Methane emissions and rumen microbiome response during compensatory growth on either a forage or grain-based finishing diet in beef cattle.

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of the level of prior nutritional restriction during backgrounding in Angus steers on methane (CH) emissions, diet digestibility, rumen fermentation, and ruminal microbiome under either a forage or grain-based finishing diet. Eighty steers (body weight [BW]: 444 ± 39 kg, age: 18 ± 1 mo) were blocked and randomly assigned within the block to either an (0.6 to 0.

Acid-base and electrolyte changes in dogs after packed red blood cell transfusion.

Background: Packed RBC (pRBC) transfusions are often necessary to enhance organ perfusion and tissue oxygenation in cases of severe anemia.

Objectives: We aimed to describe changes in acid-base and biochemical parameters in dogs after transfusion of pRBC and potential effects on the outcome.

Methods: The prospective observational study included anemic dogs requiring pRBC transfusions.

Transferability across countries of equations developed using milk mid-infrared spectroscopy to estimate daily body condition score change in dairy cows.

Routine milk samples are commonly subjected to spectroscopic analysis within the mid-infrared (MIR) region of the electromagnetic spectrum to estimate macro-constituents of milk such as fat, protein, lactose, and urea content. These spectra, however, can also be used to predict other traits, such as daily BCS change (ΔBCS). The objective of the present study was to assess the transferability across countries of equations for predicting daily ΔBCS that were developed using milk MIR data collected in Ireland and in Canada.

Description of patterns of ear and tail lesions during the grower-finisher period in a commercial pig farm.

Background: Ear and tail lesions are prevalent indicators of impaired welfare observed in pig production with different multifactorial causes. Understanding the progression of ear and tail lesions over time is important to implement preventative strategies on commercial pig farms. Therefore, this case study aimed to provide a detailed account of patterns of ear and tail lesions in pigs on a single commercial farm during the grower-finisher period.

Infant milk formula, produced by membrane filtration, promotes mucus production in the upper small intestine of young pigs.

Human breast milk promotes maturation of the infant gastrointestinal barrier, including the promotion of mucus production. In the quest to produce next generation infant milk formula (IMF), we have produced IMF by membrane filtration (MEM-IMF). With a higher quantity of native whey protein, MEM-IMF more closely mimics human breast milk than IMF produced using conventional heat treatment (HT-IMF).

The inclusion of companion forages in the diet alongside perennial ryegrass increased dry matter intake and organic matter digestibility in sheep.

The inclusion of companion forages in the diet of ruminant animals is gaining popularity in temperate regions due to observed improvements in animal performance. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of diet type on DM intake (DMI) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) in sheep. Furthermore, the effect of sward type on diet nutritive quality was investigated.

Pasture feeding improves the nutritional, textural, and techno-functional characteristics of butter.

There is an increasing consumer desire for pasture-derived dairy products, as outdoor pasture-based feeding systems are perceived as a natural environment for animals. Despite this, the number of grazing animals globally has declined as a result of the higher milk yields achieved by indoor TMR feeding systems, in addition to the changing climatic conditions and lower grazing knowledge and infrastructure. This has led to the development of pasture-fed standards, stipulating the necessity of pasture and its minimum requirements as the primary feed source for products advertising such claims, with various requirements depending on the region for which it was produced.

Short communication: Temporal profiles of colostrum and milk haptoglobin and substance P in early lactation multiparous Holstein cows.

Milk markers have the potential to aid in the detection of cow disease in early lactation if the automation of milk analysis becomes commonplace. Characterising temporal profiles of milk markers in dairy cows will improve the understanding of basal concentrations in clinically healthy cows. The objective of this observational study was to characterise the variation and temporal profiles of colostrum and milk haptoglobin (Hp) and substance P concentrations within 21 days postcalving in clinically healthy multiparous Holstein dairy cows.

Chlorate Levels in Dairy Products Produced and Consumed in Ireland.

In recent years, chlorate has become a residue of concern internationally, due to the risk that it poses to thyroid gland function. However, little is known about its occurrence in dairy products of Irish origin. To address this, a study was conducted in which samples of milk ( = 317), cream ( = 199), butter ( = 178), cheese ( = 144) and yoghurt ( = 440) were collected from grocery stores in the Republic of Ireland.

Value of simplified lung lesions scoring systems to inform future codes for routine meat inspection in pigs.

Background: Across the European Union (EU), efforts are being made to achieve modernisation and harmonisation of meat inspection (MI) code systems. Lung lesions were prioritised as important animal based measures at slaughter, but existing standardized protocols are difficult to implement for routine MI. This study aimed to compare the informative value and feasibility of simplified lung lesion scoring systems to inform future codes for routine post mortem MI.

The capacity of ante-mortem inspection of pigs at the abattoir to predict post-mortem findings and associated financial implications: A study at batch level.

This study aimed to investigate the associations between severe ear, tail, and skin lesions, hernias, bursitis, and rectal prolapses and meat inspection finding in slaughter pigs, including carcass weight and financial implications associated with carcass condemnations at batch level. Data were collected from 13,296 pigs from 116 batches from a single abattoir. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated to analyze the degree of association between the prevalence of welfare issues and condemnation findings.

Early life nutrition affects the molecular ontogeny of testicular development in the young bull calf.

Enhanced early life nutrition accelerates sexual development in the bull calf through neuroendocrine-signalling mediated via the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. Our aim was to assess the impact of contrasting feeding regimes in bull calves during the first 12 weeks of life on the testes transcriptome and proteome. Holstein-Friesian bull calves were offered either a high (HI) or moderate (MOD) plane of nutrition, designed to support target growth rates of 1.

Comparing consumer liking of beef from three feeding systems using a combination of traditional and temporal liking sensory methods.

Research on the effects of animal diet on consumer liking of beef has yielded conflicting results. Currently it is unknown whether dynamic changes occur in liking during consumption of beef. This study applied a combination of traditional and temporal (free and structured) liking methods to determine consumer liking of beef derived from animals that were fed grain (GF), grass silage plus grain (SG) or grazed grass (GG) during finishing.

Antibacterial plant combinations prevent postweaning diarrhea in organically raised piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic F18.

Antibiotics and zinc oxide restrictions encourage the search for alternatives to combat intestinal pathogens, including enterotoxigenic (ETEC), a major cause of postweaning diarrhea (PWD) in pigs. PWD causes important economic losses for conventional and organic farming. This study investigated the effect of dietary supplementation with garlic and apple pomace or blackcurrant on infection indicators and the fecal microbiota of organic-raised piglets challenged with ETEC-F18.

Behaviour change interventions for responsible antimicrobial use on farms.

Background: In the coming years, major governance changes in the form of policy directives and regulations will catalyse major top-down change with respect to animal health on European farms in an effort to combat the OneHealth threat of antimicrobial resistance. This top-down approach must be met with bottom-up strategies to ensure target actors (namely, farmers and vets) are supported and motivated to change their practices, thus, avoiding unintended consequences of forced change. Although much behavioural research has explored the factors influencing antimicrobial practices on farms, a gap exists translating these findings into evidence-based behaviour change interventions that can be put into practice.

The Role of Environmental Enrichment and Back Fat Depth in the Intensity of Aggressive Behavior Performed by Sows during the Establishment of the Dominance Hierarchy.

For sows introduced into new groups, the aggressive behavior associated with establishing a social hierarchy represents a period of severe stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of providing sows with an improved pen environment (straw in racks and ropes) on aggressive behavior after mixing and to understand the role played by sow back fat thickness and parity order. At 29 d post-service, sows were mixed into IMPROVED or CONTROL pens with individual feeding stalls (6 groups/treatment, 20 sows/group).

The capacity of inspection on farm and at the abattoir to predict post-mortem outcomes in slaughter pigs: A study at animal level.

The aim of this study was to investigate associations between ear, tail, and skin lesions, hernias, bursitis, and rectal prolapses at the abattoir and meat inspection outcomes in slaughter pigs, including carcass condemnations and trimmings, carcass weight, and carcass quality. This was an observational study whereby pigs were managed according to routine practices in a single abattoir. Data were collected from 1816 pigs.

Identification of sperm proteins as biomarkers of field fertility in Holstein-Friesian bulls used for artificial insemination.

Despite passing stringent quality control, bulls used in artificial insemination can vary significantly in their fertility, emphasizing the need for reliable markers of sperm quality. This study aimed to identify sperm proteins acting as biomarkers of fertility in 2 different populations of dairy bulls classified based on their field fertility. Semen was collected and cryopreserved from: 54 Holstein bulls located in Ireland, classified according to fertility indexes as low fertility (LF, n = 23), medium fertility (n = 14), or high fertility (HF, n = 17); and 18 Holstein bulls located in Denmark, classified as LF (n = 8) or HF (n = 10).

Influence of sire fertility status on conceptus-induced transcriptomic response of the bovine endometrium.

The aim was to examine the effect of sire fertility status on conceptus-induced changes in the bovine endometrial transcriptome. To generate elongated conceptuses, Day 7 blastocysts produced using frozen-thawed sperm from Holstein Friesian bulls (3 High fertility, HF and 3 Low fertility, LF) were transferred in groups of 5-10 into synchronized heifers ( = 7 heifers per bull) and recovered following slaughter on Day 15. Day 15 endometrial explants recovered from the uterine horn ipsilateral to the corpus luteum were recovered from synchronized cyclic heifers ( = 4).

Economic analysis of biosecurity adoption in dairy farming: evidence from Ireland.

Given the significant negative impact of livestock disease outbreaks on animal and public health, preventing disease spread through biosecurity practices is important. In this study, we used a nationally representative dataset that included information on biosecurity practices of almost 300 Irish dairy farmers. We applied parametric and nonparametric estimation methods to assess the economic implications of adopting the following biosecurity measures: vaccination, bulk tank milk testing for diseases, and not pooling colostrum.

Quantification of methane emitted by ruminants: a review of methods.

The contribution of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ruminant production systems varies between countries and between regions within individual countries. The appropriate quantification of GHG emissions, specifically methane (CH4), has raised questions about the correct reporting of GHG inventories and, perhaps more importantly, how best to mitigate CH4 emissions. This review documents existing methods and methodologies to measure and estimate CH4 emissions from ruminant animals and the manure produced therein over various scales and conditions.

Breeding for improved protein fractions and free amino acids concentration in bovine milk.

Considerable resources are required to routinely measure detailed milk compositional traits. Hence, an insufficient volume of phenotypic data can hinder genetic progress in these traits within dairy cow breeding programmes. The objective of the present study was to quantify the opportunities for breeding for improved milk protein and free amino acid (FAA) composition by exploiting mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) predictions routinely recorded from milk samples.

Environmental Risk Factors Influence the Frequency of Coughing and Sneezing Episodes in Finisher Pigs on a Farm Free of Respiratory Disease.

This study aimed to assess baseline levels of coughing on a farm free of respiratory disease, and to identify relationships between environmental conditions and coughing frequency in finisher pigs. Six replicates were conducted (690 pigs in total). A cross-correlation analysis was performed and lags of the predictor variables were carried forward for multivariable regression analysis when significant and showing r > 0.