Featured Articles

  • Feb
    09
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of thermal conditions on gestating sows’ behaviors and energy requirements


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    Ambient temperature may influence the energy requirement of gestating sows, but this factor is not yet integrated daily in the calculation of this requirement. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of temperatures on sow’s behavior, physical activity, and energy requirements on gestating sows.

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  • Feb
    09
    Interpretive Summary: 3-Nitrooxypropanol supplementation of a forage diet decreased enteric methane emissions from beef cattle without affecting feed intake and apparent total-tract digestibility


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    This study evaluated the effects of supplementing forage fed cattle with 3-nitrooxypropanol (150 mg/kg dry matter) on feed intake, rumen fermentation and microbial community composition, methane emissions, and nutrient digestibility. Eight ruminally cannulated beef heifers were used for the experiment.

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  • Feb
    09
    Interpretive Summary: Understanding the relationship between weather variables and intake in beef steers


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    Dry matter intake (DMI) models for beef cattle in the Northern Great Plains may not be a good fit because of extreme weather conditions experienced in this region. The objective of this study is to include additional weather variables (temperature, dewpoint, wind speed, range of temperature, and solar radiation as well as 2-wk lag and monthly lag for each weather variable) that may influence DMI models to improve accuracy.

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  • Feb
    09
    Interpretive Summary: The effects of a Nutritional Packet (live yeast, vitamins C and B1, and electrolytes) offered during the final phase of feedlot steers on growth performance, nutrient digestion, and feeding behavior


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    Excessive intake of rapidly fermentable nutrients by feedlot cattle can result in clinical or subclinical disorders that impair nutrient digestion, while negatively affecting animal development and health. Incidences of subclinical digestive disturbances may increase during the last days on feed in cattle fed in confinement.

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  • Feb
    09
    Interpretive Summary: Pooled analysis on the effects of inclusion, moisture, and oil removal from distillers grains on cattle performance and economic returns in diets with different corn processing


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    A pooled analysis of research was conducted to evaluate the effect of corn processing method, distillers grains type, oil removal from distillers, and distillers inclusion on cattle performance within studies conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln between 1992-2020. Two corn processing methods were included in the dataset, steam-flaked corn (SFC) or any combination of high-moisture (HMC) and dry-rolled corn (DRC), fed with and without distillers gains, a by-product of the dry milling ethanol industry.

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  • Feb
    09
    Interpretive Summary: Post-weaning management of modern dairy cattle genetics for beef production: a review


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    The number of dairy steers contributing to the U.S. fed beef supply has increased from 6.9% to 16.3% over the last two decades. Raising dairy cattle breeds for beef production offers unique opportunities and challenges when compared with feeding beef cattle breeds.

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  • Feb
    02
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of replacing corn silage with alfalfa haylage in growing beef cattle diets on performance during the growing and finishing period


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    The potential for growing systems in beef cattle operations depends on the development of cost-effective alternatives for adding value to cattle after weaning. Alfalfa provides several ecosystem services to beef operations through greater opportunities for manure spreading, longer soil cover, pollinator habitat, and greater carbon sequestration compared to corn silage.

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  • Feb
    02
    Interpretive Summary: Roughage level and supplemental fat for newly received finishing calves: effects on growth performance, health, and physiological responses


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    The low intake of feed that beef calves exhibit during the first weeks after feedlot arrival results in inadequate nutrient intake, especially energy, which leads to low rates of gain and decreased immune function and likely increases the risks for respiratory diseases. Increasing the energy density of receiving diets (Mcal/kg of dry matter) could result in increased energy intake of newly received finishing cattle.

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  • Feb
    02
    Interpretive Summary: One-carbon metabolite supplementation to heifers for the first 14 d of the estrous cycle alters the plasma and hepatic one-carbon metabolite pool and methionine-folate cycle enzyme transcript abundance in a dose-dependent manner


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    The strategic inclusion of one-carbon metabolites, which include vitamins and minerals that are found in human prenatal vitamins, to beef cattle feeding and management protocols during the periconceptual period (the time around breeding) is a novel concept. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the feeding and injection doses of one-carbon metabolites in beef heifers to maintain increased circulating concentrations of one-carbon metabolites for use as a model from which other studies could base their treatments on.

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  • Feb
    02
    Interpretive Summary: Effect of DL-methionine supplementation above requirement on performance; intestinal morphology, antioxidant activity, and gene expression; and serum concentration of amino acids in heat stressed pigs


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    The exposure of pigs to ambient temperature above their comfort zone affects several functions of the small intestine, especially those related with digestion of feed and absorption of nutrients, which in turn reduces the availability of nutrients for growth.

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  • Feb
    02
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of bamboo leaf extract on energy metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and biogenesis of small intestine mitochondria in broilers


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    The intensive breeding model of broilers exposes broilers directly to oxidative stress, which is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Some researches have shown that bamboo leaf extract (BLE) exhibited antioxidant capacity both in vitro and vivo. However, few researches have been conducted to explore the effects of BLE supplementation on small intestine mitochondrial functions in broilers.

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  • Feb
    02
    Interpretive Summary: Evaluation of supplemental fat sources and pre-farrow essential fatty acid intake on lactating sow performance and essential fatty acid composition of colostrum, milk, and adipose tissue


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    The lactating sow secretes essential fatty acids (EFA) in colostrum and milk to support litter growth and if dietary linoleic (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) intake during lactation are limited, subsequent reproductive function of sows may be impaired. However, the inclusion of dietary fat sources with varying EFA composition in lactation diets provided shortly prior to farrowing can increase the energy density of the diet and modify colostrum and milk fatty acid profiles that may influence litter growth performance and survivability.

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  • Feb
    02
    Interpretive Summary: C/EBPα promotes triacylglycerol synthesis via regulating PPARG promoter activity in goat mammary epithelial cells


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    Goat milk is beneficial for human health because of its nutritional value, especially milk fat, which is plentiful in goat milk. The molecular mechanism of milk fat synthesis is of great importance for developing processing technology and using genetic approaches to improve goat milk quality.

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  • Jan
    29
    ASAS Foundation - Celebrating 25 Years - January 30th


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    Over the past 115 years, the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) has evolved into a multi-faceted organization, including establishing the ASAS Foundation 25 years ago as the philanthropic branch of ASAS. The Foundation enhances, advances, and supports ASAS’ mission and initiatives.

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  • Jan
    26
    ERS releases report on state farm animal policies


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    The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Economic Research Service (ERS) has published the State Policies for Farm Animal Welfare in Production Practices of U.S. Livestock and Poultry Industries: An Overview report. The ERS report describes the current state of farm animal policies, the extent of their implementation and geographic coverage, and the legal environment and challenges these policies have faced.

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  • Jan
    26
    Household food expenditures increased 15% from last year


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    A recent survey-based report out of Purdue University's Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability found that in December 2022, household food expenditures have increased by 15% from January 2022. The report assessed food spending, consumer satisfaction, values, support of agricultural and food policies, and trust in information sources.

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  • Jan
    26
    Philippines extends pork tariff rates through 2023


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    The Philippine government has extended the lower tariff rates on pork and other food items through 2023, to address supply chain issues and rising inflation. EO No. 171 temporarily reduces the Most Favored Nation tariff rates on pork (fresh, chilled, or frozen), corn, rice, and coal until December 31, 2023, and aims to stabilize the impact of inflationary pressures as a result of the Ukraine-Russia crisis, expand supply sources and reduce the prices of key commodities.

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  • Jan
    26
    Sustainable bioproduct manufacturing receives boost from NIFA


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    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will invest $9.5 million in the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA’s) bioproduct pilot program, which will fund three bioproduct manufacturing projects. The program was authorized under the Infrastructure Invest and Jobs Act in November 2021 to give the United States a competitive advantage in the global economy.

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  • Jan
    26
    USDA announces funding for meat supply chain


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    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will invest over $9.5 million to help diversify the nation’s meat supply. The funding comes with the goal of expanding market capacities and market opportunities, particularly in the meat and poultry sectors.

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  • Jan
    26
    USDA partners with National Urban League to improve nutrition


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    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to reaffirm the relationship between USDA and the National Urban League, a historic civil rights organization. The USDA and National Urban League will work collaboratively to promote nutrition and food security, increase access to healthy foods, and ensure equitable service delivery of USDA programs in underserved communities across the country.

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