Carcass Characteristics Research Articles

Effect of supplementation of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) cladodes, Acacia saligna, wheat bran and cotton seed cake on feed intake, digestibility, growth and carcass characteristics of goats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) cladodes, Acacia saligna, wheat bran and cotton seed cake on growth, digestibility, intake and carcass characteristics of goats. A randomized complete block design was used in the experiment with 24 yearling central highland goats with an initial body weight of 15.6 - 16.1kg. The same amount of grass hay (GH) + 150 gDM/head/day wheat bran (WB) was given to all animals. The experimental diets consisted of 80 cotton seed cake (CSC) as treatment 1 (T1), 45CSC +160 cactus cladodes (CC) as T2, 45CSC+ 80 Acacia saligna (AS) as T3, and 45CSC+80CC+40AS as T4 (gram dry matter: DM, per day per goat), Data were gathered on the goats' growth, digestibility, intake, and carcass of major organs, edible and nonedible organs. The consumption of dry matter and organic matter was higher in goats fed T2 and T4 than in the T1 group. The DM, organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) digestibility, average daily body weight gain and feed conversion efficiency were higher in T4 and T3 goats when compared to T2 goats. Goats fed on T4 had higher hot carcass weight and dressing percentage on slaughter body weight basis than T2, T3, and T1 supplemented goats. Generally, the experimental diets improved goats’ performance in descending order (T4 > T3 >T1 >T2). Supplementation of T4 (replacement of 35 g DM of cotton seed cake per day by 40g of Acacia saligna and 80g of cactus cladodes on dry matter bases) could be recommended to improve goat performance.

Study of Growth Performance and Carcass Quality of Different Broiler Breeds

Study of Growth Performance and Carcass Quality of Different Broiler Breeds

Effects of Carica Papaya Leaves and Fermented Fish Waste on the Production Performance of Broiler Chickens

Introduction: Poultry feed management requires novel dietary additives to enhance chicken performance and manage feed availability. The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of Carica papaya leaf meal (CPL) and fermented fish waste (FFW) in water on different growth indicators, such as body weight, carcass yield, feed intake, and conversion rate of Bovans brown male broiler chickens. Materials and methods: A randomized complete block design with a 2x4 factorial arrangement was used to study the effect of the combination supplementation of the 10% CPL with FW at 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. Both additives combination treatment was replicated four times with five broiler chicks per replication, a total of 160-day-old male Bovans brown broilers with 39-40g body weight were used in the current study. The duration of the study was 20 days (from the 16th to 35th days of age). Results: Studies have revealed that CPL negatively impacted the final body weight, whereas FFW positively influenced feed intake, final weight, and weight gain. Moreover, 15% of FFW supplementation resulted in noteworthy increases in drumstick and thigh weights compared to the control group, with significant interactions identified between CPL and FFW for breast, wing, and back weights. However, neither CPL nor FFW had an impact on the weights of edible visceral organs. The palatability of meat quality assessment showed no significant difference among the treatments. Adding CPL and FFW increased weights and profits, with the best rate of intake observed in broilers given the standard diet plus 15% of FFW supplementation. Conclusion: These results indicated that using CPL and FFW at 10% and 15%, respectively was a financially feasible approach to improve broiler development, carcass quality, and profitability while capitalizing on nutritional advantages and reducing environmental waste.

Effects of drinking saline water on carcass traits and meat quality of growing and mature Blackhead Ogaden sheep and Somali goats.

Water salinity has a significant impact on water quality, posing challenges for livestock production and productivity, particularly in arid regions where climate change affects freshwater availability. This study aimed to determine the effect of drinking saline water on the carcass and meat quality traits of sheep and goats in Ethiopia. A total of 100 males with an average initial body weight of growing (18.17 ± 0.51) and mature (22.22 ± 0.52kg) Blackhead Ogaden sheep and growing (17.99 ± 0.50) and mature (21.99 ± 0.54) kg) Somali goats were used. The design of the experiment was a three-way factorial RCBD with three-factor combinations (5 treatment levels, 2 species, and 2 age groups).Water treatments were natural water (Lake Basaka water (control), low saline water (L-SW), moderate saline water (M-SW), high saline water (H-SW), and very high saline water (VH-SW); that is, NaCl was added to natural water at concentrations of 7.95, 11.93, 15.90, and 19.88g TDS/L, respectively. The finding showed that increasing salinity levels in drinking water reduced slaughter body weight (SBW), carcass weight (CW), dressing percentage (DP), rib eye area (RAE), total edible components (TEC), and increased total non-edible components (TNEC) (P < 0.05). Similarly, sheep and mature animals had higher (P < 0.001) SBW, CW, DP, RAE, and TEC than goats and growing animals. Sensory evaluation, shear force, and proximate analysis were affected by water salinity, species, and age groups (P < 0.05). Overall, the study revealed that consuming saline water above 11g TDS/L affected carcass traits and meat quality in Somali goats and Blackhead Ogaden sheep.

Comparative assessment of meat carcass quality of healthy and fasciolosis-affected animals

Background: Fasciolosis is a zoonotic disease that primarily affects cattle in Armenia, leading to significant economic losses. Due to the absence of an integrated plan to combat fasciolosis in the Republic of Armenia, there is a lack of statistical data, and no systematic registration or diagnostic measures are conducted for animals affected by the disease. Additionally, milk and meat from animals undergoing curative and preventive treatments are often sold without considering the appropriate waiting period or the nutritional value of the products. As a result, the population and food industry receive food and raw materials that do not meet the required nutritional standards. Objectives։ The objective of this study is to investigate the nutritional value of meat carcasses obtained from animals suffering from fasciolosis and supplied to the population of the republic. This includes analyzing caloric content, protein levels, fat, ash, and moisture content. Approximately 70% of the cattle bred in small rural farms are locally acclimatized, low-yielding meat-and-dairy crossbreeds. Methods: The research was conducted in the laboratory of the Research Center of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Sanitary Expert Examination at the Armenian National Agrarian University. Samples of meat carcasses and offal from infected animals were collected from slaughterhouses in the Ararat region. For the formation of research groups, the presence of pathogens in the liver and the extent of damage to the bile ducts were used as criteria. The samples were divided into three groups: The first group served as a control, consisting of muscle tissues taken from the carcasses of seven healthy cattle. The second group, labeled as slightly affected, included 16 cattle whose livers contained pathogens, though the infection of the bile ducts was not significantly pronounced. The third group, labeled as severely affected, included 15 cattle with livers whose bile ducts were severely damaged and calcified. Results: Although no qualitative deviations were observed in the organoleptic properties of meat from animals affected by fasciolosis, the chemical composition and physicochemical properties of this valuable food product have undergone significant changes. Specifically, caloric content decreased by 1.85-3.35%, protein levels by 8.49-12.3%, and fat content by 9.71-17.11%. In contrast, ash content increased by 8.45-25.35%, and moisture content rose by 3.86-8.41%. Conclusion: The scientific novelty of this study lies in the investigation of the decline in nutritional value observed in meat from animals with fasciolosis. The research results demonstrate that the chemical composition of meat carcasses from animals affected by fasciolosis is directly related to the degree of infection. Infected animals show a decrease nutritional value, primarily due to a reduction in the most valuable component—protein. Additionally, the ratio of protein to fat decreases, in contrast to the higher levels found in the meat of healthy animals. These changes lead to a reduction in the overall nutritional value of the meat carcass, resulting in the population consuming meat of lower nutritional quality. Keywords: fasciolosis, calorie content, meat carcass, large cattle.

Additive effects of Bridelia ferruginea leaf meal as a partial replacement for soybean meal on nutrients digestibility, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of weaner rabbits

BackgroundProtein is a crucial nutrient for enhancing livestock performance and productivity, traditionally sourced from soybean and fish meal. However, issues like erratic availability and rising prices necessitate exploring alternative protein sources. Tropical plants, especially leaf meals, are being considered to replace or supplement conventional protein sources in rabbit diets. Bridelia ferruginea, a plant abundant in West Africa, is recognized for its medicinal properties, but its potential as an animal feed is largely unexplored. This study aims to evaluate the impact of graded levels of Bridelia ferruginea leaf meal (BFLM) as a partial substitute for soybean meal in the diets of weaner rabbits.Materials and methodsThe experiment was conducted at the Animal Science Department of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. BFLM was obtained by air-drying harvested leaves and milling them. Four diets were formulated, with BFLM partially replacing soybean meal at levels of 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%. Representative samples of BFLM and all formulated diets were analyzed for their proximate composition and detergent fibre fractions. Twenty-four weaner rabbits were assigned to these diets in a Completely Randomized Design. The study covered a 10-week period, assessing growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, and economics of production.ResultsThe chemical composition of BFLM revealed favorable attributes for rabbit feeding, with 20.5% crude protein and 92.6% dry matter. Growth performance declined at 30% BFLM inclusion, indicating a possible impact of anti-nutritional factors. Feed conversion ratio increased at higher BFLM levels. Nutrient digestibility showed a decline in dry matter digestibility at 30% BFLM. Carcass characteristics were affected at higher BFLM levels, with dressing percentage decreasing. Weights of internal organs were generally not negatively affected by the inclusion of BFLM. Economic analysis indicated a linear reduction in feed cost with increasing BFLM inclusion.ConclusionThe study suggests that BFLM can be incorporated up to 20% in weaner rabbit diets without compromising productivity, nutrient digestibility, or dressing percentage. Beyond 20%, adverse effects on growth performance and some carcass characteristics were observed. Economically, BFLM incorporation up to 20% lowered feed costs without compromising feed efficiency. Incorporation of BFLM up to 20% in weaner rabbit diets had no adverse effects on the weights and functions of the heart, liver, and kidneys. Overall, BFLM presents a promising alternative protein source for weaner rabbit diets, contributing to cost-effective and sustainable livestock production.

A review of porcine skeletal muscle plasticity and implications for genetic improvement of carcass and meat quality*

Skeletal muscle is characterized by a remarkable plasticity to adapt to stimuli such as contractile activity, loading conditions, substrate supply or environmental factors. The existing knowledge of muscle plasticity along with developed genetic and genomic technologies, have enabled creating animal breeding strategies and allowed for implementing agriculturally successful porcine genetic improvement programs. The primary focus of this review paper is on pig skeletal muscle plasticity as it relates to genetic improvement of desirable carcass composition and pork quality traits. Biological constraints between practically realized breeding objectives, pig skeletal muscle biology, and pork quality are also discussed. Future applications of genetic and genomic technologies and plausible focus on new breeding objectives enhancing pork production sustainability are proposed as well.

Dried distiller’s grains in the diets of feedlot lambs: implications for production, carcass characteristics and rumen morphometrics

Context The demand and production of renewable fuels are boosting the production of biofuels. Agricultural industries have been playing a role in the increase of ethanol production from corn and, consequently, their by-products. Dried distiller’s grain (DDG) is a by-product of corn ethanol and can be used as a source of protein and energy in the diet of feedlot lambs. Aims The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the effects of including DDG in high-concentrate diets on performance, rumen morpho-histology, and carcass characteristics in feedlot lambs. Methods Forty-five Santa Inês × Dorper male lambs with an initial body weight of 21 ± 3.2 kg (mean ± s.d.) and 82 ± 12 days old (mean ± s.d.) were distributed in a randomised complete-block design (nine blocks and five treatments). The experimental diets contained 900 g/kg of concentrate and 100 g/kg of coastcross hay, and DDG was used in replacement of soybean meal and corn. Lambs were fed one of the following five diets for 112 days: control without DDG (0DDG), or diet with 150 (150DDG), 300 (300DDG), 450 (450DDG) and 600 (600DDG) g/kg DM of DDG. Key results The inclusion of DDG from 150 up to 600 g/kg DM in the diet of the lambs linearly decreased (P &lt; 0.01) dry-matter intake (DMI), net energy of maintenance intake, net energy of gain, average daily gain, final body weight and feed efficiency (P &lt; 0.01). The inclusion of DDG linearly decreased (P ≤ 0.04) hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, hot carcass yield and cold carcass yield. For ruminal morpho-histology, there was a linear decrease in the area of papillae and absorptive surface area (P &lt; 0.01) Conclusions An increase in the DDG level from 150 to 600 g/kg DM in the diet of lambs negatively affected feedlot performance, with detrimental effects on carcass traits and the development of rumen papillae. The lambs showed low acceptance of DDG, even at the lowest level of dietary inclusion (150g/kg DM) as DMI was impaired. Implications DDG should be used with caution in diets for finishing lambs. Dietary inclusion of DDG up to 150 g/kg DM is recommended. Higher inclusions levels may significantly affect performance and carcass weight and yield.

Heritability and Genetic Correlations of Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in White and Brown Strains of Japanese Quail

Successful breeding programs for Japanese quails rely on accurately estimating genetic parameters linked to economically important traits such as body weight, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. The objective of the present study was to evaluate body weight (BW) characteristics, carcass attributes, and their genetic correlations with select meat quality traits in two strains of Japanese quail (white and brown). A total of 530 quail chicks, with 265 from each strain, were included in the analysis. At six weeks of age, the quails were slaughtered, and carcass traits as well as amino acid profiles were measured. For BW traits, the heritability (h2) estimates ranged from 0.27 at d 1 to 0.36 at d 42. The h2 estimated for carcass traits ranged from 0.19 for liver weight, to 0.42 for carcass yield (CY). The h2 estimated for drip loss (DL) of meat quality was 0.21, and the h2 estimate was 0.35 for the meat's ultimate Ph (Phu). White quail quails recorded the heaviest weight of all carcass traits. Also, white quails had the highest water-holding capacity (WHC), yellowness (b*), and lightness (L*) with the lowest level of DL, cooking losses (CL), and redness (a*) in muscles compared with brown quails. A high genetic correlation of 0.32 was noted between CW carcass weight (CW) and b*. For the pHU, a negative correlation of -0.11 was exhibited with BW. In contrast, L* appeared to have a positive but smaller relationship with CW and CY. High negative correlations were noted for b* with BW and CY -0.24 and -0.27, respectively. The CW showed a moderate relationship (0.19) with CL. In conclusion, the current study revealed that the white quail strain had high BW, as well as the finest carcass traits and meat quality. Therefore, white plumage Japanese quail might be preferred as a meat-producing strain. Keywords: Amino acid, Carcass, Genetic correlation, Meat quality, Heritability, Quail

Carcass Characteristics and Blood Biochemical Parameters of Cobb-500 and Hubbard Chicken Strains Fed on Commercial and Farm-Formulated Diets

The limits of commercial diets, their quality, and their rising costs are some of the major challenges to broiler production in Ethiopia. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate carcass yield characteristics and blood biochemical parameters of Cobb-500 and Hubbard chicken strains fed on farm-formulated diets (T1) and three different commercial diets (T2, T3, and T4). A total of 384 mixed-sex day-old chicks (192 per strain) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments with four replicates, each consisting of 12 broilers. The experiment was set up as a 2 × 4 factorial design, providing each strain with four diets in a completely randomized design. After 42 days of the experiment, one male and one female of each strain from each pen (eight birds per treatment) were slaughtered for carcass yield and hematological analysis. Although diets had a significant impact on live body weight, feed conversion ratio, and feed consumption among the study treatments, they had no significant effect on the mortality rate of the broilers as a whole. There was a significant effect of strains on the weight of eviscerate, dress, thigh, drumstick, breast, neck, back, and eviscerate yield percentage, with Cobb 500 showing higher values than Hubbard broilers. The farm-formulated diet (T1) significantly increased the weight of non-edible offal compared to the commercial diets, except for the weight of crops and lungs, which were similar to those in commercial diet group T4. The Hubbard strain showed a higher least square mean for packed cell volume than the Cobb-500 strain. Sex was found to have no significant impact on the hematological parameters. The farm-formulated diet (T1) also resulted in a higher marginal return rate than that of the commercial diet (T3) in the Cobb-500 strain. These findings suggest that locally sourced farm-formulated diets could be a viable alternative to commercial diets for broiler chickens in the study area. Keywords: Broiler chicken, biochemical parameter, Carcass trait, Farm-made diet, Haematology, Profitable

Genome-Wide Association Studies of Hair Whorl in Pigs.

In pigs, a hair whorl refers to hairs that form a ring of growth around the direction of the hair follicle at the dorsal hip. In China, a hair whorl is considered a negative trait that affects marketing, and no studies have been conducted to demonstrate whether hair whorl affects pig performance and provide an explanation for its genetic basis. Performance-measured traits and slaughter-measured traits of hair whorl and non-hair whorl pigs were differentially analyzed, followed by genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) and copy number variation (CNV) methods to investigate the genetic basis of hair whorl in pigs. Differential analysis of 2625 pigs (171 hair whorl and 2454 non-hair whorl) for performance measures showed that hair whorl and non-hair whorl pigs differed significantly (p < 0.05) in traits such as live births, total litter size, and healthy litter size (p < 0.05), while differential analysis of carcass and meat quality traits showed a significant difference only in the 45 min pH (p = 0.0265). GWAS identified 4 SNP loci significantly associated with the hair whorl trait, 2 of which reached genome-significant levels, and 23 candidate genes were obtained by annotation with the Ensembl database. KEGG and GO enrichment analyses showed that these genes were mainly enriched in the ErbB signaling, endothelial apoptosis regulation, and cell proliferation pathways. In addition, CNV analysis identified 652 differential genes between hair whorl and non-hair whorl pigs, which were mainly involved in the signal transduction, transcription factor activity, and nuclear and cytoplasmic-related pathways. The candidate genes and copy number variation differences identified in this study provide a new theoretical basis for pig breeding efforts.

Effects of chickpea grain feeding on the growth and carcass features of growing lambs.

An investigation was conducted to find out how diet formulation of chickpea grains (CHPE) rather than soybean meal and barely grain affected the performance, blood metabolites, carcass, and meat quality features of Awassi lambs. Thirty lambs, with an average age of 73 ± 0.85 days and an initial body weight of 21.0 ± 1.29kg, were randomly assigned into one of three diets, with 10 lambs per treatment diet. The diets were designed to replace a portion of the barley grain and soybean meal and included no CHPE (CON), 7.5% CHPE (CHPE7.5), and 15% CHPE (CHPE15). Lambs were individually housed, fed every day, and weighed every two weeks to measure performance characteristics over the 60-day study period. Four lambs per treatment were chosen at random on day 42 to participate in an N balance study and assess diet digestibility. All lambs were slaughtered at the termination of the trial period to measure the features of the carcass characteristics and meat quality. As the amount of CHPE included in the diets increased, the cost of diets reduced. As the amount of CHPE in the diets increased, so did the intake of ether extract (EE). The CON group's cost per kilogram of increase was higher (P = 0.017) than that of the CHPE7.5 and CHEP15 groups. The digestibility of EE was higher (P = 0.024) in the CHPE15 diet as opposed to the CHPE7.5 and CON diets. The various treatments did not impact blood metabolites, carcass features, or meat quality. Therefore, the present study suggested that chickpeas might be added to the diets of finishing lambs up to 15% of dry matter.

Synergistic Effects of Hydroxychloride and Organic Zinc on Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Liver and Tibia Mineral Profiles of Broiler Chickens

AbstractThis study investigated the potential synergism between hydroxychloride and organic zinc (Zn) at different levels on performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. There were seven experimental diets including a negative control diet without any supplemental Zn, and six diets with 80 mg/kg added Zn in the forms of ZnSO4, hydroxychloride Zn (HCZ) and organic Zn (ORZ), and a combination of HCZ and ORZ at 40 mg/kg HCZ + 40 mg/kg ORZ (HCZ40-ORZ40), 55 mg/kg HCZ + 25 mg/kg ORZ (HCZ55-ORZ25), and 70 mg/kg HCZ + 10 mg/kg ORZ (HCZ70-ORZ10). Each diet was replicated eight times with 17 chicks per replicate. On day 35, HCZ70-ORZ10 and HCZ40-ORZ40 diets resulted in the highest body weights (P &lt; 0.05). Throughout the entire production period (1–35 days), all HCZ and ORZ diets significantly improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to PC (P &lt; 0.05), with HCZ40-ORZ40 showing the lowest FCR. Breast meat yield was lower in NC-fed birds, while HCZ80 and HCZ70-ORZ10 groups had the lowest abdominal fat weight (P &lt; 0.05). Liver and gizzard weight, tibia breaking strength, and ash percentage, footpad dermatitis, and hock burns were not affected. Tibia Zn content was higher in HCZ or ORZ-supplemented birds compared to NC (P &lt; 0.05), whereas other minerals in tibia and liver were unaffected. In summary, the absence of supplemental Zn negatively affects growth and carcass characteristics, whereas replacing ZnSO4 with HCZ, ORZ, or their combinations improves bodyweight and FCR. HCZ70-ORZ10 and HCZ40-ORZ40 were identified as optimal combinations for maximizing feed efficiency.

Feeding snails (Archachatina marginata) with leaves: growth performance, carcass characteristics, nutrient digestibility, proximate composition and minerals contents of snail meat

Feeding snails (Archachatina marginata) with leaves: growth performance, carcass characteristics, nutrient digestibility, proximate composition and minerals contents of snail meat

Effects of Feeding Systems on the Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality in Sheep: A Meta-Analysis.

Meat quality is important in the meat-production chain. Conflicting reports of the effects of feeding systems on sheep growth performance and meat quality exist. By way of meta-analysis, we reviewed the literature on the growth and slaughter performance, and meat quality of lambs that grazed solely on pasture, those that grazed on pasture but received a dietary supplement, and those were exclusively fed indoors. The relevant literature comprised 28 papers, from which response variables of interest were obtained. Compared with stall-fed sheep, pasture-grazing led to significantly (p < 0.05) lower average daily gain, slaughter live weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, and similar dressing percentage, but pasture-grazed sheep fed a supplement had similar (p > 0.05) values for each of these attributes to stall-fed sheep. The quality of the longissimus muscle from lambs that grazed either exclusively on pasture or pasture with a supplement had significantly (p < 0.05) lower lightness and intramuscular fat content, and significantly (p < 0.05) higher yellowness, Warner-Bratzler shear force, and protein content than meat from stall-fed sheep. We conclude that sheep that have fed exclusively on pasture have lower carcass yield and meat edibility, but improved meat quality, and that pasture-fed sheep that received a supplement had comparable carcass attributes, but greater meat color and health quality than stall-fed sheep.

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Northern Finncattle steers compared to Holstein steers offered grass silage‐grain‐based ration

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Northern Finncattle steers compared to Holstein steers offered grass silage‐grain‐based ration

Dehydrated Brewery Residue (DBR) can reduce the cost of rabbit production in Brazil, but affects performance, blood nutrients, and carcass characteristics

The study aimed to determine the chemical composition, apparent digestibility of dry matter, energy, and nutrients of Dehydrated Brewery Residue (DBR) for New Zealand White rabbits, as well as evaluate performance, biochemical and immunological blood parameters, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Two experiments were carried out: digestibility and performance, both in a completely randomized design. In the digestibility experiment, 20 animals of mixed sexes were used, from 45 to 60 days of age, which consumed reference feed (RF) or test feed (TF - 70% RF + 30% DBR). In the performance experiment, 50 mixed-sex animals were used from 31 to 70 days of age. For digestibility, bromatological analyses were made of total dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ether extract (EE), mineral matter (MM), organic matter (OM), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), gross energy (GE), hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin from samples of feces, feed (RF and TF) and experimental feed (DBR). In terms of performance, the treatments were the basal feed (BF) + four TF, made up of increasing levels of DBR inclusion (10, 20, 30, and 40%). Overall, the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of DM was 64.68 ±7.91%, while the ADC of GE and CP were 67.39 ±7.79% and 80.64 ±8.99%, respectively, resulting in digestible energy and digestible protein contents of 3,081 ±356 kcal/kg and 17.97 ±2.00%. There was a linear reduction (P&lt;0.05) in the final weight, daily weight gain, and daily feed intake, but there was a linear reduction in production costs (P&lt;0.05) for both the 31- to 50-day phase and the 31- to 70-day phase. Circulating levels of calcium (P=0.013) and phosphorus (P=0.019) responded in a linear decreasing pattern to the experimental feeds. The same response was observed for slaughter weight, hot and cold carcass weight, yield of skin, head, commercial cuts, and relative weight of edible organs, as well as meat quality, in which the loss of water on thawing (P=0.004) and shear force (P=0.005) indicated less juiciness and less tenderness in the meat. Levels of 10 to 40% DBR in feed for rabbits from 31 to 70 days of age mitigate production costs, but result in a worsening of performance and reduce circulating levels of calcium and phosphorus, reduce carcass weight, commercial cuts, and edible organs, as well as increasing water loss on thawing, and reducing meat tenderness.

Research Note: The infectious bursal disease (Gumboro disease) vaccination scheme affects the quantitative and qualitative carcass characteristics and the immune response of Ross 308 broiler chickens

After different vaccinations, the study aimed to assess carcass composition, meat quality, and the level of the infectious bursal disease antibody titers in broiler chickens. In the experiment, 4 (30 chicks per group, 120 total) groups of Ross 308 broiler chickens (males and females) were included. Then, they were vaccinated at the hatchery. Group I was immunized against infectious avian bronchitis (IB) and Newcastle disease (ND) using vaccine A (20 mL/100 birds) and vaccine B (20 mL/100 birds), respectively, with injectable vaccine C (0.2 mL/each) targeting Infectious bursal' and Marek's diseases (MD). Group II received the same vaccinations for IB and ND, with separate injectable D vaccines for MD (0.2 mL/unit) and E for infectious bursal' disease (0.2 mL/each). Group III was similarly vaccinated for IB and ND; however, they received only vaccine D (0.2 mL/each) for MD, and on d 23, vaccine F was administered via drinking water against Gumboro disease (0.05 mL/each). Group IV served as the control and was not vaccinated. Ten carcasses from each group on d 42 were taken for carcass composition analysis and meat quality, including pH, color, and water-holding capacity (WHC). During rearing, on d 14, 28, and 42, blood was collected to determine the level of antibodies against infectious bursal' disease. Additionally, hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB), and red blood cells were analyzed. In group I, a higher bursa of Fabricius weight than in the other groups was found (P < 0.001), and the liver weight was lower compared to group II (P = 0.020). In breast muscle, the pH24 was higher in the control group than in group I (P = 0.036). Lightness (L*) in breast and leg muscles from group I was higher than in group II (P < 0.05). WHC was higher in group I than in group II (P = 0.025). The antibody titers of infectious bursal' disease was higher in group I on d 28 than in other groups (P < 0.05). Vaccine C (1 dose 0.2 mL/1 bird) of the reconstituted vaccine with the live recombinant virus strain vHVT013-69, not less than 3.6 - 5.0 log10 PFU) had a beneficial effect.

Beef-on-dairy: current and potential meat quality of dairy-based beef production with culled Holstein cows and Danish Blue × Holstein crossbred calves

ABSTRACT This study characterizes rosé veal from 412 Danish Blue × Holstein heifer and bull calves and beef from 183 highly marbled culled Holstein dairy cows. Furthermore, it investigates the potential for breeding higher meat quality in dairy crossbreeds via genetic parameter estimation. Carcasses were split between the 5th and 6th thoracic vertebra and the meat quality of M. longissimus thoracis was evaluated for pH, color, cooking loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), and chemical intramuscular fat concentration (IMF%). Genetic parameters were estimated using an animal model. The crossbred bull calves outperformed heifers in carcass characteristics, while heifers were superior in redness, cooking loss, WBSF and IMF%. Heritability was significant for WBSF, cooking loss, and IMF%, indicating that meat quality can be improved through selective breeding. The meat quality of highly marbled Holstein cows did not vary across parities, highlighting them as an under-utilized potential source of high-quality beef from a beef-on-dairy system.

PSIV-15 Effect of transient fetal bovine viral diarrhea virus infection on postnatal growth, estimated dry matter digestibility, glucose concentrations, and carcass characteristics

Abstract Fetal infection of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) before d 125 to 150 of gestation results in the birth of immunotolerant, persistently infected (PI) calves. Infection of BVDV during late gestation results in transient fetal infections (TI). Unvaccinated, yearling Hereford heifers (n = 25), seronegative for antibodies to BVDV1 and BVDV2, were bred by artificial insemination with X chromosome-bearing sperm from an Angus sire to examine the impact of TI on postnatal growth, estimated dry matter digestibility, blood glucose concentrations, and carcass characteristics. On d 175 of pregnancy, heifers were intranasally inoculated with either DMEM + 2% horse serum (sham control) to generate control calves or 4.0 log TCID50 noncytopathic type2 BVDV to generate TI calves. All sham-inoculated control dams remained seronegative, and all BVDV-inoculated dams seroconverted by d 14 post-inoculation. Sham-inoculated control dams (n = 12) and BVDV-inoculated dams (n = 12) gave birth to live calves. All control offspring were seronegative, and all TI offspring were seropositive for antibodies to type 2 BVDV at birth. All offspring were raised on pasture until weaning. At weaning, all calves were transported to our feedlot research facility, housed in one group feedlot pen, and transitioned to a high-energy concentrate-based diet until reaching an approximate BW of 600 kg. Upon arrival at the feedlot, all animals received a standard heifer growth implant, a modified live viral vaccine containing IBR-BRSV-PI3 and were dewormed. Heifer BW and jugular blood samples were collected every 28 d. On d 84 of the feeding period, titanium dioxide was added to the diet of 12, age-paired, individually fed, heifers (3 control and 3 TI heifers; approximately 1 yr of age) for 28 d and used to estimate dry matter digestibility. After approximately 280 d on feed heifers were transported to a USDA-inspected abattoir and harvested. The TI heifers had lighter birth weights (P &amp;lt; 0.03) and final BW (P &amp;lt; 0.04) when compared with control heifers. Average daily gain was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) in control compared with TI heifers. Blood glucose concentrations were similar between control and TI heifers at all sampling time points. Dry matter intake of individually fed heifers was similar across treatments. TI heifers had a 2.2% lesser (P &amp;lt; 0.05) dry matter digestibility and lighter (P &amp;lt; 0.01) hot carcass weights compared with controls. These data suggest that TI fetal BVDV infection negatively impacts growth throughout the feeding period, possibly by impacting gastrointestinal tract function. This research was supported by USDA-NIFA Grant # 2019-67015-29866.