Featured Articles

  • Jun
    08
    Interpretive Summary: Comprehensive RNA-seq profiling to evaluate the rabbit mammary gland transcriptome after mastitis


    Mastitis is a common disease in women and farm animals, which is an infection of mammary gland tissue resulting in pain, swelling, warmth, and redness. A survey of Spain and Portugal rabbit farms shows that the prevalence of mastitis was 4% in lactating does.

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  • Jun
    08
    Interpretive Summary: Comparison of an advanced automated ultrasonic scanner (AutoFom III) and a handheld optical probe (Destron PG-100) to determine lean yield in pork carcasses


    Pork grading is a producer-feedback system that provides carcass trait information (i.e., carcass weight, fat/lean deposition) to determine the economic value of carcasses. Packing plants generally emphasize the optimization of carcass weight and leanness by providing premium or discounted prices using a grid system. Packing plants routinely collect carcass weights while carcass leanness can be more challenging to capture.

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  • Jun
    01
    Another court rules against WOTUS


    The Sixth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals has issued a stay on enforcing the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule in Kentucky. This decision means WOTUS is only law in 23 states. President Joe Biden recently vetoed a bill that would overturn WOTUS.

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  • Jun
    01
    Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2023 is introduced


    United States Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Peter Welch (D-VT) recently introduced the Closing the Meal Gap Act of 2023. The bill would expand and strengthen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for over 40 million Americans by amending the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to require that SNAP benefits be calculated using the value of the low-cost food plan.

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  • Jun
    01
    Dairy industry releases plan to modernize FMMO system


    The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) sent a comprehensive proposal to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will modernize the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) System. NMPF has worked over the last two years to develop this plan, including more than 150 meetings with various stakeholders.

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  • Jun
    01
    New bill will expand opportunities for small meat processors


    United States Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Peter Welch (D-VT) have recently introduced the Direct Interstate Retail Exemptions for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act, which would allow meat and poultry products inspected by State Meat and Poultry Inspection programs to be sold by retail stores, restaurants, or similar retail-type establishments over the internet and shipped by a carrier in commerce.

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  • Jun
    01
    NIH and USDA partner to promote use of animals in science


    Towards the end of last year, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a call for applications for Dual-Purpose research projects. The Dual Purpose with Dual Benefit: Research in Biomedicine and Agriculture Using Agriculturally Important Domestic Animal Species research grant program is an interagency partnership between NIH and USDA, to improve human health through the advancement of basic and translational research deemed highly relevant to both agricultural and biomedical research.

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  • Jun
    01
    Supreme Court upholds Prop 12


    The United States Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) that challenges California’s Proposition 12 (Prop 12). Prop 12 passed in 201 and requires pork meat sold in the state to come from pigs born to a sow housed in at least a 24-square-foot-pen. The Supreme Court’s ruling is a major blow to pork producers across the country.

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  • Jun
    01
    The PRIME Act is introduced, but draws criticism from meat groups


    United States House of Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) reintroduced the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act to make it easier for small farms and ranches to serve consumers. The bipartisan act would give individual states the freedom to permit intrastate distribution of custom-slaughtered meat such as beef, pork, or lamb to consumers, restaurants, hotels, boarding houses, and grocery stores.

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  • Jun
    01
    The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program receives funding


    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an investment of $46 million in the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. The SARE program has supported farmer-driven grants and grassroots education programs resulting in climate-smart solutions for farms and ranches in every state and island protectorate since 1988.

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  • Jun
    01
    US House request Farm Bill feedback


    The United States House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture is requesting input on the next version of the Farm Bill. The committee has published an online portal to collect feedback and opinions. Committee leaders believe this tool will allow members to better share the experiences and priorities of agriculture producers and consumers.

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  • Jun
    01
    USDA announces various funding for underserved and veteran farmers


    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a variety of funding for underserved and veteran farmers. The two new grant programs, the Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program and the Local Meat Capacity Grant Program are part of the broader $1 billion American Rescue Plan investment to expand processing capacity for small and midsized meat and poultry processors.

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  • Jun
    01
    USDA introduces “Cultivating Scientific Innovation”


    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published the USDA Science and Research Strategy, 2023-2026: Cultivating Scientific Innovation. The publication details the vision for transforming United States agriculture through science and innovation and outlines USDA’s highest scientific priorities.

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  • May
    25
    Foundation Week – One Day for ASAS


    Today is our inaugural giving day, One Day for ASAS! This is the time for us to come together to give back and support our members through all stages of their careers. Give today to support the next generation of animal scientists and to express gratitude for ASAS being that gathering place where many have become lifelong friends.

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  • May
    24
    Foundation Week – May 24th


    Today, we continue to share and celebrate your generosity's impact on our members throughout their careers. In addition to our daily posts, visit ASAS Foundation Impact to see how philanthropy has made a difference for our members this year.

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  • May
    23
    Foundation Week – May 23rd, 2023


    Do you have a passion for supporting current and future animal scientists? Did you know that, thanks to charitable contributions, the ASAS Foundation supports travel scholarships, prestigious awards, distinguished lectures, and so much more?

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  • May
    22
    Foundation Week – May 22nd, 2023


    Today we launch our annual ASAS Foundation Week and our inaugural giving day, One Day for ASAS!

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  • May
    18
    Interpretive Summary: Factors associated with the time and magnitude of the nadir body condition score in early lactation and its subsequent effects on fertility of Holstein cows


    The transition from gestation to lactation requires adjustments in nutrient consumption that are challenging for the postpartum dairy cow. As milk energy output increases more rapidly than energy intake, most cows mobilize fat and labile protein from body energy reserves, which results in reductions in body condition score during early lactation.

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  • May
    18
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of maternal methionine supplementation on the response of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) chicks to heat stress


    The deficiency of nutrients such as methionine in the diet of birds is affecting fertility rate, egg production, egg weight, and progeny weight. In addition, the maternal environment influences gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms, where the conditions experienced by the parental generation during embryonic development can produce effects on the progeny. This study investigates how methionine supplementation in the diet of quail hens can reduce the effects of oxidative stress and improve the performance of progeny subjected to heat stress during growth.

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  • May
    18
    Interpretive Summary: Genetic and phenotypic relationships between ewe reproductive performance and wool and growth traits in Uruguayan Ultrafine Merino sheep


    Fiber diameter (FD), clean fleece weight (CFW), live weight (LW), and reproductive performance are important traits in Merino flocks. This study estimated the genetic parameters for a range of production traits and ewe reproductive performance.

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