Featured Articles

  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of adding ruminal propionate on dry matter intake and glucose metabolism in steers fed a finishing ration


    Propionate metabolism by the liver is thought to be a key regulator of appetite and feed intake of animals, including cattle. Previous research has shown that providing propionate to the rumen of cattle decreases feed intake.

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  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: An investigation of the effect of folic acid and its delivery routes on broiler chickens’ hatch and growth performance, blood biochemistry, anti-oxidant status, and intestinal morphology


    Folic acid (FA) is an essential vitamin with anti-oxidant and growth-promoting properties. Notwithstanding, studies have shown that, like other bioactive substances, its efficacy can be affected by dosage and delivery routes. However, the in ovo delivery of bioactive substances directly to the developing embryo continues to show promising results in poultry production.

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  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: Metabolome of purulent materials of liver abscesses from crossbred cattle and Holstein steers fed finishing diets with or without in-feed tylosin


    Liver abscesses in feedlot cattle, a consequence of feeding a diet of high-grain and low-roughage, are a mixed bacterial infection with Fusobacterium necrophorum, a ruminal bacterium as the primary causative agent. Cattle with liver abscesses do not exhibit clinical signs and the abscesses are detected only at slaughter.

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  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: Strategies for accommodating gene-edited sires and their descendants in genetic evaluations


    Coupling gene editing, a technology with the potential to make specific changes to DNA sequence (e.g., quantitative trait nucleotide, QTN), with genomic selection can generate faster genetic gain in economically important traits. However, gene editing would impact the genetic relationship among individuals and, consequently, genetic evaluations. The objectives of this study were to understand how gene editing impacts genetic prediction and develop strategies to mitigate potential errors in estimated breeding values (EBV).

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  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: Convergent changes in melanocortin receptor 1 gene are associated with black-headed coat color in sheep


    The diverse colors of sheep not only help to distinguish different breeds but also provide an ideal model to study the genetics underlying mammalian coat color variations. One unique coat color in sheep is the black-headed type, as represented by the famous meat breed Dorper sheep from Africa and Bayinbuluke sheep from Asia. In this study, we compared the genomes of black-headed sheep with all-white sheep in order to identify genes responsible for this distinguishable coat color.

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  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: Financial strain of COVID-19 and its impact on willingness-to-pay for equine care


    COVID-19 had a substantial impact on markets and livelihoods. Jobs were affected and the cost of goods increased as products were in short supply, driving up prices for essential and nonessential equine care for owners, caretakers, and other associated individuals.

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  • Apr
    20
    Interpretive Summary: Apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility of mildly cooked human-grade vegan dog foods and their effects on the blood metabolites and fecal characteristics, microbiota, and metabolites of adult dogs


    Vegan, mildly cooked, and human-grade dog foods are increasing in popularity, but few studies have been performed to examine their performance. Our objective was to determine the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of mildly cooked human-grade vegan dog foods and their effects on blood metabolites and fecal microbiota, characteristics, and metabolites of dogs.

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  • Apr
    13
    Interpretive Summary: Comparison of three maternal composite sheep breeds managed under pasture lambing and purebred or terminal mating systems: ewe body weight, reproductive efficiency, and longevity


    Production systems across the U.S. sheep industry are diverse, ranging from intensive management to lower-input and extensive operations. Extensive flocks are more nutritionally reliant on grazing, have lower labor costs, and have limited housing for animals.

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  • Apr
    13
    Interpretive Summary: Amino acid digestibility and protein quality of mealworm-based ingredients using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay


    Mealworms may serve as an alternative protein source for pet foods because of their high protein content and low environmental footprint. The amino acid (AA) content and protein quality of mealworm-based ingredients may vary depending on their composition and processing, however, so testing is required.

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  • Apr
    13
    Interpretive Summary: Taraxasterol alleviates fatty acid-induced lipid deposition in calf hepatocytes by decreasing ROS production and endoplasmic reticulum stress


    Fatty liver is a common occurrence in the early postpartum period, partly due to the large influx of fatty acids into the liver during adipose tissue lipolysis. Because there is a linkage between fatty acid metabolism, oxidative stress, and lipid deposition in hepatocytes of nonruminant animals, we evaluated the potential therapeutic roles of Taraxasterol on reactive oxygen species and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in vitro.

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  • Apr
    13
    Interpretive Summary: The effects of standardized ileal digestible His to Lys ratio on growth performance, intestinal health, and mobilization of histidine-containing proteins in pigs at 7 to 11 kg body weight


    Histidine is an essential amino acid for protein synthesis, but it also plays a vital role in the metabolic system of pigs. An accurate assessment of His requirement provides pivotal information for efficient growth and health of pigs.

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  • Apr
    13
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product on fecal characteristics, metabolite concentrations, and microbiota populations of dogs subjected to exercise challenge


    The objective of this study was to determine the fecal characteristics, microbiota, and metabolites of dogs fed a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP) and subjected to exercise challenge in untrained and trained states. Thirty-six adult dogs were randomly assigned to control or SCFP-supplemented (250 mg/d) diets and fed for 10 wk.

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  • Apr
    13
    Interpretive Summary: Glucose-induced enhanced anti-oxidant activity inhibits apoptosis in goose fatty liver


    No significant pathological symptoms were observed in the liver of goose after overfeeding, suggesting that a specific protection mechanism exists in goose liver. Previous studies have shown that mitochondria may participate in the formation of goose fatty liver by improving its energy metabolism and the production of precursor metabolites.

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  • Apr
    13
    Interpretive Summary: Evaluation of oxidized beta-carotene on sow and piglet immune systems, sow reproductive performance, and piglet growth


    Beta-carotene is a known antioxidant found in most red and orange-pigmented vegetables and has been documented to have health benefits. However, beta-carotene has been reported to gain oxygen molecules spontaneously, thus oxidizing it.

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  • Apr
    06
    ASAS CEO Search


    To Apply: Complete the online form at https://www.asas.org/asas-ceo-candidates
    Application materials will be accepted only via the above link.
    Do you know someone that would be a great candidate for the CEO position? If so, submit their information on the online form at https://www.asas.org/asas-ceo-nominations. Screening of applicants will begin on May 26, 2023.

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  • Apr
    06
    Interpretive Summary: Total fishmeal replacement by defatted Tenebrio molitor larvae meal induces alterations in intermediary metabolism of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)


    Insect meal has been increasingly considered as novel protein source in diets for different animal models, including fish. European sea bass is one of the most important fish species in Europe, particularly in the Mediterranean.

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  • Apr
    06
    Interpretive Summary: Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of isoorientin against carbapenem non-sensitive Escherichia coli from raw milk of goats


    Escherichia coli (E. coli) has been the major foodborne bacteria that can cause diarrhea, gastroenteritis, and some complications, and also used as fecal bacteria pollution indicator in food. Carbapenems are considered as the last resort to life-threatening E. coli infections.

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  • Apr
    06
    Interpretive Summary: Dietary yeast beta 1,3/1,6 glucan supplemented to adult Labrador Retrievers alters peripheral blood immune cell responses to vaccination challenge without affecting protective immunity


    Companion animal food trends reflect the growing demand for healthy, functional foods. Yeast-derived β-glucans have been shown to train the human immune system to respond and resolve inflammation quickly, which aligns with companion animal health goals of providing disease protection without excessive inflammation.

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  • Apr
    06
    Interpretive Summary: Wet-food diet promotes the recovery from surgery of castration and control of body weight in adult young cats


    Castration is a surgical operation common in pet cats and dogs, and weight gain is often observed a period after castration. Nutritional management can be important for animal health in both processes.

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  • Apr
    06
    Interpretive Summary: Variations in the 24 h temporal patterns and time budgets of grazing, rumination, and idling behaviors in grazing dairy cows in a New Zealand system


    This study explored how grazing dairy cows pattern their essential such as including grazing, rumination, and idling, and how they distribute their time for those behaviors over 24 h. We used a group of spring-calved grazing dairy cows affiliated with different breeds, milking ages, and genetic merits and recorded their grazing and rumination behaviors for the whole milking period.

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