A lot is known about how diet affects gut health in humans, but much less is known about how it impacts dogs. This study assessed whether a laboratory cell model of the dog gut that mimics the small intestine, could support efforts to understand these effects. To achieve this, cells were exposed to either lipopolysaccharide and/or butyrate, compounds known to promote or reduce inflammation, respectively.

This study evaluated the use of defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) as a sustainable, alternative protein source for dog food. BSFLM is a novel ingredient from insects and is rich in essential nutrients such as protein and amino acids. We tested whether including BSFLM at 15% or 30% in dog diets would affect nutrient digestion, gut health, immune function, and overall food acceptance by dogs.

To better understand the lipids that are present in the whole food beef matrix, shotgun lipidomics analysis was performed on beef lean muscle, intramuscular fat, and subcutaneous fat. In these tissues, 882 lipids were quantified; each tissue type exhibited distinct lipid signatures.

Piglets born small or exposed to stressful experiences early in life are more likely to grow poorly. These animals increase size differences within the group, which can lead to higher production costs for the farmer. The objective of the present study was to evaluate metabolic indicators and dietary habits in light-born piglets with varying early-life growth rates.

Beef × dairy crossbred cattle are becoming an increasingly important source of feeder cattle to the U.S. beef industry. However, the carbon footprint of this source of beef under contrasting growing regimens is largely unknown. We conducted a partial life-cycle analysis to estimate and compare the carbon footprint of beef × dairy and beef steers who were either grown on pasture or in confinement prior to being finished at a commercial feedlot.

Morphological defects in cattle can affect animal welfare, performance, and farm profitability. In this study, we analyzed data from over 180,000 Nellore cattle to estimate the prevalence of several morphological defects, including depigmentation, feet and legs malformation, chamfer deviations, loin and jaw defects, hump irregularities, and navel abnormalities.

On December 30th, Secretary of Agriculture Rollins signed a memorandum establishing new priorities for future research and development activities funded by USDA. It is common for USDA leadership to set new priorities after a change in administrations. The new research and development activities funded by USDA will be focused on projects that address one or more of the following priorities:

The health promoting effects of including whole grains in the diet of humans are well known. However, the capacity to lower blood glucose and lipids seems to differ between different whole grains, with oats and rye showing beneficial effects more frequently than wheat.

This study evaluated whether the source of dietary trace minerals (zinc, manganese, copper, iron, and selenium) could affect healthy adult dogs’ mobility, inflammation, and overall health during an exercise regimen. In this experiment, 40 Labrador Retrievers were fed either a diet including traditionally sourced inorganic minerals (ING) or an amino acid complexed organic source (TMC) for 9 wk, during which dogs underwent increasingly strenuous running challenges.

The well-being of workers in the beef production system is a key component of its social sustainability. Feedlot workers, who are responsible for the care and management of cattle, play a crucial role in animal welfare, but their perspectives have gone largely understudied.

We evaluated the use daily feed intake data that is routinely collected on purebred male selection candidates in high-health nucleus herds to derive indicator traits to select them in order to improve disease resilience of their crossbred progeny in commercial environments. For the latter, we used data from a large-scale natural disease challenge of crossbred Landrace x Yorkshire barrows.

Swine inflammation and necrosis syndrome (SINS) is a newly identified condition characterized by inflammatory and necrotic signs in various body parts of suckling piglets, weaners, and fatteners. Although evidence indicates a primarily endogenous cause in newborns, the genetic basis and mechanisms underlying the development of SINS are largely unknown.

Efficiency is output divided by input. When discussing beef cattle efficiency, this is usually measured with feed intake within a controlled environment such as a feedlot. However, mature cattle that make up the US cow herd live primarily outside of confinement in open pasture and range systems.

The January Edition of The Giving Herd, an ASAS Foundation Newsletter

Over the past two decades, the world has had increasing discussions on environmental sustainability. Agriculture provides basic needs of humans. As the world faces current and newly evolving challenges, we are reminded that agriculture must do its part in conserving nutrients to feed a growing population with a shrinking agricultural land mass.

Choline is a key nutrient that supports the liver and overall health of egg-laying hens, while also helping them produce eggs efficiently. Traditionally, poultry diets include use of synthetic choline chloride. In this study, we tested a novel, organic form of choline called choline propionate to assess if it could work similar or better than choline chloride.

In commercial swine farming, the ability to predict the productivity of sows is extremely valuable as it provides herd management guidance, improving the farm cost efficiency. However, sow productivity is a multifaceted phenotype that involves complex patterns between various measurable sow attributes.

To meet the growing demand for beef driven by a rising population, cattle operations must improve efficiency of nutrient utilization by the rumen and the entire digestive tract. This can be achieved by enhancing forage quality or implementing nutritional strategies that optimize forage and overall nutrient digestibility, such as supplementing cattle with Bacillus-based probiotics.

Trace minerals are added to commercial pig diets because their availability in conventional plant-based feed ingredients is typically low. Levels supplemented are sometimes far in excess of NRC recommendations. Reducing supplementation may improve environmental sustainability by reducing trace mineral waste.

Weaning is a stressful period for piglets, often leading to digestive problems that can slow down growth and weaken health. Adding fiber to their diet is one strategy to reduce these issues. In our study, we evaluated whether almond shells (AS), a by-product of almond farming, could serve as an alternative insoluble fiber source for piglets.