Integrated multi-omics implicates the gut microbiota and bilirubin in abdominal fat deposition in Huainan yellow chickens.

Partial insect-based meal inclusion in the diets of Ross® 308 broilers upregulates growth and immune related genes

In this study, meat quality characteristics of Anatolian local geese (Anser anser domesticus) and Mast geese (Anser anser) reared under semi-intensive conditions were compared. A total of 100 geese were used: 50 from each breed, 25 males and 25 females, aged 16-18 weeks. No statistically significant difference was found between the two breeds in terms of live weight (LW) and cold carcass weight (CW) (P > 0.05). However, it was determined that males in both breeds had higher live weight and cold carcass weight than females (P < 0.05). Liver weight of Mast geese (71.81g) was significantly higher than that of Anatolian local geese (32.91g) (P < 0.05). In color analysis, the b* value (yellowness) of Anatolian local geese minced meat was higher than that of Mast geese (P < 0.05). For breast meat, Mast geese had a higher a* value (redness), while Anatolian local geese had a higher b* value (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed between breeds in terms of chemical composition (dry matter, moisture, protein, fat, ash) and physicochemical traits (pH, water holding capacity, cooking loss, and penetrometer values) (P > 0.05).

The genetic relationship between heifer pregnancy (HP) and carcass traits in purebred Angus cattle was evaluated in this study to expand industry knowledge of the impact of carcass trait selection on HP and the potential use of carcass traits as indicators of HP. Historical data consisting of 1,462 records for HP and 4,519 records for carcass traits from the Iowa State University McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm were used in this study. A pedigree consisting of 10,455 individuals with parent generations ranging from 1 to 9 for sires and 1 to 11 for dams was used to build relationships among individuals. Genetic correlations between HP and carcass traits were analyzed using multivariate models consisting of HP, weaning weight (WWT), and a single carcass trait. Results from this study estimated a low heritability of 0.09 ± 0.06 for HP and estimates of 0.36 ± 0.04 for ribeye area (REA), 0.39 ± 0.04 for backfat thickness (FAT), 0.48 ± 0.04 for marbling score (MS) 0.38 ± 0.04 for hot carcass weight (HCW), 0.18 ± 0.03 for weaning weight direct (WWTd), and 0.07 ± 0.02 for weaning weight maternal (WWTm). Genetic correlations between HP and both carcass and weaning traits were negative with estimates of -0.32 ± 0.23 for REA, -0.22 ± 0.23 for FAT, -0.10 ± 0.22 for MS, -0.44 ± 0.21 for HCW, and -0.20 ± 0.25 for WWTd. All estimates of genetic correlation were accompanied by large standard errors. The results from this study suggest a potential antagonistic genetic relationship between heifer pregnancy and carcass trait performance in this herd of Angus cattle.

Direct-Fed Microbials in Diets of Market Pigs Did Not Impact Salmonella Levels, Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli, Growth Performance, and Carcass Characteristics.

Reducing methane emissions from ruminant livestock is a global priority, yet no consensus exists on the optimal trait definition for methane emissions. This study compared absolute, ratio-based and residual methane emission metrics in order to quantify their phenotypic inter-relationships and their associations with key production traits in sheep. Gaseous emissions, including methane, and performance data were collected from 15,385 records on 8,182 sheep, including both growing animals and mature ewes, using portable accumulation chambers. Additional data available included live weight, metabolic body weight (MBW), dry matter intake (DMI), slaughter data (carcass weight and days to slaughter), and computed tomography measurements such as rumen volume, predicted kill-out percentage and kg of muscle/fat mass. Statistical analysis assessed phenotypic correlations, repeatability, and animal ranking differences across methane metrics. The repeatability of methane emissions was moderate (26% in growing animals; 34% in ewes), while body weight was highly repeatable (74% in growing animals; 68% in ewes). Males emitted 0.55-1.36 g/day more than females (P < 0.01). Absolute methane emissions were strongly correlated with intensity metrics such as methane per metabolic body weight (0.83 ± 0.01 in growing animals; 0.96 ± 0.004 in ewes), while methane yield (g/kg DMI) was weakly correlated (0.28 ± 0.01 to 0.30 ± 0.01), highlighting its dependence on feed intake variability. Residual methane traits (e.g., residual methane adjusted for metabolic body weight, RMTMBW) accounted for performance-related differences and captured individual biological variation (e.g., range -16.6 to 13.4 g/day in ewes), with moderate correlations to absolute methane emissions (r = 0.54-0.68). Animals selected for low methane yield or residual traits tended to have higher DMI and daily emissions, while absolute trait selection favoured smaller, less productive animals. These findings demonstrate that methane metrics capture distinct biological processes and are not interchangeable. Trait choice must align with breeding and production objectives, whether to reduce total emissions, improve efficiency, or identify inherently low emitters.

Risk factors and prevalence of carcass lesions associated with pre-slaughter logistics and ultimate meat pH in finishing pigs under mountainous tropical conditions.

Growth performances, meat quality and intestinal histomorphology in broilers fed zinc-enriched Camelina sativa seeds from agronomic biofortification

To evaluate the effects of four processing methods: intact corn (IT), ground corn (GD; ground to 2 mm), steam-flaked corn (SF; steamed at 85°C-100°C for 90 min and flaked to 2.5 mm thickness), and whole steamed corn (WS; steamed at 85°C-100°C for 90 min without flaking), on growth performance, digestibility, blood biochemistry, rumen microbiota, carcass traits, and meat quality in fattening lambs. Eighty-four male crossbred lambs (Small tailed Han×Northeastern Fine wool; 4.5 months; 34.2±3.5 kg) were blocked by stratifying body weight and then randomly assigned to four treatments (n = 21), each with 50% (as-fed) corn in the diet. In GD and WS treatments, corn was pelleted with other ingredients; in IT and SF treatments, corn was fed separately alongside non-corn pellets at a 1:1 (as-fed) ratio. After a 14 d adaptation period, lambs were fed for 60 d. Body weights were recorded on d 0, 30, and 60; blood samples were collected on d 31 and 60; and rumen fluid was sampled on d 35. Apparent total tract digestibility was determined by total fecal collection in a subset of lambs, and six lambs per treatment were slaughtered for carcass evaluation. Lambs fed the WS diet showed the greatest average daily gain (ADG) at 319 g/d, improving 22%, 24%, and 7% over GD (261 g/d), SF (257 g/d), and IT (298 g/d) diets, respectively (p = 0.013). Dry matter intake did not differ significantly among treatments (p = 0.307), though WS, GD, and IT numerically exceeded SF by 6.7%-10.8%. Apparent total tract dry matter digestibility was greatest in SF (74.1%) and WS (72.1%), exceeding GD (69.3%) and IT (66.3%; p = 0.001) for the overall diet. Corn processing also altered rumen microbiota: WS tended to increase Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG 002 abundance sixfold over IT, SF enriched Actinobacteria, and IT uniquely harbored minor phyla such as Acidobacteriota. Hot carcass weight tended to be higher in WS (18.4% over GD; p = 0.078), while heart and kidney indices were greater in IT and SF (p<0.05). Meat quality parameters were not significantly affected by corn processing. Whole steamed corn enhanced growth performance, likely associated with improved starch utilization and modulation of the rumen microbiota, without compromising meat quality. Compared with grinding or flaking, steaming corn kernels provided a practical and energy-efficient approach, yielding 22%-24% higher ADG. Further research should refine steaming conditions and evaluate the economic viability of this method.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification on relevant traits of cull dairy cows. This study compared BCS, lameness scores, hot carcass weight, and carcass damage of cull dairy cows originating from BQA and non-BQA certified farm operations at the slaughter facility. A blinded observational study was completed to visually score 611 cows from 15 different dairy operations upon arrival at the holding pens of a slaughter facility. Of the 15 farms, 9 were BQA certified. Dairy cows from BQA-certified operations had improved BCS, were less lame, had greater hot carcass weight (346 vs. 283 kg), and had less carcass damage when compared with dairy cows from noncertified farms. If we assume that the difference in hot carcass weight and damage loss can be fully attributed to BQA certification, then the certification led to an additional value of US$251/cow. These findings indicate that BQA certification is associated with improved BCS, mobility, carcass outcomes, and profit potential in cull dairy cows.

Electron beam and roasting treatments of cottonseed meal: Implications for gossypol content, rumen degradability parameters and fattening performance in lambs.

Local feeding systems of Wolaita indigenous steers in Wolaita, Ethiopia: Effects on performance, carcass traits, muscle fatty acid composition and meat sensory quality

This study was conducted with the aim of knowing the effect of supplementation of a mixture of essential amino acids (lysine. methionine and tryptophan) and choline in standard feed in Bali pigs reared in starter (1 month) and grower (2 months) phases. The design used in this study was a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments and each treatment had 4 replications. so in this study 4 x 4 tails = 16 weaned male Bali pigs were used. The treatments that were tested on weaning Bali pigs were feed treatment which consisted of: treatment P0 : standard feed; P1 : Feed P0 + 0.50% mixture of essential amino acids (lysine. methionine and tryptophan) and choline; P2: feed P0 + 1% mixture of essential amino acids (lysine. methionine and tryptophan) and choline; and P3: feed P0 + 1.5% mixture of essential amino acids (lysine. methionine and tryptophan) and choline. In the starter phase fed CP 551 (for 1 month) and in the grower phase fed CP 552 (for 2 months). Observation data included slaughter weight, carcass weight. Carcass percentage, meat percentage. fat percentage and bone percentage. The results of the study found that the addition of a mixture of essential amino acids (lysine, methionine, tryptophan) and choline in the ration had a significant effect (P&lt;0.05) on slaughter weight, carcass weight, physical composition of Balinese pig carcasses (meat and fat), but had no significant effect (P&gt;0.05) on the physical composition of carcass bones.

This study evaluated the effect of housing systems (HS) and chicken genotypes (CG) on the behavior, morphometrics, and carcass traits of Naked Neck cockerels. In total, 405 males between 6 to 16 weeks old were studied. A randomized complete block design in factorial arrangement, with 9 treatments of 3 replicates with 15 birds each, was applied. Treatments consisted of 3 housing systems (Enriched indoor aviary system, Semi-intensive free-range system, and Intensive indoor system) and three chicken genotypes (full feathered (FF), partial feathered (PF), and Naked Neck (NN)). Behavior (walking, jumping, running, drinking, foraging &amp; feeding, standing, sitting, aggressiveness, dust bathing, and wing flapping), morphometrics (body, keel, drumstick, and shank length, wing spread, drumstick and shank circumference), and carcass traits (pre-slaughter, shank, head, empty intestine, empty gizzard, liver, heart, neck, carcass, leg quarter, thigh, drumstick, and breast weight, and carcass yield) were evaluated. Scratching, perching, feeding, and dust bathing behaviors were more pronounced (p ≤ 0.05) in Semi-intensive free-range system reared birds whereas Naked Neck genotype exhibited higher (p ≤ 0.05) scratching, preening, jumping, and feeding behaviors. Birds reared under Enriched indoor aviary system revealed higher (p ≤ 0.05) keel and drumstick length while body, drumstick and shank length, and drumstick and shank circumference were greater (p ≤ 0.05) in full feathered genotype. Neck and carcass were heavier (p ≤ 0.05) in birds reared under Enriched indoor aviary system and Semi-intensive free-range system whereas pre-slaughter, carcass, and breast weight were better (p ≤ 0.05) in full feather genotype. In conclusion, the optimal housing system is genotype specific. The Semi-intensive free-range system is recommended for Naked Neck chickens to best express their natural scratching behavior, and for Partial Feathered chickens to promote dust bathing. The Enriched indoor aviary system is recommended for Full Feathered chickens to maximize carcass yield and muscling. Therefore, matching genotype to housing system is crucial for optimizing both welfare and production outcomes.

In modern intensive mutton sheep farming, the high cost and limited supply of conventional feed resources necessitate the exploration of sustainable alternatives. Cotton stalks and sugar beet pulp, abundant agricultural by-products in China, have potential as ruminant feed after proper fermentation treatment, yet their systematic application in sheep production remains underinvestigated. This study evaluated the effects of replacing whole-plant corn microsilage with mixed fermented feed (cotton stalks and sugar beet pulp, 1:1 dry matter ratio) on Suffolk rams (n = 84, 4 months old). Animals were randomly assigned to four groups: control (CK, 0% replacement), MS30 (30% replacement), MS60 (60% replacement), and MS90 (90% replacement). After a 15-day adaptation, the 120-day feeding trial assessed growth performance, slaughter characteristics, meat quality, muscle metabolomics (LC-MS), and jejunal microbiota (16S rRNA sequencing). The MS60 group significantly outperformed the CK group in final body weight, carcass weight, and net weight gain (p < 0.01), slaughter rate (p < 0.05), and meat tenderness (p < 0.05). Fatty acid composition was optimized, with lower SFAs (p < 0.01) and higher MUFAs (p < 0.01). Metabolomic analysis revealed 206 differentially abundant metabolites, with significant enrichment in linoleic acid metabolism, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and primary bile acid synthesis pathways. The MS60 group exhibited significantly altered jejunal microbiota structure (p < 0.05), including increased Patescibacteria abundance (p < 0.05) and decreased Bifidobacterium (p < 0.001). Replacing 60% of whole-plant corn microsilage with cotton stalk-beet pulp mixed microsilage effectively improved production performance, meat quality, and fatty acid profiles in Suffolk rams, while modulating muscle metabolism and intestinal microbiota structure. These findings provide a practical strategy for sustainable sheep farming utilizing regional agricultural by-products.

The objective of the study is to determine the effectiveness of preventive complexes in reducing the harmful effects of mycotoxins in a mixture (aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin) on the animal body and in ensuring the safety of meat products for consumers. The objects of the study were mycotoxins, 80 chinchilla rabbits, and preventive complexes (PC). To reproduce mycotoxicosis, the trichothecene toxin T-2 (1.2 mg/kg), the hepatocarcinogen aflatoxin B1 (0.3 mg/kg), and the estrogenic mycotoxin zearalenone (1.7 mg/kg) were selected. The organoleptic, physicochemical, and microbiological parameters of rabbit meat were assessed in accordance with the requirements of the current regulatory documentation. Residual amounts of mycotoxins in meat and liver samples were determined chromatographically. Organoleptic assessment of meat from the toxic control group revealed deviations from the standard parameters, indicating questionable freshness. Meat from rabbits treated with prophylactic complexes (with and without mycotoxin administration) met established quality and freshness standards. In toxicology control meat samples, an increase in volatile fatty acid content to 3.12 mg KOH (meat of questionable freshness) was recorded. Pre-slaughter live weight and fresh carcass weight of rabbits in the toxic control group were lower than those in the biological control group by 10.26 % (p &lt; 0.001) and 18.03 % (p &lt; 0.001). Slaughter yield was 8.68 % lower in the toxic control group than in the biological control group (p &lt; 0.01). In a comparison between the complexes, complex PK3 had higher slaughter yield values. Aflatoxin B1, zearalenone, and T-2 toxin were detected only in the meat and liver of rabbits in the toxic control group. The studied prophylactic complexes had a positive effect on the quality and safety of rabbit meat, indicating the effectiveness of the studied formulations.

Increasing standardized ileal digestible arginine-to-lysine ratios improves growth performance and carcass characteristics in 10- to 31-d-old broilers.

This study explored the differences in slaughter performance, blood biochemical indices, and ruminal and colonic microbiota between 6-month-old male and female Small-tailed Han sheep, a typical meat-wool dual-purpose breed in China. Twenty weaned lambs (10 males and 10 females) with uniform body condition were reared under unified feeding management until 6 months of age, followed by slaughter sampling and microbial sequencing detection. Results showed that male lambs had significantly higher pre-slaughter live weight, carcass weight and serum ALP content than females (p < 0.05), with lower BUN and β-BHBA levels (p < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene in rumen fluid and colon contents revealed that microbial alpha diversity in the rumen was extremely significantly higher than that in the colon (p < 0.01), and their microbial community structures were distinctly separated (p = 0.001). Sex had no significant effect on overall microbial diversity, but altered specific flora and functional pathways: male rumen had higher Actinobacteriota abundance, while female colon had enriched galactose metabolism and male colon had enhanced folate-mediated one-carbon pool pathway. These findings clarify the tissue specificity of gastrointestinal microbiota and sex-related phenotypic differences, providing a theoretical basis for sex-specific feeding of Small-tailed Han sheep.

Indigenous pigs constitute crucial genetic reservoirs. Adipose tissue is central to pig growth and metabolism, yet its molecular ontogeny remains poorly characterized in indigenous breeds such as the Ningxiang pig. We employed mass spectrometry to profile backfat proteomes across six postnatal stages (60-360 days). Proteomes clearly separated early (60-120 days) from late stages (300-360 days). Older pigs showed enrichment in processes linked to energy metabolism, translation, immune function, and mitochondrial activity. We identified 43 lipid metabolism proteins exhibiting significant age-dependent abundance. Weighted co-abundance network analysis revealed four protein modules significantly correlated with lean meat percentage, fat percentage, and carcass weight. Intramodular analysis identified four hub proteins-ALDH18A1, FABP4, FBP1, and HADHB-as putative candidates associated with lipid transport, gluconeogenesis, and fatty acid oxidation. This study links temporal proteomic profiles with key carcass traits, providing a data resource and a network-based framework for future research.

Canola meal, with environmentally friendly attributes, lower cost, and previous studies, is an interesting proteic source to partially replace the soybean meal for poultry nutrition. For that, in this work we aimed to investigate canola meal as a partial replacement of soybean meal in finishing poultry diets (21 to 49 days) on the productive performance, also including the impact on the quality, nutritional attributes and antioxidative status of valuable cuts of meat. Ninety-six 21-day-old chickens were assigned to four experimental diets (24/diet), with increasing doses of canola meal (CM 0, 2.5, 5 and 10%). Daily consumption, weekly live weight and post mortem carcass weight and yield were determined. At 24 h post mortem, pH, color (CIE L, a*, b*) and drip loss were measured in the breast, drumstick and thigh cuts. Fatty acid composition and health lipid indexes were also determined in the fresh cuts. The oxidative status of lipids and proteins, polyphenol and flavonoids content in fresh and in stored (7 days-display at 4-6 °C) in vacuum packaged cuts were determined. Including CM, up to 10%, the feed intake and growth of birds was not affected (p = 0.74 and p = 0.87 respectively). In meat, CM significantly decreased the drip loss (p < 0.05), the pH in breast and thigh (p = 0.01 and p = 0.05 respectively), a lower L and b in thigh and increased PUFAs in more oxidative cuts, with a strong interaction between dose and muscle type. There was no effect on lipid oxidation while carbonyls decrease at a 2.5% dose in fresh and stored cuts but there is an increase with higher ones. Flavonoids raise the maximum deposition in meat at 5% CM. In conclusion, CM can be included in finishing poultry diets, but high doses must to be adequately managed if performance and quality of meat criteria are considered together.