Featured Articles

  • May
    04
    Interpretive Summary: Lipid metabolism mRNA expression and cellularity of intramuscular adipocytes within the Longissimus muscle of Angus- and Wagyu-sired cattle fed for a similar days on feed or body weight endpoint


    This study investigates intramuscular (IM) adipocyte development in the Longissimus muscle (LM) between Wagyu- and Angus-sired steers compared at a similar age and days on feed (D) or similar body weight (B) endpoint by measuring IM adipocyte cell area and lipid metabolism mRNA expression. Angus-sired steers (AN) were compared with steers from two different Wagyu sires (WA), selected for either growth (G) or marbling (M), to be compared at a similar days on feed (DOF; WA-GD, and WA-MD) in Exp. 1 or body weight (BW; WA-GB, and WA-MB) in Exp. 2.

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  • May
    04
    Interpretive Summary: Effect of weaning strategy and backgrounding management on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and mRNA expression in the longissimus muscle of beef steers


    The intramuscular fat depot, also called marbling, is a vital component of beef quality. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the weaning strategy (early vs. normal) and the subsequent backgrounding management on marbling deposition of beef carcasses.

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  • May
    04
    Interpretive Summary: Guanidinoacetic acid supplementation improves intestinal morphology, mucosal barrier function of broilers subjected to chronic heat stress


    With the global warming getting worse, heat stress (HS) has been a serious problem faced by poultry industry. As one of the main target organs, the intestine is easily affected by HS.

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  • May
    04
    Interpretive Summary: Galyean appreciation club review: a holistic perspective of the societal relevance of beef production and its impacts on climate change


    This article aims to provide data-driven information about the relevance of the U.S. beef cattle herd to our society and its greenhouse gas (GHG) contribution to climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency reported that U.S. beef cattle emitted 22.6% of the total agricultural emissions, representing about 2.2% of the total anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).

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  • May
    04
    Interpretive Summary: Enterococcus faecium from chicken feces improves chicken immune response and alleviates Salmonella infections: a pilot study


    Infectious bacterial contamination in broiler production is a food safety concern and can be transmitted to humans via contaminated meat and derived products. Minimizing bacterial infections using beneficial bacteria called probiotics can reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance in the livestock industry.

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  • Apr
    27
    ADD SOY Act introduced


    A new bipartisan bill was introduced by Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA.) and Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) that would require schools to provide fluid milk substitutes upon request of a student or parent/guardian. The Addressing Digestive Distress in Stomachs of Our Youth (ADD SOY) Act would make soy milk available to children in schools who need an alternative to cow’s milk.

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  • Apr
    27
    Ag group calls for milk pricing reform


    The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has issued an open letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, calling for milk pricing reform. The letter comes as a response to recent proposals from the International Dairy Foods (IDFA) Association and the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) to increase allowances.

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  • Apr
    27
    Animal ag groups call for expanding meat packing capacities


    The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), American Sheep Industry Association (ASIA), Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), National Pork Producers Council, and the United States Cattlemen's Association (USCA) sent a letter to the Senate and House Agriculture Committees. The letter expresses the groups' support of legislation to allow livestock market owners and operators to own or invest in small or regional livestock packing facilities.

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  • Apr
    27
    Biden vetoes bill to end WOTUS


    President Joe Biden has recently vetoed a bill that would overturn the Waters of The United States rule (WOTUS), which has been in effect since March 20th. The vetoed bill had bipartisan support, as well as the support of those in the agricultural industry.

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  • Apr
    27
    Grants given to farmers affected by tornados


    Assistance through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be available to farmers and ranchers affected by the severe weather and EF-4 tornado in Mississippi last month. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is also helping affected residents take steps to reduce their risk of foodborne illness as they return to their homes after severe weather.

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  • Apr
    27
    New bill will support agricultural research


    The Advancing Cutting Edge (ACE) Agriculture Act has recently been introduced by U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS). The ACE Act would support high-risk, high-reward agricultural research and development at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

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  • Apr
    27
    New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act introduced


    A new bipartisan bill titled, New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act, has been introduced to allow meat and poultry products inspected by state Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs to be sold across state lines. The goal of the bill is to create new markets for farmers and livestock producers across the country while maintaining high inspection standards.

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  • Apr
    27
    USDA announces climate-smart grants


    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced climate-smart agriculture, soil health, and nutrient management grants through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. USDA will invest $40 million in 31 projects, as well as a $19 million investment in two projects focused on nutrient management funded through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

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  • Apr
    27
    USDA, FDIC, and SBA partner to support small farmers


    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation (FDIC), to host a series of regional economic development workshops on the “Path to Prosperity”. The workshops will take place in Mississippi, Kentucky, and Georgia, to provide small businesses, including farmers and ranchers, with the resources and tools they need to grow.

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  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of adding ruminal propionate on dry matter intake and glucose metabolism in steers fed a finishing ration


    Propionate metabolism by the liver is thought to be a key regulator of appetite and feed intake of animals, including cattle. Previous research has shown that providing propionate to the rumen of cattle decreases feed intake.

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  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: An investigation of the effect of folic acid and its delivery routes on broiler chickens’ hatch and growth performance, blood biochemistry, anti-oxidant status, and intestinal morphology


    Folic acid (FA) is an essential vitamin with anti-oxidant and growth-promoting properties. Notwithstanding, studies have shown that, like other bioactive substances, its efficacy can be affected by dosage and delivery routes. However, the in ovo delivery of bioactive substances directly to the developing embryo continues to show promising results in poultry production.

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  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: Metabolome of purulent materials of liver abscesses from crossbred cattle and Holstein steers fed finishing diets with or without in-feed tylosin


    Liver abscesses in feedlot cattle, a consequence of feeding a diet of high-grain and low-roughage, are a mixed bacterial infection with Fusobacterium necrophorum, a ruminal bacterium as the primary causative agent. Cattle with liver abscesses do not exhibit clinical signs and the abscesses are detected only at slaughter.

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  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: Strategies for accommodating gene-edited sires and their descendants in genetic evaluations


    Coupling gene editing, a technology with the potential to make specific changes to DNA sequence (e.g., quantitative trait nucleotide, QTN), with genomic selection can generate faster genetic gain in economically important traits. However, gene editing would impact the genetic relationship among individuals and, consequently, genetic evaluations. The objectives of this study were to understand how gene editing impacts genetic prediction and develop strategies to mitigate potential errors in estimated breeding values (EBV).

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  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: Convergent changes in melanocortin receptor 1 gene are associated with black-headed coat color in sheep


    The diverse colors of sheep not only help to distinguish different breeds but also provide an ideal model to study the genetics underlying mammalian coat color variations. One unique coat color in sheep is the black-headed type, as represented by the famous meat breed Dorper sheep from Africa and Bayinbuluke sheep from Asia. In this study, we compared the genomes of black-headed sheep with all-white sheep in order to identify genes responsible for this distinguishable coat color.

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  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: Financial strain of COVID-19 and its impact on willingness-to-pay for equine care


    COVID-19 had a substantial impact on markets and livelihoods. Jobs were affected and the cost of goods increased as products were in short supply, driving up prices for essential and nonessential equine care for owners, caretakers, and other associated individuals.

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