A paper recently published in the Journal of Animal Science evaluated the behavioral and physiological response in goats during isolation with and without visual contact with their herd- or pen-mates.

Residual feed intake (RFI) is a desired heritable trait in beef cattle. Animals with lower RFI are more feed efficient although epigenetic variations can impact this trait. The environmental circumstances and molecular mechanisms behind how epigenetics leads to variations in RFI however are not well understood.

Finding efficient ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while increasing performance is crucial for optimizing the production of feedlot steers. In this recent Journal of Animal Science article, researchers studied how feeding ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) impacted the performance and greenhouse gas emissions of feedlot steers.

A paper recently published in the Journal of Animal Science investigated the links between metabolic rate and feed efficiency in the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax, a major species in European mariculture.

Visceral organs are essential for life in all animals due to their role in various aspects of digestive physiology, including the digestion of feedstuffs, absorption of nutrients, and metabolism of absorbed and circulating nutrients.

A study recently published in the Journal of Animal Science evaluated the effects of increasing levels of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) extract as a feed additive for lambs and its effect on metabolic profile of the muscle and instrumental meat quality traits. The major components of meat, proteins and lipids, are susceptible to oxidation leading to off-flavors and color changes, which can cause consumer rejection of the product and may lead to loss in nutritional quality and generate compounds.

A study recently published in the Journal of Animal Science investigated the effects of iron, vitamin A, and their interaction on intestinal development and differentiation of cells in suckling piglets. The intestinal epithelium of piglets often changes significantly in the first month after birth; its development and function directly affects the absorption of nutrients.

“The greatest threat to global public health is the continued failure of world leaders to keep the global temperature rise below 1.5°C and to restore nature. Urgent, society-wide changes must be made and will lead to a fairer and healthier world. We, as editors of health journals, call for governments and other leaders to act, marking 2021 as the year that the world finally changes course,” the authors stated.

“There’s a long history of these giant meat processors making more and more, while families pay more at the grocery store and farmers and ranchers earn less for their products. Absent this corporate consolidation, prices would be lower for consumers and fairer for farmers and ranchers,” Deese stated.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) announced it will require official meat and poultry establishments, egg product plants, and all other facilities where FSIS provides official inspection services to follow current Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for mask use. If failure to comply, USDA will withdraw all Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) from the organization.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) regarding the labeling of meat or poultry products derived from cultured animal cells.

This grant program is intended to contribute towards necessary personal, family, or living expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as costs for personal protective equipment, dependent care, and expenses associated with quarantines and testing related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the US Interagency Working Group on Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases Report, methane emissions are $1,756 per short ton, while carbon dioxide is $68. The law, Public Utilities Commission Modernize Gas Utility Demand-side Management Standards, requires that state regulators must take a longer-term view of the cost savings of reducing energy use. The hope is with that longer view, more programs that reduce demand through improved insulation and other devices will be justified as cost-effective.

The Act will reinstate Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL) for beef, something that has mixed reviews among those in the industry. It is worth noting, Booker recently introduced the Farm System Reform Act, which includes reinstating MCOOL, placing a moratorium on concentrated animal feeding operations, among other actions.

"This bipartisan bill will beef up critical livestock disaster programs, providing additional certainty so Montana ranchers can better weather disasters and emerge whole on the other side." The bill will make changes to the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) by increasing coverage for monthly feed costs to 80 percent, including unweaned cattle in eligible livestock, increasing the number of months a producer can receive payments, and improving the formula used to calculate monthly feed costs.

The Act would update front-of-package food labeling requirements, require updates to the ingredient list on packaged foods, and apply consumer-friendly labeling requirements. “We need a clear, truthful system of labels for food products that ensure consumers can make informed dietary choices without being confused or misled,” said Senator Markey.

The Wilderness Act of 1964 prohibits the use of motorized vehicles or mechanical tools. The Act established the National Wilderness Prevention system, a national network of more than 800 federally designated wilderness areas. The worry is that in many cases, it bans the active management that is necessary to curb the risk of wildfire, eradicate invasive species, maintain healthy habitat, and water sources for wildlife.

Heat stress causes the animal industry over $2.5 billion in economic losses each year. As a result, much research has been conducted to mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress during the summer months. Some of the more identifiable adverse effects include decreased growth rates, altered characteristics, poor reproduction, and reduced milk yield; however, heat stress also markedly alters metabolism, endocrinology, and immunophysiology.

Zinc is required for optimal animal health and production, but feedstuffs often do not contain enough zinc to meet the requirement of animals, which means livestock are often provided supplemental zinc. Several sources of supplemental zinc are available, including inorganic and organic sources, and previous research has sought to compare the bioavailability of different zinc sources.

The role of dietary fiber in pig nutrition and health has received much research interest because of its versatility. Recently, research has been focused on the impact of either a single or a mixed dietary fiber source with a standard gestation diet.