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

Feedlot-receiving calves are typically exposed to a series of stressful events, such as weaning, transportation, commingling, a change of environment, and illness, that have a negative impact on feed intake. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of feed flavors on feed intake, indicators of stress, and markers of the immune response for newly received feedlot cattle.

Functional fibers and biotics have demonstrated the potential to modulate the gut microbiome and improve gastrointestinal health in dogs, but are often tested individually. Research investigating unique fiber/biotic combinations is needed.

Many livestock species show sexual differences between males and females. However, we still do not fully understand the specific area of the genome responsible for these differences. This study used a novel method to investigate this research question in two distinct tropically adapted cattle.

In this research, we explored the functions of two specific microRNAs, bta-miR-181d and bta-miR-196a, in the muscle cells of Qinchuan cattle. These tiny molecules are known to play crucial roles in various cellular processes.

Avian coccidiosis, a prevalent parasitic disease caused by Eimeria protozoa, leads to significant economic losses in the global poultry industry. Currently, the control of coccidiosis in chickens primarily relies on chemical and ionophore anticoccidials.

The pleomorphic adenoma gene1 (PLAG1) produces PLAG1 protein which, by binding to specific regions on DNA, influences the activity of other genes that regulate many body functions. One gene is insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) which controls cell metabolism and growth.

For dairy farmers, pasture management is a difficult task, including feeding the herd on demand, improving pasture use efficiency, and dealing with high labor costs. Virtual Fencing (VF) is an innovative technology that can help farmers to solve these issues.

Heat stress (HS) negatively affects animal health and production efficiency and is a significant economic burden to global animal agriculture. Although the mechanisms responsible for reduced animal productivity during HS are complex and multifaceted, increasing evidence points to decreased intestinal barrier function as an important mediator of this response.

Heat stress (HS) negatively impacts efficient pork production; however, the role of biological sex is largely unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which HS differentially impacted hematological parameters in barrows and gilts. To address this, 3-mo-old barrows and gilts were exposed to ambient temperature or constant HS for 1 or 7 d.

Breeding efforts to increase litter size in modern sows have inadvertently reduced the average birth weight of piglets, resulting in a higher number of piglets born with low-birth weight. These piglets are indeed vulnerable from birth and display relatively poor growth potential from a very early stage.

This study evaluated the effects of two factors, porcine somatotropin and graded levels of amino acids, on the total accumulation and the accretion rate of amino acids across a broad range of protein deposition rates in growing pigs. Treatments included 1) with or without a daily injection of porcine somatotropin and 2) graded levels of total dietary lysine from 0.75% to 1.50%.

With the rapid development of intensive farming, factors such as high temperature, harmful gases, high-fat and high-protein diets, and changes in feeding methods have become causes of oxidative stress in animals. Studies have shown that oxidative stress decreases livestock feed intake and slows growth in animals, thereby affecting the quality of livestock products.

Feeding sows sugar beet pulp (SBP) has many known benefits, for example, increased satiety and high fermentability. This study investigates the ability of the sow to utilize energy for fat retention when replacing part of starch with dietary fiber.

Obtaining accurate estimates of methane (CH4) output across life stages is important to assess how CH4 output changes throughout the production cycle in pasture-based sheep production systems. This study investigated the factors associated with CH4 output at each life stage (lambs, hoggets, pregnant, lactating, and dry ewes), the relationship between CH4 output measured across life stages and the relationship between CH4 output and dry matter intake (DMI) in an Irish lowland sheep production system.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the major cause of losses in feedlot cattle worldwide. Previous studies have demonstrated that there is a genetic component to resistance to BRD, suggesting that this trait could be improved by selection.

Immunoglobulins play a key role in the organism’s defense against pathogens, and their diverse expression allows the body to generate a wide array of antibodies. This diversity serves as a critical safeguard for the immune system against various pathogens.

What a great day to join my colleagues and give back!

Red seaweed, Asparagopsis taxiformis (Asparagopsis), has been shown to be highly effective at inhibiting the production of methane (CH4) in ruminants. An alternative to feeding whole, freeze-dried Asparagopsis is steeping the biomass in vegetable oil to stabilize the bioactive compounds (Asp-Oil) and feeding Asp-Oil to ruminants as a component of their dietary intake.

Virtual fencing is a GPS-enabled fencing technology with the potential for improved livestock and pasture management, as well as socioeconomic and environmental benefits. However, the missing visual cue of a physical fence and the use of electric signals to ensure animals stay within the invisible boundary raise ethical and animal welfare concerns regarding the animal’s ability to understand and learn the technology and the stress and anxiety associated with these processes.