Provision of beta-glucan prebiotics (cellooligosaccharides and kraft pulp) to calves from pre- to post-weaning period on pasture.

We conducted two feeding experiments to evaluate the effects of supplementation with either cellooligosaccharide or kraft pulp on growth performance in grazing beef calves (Japanese Black) from 4 weeks pre-weaning to 12 to 16 weeks post-weaning. In Experiment 1 (20-week duration), nine calves (2.9-month-old females) were assigned to either a control group (CON) or an experimental group (CEL) fed cellooligosaccharide at a rate of 10 g/day mixed with concentrate.

Prediction of the in vitro developmental competence of early-cleavage-stage human embryos with time-lapse imaging and oxygen consumption rate measurement.

Purpose: To assess an embryo's ability to develop into a good-quality blastocyst during the early-cleavage stage using time-lapse imaging and the oxygen consumption rate.

Methods: In total, 942 zygotes had their oxygen consumption rates measured. In total, 282 zygotes were assessed by using time-lapse imaging.

Microarray analysis of Longissimus thoracis muscle gene expressions in vitamin A-restricted Japanese Black steers in middle fattening stage.

Vitamin A (VA) restriction in beef cattle improves meat marbling; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. We performed microarray analysis to clarify the effect of VA restriction on Longissimus thoracis gene expressions in Japanese Black steers. Six Japanese Black steers 13-14 months of age were divided into two groups: S group (n = 3), which received VA supplementation, and R group (n = 3), in which dietary VA intake was restricted.

Effects of supplementation with cellooligosaccharides on growth performance of weaned calves on pasture.

We conducted two feeding experiments to evaluate the effects of cellooligosaccharide (CE) supplementation on growth performance in grazing beef calves. Calf sex and age and duration of the experimental period differed between the experiments. Experiment 1 (10 weeks) used 5.