Climate variability and uncertainty associated with weather patterns can greatly impact feed security for cattle producers. Flooding, drought, and temperature extremes can reduce a farmer’s ability to produce a consistent crop, resulting in feed prices that can fluctuate greatly.

Produced by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, ergot alkaloids (EA) are toxic to beef cattle when consumed and can lead to reduction in feed intake and growth performance, vasoconstriction of the blood vessels, hyperthermia, damage to extremities (ears, tails, and hooves) and in severe cases, death.

There is a pressing need to enhance livestock production efficiency to meet the growing global demand for meat. Carbohydrases and proteases are enzymes typically added to swine diets to improve nutrient utilization, leading to better growth rates and feed efficiency. This ultimately contributes to sustainable and economically viable pig farming.

A thorough understanding of the genetic factors that influence the feed efficiency of dairy cows is a prerequisite for planning and implementing selective breeding programs. Therefore, a systematic review of reported heritability, genetic markers, and biological pathways affecting FE-related traits in Holstein dairy cows was conducted and followed by a meta-analysis.

In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of a novel dental chew on the breath odor, oral health outcomes, and oral microbiota of dogs. Healthy adult dogs were used in a crossover design study to test a diet only (control) or the diet plus a novel dental chew.

The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) has established the committee to develop the 12th Nutrient Requirements of Swine. The committee has already met in person twice and on-line three times with annual in-person and monthly on-line meetings scheduled for the future. NASEM’s charge to the committee is to “conduct an in-depth review of the scientific literature on the nutritional needs of swine and prepare a report that revises and updates the 11th edition of Nutrient Requirements of Swine.”

Representative Bruce Westerman introduced America’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation Act (AWHCA) into the House of Representatives to fund habitat restoration and forest management projects and promote collaboration with private partners to conserve habitat for at-risk and listed species. The AWHCA will also provide $20 million to fund habitat restoration projects and forest management on tribal lands.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the finalization of the Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act. The final rule will be effective for 60 days following publishing in the Federal Register and is designed to establish clearer, more effective standards under the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act for prohibited practices relating to discrimination, retaliation, and deception in contracting.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the January 2024 export data, which was compiled by the United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork and lamb exports were high for January, while beef exports were slightly down. Export value is trending significantly higher than the previous year.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) have launched a new program to help farmers cut costs and increase income using underutilized renewable technologies including smaller-scale wind projects. The Rural and Agricultural Income & Savings from Renewable Energy (RAISE) initiative will help 400 individual farmers deploy smaller-scale wind projects using USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).

The United States House Agricultural Working Group has released its final report with policy recommendations. The bipartisan working group participated in extensive discussions with producers across the nation to identify key challenges faced by the industry The goal of the report is to bolster the agricultural workforce.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced the finalization of the voluntary “Product of USA” label claim. FSIS is amending its regulations to define the conditions under which the labeling of meat, poultry, and egg products under mandatory inspection, as well as voluntarily inspected products, may use voluntary label claims indicating that the product is of United States origin.

The present study reports a high variation of severity of subacute rumen acidosis in first-lactation dairy cows with the same feeding regimen close to parturition and until 10 weeks after parturition. Six significant factors influencing this severity were identified, including in particular length of close-up period, age at parturition, and dry matter intake.

Currently, multiple-trait (MT) models are used in large-scale genetic evaluation of growth traits, where body weight traits are defined as separate traits at a finite number of fixed ages. Random regression (RR) models are expected to be superior since they can handle repeated measurements of weight and model these as a function of the actual age of measurement.

Leg weakness, a highly prevalent health condition in pig breeding farms, adversely affects the lifespan of breeding pigs. The augmentation of cannon bone circumference (CBC) and bone mineral density (BMD), which are objective measures of limb strength in pigs, can effectively alleviate leg weakness.

The moderate fat deposition contributes to improve mutton quality, which is associated with the differentiation of preadipocytes. To investigate roles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in preadipocyte differentiation, we identified circRNAs on days 0, 2, and 8 of preadipocytes differentiation and compared the expression profile of circRNAs at different adipogenic differentiation stages.

The integration of cameras and data science has great potential to revolutionize livestock production systems, making them more efficient and sustainable by replacing human-based management with real-time individualized animal care. However, applying these digital tools to animal data presents challenges that require computer programming and data analysis skills, as well as access to computing resources.

Jim Oltjen's family history of animal scientists spans three generations, and ASAS has been part of that journey since 1958. They have been mentored by and mentors to those who are now lifelong friends. He and his wife, Sharon, encourage you to reflect on your animal science family tree and ASAS journey and urge you to consider your legacy with ASAS by becoming a 1908 Society Member and ensuring a bright future for aspiring animal scientists.

Green banana flour (GBF) is a novel ingredient in the pet food industry but has been gaining popularity in human nutrition. Not only can GBF be a source of dietary fiber in pet foods, but the natural brown color and hygroscopic properties also show the potential in contributing to physical characteristics.

The reduction of methane (CH4) emissions and nitrogen (N) excretion from livestock production systems can help mitigate environmental impact and improve feeding efficiency. The energy requirements of livestock are crucial for enhancing their performance and minimizing environmental impact.