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Veterinary Sciences
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Ruminant Nutrition and Feeding Innovations: Enhancing Welfare, Health, and Sustainability
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Ruminant Nutrition and Feeding Innovations: Enhancing Welfare, Health, and Sustainability

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases in Veterinary Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2025) | Viewed by 2598

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ana Rita Jordão Cabrita

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Guest Editor
Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV), Network of Chemistry and Technology (REQUIMTE), Department of Veterinary Clinics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Interests: animal nutrition and feeding; feed evaluation; feed efficiency; rumen function; environmental impact; animal performance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. António José Mira Fonseca

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Guest Editor
Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV), Network of Chemistry and Technology (REQUIMTE), Associated Department of Veterinary Clinics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Interests: animal nutrition; dairy science; cattle; feed formulation; fatty acids

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The demand for foods of animal origin is expected to increase due to the growth of the world population, and increased urbanization and income. Increased food production must be achieved, strengthening the relationship between animal health and nutrition, highlighting how innovative feeding strategies can improve animal welfare and health, prevent disease, and enhance production efficiency. Under the One Health concept, new feeding solutions should also contribute to a decrease in the environmental impact of production systems while ensuring food quality and safety for humans. The use of new ingredients, including those not suitable for human and monogastric animals’ consumption, the valorization of co-products, and the use of innovative technologies, both in feed technology and in understanding the effects of new ingredients on improving digestion, metabolism, and disease resistance in ruminants represent opportunities for practical applications in animal nutrition towards more efficient, sustainable, and functional diets that benefit animal health and welfare.

Dr. Ana Rita Jordão Cabrita
Prof. Dr. António José Mira Fonseca
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • innovative feeding strategies for ruminant animals
  • animal welfare, disease prevention and production efficiency
  • feed technology
  • omics technologies
  • One Health concept

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1447 KB  
Article
Effects of Chromium Yeast Supplementation on Serum hsp60 and hsp70, mRNA Expression in Heat-Stressed Lambs
by Edwin Sandoval-Lozano, Iang S. Rondón Barragán, Andrés Sandoval-Lozano and Román David Castañeda-Serrano
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(9), 801; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12090801 - 24 Aug 2025
Viewed by 250
Abstract
Small ruminant production is increasingly affected by heat stress, with recent heat waves highlighting growing economic and welfare-related challenges. Chronic exposure to elevated temperatures disrupts thermoregulation, reduces feed intake, slows growth, compromises meat quality, and increases mortality. This study evaluated the effects of [...] Read more.
Small ruminant production is increasingly affected by heat stress, with recent heat waves highlighting growing economic and welfare-related challenges. Chronic exposure to elevated temperatures disrupts thermoregulation, reduces feed intake, slows growth, compromises meat quality, and increases mortality. This study evaluated the effects of chromium-yeast supplementation at different doses and timepoints on physiological and molecular stress biomarkers in heat-stressed lambs. Forty-eight clinically healthy 6-month-old Katahdin lambs (average weight 20 ± 2.9 kg) were assigned to a 2 × 4 factorial design, with two ambient temperature conditions (heat stress [HS] and thermoneutral [TN]) and four levels of dietary Cr-yeast (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/kg of dry matter intake). Lambs were housed individually in pens (1.2 × 2.5 m), with ad libitum access to water, and fed a 50:50 corn silage and concentrate diet (excluding mineral premix) twice daily. Blood samples were collected at days 0, 30, and 60 to evaluate plasma cortisol and the expression of hsp60 and hsp70. Chromium bioavailability was assessed by blood levels using absorption chromatography, and glucose clearance was measured at the end of the experiment. Significant reductions in cortisol and hsp70 expression were observed after 30 days of Cr-yeast supplementation under HS conditions (p < 0.05), particularly at the highest dose. For hsp60, a significant reduction was observed at the highest dose on day 30 under HS (p < 0.05). These effects were not sustained on day 60 (p > 0.05). No significant differences were detected under TN conditions (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that Cr-yeast may offer short-term physiological and cellular protection against chronic heat stress in lambs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ruminant Nutrition and Feeding Innovations: Enhancing Welfare, Health, and Sustainability)
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17 pages, 1289 KB  
Article
Live Yeast Supplementation Attenuates the Effects of Heat Stress in Dairy Cows
by Ana R. J. Cabrita, Júlio Carvalheira and António J. M. Fonseca
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(9), 791; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12090791 - 22 Aug 2025
Viewed by 213
Abstract
High temperature typically decreases feed intake, milk production, and efficiency and increases metabolic disorders and health problems, greatly impacting farm economics. Supplements based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been suggested to benefit cows under heat stress, but effects on dairy cow performance are contradictory. [...] Read more.
High temperature typically decreases feed intake, milk production, and efficiency and increases metabolic disorders and health problems, greatly impacting farm economics. Supplements based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been suggested to benefit cows under heat stress, but effects on dairy cow performance are contradictory. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of heat stress on the effects of live yeast supplementation on the performance of dairy cows. Environmental temperature parameters were compared to two thermal humidity indices (THI1 and THI2) using wet bulb or dew point temperatures, as explanatory variables of dairy cow performance during the hot season. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with 12 Holstein cows blocked by lactation number, days in milk, and milk production (two cows per block) and within each block, each cow was randomly assigned to a maize silage-based TMR with a concentrate mixture containing no yeast culture (Control) or 1 g/kg concentrate dry matter of a live yeast culture based on S. cerevisiae (Yeast) for 35 days. The experiment lasted for 35 d. Dry matter intake (DMI) was significantly higher for Yeast than it was for Control for all classes of temperature and THIs studied with an average increase of 2 kg DM per day, except for mean THI1 (from 54 to 60), for which the DMI was similar between treatments. Yeast promoted significantly higher milk yield than Control for all classes of daily maximum and mean temperature, averaging an increase of 4 kg of milk per day. Results suggest a more marked effect of temperature and indicate that yeast supplementation improved lactation performance of dairy cows exposed to hot weather. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ruminant Nutrition and Feeding Innovations: Enhancing Welfare, Health, and Sustainability)
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15 pages, 5270 KB  
Article
Dynamic Changes in Microorganisms and Metabolites During Silage Fermentation of Whole Winter Wheat
by Li Zhang, Yu Zeng, Lin Fu, Yan Zhou, Juncai Chen, Gaofu Wang, Qifan Ran, Liang Hu, Rui Hu, Jia Zhou and Xianwen Dong
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(8), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12080708 - 28 Jul 2025
Viewed by 371
Abstract
Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) silage has high feeding value and has become an important roughage resource in China. To recognize the optimal fermentation time of the silage product, this study systematically evaluated the temporal dynamics of microbial communities and metabolic profiles [...] Read more.
Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) silage has high feeding value and has become an important roughage resource in China. To recognize the optimal fermentation time of the silage product, this study systematically evaluated the temporal dynamics of microbial communities and metabolic profiles in whole winter wheat silage at days 7, 14, 30, 50, and 70. The dry matter (DM) content slightly fluctuated with the extension of fermentation time, with 28.14% at 70 days of ensiling. The organic matter and neutral detergent fiber content gradually decreased with the extension of fermentation time. A significant decrease in pH was observed at days 30, 50, and 70 compared to days 7 and 14 (p < 0.05), with the lowest pH value of 4.4 recorded at day 70. The contents of lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, and total volatile fatty acids gradually increased with the extension of fermentation time, reaching a maximum at 70 days of ensiling. The dominant bacteria were Proteobacteria and Firmicutes at the phylum level, and the predominant bacteria were Hafnia-Obesumbacterium, Enterobacter, and Lactobacillus at the genus level. The relative abundance of Hafnia-Obesumbacterium and Lactobacillus fluctuated slightly with the duration of fermentation, reaching a minimum for the former and a maximum for Lactobacillus at 50 days of ensiling. By day 70, Sporolactobacillus emerged as a distinct silage biomarker. The dominant fungi was Ascomycota at the phylum level, and the predominant fungi were Fusarium and an unidentified fungus at the genus level. The correlation analysis revealed significant pH–organic acid–microbe interactions, with pH negatively correlating with organic acids but positively with specific bacteria, while organic acids showed complex microbial associations. Collectively, under natural fermentation conditions, the optimal fermentation period for wheat silage exceeds 70 days, and Sporolactobacillus shows potential as a microbial inoculant for whole winter wheat silage. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing whole winter wheat silage utilization and enhancing fermentation quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ruminant Nutrition and Feeding Innovations: Enhancing Welfare, Health, and Sustainability)
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12 pages, 251 KB  
Article
Rumen-Protected Fat and Rumen-Protected Choline Co-Supplementation: Impacts on Performance and Meat Quality of Growing Lambs
by Haitao Liu, Fadi Li, Fei Li, Zhiyuan Ma, Tao Wang, Qinwu Li, Xinji Wang and Kaidong Li
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(6), 525; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12060525 - 28 May 2025
Viewed by 546
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the effect of co-supplementing rumen-protected fat and rumen-protected choline on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in lambs. Using a randomized experimental design, 45 weaned female Tian×Hu crossbred lambs (3 months old; average body weight: 27.34 ± [...] Read more.
This study aimed to assess the effect of co-supplementing rumen-protected fat and rumen-protected choline on growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality in lambs. Using a randomized experimental design, 45 weaned female Tian×Hu crossbred lambs (3 months old; average body weight: 27.34 ± 0.57 kg, mean ± SD) were randomly allocated to one of three dietary treatment groups. The three dietary treatments were as follows: a basal diet group (CON), a group receiving 2% rumen-protected fat in place of 2% barley (RPF), and a group supplemented with 2% rumen-protected fat and 0.4% rumen-protected choline, replacing 2% barley and 0.4% corn germ in the basal diet (RPFC). Compared to the CON group, neither the RPF nor RPFC treatments resulted in significant differences in growth performance (p > 0.05). However, the RPFC group showed a 5.3% increase in dry matter intake (DMI) compared to the RPF group (p < 0.05). Compared with the CON, the RPF treatment increased 69.23% the relative abundance of C18:2n-6t (p < 0.05), but the content of C17:0, C17:1, C18:1n-9c, and iso-C18:0 in Longissimus lumborum was decreased by 16.49%, 15.78%, 6.45% and 27.78%, respectively (p < 0.05). The RPFC treatment increased the relative abundance of C16:1 in Longissimus lumborum (p < 0.05). The RPF and RPFC treatments significantly increased serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol compared to the CON group (p < 0.05). The RPF treatment raised HDL by 50.00% and total cholesterol by 38.03%, while the RPFC treatment increased HDL by 39.47% and total cholesterol by 26.03%. Furthermore, compared to the RPF group, the RPFC treatment led to a 13.47% increase in the 45 min b* color value of the Longissimus lumborum (p < 0.01) and a significant 45.45% reduction in the relative abundance of C18:2n-6t fatty acid in the same muscle (p < 0.05). In summary, rumen-protected choline reduces the negative effects of rumen-protected fat on feed intake in lambs and changes fatty acid profile in meat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ruminant Nutrition and Feeding Innovations: Enhancing Welfare, Health, and Sustainability)
19 pages, 287 KB  
Article
Inclusion of Fermented Cassava Top and Root with Inoculation in Total Mixed Ration Silage Diets: Ensilage Quality and Nutrient Digestibility of Backgrounding Crossbred Bulls
by Pichad Khejornsart, Unchan Traithilen and Theerayut Juntanam
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(5), 402; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12050402 - 24 Apr 2025
Viewed by 765
Abstract
The use of cassava as a feed resource is the main focus of strategies that aim to increase the efficiency of beef cattle. In this study, the ratio of fresh cassava tops to roots (CTR) was 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 w/ [...] Read more.
The use of cassava as a feed resource is the main focus of strategies that aim to increase the efficiency of beef cattle. In this study, the ratio of fresh cassava tops to roots (CTR) was 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4 w/w, in addition to the incorporation of yeast and lactic acid bacteria (YL). CTRS was inoculated in vitro with rumen fluid and a substrate mixture to evaluate the gas production and fermentation quality. In vivo, crossbred beef cattle were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments: a control group and two groups that received total mixed ration (TMR) silage with either 35% or 70% of the concentrate replaced with CTRS. This study found that the levels of crude protein and condensed tannins (CTs) in CTRS were relatively increased by the addition of cassava tops (p < 0.05), while the fermentation pH decreased as the proportion of cassava roots increased. CTRS significantly enhanced in vitro dry matter digestibility, cumulative gas at 96 h, gas production kinetics, and MBP (p < 0.05), especially in the 1:2 group. In the in vivo experiment, CTRS increased DM intake, CP, and propionic acid concentration compared to the control group and showed great potential for improving NDF digestibility. Moreover, when the concentrate in the TMR silage was substituted with CTRS and offered to crossbred beef cattle, it increased ruminal NH3-N and blood glucose levels (p < 0.05). The TMR silage substituted with 70% CTRS reduced the feed cost by 50.54% (p < 0.05). Our study findings suggest that optimizing the inclusion of CTRS in TMR silage could be a viable strategy for beef producers aiming to enhance cattle performance and profitability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ruminant Nutrition and Feeding Innovations: Enhancing Welfare, Health, and Sustainability)
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