Animal Performance Research Articles

Growth Performance and Digestibility of Red Sokoto Goat Fed Jatropha curcas Kernel Cake Treated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Good quality feed has been a major challenge in livestock production in the tropics, especially during the dry season, which is characterized by low-quality forages. Good nutrition is important because it is associated with improving the performance, health, reproduction and productivity of animals. This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance and digestibility of Red Sokoto goats fed Jatropha curcas kernel cake treated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Twenty Red Sokoto goats with average weight of 8.20±1.1kg were completely randomized into diets A (control: 0% Jatropha curcas kernel cake), B (10% Pseudomonas treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake), C (15% Pseudomonas treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake), and D (20% Pseudomonas a treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake). Jatropha curcas kernel cake was used as a replacement for groundnut cake over a 70-day experimental period. Data was analyzed as one-way ANOVA in SAS and means were separated with Duncan multiple range test at alpha of 5%. There was significant variation in the crude protein, ether extract and crude fiber of the experimental diets. A significant (p<0.05) difference was observed in the dry matter intake of the animals with values of 433.48g, 426.46g, 339.29g and 328.78gfor diets A, B, C and D respectively. Dry matter intake was significantly lower (p<0.05) for animals fed diets C and D. The crude protein (12.02-15.85%), crude fiber (5.88-8.76%) and gross energy (376.97-388.43Kcal/100g) contents were adequate for animals of such age. The nutrient digestibility was significantly (p<0.05) higher in diets supplemented with treated jatropha kernel cake. There was no significant difference in the weight gain of the animals on diets A, B and C, however, animals fed diet D had significantly (p<0.05) lower weight gain and average daily gain. It was concluded that treatment of Jatropha curcas cake with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was effective in detoxifying Jatropha curcas kernel cake as it has no deleterious effect on growth performance and improved nutrient digestibility of the experimental animals.

Effects of dietary supplementation with linseed oil, Ascophyllum nodosum or treated A. nodosum on animal performance, gaseous emissions, ruminal fermentation and microbiota, and meat quality in growing dairy beef bulls.

Oils high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and seaweeds containing phlorotannins have potential anti-methanogenic effects in ruminants. This study assessed the potential of dietary supplementation with linseed oil, Ascophyllum nodosum or treated A. nodosum in an intensive beef cattle feeding system on animal performance, gaseous emissions, ruminal fermentation and microbiota, and muscle fatty acid profiles. Seventy-two dairy-beef bulls (380kg; 11 months of age) were randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments (n = 18) for a 70-d period. The diet consisted of a 60:40 grass silage:concentrate ratio. Silage was offered daily (0900h) and concentrates were offered twice daily (0800h and 1500h). Dietary treatments were incorporated into the concentrate portion of the diet as follows; 1) CON (no supplementation), 2) LSO (linseed oil), 3) SW (A. nodosum) and 4) EX (A. nodosum extract), included to target 0, 4, 2 and 2% of dry matter intake (DMI), respectively. The concentrates were formulated to be isonitrogenous across the four treatment groups. Total DMI (American Calan Inc., Northwood, NH), average daily gain (ADG), gain:feed and enteric emissions (GreenFeed; C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD) were measured for the 70-d supplementation period. Total DMI (P = 0.17), ADG (P = 0.28), gain:feed (P = 0.68) and total tract digestibility (P = 0.70) did not differ across treatments. Daily methane production (P < 0.001) for CON, LSO, SW and EX was 210, 170, 202 and 193g/d, respectively, resulting in reductions of 19 and 8% for LSO and EX, respectively, relative to CON. Ruminal fermentation parameters show that LSO was the only dietary treatment to increase propionate (P = 0.09) and decrease butyrate (P = 0.04) concentrations relative to CON. Microbial analyses showed LSO supplementation increased and decreased relative abundances of fungal genera Buwchfawromyces and Piromyces, respectively, while altering relative abundances of the bacterial genera Muribaculaceae, Bacteroidales RF16 group and Bacterium F082. Additionally, LSO increased linolenic acid (P < 0.001) and n-3 PUFA (P < 0.001) concentration of the longissimus dorsi muscle compared to CON, SW and EX. In conclusion, LSO was the most effective dietary supplementation strategy compared to CON, EX and SW, whereby it reduced methane emissions, modified ruminal fermentation and microbial profiles, and enhanced beneficial muscle PUFA concentration, without impacting animal performance.

Probiotic properties of Bacillus licheniformis HN318 and comparison of the effects of its bacterial cells and cultures on growth, immunity and disease resistance of hybrid grouper (Epinephelus polyphekadion♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀)

IntroductionBacillus species are probiotics commonly utilized in aquaculture to enhance aquatic animal growth, inhibit pathogens, and strengthen immunity. However, research comparing the effects of probiotic bacterial cells and cultures is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the probiotic potential of Bacillus licheniformis strain HN318 and compare its impact on growth, immunity, and disease resistance in hybrid grouper when administered as bacterial cells or cultures.MethodsThe study involved assessing the auto-aggregation capability, gastrointestinal stress resistance, and safety of HN318. Enzymatic activities and antibacterial properties of HN318 cultures and bacterial cells were also compared. Hybrid grouper were fed with HN318 cultures and bacterial cells for 8 weeks, and their growth, feed utilization, immune responses, and survival rates upon challenge with Vibrio harveyi were evaluated. Additionally, the expression of immune-related genes was analyzed.ResultsHN318 exhibited high auto-aggregation and gastrointestinal stress resistance, and was found to be safe for use in aquaculture. Cultures of HN318 displayed higher protease, amylase, and antibacterial activities compared to bacterial cells. Both forms significantly improved growth and feed utilization in hybrid grouper. Notably, HN318 cultures induced higher levels of immune enzymes and activities, and provided better protection against V. harveyi challenge, with a higher relative percent survival compared to bacterial cells. Furthermore, HN318 cultures upregulated the expression of immune-related genes more than bacterial cells.DiscussionThis study highlights the potential of both HN318 cultures and bacterial cells as immune enhancers for hybrid grouper. However, HN318 cultures demonstrated superior probiotic properties, including higher enzymatic activities, antibacterial properties, and immunomodulatory effects. These findings provide new insights and references for the diverse application forms of probiotics in aquaculture, suggesting that cultures may be more effective than bacterial cells in enhancing the health and performance of aquatic animals.

Prediction of Pellet Durability Index (PDI) in a Commercial Feed Mill Using Multiple Linear Regression with Variable Selection and Dimensionality Reduction.

Pellet quality, measured as Pellet Durability Index (PDI), is an important key performance indicator (KPI) for commercial feed manufacturing, as it can impact both mill efficiency and downstream performance of animals fed the manufactured diets. However, it is an ongoing challenge for the feed industry to control pellet quality, due to the complexity of feed manufacturing and the large number of variables influencing the process. Previous studies have explored prediction of pellet quality using either simple empirical models with a few variables or machine learning models with many variables. The objective of the current study was to develop statistical regression models to predict PDI, and to describe the relationship between pellet quality and 55 available variables based on a dataset with 2691 observations collected from a commercial feed mill. In the current study, the response variable (PDI) was transformed using the Box-Cox approach into the transformed response variable (tPDI), that was more normally distributed. Three multiple regression models were developed based on subsets of variables processed by variable selection and dimensionality reduction methods: Forward Selection, Principal Component Analysis, and Partial Least Squares. The results indicated that Model 1 (Forward Selection with manual removal of sparse variables), built on 9 variables, performed better than the other two models. It exhibited consistent model prediction performance on the training data and testing data, in terms of MAE (1.93 ± 0.063 versus 1.96), RMSPE (2.45 ± 0.079 versus 2.45), and CCC (0.549 ± 0.0273 versus 0.550), with a better prediction precision based on the fit plot. Expanding Temperature (℃), Fat Content (%), and ADF Content (%), and Indoor Humidity (Pelletizer) (%) were identified as more influential than other variables on the transformed response variable (tPDI) in Model 1, based on a behavior analysis. The models developed in the current study can be helpful to feed mills for predicting and comprehending the effect of a number of commonly measured variables on pellet quality in the commercial setting.

Comparative evaluation of Acheta domesticus and Hermetia illucens as alternative protein sources for the growth, health, and meat quality of the broiler

IntroductionInsects are receiving increasing attention due to their potential to enhance farming efficiency and sustainability, mitigate vast quantities of bio-waste, and improve animal performance. It is hypothesized that replacing soybean meal with Acheta domesticus will improve broiler productive performance, health, and meat quality. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the effect of the gradual replacement of soybean meal (4%, 8%, and 12%) with house cricket (A. domesticus) and black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) on productive performances, hematology, intestinal morphology, and meat quality attributes of male broiler (Ross 308). MethodsA total of 350 1-day-old chicks (39.23 ± 0.19 g) were divided into seven groups (five pens per group and 10 chicks per pen) following a completely randomized design. The seven groups included 4%, 8%, and 12% SBM replacements with A. domesticus and H. illucens. Soybean meal was the basal diet considered the control. ResultsThe broilers fed 12% A. domesticus, or 12% H. illucens had significantly higher ((p 0.05) live weight, average daily weight gain, and improved feed conversion ratio than the broilers fed basal (SBM) diet throughout starter, grower, and finisher phases. Hematology (complete blood count and serum biochemistry traits) and intestinal morphology (villus height, villus width, crypt depth, and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio) of the broilers improved when fed on 12% A. domesticus and 12% H. illucens meals as compared to the control group (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Feeding 12% A. domesticus and 12% H. illucens also had a significant positive impact on the meat quality traits of broilers, such as maximum redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) with minimal cooking loss and lightness (L*) (p &amp;lt; 0.05) than the broilers fed the control diet. DiscussionUsing insect meal as an alternative to traditional feed sources could contribute significantly to the sustainable expansion of the poultry industry.

Multispecies swards enhance animal performance in a co-grazing cattle and sheep production system

Multispecies swards enhance animal performance in a co-grazing cattle and sheep production system

What behavior is important behavior? A systematic review of how wild and zoo-housed animals differ in their time-activity budgets

Natural behavior performance in captive animals is traditionally utilized as a metric to establish welfare states, with an increase in natural behavior associated with positive welfare. Captive environments, including zoos strive to replicate ecologically relevant environments that promote species-specific, adaptive behavior performance. However, spatial restrictions and complex habitats required by some species create various challenges for zoo staff to implement management and husbandry practices to achieve this. Some species struggle to adapt and cope in captive environments, with increased abnormal behavior performance which may reduce welfare. Other species may adapt to captivity in novel ways, demonstrating flexibility in their behavior patterns without compromising welfare. However, research indicating positive behavioral flexibility in captive animals is sparse. The main aim of this review was to categorize animals as being fully behaviorally flexible, partially behaviorally flexible, or behaviorally inflexible. Effect sizes (Hedges’ g) were calculated to compare behavioral categories of animals in the wild and zoo, grouped by taxonomic Order (Testudines, Primates, Artiodactyla, Psittaciformes and Carnivora) and ecological traits to determine their level of behavioral flexibility. Effect sizes were also analyzed to determine behaviors suggestive of good welfare that were absent in zoo species. Despite variation across all groups, abnormal behavior was consistently highest in zoo animals, with reproductive and foraging behaviors most often compromised. Overall, complete positive behavioral flexibility was suggested in Testudines (potentially a result from temperature variation to maintain homeostasis), completely migratory species who are exposed to heterogenous landscapes when traveling long distances, and for a specific primate, the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) potentially to improve resource access due to their terrestrial nature. All other groups evaluated demonstrated partial behavioral flexibility or behavioral inflexibility. Abnormal behavior prevalence and reduced foraging and reproductive behaviors in these groups suggests an inability to adapt to captivity. This necessitates more focused investigations that identify environmental features or aspects of managed environments that can meet a species’ needs in the zoo.

Cranberry: A Promising Natural Product for Animal Health and Performance

Cranberries are a distinctive source of bioactive compounds, containing polyphenols such as flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, and triterpenoids. Cranberries are often associated with potential health benefits for the urinary tract and digestive system due to their high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties. Cranberry induces the production of antioxidant enzymes, suppresses lipid peroxidation, reduces inflammatory cytokines, modulates immune cells, maintains gut microbiota, and inhibits bacterial adhesion and growth. Cranberry polyphenols also have metal-binding motifs that bind with metals, particularly zinc and iron. The combination of cranberry polyphenols and metals displays increased biological activity. In this review, an attempt is made to describe the physiological properties and health benefits of cranberries for livestock, including poultry, swine, canine, feline, and ruminant animals, as either feed/food or as supplements. Cranberry, and/or its components, has the capability to potentially control infectious diseases like diarrhea, urinary tract infection, gut integrity, and intestinal probiotic health. Moreover, cranberries show efficacy in suppressing the growth of pathogenic microorganisms such as Salmonella species, Campylobacter species, Streptococcus species, and Enterococcus species bacteria. Thus, cranberry could be considered as a potential natural feed additive or food supplement for animal health improvement.

Impact of monensin, virginiamycin, trace minerals, and yeast combination on animal performance, carcass and meat characteristics of finishing feedlot bulls fed high grain diet.

This study was realized to evaluate the influence of monensin, virginiamycin,trace minerals and yeast combination on animal performance, feed efficiency, in situ digestibility, feeding behavior, and carcass and meat characteristics from bulls finished in feedlot fed high-grain diet. A total of 36 (European vs. Nellore) bulls at 24 ± 3.2months of age and with a body weight (BW) of 385.5 ± 3.84kg were used in a completely randomized design. The four experimental diets were: CONT - without additives; MONE - inclusion of 30mg of monensin/kg of DM; MOVI - inclusion of 30mg of monensin + 30mg of virginiamycin/kg of DM; MOMY - inclusion of 30mg of monensin/kg of DM + 0.3g/kg of BW of trace minerals and yeast. Final body weight was higher (P < 0.05) for the bulls fed MOVI (558.7kg) and MOMY (554.6kg) diets, intermediate for bulls fed MONE (529.3kg) diet, and lower for bulls fed CONT (514.6kg) diet. Likewise, the average daily gain was higher (P < 0.01) for bulls fed MOVI and MOMY (2.02kg/d), intermediate for bulls fed MONE (1.72kg/d), diet and lower for bulls fed CONT (1.57kg/d) diets. Dry matter intake and other nutrients were similar (P > 0.05) among treatments. However, feed conversion improved (P < 0.05) for bulls fed MOVI and MOMY diets. Animals fed MOVI and MOMY spent more time ruminating compared to animals fed CONT and MONE (P = 0.034) diets. The carcass weights, carcass dressing and backfat thickness were greater (P < 0.05) for the bulls fed MOVI and MOMY diets. In conclusion, the inclusion of monensin or a combination of monensin + virginiamycin or monensin + trace minerals and yeast resulted in higher animal performance and improved feed efficiency.

Effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FD777 and Macleaya cordata Extract on Performance, Immunity, Gastrointestinal System Microbiome, and Profitability in Holstein Calves

This study was performed to determine the effects of dietary supplementation of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FD777 (BA) and Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) on the performance, morbidity and mortality rates, body measurements, immunity, rumen parameters, antioxidant parameters, microbiome level, and profitability of calves during the pre-weaning period. In the study, 51 calves were divided into three groups as one control and two treatment groups considering their age (1 day old), gender (nine females and eight males in each group), and birth weight (37.7 ± 0.4 kg). The calves in the control group (CON) were fed milk without supplements whereas the first treatment group (BA) was fed milk containing 10 mL/day/head of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FD777 and the second treatment group (MCE) was fed milk containing 2 g/day/head of MCE. As a result, supplementing BA and MCE to calf milk had no significant effect on body weight (BW), dry matter intake (DMI), feed efficiency (FE), morbidity and mortality rates, rumen pH, IgG, IgA, and IgM values, and gastrointestinal microbiota (p &gt; 0.05). On the other hand, it was determined that body weight gain (BWG), body length, body depth, rump width, withers height change, rump height change, rump width change, and serum GSH level increased significantly in the BA group compared to the control group (p &lt; 0.05). According to the partial budget analysis, despite the additional cost of supplementing BA to the calf milk, no calf deaths and lower disease were observed in this group, unlike the other groups, resulting in a lowest calf rearing cost and highest profit. In calves receiving MCE, withers height, rump height, body length, rump width, body depth, chest circumference change, withers height change, rump height change, and rump width change values increased significantly compared with the control group (p &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, the results obtained not only reveal the positive effects of BA and MCE on calves during the pre-weaning period, but also encourage the necessity of investigating their effects on the long-term performance of animals and farm economies.

Effects of dietary l-carnosine supplementation on the growth, intestinal microbiota, and serum metabolome of fattening lambs.

Dietary l-carnosine supplementation has been shown to enhance animal performance and improve meat quality. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of l-carnosine on the physiological functions of animals have not been fully elucidated. We investigated the effects of dietary l-carnosine supplementation on growth performance, intestinal microbiota diversity, and the serum metabolome in fattening lambs to reveal the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of l-carnosine on the growth performance of sheep. Sixty 3-month-old male crossbred lambs (Dorper ♂ × Small Tail Han ♀) with an average body weight of 30 ± 5 kg were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (group C) fed a basal diet, and an experimental group (group L) fed a basal diet supplemented with 400 mg/kg of l-carnosine. At the end of the 60-day experiment, all sheep were weighed, and fecal and blood samples were collected from 12 random sheep. The fecal microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing, and serum metabolites were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Spearman correlation analysis was employed to assess the associations between intestinal microbiota and serum metabolite biomarkers. The results showed that weight gain and daily weight gain were significantly increased in group L compared to group C (p < 0.01). The dominant phyla in the intestinal microbiota (Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes) did not significantly differ between the two groups (p > 0.05). At the genus level, the abundances of Syntrophococcus (p < 0.01) and Butyricimonas (p < 0.001) were higher, whereas those of Escherichia-Shigella and Candidatus Saccharimonas were significantly lower in group L than in group C (p < 0.05). Non-targeted metabolomics identified 68 differentially abundant biomarkers (VIP > 1, p < 0.05). The content of pyridine N-oxide glucuronide was significantly downregulated (p < 0.01), whereas those of l-histidinol, d-apiose, and isodomedin were significantly upregulated in group L versus group C (p < 0.001). Holdemania and Butyricimonas were positively correlated with l-histidine, d-apiose, and l-erythrulose (p < 0.001), whereas Butyricimonas was negatively correlated with pyridine N-oxide glucuronide (p < 0.001). This study provided new insights into the effects of l-carnosine on the intestinal microbiota and nutrient metabolism in fattening sheep that will be helpful for the future application of l-carnosine in ruminants.

Low-Density Polyethylene Microplastics in the Rumen: Implications for Rumen Fermentation Dynamics and Utilization of Concentrate Feed

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a significant environmental threat, infiltrating livestock systems. This study presents the first in vitro investigation of the effects of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) MP contamination on rumen fermentation dynamics and feed utilization in a simulated ruminal digestive system. Concentrate feed was incubated in buffered rumen fluid collected from lambs, supplemented with LDPE MPs at concentrations of 3.3 g/L and 6.6 g/L and compared to the concentrate incubated in the buffered rumen fluid without MP contamination. The results demonstrate that both levels of LDPE MPs significantly altered rumen fermentation dynamics by reducing asymptotic gas production by 11% and 15% and increasing the constant rate of gas production by 16% and 19% at low and high addition levels, respectively, compared to the control. However, the early-stage fermentation dynamics remained unaffected. Furthermore, both levels of LDPE MPs reduced rumen protozoal populations (20% and 23%) and ammonia-nitrogen levels by 11% at both of addition levels. Despite these disruptions, rumen pH remained unaffected. Increasing the addition level of LDPE from 3.3 to 6.6 g/L did not exacerbate the disruptions. The results of this study highlight the potential risks posed by LDPE MPs in ruminal nutrition. Further in vivo investigations are essential to validate these findings and assess their impact on animal performance.

Aflatoxin B1: Challenges and Strategies for the Intestinal Microbiota and Intestinal Health of Monogastric Animals.

The objective of this review is to investigate the impacts of aflatoxins, particularly aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), on intestinal microbiota, intestinal health, and growth performance in monogastric animals, primarily chickens and pigs, as well as dietary interventions to mitigate these effects. Aflatoxin B1 contamination in feeds disrupts intestinal microbiota, induces immune responses and oxidative damage, increases antioxidant activity, and impairs jejunal cell viability, barrier function, and morphology in the small intestine. These changes compromise nutrient digestion and reduce growth performance in animals. The negative impact of AFB1 on the % change in average daily gain (ΔADG) of chickens and pigs was estimated based on meta-analysis: ΔADG (%)chicken = -0.13 × AFB1 intake per body weight (ng/g·d) and ΔADG (%)pig = -0.74 × AFB1 intake per body weight (µg/kg·d), indicating that increasing AFB1 contamination linearly reduces the growth of animals. To mitigate the harmful impacts of AFB1, various dietary strategies have been effective. Mycotoxin-detoxifying agents include mycotoxin-adsorbing agents, such as clay and yeast cell wall compounds, binding to AFB1 and mycotoxin-biotransforming agents, such as specific strains of Bacillus subtilis and mycotoxin-degrading enzyme, degrading AFB1 into non-toxic metabolites such as aflatoxin D1. Multiple mycotoxin-detoxifying agents are often combined and used together to improve the intestinal health and growth of chickens and pigs fed AFB1-contaminated feeds. In summary, AFB1 negatively impacts intestinal microbiota, induces immune responses and oxidative stress, disrupts intestinal morphology, and impairs nutrient digestion in the small intestine, leading to reduced growth performance. Supplementing multi-component mycotoxin-detoxifying agents in feeds could effectively adsorb and degrade AFB1 co-contaminated with other mycotoxins prior to its absorption in the small intestine, preventing its negative impacts on the intestinal health and growth performance of chickens and pigs.

Beef cattle performance and hair cortisol accumulation in silvopastoral and pastoral systems: a 2-year assessment.

The Mediterranean area is highly vulnerable to climate change. Silvopastoral practices, such as integrating trees into pastureland or grazing in woodland areas, are potential mitigation strategies to improve microclimate conditions and reduce heat stress risks. We conducted a 2-year on-farm experiment to compare growth performance, measuring average daily gain (ADG), hair cortisol accumulation, and blood glucose concentration in Maremmana breed steers and heifers reared in either a silvopastoral (SP) or pastoral (PA) system during spring and summer. Additionally, we monitored microclimate conditions in both systems via the black globe humidity index (BGHI) as a heat stress proxy for outdoor-reared animals. In both years, the highest ADG values were recorded in spring: 1.49kg/day in PA and 1.25kg/day in SP in 2021 and 1.24kg/day in PA and 1.17kg/day in SP in 2022. During spring, PA-reared animals performed best, likely because of favourable microclimate conditions and abundant pasture, making tree shade unnecessary. Conversely, in summer, as heat stress risk increased-indicated by higher BGHI levels-tree presence in the SP system mitigated heat stress impacts on ADG, resulting in superior SP performance over PA. The hair cortisol levels increased in both groups during the summer, with a significantly greater increase in the PA animals. In 2021, cortisol levels reached 35.04pg/mg in PAs and 26.62pg/mg in SPs. In 2022, cortisol levels rose further to 46.56pg/mg in PAs and 42.94pg/mg in SPs. A decrease of glucose levels in PA group was determined but further research is needed to clarify the effects of heat stress on physiological mechanisms that lead to a change in glucose levels. Effective pasture and system management have been shown to increase productivity, with higher spring stocking rates in open pastures improving animal performance in both years.

Sequence learning following maternal immune activation.

Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a risk factor for schizophrenia. Since memory for sequence and stimulus order are disrupted in individuals with schizophrenia, we tested whether MIA animals showed deficits in a sequence learning and object-place recency memory task. In experiment one, control and MIA-challenged rats were required to nose poke five ports in a cued sequence. The sequences were presented randomly except for one structured sequence that was repetitive and initiated from the same port. Both groups were more accurate on the structured sequence and learned the task at similar rates. When a new structured sequence was presented, control animals were able to respond flexibly and take advantage of the structure, whereas the performance of MIA animals was similar for random and structured sequences. Experiment two tested MIA and control rats were evaluated in a Temporal Ordering for Spatial Locations task (TOSL). Control animals had a significant preference for the object in the least-recent location, indicating a novelty preference, while MIA animals did not, although the between-group difference failed to reach significance. Exploration patterns changed differentially over time, possibly because of variation in habituation processes. As a result, MIA animals were significantly less likely to explore the object at the least-recent location during the second half of the exploration session, compared to control animals. Collectively these studies indicate that while MIA animals are unimpaired in simple sequence learning, they display changes in behaviour compared to controls. Differences may result from habituation rate or inflexibility when responding to change.

Performance improvements and increased ruminal microbial interactions in Angus heifers via supplementation with native rumen bacteria during high-grain challenge

Feedlot cattle may be subjected to digestive disorders, including ruminal acidosis, due to high concentration of grain in their diet. Therefore, novel feeding strategies are required to maximize animal performance and mitigate economic losses in the operation. This study employed a two-period crossover design to assess the effect of direct ruminal administration of native rumen microorganisms (NRM) inoculation on cattle that underwent a high-grain challenge. The NRM inoculation consisted of six microorganisms (1.70 M CFU /day/animal) isolated from the rumen of healthy feedlot cattle: Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens ASCUSBF53, Prevotella albensis ASCUSBF41, Chordicoccus furentiruminis ASCUSBF65, Bacteroides xylanisolvens ASCUSBF52, Clostridium beijerinckii ASCUSBF26, and Syntrophococcus sp. ASCUSBF60. The trial consisted of 16 Angus heifers receiving NRM (n = 8) or a CON (CON = Carrier Buffer; n = 8) inoculation daily for 14-days as pre-challenge while on a high-grain diet and continued daily for a 21-day treatment period. The combined 35 days of microbial supplementation resulted in an improved average daily gain (ADG) of 29% (P = 0.037) and a tendency toward a 19% decrease in the feed efficiency metric, gain to feed ratio (G: F) (P = 0.055). Additionally, administration of NRM to animals on a high-grain diet, improved ruminal microbiome stability (P < 0.001), potentially encouraging the conversion of rumen lactate to propionate over time via the succinate pathway and alleviating metabolic stress.

Performance, Carcass Traits and Meat Quality of Lambs Fed with Increasing Levels of High-Oleic Sunflower Cake

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sunflower cake from high-oleic seeds on performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and intramuscular fatty acid composition of finishing lambs. Thirty-six crossbred ewe lambs were assigned to four treatments (nine lambs/treatment) in a completely randomized design: 0 (control), 150, 300 and 450 g/kg DM of high-oleic sunflower cake. The lambs were weighed weekly and slaughtered with 42.3 ± 0.18 kg body weight and 270 ± 10.8 days of old. The inclusion of sunflower cake did not affect weight gain, dry matter intake and metabolizable energy intake (p &gt; 0.05). There was an increase in neutral detergent fiber and EE intake (p &lt; 0.01) with the inclusion of sunflower cake in the diet of the lambs. The inclusion of sunflower cake reduced hot and cold carcass yields (p &lt; 0.01). Intramuscular fat content, L*, oleic acid, rumenic acid and EPA fatty acids linearly increased (p &lt; 0.01) with the inclusion of high-oleic sunflower cake. The inclusion of high-oleic sunflower cake reduced saturated fatty acids (p &lt; 0.01), except stearic acid, which linearly increased (p &lt; 0.01). Up to 450 g/kg DM of high-oleic sunflower cake in the diet of lambs did not affect animal performance while providing a higher deposition of fat with better fatty acid composition for human consumption.

Can the supplementation of autolyzed yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) affect the diet digestibility, feeding behavior, levels of blood metabolites, and performance of Dorper × Santa Ines lambs finished in feedlot?

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of autolyzed yeast (obtained from culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in sugarcane derivatives) supplementation on diet digestibility, feeding behavior, levels of blood metabolites associated with protein and energy metabolism, and performance of Dorper × Santa Ines lambs finished in feedlot. Twenty-four non-castrated male lambs with an average age of 4months and a body weight (BW) of 19.49 ± 3.08kg were allocated to individual pens within a covered and elevated shed. The pens had a slatted floor without bedding suspended 1.8m above the ground, and an area of 1.5 m2. The trial was set out in a completely randomized design with two treatments and twelve replicates each. The treatments consisted of a basal diet without yeast products (Control) or with yeast culture (Yeast, RumenYeast® at 5g/animal/day). Lambs were fed ad libitum with a total mixed ration (TMR) composed of 400g/kg of dry matter (DM) of Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.) and 600g/kg DM of concentrate feed, and contained 146g/kg DM of crude protein and 2.30 Mcal/kg DM of metabolizable energy. The experiment was conducted over 84days, with the first 14days serving as an adaptation period. The subsequent experimental period was divided into two phases to evaluate animal performance (Days 1-63) and DM digestibility (Days 64-70). The supplementation with autolyzed yeast did not affect rumen or fecal pH, the DM digestibility, as well as the feeding behavior of lambs (the time spent on feeding, rumination, water intake, and idleness activities). In addition, yeast supplementation did not alter the serum levels of albumin, creatinine, urea, or level of plasma glucose, resulting in similar animal performance compared to the Control group. The mean values for final BW, DM intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio were 37.52kg, 1.051kg/day, 0.286kg/day, and 3.74kg DM/kg gain, respectively. In the conditions of this study, the supplementation of autolyzed yeast in TMR (5g/animal/day) does not affect diet digestibility, feeding behavior, blood metabolites, or performance of lambs finished in feedlot. Regarding that metabolic and performance lamb responses were not improved, the supplementation of autolyzed yeast at the tested dose is not recommended. However, it is important to note that markers related to immunity and inflammation were not evaluated in our work, and these should be considered in future studies.

Application of a ImageJ-Based Method to Measure Blood Flow in Adult Zebrafish and Its Applications for Toxicological and Pharmacological Assessments.

Blood flow is an important physiological endpoint to measure cardiovascular performance in animals. Because of their innate transparent bodies, zebrafish is an excellent animal model for assessing in vivo cardiovascular performance. Previously, various helpful methods for measuring blood flow in zebrafish larvae were discovered and developed. However, an optimized method to measure blood flow in adult zebrafish has not been reported. In this paper, the tail fin region was selected as target for blood flow measurements using the Trackmate method, provided by ImageJ platform. Based on power statistic calculations, the aortic vessel at the tail base was selected, and other parameters, such as ambient temperature, were investigated for method standardization, in order to minimize experimental variation. The method was also validated using fenpropathrin and ponatinib, which showed some cardiac alterations in a previous zebrafish study. We also checked the versatility of this method by following the same setup in black tetra and medaka and found that this method performed well. However, our results show that heavy pigmentation, like that found in tiger barb, and overlapping vessels, like those in parrot fish, make it hard for this method to perform well. Overall, an optimized protocol was used for the first time to measure blood flow velocity in adult wild-type zebrafish without the aid of transgenic lines or fluorescent dye.

Linking Animal Feed Formulation to Milk Quantity, Quality, and Animal Health Through Data-Driven Decision-Making.

The global demand for high-quality animal products, particularly dairy, has intensified the need for more precise and efficient livestock feed formulation. This review connects data-driven decision-making in optimizing feed formulation to enhance milk quantity and quality while addressing animal health implications. Modern feed formulation has evolved into a sophisticated, data-centric process by integrating diverse data sources such as nutritional databases, environmental data, and animal performance metrics. Leveraging advanced analytical techniques, such as machine learning and optimization algorithms, have created highly accurate feed formulations tailored to specific livestock needs. These innovations increase milk yield and contribute to developing dairy products with higher nutritional value. Decision Support Systems play a complementary role by offering real-time decision-making capabilities, enabling farmers to make data-informed adjustments composition based on changing conditions. However, despite its potential, the widespread adoption of data-driven feed formulation faces challenges such as data quality, technological limitations, and industry resistance, mostly disjointed processes. The objectives of this review are: (i) to explore the current advancements and challenges of data-driven decision-making in feed formulation, focusing on its connection to milk quantity and quality, and (ii) to highlight how this optimized feed formulation strategy improves sustainable dairy production.