Preconditioning is a stressful period in which newly weaned steers are vaccinated, dewormed, commingled, and transitioned to a new environment and diets; these stressors compromise immunity, welfare, and growth. Chromium is known to improve glucose metabolism, reduce stress, and increase weight gain in cattle; however, the underlying physiological mechanisms during preconditioning are not fully understood.

Drinking water intake (DWI) for feedlot cattle was assessed by meta-analysis using 35 studies, up to 131 experiments. A wide range of countries, breeds, sex, stages in the feedlot, and environmental conditions were represented. Studies were observational while others evaluated interventions including water quality and shade.

Dietary supplementation with human milk-derived Limosilactobacillus reuteri may help improve the health and growth of weaned pigs by supporting intestinal health and immune functions during the post-weaning period. The dietary probiotic improved growth performance and tended to reduce frequency of diarrhea, suggesting its potential as a functional feed additive for weaned pigs.

A diet with a low protein content is a known effectful measure in reducing the incidences of post-weaning diarrhea. However, a negative side effect of this measure is that the pigs grow slower as their requirements for nutrients are not being met.

Mushroom complex (MC) is a blend of mushroom water extracts including β-glucans and bovine colostrum that may promote immune function and gut health. However, these potential benefits have not been tested in cats. In this study, 20 healthy adult cats were fed a kibble diet for 15 wk.

Omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), help regulate inflammation, support immune function, and contribute to maintaining normal physiological processes. This study evaluated the effects of increasing dietary EPA and DHA intake from fish oil in healthy adult, large-breed dogs.

Chronic fear and anxiety experienced by pet dogs can negatively affect their welfare, although the physiological mechanisms underlying these states remain poorly understood. The objective of this study was to explore metabolites associated with fearfulness in dogs.

Milk from cows carrying the A2 variant of the β-casein protein has attracted increasing interest because it may be easier to digest than conventional milk. As a result, many dairy farms are progressively selecting cows with the A2A2 β-casein genotype. However, little is known about whether genetic variation in genes expressed in the mammary gland could be detected specifically in A1A1 or A2A2 groups.

Pellet quality is a major concern for commercial feed mills as it influences the production efficiency of pelleted feed, as well as downstream animal performance. The Pellet Durability Index (PDI) is commonly used to measure pellet quality. However, since numerous variables can affect PDI, it is challenging for commercial feed mills to consistently achieve the desired PDI.

Intake of low-quality forage (LQF) in the absence of protein supplementation fails to meet ruminal microbial nitrogen requirements, decreasing forage utilization and animal performance. Supplementation of both protein and starch is used to ameliorate the negative effects of LQF; however, the effect of supplementation on ruminal microbial communities is not well-understood.

Reproductive management in sheep often involves estrus synchronization using intravaginal sponges. While the effects on adult ewes are known, the impact on nulliparous ewe lambs remains unclear. This study characterized the vaginal bacteria of 22 Latxa ewe lambs at three stages using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing: baseline, after initial physical handling (hymen rupture), and after sponge removal.

Odd-chain fatty acid metabolism has recently become a topic of interest for human health. This interest has followed observations of inverse associations between pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) and/or heptadecanoic acid (C17:0) with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension risk.

Diet composition and feeding duration are based on available resources and production goals, yet they exert a profound influence on animal growth rate and production efficiency. Feeding systems, such as grain-based diets support faster muscle growth through the presence of glycolytic intermediates, whereas forage-based diets promote slower growth rate with an increase of oxidative metabolites.

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

This study examined the effects of combining four feed additives; pyromellitic diimide (PD), rhubarb extract (RE), monensin (MO), and fumaric acid (FA), on performance and enteric methane emissions in sheep fed pelleted alfalfa diet. Inhibition of methane production in ruminants can increase the accumulation of hydrogen in the rumen.

Weaning is a stressful period for piglets that often reduces growth performance and decreases intestinal health. Feed additives such as microencapsulated zinc oxide and lauric acid can be used to help pigs during weaning, but their effects are not well understood. In this study, pigs were fed diets containing microencapsulated zinc oxide, lauric acid, or a combination for 28 days after weaning.

Colic is a broad term for abdominal pain in horses, and the leading cause of morbidity in horses. Diet is recognized as a key risk factor for colic, yet limited research has investigated how diet affects fecal properties and fiber digestibility, factors closely linked to gastrointestinal health.

Pine trees contain natural compounds that may support dog health due to their anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. ArgaT is a commercial product made from pine tree extracts that may benefit dogs, but its effects have not been investigated in this species. This study examined whether adding ArgaT to dog food affected overall and gut health in healthy adult dogs.

Dietary antioxidants play a pivotal role in maintaining the balance of oxidative stress within the body. We explored the effects of consuming antioxidant-enriched kibbles on serum oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers in healthy adult dogs and cats.

A mathematical tool was designed for estimating the daily gain of medium- to large-frame stocker cattle grazing bermudagrass pasture in the southeastern US. This tool can predict stocker performance satisfactorily by accounting for daily changes in forage nutritive value, animal nutrient requirements, and herbage intake.