Featured Articles

  • Jul
    03
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of increasing doses of red yeast rice polyphenol extract on apparent digestibility, antioxidant activity, milk production, and fatty acid in lactating dairy goats


    The interest in natural antioxidants has increased because they are considered to be safe, and have greater application potential for consumer’s acceptability of milk products. Polyphenol compounds being a source of natural antioxidants, which have received substantial attention because of their antioxidant activities for consumers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of red yeast rice polyphenol extract on apparent digestibility, antioxidant activity, milk production, and fatty acid in lactating dairy goats.

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  • Jul
    03
    Interpretive Summary: Chestnut tannins impair ruminal fiber degradation through modulation of cellulolytic bacterial activity in sheep: an in vivo and in vitro investigation


    Plant fibers are an important component of animal feed, and the effective degradation of fiber materials is crucial for the health of ruminant animals. Chestnut tannin (CHT) can effectively enhance the antioxidant capacity of animals and reduce methane emissions; however, there is currently limited research on its effect on fiber degradation rate in ruminant animals. This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of CHT on ruminal cellulose-degrading bacteria and cellulase activity in sheep through both in vivo and in vitro experiments.

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  • Jul
    03
    Interpretive Summary: Novel models for estimating metabolizable energy intake of pigs based on body weight and ambient temperature


    Ambient temperature is one of the major environmental factors that affect the voluntary feed intake (VFI) and metabolizable energy intake (MEI) of pigs. When pigs are exposed to above their upper critical temperature, they may reduce VFI, consequently decreasing their growth performance of pigs. To overcome insufficient energy and nutrient intake due to reduced VFI, energy- and nutrient-fortified diets are formulated considering the reduced VFI and fed to pigs.

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  • Jul
    03
    Interpretive Summary: Economic analysis of randomized controlled trial data: a framework and feedlot cattle case study


    Economic considerations are crucial for livestock producers when deciding whether to adopt new interventions or management strategies. However, research studies often lack consistent, thorough, and well-described economic analyses, making it difficult for stakeholders to make informed decisions. To improve guidance for future economic assessments, economic analysis strategies were reviewed, an example using controlled trial data was performed, and recommendations for future conduct were provided.

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  • Jul
    03
    Interpretive Summary: Spectral sensing for forage nutritive value determination of cool season, grass pastures during the grazing season


    Despite existing methods to determine forage nutritive value, most extensive beef producers in the Southeastern United States do not submit forage samples for laboratory analysis, citing expense and labor challenges. In response to these challenges, we evaluated the ability of a low-cost, easy-to-use spectral sensing system to predict the forage nutritive value of grass pastures.

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  • Jul
    03
    Interpretive Summary: Hydrolyzed chicken liver and increasing crude protein levels on palatability, digestibility, and intestinal fermentation products of cats


    Replacing conventional proteins with hydrolyzed proteins in diets for companion animals has demonstrated clinical and nutritional benefits, such as improved digestibility and reduced fermentation products in the large intestine. Based on this, the current study evaluated the effects of 2 protein sources (hydrolyzed chicken liver (HCL) and poultry byproduct meal) and 3 crude protein concentrations (24%, 32%, and 40%) on digestibility, fecal and urinary characteristics, fecal fermentative end products, and palatability of healthy adult cats.

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  • Jun
    26
    Washington Roundup – June 2025


    On June 23rd, the House Appropriations Committee approved its version of FY 2026 agriculture appropriations by at vote of 35-27. The House bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $25.523 billion, which is $1.163 billion (4.2%) below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level. The House bill does not follow the Administration’s request for major cuts to USDA research, education and economics programs.

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  • Jun
    19
    Dear American Society of Animal Science members,


    The publications committee is working to meet the needs of the society. Over this past year, two topics have arisen with respect to the publication of manuscripts in the society’s journals. The committee would like to get your input on these topics that could dramatically impact the American Society of Animal Science.

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  • Jun
    19
    Interpretive Summary: The relationship of lactating beef cow metabolizable energy intake to energy partitioning, milk composition, and calf performance


    Efficient beef production is crucial for meeting global food demands. Most of the feed consumed by beef cows is used for essential bodily functions like breathing, maintaining heart rate, and regulating body temperature. The remaining energy is partitioned into milk production, body weight gain, and pregnancy.

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  • Jun
    19
    Interpretive Summary: The standardized ileal digestible lysine-to-net energy ratio in the diets of lactating primiparous sows to optimize maternal nitrogen retention is dynamic but does not impact piglet performance


    Fifty-five first lactation sows were used to evaluate how the dietary standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys-to-net energy (NE) ratio affected nitrogen use by the sow and piglet growth performance. Sows were randomly assigned to one of five diets that had equally spaced and increasing SID Lys-to-NE ratios from 2.85 and 5.51 g SID Lys/Mcal NE that were fed for a 24-d lactation.

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  • Jun
    19
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of supplemental seaweed extract on antioxidant properties, loose stools, gut microbiota, and its metabolite composition in adult dogs


    Supplementing prebiotics, particularly plant polysaccharides, in pet food is currently regarded as an important approach to enhancing gut health. Polysaccharides can produce abundant short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the large intestine, thereby benefiting health.

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  • Jun
    19
    Interpretive Summary: Rein tension and heart rate variability in horses: an experiment on experience


    This study explores how different levels of rein tension affect the stress response and heart activity in horses, focusing on the differences between younger and older horses. We aimed to understand whether the experience of older horses makes them less sensitive to rein tension compared to younger ones.

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  • Jun
    19
    Interpretive Summary: Access to the outdoors during summer affects feed efficiency, carcass composition and meat quality in a slow-growing pure strain of chickens


    This study assessed the effects of outdoor access, which is required to produce “Label Rouge” slow-growing chickens, compared to indoor rearing, which is used in genetic selection for health reasons. Chickens were reared either indoors or with outdoor access after 28 d of age for 2 consecutive summers (2022 and 2023), a season when farmers often observe lower performance.

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  • Jun
    18
    The Giving Herd - ASAS Foundation Newsletter - June 2025


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

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  • Jun
    18
    Dennis Lamm's ASAS Journey


    Dennis Lamm's ASAS Journey

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  • Jun
    12
    Interpretive Summary: In vitro fermentation characteristics of acacia fiber using canine fecal inoculum


    Acacia fiber is a soluble dietary fiber extracted from the natural resin of acacia trees. This fiber is often utilized in the pet food industry as a processing aid to improve texture and stability but there is limited information regarding its effect on canine gastrointestinal health. The current study used an in vitro fermentation system and canine fecal inoculum to mimic the colonic bacterial fermentation process and assess the fermentation characteristics of acacia fiber, inulin, pectin (positive control), and cellulose (negative control).

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  • Jun
    12
    Interpretive Summary: Beef cattle phenotypic plasticity and stability of dry matter intake and respiration rate across varying levels of temperature humidity index


    The objectives of this work were to evaluate how population genetic and phenotypic components for dry matter intake and respiration rate in beef cattle changed as a function of temperature humidity index, to determine whether genotype-by-environment interactions (G × E) influenced selection decisions when breeding values (BV) were sourced from disparate environments, and to evaluate model-derived accuracy of BV at specific values of the temperature humidity index.

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  • Jun
    12
    Interpretive Summary: Genetic correlations between enteric methane and traits of economic importance in a beef finishing system


    Reducing enteric methane and carbon dioxide emissions from cattle is a key strategy in mitigating climate change impacts. This study explored the relationship between enteric methane production and economically important traits such as growth and carcass quality in beef cattle.

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  • Jun
    12
    Interpretive Summary: Circulating microRNAs associated with immune competence in Angus cattle


    Immune competence is a measurable trait that was developed to determine the ability of animals to respond to an infection. This trait involves measuring the response to vaccination and has been used in cattle selective breeding programs to ensure that animals maintain an effective ability to control disease, improving animal outcomes and productivity.

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  • Jun
    12
    Interpretive Summary: Effects of clodronate disodium on endocrine regulators of calcium in yearling horses


    Despite limited scientific understanding of the impacts on juvenile horses, extra-label use of bisphosphonates is anecdotally reported to be widespread. This study was conducted to determine the effects of clodronate disodium (CD), a specific bisphosphonate, on hormones associated with blood calcium regulation.

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