Featured Articles

  • Nov
    14
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of chicken slurry inclusion on apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility, palatability, and fecal characteristics, microbiota, and metabolites of healthy adult dogs


    Premium pet foods often include chicken slurry, which is thought to be superior to chicken meal but is not well-tested. This study aimed to determine how chicken slurry inclusion level affected the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) and palatability of extruded dog foods, and gastrointestinal health indices of dogs.

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  • Nov
    14
    Interpretive Summary: Is heat stress a growing problem for dairy cattle husbandry in the temperate regions? A case study of Baden-Württemberg in Germany


    Heat stress and its effects on milk production are commonly related to the effects of climate change. In the temperate regions, cold winters and mild summers have historically provided some buffering effect and maintained milk production. However, a measurable effect of heat stress on milk production was found, with its severity and period dependent on microclimates and the rate of increase dependent on climate change.

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  • Nov
    07
    Interpretive Summary: Dietary fiber and weaning age affect stress and immune markers in saliva of sows and their offspring


    This study explored how diet, specifically dietary fiber, and the timing of weaning affect the wellbeing of pigs. The sows and their offspring were fed two types of fiber: low-fermentable hay and high-fermentable sugar beet pulp, in either fine or coarse form. Conventional weaning with late weaning of piglets was also compared.

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  • Nov
    07
    Interpretive Summary: A study of solely used phytase or in combination with multi-carbohydrase on growth performance along with tibia mineralization, and carcass traits in broilers fed nutrient-deficient diets


    Poultry encounter challenges in synthesizing endogenous enzymes to completely degrade antinutritional factors, including phytic acid (PA) and nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP). These exogenous enzymes are present in plant-based feed ingredients, which encapsulate nutrients and adversely affect their digestion in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

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  • Nov
    07
    Interpretive Summary: Structural equation models to infer relationships between energy-related blood metabolites and milk daily energy output in Holstein cows


    Dairy cows face significant metabolic challenges during the different phases of the production cycle. One of their primary issues revolves around meeting the elevated energy demands, encompassing essential maintenance requirements and the energy required for milk production.

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  • Nov
    07
    Interpretive Summary: Integration of multi-omics reveals the important role of the BBS10 gene in reproduction


    This study investigates the relationship between genes and metabolites in sheep ovaries and blood. The analysis revealed that glutathione pathways are active in both the ovary and blood, which indicates a possible exchange of metabolites between these 2 tissues.

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  • Nov
    07
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of supplementation of live and heat-treated Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis CECT 8145 on glycemic and insulinemic response, fecal microbiota...


    Probiotics, live microorganisms, postbiotics, metabolites of probiotics, or the components that result from probiotic activity, help to maintain a healthy gut environment and are beneficial for general health and well-being. Minimal research has been conducted on the effects of probiotics and postbiotics on canine health.

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  • Nov
    07
    Interpretive Summary: Evaluation of corn fermented protein on the fecal microbiome of cats


    Specific components of yeast may affect gut microbiota and health. Corn fermented protein (CFP) is a co-product from ethanol production which contains approximately 20% to 25% yeast. In this work, 11 cats were fed diets containing no yeast (T1) and either 3.5% brewer’s dried yeast (T2), 2.5% brewer’s dried yeast plus 17.5% distillers dried grains with solubles (T3), or 17.5% CFP (T4).

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  • Oct
    31
    Washington Roundup - October 2024


    Octobers edition of Washington Roundup includes three summaries: Pressure Mounting on Agriculture Committee Leaders to Complete Farm Bill, Draft Dietary Guidelines Raise Meat Industry Concerns, and FDA Publishes 2023 Summary Report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in Food-Producing Animals.

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  • Oct
    31
    Interpretive Summary: Science policy - solving “real-world problems” - ASAS PPC


    A recent Nature career feature article (DePaul, 2024) focused on the roles of science policy advisors, noting “Many researchers think that science policy is a total snoozefest.” Four science policy specialists, from Spain, Canada, United States, and India, shared their insights for the article.

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  • Oct
    31
    Interpretive Summary: Teresa A. Davis Elected as a New Member of The National Academy of Medicine


    Teresa A. Davis, PhD, ASAS Fellow, former ASAS President, and past chair of the ASAS Public Policy Committee was elected as a new member of The National Academy of Medicine (NAM). The academy announced the election of 90 regular members and 10 international members during its annual meeting on October 21, 2024.

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  • Oct
    24
    Interpretive Summary: Current and future trends in managing internal parasites in forage-based livestock


    Gastrointestinal nematodes or worm parasites in grazing livestock and horses are a major health challenge due to worldwide prevalence of the parasite’s resistance to available dewormers. Pharmaceutical companies have limited interest in development of new products because of cost and the likelihood that worms will develop resistance to new compounds and continue to market older dewormers.

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  • Oct
    24
    Interpretive Summary: Nutritional strategies for small ruminant gastrointestinal nematode management


    Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) are the most important health issue for small ruminants in many world regions. The GIN parasitism causes welfare concerns and severe economic losses related to reduced productivity, cost of treatment, and, eventually, mortality.

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  • Oct
    24
    Interpretive Summary: Sustainable worm control in ruminants in Europe: current perspectives


    Cattle, sheep, goats, and their associated industries are a vital component in the development of rural areas and sustainable land use strategies in Europe. With 77 million bovines and 74 million sheep and goats in the EU (Eurostat, 2023), ruminant production is deeply linked to European culture.

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  • Oct
    24
    Interpretive Summary: How mites influence cage-free egg production in the United States, mite management strategies, and the mitigating role of genomic selection


    Egg production in the United States has changed significantly in the last century. From the 1920s to the 1960s, egg production underwent a significant evolution, driven by advancements in breeding and husbandry practices (Kidd and Anderson, 2019).

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  • Oct
    24
    Interpretive Summary: Deworming programs for horses in the United States: past, present, and future


    Developing deworming programs for horse farms based on scientific evidence has become more challenging as the concern over the development of anthelmintic resistance (AR) by internal parasites has continued to grow over the past few decades. The once simple recommendation of “deworm horses every two months” has become outdated and is strongly discouraged by many experts in the field as it is believed to hasten the development of AR in parasites which renders commonly used deworming drugs less effective.

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  • Oct
    23
    The Giving Herd - ASAS Foundation Newsletter - October 2024


    The October Edition of The Giving Herd, an ASAS Foundation Newsletter.

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  • Oct
    17
    Interpretive Summary: Impacts of increasing levels of salt on intake, digestion, and rumen fermentation with beef cattle consuming low-quality forages


    Beef cattle are often provided supplements to compensate for seasonal nutrient deficiencies. However, one of the challenges to strategic supplementation is controlling individual intake variation. The most common method to regulate intake of self-fed supplements is the use of salt.

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  • Oct
    17
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of fermented soybean meal and supplemental methionine and lysine on growth, digestibility, body composition, and amino acid composition of Beluga (Huso huso)


    The growing aquaculture production can greatly affect the aquafeed industry and cause problems, especially in providing fish meal (FM) for diets. Price and production instability in FM can restrict producers’ ability to produce aquafeed. Therefore, it is advised to use plant proteins such as soybean meal (SBM), which has high protein, reasonable price, and relatively balanced amino acids profile.

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  • Oct
    17
    Interpretive Summary: A microencapsulated blend of botanicals supports weaning piglets during a lipopolysaccharide challenge by modulating liver inflammation and intestinal integrity


    Piglets are particularly susceptible to stress due to the abrupt changes they face during weaning. These stressors cause a surge of oxidation and inflammation, particularly in the intestinal tract. Inflammation in the intestine causes a loss in its barrier function and facilitates the translocation of harmful compounds.

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