Cattle and sheep emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as part of the fermentation process of feed digestion. Differences among animals in their ability to digest feed were found and were associated with variation in the three methane emission traits studied. Feeding and breeding interventions to reduce methane emissions may change rumen physiology and reduce the extent of digestion of feed by cattle, which may be undesirable.

Diseases related to consumption of animal products have come to the fore today and it is important to increase product quality. In this study, changes were made to animal feeds so as to increase some fatty acids, which have significant positive effects on health. This change was achieved by adding a rich source of omega 3 to the diet, which has been used frequently in recent years, and the most appropriate dose was determined for adding this source to the diet.

Lactation presents a critical stressful period in the dam productive life because of the high nutritional and other managemental requirements necessary for milk production. This study was performed to explore the impact of negative energy balance associated with lactation on the milk composition, metabolic profile and reproductive traits of two sheep breeds, to assess their sustainability to the expenditure of milk production during lactation season.

The present study evaluated the effects of including flaxseed oil and natural products with antioxidant properties in swine diets. The dietary modifications had effect on carcass quality, meat quality and a lipid profile modified with increased α-linolenic fatty acid. The increase in omega-3 reduced the oxidative stability of meat and vitamin E was the most efficient antioxidant in minimising lipid oxidation. Among the other antioxidants tested, the tilapia hydrolysate and the grape seed extract showed potential for further studies.

Pelleted total mixed ration containing 15% ground wheat straw improved dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed efficiency, carcass quality and dressing percentage of fattening lambs. Wheat straw based pelleted total mixed ration improved rumen health without compromising rumen pH. Pelleted total mixed ration did not have any adverse effects on rumen health and welfare.

This study is a systematic analysis of the Brazilian dairy industry comparing data from scientific literature and breeders’ association official controls, in order to understand differences between animals used in experiments and those in breed control assessments. There was a considerable lack of official data for most traits, and a large difference between official data and the literature. Literature data need to be collected that better represent what is happening at the field level in the national dairy industry.