Featured Articles

  • Feb
    29
    Interpretive Summary: USDA funds programs to increase food supply chain resiliency


    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted over $270 of funding in partnership with state departments of agriculture, to build resilience across the middle of the food supply chain and strengthen local and regional food systems.

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  • Feb
    29
    Interpretive Summary: USDA holds 100th Annual Agriculture Forum


    Earlier this month, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) held the 100th Annual Agriculture Forum. The forum is the largest held by the USDA, with over 1,700 in-person attendees and thousands more virtual attendees, comprising farmers and ranchers, food and ag industry representatives, policymakers, government officials, and non-governmental organizations.

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  • Feb
    22
    Interpretive Summary: Genetic evaluation of crossbred Bos indicus cow temperament at parturition


    Cow temperament was evaluated in 1/2 Nellore 1/2 Angus cows from four distinct generations (five herds) from 2005 to 2022. Cows were scored when their calves were processed (1 d age)...

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  • Feb
    22
    Interpretive Summary: Phenylalanine requirements using the direct amino acid oxidation technique, and the effects of dietary phenylalanine on food intake, gastric emptying, and macronutrient metabolism in adult cats


    Two studies were conducted to evaluate 1) the minimum requirement for dietary Phe and 2) the effects of Phe on gastric emptying (GE) and food intake in adult cats. In study 1, the minimum Phe requirement was estimated using the direct amino acid oxidation (DAAO) technique.

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  • Feb
    22
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of a second iron-dextran injection administered to piglets during lactation on differential gene expression in liver and duodenum at weaning


    Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in neonatal piglets is a problem that occurs unless there is intervention with exogenous iron. The most common method to prevent IDA is with an iron injection within 48 h of birth.

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  • Feb
    22
    Interpretive Summary: Alterations of rumen and fecal microbiome in growing beef and dairy steers fed rumen-protected Capsicum oleoresin


    The microbiome is the collection of microbes present in an animal’s body and has been discovered to be directly connected to animal health and productivity. In production animals, such as feedlot cattle, the microbiome can be modulated by antimicrobials to promote growth, but increasing consumer pressure to reduce antimicrobial use has producers seeking alternatives.

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  • Feb
    22
    Interpretive Summary: Enteric methane emission reduction potential of natural feed supplements in ewe diets


    Reducing methane emissions from agriculture is vital to minimize the effects of global warming and to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets set by EU policy. In this experiment, a range of natural feed supplements were offered to mature ewes through the concentrated portion of their diet.

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  • Feb
    21
    About Calihan Waller - 2024 ASAS DC Intern


    Calihan Waller
    2024 DC Policy Intern

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  • Feb
    21
    A Giving Partner's Message - Shawn Archibeque, Ph.D.


    A Giving Partner's Message

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  • Feb
    21
    Honoring Dr. Gretchen Hill


    Honoring Dr. Gretchen Hill

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  • Feb
    15
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of bacterial direct-fed microbial combinations on beef cattle growth performance, feeding behavior, nutrient digestibility, ruminal morphology, and carcass characteristics


    Direct-fed microbials (DFM) are naturally occurring microorganisms that alter cattle ruminal fermentation and intestinal function and have been shown to improve growth performance and nutrient digestibility of cattle. The use of DFM in animal feed has continuously increased in feedlots as an alternative to traditional antibiotic additives, which have gained negative public perception and additional regulatory scrutiny.

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  • Feb
    15
    Interpretive Summary: The effects of torula yeast as a protein source on apparent total tract digestibility, inflammatory markers, and fecal microbiota dysbiosis index in Labrador Retrievers with chronically poor stool quality


    Pet and human populations continue to grow and compete for nutritious, sustainable protein sources. The incorporation of alternative proteins like torula yeast can provide a solution to this problem. Torula yeast also may have additional health benefits like reducing gut inflammation.

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  • Feb
    15
    Interpretive Summary: Supplementing vitamins and minerals to beef heifers during gestation: impacts on mineral status in the dam and offspring, and growth and physiological responses of female offspring from birth to puberty


    Great variation exists in management decisions to offer a vitamin and mineral supplement to cow–calf herds in the Northern Great Plains. Decisions to supplement (or not) vitamins/minerals during critical periods of fetal development may have lasting postnatal impacts on the offspring; however, there is a lack of reports focusing on the long-term offspring outcomes.

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  • Feb
    15
    Interpretive Summary: Impact of maternal live yeast supplementation to sows on intestinal inflammatory cytokine expression and tight junction proteins in suckling and weanling piglets


    Increasing evidence supports the benefits of improving sow nutrition during gestation and lactation to promote gastrointestinal development and overall health of piglets. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of maternal live yeast (LY) supplementation to sows during late gestation and lactation periods on the intestinal health of suckling and weaned piglets.

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  • Feb
    15
    Interpretive Summary: Effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Postbiotics and Essential Oil on Growth Performance and Intestinal Health of Weanling Pigs During K88 ETEC Infection


    Weanling pigs are vulnerable to a variety of stressors and pathogen infections. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is one of the leading causes of diarrhea and growth retardation in weanling pigs.

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  • Feb
    08
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of dietary supplementation with 3-nitrooxypropanol on enteric methane production, rumen fermentation, and performance in young growing beef cattle offered a 50:50 forage:concentrate diet


    Enteric methane (CH4) is a by-product from the fermentation of feed in the digestive tract of cattle. The production of CH4 is responsible for the loss of 2% to 12% of the animal’s gross energy intake.

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  • Feb
    08
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of bacterial direct-fed microbial mixtures offered to beef cattle consuming finishing diets on intake, nutrient digestibility, feeding behavior, and ruminal kinetics/fermentation profile


    During the finishing phase, a high-energy diet offers benefits related to beef cattle growth and development. However, it is essential to acknowledge that finisher diets are energy-dense and can pose digestive challenges, such as subacute ruminal acidosis.

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  • Feb
    08
    Interpretive Summary: Effect of supplementing a Bacillus subtilis-based probiotic on performance, intestinal integrity, and serum antioxidant capacity and metabolites concentrations of heat-stressed growing pigs


    High ambient temperature provokes heat stress in animals, and pigs are highly affected showing low performance, and intestinal integrity and microbiota compromised. Probiotics could help pigs to maintain a healthy intestinal environment.

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  • Feb
    08
    Interpretive Summary: Daily dosing of cannabidiol (CBD) demonstrates a positive effect on measures of stress in dogs during repeated exposure to car travel


    Pet dogs often experience stress during routine car travel which can negatively affect both dogs and humans. A range of management and treatment options exist to address this, such as behavior modification, drug therapy, and supplements, yielding mixed results.

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  • Feb
    08
    Interpretive Summary: Is there a right time for dairy Alpine goat kid weaning: How does the weaning age of dairy Alpine goat kids affect their growth and behavior?


    In dairy goat kids, there is limited literature available on weaning management practices, despite this period being one of the most stressful events for kids and being associated with measures of poor welfare. This study aimed to compare weaning of dairy goat kids at 6-, 8-, and 10-wk of age to maximize outcome measures of welfare related to growth, feed intake, and behavior.

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