Phytases, carbohydrases and proteases are key animal feed products used to improve feed efficiency and nutrient utilisation and reduce environmental waste. Studies evaluating enzyme efficacy in pigs and poultry rely on nutrient digestibility results to highlight the nutrient sparing effects of the enzyme or enzyme combination. Here we highlight the challenges associated with digestibility assays and show that results do not always correspond to improved growth or carcass yield, leading to misleading interpretations about the efficacy or nutrient sparing nature of the enzymes supplied in the diet.

Low-density single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel is a very effective way to reduce the cost of genomic selection in animal breeding. This study proposed a new type of low-density SNP panel that performed as well as an evenly spaced panel. The great performance of mixed low-density SNP panel indicates that the same strategy could be used in another field, such as genome-wide association studies.

Ryegrass pastures fed to sheep are sometimes green and leafy and, at other times, contain seed heads, and dead matter. Ryegrasses varying widely in quality were fed to sheep, and although they obtained much less energy from poor feeds, the amount of methane produced was similar. The amount of energy lost in urine and faeces was less than predicted by standard equations for poor-quality ryegrass, suggesting that improvements are needed for feeds typical of dry or drought conditions.

Good transition from suckling to high-concentrate diets is essential to avoid nutritional disorders during the fattening period of feedlot beef calves. Preweaning supplementation with hay or concentrate improves rumen development and animal performance, and results in higher profitability when calves are sold at weaning; concentrate supplementation is the most interesting option for closed-cycle farms, whereas hay supplementation could be profitable if producers have their own crops. It is of economic interest to supplement beef calves during the suckling period.

Frequent and prolonged droughts in semi-arid regions affect the availability of feed resources for animal production. Alternative feed sources have been investigated, aimed at replacing cereal grains traditionally used; however, different carbohydrate and protein sources can lead to modifications in the rumen. Based on our results, diets containing urea as a total substitute for soybean meal alter ruminal fermentation and reduce the populations of Streptococcus bovis and Ruminococcus flavefaciens in the rumen.

Essential oils are secondary plant compounds with potential to replace ionophore antibiotic additives and improve nutrient utilisation efficiency. The purpose was to evaluate the effects of including different concentrations of a commercial blend of essential oils and monensin on the nutritional characteristics of beef cattle grazing pasture during the rainy season. A low concentration of essential oils (150 mg/kg DM) and monensin increased nutrient intake. A low concentration of essential oils increased fibre digestibility and nitrogen utilisation efficiency.

Unmulesed sheep have a 6-fold higher risk of breech strike than mulesed sheep. Reductions in breech wrinkle, breech cover and dag scores can reduce this risk. This paper describes a model to indicate the level of risk for sheep of specified breech scores.

Nutritionists often recommend combinations of sodium monensin and virginiamycin in the diet for feedlot cattle. However, the effects of this combination on feedlot performance, either on the adaptation or finishing periods to prevent metabolic disorders and economic losses, it is not well documented in the literature. Based on the results of this study, feedlot cattle nutritionists may use the best combination of feed additives during the adaptation and finishing periods to improve feedlot performance of Nellore cattle consuming high-energy diets.

Achieving a less than 400-day calving interval is the goal of water buffalo production systems. Primiparous water buffaloes, those with high milk yield, and those calving in December–July, are less likely to achieve that goal. High milk yield at first lactation leads to longer calving intervals, which highlights the importance of adequate nutrition to help high milk yield water buffalo cows to maintain a good reproductive performance.

Meat production can be increased significantly if cattle are reared within a facility with special treatment. The poor meat production characteristic of African beef industry was addressed and results showed alleviation of the problem when bulls were fed a special diet and given a safe agent that promotes growth. In addition to providing more meat for the increasing human population, this measure could be a partial solution to frequent bloody clashes between herders and farmers, especially in Nigeria.

Zinc is added to poultry feed as a growth stimulant. The present study aimed to examine the effect of glycine-Zn chelates on the fatty acids profile, antioxidative status and dietetic value of poultry meat. Due to the enhanced accumulation of Zn in muscles, there was a positive effect of the chelate on the oxidative stability of the meat and on the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices.

The use of cold-pressed rapeseed cake, a by-product of small-scale biodiesel manufacturing, as a substitute for prilled palm fat in the diet of beef steers can improve the nutritional value of intramuscular fat by reducing its atherogenic index and increasing its content in healthy unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid, vaccenic acid and rumenic acid. Changes in muscle fatty acid composition can occur without compromising animal growth, carcass characteristics and oxidative stability of meat.