed less than cattle from normal grades at weaning (P = 0.0229) and slaughter (P = 0.0295). Logistic regression revealed that the probability of each carcass grade occurring was influenced by dry matter intake (DMI) (P = 0.0034), and the probability of dark cutting was lowest (P = 0.0286) in cattle with carcasses greater than 300 kg. Results suggested that cattle at risk of dark cutting may be identified by weight, average daily gain (ADG), and feed intake.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of storage time at 4 °C on haematological profile in goat (n = 25) and sheep (n = 25). After collection, blood samples were immediately analyzed and then divided into four aliquots that were stored at 4 °C and tested at 24 h (T1), 48 h (T2), 72 h (T3), and 1 wk (T4), respectively. One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine statistically significant effect of storage conditions both in goats and in sheep. Our results showed that among the two species studied, goats showed highest blood stability after refrigeration at 4 °C. In goats, all hematological parameters, except PLT, showed no significant changes during all days of monitoring with respect to basal values (T0). In sheep, no significantly effect of storage time on RBC and WBC levels were found, whereas the other hematological parameters change significantly over the time. Our findings suggest that the blood storage time reported for goat may not be applied to sheep's blood, which underscore the differences between these two species that are erroneously considered similar.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the possibility of using CGM-device measurements for the precise estimation of lean-meat content, the real technological and economic value of ham and loin. The experiment was carried out in two stages: the dissection (n = 136) and the industrial cutting (n = 298). Lean-meat content in carcasses was defined with a CGM device, where the thicknesses of the musculus longissimus dorsi (M2) and backfat (with the skin) (T2) were measured. The strongest correlations were achieved for the T2 measurement and the share of skin with fat or muscles in ham and loin. The strongest correlations for M2 were noted for muscle content in ham and loin. Measurements for M2 positively correlated with all the elements of the technological cutting of ham and loin, but negatively with T2 measurements, in terms of commercial value. The highest values, regardless of the point of measurement, were noted for boneless loin (loin) and ham 4D (ham). The highest estimating accuracy was noted for dissection and technological cutting of loin compared with ham. The results of the study suggest that the current classification device should be modified and improved for the evaluation of the real commercial value of the carcass.

Corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) is a plasma transport protein that has glucocorticoid-binding activity. In the present study, we identified CBG gene expression in several tissues of four pig breeds: Berkshire, Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire. Expression of CBG mRNA was detected in the liver of all four breeds, and was the highest in Berkshire pigs. We also found single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CBG gene from Berkshire pigs, including SNP c.919G>A, which corresponds to 307G>R. We analyzed the relationships between this CBG variant and various meat-quality traits. The SNP was significantly associated with backfat thickness, post-mortem pH_24h, meat color [CIE a* (redness), CIE b* (yellowness)], water-holding capacity, fat content, moisture content, protein content, cooking loss, and shear force. However, the effects differed by gender: the values were significantly associated with almost all traits in gilts, whereas only cooking loss and shear force were shown significantly in barrows. The variant G allele was associated with decreases in backfat thickness, post-mortem pH_24h, CIE a*, fat content, and cooking loss, but with increases in CIE b*, water-holding capacity, moisture content, protein content, and shear force. Because the general correlation between meat-quality traits were not validated in the present study, we suggest that certain SNP might be used in the restrictive application to distinguish meat-quality traits.

This study tested the hypothesis that pre-weaning supplemental arginine may have a carry-over effect on intestinal growth and development of piglets immediately after weaning. Fifty-four [Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire)] piglets were fed a milk replacer diet supplemented with 0 (control), 4, or 8 g kg^-1 of l-arginine from d 4 to 21 of age (6 replicate pens of 3 piglets per group). Piglets were then weaned to a common corn-soybean meal diet and fed for another 21 d. On day 42, 6 pigs per treatment were randomly selected for blood and tissue sampling. Arginine supplementation improved body weight of the piglets on d 42, average daily gain during d 22-31 (P < 0.05). Supplementation of 8 g kg^-1 arginine decreased feed:gain (F:G) ratio in piglets during d 22-31 (P = 0.010). Compared with controls, 8 g kg^-1 arginine improved villous height in duodenum, jejunum, and ileum; villous area in duodenum and jejunum; relative intestine weight; and plasma contents of insulin at d 42 (P < 0.05). Arginine supplementation increased mucosal protein content in all 3 segments of the small intestine (P < 0.05). These novel results clearly demonstrate a carry-over effect of pre-weaning supplementation with arginine on enhanced intestinal growth and development in the early post-weaning period.

Two 24 h in vitro batch culture experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of fumarate addition (10 mmol L^-1) on the ruminal fermentation parameters of selected medicinal herbs, and the effects of different doses of fumarate (0, 10, or 30 mmol L^-1) on ruminal metabolism of organic acids when a high-concentrate diet (meadow hay and barley grain, 400/600, w/w) was supplemented with a mix of medicinal herbs (Artemisia absinthium L., Melissa officinalis L., Malva sylvestris L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Plantago lanceolata L., Foeniculum vulgare Mill., and Althaea officinalis L.). Depending on the concentration, fumarate treatment decreased methane production (by 10-11%) and increased propionate proportions (by 5-13%) with high-concentrate diets. The organic acid (fumaric, succinic, malic, and lactic acid) concentrations in the batch culture were measured at intervals of 0, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h. The time and organic acid concentrations with 10 mmol L^-1 fumarate were well correlated (R² = 0.846). The amount of succinate was accumulated and metabolized more slowly than that of fumarate (>24 h). The addition of fumarate and a herb mix could positively influence in vitro ruminal fermentation parameters of high-concentrate diets by increasing the levels of propionate and succinate as well as the pH, and by decreasing of methane emissions.

The effects of reducing dietary omega (n)-6 to n-3 fatty acid (FA) ratios on body fat mobilization in lactating sows (n = 100) were investigated. Treatments consisted of a control (tallow, low polyunsaturated FA, 8:1 n-6:n-3 ratio), 3 diets with plant oil based ratios (9:1P, 5:1P, and 1:1P), and a 5:1 fish oil diet (5:1F). An epinephrine [1.6 µg kg^-1 body weight (BW)] challenge was used to measure adipose tissue lipolytic activity (glycerol, NEFA, and leptin) on d 5 of lactation from a subset of sows (9:1P and 1:1P groups) fitted with jugular catheters. Lactation feed intake was greatest for control and 5:1P-fed sows (8.3 kg d^-1), lowest for 1:1P-fed sows (7.4 kg d^-1), and intermediate for 9:1P- and 5:1F-fed sows (7.7 kg d^-1; P = 0.047). Piglet average daily gain (ADG) and estimated milk output were unaffected by diet (P > 0.10). The 1:1P-fed sows had (P < 0.10) greater backfat thickness, increased circulating leptin, and reduced feed intake, which are correlated (P < 0.10) with increased circulating glycerol and NEFA. Sows fed a plant oil based 1:1 n-6:n-3 FA ratio appeared to be in a state of negative energy balance; however, as no effects were observed on piglet ADG, these sows were able to provide the same level of nutrients to their offspring as the 9:1P fed sows.

As bison is characteristically dark in colour, this study was conducted to determine if high-voltage electrical stimulation (HVES) could improve the colour and other quality characteristics in bison, similar to positive effects of HVES previously observed in beef. Forty bison bull carcasses were split and HVES (400 V peak, 5 ms pulses at 15 pulses s^-1 for 30 s) was applied to the right sides and subsequently evaluated for grade characteristics, metabolic activity, and quality characteristics. The bison carcasses used in this study had a wide range of lean and fat, with minimal marbling. In the present study, HVES had no effect on bison quality traits, sensory attributes, retail display characteristics, nor the glycolytic metabolites (P > 0.05) except lactate. Inherent differences in muscle fibre type or physical carcass differences may have influenced the response to the electrical parameters used in the present study and merits further investigation.