Search Results (1,509)

The end-of-life (i.e., on-farm euthanasia and culling, including fitness for transport to slaughter) of a dairy cow or calf is preceded by a series of decisions often influenced by many complex factors. The aim of this study was to utilize the opinions of experts with roles in the dairy supply chain to identify factors that influence end-of-life decision-making for dairy cattle. Twenty experts serving in supporting roles in the dairy supply chain participated in a survey containing 17 open-ended questions. Of the participants, 55% (n = 11) identified as veterinarians and the remaining 45% (n = 9) participated in other segments of the dairy supply chain. Twelve themes were identified in the qualitative analysis of survey responses. The themes included: Training and Resources, Cattle Health Management, Decision-Making Criteria, Company Culture, Personal Beliefs, Human Well-Being, Animal Welfare, Economics, Guidelines and Inspections, Consumer Perceptions, Supply Chain Considerations, and Communication. Experts indicated that training programs should address euthanasia or fitness-for-transport criteria, the knowledge of common health conditions, and information about what happens to cattle after leaving the dairy. Additional influencing factors included personal beliefs, economics, company culture, and supply chain considerations. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different dietary concentrate-to-forage ratios on slaughter performance, meat quality, rumen fermentation, rumen microbiota and fecal microbiota in Tibetan sheep. A total of sixty male Tibetan sheep were equally allocated into three dietary groups based on concentrate-to-forage ratios, i.e., 30:70 (C30), 50:50 (C50), and 70:30 (C70). Compared with the C30 group, sheep fed the C70 diet resulted in a higher (p < 0.05) slaughter live weight (SLW), hot carcass weight (HCW), dressing percentage (DP), eye muscle area, average daily gain (ADG), and ruminal total volatile fatty acids concentration and propionate molar proportion and lower (p < 0.05) shear force and cooking loss of meat, and ruminal acetate molar proportion and acetate:propionate ratio. Sheep in the C50 group exhibited a higher (p < 0.05) SLW, HCW, ADG, and ruminal propionate molar proportion and lower (p < 0.05) shear force and cooking loss of meat, and ruminal acetate molar proportion and acetate: propionate ratio compared with the C30 group. In rumen fluid, the relative abundance of Butyrivibrio was lower (p = 0.031) in the C30 group, and that of Ruminococcus was higher (p = 0.003) in the C70 group compared with the C50 group. In feces, genus Monoglobus and UCG_002 were the most abundant in the C30 group (p < 0.05), and the relative abundance of Prevotella was significantly higher in the C70 group than in other groups (p = 0.013). Correlation analysis revealed possible links between slaughter performance and meat quality and altered microbiota composition in the rumen and feces of Tibetan sheep. Overall, feeding a C70 diet resulted in superior carcass characteristics and meat quality in Tibetan sheep, thus laying a theoretical basis for the application of short-term remote feeding during the cold season. Full article

The objective of the present research was the examination of how varying proportions of an acorn diet affects the deposition of subcutaneous fat and the composition of fatty acids (FAs) in Yuxi black pigs. Ninety pigs (with a balanced sex ratio and a similar weight 99.60 ± 2.32 kg) were stochastically assigned to the control group (CON) and the dietary acorn experimental groups (AEG). The CON was fed basal diets and the AEG1, AEG2, AEG3, and AEG4 groups were provided with dietary regimens comprising twenty, thirty, forty, and fifty per cent acorns, respectively. Each group consisted of six pigs, with three replicates. The breeding cycle was four months. The results demonstrated that, in comparison with the CON group, the lean meat rate was significantly increased in all test groups (p < 0.05), while in backfat thickness, loin eye area, carcass weight and slaughter rate was no significant difference (p > 0.05). The serum TC/HDL (total cholesterol divided by high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol) and TG/HDL (Triglyceride divided by high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol) levels in the AEG1 and AEG2 groups were significantly lower than the CON group (p < 0.05). There was no significant effect on the composition of FAs (p > 0.05). The number of fat cells in subcutaneous back fat and subcutaneous abdominal fat was significantly increased, and the area of fat cells was decreased (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the levels of ATGL and HSL expression in the subcutaneous back fat, as well as ACC, FAS, ATGL, PPARγ, and HSL expression in the subcutaneous abdominal fat, were significantly increased in the AEG2 group compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the expression of ACC, FAS, FABP4, PPARγ, C/EBPα, and FAS/HSL in the subcutaneous back fat, as well as FABP4, C/EBPα, and FAS/HSL in the subcutaneous abdominal fat, were significantly lower in the AEG2 group compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it has been found that a 30% acorn diet can inhibit subcutaneous fat deposition and enhance the nutritional value of pork and the health of Yuxi black pigs. Full article

In our experiment, the effect of electrical and CO₂ stunning on pork meat quality attributes was studied. A total of thirty PIC337 female pigs were allocated to two equal groups which were stunned electrically (50 Hz, 210 V, 2.6 A, 15 s) or by CO₂ (85 V% CO₂, 15 V% O₂, 90 s) and slaughtered at a commercial slaughterhouse. For 24 h post mortem, the carcass m. gluteus medius (GM) was used to evaluate meat quality attributes such as pH, color, hardness, water holding capacity (WHC), and total pigment content, and meat classification was also carried out. The CO₂ stunning resulted in muscle with significantly lower pH (p < 0.01) and poorer water holding capacity (p < 0.05) compared to electrical stunning. The GM of pigs stunned electrically showed significantly increased lightness (L*) and redness (a*) (p < 0.05) compared to CO₂-stunned. The time course of development of rigor mortis was similar for both stunning methods. Pale, soft, exudative (PSE) or dark, firm, dry (DFD) meat defects were not observed. Based on total pigment content, stunning methods did not significantly affect the amount of removable blood. Full article

Background/Objectives: Inadequate fluid intake is prevalent among older adults living in care settings and can lead to dehydration-related events such as falls and hospitalization. Staff knowledge and confidence using diverse strategies is needed to provide adequate hydration to residents. PROMOTE is a multicomponent intervention designed to support staff to increase resident fluid intake between meals. This study evaluated the educational components of PROMOTE. Methods: Participants (n = 87) working in long-term care or retirement homes completed an online pre-/post-test evaluation of a 7 min educational video. Key informant participants (n = 13) reviewed all educational materials, evaluated their usefulness and feasibility, and were interviewed to identify how to improve the materials. Results: The educational video improved knowledge (e.g., self-rating of knowledge pre-test median 8, standard error of the mean (SEM) 0.18; post-test median 9, SEM 0.13) and confidence. Participants intended to use PROMOTE strategies in their work with residents (1 [very likely] to 10 [very unlikely] median 2.0 SEM 0.27). Key informants rated the hydration of residents as an organizational priority (median 9.0 SEM 0.42) and all indicated that they would use the educational video in their future training. Less feasible educational components as rated by key informants included huddle discussions and email pushes. Posters were seen as feasible (54%) but only somewhat useful (77%). Conclusions: Brief educational videos can improve staff knowledge and confidence regarding providing adequate hydration to residents. Having several educational components that can be used with this video was viewed positively. Recommendations were made to improve the materials. Full article

The pre-transport phase induces stress, fear, and injury in poultry, but management choices greatly influence this. Pre-transport practices for spent hens and broilers in Flanders (Belgium) were studied. Poultry farmers (31 of 156 layers and 48 of 203 broiler farmers completed the survey) were surveyed on the selection of unfit chickens, catching and crating, and farmer opinion. A minority of farmers made a specific selection of chickens unfit for transport prior to catching (layers 25%: 5.1 ± 5.9 h, broilers 39%: 6.8 ± 7.0 h). More layer (69%) than broiler farmers (19%) withdrew feed too early (EU regulations stipulate max. 12 h before expected slaughter time). Layer farmers withdrew water earlier than broiler farmers (47.9 ± 51.1 min vs. 20.6 ± 23.3 min). More broiler than layer farmers believed that the container type affects the birds’ welfare (48% vs. 27%; p < 0.05). On broiler farms, mechanical catching was preferred for catchers’ well-being, while upright catching was considered better for animal welfare than catching more than three chickens by one/two legs, wings, or mechanically. Poultry farmers should be sensitized about the need for additional selection before catching, including clear guidelines about judging which birds are fit for transport. Full article

Porcine parvoviruses one through eight (PPV1-PPV8) are prevalent in Chinese swine herds. However, the infection status of all these PPVs in slaughtered pigs is still unclarified. In this study, we detected PPV1-PPV8 in 353 tissue samples collected from slaughtered pigs from six regions of China in 2023. At least one species of PPV was detected in 79.32% of the samples (280 out of 353). Six PPV species were detected, except for PPV4 and PPV8, in slaughtered pigs, within which PPV3 (49.86%), PPV2 (42.49%), and PPV7 (42.21%) were predominant, followed by PPV1 (13.31%), PPV6 (13.31%), and PPV5 (8.22%). Noticeably, co-infection was frequently detected, with 67.50% of PPV-positive samples (189 out of 280) co-infecting with two to six PPVs. In addition, one representative genome for each detected PPV was determined. Multiple sequence alignment determined a large number of substitutions in capsid proteins of PPVs. Genome-based phylogenetic analysis confirmed the PCR detection results. Recombination detection identified two potential recombinants (PPV2 GDCZ2023-2088 strain and PPV3 HLJSYS2023-1654 strain) in slaughtered pigs. Overall, this study provides new insights into the prevalence and evolution of PPVs, particularly in slaughtered pigs in China. Full article

The aim of this research was to determine the effect of strawberry seed oil addition to rabbit feed on slaughter performance traits, meat quality traits and plasma cholesterol and triglycerides of purebred Termond White rabbits (n = 24). The experiment used young rabbits born to 6 does. From each litter, two rabbits were randomly assigned into one of the two groups. In each group (2 × n = 12; 6♂, 6♀), the animals were fed a complete pelleted feed. Rabbits from the experimental group received feed enriched with a 1% addition of strawberry seed oil. Animals were slaughtered on day 84. Rabbits fed with pellets with the addition of strawberry oil were characterized by a higher hind part and head and liver weight compared to the rabbits from the control group (p ≤ 0.05). The addition of strawberry seed oil significantly increased the pH of matured meat and affected the colour coordinates of the meat by increasing their values (p ≤ 0.05). The tested oil reduced the values of meat texture parameters such as springiness, cohesiveness and chewiness (p ≤ 0.05). The tested oil impacted the level of HDL, which was higher in the experimental group, as well as lowered the triglyceride level. The addition of strawberry seed oil was proven to significantly increase the linoleic acid content in rabbit meat (p ≤ 0.05). Full article

Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) is widespread in European pig production and poses an occupational hazard to farm workers and their household members. Farm workers are exposed to LA-MRSA through direct contact with pigs and airborne transmission, enabling bacteria to be carried home in the nose or on the skin. Consequently, it is important to consider LA-MRSA in a one-health context, studying human exposure by examining LA-MRSA levels in pigs, air, and dust in the farm environment. In this investigation, LA-MRSA levels were quantified in nasal swab samples from the pigs, air samples, and dust at three different time points in a farm rearing pigs from approx. 30 kg until slaughter. Sampling was repeated across seven batches of pigs, resulting in the analysis of 504 nasal swab samples, alongside air and dust samples. LA-MRSA was cultured and quantified on MRSA2 agar plates. Findings revealed significant batch-to-batch variation and a significant 94.1% decrease in LA-MRSA levels during the rearing period. Despite this decline, all nasal swab samples tested positive, with the highest level reaching 353,000 cfu in a sample. Among the 42 air samples, LA-MRSA levels were low to moderate, with a maximum of 568 and an average of 63 cfu/m³. In the 28 dust samples collected during the second and third sampling periods, LA-MRSA counts were high, reaching up to 37,272 cfu/g, with an average of 17,185 cfu/g. The results suggest that while LA-MRSA levels in pigs decrease with age, reaching low levels before slaughter, the bacterium remains highly abundant in dust, posing an occupational hazard to farm workers. Full article

The objective of this research was to assess the impact of guanidine acetic acid (GAA) on the growth performance, slaughter outcomes, meat quality, antioxidant capacity, and cecal microbiota of broiler chickens. A total of 128 Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into two experimental groups. One group served as the control and was provided with a standard diet, whereas the group treated with GAA received a diet enhanced with 400 mg/kg of GAA. The duration of the experiment was 42 days. Measurements for growth performance, serum biochemical parameters, and antioxidant capacity were conducted both during and at the conclusion of the study, while assessments of slaughter performance and meat quality were carried out solely at the end. Notable differences were observed in terms of growth performance, blood biochemistry, and metabolic parameters between the control and GAA-treated groups (p < 0.05). Hence, these findings imply that dietary GAA supplementation can favorably affect growth, carcass quality, biochemical indicators, and antioxidant capacity in broiler chickens. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary oxidized oil and allicin (two different dietary sources) as natural antioxidants on the growth performance and meat quality of broilers. A total of 200 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into four dietary groups (50 birds/group). The experimental groups (OO—oxidized oil; OOA—oxidized oil and allicin; OOG—oxidized oil and garlic leaves) differed from the control one by the presence of oxidized oil in their dietary structure (peroxide value 9.07 (OO, OOA and OOG groups) vs. 1.70 (C group) meq active oxygen/kg). The diets given to the experimental groups differed from each other by the presence of allicin (100 mg/kg inclusion rate as extract (OOA) and 0.5% as garlic leaf powder (OOG)). At the end of the experiment, six animals/group were slaughtered, meat samples (breast and thigh) were collected, and nutritional value was established. The results showed that the allicin included in the experimental diet did not influence the proximate composition of breast meat (crude protein, fat, ash, and dry matter). The fatty acid profile was determined for each group of samples; a significant decrease in omega 3 FAs was noticed between the C group and the E groups (3.27% vs. 1.46%, 1.60%, and 1.56%) in breast meat samples, and a corresponding increase was noticed in saturated fatty acid (SFA) concentrations. Health indices with implications for atheroma and thrombus formation and cholesterol level were negatively affected by the presence of oxidized oil in the experimental diets, but the allicin extract supplement appeared to mitigate its influence. A positive influence of the dietary supplement was noticed on antioxidant capacity and polyphenol concentrations determined in breast and thigh samples under allicin supplement influence. The results of the current study revealed that the use of low oxidized oil in broilers diets did not affect productive performance. The nutritional quality of meat (breast and thigh) was negatively influenced by the presence of oxidized oil, but allicin supplements (extract or garlic leaves) improved lipid quality indices and antioxidant potential. Full article

It is known that the addition of feed rich in bioactive components to animal diets will affect rumen fermentation parameters and flora structure. However, research on the regulatory effects of prickly ash seeds (PASs) during rumen development or on the rumen microbiome and its metabolites in sheep is limited. The current study was designed to explore the effects of PASs on sheep rumen development and growth performance using metagenomics and metabolomics. Eighteen 3-month-old Hu lambs were randomly allotted to three different dietary treatment groups: 0% (basal diet, CK), 3% (CK with 3% PAS, low-dose PAS, LPS), and 6% (CK with 6% PAS, high-dose PAS, HPS) PASs. The lambs were slaughtered to evaluate production performance. Our results showed that dietary PAS addition improved the average daily gain and reduced the F/G ratio of the experimental animals. Additionally, the height and width of the rumen papilla in the treatment groups were significantly higher than those in the CK group. The fermentation parameters showed that the levels of acetate and butyrate were significantly higher in the LPS group than in the CK and HPS groups. The propionate levels in the HPS group were significantly higher than those in the CK and LPS groups. Metagenomics analysis revealed that PAS dietary supplementation improved the abundance of Clostridiales and Bacteroidales and reduced the abundance of Prevotella, Butyrivibrio, and Methanococcus. Metabolomic analyses revealed that increased metabolite levels, such as those of serotonin, L-isoleucine, and L-valine, were closely related to growth-related metabolic pathways. The correlations analyzed showed that papilla height and muscular thickness were positively and negatively correlated with serotonin and L-valine, respectively. Average daily gain (ADG) was positively and negatively correlated with L-valine and several Prevotella, respectively. In addition, muscular thickness was positively correlated with Sodaliphilus pleomorphus, four Prevotella strains, Sarcina_sp_DSM_11001, and Methanobrevibacter_thaueri. Overall, PAS addition improved sheep growth performance by regulating beneficial microorganism and metabolite abundances, facilitating bacterial and viral invasion resistance. Full article

The quality of the supply chain for livestock products is related to the sustainable development of the livestock industry and national food security. Based on supply chain theory, green supply chain theory, and quality management theory, combined with the characteristics of livestock products and field research in China and Mongolia, a conceptual model of green supply chain quality for livestock products was constructed around two dimensions: livestock product quality and green supply chain service quality. Among them, the factors affecting the quality of livestock products are composed of 10 factors pertaining to breeding, slaughtering and processing, circulation, and sales; the factors affecting the service quality of the green supply chain of livestock products are composed of 16 factors in five links of supply chain services, such as logistics, information flow, capital flow, personnel quality, and public services. The quality of livestock products and the quality of green supply chain services of livestock products are not independent from each other, but show a relationship of mutual influence and mutual restriction. Focusing on the two dimensions of livestock product quality and livestock product green supply chain service quality, an optimization path of livestock product green supply chain quality is proposed. The research findings have certain guiding significance for promoting the high-quality development of green supply chains for cross-border livestock products in China and Mongolia. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary fiber (DF) levels and copper concentrations on the production performance and cecal microbial diversity of finishing pigs. A 2 × 2 factorial experimental design was used, with different levels of dietary fiber (low [23% DF]: L and high [30% DF]: H) and copper concentrations (normal [25 mg/kg]: N and supplemented [45 mg/kg]: S) resulting in four diets (LN, LS, HN, and HS). Forty-eight hybrid barrows (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire), with an initial body weight of 76 kg ± 1.5 kg, were randomly assigned to four groups: LN, LS, HN, and HS, with 12 replicates per group and one pig per replicate. There was a 7-day adaptation period followed by a 56-day feeding trial, after which all pigs were slaughtered for sampling. Results indicated that in finishing pigs, the low dietary fiber group exhibited a higher final weight, a higher average daily gain, and a lower feed-to-gain ratio compared to the high fiber group (p < 0.05). The LS group showed higher digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, ash, neutral detergent fiber, and DF than the HN and HS groups (p < 0.05). Blood total protein levels were higher in the high fiber group, whereas blood Cu levels were higher in the supplemented copper group (p < 0.05). High dietary fiber increased the activities of colonic carboxymethylcellulase and β-glucanase (p < 0.05). Concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, and total volatile fatty acids were elevated in the high fiber group (p < 0.05). Microbial α-diversity indices (observed species, Chao 1, and Shannon indices) increased with fiber but decreased with copper supplementation (p < 0.05). The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio increased with fiber levels, with a higher relative abundance of Lactobacillus in the LS group. In conclusion, appropriate copper supplementation in diets can mitigate the negative effects of high fiber levels on finishing pig production performance by enhancing nutrient digestibility, fiber-degrading enzyme activity, regulating the microbial community, and its metabolic products. Full article

Myostatin (MSTN), a member of the TGFβ superfamily, negatively affects skeletal muscle growth and controls muscle development at stages of pre-natal muscle growth. Marker-assisted selection with molecular markers of the MSTN gene can be used in animal husbandry for higher-quality and more economically profitable lambs. The study aims to identify multi-locus genotypes within the MSTN gene regions as molecular markers for fattening, feed efficiency, and carcass traits in Latvian sheep. This analysis was conducted on 76 intensively fattened male lambs representing six breeds in Latvia. Nine genotypes were identified based on four SNPs in the promoter and exon 1 regions, while six and four SNPs in introns 1 and 2 led to the formation of 14 and 10 genotypes, respectively. Six genotypes identified in the 3′UTR were significantly linked to traits such as birth weight, slaughter yield, muscle development, fat depth, average daily gain, dry matter intake, and feed efficiency. Genotypes of intron 1 were associated with slaughter yield, while genotypes of intron 2 were linked to fat depth, dry matter intake, and residual weight gain. The study concludes that MSTN gene SNPs can be used in selection to enhance sheep breeds in Latvia and improve economic outcomes for breeders. Full article