Determining the digestibility of diets is crucial to develop efficient and ruminant sustainable production systems. Nevertheless, the methods currently available are not suitable for rapid and effective determination or estimation of digestibility. In recent years, models using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy have been developed to estimate digestibility directly from samples of feed or feces.

Nutrient restriction due to limited dry matter intake during early lactation in dairy cows may be a limiting factor for farm profitability. Improvement of feed digestibility through the use of direct-fed microbials may help alleviate challenges faced during this period.

Feeding a dry TMR was compared with partially (PHF) or totally (TLF) ensiled mixed rations based on sugar beet tops, focusing on ruminal and blood variables, estimated microbial protein synthesis (EMPS), nutrient digestibility, productive performance, carcass quality, and antioxidant status in fattening Ghezel lambs.

Plant-based feedstuffs may have limits in nutrient digestibility and nutritional value for pigs that might be ameliorated using heat processing technologies. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of steam-pelleting or extrusion on the digestibility of starch, protein, amino acids, and energy of barley or faba bean fed to ileal-cannulated growing pigs.

Pre-weaning mortality in piglets remains a major concern in modern pig production. This high mortality rate is partly a consequence of genetic selection for larger litters, which often exceeds the sow’s ability to produce enough colostrum and milk for all her offspring. To address this issue, researchers have explored various nutritional supplements designed to mimic the biological and immunological properties of colostrum and milk, as well as specific additives that support newborn piglets.

Protein-related claims like “high protein” strongly influence dog food purchasing decisions, but these claims are not standardized and do not consider protein quality (PQ). Limited data exists on dog owners’ understanding of PQ and whether protein source or quantity plays a greater role in purchasing decisions.

Beneficial bacteria can influence host physiology through the production of bioactive compounds released during growth. In this study, we investigated the effects of cell‑free supernatants (CFS)—the secreted products of selected Bacillus strains—using canine epithelial cell and macrophage models in vitro.

The gastrointestinal tract has long been understood as the primary site for both nutrient absorption and a barrier to protect from the entry of foreign substances into the circulatory system. With the declining use of antibiotics in livestock feed there has been an increasing focus on “gut health” to enhance overall health and well-being via dietary and other means to optimize animal production and welfare.

Gastrointestinal (GI) permeability plays a central role in livestock health and productivity. The intestinal epithelial barrier regulates nutrient absorption, immune surveillance, and protection against pathogens. Stressors such as heat, weaning, dietary changes, and infections can compromise barrier integrity, leading to increased permeability, altered energy metabolism, and reduced performance (Lambert, 2009).

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of ruminants represents one of the most complex and energetically demanding organ systems in the animal body. It functions not only as the site of digestion and nutrient absorption but also as a critical immune barrier, housing approximately 70% of the body’s total immune tissue (Vighi et al., 2008).

In recent years, leaky gut has emerged as a common denominator for seemingly unrelated challenges experienced by farm animals. Conditions such as heat stress, infectious diseases, feed restriction, and psychological stress have all been linked to disruptions in the gastrointestinal (GI) barrier function (Horst et al., 2025).

The jejunum is the primary site of nutrient digestion and absorption. In the context of animal production, the efficiency of nutrient digestion and absorption heavily influences growth rates providing economic advantages to producers (Campbell et al., 2013; Patience et al., 2015). In addition, the jejunum is a part of the gastrointestinal tract, the largest immune organ in the body, that directly interacts with dietary and environmental antigens and toxins.

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

Replacement beef heifers are often reared in drylots to facilitate feeding and management, or to intensify beef production as availability of grazing areas becomes limited. Our research group demonstrated that rearing heifers in drylots with high stocking density (14 m2/heifer) delayed puberty attainment compared with pasture-based systems, largely due to chronic stress associated with confinement.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEA) are among the most common mycotoxins that can contaminate feed and have detrimental impact on pig health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a diet containing DON and ZEA at 2.8 ± 0.3 and 1.20 ± 0.4 mg/kg, respectively, on the systemic and intestinal immune response in weaned pigs, as well as the ability of antioxidant (AOX) supplements such as vitamins, Se and quercetin to restore the normal immune status.

Beef cattle breeding programs often evaluate both growth performance and reproductive traits when selecting future breeding bulls. However, it is not always clear whether these two aspects of performance are closely related or largely independent.

Mosla chinensis is an aromatic herb used in traditional Chinese medicine; its essential oil has known antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. We investigated whether adding this essential oil to chicken diets at a range of inclusion levels could improve growth, antioxidant status, and meat quality in yellow-feathered chickens.

A significant portion of the world’s methane emissions come from agriculture, the majority of which are produced by ruminant animals. Accurate measurement of these emissions is therefore a critical focus for advancing sustainable farming practices. However, as it stands, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the optimal method to define methane emissions in sheep.

The Swedish Warmblood is a sport horse breed, valued for its performance, rideability, and temperament. To improve breeding, it is important to understand the genetic background of traits linked to sport performance. However, these traits are influenced by many genes, making them difficult to study.

Reducing enteric methane emissions from beef cattle is an important step toward making livestock production more sustainable. One potential strategy is to select animals that naturally produce less methane. However, methane emissions are often linked to other traits, such as how much animals eat or how fast they grow—traits that are already part of many national breeding programs.