Copy number variations (CNVs) have been known as one of the most important sources of variation in animal genome. In this study, a total of 957 CNVs was detected across autosomal genome of Iranian indigenous cattle using high-density single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping data. Results of this study provide a base for further investigation on genetic markers affecting the important production traits in Iranian indigenous cattle.

Growth and reproductive traits of beef cattle are important economically and, therefore, are commonly included in selection indices. In tropical production systems, beef cattle are raised in highly heterogeneous environments. It has been shown that genetic associations between growth traits and reproductive performance are dependent on the production environment; thus, the genotype by environment interaction is important for genetic evaluations and can affect selection of these traits.

We showed the genetic and phenotypic correlations between economic traits and selection indices, besides the expected genetic gains. Selection for better body composition should provide increase in scrotal circumference and weight gain. The use of indices should result in a positively correlated response for indirectly selected traits. Higher genetic gains to visual scores are expected when the selection is based on the values of these indices.

The randomness of transgene insertion in genetically modified animals by the microinjection technique may compromise the health and welfare of animals. We demonstrate in this work that insertion of the human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (hG-CSF) transgene in the two lines of transgenic goats does not compromise the health of animals. This information is an important step in the use of animals as bioreactors for the production of large-scale hG-CSF.

Pasture-based dairy operations allow for natural grazing behaviour; however, suboptimal nutrition may be more difficult to prevent due to variable quality of natural forages. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of pregnant-cow management on colostrum quality, dairy calf health and growth. Cow weight loss during the dry period, an indicator of suboptimal nutrition, had a negative impact on colostrum quality but did not directly affect calf health and growth.

Dairy cows with several calvings would have a healthier milk fat than would cows in their first calving. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of parity on the fatty acid profile in milk fat from dairy cows with different grazing times. Although the milk from primiparous cows had a lower fat content, it had a higher grade of unsaturation than did milk from multiparous cows, so their milk could be considered as healthier milk.

Because of their sorbent properties and binding capacity with ammonia, natural zeolites may have application as feed additive in livestock industry. Our results indicate that zeolite supplementation of high finishing diets enhances ruminal fermentation and increases digestion.

Ruminal pH is a critical factor that could affect rumen fermentation efficiency; thereby, rumen buffer should be considered. Banana flower power-pellet could enhance rumen ecology and fermentation efficiency. This study suggests that banana flower powder pellet is potentially used as a rumen buffer agent for high-producing cattle, promising to replace sodium bicarbonate.

We investigated the effects of stocking rate and supplementary feeding on the performance of grazing ewes in pregnancy/lactation, and on their lambs. Both treatments had significant effects on intake and liveweight responses, but there were also marked effects of initial condition score and dentition score of ewes. In future work, more attention needs to be paid to these scores as important explanatory variables.

Glycerin is the main by-product of the biodiesel industry and it is considered an attractive source of energy in livestock diets. Variations in corn prices make studies like the present one even more relevant. Total corn replacement could be possible depending on glycerin market price, as high inclusions (30%) reflect in greater number of days on feed. The addition of 10% of crude glycerin in diets for crossbred finishing lambs seems to be the most interesting strategy as it promotes greatest performance.

Breech strike cost the Australian industry more than AU$200 million per year. Factors responsible for an increase in breech strike were investigated in unmulesed Merinos in a production system where no chemical preventative treatments were applied. Dags in uncrutched sheep and tail wrinkle in crutched sheep were the two most important predisposing factors for breech strike but a large proportion of the variation in breech strike in unmulesed and uncrutched sheep could not be explained.

Flystrike causes losses due to sheep deaths and loss of production. This study quantifies the loss of weight, condition, wool and lamb production in flocks in a wide range of regions of Australia. The results can be used to estimate losses due to flystrike and potential benefits of preventing strike or reducing its severity.

Improving our knowledge of the physiological characteristics of ovine species in stressful situations during the neonatal phase will be of great economic importance for livestock production. Breaking the ewe–lamb bond at different ages and for brief separation times triggers metabolic changes in young animals. The greatest physiological alterations occurred in the parameters of the youngest lambs, after a separation of 10 min from their mothers. Younger lambs suffered greater metabolic changes in contrast to older lambs.

Alternative methods to improve performance and carcass traits, considering animal welfare. The aim was to compare surgical castration and immunocastration in beef cattle raised on pasture. Immunocastration can replace surgical castration and is an efficient method to improve carcass traits. The castration methods improve meat quality and carcass finishing; however, intact animals present greater production capacity.

The combination of a live vaccine into an inactivated vaccine provides convenience to poultry farmers in administration. This study evaluated the survival and effectiveness of the live vaccine when administered this way. The live vaccine had reduced viability over time and the birds showed a reduced immune response to it when adminsitered this way.

The organic acids that were regarded as substitutes for antibiotics have recently been applied to decrease the proliferation of acid-intolerant enteropathogenic bacteria. This research investigated the influences of dietary sodium diacetate on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and intestinal pH and Escherichia coli count of broilers. Results suggest that dietary sodium diacetate could improve growth performance, meat quality and intestinal health of broilers.

Feeding concentrates so that the marginal cost of extra feed closely matches the marginal revenue from extra milk produced should enable dairy farmers to feed supplements profitably. In the present study, a farm in northern Victoria was used to analyse the economics of tactical (short-term) and strategic (medium- to longer-term) decisions about concentrate feeding. The results show that making decisions about supplementary feeding using marginal analysis adds more to farm profit than making decisions on the basis of other criteria, such as feeding supplement for maximum milk production.

There is no information available about how differences in growth rate before the finishing phase affect animal performance and carcass attributes of cattle finished under temperate conditions. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of nutritional management during the rearing period on the performance and carcass traits of pasture-finished or feedlot-finished Hereford cattle. Nutritional feeding management during the first winter has a permanent effect on the growth, feed conversion traits, and carcass traits. However, the prevalence of these effects depends on the feeding system during the finishing phase of animals.

Heat stress is one of the major challenges for sustaining livestock production globally. Therefore, it is necessary to devise strategies for amelioration of heat stress by selecting genetically resilient animals for optimum productivity. The present study identified heat stress-tolerant and heat stress-susceptible individuals on the basis of heart rate and respiration rate. The selection method can be utilised for selecting animals towards improved resistance to heat stress and managing the livestock for better production and welfare.

Muscle fibres are the main components of meat and their characteristics are crucial for meat quality. We studied the associations between fibre typing and meat quality across 15 young-sheep muscles and found that although fibre diversity may explain, at least in part, intermuscular differences in meat quality, these associations can also slightly vary in sense among different contractile–metabolic groups of muscles. The present study has contributed to a better understanding of the influence of muscle fibre types on intermuscular meat-quality variation.

Buffalo meat is still considered exotic in Brazil, and ~90% of it is marketed as cattle meat. The present study compared qualitative characteristics of the longissimus muscle from buffalo and cattle. Buffalo carcasses provide a higher yield of round cuts. Meat from buffalo carcasses had similar or better properties than that from cattle carcasses, and is a rich source of some hypocholesterolemic fatty acids, which help prevent cardiovascular diseases.