Hen ageing is accompanied by a disruption of productive performance, namely egg production. The aim of the present study is to clarify the intricate network of reproductive physiology in laying hens in the late phase of reproduction by means of exogenous growth hormone and testosterone injection. The results show the positive effects of the exogenous hormones on egg quality and production performance.

Possible health risks related to chemical, antibiotic and hormone residues in foods caused an increase in the demand for organic foods. Carcass and meat quality of lambs reared under organic, intensive and traditional systems were investigated to obtain information that can be a guide for production system preference for sheep farmers and meat product choice for consumers. Meat from traditional systems was found more acceptable while meats of organic and traditional systems were healthier according to meat fatty acid composition.

Selecting genotypes best suited for specific environments will benefit performance across environments when genotypes of animals respond differently to the changes in environments. The variation in environmental conditions was quantified based on mean growth rate and backfat depth of groups of pigs. Significant breed-by-environment interactions were found for growth rate but not for backfat depth. Large White, the leaner breed, was less able to perform consistently across the observed range of environmental conditions while Duroc was least sensitive.

Vitamin D and strontium (an element similar to calcium) have a close physiological relationship and have been shown to improve broiler chicken performance and human skeletal integrity. Vitamin D and strontium were shown to have a significant interaction on bird performance. Higher levels of vitamin D improved bodyweight gain and helped reduce poor growth and feed efficiency caused by feeding strontium at the highest level of 0.12%. Calcium and sodium were found to be present in bone at an approximate ratio of 30 : 1. Further research is required to evaluate optimum dose rates for strontium and vitamin D supplementation.

A model of lice prevalence was used to examine the value of treating sheep for lice after shearing, when no lice have been detected. The model showed treatment was cost-effective when the risk that the flock was infested was more than 10%. We concluded that use of this intervention threshold would reduce the current prevalence of lice in Australian sheep flocks without increasing costs associated with managing lice.

Animal diet and pre mortem handling may affect the biochemical conversion of muscle into meat. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of two different pre-slaughter handling in Angus steers raised and finished in two contrasting feeding systems on the muscle metabolism and the related meat quality. The results obtained showed an impact of pre-slaughter handling and feeding systems on the peri mortem biochemistry and in the related meat quality through pH-independent mechanisms.

The Zebu breeds produce meat with organoleptic characteristics that are not well accepted in most demanding markets. This study aimed to characterise progeny of sires representing several major families in the Poll Nellore breed in Brazil. There is substantial variation within the Poll Nellore breed for carcass and meat traits, and several sires have a proportion of their progeny comparable in terms of meat tenderness to those of Angus sires.

GNSS tracking offers scientists a research tool to study livestock behaviour under pastoral conditions. As the reproductive efficiency of Merino sheep in Australia is poor, the application of GNSS technology offers a potential means to improve reproductive efficiency through enhanced behaviour monitoring. This study found Merino ewes displayed a change in their daily activity pattern during oestrus. Thus, remote detection of oestrus through monitoring of changes in normal ewe behaviour may be possible through the application of GNSS technology.

Long wool treatments are frequently applied to control sheep lice between shearings, but no data was available to indicate the production benefits of these treatments in merino sheep. Both long wool treatments tested, one applied by hand jetting and one as a backline spray-on treatment, gave large reductions in louse numbers, significant increases in clean wool cut and significant improvement in a number of wool quality parameters.

How do we accurately evaluate the genetic merit of terminal sires bred across the wide range of Australian sheep environments? When their weights and fat measurements were transformed to a proportion of the mean of their contemporary group (% or units) it resulted in consistent relationships between the estimated genetic merit of sires and the performance of their progeny. These data transformations methods have now been implemented in the national genetic evaluation system to allow the breeding values of terminal sires to be more accurately compared across Australia.

The inclusion of exogenous enzymes in poultry diets has increased remarkably in recent decades; however, there is a lack of parallel comparison of enzyme responses in broiler diets based on different grains. A combination of xylanase, protease and amylase was shown to significantly improve energy utilisation in maize-, sorghum- and wheat-based diets, and with more pronounced improvement of feed conversion efficiency in maize-based diets. The differences of enzyme response in nutrient digestion should be considered when diets based on various grains are formulated.

Methane emissions from livestock industries contributed 70% of total agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in Australia in 2009. It is difficult to measure methane emissions from large commercial feedlots. Accurate measurements are required. A 2-year study conducted at two Australian commercial feedlots showed a strong correlation between methane and carbon dioxide concentrations. This result could be used as a new method to predict methane emissions for the purpose of inventory, mitigation strategies and animal feed efficiency at Australian beef production systems.

Reduced productivity and environmental concerns caused by intensive cultivation of rice-wheat systems necessitate diversification of farming in Northern India. Therefore s study was undertaken to develop models of integrated farming systems (IFS), involving animals and cropping, for various sizes of farm and to compare them with rice-wheat. The study revealed that IFS offer more perspectives for an economically viable and sustainable agriculture for typical farms in the region.

Lamb meat quality is increasingly important to international markets and to consumers and is affected by a variety factors including the level of thyroid hormones. We evaluated the effects of hypothyroidism on growth performance and meat quality of growing lambs. Our results indicate that mild hypothyroidism may have some beneficial effects on growth efficiency and meat quality of lambs.

Mixed species swards can provide good quality herbage for sheep over summer and autumn. The studies reported here examined grazing preference and diet selection of lambs for plantain, chicory, red clover and ryegrass. Some seasonal differences were noted for chicory and plantain, but they were never significantly lower than that of ryegrass and were likely due to seasonal changes in nutritive value. Pastures with a diverse range of plant species offer a unique opportunity to maximise animal feed intake and perhaps the nutritive value of that selected.

Artificial weaning is one of the greater stressors for farm animals. Therefore, we tested if the use of nose flaps on calves to end suckling improves the cows’ welfare after definitive weaning. As this management decreased the main behavioural changes that indicate distress and decreased the bodyweight loss of the cows after the definitive separation it may be recommended for practical application.

It is important to understand the ‘normal’ pattern of Harness racing in New Zealand in order to identify industry trends and changes over time. This study describes the pattern of pacing and trotting races in Standardbred racing and highlights factors unique to the Harness racing industry. Differences in track surfaces, gait, region and drivers between the Standardbred and Thoroughbred industry suggest a need for baseline data specific to the Harness racing industry in New Zealand.

It is important to understand the ‘normal’ pattern of Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand in order to identify industry trends and changes. Over the past 7 years Thoroughbred racing has remained relatively consistent in terms of races, starts, and horses involved in racing. These results provide background for future studies of Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand.

An alternative to manual shearing of sheep is required if the wool industry is to remain competitive with other textile fibres in the marketplace. We demonstrate that it is possible to create a weak zone in wool that can then remain on the animal for several weeks before removal without shearing. This work demonstrates the feasibility of a new approach to wool removal that should be further investigated.

Individual cattle management systems rely on equations to predict an animal’s body composition and marketing individual animals at the best economical end-point. Such equations must be precise and accurate in a sense to optimise the power of prediction of those systems. Careful evaluation has shown that different types of animals require specific equations or calibration of what it is currently available. Poor forecasting of animals’ profitability could be associated with misconception of the prediction equations chosen in those systems.

The digestion rate of starch in the small intestine of pigs can affect the efficiency of nutrient utilisation. This study aimed to evaluate the digestion kinetics of starch, nutrient utilisation and performance of growing pigs fed diets containing corn of different sizes. The smaller corn particle had higher rate of digestion and feed efficiency without impacting the digestibility of starch. This may influence the amino acid requirement of pigs and should be considered in the formulation of diets.

The present study evaluated bee pollen or its polysaccharides as a feed additive in calves. The growth performance, serum biochemical parameters and nutrients apparent digestibility of 14–70-day-old calves were investigated and these showed that dietary supplementation of bee pollen and its polysaccharides at an optimum dosage were of benefit to calves. Bee pollen should be a new additive in a calf’s diet.

In sows, ovarian cysts constitute a significant proportion of ovarian dysfunction and are a serious problem disturbing fertility in pigs. Therefore, studies contributing to more fully explain the pathogenesis of porcine ovarian cysts are very important. Our studies suggest that BMP-15 and GDF-9, which belong to transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), may play a role in the mechanism of the formation of ovarian cysts, and to determine their concentrations in serum may be useful in the diagnosis of ovarian cysts in sows in the future.

Treatments for cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases seek to minimise oxidative damage by free radicals through the use of antioxidants such as those found in ratite (flightless birds) oils. The current study identified several factors which may impact the clinical efficacy of Emu Oil including farm location, diet composition, rendering procedures, time of render and duration of storage. Further studies would facilitate standardisation of Emu Oil bioactivity to ensure consistent health benefits.

In 2011 the Australian government introduced a voluntary offset scheme called the Carbon Farming Initiative, which allows farmers to receive carbon credits when they reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Lotus corniculatus is a legume that inhibits the formation of methane in the rumen, as well as producing increased wool growth, liveweight gain and fecundity. This study showed that while the use of lotus reduced emissions, income from increased productivity was 15–30 times greater than from potential carbon offset income.

In the Basque Country, Spain, dairy sheep production is based on high pasture use. Scarce grass source in the region makes shepherds attempt to balance herbage and forage with concentrates high in protein level to maintain the nutritional requirements of lactating ewes. This study shows a reduction in the protein level of the supplementary concentrate contributed to a reduction in the ration cost and nitrogen waste without a measurable effect on ewe performance or milk yield.

Rabbits find it difficult to cope with high temperatures, especially when housed in typical commercial cages, where mobility is reduced. Changes in physiology and behaviour under controlled conditions of temperature were studied, and results showed that animals can adapt some of their important behaviours, such as grooming, once they could predict the thermal changes.

Quantifying chronic stress, from pain and suffering, to assess welfare in farmed animals can be elusive, because behavioural observations are highly subjective and emotions of fear are hidden, while levels of the stress hormone (cortisol) are typically normal. Dairy calf welfare is compromised; from stress of early weaning, separation and isolation. We measured these management stressors non-invasively using heart rate variability (HRV) and showed that HRV was a welfare biomarker.

Improvements in meat quality are constantly sought through sources of variation along the meat chain, one such source being native pig breeds, which are not only a part of biotic diversity, but also a part of the cultural heritage of many countries. Currently undergoing breed reconstruction, the Krškopolje pig from Slovenia, when raised in an enriched environment for the growing-finishing periods, showed good marbling content and composition. These initial meat quality findings show commercial potential for this breed.

Scrotal circumference in ram lambs and age at the onset of puberty in ewe lambs are valuable indicators of reproductive development in sheep production. Genomic regions underlying these traits were identified. Future studies targeting these regions may eventually lead to developing DNA tests to assist selection for early onset of puberty in sheep.

The lipid fraction of meat is closely associated with consumer health. In this study the nutritional quality of the lipid fraction of meat from Suino Nero Lucano, an Italian autochthonous pig breed, was evaluated. The meat showed relatively low content of cholesterol and a higher proportion of unsaturated than saturated fatty acids. From our findings, regarding the muscle and the slaughter weight, meat production with specific nutritional characteristics can be hypothesised.

In many areas of the Mediterranean region low-quality forages are largely diffused and may represent a potential feed resource for ruminants. The present study evidenced the presence of positive associative effects, with an increased in vitro gas production, when low-quality forages, milk thistle and crown daisy were used in mixtures with apple pomace and citrus pulp. Mixtures of low-quality roughages with food byproducts might represent a strategy to improve profitability and sustainability of livestock systems in arid and semi-arid areas.

Native plants are more tolerant of Australian conditions than introduced species and may provide farmers with an alternative feed source for livestock during times of drought. The nutritional value of 7 out of 15 selected native shrub legumes was found to be adequate for the needs of livestock. These species may be able to be included in low-input livestock grazing systems.

Culatello dry-cured product is one of the most valuable products of Italian gastronomy and it is highly appreciated also at international level. Suino Nero Lucano is an Italian autochthonous pig breed and it represents a cultural and biological heritage that links the typical product to the territory. In this study the quality and sensory characteristics of Culatello dry-cured product obtained from Suino Nero Lucano pigs and from modern crossbreed pigs were investigated. Our results confirm that Suino Nero Lucano pigs represent a resource both for the obtainment of products with high nutritional and sensory value and for promoting the economic development of areas where they are raised.

Lambs need a high energy ration to support faster growth but in arid and semiarid regions, heat stress is the major setback for achieving desired liveweight gain as it reduced the dry matter intake. Calcium salt of fatty acids (Ca-FA) increase the energy value of feed and are not degraded in the rumen, thereby, not affecting the rumen microbes adversely. The present study envisages the result of supplementation of a graded level of Ca-FA in concentrate on lamb growth and revealed that 40 g/kg Ca-FA prepared from industrial-grade rice bran oil in growing lamb rations improved liveweight gain, organic matter intake and digestibility and metabolisable energy intake during the post-weaning period with higher dressing yield.

Reliable estimates of the genetic relationships among populations are important to understand history and selection events in the formation of breeds. Using markers within genes that may be under selection may provide different information from neutral markers. The discriminant resolution power of single nucleotide polymorphisms within candidate genes related with beef production traits was used to evaluate the genetic relationships among bovine breeds. The data showed that there is marker-type specificity in revealing differences in the development of breeds.

The use of preventive chemical flystrike treatment before flies are active in early spring may restrict reproduction of the sheep blowfly. Modelling suggests that early treatment may reduce flystrike later in the fly season and reduce the need for additional preventive treatment. Further studies are required to determine the extent of the reduction in the risk of flystrike after early treatment.

Rapid increase in milk production in early-lactation cows leads to reduced dry matter intake, negative energy balance, lipolysis and insulin resistance. Thus, the concentrations of some blood metabolites and enzymes that are indicative of liver function may be altered. Choline and vitamin E supplementation may improve liver function in dairy cows in early lactation.

Co-products from the bioethanol industry used as feed for farm animals are receiving considerable attention as worldwide bioethanol production is increasing. There is little information on the nutritional value of wet co-products from bioethanol production as feed for pigs. It can be concluded from the results of this study that wet concentrated distillers solubles manufactured from wheat contain more energy and ileal digestible amino acids than corresponding dried co-products recorded in recognised tables with information on nutritional value of feed ingredients.

Guzerat (Bos indicus breed) animals have been used in crossbreeding programs for either beef, dairy or dual purposes, but studies evaluating their performance and carcass traits are scarce. We evaluated performance, carcass traits and meat cuts of Guzerat-based bulls. Results from this study indicate that all groups evaluated have potential for meat production since they meet the Brazilian beef industry standards, and bulls from a dual-purpose cross can be an option for dairy producers, to diversify revenues.

The main objective was to determine the role of the body condition score on the onset of goat puberty. We designed an experiment to study the role of the body condition score as modulator of the onset of the puberty. We used Blanca Andaluza goat kids, an endangered native Spanish breed raised for meat production in extensive or semi-extensive grazing systems. The interest in this kind of system has been increased among Spanish farmers in recent years, more specifically for organic livestock. These results could support the goat farmers.

Most European donkey breeds are disappearing and this genetic resource may be lost in a generation. How that happens at breed level is not fully documented, but our study indicates that the most critical factor is the low percentage of females breeding yearly. The percentage needed is ~50% per year, with current carrying capacity, reduced juvenile mortality and mortality at breeding age in females, reduced harvest and reduction in age at first offspring production also important.

Variability in climate affects plant growth, leading to uncertainty in pasture supply. Modelling the impact of climate variability on pasture production in this study revealed varying levels of feed deficits and surpluses, reflecting the incorporation of summer and winter crops into a traditional pasture-based system. Alternative feeding strategies with high-quality feed are a prerequisite to overcome feed gaps in dairying.

In New Zealand, the speed at which an infectious disease could spread through the horse population would be economically devastating, particularly for participants of the racing industry. In an outbreak, prior knowledge about the potential pathways of spread enables control to be one step ahead of disease. This descriptive study highlights the potential importance of racehorses in disease spread as a result of the frequency and distance associated with the movement of horses to race meetings.

Fatty liver is a significant metabolic disorder in the dairy industry and a major risk factor for decreased average lifetime of cows. We investigated how the measurement of serum fructosamine, as a non-invasive diagnostic tool, could aid the early diagnosis of hepatic lipidosis. Our results indicate that the measurement of fructosamine could facilitate the diagnosis of fatty liver in dairy cows.

This trial provides a fair comparison between Murrah crossbred water buffalo and Brahman-influenced cattle, raised under savannah conditions, in growth and slaughter traits at four age endpoints (7, 17, 19 and 24 months). Buffalo had lower dressing yield but consistently outperformed cattle in growth and carcass traits. Buffalo may offer advantages for meat production under extensive tropical conditions.

Over the past 50 years, selection of cows with high milk production potential has increased, and with this increase has come decreases in reproductive performance. As a management option, superior-yielding cows that have failed to get into calf in a traditional 12-month calving system may be carried over and milked continuously for another 6 months (18–month calving system) instead of being culled. This review provides information and insight on what is currently known about extended lactation; examines the potential for genetic improvement; and details both genetic and non-genetic factors that need to be considered when selecting cows suitable for extended lactation, targeting especially Australian pastured systems. Such findings will help the dairy industry make better selection decisions when breeding for extended lactation and provide breeding tools to help achieve this.

Sheep managed on native pastures are exposed to heterogeneous species of grasses with different distribution and quality, which frequently render lambs unable to reproduce in their first year of age. This experiment evaluated differential nutrition at three different stages during female lambs’ first year of life. From the phases studied, growth rate after weaning and liveweight achieved at the onset of breeding better explained the successful pregnancy of ewe lambs.

There is no simple, affordable method to determine the size of primal cuts of lean meat using linear measurements. The aim of this study was the development of equations to predict lean meat content, and masses of ham, loin, shoulder and belly. Equations were developed for estimating meat content with greater accuracy than most classification devices. Based on simple measurements, these equations may obtain valuable information for the meat industry.

One of the proposed methods of dairy cattle udder inflammation control is the selection of animals less prone to infection by using genetic markers. The study’s aim was to investigate the feasibility of two single nucleotide polymorphisms, placed in the 5′-flanking region and 3′-untranslated region of the bovine lactoferrin gene, to serve as mastitis markers. It was shown that both polymorphisms significantly influence lactoferrin content in milk, and that one of them (LF+32) is associated with the cow’s estimated breeding value for somatic cell count and could potentially be used as a molecular marker for mastitis resistance in dairy cows.

Furnished cage type is concerned with productivity, welfare and egg quality of lying hens. The effects of large and small furnished cages on layer hens were studied and the results showed that the hens in LFC had lower productivity, higher egg quality and better welfare than those in SFC and CC. The study provided further information for furnished cage design.

Broiler diets are typically formulated to either available or digestible phosphorus concentrations and in many cases these two terms are used synonymously. However, available phosphorus is a relative term that is dependent on a reference inorganic phosphorus source and so can vary. The present experiment assessed the relative digestibility of various inorganic phosphorus sources, observed differences in bioefficacy and provided contrasting information for diet design and phytase inclusion strategies.

Fescue toxicosis results in decreased growth in livestock and is a major economic problem for producers. This study indicates that despite subtle changes in metabolism occurring feed intake and not feed utilisation is the major cause of the decreased growth that occurs during toxicosis. Factors that contribute to the decreased intake must be overcome to alleviate this syndrome.

Cottonseed by-products are alternative feedstuffs that may be successfully fed to ruminants; however, their use is limited by gossypol, a toxic compound present in the cottonseed plant that affects animals and humans. This study evaluated productive and health parameters, as well as the presence of gossypol residues in the meat of lambs fed cottonseed by-products. The results obtained were satisfactory and no gossypol residues were found in meat, demonstrating the potential of these by-products as feedstuffs for lambs.

The inclusion of oil seeds in the diet of ruminants can improve the health quality of their meat. This was verified when we supplemented fattening lambs with sunflower seeds and vitamin E; the lamb meat had a higher amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Considering the current demand for healthy food, inclusion of these ingredients in the lamb diet is advantageous.

In the goat industry, litter size is extremely important. Polymerisation effects of four microsatellites (OarAE101, BM1329, BM143 and LSCV043) significantly affected litter size of goats. The four microsatellites could serve as a genetic marker for litter size in goat breeding.

Agricultural manures have been thought to be a relatively minor greenhouse gas (GHG) emission source within Australasia’s agricultural sector. However, our review revealed omissions and assumptions in current manure emission GHG estimates that, when accounted for, could mean that manures are indeed a major GHG emission source. The encouraging news is that several ‘close-to-market’ options exist to mitigate these emissions.

In farmed venison production systems in New Zealand, early summer calving often results in a misalignment between pasture availability and energy demand of the lactating hind. Attempts to achieve early calving by advancing conception date are partly mitigated by a negative association between conception date and gestation length. This study has demonstrated that gestation length is shortened in hinds that receive an ad libitum diet of high quality food during the third trimester of gestation.

Current society shows an increasing interest in traditional production systems: related to rural development, animal welfare and healthier products. The aim of this work was to raise ‘Segureña’ lambs on pasture with salt-tolerant forages, however lambs showed lower growth rate and carcasses with poorer conformation scores than those raised in an intensive system. Supplementation with concentrates in grazing systems seems to be necessary to improve lambs’ performance in semiarid regions.

Biofuel industry generates vast amounts of plant by-products, including rapeseed cake (RC) and distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS). The aim of study was to determine whether RC and wheat DDGS can be used as components of diets for rabbits. Our study demonstrated that 5% RC can be incorporated into rabbit dietary as a substitute of soybean meal. Because the productivity of rabbits fed 2.5% of DDGS (with 2.5% RC) was comparable to the 5% RC, the incorporation of up to 2.5% wheat DDGS to a diet should also be taken as a dietary option. The higher content of DDGS (5%) in the diet deteriorated the growth of rabbits.

The study was conducted to observe the impact of simulated heat-stress model on productive and adaptive capability of Malpura ewes. Compared with constant heat-stress models, the simulated model inflicts less severe physiological strain as evidenced by relatively lower changes in the heat-stress markers such as RR, RT and plasma cortisol. However, their growth and reproductive performance are compromised during the process of adaptation.

This paper is about the inclusion of ingredients of soybean origin in supplements and the frequency of supplementation of grazing cattle during the drier periods of the year, evaluating the effects on animal performance. The main finding was that frequency of supplementation did not affect the weight gain of cattle, but suggested that supplementation could be done 3 days a week opposed to daily, and would decrease production costs.

Path analysis was used to investigate effects of some morphological measurements on slaughter and carcass traits. The direct effect of bodyweight on carcass weight was the strongest and positively influenced (P < 0.01). Finally, the optimum multiple regression equation on carcass weight was found bodyweight as R² of 0.7463.

As an alternative to traditional weaning by abrupt separation, weaning beef calves in two stages by fitting nose flaps to prevent nursing before the final separation might reduce the stress response. Although two-stage weaning positively influenced the post-weaning behaviour of the calves and cows, the devices caused heavy irritations of the nasal septum. Therefore, the design of the anti-suckling devices and the period the devices are fitted should be modified in order to minimise nasal abrasions.

Milk harvesting is a fundamental component of dairy farming, requiring significant labour input. Consequently, with increasing herd sizes, there is a constant drive to improve milking efficiency. Explaining differences in milking efficiency by monitoring milking practices and the adoption of new technologies can, therefore, be beneficial to the industry. The results of this work indicate the use of technology was associated with greater labour efficiency but the potential benefits of each technology require careful evaluation to ensure appropriate selection decisions are made by farmers to meet their requirements.

The search for solutions to safeguard animal performance and health while reducing antibiotic usage currently attracts worldwide interest. While certain feed additives such as probiotics and phytogenics show promising results, tailoring additive combinations as part of an overall efficacious dietary strategy is largely undeveloped. Our results support the concept of sequential or throughout probiotic and phytogenic administration as being beneficial for broiler performance and broiler antioxidant status, worth of further investigation.

In the arid zones of Mexico young kids graze/browse together with their mothers on rangeland. It is unknown if goat kids discern between forages, therefore the aim was to find out if 4-week-old goat kids display an efficient foraging behavior. Kids ingested a diet richer in nutrients than mature goats; thus, herbage selection seems to be shaped by physiological effort.

The present paper reports on application of extruded full fat soybean (EFFSB) in broiler diet to identify its potential toward improving production performance criteria. The FFSB extruded at 170°C had acceptable protein solubility in KOH, indicating a good EFFSB. The latter in turn indicates an optimum balance between degradation of ANFs and maintaining the bioavailability of essential amino acids, hence having the potential to exert positive effect on blood metabolites and intestinal morphology of broilers at market age.

Plant extracts in ruminant diets might have beneficial effects on nutrient degradation in the rumen while mitigating methane production. In this study the main bioactive components of black seed (Nigella sativa) oil and of the root powder of Ferula elaeochytris were identified and their effects were investigated in an incubation system. No significant changes on nutrient degradation and methane formation were observed, possibly depending on the low dosages tested.

At weaning, the welfare of piglets may decrease because they are exposed to several stressors.

The objective was to assess the physiological response of piglets weaned at three different ages under two different trip conditions. Piglets transported immediately after weaning at Ages 8, 15 and 22 days present significant metabolic, hydric and gas exchange imbalances.

To improve the spermatozoa fertility, cryodamages must be decreased by using suitable diluents and cryopreservation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different levels of trehalose and glycerol on the freezing process of ram semen, when lecithin is used as cryoprotectant. It was concluded that simultaneous use of glycerol and trehalose had a desirable effect on motility of ram frozen–thawed sperm.

As protocols for oestrus synchronisation shortened the time of exposure to progesterone, CIDR devices were able to be reused; however, they can be a health risk. This study demonstrated that new and previously used (and autoclaved) devices are equally effective for synchronisation of oestrus and ovulation during the breeding season in goats. This approach decreases the cost of oestrus synchronisation program and makes it more economically feasible for producers.

Although myo-inositol is proportionately equivalent to phosphorus in phytic acid, its contribution to the observed beneficial effects of phytase in poultry and swine nutrition is obscure. Evidence is presented herein to show substantial increases in myo-inositol concentrations in the plasma of poultry in response to phytase addition. As myo-inositol has recently been shown to be an insulin-mimetic, links between insulin pathways, glucose uptake, protein accretion and exogenous phytase are drawn.

Rumen degradation of dietary proteins should be minimised using appropriate feed additives and/or technological processing. We hypothesised that supplementing dairy cow ration with monensin and roasting whole soybean seed improves microbial protein synthesized in the rumen; however, such an effect was not observed in the present study. Interactions between the type of technological processing and monensin supplementation should be further investigated

The αs1-casein is the most polymorphic milk protein and its genetic variants influence the quali-quantitative characteristics and the technological properties of the milk. This study investigates the genetic variability at the CSN1S1 in the Mediterranean buffalo. A significant association between the c.628C>T SNP and the protein percentage was found. This result offers useful indications for future applications of marker-assisted selection programmes.

The forage system is critically important to lactation performance in dairy cows. Our results suggested that the expression of IGF-1R in the mammary glands and the number of mammary cells is significantly affected by forage system, and this is closely related to the milk production in early lactation cows. This research provided the basis for better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of lactation regulation.

Under the conditions of intensive farming, it is very important to improve poultry health. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of micro-encapsulated sodium butyrate (MSB)on oxidative stress and apoptosis in the intestinal mucosa of broilers and the main discovery was that dietary MSB can partially attenuate oxidative stress induced by corticosterone treatment and inhibit apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells. This could confirm again that nutritional regulation of pre-slaughter stress through feed additives may provide a simple way to improve poultry health.

The effects of Cr in pigs have been equivocal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different-sized particles of CrPic in gilts; the results showed that small-sized particles CrPic improves carcass characteristics when pigs fed a high fat diet. Dietary supplement with small-sized particle CrPic can provide beneficial effects, particularly in high-fat diets.

Cattle fed nitrate risk methaemoglobinaemia, but with chronic feeding their red cells increase their ability to reduce methaemoglobin. In vitro studies suggest that phosphate plays a role in aiding the reduction of methaemoglobin and that the metabolic endpoint of red cells changes to maximise substrate availability for methaemoglobin reduction. It appears that both the animal and its rumen microbes adapt to nitrate feeding.

Beef producers in Korea try to increase marbling in beef muscles due to higher consumer demand towards such meat. Increasing marbling through extended feeding eventually burdens stakeholders of the beef industry and this study showed that medium (375–425 kg) carcass weight was optimal for achieving superior beef quality. Medium carcasses provide more health benefits at lower cost.

Excess salt in the sheep’s diet can impair digestion, but they may adapt to high concentrations in plants by reducing absorption. We found no evidence of adaptation, in fact their rumen developed a reduced ability to maintain a normal pH over time, with implications for accumulation of some elements in the brain and kidney. Thus farmers should beware exposing their sheep to high salt in their feed for prolonged periods.

Bituminaria bituminosa is a drought-tolerant, perennial legume that has been used for centuries as a part of the mixed sward in grazing systems around the Mediterranean sea and ‘cut and carried’ to feed as hay to dairy goats in the Canary Islands; varieties albomarginata and crassiuscula, commonly known as tedera, are native only to the Canary Islands. In south-western Australia, tedera will likely be directly grazed as green plants to help fill the feed gap in summer–autumn, due to its drought tolerance and capacity to retain green leaves. . Sheep fed fresh tedera exclusively for 34 days readily consumed the forage and remained in good health, they maintained their liveweight (42.5 kg) and body condition (condition score 3) throughout the experiment.

Feed costs are the largest single cost in any animal production enterprise with improvements in feed efficiency able to reduce feed costs. This study aimed to understand the basis for feed efficiency measured by residual feed intake and variation in maintenance requirements. The results obtained suggest that body composition, specifically fat deposition, is affected through inherent differences in feed intake or appetite rather than maintenance requirements.

Measuring blood stress indicators could be useful for improving animal welfare and meat quality. The current study measured various blood parameters from pigs under the standard pre-slaughter conditions using a portable analyser. Higher levels of blood lactate and glucose correlated with decreased pork quality. Therefore, measuring blood lactate and glucose could easily and quickly provide information about pork quality.

Whole-grain feeding regimes for chicken-meat production provide economic advantages by reducing feed costs while generating improvements in energy utilisation and feed conversion efficiency; however, the genesis of the performance improvements are not defined. The present paper considers the contexts in which these responses may be best realised. Identifying the drivers will enable the most appropriate WGF strategies to be adopted.

Accelerated lambing potentially increases biological efficiency of lamb production and affects seasonal patterns of feed requirements. Metabolisable energy requirements were used to calculate dry sheep equivalents (DSE) and showed that crossbred ewes in accelerated lambing weaned 16–47% greater weight of lamb per DSE over 4 years than ewes in traditional systems. The increased efficiency of accelerated lambing requires a more consistent feed supply throughout the year.

Tedera is a perennial pasture containing secondary compounds that has the potential to be utilised in the farm systems during the summer-autumn feed gap and reducing supplementary feeding. In our study, we showed that tedera was fermented without any adverse effects on digestibility or fermentability. These findings give further support for pursuing tedera as a fodder for growing regions of Australia.

Wavelet and linear regression methods were used to model time-of-day changes in behaviour due to available forage. The study concluded decreasing forage availability resulted in greater lying activity from 1000 to 1300 and greater grazing activity from 1300 to 2100. Understanding the dynamics between forage supply and behaviour could provide decision tools incorporating behaviour into drought management decisions.

Knowledge of genetic parameters of economic traits is very crucial to breeding plans. However, there is no information on genetic parameter estimates for many traits of Hainan Black goats. In this study, we estimated the genetic parameters of growth traits of Hainan Black goats using two different animal models of MTDFREML software. The results would greatly improve the breeding plans of Hainan Black goats.

The influence of pellet diameter and whole wheat inclusion on gizzard development and performance of broilers was investigated. Whole wheat and larger diameter pellets increased the energy utilisation and starch digestibility, but gizzard weights differed depending on the method of whole wheat inclusion. The data showed that improvements associated with whole wheat feeding cannot always be explained on the basis of gizzard development.

Ruminants ingest a diversity of forages, but in intensive feeding systems they are commonly fed single rations or pastures. The present study suggests that a diversity of flavours presented in the same ration has the potential to stimulate intake and alter eating behaviour in sheep. These effects may in turn contribute to enhance animal production and welfare.

The cost of feed is the largest recurring cost of producing beef. Inherited variation in feed efficiency is known and this experiment was to demonstrate the benefit in a large commercial feedlot of breeding cattle for improved feed efficiency. The results obtained confirm the feed saving advantages of inherited superior feed efficiency and that previously reported trade-offs in carcass traits, while confirmed, were minor.

The primary goal of this study was to assess the usefulness of rye-containing dry mixes (modern rye cv. Visello) for pig fattening. Feeding the mixes in which a proportion of barley was replaced with the rye grain has yielded significantly better results than barley-containing diets in terms of carcass quality and price. These observations warrant further studies of different rye cultivars to determine their utility in intensive pig farming.

We report the identification of five SSCP patterns in the sheep GH1 gene. The present study suggests a positive effect of SSCP patterns with carcass traits. We report the identification of two different protein structures in the GH1 protein. The identified SNPs in the GH1 gene could be used as molecular markers.

Pork makes a major contribution to worldwide meat consumption, and ways of improving meat quality are imperative. Variation in the rate of post-mortem pH decline is an important reason for variation in meat quality, but the mechanisms involved are not clear. In our research, we found that post-mortem energy status and metabolism might be important factors in the conversion of muscle to meat and might be important determinants of ultimate meat quality.

Dual-purpose wheat may be grazed by late-pregnant and lactating ewes during the winter in southern Australia. Results from two experiments with ewes grazing wheat crops during the lambing period identified that wheat forage may contain insufficient calcium, magnesium and sodium to meet ewe requirements. Providing a loose-lick mineral supplement to ewes can increase liveweight gain in twin-born suckling lambs.

A model of the sheep breeding industry examined the value of genomic information in sheep breeding programs. Benefits can be obtained by both the traditional three-tiered wool industry structure and studs using genomic information and selling directly to commercial producers, with most of the benefits retained by the commercial producers. The proportion of nucleus rams that use genetic tests must be optimised to achieve the maximum economic benefit.

The application of herbs and spice products as alternatives to antibiotics in raising broilers is receiving attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cardamom seed and its essential oils on broilers and the results suggested that high levels of cardamom essential oils benefited feed efficiency and cholesterol metabolism. This could meet consumer demand for a safe feed additive.

Algae are a novel protein source which could be grown on farm to provide a cheap protein supplement to cattle. Algae were compared to urea and sulfur as a nitrogen supplement and markedly increased intake and microbial protein production in cattle, more so than a simple urea and sulfur supplement. Algae are thus a new protein supplement which has the potential to markedly increase liveweight gain of cattle.

Effects of reduced dietary protein on performance and nitrogen (N) excretion were assessed to reduce the environmental impact of pig production. Pigs were given a control diet or a diet with reduced protein content, either with (LP1) or without (LP2) amino-acid supplementation. Compared with the control, N excretion was reduced (~18%) in LP1 and LP2, but the feed-conversion ratio was poorer, as was growth in LP2, but not LP1. This indicates the difficulty in maintaining consistently high performance when dietary protein levels are reduced.

Within mixed swards containing herbs and legumes, little is known about ewe grazing preference. Ewe diet selection and grazing preference was found to be intrinsically affected by species availability, access and palatability across seasons. Overall, a herb and legume sward may allow livestock to preferentially select specific plants to meet their nutritional requirements at a given time point.

Nutritional approaches targeting improvement of animal performance and disease prevention are currently warranted and in this respect the dietary intake of beneficial microbes termed probiotics is being actively researched. The level of probiotic inclusion in broiler diets was shown to be relevant for benefits in performance, nutrient digestibility, gut microbiota composition and metabolic activities. Generally, this study supports further the role of probiotics for an improved gut function and as effective alternatives to dietary antibiotic growth promoters used in broilers.

Pork meat colour stability may differ between conventional and organic (not free-ranging) pig husbandry systems due to on-farm differences in feed ingredients and space allowance. Most objective measures of pork colour during ageing differed between husbandry systems, but canonical discrimination between conventional and organic pork based on colour was not possible. Three days of storage combined the best pork meat colour and haeminic pigment balance.

Monitoring ewe liveweight may help farmers make more profitable decisions with regard to the management of their sheep flock. This review brings together the relevant literature demonstrating why sheep liveweight is important, and identifies and assesses available technologies for monitoring sheep liveweight. The findings suggest that walk-over weighing, an emerging liveweight monitoring technology, offers considerable potential to provide sufficiently timely and accurate flock average liveweight data to aid farmer decision making.

High potassium (K) in the diet of sheep and cattle has been implicated in the incidence of milk fever and grass tetany (hypomagnesaemia). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a high K diet on calcium (Ca) absorption in sheep. The results demonstrate that increased dietary K decreased Ca absorption and decreased magnesium (Mg) status of the sheep. Therefore, levels of both Ca and Mg should be considered when feeding high-K diets to ruminants, to reduce the risk of hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia and to improve livestock health and productivity.

New approaches to improve post-thawed sperm quality in rams are needed. The results of this study showed that Tris-based extender containing 1.5% (w/v) soybean lecithin can maintain post-thawed sperm quality better than other commercial extenders investigated. The findings may be beneficial to improve artificial insemination efficiency in sheep industry.