Nutrition Impact on Production and Reproduction in Livestock

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Farm Animal Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 January 2025) | Viewed by 3574

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Departamento Acadêmico de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Pato Branco 85503-390, Brazil
Interests: dairy nutrition; dairy physiology; silage conservation

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Guest Editor
Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria 97105-900, Brazil
Interests: ruminant nutrition; silage conservation; statistical analysis

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Guest Editor
Beef Cattle Research Center, Institute of Animal Science, Sertãozinho 14160-970, Brazil
Interests: dairy nutrition; beef nutrition; in vitro rumen fermentation assays; ruminant enteric methane emissions; ruminant physiology/health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In modern agriculture, it is crucial to comprehend how nutrition affects the production and reproduction of livestock. Nutrition is a critical factor in guaranteeing the quality and quantity of animal products as well as the overall sustainability of livestock operations. It is critical to understand how livestock's nutritional state affects both their production and ability to reproduce. In order to satisfy the growing demand from consumers for high-quality animal products, it is crucial to have a thorough understanding of how to optimize nutrition for livestock.

Exploring the complex relationship between diet and animal production and reproduction is the focus of this Special Issue. It digs into the creation and evaluation of dietary plans intended to boost reproduction effectiveness, increase livestock performance, and guarantee the production of high-quality animal products. A wide variety of livestock species, including cattle, poultry, swine, and more, will be covered in the contributions to this Special Issue, which will also draw on multidisciplinary research from disciplines including animal science, veterinary medicine, and nutritional science.

This Special Issue's research articles will provide useful insights into the most recent developments in livestock nutrition; feeding methods; and their effects on animal health, production, and reproduction. We want original research, viewpoints, and reviews to encourage a thorough conversation on this important subject.

In conclusion, this Special Issue will highlight the impact of nutrition on both quantity and quality within the agricultural sector, clarifying the critical role it plays in determining the future of livestock production. It is our goal to solve urgent issues and realize promising prospects in enhancing animal nutrition through interdisciplinary cooperation and creative research.

Dr. Caio Seiti Takiya
Dr. Tiago Antonio Del Valle
Dr. Thiago Henrique Da Silva
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • feed efficiency
  • feed additives
  • fertility
  • energy metabolism
  • protein metabolism
  • vitamins
  • minerals
  • organic minerals
  • average daily gain
  • muscle growth
  • fetal programming
  • alternative feeds

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

8 pages, 542 KiB  
Article
Estimation of Fiber Fragility and Digestibility of Corn Silages and Cool Season Pastures
by Francine B. Facco, Richander G. Heller, Vitória Santos, Julio Viégas, Caio S. Takiya, Jefferson R. Gandra and Tiago A. Del Valle
Agriculture 2024, 14(8), 1345; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14081345 - 12 Aug 2024
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Abstract
Fiber fragility is defined as the particle size reduction rate during chewing and can help to explain the effects on feed intake and animal performance of different fiber sources. This study aimed to estimate the fiber fragility of corn silage and cool-season pasture [...] Read more.
Fiber fragility is defined as the particle size reduction rate during chewing and can help to explain the effects on feed intake and animal performance of different fiber sources. This study aimed to estimate the fiber fragility of corn silage and cool-season pasture based on their chemical composition. Between June and December 2022, 25 samples of corn silage and 25 samples of cool-season pasture were collected from dairy farms in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The samples were analyzed for particle size distribution, chemical composition, and fiber fragility. Contents of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and fiber fragility were greater in corn silages compared to cool-season pasture. However, the ADF–NDF ratio was similar in forages. Crude protein (CP) content and the in situ degradation of DM and NDF were greater in cool-season pasture than corn silage. Dry matter and NDF in situ degradation were negatively correlated with increased contents of ADF, NDF, and ADL and the ADF–NDF ratio in forages. Fiber fragility was negatively correlated with DM degradation and positively correlated with contents of ADF, NDF, ADL, and DM. Fiber fragility decreased as CP content increased. Thus, greater fiber fragility may jeopardize nutrient degradation, and levels of fiber fragility are directly associated with fiber content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Impact on Production and Reproduction in Livestock)
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15 pages, 1250 KiB  
Article
Monthly and Pregnancy-Related Concentration of Cu and Zn in Serum of Mares in an Equine Breeding Herd
by Małgorzata Maśko, Agnieszka Chałabis-Mazurek, Urszula Sikorska, Anna Ciesielska, Łukasz Zdrojkowski and Małgorzata Domino
Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010035 - 24 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1634
Abstract
Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are trace minerals with multiple biological functions, playing roles in fetal development and immune regulation. Despite their known significance, research on Cu and Zn administration and supplementation for pregnant mares is insufficient. This study aims to evaluate Cu [...] Read more.
Copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are trace minerals with multiple biological functions, playing roles in fetal development and immune regulation. Despite their known significance, research on Cu and Zn administration and supplementation for pregnant mares is insufficient. This study aims to evaluate Cu and Zn serum concentrations monthly throughout the year and through pregnancy in Polish Konik mares. The study was conducted in 2020 on 36 mares from the Polish state stud farm, with 24 mares in the pregnant group and 12 mares in the non-pregnant group. Monthly blood samples were collected, and serum Cu and Zn concentrations were measured. The total Cu concentration in the serum of all mares was higher (p < 0.0001) in August and September (13.98 ± 3.00 μmol/L) than in May, June, July, and November (11.04 ± 2.74 μmol/L). Similarly, the total Zn concentration was higher (p < 0.0001) in August, September, October, November, and December (19.80 ± 9.72 μmol/L) than in May, June, and July (14.50 ± 6.94 μmol/L). No evidence of a linear relation between Cu and Zn concentrations was demonstrated (slopes difference p < 0.001). No differences in Cu (p > 0.05) or Zn (p > 0.05) concentrations were found between pregnant (Cu: 12.08 ± 3.01 μmol/L; Zn: 18.02 ± 9.03 μmol/L) and non-pregnant (Cu: 11.23 ± 2.51 μmol/L; Zn: 18.59 ± 10.37 μmol/L) mares in any of the examined months of the year. In conclusion, the month of the year, rather than pregnancy, affects serum Cu and Zn concentrations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Impact on Production and Reproduction in Livestock)
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