The rates of pH and temperature decline during rigor development are two of the most important post-mortem factors affecting meat quality. This review discusses the influence of accelerated pH fall at a higher than normal pre-rigor temperature on post-mortem muscle metabolism and meat quality attributes. Gaps in current knowledge are identified and recommendations made for additional research.

The rate and extent of post-mortem glycolysis in muscle can have profound effects on both the visual and sensory attributes of meat. This review examines the regulation of post-mortem energy metabolism in muscle and introduces new perspectives from other non-meat science disciplines. Although glycolysis and its regulation are reasonably well understood, knowledge gaps remain.

Heat stress is a major cause of production and economic losses in cattle and can lead to health and welfare issues as well as high rigor temperature post-mortem. This study explored the use of shade and an organic dietary supplement, betaine, to combat heat stress in feedlot cattle. Betaine supplementation was shown to alter aspects of meat quality and gene expression. The use of betaine as a dietary supplement may therefore improve animal production and prevent welfare issues in feedlot cattle during summer.

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 cooling rate in large carcasses is limited by the low thermal conductivity of meat. Three experiments investigated the use of heat pipes to overcome this problem. The results suggested that heat pipes could increase the rate of heat loss, and be used to reduce the risk of high rigor temperature in leg muscles of heavy beef carcasses.

Core body temperatures of steers fed grain or grass were compared for 300 days prior to and 20 hours post-slaughter. Grain feeding increased body temperature ante mortem, reduced the rate of cooling post-mortem and increased the time period for high rigor temperature. Associated changes were increased carcass weight and fatness and most likely other physiological changes as well.

High pre-rigor temperature can result in adverse impacts on meat quality, and thus developing post-slaughter processing techniques to minimise heat-induced defects is essential. Pre-rigor aitchbone hanging of carcass counteracted the negative effects of high pre-rigor temperature on water-holding capacity and tenderness. Further developing novel hanging/stretching techniques will provide an important protective effect against the heat-induced quality defects.

Worldwide, scientists are researching ways to minimise ruminant emissions of the greenhouse gas, methane. Drawing on research on the rumen and from other anaerobic ecosystems, this essay redefines current views on how microbial consortia dispose of hydrogen produced in biofilms on feed particles in the rumen. Potential methane mitigating feed additives (nitrate, nitro-compounds, chlorinated hydrocarbons, anti-protozoals and charcoal) and their possible effects on the production of methane, formate, acetate and hydrogen gas in the fermenting consortia in and on biofilms are discussed.

The occurrence of high rigor temperature in 1512 beef carcasses in Australia was 75%. Influencing factors for the high incidence included longer duration of electrical contact at the hide puller, grain feeding, heavier carcass weight, steers and higher fatness levels in grass-fed cattle. A combination of on-farm, pre-slaughter and post-slaughter management strategies will be required in order to reduce the incidence of high rigor temperature in beef carcasses, as well as measurements to identify high rigor temperature carcasses.

This study evaluated the effects of electrical stimulation, high pre-rigor temperature and stretching of lamb sides on quality traits and protein denaturation in four leg muscles (gluteus medius, rectus femoris, semimembranosus and semitendinosus). Pre-rigor stretching of lamb sides can counteract the negative effects of high early post-mortem temperature on tenderness and water-holding capacity.

A large number of Australian carcasses do not to meet the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) pH–temperature window, due to high rigor temperatures. This overview discusses the outcomes of an extensive research program on ante- and post-mortem factors related to heat-induced toughening in beef and sheep meat. An entire supply-chain approach is suggested to establish the most efficient and cost-effective way of reducing the incidence of high rigor temperature.

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.

High rigor temperature post-mortem is detrimental to meat quality and is exacerbated by animals being hyperthermic pre-slaughter. Hyperthermia can be the result of increased environmental temperature, exercise and stress, or a combination of these factors. This review explores some of the potential metabolic causes of high rigor temperature, in particular the actions of insulin and leptin, and discusses some potential amelioration strategies such as nutritional supplementation.

High temperature with low pH reduces the quality of deep muscles in large beef carcasses. A review of the literature was conducted with a focus on the cooling rate of beef carcasses in the first 5 hours post slaughter. This can be achieved by reducing body temperature in both the ante and post mortem periods using a range of methods.

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.

Unacceptably dark meat colour scores are a major cost to the beef industry. Beef carcasses (n = 1512) were assessed for meat colour and 10% were non-compliant for colour. The main causative factors were a short time from slaughter to grading, high final pH, low rigor temperature, older animals and pasture feeding. Attention to these factors can improve meat colour scores at grading.

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.

Producing tender beef is important for consumers and the viability of the beef industry. This research was aimed at understanding the implications for beef quality if carcasses exhibit a fast onset of rigor mortis, a phenomenon that is observed in some beef carcasses. Overall this study did not show detrimental effects of a rapid onset of rigor mortis for product consumed after 14 days of aging.

Few consumer data are available on the effects of high rigor temperatures on beef eating quality. Analysis of consumer scores for 3865 striploins and 734 rumps showed reduced eating-quality at high rigor temperatures in striploins aged more than 14 days and also in rump. Methods to reduce high rigor temperatures in beef carcasses would improve the acceptability of beef.

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.

The paper follows on from previous analysis within the series and examines the potential to select for reduced fluctuations in weight and fat across the production cycle. The results suggest that the ewe’s genes do not influence the magnitude of fluctuations in weight or fat in response to environmental and reproductive stress. It is concluded that to avoid low fat reserves and low fertility during ‘tough’ periods, selection to improve ewe body condition can made at any time.

Genetic variation in lamb autopsy traits may offer selection opportunities to improve lamb survival. Lambs autopsied in the Australian Sheep CRC information nucleus flocks were used to estimate heritabilites and genetic correlations between traits. While the heritability of lamb survival is low, Lamb ease and thorax circumference appear to be useful indicator traits to improve lamb survival.

The use of maize as a switch crop or the use of markets for roughage are the most efficient strategies to reduce financial risk of suckler cow farming. Applying a bio-economic optimization model we find that these strategies cause only low reductions of average gross margin. Our results also indicate that gross margin insurance is not attractive for farmers.

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.

Poor lamb survival limits the achievement of good reproductive efficiency of sheep in many countries. The opportunities for genetic improvement of lamb survival are reviewed, with the prospects found to be better than previously thought. Notwithstanding the importance of good nutrition and management, combinations of direct and indirect selection may ultimately make a valuable contribution to improving lamb survival.

Nutrient and environment related oxidative stress can impact rams and ewes during the reproductive period, resulting in low reproductivity and high lamb mortality. Managing oxidative stress of the newborn by giving ewes large dose of dietary antioxidants, like vitamin E and selenium, could boost immune competency of ewes and lambs to improve lamb survival. A number of related issues remain to be resolved for Australian environments.

Achieving higher lamb weaning percentages by reducing lamb mortality can improve the profitability of sheep enterprises. We estimated the financial benefits from providing shelter to reduce the mortality of twin lambs on two modelled sheep enterprises in south-west Victoria. The reduction in mortality that could be achieved was a key factor determining benefits and the profitability of sheep enterprises lambing during high chill weather conditions could be improved by providing low cost shelter.

Oak acorns have some adverse effects on animal production, which arise from the presence of some anti-nutritional factors such as tannins and phenolic compounds. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of ground oak acorn as source of hydrolysable tannin on growth performance of goat kids. The levels used had no adverse effect on growth performance.

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.

Little is known about the length of gestation in sows and its consequences for the health of neonate piglets. The aim of this study was to evaluate uterine activity at farrowing in sows with different gestation lengths, and its effect on the metabolic profile of neonates. Piglets born prematurely had lower birthweights and a higher incidence of apnoea, with severe physiometabolic alterations.

The cell wall digestibility (CWD) index is a suitable method for diet quality and fibre digestibility estimation. This manuscript provides a detailed description of fecal-NIRS calibrations for CWD ratio determination, which is a useful, non-invasive tool for monitoring variations in the diet quality of Mediterranean deer in their natural environment.

Models of louse prevalence in sheep were used to identify the management activities most likely to reduce costs associated with lice. The greatest predicted benefits were from improving the efficacy of treatment at shearing, and by greater attention to quarantine against lice entering on purchases or strays. A 25% increase in annual quarantine efficacy was predicted to reduce costs by one-third within 10 years of implementation.

The influence of cereal type (wheat, maize or sorghum) and fat source (soybean oil or tallow) on the performance and utilisation of fat in young broiler chickens was investigated. The effect of fat source on weight gain of broiler starters differed depending on the cereal base used. It was found that the feed efficiency and fat utilisation were better in birds fed soybean oil diets compared to those fed tallow supplemented diets.

The genetic basis of sexual dimorphism of bodyweight in Zandi sheep was investigated. Except for birthweight, for which estimates of variance components and genetic parameters were higher in females, for other traits, estimates were higher in males. However, regarding direct and maternal effects, none of the differences between the sexes was significant, indicating no need for sex-specific selection strategies.

This study evaluated the ability of equations developed from the analysis of faecal material by conventional chemistry, and by near-infrared spectroscopy, to predict intake and digestibility of forages fed with or without supplements. Good agreement between the conventional chemistry and near-infrared spectroscopy methods was evident (according to a 95% limits-of-agreement test), and both predicted the reference values precisely and with small bias.

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.

The aim of this study was to highlight the potential risk factors that influence the reproductive outcome in automatic milking systems under pasture based condition. At the reported production levels and milking frequencies for Australian pastured cows, milk yield and milking frequency during 100 days in milk had no effect on reproductive measures. This type of study is important to minimise the reproductive losses by reviewing management strategies in automatic milking systems.

Lambs born in spring were weaned in summer when they began to graze natural pastures. In summer, natural pastures commonly present low protein content. Restricted grazing of natural pastures improved with legumes resulted in similar or better performance than supplementation with soybean meal. Including in the feeding plan natural pastures improved with high-protein forage species is an alternative as effective as the supply of soybean meal.

Rice straw has generally not been considered as a feed for dairy cattle in the developed world, partly due to its tough physical character. While our results confirmed the lower nutritional value of rice vs. wheat straw, they demonstrated the practical utility of using energy restriction/re-alimentation feeding systems to increase heifer growth efficiency.

Dry-cured ham derived from native pig breeds is a highly valued product. The biochemical changes that take place during the processing are responsible of the final sensory characteristics. The effect of a short and a long ripening time on Chato Murciano dry-cured ham quality was studied. Results suggest that an appropriate time of processing is 22 months.

Greenhouse gas emissions from Australian agriculture are currently at 15% of national emissions and mitigation research is an important way of showing farmers how they might reduce their agricultural emissions. This research uses farm management practices to examine if producing more product across an animal’s lifetime affects emissions and profitability on farm enterprises. The results show that the potential for greater profitability on farm enterprises is driven more by increasing production than from claiming carbon offsets.

Substitution of corn with fibrous by-product into the diets of lactating dairy goats was studied. The fibrous by-product was beet pulp, and higher methane emission was observed than corn diet. Replacing corn with beet pulp did not compromise milk performance in dairy goats.

Molasses is a widely used energy source for cattle in the tropics but the extent to which it supports microbial protein production in the rumen is unclear. This study investigated the effect of increasing the molasses content in the diet of steers on protein synthesis in the rumen and on intake of the animals. Protein synthesis was within expected limits but low intake remains a limitation to cattle production from molasses-based diets.

Ram reproductive potential is affected by nutrition and its action at testicular level may be mediated by leptin, although the specific compartment expressing its receptor (Ob-Rb) remains uncertain. After 14 weeks of improved nutrition, we promoted histological changes linked to increased spermatogenesis, and found that the Ob-Rb expression in the Leydig cell cytoplasm was similar among treatments.

A large source of reproductive wastage in the Australian sheep flock has traditionally been lamb loss at birth or in the neonatal period. This review examines the history of reported losses throughout Australia and the latest evidence for levels of lamb survival now that pregnancy scanning technologies are available. The review also examines the main causes of deaths and strategies for improving survival including nutrition, shelter and management choice to alter ewe-lamb bonding.

Extended milking intervals have a negative effect on milk yield and udder health. Analysis of cow traffic data from an automatic milking system found that previous milking refusal was not the main cause of extended milking intervals. These cows could be sorted to an area close to the dairy; however, management should focus on reducing time cows spend between milkings in any one pasture allocation.

We extracted acetic acid-soluble and pepsin-soluble collagen from antler velvet. Thermal denaturation temperature and peptide mapping were similar between antler and porcine type I collagen. There is a possibility of using collagen extracted from elk antler velvet as an alternative to using porcine or cattle collagen for industrial purposes.

There is no published data on the energy requirements of growing Bali cattle. Bulls were fed diets similar to those commonly used in East Timor and their metabolisable energy requirements for maintenance and production were measured. Bali cattle energy requirements are similar to those of other beef breeds. This information will help improve feeding management and food security.

It is important to identify valuable alternative to antibiotics in rabbit production to control the problem of antibiotic resistance of bacteria. Mannanoligosaccharides and inulin are able to effect similar results to antibiotics in rabbit growth. Mannanoligosaccharides were more effective than inulin at improving rabbit performance during growing.

The main purpose of this study was to find out the effect of season on chemical composition and microbial quality of milk and yoghurt produced from sheep milk. Data revealed that the quality of yoghurt samples made in winter was better than those made in summer; so the marketability of dairy products could be affected by season.

Dry matter production and nutritive characteristics of the pasture feed-base during pregnancy and lactation are key drivers of ewe and lamb performance. A paddock-scale field experiment in Victoria, Australia, evaluated plantain as a forage alternative to perennial ryegrass for lambing ewes. There were rarely differences in forage or livestock performance between the forage species. Based on our experiment, there are no clear benefits of using plantain instead of perennial ryegrass for lambing ewes.

Ellagic acid present in fruits and nuts has been shown to have antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties. This study aimed to evaluate dietary supplementation of ellagic acid on rooster semen quality. The levels used had no effect on gross semen parameters.

Organic and inorganic Se supplementation would be useful for producers who raise animals in Se-deficient regions. There is higher efficiency of L-selenomethionin (Se-Met) than the sodium selenite (SS) supplement. The kids with adequate levels of Se obtain more maternal antibodies in colostrum. Both Se supplementations in pregnant goats improved Se status of goats and the newborn kids. The Se-Met supplement could have influenced passive immunity of kids.

The candidate-gene approach could identify genes influencing the superovulatory response. The study was to analyse associations between the number of embryos recovered and polymorphisms of LHβ and GnRHR genes and showed that two SNPs had significant effects on the number of embryos recovered. LHβ and GnRHR genes are potential markers for the number of embryos recovered.

We analysed the effect of body condition at calving (BCS) on endocrine and metabolic profiles during the transition period in primiparous Hereford cows grazing native grassland. Cows with a BCS of 4 or higher showed higher metabolic resilience during transition periods associated with BCS evolution, IGF-I levels and changes in NEFA profiles. These patterns reflected the short- and long-term cow nutritional history.

The effect of body condition score at calving, suckling restriction and flushing on metabolic and reproductive responses of primiparous beef cows were investigated. Suckling and flushing affected metabolic endocrine profiles temporarily. The increase in insulin and IGF-I by flushing depended on the body condition score at calving, which was consistent with reproductive outcomes.

Production of canola seed is increasing in the United States and alternate uses for seeds other than oil may be necessary in the future. On-farm use of whole canola seed for ruminant livestock production is discussed, but little is known regarding necessary processing to optimise digestion in grazing cattle. Grinding of whole canola seed should provide a viable protein supplement that requires minimal processing before feeding.

Yolk hormones play an important role in the regulation of offspring development through maternal effects. In this study, we aimed to determine whether the enzyme 3βHSD1 has an effect on yolk progesterone; we found that 3βHSD1 in the follicular wall may play a key role in the accumulation of yolk progesterone. This finding may be used to improve the quality of offspring by further research.

The combination of medicinal plants and probiotics is a new possibility for addition to cattle feed supplements, as it provides complementary antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and lacks side effects. This study aimed to ferment Alisma canaliculatum with multi-strain probiotics and investigate its effects on Hanwoo steers. Alisma canaliculatum probiotics showed a potential role in improving growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat oxidative stability of beef cattle.

Short-term elevated nutrition around mating is a potential means of increasing the number of lambs born to ewes. This study showed that ewes grazing live pasture for 7 days before and during the first 7 days of mating in autumn can produce more lambs than those grazing dead herbage. This method provides a simple, natural means of increasing lamb production.

Three tropical browse legumes were assayed in vitro to estimate the proportion of the response in different parameters when tannins are inactivated with polyethylene glycol (biological effect). Tannins differing in their amount or chemical nature may have different biological effect and this may be an easy and rapid index of the microbial fermentation pattern of tropical feeds.

Automatic monitoring of farm animals could be a useful tool in large-scale husbandry. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between pig activity and environmental parameters in a piggery by means of image analysis. Climate variations affected occupation and activity indices of animals, which could be used as indicators of the of pigs’ physiological status change in response to external inputs.

Feeding high amounts of supplements to grazing dairy cows as a mixed ration containing maize grain can increase milk production responses compared to traditional systems of feeding supplements. An experiment showed that cows fed PMR had higher ruminal pH than cows fed grain and silage separately, but that this did not result in any changes to whole tract digestibility. Benefits of PMR systems are presumably related to increased intake of both supplement and pasture rather than improvements in digestibility.

Commercial producers should access available crossbreeding systems using existing swine breeds before application. In this study, the profits of terminal, rotational and rotaterminal cross were evaluated using three imported swine breeds in south-western China, and their profits were ￥3895.15, 3749.02 and 3317.33/sow, respectively. The results suggested terminal cross or rotaterminal cross should maximise effective use of heterosis and breed complementarity in China.

Starvation/mismothering is a major cause of lamb loss in the early neonatal period and is related to the ability of the ewe–lamb unit to maintain contact during this time. This study investigates whether Merino lambs from sires selected for high or low loss due to starvation/mismothering differ in lamb vigour, particularly at a time when the ewe would be moving away from the birth site and ewe–lamb contact would need to be maintained. Differences in lamb vigour at this time could help to explain why some sires have consistently high losses due to starvation/mismothering and have potential to be used as a selection tool.

Supplementation of poultry diets with selenium is becoming a common practice to sustain bird health and boost production. In this study we compared two organic selenium sources (selenohomolanthionine and selenomethionine) in relation to growth performance, nutrient utilisation, oxidative stress and selenium tissue concentrations. While the birds performed similarly irrespectively of the two sources of selenium used, the ones supplemented with selenohomolanthionine had higher selenium concentration in muscle tissue, therefore selenium-enriched chicken meat might provide an important delivery system for this trace element to humans.

Aggression in pigs is a serious issue in pig farming since it poses enormous welfare and economic problems. This study aimed to use acoustic-reward learning as a new approach to reduce the incidence of aggression among pigs. The presented method showed some potential to reduce the frequency and duration of aggressive actions among young piglets.

Milk harvesting is a fundamental component of dairy farming and affects all parts of the business from cows to people and financial performance. Previous researchers have investigated strategies to improve the efficiency of different components of milking, without quantifying the effect that these strategies, or combinations of them, may have on the overall milking system. This study analysed the effect of rotary size, platform speed, cluster attachment time, milk yield and end-of-milking criteria on cow throughput, operator efficiency and return on investment.

Different systems for feeding high amounts of supplements to grazing dairy cows were compared. Feeding supplements on a feedpad as a mixed ration containing canola meal can have milk-production advantages over feeding grain in the dairy at milking times. This information will be important for farmers needing to feed high amounts of supplements because of climate variability.

There is potential for lamb to be promoted as a meat-based functional food. Carnitine from lamb has been found to reduce the liver fat content of rats. Meat-based functional foods are being seen as an opportunity to improve the ‘image’ of meat as a healthy product.

Qualitative behavioural assessment (QBA) has been used to quantify the expressive behaviour of pregnant ewes at varying body condition score. Animals were assessed through QBA during a feed motivation test. Ewes maintained at BCS 3 scored low on GPA dimension 1 (i.e. were described as more calm/bored/comfortable) compared with ewes that had a slow declining BCS (described as more interested/anxious/excited).

High stocking densities can have adverse effects on the welfare of broiler chickens. The effects of stocking density and perch availability on the growth, behaviour, and health characteristics of broilers were investigated. The results suggest that perches have a limited effect on the performance, behaviour, and welfare of broilers stocked at high densities. The improvement of broiler welfare needs an all-encompassing solution rather than a modification of any single facility.

Weaning and improved feeding of weaned Bali cattle can improve cash flow of smallholder farming households in eastern Indonesia. This experiment aimed to evaluate feeding strategies to increase growth of weaned Bali cattle that may be implemented in village cattle production systems. Feeding certain tree legumes to weaned Bali cattle can increase liveweight gain and potentially increase household cash flow.

Applied participatory research on large-ruminant health and production was conducted in northern Lao PDR to establish baseline production variables, including liveweight, average daily weight gain and reproductive performance. The study indicated that improved large-ruminant productivity, by improving health and nutrition practices, offers opportunities for smallholders to increase livestock income, reduce rural poverty and enhance regional food security.

Vitamin D₃ and strontium have been closely aligned in human therapeutics for the treatment of osteoporosis. Consequently, a broiler experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding various concentrations of vitamin D₃ with or without strontium on chicken performance, mineral retention, and bone composition. High levels of vitamin D depressed growth and feed efficiency but this was alleviated by the addition of strontium. Vitamin D and strontium together increased mineral retention but not bone mass. Further research needs to be undertaken.

Goats are a largely untapped resource for the production of leather, an industry that is important for the economic development of many countries. Determination of skin characteristics which are important in leather production would help to improve quality. The results of this study showed that age and sex were more important than the type of goats on skin and leather traits.

Autochthonous cattle breeds have been replaced by more productive cosmopolite breeds to maximise dairy and beef production. This study achieved positive results regarding beef production traits of Slovenian autochthonous Cika bulls compared to Simmental bulls fed two finishing diets. Farmers should finish their Cika male stocks for beef production to conserve this genetic resource and increase the energy density of the traditional grass-based diets.

High quality maize is crucial raw material in modern chicken nutrition. This study examined the effect of maize endosperm hardness, drying temperature, and enzyme addition on chicken performance and nutrient utilisation. The results suggest that maize endosperm hardness and high drying temperature can negatively influence nutrient utilisation. Blends of phytase and xylanase have potential as a tool to improve the nutritional value of overheated maize.

It is well established that broilers show better performance when offered pelleted diets. This study examined the growth responses of broiler finishers to changes in pellet size, and showed that while broilers express a preference for a smaller pellet diameter, there is no negative effect of pellet length on performance. This approach suggests that only the manipulation of pellet length may be used to improve broiler production.

Poor post-weaning survival of sheep in Australia is an important problem but its variation across different production systems is not well described. In this survey of weaner management of 1410 woolgrowers, average weaner mortality was 4.6%, but 44% of farms overall, including 32% of crossbred enterprises, exceeded the recommended mortality benchmark.  However, farm and management factors were identified that could be manipulated to improve survival, in accordance with the findings of smaller, regional studies

There is growing interest in converting castor cake to alternative feed sources for ruminants due to the nutritional content of this byproduct. Although the effects of castor cake feeding on livestock reproduction are not well understood, this study found that detoxified castor cake could be used as an alternative protein source without affecting goat reproductive performance. The findings from this study should provide information on alternative methods for reducing the costs of small ruminant feed.

Use of genomic data for estimation of breeding value in rams can considerably increase the accuracy of selection of sheep for increased profitability. In this study we found the accuracy of genomic prediction for weight, muscle, fat and wool traits to be moderate to high in Merinos and moderate in terminal and maternal sheep breeds. These results provide confidence to use genomic selection in sheep breeding.

Millrun, a by-product of wheat milling, is a low-cost ingredient that could be better utilised in pig diets. Millrun inclusion in diets for weaner pigs is generally restricted to 5–10% because of its high fibre content. This study showed that the inclusion level could be increased to 50% without compromising pig performance, if diets are formulated appropriately. Liquid feeding of diets increased feed conversion ratio, but adding enzymes to degrade fibre and improve its digestibility did not improve performance.

Presently, the worldwide poultry industry is experiencing difficulties in maintaining production costs, especially pertaining to energy and protein sources.The effects of Musca domestica (common house fly) larvae meal on the meat quality of broiler chickens were investigated. It was concluded that the inclusion of larvae meal into the diets of broilers will have positive rather than any detrimental effects on most carcass, meat and sensory characteristics.

Low birthweight pigs tend to have a much lower chance of survival than their larger litter mates due to competition for milk which can lead to starvation. This study determined the lysine requirement of pigs weaned at 1-2 days of age and fed a liquid diet. Definition of nutrient requirements will lead to improved formulation of liquid diets for rearing low birthweight pigs to increase piglet survival and promote rapid growth rate to weaning.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of image analysis for Japanese Black cattle in Australia (Australian JB). Image analysis traits showed favourable characteristics for data analysis and indicated possibility of improving for marbling. We conclude that image analysis could be an effective method for improving the marbling of the Australian JB.

Transgenic goats are usually obtained by DNA microinjection, which is still an inefficient technique but the possibility of detecting differences among embryo donor breeds to improve its success may provide real benefits. Two breeds (Canindé vs Saanen) were compared to produce pronuclear embryos for further microinjection and transfer to recipients. It was possible to develop an efficient protocol to obtain transgenic goats using the Canindé breed.

Sheep are joined at different seasons to supply the year-round demand from domestic and export lamb markets. Lambing performance was generally higher from crossbred ewes joined in autumn than spring, with winter being intermediate, although there were significant ewe breed x season interactions. Ewe genotypes with higher out-of-season reproduction will be more suited to intensive and accelerated lamb production systems.

Gastrointestinal nematodes limit the production of goats and sheep but there are few reliable sources of information for recommending management practices across flocks. We aimed to determine the effects of mixed grazing of goats with sheep and increasing the stocking rate of goats and sheep on the level of gastrointestinal parasitism. Mixed grazing with goats resulted in beneficial effects for sheep but mixed grazing with sheep provided beneficial or harmful effects for goats, depending on the stocking rate.

Pig production contributes up to 41% of the total income of households in North Vietnam. In this experiment, Duroc and stress-negative Piétrain sires were used to produce fattening pigs under household conditions in Vietnam. The results show that use of Piétrain boars does not affect reproduction performance, growth rate, or meat quality; however, lean meat percentage of Piétrain-sired pigs was higher than that of Duroc-sired pigs. This suggests that the use of stress-negative Piétrain boars as terminal sires would improve lean meat under household conditions in North Vietnam.

If farmers know the average liveweight of their flocks they may be able to manage their sheep for improved production and profits. This study investigated whether walk-over weighing (WOW), a remote weighing concept, could provide sufficiently reliable flock average liveweight information to aid flock management. Results show that, over a 5-day time period, WOW could reliably provide flock liveweight estimates within 2 kg, which we deem reasonable, in terms of accuracy and timeliness, for application in a commercial context.

The option of using probiotics as an alternative to antibiotics in raising pigs is receiving attention. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of dietary probiotics on weaned piglets and the results suggested that dietary probiotics benefited growth performance and immune functions at the early stage of the post-weaning period in piglets. This could satisfy consumer’s demand for safe feed additives.

Artificial insemination is widespread in the Australian sheep industry so it is important to know if lamb mortality is comparable as with natural mating. This project showed that lamb mortality was similar to natural mating at around 20% with dystocia and starvation-mismothering accounting for 72% of lamb deaths. Therefore artificial insemination can be validly used for sheep reproduction studies.

Food security is of increasing importance in the Greater Mekong Subregion, where smallholder farmers operating mixed farming systems have an opportunity to meet a regional growing demand for red meat. Using a systems and knowledge based approach, cattle health and husbandry interventions led to significant improvements in smallholder cattle production. Improving livestock production offers a pathway to reduce regional food insecurity and rural poverty simultaneously.

Perennial ryegrass is the most common species used for grazing dairy systems; however, well managed permanent fertilised pastures may represent a more economical and sustainable alternative. An in vitro trial was carried out in order to assess in vitro fermentation of permanent pastures. Nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation products and microbial protein synthesis of well managed permanent pastures were similar to perennial ryegrass.

Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency for genetic improvement in cattle and correlated with feed conversion ratio (FCR). Our study of expression of RFI-associated genes demonstrated that RFI was not affected by increased FCR with hormonal growth implants. The assumed action mechanism of protein turnover by HGP has little effect on RFI and RFI-associated gene expression.

Body temperature monitoring used in research on animal stress could help to prevent dark-cutting meat. A significant negative correlation was detected between elevation in core body temperature due to physical stress of sheep and muscle glycogen levels at slaughter. Changes in body temperature pre-slaughter in lambs show a potential for enabling prediction of muscle glycogen levels and dark-cutting post-slaughter, and to propose changes in protocols of animal handling.

Goose production has been expanding in China, but low reproduction efficiency has limited genetic improvement and production. Identification and culling of subfertile ganders is an effective method to improve production efficiency that has received considerable attention. Here we propose a diagnostic method for gander selection that we feel will be relevant to physiologists, geneticists, poultry breeders and others involved in waterfowl production.