Search Results (97)

The scientific literature currently lacks studies that evaluate the nutritional composition of the tissues of cattle raised in different systems, so that the nutritional effects can be known and used to enhance consumption and use in the diet. The aim was therefore to assess whether the mineral content of muscle tissue (longissimus lumborum) in cattle finished during the rainy season in the Eastern Amazon is influenced by different farming systems. The treatments consisted of four systems (three pasture production systems and one feedlot system). 1. native wetland pasture in Santa Cruz do Arari (Mesoregion of Marajó); 2. native wetland pasture in Monte Alegre (Mesoregion of Baixo Amazonas); 3. cultivated dryland pasture in São Miguel do Guamá (Mesoregion of Nordeste Paraense); and 4. Confinement in Santa Izabel do Pará (Metropolitan Region of Belém). The analyses were carried out on samples of the longissimus lumborum muscle tissue of 48 male, castrated, crossbred Nelore cattle, twelve per breeding system, from commercial farms, destined for meat production, finished during the rainiest period of the year (between January and June). In systems 1 and 2, the animals were slaughtered in licensed slaughterhouses; the animals in systems 3 and 4 were slaughtered in commercial slaughterhouses. Food sampling and chemical analysis, soil sample collection and analysis, longissimus lumborum muscle tissue collection, sample preparation and digestion, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry were evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized in a linear model with four rearing systems and one period (rainy). The data was compared using the Statistical Analysis Systems (SAS) program. All analyses were carried out considering a significance level of 0.05. Samples of the diets offered (pasture and concentrate) were also collected. The Amazon systems influenced the macro- and micromineral content in the muscles of cattle (p < 0.05). The interaction between pasture systems vs. confinement showed differences in the minerals calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) (p < 0.05). However, there was no difference in the values of sodium (Na), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) between the rearing systems (p > 0.05). By contrast, the cultivated pasture system vs. extensive pasture showed differences in all the elements evaluated (p < 0.05). The rearing systems of the Eastern Amazon influenced the mineral content of beef, which continues to be an excellent source of macro- and microminerals and can compose the human diet. Full article

Records from 2012 to 2019 for two herds were analyzed to determine how tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumont) endophyte (Epichloë coenophialum) status affected the productivity of spring-calving cows and calves. Pastures either contained tall fescue with wildtype endophyte (high levels of ergot alkaloids) or novel- or endophyte-free tall fescue (largely ergot alkaloid free). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with year as the replication unit. Forage samples from the farm with toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue contained 1136 ± 413 ppb total ergot alkaloids, while forage from the non-toxic pastures on the second farm contained 118 ± 83 ppb total ergot alkaloids. Artificial insemination pregnancy rates and calving rates were greater (p < 0.05) for cows that grazed non-toxic tall fescue (51.2 ± 2.8% and 93.5 ± 1.4%, respectively) than for cows on toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue (43.3 ± 2.8% and 88.8 ± 1.4%, respectively). Birth weights and weaning weights were greater (p < 0.05) for calves from the non-toxic tall fescue system (37 ± 1 kg and 278 ± 8 kg, respectively) than for calves from the toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue system (33 ± 1 kg and 254 ± 8 kg, respectively). Raising cattle on tall fescue without the toxic endophyte improved cow and calf productivity. Full article

Cultivated pasture grasses contribute forage to more than 40% of cattle produced in 11 southern states in the USA. In recent years the increasing intoxication of cattle feeding on pasture grasses raised serious concerns about their palatability. While molecular and metagenomics techniques have revealed the great diversity of microbial composition and functional richness of the grass endosphere microbiome, meta-sequencing techniques enable us to gain a bird’s-eye view of all plant-associated microbiomes as a ‘holobiont’. Plant holobionts provide a more comprehensive approach where one can define the functions of microbial communities and feedback between the core and satellite microbiomes of a targeted host. In the near future we will be able to tailor our grasses and their endosphere microbiomes through the host-directed selection of a ‘modular microbiome’, leading to ‘plant enhanced holobionts’ as a microbiome-driven solution to managing the intoxication of pasture grasses in livestock. The present review aims to understand the potential co-relation between the endosphere microbiome community composition and mycotoxin production in forage grasses in the southern United States. Full article

Animal production is a core sector to solve the increasing food demand worldwide, with productivity severely affected by climate change. Experts are predicting huge global productive losses in animal-derived products. Moreover, productive loss affects the economy, and the US dairy industry has reported losses of 1.5 billion dollars annually due to climate change. Beef and dairy production are based on cow reproduction and fertility is a key indicator of productivity. However, under heat stress (HS), several physiological modifications decrease cows’ fertility. Lower levels of estradiol, progesterone, and epidermal growth factor lead to undetectable ovulations, an inability to maintain the embryo and the pregnancy, or increased cortisol levels, inducing immunosuppression and, consequently, puerperal diseases delaying new pregnancies. The welfare of cows under HS, especially those raised on pasture, is a huge concern. Considering the impact of ambient-temperature-induced HS, developing strategies to improve fertility—namely through the selection of thermotolerant breeds allied to environmental management measures—can improve cattle production efficiency and reduce resource use, thereby reducing the carbon footprint. This review focuses on the effects of HS on female fertility, from parturition until the new conception, and on the role of heat shock proteins during this period. Full article

In 2020, the European Union endorsed its “Farm-to-Fork” strategy, emphasizing the need for transparency in the food production chain and communication of the sustainability level and nutritional value of food products to the consumer through labeling. For animal-based products, this also includes information about the husbandry systems under which the animals are raised. At the same time, people are becoming increasingly concerned both as citizens and as consumers about animal welfare issues in production species, as animal welfare is considered an integral part of sustainability and food security. This has led to the development of various enhanced animal welfare labeling schemes, initiated by public or private entities, or even as a partnership of both. Specifically for cattle, sheep, and goats, various standards have been developed and implemented in Europe, all establishing higher welfare standards compared to conventional farming, and in some cases exceeding the minimum requirements for organic farming as set by Regulation (EU) 2018/848. Most of these standards, especially those developed by NGOs advocating for animal welfare or through public initiative, were developed for semi-intensive to extensive systems. They primarily incorporate animal-based measures, including positive welfare indicators, offering a holistic approach to animal welfare evaluation. Although there is significant heterogeneity in European animal welfare standards, nearly all of them promote access to pasture, comfort, environmental enrichment, and, in some cases, even mother–young bonding. Full article

Goats raised on pastures are seldom handled except for purposes such as weighing and providing veterinary care. Regular positive interactions with human caretakers have been reported to attenuate fear and stress responses to routine human handling; however, this has not been adequately studied in meat goats. This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of habituation to handling on behavioral, physiological, and metabolomic responses in goats when subjected to routine handling. Seventy-two male (uncastrated) Spanish goats (6 mo; BW = 25.2 ± 0.37 kg) were randomly allocated to one of two treatment (Trt) groups: (i) regularly handled by stroking the back of each goat before feeding time for 90 days (handled: H) or (ii) not subjected to handling during the same period, but all other conditions were the same (non-handled: NH). After the 90-day habituation period, the goats were subjected to an arena test in the presence of an observer. Immediately after the test, the goats were subjected to routine veterinary exams that involved blood sampling (0 min) and measuring heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), and body weight (BW). Blood samples were also collected after the veterinary exam (20 min) to determine physiological and metabolomic responses. Data from the arena test were analyzed using a Mann–Whitney U Test, and blood physiological responses were analyzed using MIXED procedures in SAS with sampling time (Time) as a repeated measure. Unpaired t-tests showed that the increase in BW was higher in the H goats (p < 0.01) compared to the NH goats over the 90 d habituation period. The approach distance from the observer (p < 0.05) and frequency of urination (p < 0.05) were greater in the NH goats during the arena test. HR (p < 0.01) and RR (p < 0.01) were higher in the NH group compared to the H group. Plasma cortisol concentrations were higher at 20 min than at 0 min (p < 0.05), while epinephrine (p < 0.05), metanephrine, normetanephrine, phenylethylamine, and 5-methoxytryptamine concentrations were higher (p < 0.05) in the NH goats than in the H goats. A targeted metabolomics analysis showed that six of the eight affected amino acids were lower (p < 0.05), and six of the seven affected phosphatidylcholines were higher (p < 0.05) in the NH goats compared to the H goats. The results show that habituation reduces fear and stress responses to routine handling, in addition to increasing BW, which can improve the welfare of meat goats. Full article

For cattle raised on tropical grass pastures, it is essential to explore strategies that circumvent climatic seasonality that affect forage availability and quality. We hypothesize that the intensification of grazing systems, with rotational and deferred methods, combined with ammonium nitrate or urea supplementation, are excellent strategies to increase ruminal efficiency and animal productivity. For this purpose, 8 cattle with cannulas were distributed in rotational and deferred grazing systems, supplemented with urea or ammonium nitrate, and evaluated throughout the four seasons of the year over a period of two years. Dry matter intake and digestibility were measured using indigestible neutral detergent fiber, titanium dioxide and chromium oxide markers. Ruminal kinetics and degradability of DM and nutrients were measured using the nylon bag technique. Urine parameters were used to estimate microbial nitrogen compounds synthesis and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis. The rotational grazing improves NPN intake, NDF and ADF digestibility, and gross energy. Ammonium nitrate supplementation showed improved efficiency in microbial protein synthesis without negatively affecting feed intake, positioning it as a valuable nitrogen source for grazing cattle. Full article

Regenerative, pasture-raised layer hen systems create synergistic relationships between the hens, forage, soil, and weather, fostering a sustainable system. However, the influence of these factors on egg nutrient profile and quality may vary by region. This study took place over two years; samples were collected from a farm in Ohio during the first year and a farm in Indiana during the second year. Egg (n = 12) and forage (n = 3) samples were collected monthly from September to December. Fatty acids were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, micronutrients were assessed in a commercial laboratory, and carotenoids and polyphenols were analyzed colorimetrically. Ohio eggs had significantly darker yolks (average yolk fan score: 8.5 ± 1.8 vs. 3.9 ± 2.0; p < 0.0001), a higher beta carotene and carotenoid content, and a lower n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio across the season. Indiana eggs had a lower average total phenolic content (0.07 ± 0.00 mg GAE/g vs. 0.14 ± 0.10 mg GAE/g) and lower average total cholesterol (5.35 ± 2.9 mg/g vs. 10.99 ± 1.54 mg/g). Forage composition and soil parameters varied between farms. Regional variations in forage composition, soil nutrients, and regional weather can significantly influence the nutrient density of eggs produced in sustainable, pasture-raising systems. This research highlights how local environmental factors can shape the nutritional profiles of eggs in different regions. Future studies should explore this relationship in more regions. Full article

Toxic metals and metalloids food contamination is a source of health risks; this study evaluated lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (AS) contamination in the meat, liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs of guinea pigs raised on a farm near a mini mineral concentrator and with pastures irrigated with wastewater in the Central Andes of Peru. The risk of consuming these elements was estimated in the Peruvian population aged 2 to 85 years, whose consumption is 660 g/per capita/year. The quantification of Pb, Cd, and As was carried out via Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry. The heart had 3.3, 4.3, 7.3, and 81 times more Pb than the liver, lung, kidneys, and meat. The liver had 1.02, 2.22, 9.15, and 722.5 times more Cd than the kidneys, heart, lungs, and meat, respectively. The kidneys had 1.16 and 1.72 times more As than the liver and heart, respectively. The Target Hazard Quotient (TQH) and Hazard Index (HI) for Pb, Cd, and As, were <1 in the entire population, and there was no risk from their consumption. The cancer risk values found in the study are within the tolerated ranges. The findings expand the scientific basis for the safe and innocuous production of guinea pigs in the Central Andes of Peru and provide evidence to establish limits on water, soil, pastures, and agri-food products. Full article

Agroecology is increasingly used to study the evolution of farms and food systems, in which livestock plays a significant part. While large-scale specialized livestock farms are sometimes criticized for their contribution to climate change and nutrient cycle disruption, interest in alternative practices such as raising multiple species, integrating crop and livestock, relying on pasture, and marketing through short supply chains is growing. Through a narrative review, we aimed to determine if the scientific literature allowed for an evaluation of the agroecological contribution of alternative livestock farming practices. Taking advantage of ruminants’ capacity to digest human-inedible plant material such as hay and pasture on marginal land reduces the competition between livestock feed and human food for arable land. Taking advantage of monogastric animals’ capacity to digest food waste or byproducts limits the need for grain feed. Pasturing spreads manure directly on the field and allows for the expression of natural animal behavior. Animals raised on alternative livestock farms, however, grow slower and live longer than those raised on large specialized farms. This causes them to consume more feed and to emit more greenhouse gases per unit of meat produced. Direct or short supply chain marketing fosters geographical and relational proximity, but alternative livestock farms’ contribution to the social equity and responsibility principles of agroecology are not well documented. Policy aimed at promoting practices currently in place on alternative livestock farms is compatible with agroecology but has to be envisioned in parallel with a reduction in animal consumption in order to balance nutrient and carbon cycles. Full article

The Argentine stem weevil (ASW), a major pest in ryegrass pastures, causes significant agricultural losses. Ryegrass can establish a symbiotic association with Epichloë endophytic fungi, which supply chemical defenses, including peramine. This symbiosis helps protect ryegrass by providing peramine, which acts as a primary defense. In addition, ryegrass can activate induced defense mechanisms, with peramine remaining the central agent in response to herbivorous insect attacks. Therefore, this study assessed the feeding of the ASW on ryegrass carrying endophytic fungus and peramine levels in aerial organs and its effects on pest performance. Argentine stem weevil adults and larvae were placed on ryegrass leaves and stems to assess feeding. Two treatments were used: endophyte-free plants and endophyte-colonized plants. After ASW feeding damage, insect consumption was measured by the leaf area consumed. To evaluate peramine production and its increase in response to ASW attack, peramine levels in leaves were analyzed using liquid chromatography. Damaged E+ ryegrass plants showed significant increases in peramine, with adult and larval herbivory raising levels by 291% and 216% in stems and by 135% and 85% in leaves, respectively, compared to controls. Endophyte-free (E−) plants experienced more ASW damage, as insects preferred feeding on them, showing reduced activity as peramine levels rose in endophyte-infected (E+) plants. An oviposition assay confirmed insect preference for endophyte-free (E−) plants. Additionally, larvae reared on endophyte-infected (E+) plants had lower survival rates, correlating negatively with peramine levels. These results emphasize peramine’s role in strengthening ryegrass defenses against ASW, impacting both feeding and larval development. Full article

Pasture-based beef cattle production systems aim to maximize the interaction between forage and supplements to increase activity. In addition, supplementation and the use of food additives help optimize production efficiency and improve the use of additional nutrients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the use of additives in protein–energy supplements (PESs) on the intake, digestibility, and ruminal parameters of beef cattle raised on pasture in the rearing phase. Five male cattle were allocated to a 5 × 5 Latin square design, with five experimental periods and five treatments. The animals were kept under continuous grazing in individual paddocks of marandu palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu). The treatments consisted of a mineral mixture (MM) (0.080 kg/animal/day), PES (4.0 kg/animal/day), PES with monensin sodium (120 mg/animal/day), PES with functional oil (2500 mg/animal/day) and PES with active yeast (4000 mg/animal/day). PESs increased the total dry matter intake (DMI) (kg/day) and the DMI in terms of % body weight (%BW) and increased the intake of crude protein (CP) and the dry matter intake of digestible organic matter (DOM). The use of additives did not affect nutrient intake or digestibility. Compared with MM, the PES increased the concentrations of ruminal ammonia nitrogen and serum urea nitrogen. In addition, there was an increase in fecal nitrogen, retained nitrogen, microbial nitrogen synthesis and microbial efficiency. The use of monensin sodium, functional oil and active yeast in protein–energy supplements for beef cattle in pastures did not affect the nutritional parameters under the conditions observed in this study. Full article

Dung beetles mostly feed on mammal dung. Throughout the European Alps, the dung produced by local domestic ungulates attracts many species of dung beetles, giving rise to rich and diversified communities that play an important role in the Alpine agricultural ecosystem. There is, therefore, understandable concern about the introduction of exotic livestock, such as alpacas (Vicugna pacos (Linnaeus, 1758)), into the region. This research studied dung beetle assemblages in an Alpine valley where both cattle and alpacas are raised. We used standardized pitfall traps baited with alpaca or cow dung along altitudinal transects to assess the “attractiveness” of the two resources to dung beetles. Most species entered both trap types. The average number of species per trap did not vary significantly and the nMDS trap ordination largely overlapped, but the total number of individuals and the average number of individuals per trap were higher in traps baited with alpaca dung. This difference was largely due to the preference of the dominant species Euheptaulacus carinatus (Germar, 1824) for alpaca dung-baited traps. Moreover, both the abundance and specific richness changed with altitude, being greatest in alpaca traps during July at intermediate altitudes. IndVal analyses showed that eight out of nine species (all Aphodiinae) showed a preference for alpaca traps. Since the microclimatic conditions (i.e., temperature) of the two trap types were virtually the same, it is reasonable to consider trophic preferences as the source of the observed differences. Finally, we also sampled the beetles present in the alpaca latrines and cow dung pats deposited on pastures, providing confirmation that dung beetles do indeed visit the dung of both species. Our results emphasize the usefulness of polyphagia and the trophic flexibility of dung beetles, providing evidence that the long history of pastoralism in the Alps has not led local species to adapt to the dung of domestic ungulates. The results also suggest that alpaca breeding could be a sustainable activity since, thanks to the work of dung beetles which feed upon and move the dung into their tunnels (as occurs with cattle dung), there is less need for farmers to remove the dung from pastures. Full article

The Australian alpaca industry has continued to grow since the introduction of alpacas in the 1980s. Little is known about the geographical distribution of alpacas or on-farm management practices. This study aimed to address this and identify key producer knowledge through an online survey. The survey consisted of 25 questions grouped into 3 areas: demographics, farm production and alpaca nutrition. The highest concentration of alpaca producers was along the east coast of Australia, primarily in high-rainfall zones, which could be attributed to more consistent year-round pasture availability and market access opportunities. The Huacaya breed accounted for 93% of the animal numbers reported in this survey. Respondents identified 12 key pasture species being grazed, with Kikuyu being the most common, followed by Subterranean Clover and Phalaris, likely due to the majority of respondents being located in suitable high-rainfall environments. Pasture species were not identified by 25% of respondents. There are no registered anthelmintics or vaccinations for alpacas, resulting in a variation in dosage rates and administration frequency, raising concerns for effective disease and parasite management. This survey has identified key knowledge gaps in alpaca management practices in Australia that will be further investigated to provide industry recommendations to improve alpaca production. Full article

The Pantanal has a high diversity of native pastures that provide food for many wild and domestic animals. Pantanal cattle raising is practiced in an extensive grazing-based system that varies according to the flood levels in the area. This study aimed to evaluate the fractions of soil organic matter in areas of native pastures under different uses and to quantify C and N stocks in sandy soils of the Pantanal. Soil samples from three native pastures differentiated by the predominance of Hymenachne amplexicaulis, Axonopus purpusii, and Mesosetum chaseae under different land use systems (continuous grazing and no grazing for five years) were collected and used to quantify the contents of carbon, nitrogen, and humic fractions. The dynamics of SOM are modified in grazed areas of the Pantanal, with influence on C and N, including their stocks. Native pastures of Axonopus purpusii and Hymenachne amplexicaulis showed an increase in organic matter after five years without grazing, while Mesosetum chaseae showed lower soil density and nitrogen levels. The highest C stock was observed in ungrazed areas of H. amplexicaulis (127.41 Mg ha⁻¹ in the 0–40 cm layer). The dynamics of nitrogen in Pantanal pastures are influenced by the type of vegetation and land management, with higher nitrogen content in the surface layer (0–10 cm) and an increasing C/N ratio with soil depth, indicating lower nitrogen availability. Full article