The objective of this research was to evaluate the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) balance of the following lipid sources: soybean oil, sunflower oil, linseed oil, and fish oil. Two hundred eighty 24-wk-old laying hens of the Hysex White were used. The experimental diets consisted of a basal diet (reference group), basal diet + 10% soybean oil addition (group 1), basal diet + 10% sunflower oil addition (group 2), basal diet + 10% linseed oil addition (group 3), and basal diet + 10% fish oil addition (group 4), distributed in a completely randomized design with seven replicates and eight birds per experimental unit. The metabolic assay was performed by the total excreta collection method. The AMEn values found in the natural material were 9 334 kcal kg⁻¹ for soybean oil, 10 533 kcal kg⁻¹ for sunflower oil, 10 928 kcal kg⁻¹ for linseed oil, and 9 005 kcal kg⁻¹ for fish oil. The AMEn were different among the lipid sources. Sunflower oil and linseed oil had higher AMEn compared with soybean oil and fish oil (P < 0.05). The AMEn of the lipid sources of plant origin had higher values than the gross energy. The fatty acid profile of each lipid source was presented in this work. Thus, it is important to have individual nutritional information for each type of oil for laying hens, making it possible to formulate more appropriate and accurate feed.

To characterize the variability of 11 feed ingredients and their impact on the final feed, 728 ingredient samples were collected during 5 months in a feed-plant and were analyzed by near-infrared spectrophotometry (NIRS). Six diets for fattening pigs and gestating sows were formulated using regional information of ingredient chemical composition (reference): LIM, limited; EU, common European; and MULT, multi-ingredient; respectively, including 5, 7, and 10 ingredients. The formulas were replicated 15 times using actual chemical composition (NIRS) from three samples per ingredient and month. This theoretical procedure was validated through small-scale manufacturing 30 LIM-diets, which samples were proximal (PA) and NIRS analyzed for dry matter and crude protein (CP) contents. Those mixtures were also PA analyzed. The ingredients showed coefficient of variation (CV %) higher for crude fiber (CF) (2.6%–18.3%) than CP (2.0%–9.3%). Comparing all diets for all chemical components, variability was reduced when including more ingredients from 0.5%–5.5% to 0.3%–2.6% CV. In most cases, the actual chemical composition of the diets underestimated their reference formula (1.3%–10.8%, CP and CF). A deviation from the targeted diet occurs if variability is not regarded. Therefore, a proper method to predict ingredient composition and nutritional value before use may increase the accuracy of diet formulation between 2% and 10%.

Sixty male Small-tailed Han sheep (initial body weight: 42.5 ± 4.1 kg) were assigned randomly and averagely into four groups to evaluate effects of flavonoids extracted from Allium mongolicum Regel (AMR) on meat quality and composition of fatty acids related to flavor in longissimus dorsi muscle of lambs. Lambs of four groups were fed a basal control diet (C), and basal diet + three different amounts of flavonoids extracted from the AMR; those were 11 mg kg⁻¹ (Flav 11), 22 mg kg⁻¹ (Flav 22), or 33 mg kg⁻¹ (Flav 33), respectively. Dressing percentage, loin eye area, cooking loss, and pressing loss were affected by treatments (P < 0.05). Percentage of intramuscular fat, the concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid, C18:0, total saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acid, and 4-methyloctanoic acid in longissimus dorsi muscle were changed by treatments (P < 0.05). Addition of AMR to diet improved the meat quality and had favorable effects on fatty acid composition related to meat flavor in longissimus dorsi muscle.

Currently, the importance of research into the behavior of farm animals is being highlighted. Monitoring animal temperament is a key aspect in improving their well-being. The aim of the study was to search for indicators facilitating classification of the emotional reactivity of mink (Neovison vison) using behavioral tests: glove and empathic tests. Both tests were applied to 760 mink in triplicate to assess their behavioral profile. Based on the obtained assessments, the animals subjected to the empathic test were classified into one of the four behavioral profiles: aggressive, curious, fearful, and neutral. The contact time of the mink with the new object in the empathic test clearly differentiates all four types of mink behavior. The significantly longest contact with the object was found for aggressive, and the shortest for neutral animals. The intensity and time of contact with the object may be an indicator of the behavioral profile of mink. Based on the results, it can be concluded that an additional predictor of the mink reactivity during behavioral tests should be taken into account, the intensity of contact with the object measured both by the intensity of direct contact and by the duration of this contact. The results shown in this study can be used as a selection indicator by including the temperament of farm mink in selection.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of citrus pulp in diet for broilers on weight of gastrointestinal organs, intestinal morphometry, and quality and lipid oxidation of broiler meat during the storage time. A total of 966 Cobb male broiler chicks were fed six increasing levels of dietary citrus pulp (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%) with seven replications of 23 birds each. The inclusion of citrus pulp in the diet of broilers from 1 to 21 d of age did not significantly affect organ weight and intestinal morphology (P > 0.05). However, the citrus pulp can be used up to 10% inclusion in diets for broilers from 1 to 42 d of age, without impairing broiler performance, carcass yield, intestinal morphometry, and meat quality. For lipid oxidation, samples of thigh were used in a 6 × 4 factorial design (six dietary levels of citrus pulp and four storage periods) with four replications. In the treatments with 10% citrus pulp, the phenolic compounds present in the by-product led to a delayed and reduced oxidation.

A total of 90 pigs (6.47 ± 0.27 kg; 21 d of age) were used in this 22 wk feeding trial to evaluate the effect of microencapsulated complex of organic acids and essential oils (MOE) on growth performance, nutrient retention, blood profile, fecal microflora, and lean meat percentage in pigs. Pigs were randomly distributed to one of three treatment groups (six replicate pens per treatment, five pigs per pen). Dietary treatments were CON, basal diet; MOE1, basal + 0.1% MOE; and MOE2, basal diet + 0.2% MOE. The average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed efficiency ratio were significantly different among treatments (P < 0.05). The apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter was linearly increased (P < 0.05) by MOE2. Red blood cells and immunoglobulin G were significantly different in pigs fed MOE (P < 0.05). The Lactobacillus concentration linearly increased (P < 0.05) in MOE2 treatments compared with other treatments. The meat color (a*, redness) and drip loss decreased linearly (P < 0.05) with increasing level of MOE. In conclusion, MOE supplementation could improve growth performance, nutrient retention, blood profile, fecal microflora, and meat quality in weaning to finishing pigs.

Multiple factors can affect the risk of bruising and mortality of broilers during loading, transport, and lairage. The risk factors affecting the percentages of broilers in each load that were “dead-on-arrival” (DOA) or bruised were studied from records provided by a processing plant, by undertaking direct observations during on-farm loading and then carrying out multivariable analyses. Selected loads between 2014 and 2015 from seven producers were included in the study. The median DOA per load was 0.13% (Q₁ = 0.06, Q₃ = 0.25, n = 212), the median total duration from loading to unloading was 8.6 h, and the external temperature ranged from −22 to 22 °C. Although it was not possible to adequately characterise thermal conditions within each load, the analysis indicated that the main risk factors for increased mortality were in spring and winter, an increased duration between loading and end of lairage, and a period of feed withdrawal before loading longer than 6 h. The risk of mortality increased with the weight of the birds and with an increase in rearing mortality. No relationships were found between the manner in which the broilers were handled and the percentages of DOAs or bruised birds.

A total of 125 crossbred pigs with an initial body weight (BW) of 7.66 ± 1.30 kg were randomly distributed into one of five dietary treatments. Each treatment had five replicate pens with five pigs per pen. Treatments were as followed: (1) CON, control diet; (2) zinc oxide (ZO), CON + 0.3% ZO; (3) ZOM, CON + 0.3% ZO + 0.1% microencapsulated organic acids and pure botanicals (MOP); (4) microencapsulated zinc oxide (MZO), CON + 0.03% MZO; and (5) MZOM, CON + 0.03% MZO + 0.1% MOP. The MZO group had higher (P = 0.03) final BW than ZO group and also had higher (P = 0.04, 0.01) average daily gain and gain/feed ratio compared with ZO group during days 15–34 and throughout the experimental period. The MZO and MZOM had higher (P < 0.05) apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter (DM) and energy than ZO. Less (P < 0.05) feces Escherichia coli shedding was observed in the ZOM and MZOM diets compared with CON; the MZO had lowered (P = 0.001) zinc level in feces than ZO and CON. In conclusion, results indicated that supplementation with 0.3% MZO could improve the growth performance and ATTD of DM; inclusion of 0.1% MOP could decrease feces E. coli shedding and also decrease the zinc level in feces in weanling pigs.

This study aimed to compare the patterns of postnatal transformation of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform types in the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle between HeBao (HB) and Large White (LW) pigs, and assess the association of porcine cofilin2b (CFL2b) mRNA abundance with changes of myofiber type composition. The four MyHC isoforms (MyHC-1, -2a, -2b, and -2x) of the LD muscle were assessed for mRNA levels in 28 HB and 28 LW pigs by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The associations of CFL2b mRNA expression and myofiber type (MyHC-1, -2a, -2b, and -2x) changes were analyzed by RT-qPCR. Although the mRNA expression patterns of MyHCs were different between the two breeds, they had similar expression levels. During postnatal growth, relative CFL2b abundance was gradually increased, with dramatic changes observed after 90 d between the two breeds (P < 0.01). Further analysis revealed significant positive correlations of CFL2b gene expression with MyHC-1/slow (HB: r = 0.871), MyHC-2b [LW: r = 0.881 (P < 0.01)], and MyHC-2x (HB: r = 0.795, LW: r = 0.814), and a significant negative correlation with MyHC-1/slow [r = ?0.938 (P < 0.01)] in LW. No significant associations of CFL2b expression with MyHC-2a (HB: r = ?0. 195, r = ?0.697) and MyHC-2b (HB: r = 0.493) were found. Our findings suggested that HB pigs had different muscle development mechanisms in the LD muscle compared with LW, and the CFL2b expression difference could affect the levels of myofiber types which could account for meat quality differences. HB pigs possessed less glycolytic, with more oxidative metabolism and better meat quality traits compared with LW pigs at different growth stages.

Entire male (EM) pigs (152; ∼30 kg body weight) were used to examine immunocastration using Improvest and feeding ractopamine on growth performance, carcass and meat quality, and fatty acid composition. Timing for administering second dose of Improvest compared dosing at 4 and 8 wk pre-slaughter. A factorial arrangement evaluated two genotypes [Large Whites and Duroc crossbreds (Durocs)] by five management regimens (EM fed control diet, EM fed ractopamine, second dose Improvest 4 wk pre-slaughter, second dose Improvest 8 wk pre-slaughter, second dose Improvest 4 wk pre-slaughter plus ractopamine). Average daily gain and gain to feed (G:F) were generally greater (P ≤ 0.01) in Durocs. Immunocastration increased (P < 0.01) dry matter intake (DMI); feeding ractopamine decreased (P < 0.02) DMI and increased (P < 0.03) G:F. Immunocastration decreased (P < 0.04) carcass and lean yields; feeding ractopamine increased (P < 0.04) carcass weights, lean yield, muscling, and longissimus shear force while decreasing (P < 0.01) backfats. Immunocastration did not affect loin pH, color, drip loss, and shear force. Timing for second Improvest dose did not affect most growth performance, carcass, and meat quality traits except for greater (P < 0.02) backfats when administering dose 8 wk pre-slaughter. Effects of immunocastration and (or) feeding ractopamine were relatively consistent in both genotypes evaluated.

The objectives of this study were to determine the difficulty of implementing changes to improve cow comfort on Canadian dairy farms, to determine if any changes were implemented to improve dairy cow comfort following an initial cow comfort assessment, to categorize producers based on types of changes they made, to compare how producers in these categories differed, and to identify barriers to implementing these changes. The most difficult type of change to implement was changing stall design (including building a new barn) with a mean difficulty score of 3.3 (out of 5) scored by a panel of dairy researchers. Overall, 3 of 118 (2.5%) interviewed producers were categorized as innovators, 62 (52.5%) as effective adopters, 20 (16.9%) as ineffective adopters, and 33 (28.0%) as non-adopters. The most common types of changes made were to stall management (37.3%). Participants were asked to identify all barriers to further improvement of cow comfort. The most commonly reported barriers were lack of funds (52.9%), lack of time (38.7%), and being satisfied with the level of cow comfort (31.1%). This survey study demonstrates that a cow comfort assessment can influence dairy producers to implement changes to improve cow comfort; however, certain barriers exist to implementation.

A total of 144 ostrich eggs (24 per group) were injected with 4 mL of physiological saline solution [positive control (PC)], carbohydrates (CHO — 20% maltose, 2.5% sucrose, and 2.5% dextrin), β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), vitamin B₆ solution, and vitamin D₃ (vit D₃) solution at 38 d of incubation. Injection of 4 mL physiological saline decreased the hatchability compared with negative control (NC) group (not injected eggs) (68.5% vs. 71.7%; P < 0.05). There was also lower hatchability and more number of embryonic deaths before piping in vitamin-injected group (72.2%). Heart, gizzard, pancreas, spleen and thymus, ileum, cecum, and rectum relative weight were not significantly different among treatments at hatch (P > 0.05). Carbohydrates group had higher duodenum and jejunum relative weight, whereas NC and PC groups had the least duodenum, jejunum relative weight (P < 0.05). Vit D₃ injection increased bone strength, fresh and dry bone relative weight (P < 0.01). Chicks from HMB and CHO group had the highest levels of glycogen in the livers, whereas PC, NC, and vit D₃ exhibited very low levels of glycogen in their liver (P = 0.014). Vitamins in ovo injected groups had the least duodenum villus height and also vit D₃ group had the least jejunum villus height (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the use of CHO for the in ovo injection of ostrich hatching eggs would be practical in industry due to improvement in hatchability, bone characteristics, small intestine villus height and capacity, and also liver glycogen sources.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary crude protein levels and cysteamine (CS) supplementation on meat quality and related indices in longissimus dorsi muscle of finishing pigs. One hundred and twenty barrows were randomly allocated to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with five replicates of six pigs each. The primary variations were crude protein levels (14% or 10%) and CS supplemental levels (0 or 140 mg kg⁻¹). After 41 d, 10 pigs per treatment were slaughtered. The results showed that low-protein level diets (LPDs) decreased Warner–Bratzler shear force (P < 0.01) and increased the content of intramuscular fat (P < 0.01). The mRNA expressions of lipogenic genes were up-regulated (P < 0.01), and the mRNA expressions of lipolytic genes were down-regulated (P < 0.01) in pigs fed LPD. LPDs increased the mRNA expressions of μ-calpain, and decreased the mRNA expression of calpastatin (P < 0.01). In addition, CS supplementation increased the mRNA expression of μ-calpain (P < 0.01). In conclusion, LPD improved the meat quality probably through regulating the lipogenesis, lipolysis, and the proteolysis process in muscle. The CS supplementation did not affect the meat quality of finishing pigs. Moreover, no significant interaction between dietary protein levels and CS supplementation for the meat quality of finishing pigs was observed.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementation of sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate as fat emulsifier in low-density diet on the growth performance and meat quality of finishing pigs. A total of 84 mixed-sex finishing pigs [(Landrace × Yorkshire) × Duroc] at 112 d of age with an average body weight (BW) of 60 ± 0.75 kg (two gilts and two barrows per pen; seven pens per treatment) were used in a 56 d experiment. Pigs were randomly allotted to one of three treatments based on BW and stratified based on sex. The following three treatments were used (1) control basal diet (T1), (2) low-energy diet (T2), and (3) T2 + 0.1% sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate emulsifier (T3). The supplementation of sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate as fat emulsifier in energy-reduced diet did not have significant effects on growth performance compared with energy-reduced diet without emulsifier, although it slightly increased final BW by 1.45%, average daily gain by 3.3%, gain to feed ratio by 3.77%, and reduced average daily feed intake by 0.64%. The supplementation of emulsifier in energy-reduced diet did not have any adverse effect (P > 0.05) on meat quality attributes, as well as backfat thickness and lean muscle percentage (LMP), compared with energy-reduced diet without emulsifier or basal diet. In conclusion, the supplementation of emulsifier at 0.1% level in low-energy diet did not have significant effects on growth performance, backfat thickness, LMP, and meat quality attributes in finishing pigs.

Structural bone depletion over the course of lay cycle predisposes hens to skeletal problems. We investigated the effects of dietary calcium (Ca) and top-dressed 25-hydroxy vitamin D₃ (25OHD3) on attributes [relative weight, ash content (AC), and ash concentration (ACN)] in whole ulna, femur, tibia, and subparts of femur and tibia (epiphysis, medullary, and cortical) in 74-wk-old Lohmann LSL-lite layers. Four levels of Ca (3.0%, 3.5%, 4.0%, and 4.5%) and three levels of 25OHD3 (0, 69, and 138 μg kg⁻¹) were tested. All diets had basal level of 3300 IU of vitamin D₃ kg⁻¹. Eighty-four, 74-wk-old hens were placed in individual cages, and 13 spare hens were sacrificed for baseline samples. Diets (n = 7) were fed to 81 wks of age, and hens were sacrificed for bone samples. There were no (P > 0.05) diet effects on whole bone attributes. Interaction (P < 0.05) between Ca and 25OHD3 on femur subparts was such that 25OHD3 linearly increased medullary ACN and concomitantly decreased cortical ACN at all Ca levels. In tibia, 25OHD3 (P < 0.05) increased AC and ACN in medullary and reduced these parameters in cortical. The results suggested that subparts and not whole medullary bone attributes are more amenable to dietary interventions in aged hens.

Bovine mammary epithelial cells were used to evaluate the effects of different levels of Arginine (Arg) on enzymes related to Arg metabolism. A series of seven Arg concentrations in the medium as treatments were T0 (0.00 mg L⁻¹) as control group, and T0.25 (69.50 mg L⁻¹), T0.5 (139.00 mg L⁻¹), T1 (278.00 mg L⁻¹), T2 (556.00 mg L⁻¹), T4 (1112.00 mg L⁻¹), and T8 (2224.00 mg L⁻¹) as experiment groups, respectively. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis showed that the nitric oxide concentration, the expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in mRNA, and enzyme level were all increased in response to enhanced Arg doses such that the T8 was the greatest group (P < 0.05). Four-fold Arg concentration improved gene expression and synthesis of arginase which then deceased when excessive Arg was supplied (P < 0.05). The expressions of ornithine aminotransferase mRNA and enzyme in T1 and T2 groups were significantly greater than that in the other groups (P < 0.05). Two-fold Arg was the optimum level for ornithine decarboxylase gene expression and enzyme synthesis among all seven treatments (P < 0.05). These somewhat various effects of Arg concentrations on four kinds of enzymes in different Arg metabolic pathways suggest that Arg might participate in regulating bovine mammary physiological function with an optimum concentration by influencing the enzymes in related metabolic pathways.

To determine the effects of grain type (rolled-corn vs. rolled-barley) and dried corn distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) oil concentration (low = 4.5% vs. moderate = 7.9%) on ruminal pH, ammonia (NH₃) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, in vitro enteric methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) production, and digestive enzyme activity, eight ruminally cannulated Holstein steers (715 ± 61.4 kg) were used in a 4 × 8 Latin rectangle with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Diets were offered for ad libitum intake. Experimental periods were 24 d with 7 d of diet adaptation, 7 d of sample collection, and a 10 d transition between periods. No differences were observed for ruminal NH₃, total VFA concentration, pH, or in vitro concentration of CH₄ or CO₂ after 24 h of incubation among treatments. The lag time for in vitro gas production and degradation was greater (P = 0.03) from steers fed diets containing rolled-corn than rolled-barley. There were grain type × DDGS interactions (P ≤ 0.02) observed for α-amylase and trypsin activity (U L⁻¹ ruminal fluid). Maltase activity (U L⁻¹ ruminal fluid) was greater (P ≤ 0.01) in steers fed diets containing rolled-corn than rolled-barley and in steers fed diets containing low- compared with moderate-oil DDGS. These results indicate that, although ruminal enzyme activity was influenced, feeding different grain types (rolled-corn vs. rolled-barley) or DDGS with differing oil concentration (moderate vs. low) did not negatively influence ruminal fermentation or in vitro CH₄ production.

Two experiments were performed to study the interaction between the standardized ileal digestible (SID) leucine (Leu) and valine (Val) levels on the mRNA expression of genes involved in the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway (experiment I) and determine the requirement of these amino acids in low-protein diets, and their effects on performance, serum parameters and muscle fiber diameters of broilers (experiment II) from day 1 to day 21 post hatch. Broiler chickens were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 3 × 3 and 5 × 5 factorial arrangement for a total of 9 and 25 treatments in experiments I and II, respectively. There was no (P > 0.05) interaction between the SID Leu and Val levels on mRNA expression of mTOR, S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), 4E-binding protein-1 (4EBP1), eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) genes in pectoralis major muscle. Leucine supplementation increased (P < 0.05) mRNA expression of mTOR and S6K1 genes in muscle tissue, whereas Val supplementation did not affect (P > 0.05) mRNA expression of the genes investigated. Interaction was observed (P < 0.05) between dietary Leu and Val levels on feed intake and gain:feed. Leucine supplementation may stimulate mRNA expression of mTOR and S6K1 genes in pectoralis major muscle of broilers from day 1 to day 21 post hatch. The SID Leu and Val levels required for the optimization of feed intake, weight gain, and gain:feed in low-crude protein diets for broiler chickens from day 1 to 21 post hatch were estimated at 1.29% and 0.96%, 1.28% and 0.92%, and 1.27% and 0.91%, respectively; however, these requirements may be greater to maximize muscle fiber growth.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single subcutaneous injection of meloxicam on scrotal healing, inflammatory response, and behaviour in castrated or castrated and branded beef calves for 42 d post procedure. Seventy-two 2-mo-old Angus crossbred bull calves were used to assess the effects of procedure (Trt): (1) sham control, (2) knife castration, and (3) knife castration and hot-iron branding; and pain mitigation (Med): (1) nonmedicated and (2) medicated with meloxicam according to a 3 × 2 factorial design. Body weight, scrotal circumference (SC), and healing scores were collected weekly until day 42. Blood samples were collected weekly until day 42 to assess haptoglobin, serum amyloid-A, and complete blood cell count. Hair was collected on day −1 and day 42 to assess cortisol concentrations. Lying and standing behaviour were recorded for 42 d, whereas pain-related behaviours were recorded on days 7, 15, 22, 29, and 34 post procedure. The inflammatory response (SC) and duration of standing was greater (P < 0.05) in calves castrated and branded than those only castrated. However, meloxicam did not reduce inflammation or improve wound healing in either castrated or castrated and branded calves.

The effect of residual feed intake adjusted for backfat thickness (RFI_fat) on heifer pregnancy rate and subsequent lifetime productivity was examined in 867 beef females that were ranked as low, medium, or high RFI_fat. Age at first calving, weaning weight of first calf, and most probable producing ability for birth weight (MPPA_bw) and weaning weight (MPPA_ww) were calculated to assess first parity heifer productivity. The effect of heifer RFI adjusted for backfat (RFI_fat; n = 532) on subsequent lifetime cow productivity (n = 415) was calculated based on kg of calf weaned per cow bred per year. A total lifetime productivity measure (n = 218) were also calculated as total calf weaning weight (kg) output per cow culled. RFI rank had no significant effect on pregnancy rate, when adjusted for season and site differences (P = 0.33). No significant correlations (P < 0.05) were observed between MPPA_ww and RFI, RFI_fat, RFI adjusted for backfat and feeding event frequency (RFI_{fat & activity}), or age at first calving. A negative trend (P < 0.10) between RFI, RFI_fat, and MPPA_bw calculated from first parity pregnancy rate and production traits was no longer apparent when adjusted for RFI_{fat & activity}. These results suggest that selection for low RFI replacement heifers has no impact on their first parity pregnancy rate and productivity or on subsequent cow productivity.

At weaning, 150 primiparous sows were assigned sequentially to receive 400 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) with 200 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (Gn600), or 400 IU eCG with 400 IU hCG (Gn800), or served as untreated controls. Compared with control and Gn600, the Gn800 had increased estrus response by day 7 and reduced wean-to-estrus intervals (P < 0.05). Compared with controls, both Gn600 and Gn800 increased numbers of large follicles (≥6 mm) at estrus detection (P < 0.05) and the subsequent farrowing rates (P < 0.05). Litter size was unaffected. These data demonstrate the efficacy of supplemental hCG for alleviating effects of seasonal infertility in primiparous sows.

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of reducing dietary energy (tallow) in diets contain 0.05% emulsifier blend (sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate and Tween-20) on growth performance parameters in growing pigs. Linear and quadratic polynomial contrasts were used to examine responses to supplemental graded levels of energy (3260, 3240, and 3220 kcal kg⁻¹, respectively) in diets. However, no significant difference was observed in all treatment diets. There is an opportunity to reduce feed cost by reducing energy in diets containing emulsifier blend.