Early pregnancy losses are common in cattle. This review describes how critical the interplay between the developing conceptus (embryo and extraembryonic membranes) and endometrium is to maintaining pregnancies in cattle and other ruminants.

The corpus luteum (CL) forms on the ovary from the cellular remnants of the follicle following ovulation. The function of the CL is to produce progesterone that is required for successful pregnancy.

The United States Senate Agricultural Committee has passed the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act (S. 4030), a bill that would establish pricing mechanisms for live animal purchases.

A new study by researchers at Ohio State University found that human cells currently do not absorb the same level of nutrients from plant-based protein as they do from meat from animals. While plant-based proteins have risen in popularity, this study shines a light on how the body reacts differently when compared to meat.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are calling for nominations for the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). ASAS President-Elect Teresa Davis was a 2020-2025 member of the DGAC.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the details of the Food System Transformation framework. The framework was designed to transform the food system to benefit consumers, producers, and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating markets for small and mid-size producers.

The National Pork Producer’s Council (NPPC) and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) recently filed the initial brief with the United States Supreme Court in the case against California’s Proposition 12 (Prop 12). The Proposition bans the sale of pork not produced according to the state’s production standards.

Aimed to target the infant formula shortage, President Joe Biden has announced Operation Fly Formula. Under Operation Fly Formula, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are authorized to use Department of Defense (DOD)-contracted commercial aircraft to pick up overseas infant formula that meets U.S. health and safety standards, so it can get to store shelves faster.

Researchers from Kansas State University and Purdue University have released the report Meat demand outdoes meat avoidance. The report found that even with the increase in plant-based fake meat products, Americans are still consuming meat.

A new law has been signed by the Governor of the state of Kansas to require producers of fake meat products that use meat terms to include a disclaimer indicating the product does not contain meat on the label in prominent and conspicuous font size in close proximity to the meat term.

Earlier this month, the United States Senate confirmed Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young to be the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) undersecretary of agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics (REE).

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced additional support, resources, and rulings to strengthen the American food supply chain, promote fair and competitive agricultural markets, prevent abuse of farmers by poultry processors, and make prices fairer for farmers and American consumers.

As inflation soars, many Americans are changing the ways they shop and consume food. Currently, inflation is the highest it has been in over 40 years. Food-at-home prices have increased 11.9%, over the past year, up almost a point from May 2022, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Under hyperprolific situations, piglets must deal with a reduced birthweight and a severe sibling competition for nutrients. Therefore, light body weight newborn and suckling piglets may also have physiological disadvantages compared to their middle-weight littermates.

Modeling in the animal sciences has received a boost by large-scale adoption of sensor technology, increased computing power, and the further development of artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) models.

Piglet survival is under genetic control and there are clear differences between individuals in their ability to live. Animals that do not survive their first weeks will obviously not reproduce as this is natural selection. Animals that survive still harbor relevant genetic differences.

The transition period is a short period of the reproductive cycle spanning from 7–10 d prepartum to 3–5 d postpartum in sows. Nonetheless, it is highly important for the productivity of sows because it is when the majority of piglet deaths occur.

Considering welfare through the “neonatal and nursery pig perspective” is an exciting approach. Overlaying this with the Five Domains Model, as we suggest in this review, points to practical on-farm improvements that provide each pig the opportunity to experience positive mental states.

It has become increasingly evident that females and males differ in their susceptibility to disease and mortality. Females typically have higher survivability rates during pandemics and environmental challenges compared with males.

Achievement of pre-/post-weaning piglet success requires careful environmental management to ensure the thermal needs of the pigs are adequately met to reduce stress and promote livability, performance, and health.