Indispensable amino acids (IAA) are nutrients a dog requires, but that the dog cannot create naturally, so must be included in their diet. A concept known as protein quality (PQ) reflects how closely the IAA profile of an ingredient comes to meeting the dogs’ requirements.

This month’s infographic features (Templeman and Shoveller, 2022) an article examining how protein sources for canine diets are scored for protein quality. Protein ingredients vary in their ability to provide amino acids that dogs cannot create naturally (indispensable amino acids).

Inflammation is a key factor of many metabolic diseases (Davis, 2022). The field of immunometabolism is based on the interface of the immune system and metabolism, and seeks to better define the tissue-specific immunometabolic networks that coordinate adaptations to physiological challenges such as lactation or growth (Elsasser, 2022).

A new report from World Perspectives Inc. details the possible impact of the potential Mexican restriction on genetically-modified (GM) corn. Consumer Price Impacts of Mexican Restrictions on GM Corn: An Economic Analysis, comes as ​Mexico’s government issued a decree, expressing a policy goal to gradually phase out glyphosate and GM corn use in the country by 2024.

A new bill titled the Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade and Exports Act of 2022 (CREAATE Act) has been proposed to double funding for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development Program (FMD). The bipartisan bill was introduced by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).

President Joe Biden recently signed an Executive Order Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy. The order directs United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and the USDA to submit a report assessing how to use biotechnology and biomanufacturing for cultured meat products.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a proposed rule to update the definition of the implied nutrient content claim “healthy”, which was originally set in 1994. The hope is that the updated "healthy" claim for food labeling will be consistent with current nutrition science and federal dietary guidance, specifically the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) New Swine Inspection System (NSIS) was recently upheld in court. NSIS allows for additional inspection duties to be done by the processing facility’s employees as well as allows for faster line processing speeds.

The Protect Farmers from the SEC Act was recently introduced by Congressman Frank Lucas (R-OK), along with 80 other members of Congress. The bill would prohibit the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from requiring an issuer of securities to disclose greenhouse gas emissions from upstream and downstream activities in the issuer’s value chain arising from farms and ranches.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced fifteen organizations that have been selected to receive funding from the Farm and Farm Workers Relief Grant Program (FFWR). USDA has set aside over $670 million in grants for the program.

During a meeting of the White House Competition Council, President Joe Biden introduced new efforts by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support fair and competitive meat and poultry markets. The Proposed Rule on Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity and Agricultural Competition Challenge to the State Attorneys General are said to protect livestock producers.

At the end of September, the Biden Administration held the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The event ties into one of the administration’s goals to end hunger in America by 2030 through proposed legislation, regulatory changes, and public-private partnerships.

Horses can suffer from intestinal barrier disruption leading to permeability associated with local inflammation, which can result in discomfort and even disease. Intestinal barrier disruption may be a consequence of microbiota disturbances in the large intestine.

Microbes in the rumen break down fiber and complex nutrients into energy that cattle can absorb. Rumen microbes are becoming well studied, but the microbes of the hindgut—specifically of the cecum and large intestine—are less well-studied.

High-moisture corn (HMC) short-term fermentation is affected by dry matter (DM) concentration. Thus, producers try to influence HMC fermentation by using microbial inoculants and by harvesting HMC at different DM concentrations. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different DM concentrations, heterofermentative microbial inoculants, and storage length on the fermentation and nutritive value of HMC.

Developmental programming has highlighted important influences of maternal factors on offspring development. Recent research indicates a programming potential of the rumen microbiome and understanding this role as well as how inoculation occurs may allow beef producers to optimize management practices of gestating cows such that offspring performance is improved via the rumen microbiome.

Beef cattle production in the southeastern United States is plagued by two common nutritional problems. Fescue toxicosis, caused by consumption of toxic ergot alkaloids in endophyte-infected tall fescue, is a major detriment to growth performance of grazing cattle and profitability for cow/calf and backgrounding cattle operations.

Digital dermatitis (DD) impacts cattle health, productivity, and welfare; and is an emerging challenge for the beef industry. The most obvious clinical sign associated with DD is lameness; however, not all cattle afflicted with DD will become lame.

As a traditional herb, Eucommia ulmoides (E. ulmoides) has been utilized in East Asia for at least 2 000 years. In recent years, E. ulmoides has been applied in the culture of fish for its functions of promoting growth, lipid metabolism, and flesh quality.

The objectives of this study were to 1) assess inclusion of Sweet Bran in diets of feedlot steers on performance and feeding behavior and 2) examine the effects of sorting animals at terminal implant on performance, feeding behavior, and liver abscess occurrence.