The oil extracted from black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae has recently emerged as a sustainable and innovative feed ingredient. Conventional fats are often included in the diets of dairy cows, but some of them are associated with negative environmental impact, such as those derived from oil palm cultivation.

Feedlot cattle are fed high-grain diets and typically experience fluctuations in daily feed intake that may increase liver abscess prevalence. Liver abscesses result from bacterial infection, but the interaction between feedlot management practices and bacterial prevalence and concentrations in the liver and the gastrointestinal tract are poorly understood.

Iron deficiency is one of the most common issues in newborn piglets and can impair growth and overall health before and after weaning. This study evaluated how different iron injection frequencies (no, one, or two injections of 200 mg iron) during the suckling period influenced pre- and post-weaning growth, hemoglobin levels, antioxidant status, and whole-body iron retention in piglets from two sire lines.

This study reexamines the mechanism of rigor mortis, a characteristic phenomenon observed during postmortem changes in skeletal muscle of livestock and poultry, by focusing on the influence of imidazole dipeptides, which are abundantly present in skeletal muscle tissue. Previous studies on rigor mortis have largely overlooked the presence of low-molecular-weight compounds other than calcium and magnesium.

The goal of this research study was to quantify net energy (NE) content of diets ranging in crude protein (CP) content from 85% and 160% of American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) model guidelines while simultaneously decreasing nitrogen-free extract (NFE) in diets fed to adult, male cats.

Cattle grazing grass monocultures often face declining forage quality in mid to late summer, which can reduce animal performance and lead to uneven grazing near water and feeding areas. This study tested whether adding a moderate amount of a commercial tannin extract to a daily protein supplement could change how beef cows forage across the landscape and how their metabolism responds while grazing smooth bromegrass pastures.

One June 23, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry released legislative text of the Agricultural Act of 2026, also known as Farm Bill 2.0. The move comes after the House of Representatives approved its version of Farm Bill 2.0, entitled the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, which passed the House on April 30th.

Determining the digestibility of diets is crucial to develop efficient and ruminant sustainable production systems. Nevertheless, the methods currently available are not suitable for rapid and effective determination or estimation of digestibility. In recent years, models using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy have been developed to estimate digestibility directly from samples of feed or feces.

Nutrient restriction due to limited dry matter intake during early lactation in dairy cows may be a limiting factor for farm profitability. Improvement of feed digestibility through the use of direct-fed microbials may help alleviate challenges faced during this period.

Feeding a dry TMR was compared with partially (PHF) or totally (TLF) ensiled mixed rations based on sugar beet tops, focusing on ruminal and blood variables, estimated microbial protein synthesis (EMPS), nutrient digestibility, productive performance, carcass quality, and antioxidant status in fattening Ghezel lambs.

Plant-based feedstuffs may have limits in nutrient digestibility and nutritional value for pigs that might be ameliorated using heat processing technologies. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of steam-pelleting or extrusion on the digestibility of starch, protein, amino acids, and energy of barley or faba bean fed to ileal-cannulated growing pigs.

Pre-weaning mortality in piglets remains a major concern in modern pig production. This high mortality rate is partly a consequence of genetic selection for larger litters, which often exceeds the sow’s ability to produce enough colostrum and milk for all her offspring. To address this issue, researchers have explored various nutritional supplements designed to mimic the biological and immunological properties of colostrum and milk, as well as specific additives that support newborn piglets.

Protein-related claims like “high protein” strongly influence dog food purchasing decisions, but these claims are not standardized and do not consider protein quality (PQ). Limited data exists on dog owners’ understanding of PQ and whether protein source or quantity plays a greater role in purchasing decisions.

Beneficial bacteria can influence host physiology through the production of bioactive compounds released during growth. In this study, we investigated the effects of cell‑free supernatants (CFS)—the secreted products of selected Bacillus strains—using canine epithelial cell and macrophage models in vitro.

The gastrointestinal tract has long been understood as the primary site for both nutrient absorption and a barrier to protect from the entry of foreign substances into the circulatory system. With the declining use of antibiotics in livestock feed there has been an increasing focus on “gut health” to enhance overall health and well-being via dietary and other means to optimize animal production and welfare.

Gastrointestinal (GI) permeability plays a central role in livestock health and productivity. The intestinal epithelial barrier regulates nutrient absorption, immune surveillance, and protection against pathogens. Stressors such as heat, weaning, dietary changes, and infections can compromise barrier integrity, leading to increased permeability, altered energy metabolism, and reduced performance (Lambert, 2009).

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of ruminants represents one of the most complex and energetically demanding organ systems in the animal body. It functions not only as the site of digestion and nutrient absorption but also as a critical immune barrier, housing approximately 70% of the body’s total immune tissue (Vighi et al., 2008).

In recent years, leaky gut has emerged as a common denominator for seemingly unrelated challenges experienced by farm animals. Conditions such as heat stress, infectious diseases, feed restriction, and psychological stress have all been linked to disruptions in the gastrointestinal (GI) barrier function (Horst et al., 2025).

The jejunum is the primary site of nutrient digestion and absorption. In the context of animal production, the efficiency of nutrient digestion and absorption heavily influences growth rates providing economic advantages to producers (Campbell et al., 2013; Patience et al., 2015). In addition, the jejunum is a part of the gastrointestinal tract, the largest immune organ in the body, that directly interacts with dietary and environmental antigens and toxins.

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