Search Results (2,245)

This study investigated the effects of different breeding methods on the cecal microbiota and production traits of Yimeng Black Goats (YBGs). Twenty-seven 3-month-old male YBGs were assigned to three groups (n = 9 each): total mixed ration once daily (A), concentrate in the morning and roughage in the afternoon (B), or grazing with supplementary feeding (C). Cecal bacterial communities were analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing, and functional potential was predicted using FAPROTAX. Breeding method significantly altered microbial composition (p < 0.05). Beta diversity was highest in Group C, while alpha diversity remained similar across groups. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria were dominant; Proteobacteria were most abundant in Group A. At the genus level, relative abundances of nine taxa, including Lactobacillus and Fusobacterium, differed significantly (p < 0.05). At the species level, including Lactobacillus mucosae, Bacteroides massiliensis and Alistipes finegoldii, differed significantly (p < 0.05). Chemoheterotrophy and fermentation functions were most enriched, particularly in Group C. Total weight gain was highest in Group A and lowest in Group C (p < 0.05), while carcass rate showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, and Euryarchaeota as the key phylum, and Bacteroides, Tyzzerella, Fusobacterium, unidentified_Prevotellaceae, Methanovrevibacter and Faecalibacterium as the key genera were influencing the production traits of YBGs. These findings highlight the adaptive responses of the cecal microbiota to breeding methods and their potential links to host performance. Full article

Ross 308 chickens were randomly divided into 2 groups of 600 birds each: a control group (C) and an experimental group (M). The birds were reared for 42 days in accordance with the flock management guidelines. Group M was exposed to music for 2 h/day and for 30 min before slaughter (~70 dB). After slaughter, the carcasses were cooled, and after 24 h, the pectoral muscles were collected for further physicochemical analyses. The study results revealed a lower value of drip loss in the pectoral muscles of the chickens from group M than in those from group C (p ≤ 0.01). Moreover, the muscles from group M chickens had higher pH values at 15 min, 1 h, and 12 h (p ≤ 0.01) and also at 4 h (p ≤ 0.05) post-mortem. Pectoral muscles of group M chickens also showed lower L* and b* color parameters (p ≤ 0.01), collagen content (p ≤ 0.05), and GSH concentration (p ≤ 0.01), compared to control birds. Exposure to ambient relaxation music in the scheme used in the study may be an effective form of environmental enrichment for broiler chickens, leading to physicochemical changes in their pectoral muscles consistent with potentially lower pre-slaughter stress. Full article

Animal welfare monitoring is essential in pig production. On-farm animal welfare (AW) assessments may provide a comprehensive overview but are resource-intensive. Abattoir-based assessments allow pigs from multiple farms to be inspected in a single facility. However, data on the relationship between these assessments remain limited, especially for heavy pigs (160–170 kg). This study investigates these associations in Italian heavy pig production. At the abattoir, 18,333 pig carcasses from 185 batches across 86 farms were scored for tail, skin (cranial and caudal) and ear lesions. On-farm AW assessments (management, structures and animal-based measures) were obtained from the national surveillance system (ClassyFarm). Tail lesion scores were higher in pigs with intact tails, whereas ear scores showed the opposite trend, suggesting a substitution effect between tail and ear biting. This indicates that tail docking is insufficient to fully prevent abnormal behaviours. Higher skin and ear scores were associated with suboptimal management, but tail scores were not, likely due to the multifactorial nature of tail biting. Herd size had no significant effect on welfare indicators. These results highlight the complexity of assessing AW and the importance of combining abattoir and farm data to obtain a more integrated monitoring system. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary spirulina (Spirulina platensis) supplementation on the physiological status and bone quality of juvenile ring-necked pheasants. A total of 200 one-day-old chicks were randomly allocated to a control group fed a basal diet or to an experimental group fed a basal diet supplemented with 15 g of spirulina/kg feed and reared under identical conditions for 42 days. Growth performance, feed intake, the feed conversion ratio, selected carcass traits, meat and bone quality, and biochemical and hematological parameters were assessed. Pheasants receiving spirulina presented significantly greater body weights at four weeks of age. The experimental group also exhibited increased pH values in pectoral and thigh muscles and increased postmortem muscle temperature. Spirulina supplementation significantly improved tibia quality, as reflected by enhanced geometric, structural, and material bone properties. The birds fed spirulina presented increased plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein concentrations, whereas those in the control group exhibited increased malondialdehyde levels, indicating increased oxidative stress. In addition, spirulina increased the proportion of lymphocytes and reduced both the proportion and absolute number of monocytes. In conclusion, spirulina supplementation increased tibia bone strength, reduced oxidative stress, and had immunomodulatory effects on juvenile pheasants. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of forage-free diets with reduced starch levels on the productive performance, metabolism, ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and meat quality of feedlot beef cattle. Two experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, forty uncastrated Nellore steers were distributed into 20 pens in a completely randomized design, receiving diets with increasing inclusion levels of ground corn in the total diet: C400 (400 g kg⁻¹), C200 (200 g kg⁻¹), C100 (100 g kg⁻¹), and C50 (50 g kg⁻¹), formulated without forage and based on fibrous co-products. Increasing ground corn inclusion promoted linear improvements in final body weight and average daily gain, while dry matter intake and feed efficiency showed quadratic responses. Meat quality parameters were not affected by dietary treatments. In Experiment 2, eight crossbred steers were assigned to a double 4 × 4 Latin square design and fed the same experimental diets. Higher corn inclusion increased starch and fat intake, whereas dry matter, organic matter, and protein intake showed quadratic responses. Apparent total-tract digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and starch also followed a quadratic pattern. Ruminal fermentation parameters were affected by dietary treatments, with greater ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations at higher corn levels and quadratic responses for propionate, butyrate, and methane production. Nitrogen metabolism indicated increased urinary nitrogen and uric acid excretion with increasing dietary corn inclusion. These results demonstrate that forage-free diets based on citrus pulp and soybean hulls with different levels of ground corn can be effectively used in finishing beef cattle, improving performance without impairing meat quality while modulating ruminal fermentation and nutrient utilization. Full article

Wildlife health surveillance is a vital element of disease prevention, biodiversity conservation, and public health protection, especially as most emerging infectious diseases originate from wildlife. In Slovenia, long-term passive surveillance based on necropsy data has yielded valuable insights into wildlife mortality patterns over the past three decades, despite inherent limitations such as carcass detectability, reporting bias, scavenging, and decomposition. Ongoing cooperation among governmental institutions, veterinary services, hunters, and wildlife management organisations has enabled the effective operation of this system, although passive surveillance remains subject to spatial, temporal, and species-specific biases. Necropsy data show that infectious diseases, particularly parasitic infections, are the main causes of mortality in key species such as roe deer and chamois, reflecting both their population abundance and targeted monitoring. In contrast, carcasses of species such as wild boar, red deer, small mammals, and birds are underrepresented due to ecological factors, biosecurity constraints, or low detectability. Overall, while passive wildlife surveillance does not provide representative population-level mortality estimates, it remains a reliable tool for identifying the presence or absence of significant diseases and for understanding broad mortality patterns when interpreted in the context of known methodological and ecological limitations. Full article

Several species of the genus Acinetobacter are nosocomial pathogens with a well-documented ability to acquire resistance to multiple antibiotics. Although Acinetobacter is one of the most abundant genera in meat processing environments, data on this genus outside of clinical environments remains limited. The objective of this study was to ascertain the prevalence, diversity and antimicrobial resistance profile of Acinetobacter spp. in 200 samples collected from food contact surfaces, non-food contact surfaces, carcasses and final meat cuts across five pork, chicken and beef processing facilities, each comprising physically connected slaughterhouses and meat processing plants. Acinetobacter spp. were detected in 80% (95% CI = 71–87%) and 70% (95% CI = 60–79%) of samples from slaughterhouses and processing plants, respectively. The facilities harboured a wide diversity of Acinetobacter species, with 27 different species identified. Acinetobacter baumannii was the species most frequently detected. Whole-genome sequencing of 18 Acinetobacter spp. isolates revealed the presence of ARGs conferring resistance to beta-lactams, tetracyclines and aminoglycosides, and disclosed phylogenetic relationships with isolates from fresh meat. Phenotypic resistance to beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, folate pathway inhibitors and/or tetracyclines was observed in 77.8% of the sequenced isolates, with 44.4% classified as multidrug-resistant. These findings identify meat processing environments as an important reservoir of Acinetobacter spp. and highlight the need for further investigation to prevent the dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant strains. Full article

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is a major swine pathogen that causes pleuropneumonia and leads to substantial economic losses due to mortality, impaired growth, and carcass condemnation. Nineteen serovars have been described, and their geographic distribution has been assessed using multiple typing approaches. High serovar diversity, together with limited cross-protective immunity, increases reliance on antimicrobial therapy for disease control. However, data on the genotypic diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility of A. pleuropneumoniae remain limited worldwide, and information on serovar distribution in Brazil is scarce. Here, we report serotyping, genotyping, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiling of A. pleuropneumoniae isolated from diseased pigs in Brazil. Eighty-five isolates from eight Brazilian states were analyzed; serovars 5 and 10 were the most prevalent (38.8% and 29.4%, respectively). Ceftiofur, spectinomycin, gentamicin, neomycin, tilmicosin, tulathromycin, and florfenicol showed good in vitro activity against the isolates. The highest resistance rates were observed for tylosin (98.8%), clindamycin (90.6%), chlortetracycline (67.1%), and oxytetracycline (67.1%), and multidrug resistance was detected in 55% of strains. SE-AFLP and PFGE revealed high genetic diversity, including among isolates of the same serovar, although a modest tendency to cluster by geographic origin and serovar was observed. Full article

Reducing input costs, especially feed ingredients, remains a priority for production agriculture. Identifying and selecting nutritionally dense ingredients is vital to maximize animal performance. Objectives of the current study were to evaluate the impact of biochar supplementation on goat carcass characteristics and fresh meat quality. Goats (N = 36) were allocated to a diet concentration formulated with or without (Control, Low, Medium, or High g/kg) biochar. After 60 days of feeding, goats were harvested, and carcass measurements were collected. Subprimals from the leg were fabricated into steaks for laboratory analysis of surface color, cook loss, and instrumental tenderness. Biochar supplementation did not alter organ weights (p = 0.0614), dressing percentage (p = 0.8139), loin eye area (p = 0.9570), or tenderness (p = 0.0144). However, marbling scores were lower in goats fed at the medium biochar supplementation rate (p = 0.0114) and high supplementation (p = 0.0102) compared to the control. An interaction between storage day and biochar supplementation was recorded for instrumental surface color lightness (L*; p = 0.0016), redness (a*; p = 0.0547), hue angle (p = 0.0313), and red-to-brown (p = 0.0591). Steaks from the 0.052% supplementation group exhibited greater (p = 0.0003) redness (a*) during a 7-day refrigerated display and increased chroma values (p < 0.0001). Storage duration influenced all color traits, with steak surface discoloration increasing as storage time increased (p < 0.0001). Results conclude that biochar supplementation does not negatively impact all carcass quality or tenderness traits, but may influence fat deposition and improve meat color stability. Full article

This study aimed to assess the effect of concentrate supplementation frequency on the nutrient intake, performance, carcass characteristics, and tissue composition of sheep for meat raised on Panicum maximum cv. Massai pasture. A group of 36 sheep of the Santa Inês breed (18 males and 18 females) with a mean initial weight of 17.0 ± 1.5 kg and mean age of 90 ± 10 days were assigned to three treatments: supplementation every 24 h, every 48 h, and every 72 h. The formulation comprised ground maize kernels (70%), soybean meal (25%), mineral mix (2.5%), urea (1.8%), table salt (0.5%), and ammonium sulfate (0.2%). The females reached a higher final weight than the males (p < 0.05). Dry matter intake did not differ among the treatment groups (p > 0.05), but the sheep supplemented every 72 h showed greater pasture and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake, while those supplemented every 24 h and 48 h consumed more concentrate and had higher total weight gain (7.19 and 7.10 × 5.68 kg) (p < 0.05). The same behavior was found for carcass and meat cut weights and for leg and carcass compacity indexes, but carcass and cut yields were not impacted by supplementation strategy. Supplementation on alternate days, i.e., every 48 h, maintains the performance and productive efficiency levels in sheep kept on Massai grass pasture compared to those supplemented daily, but providing intermittent supplementation with intervals above 48 h is not recommended as a nutritional strategy. Full article

African swine fever (ASF) has become one of the most significant transboundary animal diseases affecting countries worldwide. Wild boars play a major role in virus persistence and in local spread through geographical contiguity, while long-distance and transboundary dissemination is more commonly associated with human-mediated activities, particularly the movement of contaminated pork products and materials. Hunting is frequently considered a central tool for disease control; however, its epidemiological impact remains debated. This review comparatively analyses the approaches adopted by countries of European continent affected by ASF, paying particular attention to the role of hunting within integrated management strategies. The review examines country-specific control measures, including surveillance systems, carcass search and removal, fencing, zoning, and population reduction policies. The analysis shows that successful eradication was associated with early detection, temporary suspension of hunting in infected core areas, rapid spatial containment through fencing, and intensive passive surveillance based on systematic carcass removal. Hunting was reintroduced only after containment, as a regulated depopulation tool under strict biosecurity supervision. In contrast, where the virus was already widespread at detection and containment measures were delayed or fragmented, intensified hunting alone did not prevent endemic persistence. These findings indicate that hunting is neither inherently protective nor detrimental; rather, its effectiveness depends on timing, coordination, and integration within a structured epidemiological framework. Effective control requires combining wildlife management with surveillance, biosecurity, and clear governance. Full article

Both breed and plumage color are considered potential genetic factors influencing meat quality in pigeons, yet their independent effects remain poorly distinguished. This study aimed to disentangle the regulatory roles of breed and plumage color on meat quality, nutritional composition, and flavor-related metabolites in meat pigeons. White-feathered (SQB) and grey-feathered (SQH) Shiqi pigeons were compared with European Mimas white pigeons (MMS) under identical rearing conditions. Slaughter performance, meat quality traits, and flavor profiles were assessed, followed by untargeted metabolomics and transcriptomics sequencing of pectoral muscle tissues. The results demonstrated that breed exerted a significant influence on carcass traits, water-holding capacity, collagen content, as well as the composition of fatty acids and free amino acids. In contrast, no notable disparity in meat quality was observed between the white- and gray-feathered varieties within the same Shiqi pigeon breed. A total of 114 and 205 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), and 11 and 327 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in plumage color and breed comparisons, respectively. Key flavor-associated metabolites, including glutathione, L-histidine, L-carnosine, and cytidine-5′-monophosphate, were identified as candidate biomarkers for breed-specific flavor differentiation. Breed is the dominant genetic factor determining meat quality and flavor in meat pigeons, while plumage color variation within breed has a limited impact. The identified pathways and regulatory networks provide actionable targets for the precision breeding and flavor enhancement of local pigeon breeds. Full article

Background/Objectives: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) based on single-step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) commonly assume equal single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variances, which may not reflect the biological architecture of complex traits. Alternative weighting strategies can increase detection power but may affect stability. This study evaluated how different SNP weighting approaches influence genomic region detection and biological interpretation of ribeye area (REA) and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) in Guzerá cattle. Methods: Phenotypic records from 2729 animals and genotypes from 1405 individuals (43,039 SNPs after quality control) were analyzed. Heritabilities were estimated using Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML), and GWAS were conducted under five approaches: unweighted method (UM), quadratic method (QM), and three Non-Linear A strategies with weighting constants (1.125, 1.2, and 1.5). Genomic windows of 20 adjacent SNPs explaining ≥0.5% of the additive genetic variance (AGV) were considered significant. Recurrent regions were prioritized, and functional enrichment analyses (KEGG, GO, and MeSH) were performed. Results: Heritability estimates were moderate for REA (0.26 ± 0.05) and SFT (0.22 ± 0.04). Weighted approaches increased detection sensitivity. For REA, UM identified 10 windows, whereas QM and A_1.5 detected 24 and 31 windows. For SFT, UM identified 8 windows, while QM and A_1.5 detected 30 and 23 windows. Recurrent chromosomes included 2, 4, 6, 12, 16, 19, and 22 for REA, and 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 17, and 22 for SFT. Key genes included AKT3, NOS2, and MSTN. Enrichment highlighted pathways related to muscle growth and lipid metabolism. Conclusions: SNP-weighted GWAS increased detection sensitivity but involved trade-offs between signal amplification and stability. Integrating weighting strategies improves biological interpretation and supports robust candidate gene identification for genomic selection. Full article

Carcass growth and development are crucial evaluation indicators influencing the economic efficiency of goats (Capra hircus). This study aimed to screen the nucleotide variation sites (SNPs) of the APOE gene in Guizhou white goats and explore the correlation between APOE gene variations and body size traits, as APOE had been identified as a key candidate gene regulating growth and development in this breed through transcriptome sequencing screening. A total of 324 Guizhou white goats were used in this study for SNP detection, population genetic analysis, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and association analysis. The results showed that one nucleotide mutation site (g.353 A > G) was detected in the APOE gene, which yielded two alleles (A and G) and three genotypes (AA, AG and GG). The site exhibited moderate polymorphism and conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The mRNA expression level of APOE in longissimus dorsi muscle was significantly higher in males than in females. Association analysis revealed a sex-specific effect of this locus on body size traits. The A allele and AA genotype were significantly associated with increased body weight and heart girth in females, whereas no significant effect was detected in males. Therefore, the identified APOE gene mutation site can serve as a candidate molecular marker for the early selection of growth traits in Guizhou white goats. Full article

Although soybean meal (SBM) is generally used as the main protein source in livestock diets, canola meal (CM) appears as a sustainable alternative, since it lowers diet cost, especially when regionally produced, while still meeting animal nutritional needs. The objective of this study was therefore to assess the effects of dietary protein source (SBM vs. CM) on carcass traits and meat quality characteristics of feedlot-fattened dairy lambs. A total of 193 weaned lambs, approximately 3 months of age, from two indigenous Greek dairy breeds (75 Chios and 118 Serres), were used. Lambs were randomly assigned to one of two isocaloric and isonitrogenous dietary treatments: a control ration containing SBM as the primary protein source, and an alternative ration in which SBM was completely replaced by CM. After a fattening period of 13 weeks for Chios lambs and 15 weeks for Serres lambs, animals were slaughtered upon reaching a live weight of 35–40 kg, and hot and cold carcass weights were recorded. After 24 h of carcass storage at 4 °C, Longissimus lumborum muscle was sampled and used for the measurement of pH, colour attributes, cooking loss, shear force, and intramuscular fat content. Lipid oxidation was evaluated on days 1, 3, 6, and 9 of refrigerated storage at 4 °C. The substitution of SBM by CM as the main dietary protein source did not affect carcass traits in Serres lambs, whereas CM- treated Chios lambs showed an increased hot and cold carcass weight (p < 0.05). Meat quality characteristics were not affected by the dietary treatment in either Chios or Serres lambs, with the exception of meat oxidative stability that was deteriorated in CM compared to SBM Serres lambs (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the utilization of canola instead of soybean meal did not negatively influence carcass traits or meat quality characteristics in either Chios or Serres lambs, with the exception of lipid oxidation which was significantly higher in CM supplemented Serres lambs. Full article