Search Results (157)

According to statistics from the FAO, China is the country with the largest number of geese raised and slaughtered worldwide. The goose farming industry is a traditional sector of Chinese livestock production. Huoyan goose is a unique local breed in China, originating from Changtu County in Liaoning Province, with excellent egg production performance. We collected ovarian stroma tissue samples of Huoyan geese at four different stages, from the pre- to post-egg-laying period, with a sample size of five for each group. Using whole-transcriptome sequencing, we identified a total of 13,193 genes, 2814 lncRNAs, and 202 miRNAs, of which 2112 genes, 187 lncRNAs, and 37 miRNAs were differentially expressed between the groups. GO and KEGG functional enrichment results indicated that these genes and non-coding RNAs were involved in multiple pathways related to egg-laying and ovarian development, including the ‘PI3K-Akt signaling pathway’ and the ‘ovulation cycle’. After predicting the target relationships among differentially expressed genes, lncRNAs, and miRNAs, we constructed a competitive endogenous RNA network that could regulate egg production. Our results provide further insights into the regulatory roles of non-coding RNAs in egg production and ovarian development, and offer new references for improving egg production performance of geese. Full article

This study investigated the impact of including 10% of dried brewers’ grain (BG), grape pomace (GP), or olive cake (OC) in the finishing diets of thirty-two Ovella Galega lambs on their growth parameters and carcass quality. Productive parameters such as live weight, average daily gain (ADG), and subcutaneous fat depots were monitored. The following carcass traits were also evaluated: carcass weight, conformation, fatness degree, morphology, and pH. Moreover, the left-half carcasses were sectioned into the main commercial cuts. Results showed that the type of diet did not significantly affect (p > 0.05) the growth performance and carcass characteristic of the animals. All groups reported similar (p > 0.05) live weights, ADG, and pre-slaughter fat thickness. In the same manner, the lack of significant variations observed in the productive parameters was also reflected in the carcass traits, showing comparable (p > 0.05) weights, dressing percentages, conformation, fatness levels, morphometric measures, and pH among treatments. Furthermore, the commercial value of the animals was not compromised (p > 0.05) by the experimental treatments. Thus, these outcomes suggest that the employment of these agri-food by-products, at moderate levels, could represent a viable and sustainable feeding approach for these autochthonous lambs. Full article

Sheep farming length of stay in the feedlot directly influences system profitability, mainly due to the high cost of feed. Thus, the use of predictive models based on body measurements is an important tool to define the optimal slaughter point and the ideal feedlot period. Thus, the aim was to evaluate predictive models of meat cuts and tissue carcasses concerning weight at slaughter (WS), loin eye area (LEA), and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) obtained by ultrasound of the lumbar region of lambs. The WS and ultrasound measurements were obtained from a pre-slaughter collection of 45 lambs, divided into five groups, each weighing 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 kg, with nine replications per group. Three regression models were evaluated: WS, LEA, and SFT (independent variables) and the cuts yield or tissue composition (dependent variable). Increasing WS resulted in greater carcass weight and commercial cuts. Above 15 kg body weight, bone weight showed little or no increase (allometric coefficient = 0.06), whereas muscle and fat tissues increased steadily, with allometric coefficients of 0.25 and 0.12, respectively. The commercial cuts showed a high and significant correlation with WS and LEA. The muscle and bone proportion of the leg had a significant (p < 0.10) correlation with SFT. For the weight of commercial cuts estimates, the inclusion of LEA and/or SFT with WS did not improve the coefficient of determination but made the predictions equivalent to the measured values. There were high determination coefficients when WS was only used to predict muscle, fat, and bone weight, but it was not efficient in predicting the muscle/fat and muscle/bone ratios and the percentage of tissues. The WS was the variable that best explained the weight and tissue content. The inclusion of LEA and/or SFT made little improvement to the predictive models. Full article

This article considers traditional Inuit beliefs and practices as expressed through human–animal relationality, examining the physical and spiritual significance of qimmiit (sled dogs), and how qimmiit functioned as co-travellers with humans across physical and spiritual realms of existence. Drawing on ethnographic and missionary narrative sources, it explores Inuit–Qimmiit relationality as central to survival in the pre-modern period. Consulted sources include the writings of explorer–ethnographer Knud Rasmussen, Church of England missionary Edmund James Peck, anthropologist Franz Boas, explorer–author Peter Freuchen, and Oblate missionary Pierre Henry (Kajualuk). These accounts, despite Euro-centric and Christian biases, provide distinct yet overlapping experiences with sled dogs and understandings of Inuit traditions and worldviews. Read comparatively, these ethnographic texts reveal how qimmiit were essential to mobility and spiritual–social order. The article draws on the Qikiqtani Truth Commission to contextualize the harm and suffering caused by the loss of qimmiit during the dog killings of the 1950s to 1970s. The song “Travel Without Me,” from the Animal Kinship Project and written to commemorate qimmiit in the aftermath of the sled dog slaughter, provides a narrative framework structured around kinship and travel, foregrounding Inuit understandings of shared journeys across human and canine existence and framing Inuit–Qimmiit relations as enduring bonds that traverse both physical life and afterlife. Within Inuit religious cosmologies, relationships between humans and qimmiit extend beyond practical cooperation to encompass shared spiritual existence, relational obligation, and continuity of soul across physical and metaphysical worlds. Ethnographic accounts recorded by Rasmussen, Peck, Boas, Freuchen and Henry describe dogs not merely as working animals but as ensouled beings who participate in travel, naming practices, shamanic mediation, cosmogonic and afterlife narratives. Read through a religious studies lens, these sources reveal a cosmological framework in which mobility and survival are embedded within sacred relational structures linking human and animal life. This article examines Inuit–Qimmiit kinship as a form of physical–spiritual relationality, arguing that dogs function as co-travellers whose relational position across embodied and cosmological domains illuminates Inuit understandings of personhood, cosmological balance, and the continuity of life beyond death. Full article

Slaughter performance is a critical economic trait that varies across breeds, yet the rumen metabolic mechanisms driving these phenotypic differences remain unclear. The study involved 30 healthy 12-month-old beef cattle, with 10 animals from each of the three breeds: Chinese Simmental (ST), Taihang Yun (TY), and Charolais (CL). The cattle were randomly assigned into three groups using a completely randomized design, and the average initial body weight was 549.78 ± 59.45 kg. A 130-day feeding trial (10-day pre-feeding period, 120-day main trial period) was conducted. By comparing the slaughter performance, relative organ weight, and rumen fluid metabolomic profiles, the study investigated breed-specific differences in meat quality and potential underlying metabolic patterns. The results showed that CL exhibited a superior carcass yield, with a significantly higher dressing percentage (62.38%, p = 0.013) and net meat percentage (56.54%, p = 0.028) than ST and TY, and a significantly lower backfat thickness (p = 0.006); ST had the highest proportion of premium cuts, relative to carcass weight (72.97%, p = 0.014), with prominent economic value, while TY had significantly higher weights of visceral organs, such as liver, kidney, small intestine and omasum, than CL (p < 0.05). Metabolomic analysis revealed that CL and ST had elevated levels of purine metabolism, nucleotide synthesis and cofactor biosynthesis compared to TY. In conclusion, CL and ST possess advantages in carcass yield supported by upregulated anabolic metabolism in the rumen, whereas TY prioritizes visceral organ development. These findings provide valuable insights into the physiological and metabolic divergences regulating the slaughter performance and regional adaptability across cattle breeds. Full article

The preslaughter phase for broiler chickens is distressing and can result in death prior to slaughter. The severity of this animal welfare concern warrants the exploration of the rates and risk factors. The aim of this scoping review was to synthesize current knowledge on rates and associated farm, flock, and preslaughter risk factors for dead-on-arrivals (DOA). Peer-reviewed experimental or observational studies were included that were written in English, published between January 2014 and December 2024, and that reported broiler chicken DOA with rates or associated risk factors in Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. A total of 344 articles were identified, and 24 articles met the eligibility criteria. Mean DOA rates ranged from 0 to 0.85%. In total, nine on-farm or flock-level and 11 preslaughter risk factors were identified, which could be categorized under four major causes of DOA: poor health, distress, thermal stress, and trauma. The risk factors most commonly identified were journey duration and distance, season, ambient temperature, lairage duration, and body weight. The findings highlight multiple opportunities to reduce DOA, including greater consideration of flock characteristics in preslaughter decision making, growing flocks that are at reduced risk of DOA, improvements in catching and loading practices, and better alignment of preslaughter management with environmental conditions. Full article

High-quality, well-balanced feeding strategies are essential for optimizing poultry growth performance and for ensuring the safety of poultry products. Here, we evaluated the effects of chelated vs. inorganic trace minerals on the growth, survival and carcass characteristics of Cobb 500 broiler chickens. A large-scale feeding trial involved four dietary treatments at 21–35 days of age, with Group 1 receiving a control diet with mineral supplements of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) in sulfate form, based on a standard formulation. A further three experimental diets contained chelated forms of Zn (Group 2), Cu (Group 3) and a mineral premix MINTREX^® that provides Zn, Cu and Mn (Group 4). Broilers were raised to 42 days of age under commercial production conditions. Feeding chelated trace minerals resulted in significantly higher body weights during the rearing period, including a 10% increase in pre-slaughter weight compared to the controls (p < 0.01). Moreover, survival rates improved from 87% in the controls to 95–96% in the treatment groups (p < 0.001), and carcass evaluation revealed a 15–17% increase in eviscerated carcass weight in birds fed chelated supplements (p < 0.05). Greater yields of muscle, liver and skin with subcutaneous fat were observed, as was improved production of total edible carcass components. Among the treatments, MINTREX^® provided the greatest enhancement effects in performance and slaughter traits. These findings demonstrate that dietary chelated minerals, whether single or combined, may have positive effects on the broiler carcass yield and support their inclusion in poultry production systems. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of sodium butyrate and organic zinc supplementation, alone or combined, on performance, zinc metabolism, blood parameters, and gut health in Holstein calves highly challenged by heat and diarrhea during the pre-weaning and weaning periods. Forty-eight male calves were assigned to one of four treatments: control (CON), SB (3 g/kg of sodium butyrate in dry matter [DM]), OZn (262 mg/kg of organic zinc in DM), or SBOZn (3 g/kg of sodium butyrate and 262 mg/kg of organic zinc in DM). Calves were monitored from days 7 to 63 for feed intake, weight gain, body morphometry, fecal score, and blood parameters. Zinc balance was evaluated from days 45 to 49, and 24 calves were slaughtered on day 64 for jejunal sampling to assess tight junction gene expression. Diarrhea incidence was high (>90%) across groups. Fecal scores varied over time but did not differ between treatments. The OZn and SBOZn groups had higher Zn intake, with greater absorption and retention of the mineral compared to the CON and SB groups. Additionally, the OZn group tended to have higher serum Zn concentrations. SB and OZn, separately or combined, had limited effects and did not consistently improve the performance or health of calves highly challenged during pre-weaning and weaning. Full article

This study was conducted to investigate potential regulatory mechanisms of hybridization increased the meat production performance in sheep. Thirty-six 3-month-old male lambs of Suffolk sheep (SFK, n = 12), Hu sheep (HH, n = 12), and their F₁ hybrids (SH, n = 12) were selected and raised in individual pens under identical nutritional supply and husbandry management regimes over a 95-day (including a 15-day pre-trial period) experimental period. At the end of the feeding trial, six sheep closest to the average body weight were selected from each group for the subsequent trial, involving the collection of Longissimus dorsi samples and the determination of production performance, muscle fiber characteristic and transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis. The results showed that the SH sheep had significantly higher pre-slaughter live weight and carcass weight than the HH sheep, while lower than those of the SFK sheep (p < 0.05). The muscle fiber density of the SH group was significantly higher than that of the parental groups, while the muscle fiber diameter and cross-sectional area were significantly smaller (p < 0.05). The collagen fiber content of the SH group was intermediate between the two parental groups and significantly higher than that of the SFK group (p < 0.05). Transcriptomic analysis identified 2920 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were mainly enriched in the AMPK, PI3K-Akt, and PPAR signaling pathways. Metabolomic analysis detected 1617 differential metabolites (DMs), which were enriched in the fatty acid degradation and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways. Integrated analysis revealed that core genes SESN3 and metabolites (malate, testosterone) enhance energy supply capacity through AMPK pathway, thereby promoting muscle fiber proliferation and increasing meat yield in the hybrid sheep. In conclusion, the heterosis of the SH group originates from the remodeling of muscle fiber structure and the synergistic regulation of related pathways, which provides a theoretical basis for sheep crossbreeding. Full article

Pork is a major source of animal protein worldwide, and its quality is influenced by pre- and post-slaughter procedures. Advances in molecular biology, particularly gene expression studies, support genetic improvement programs by enabling precise strategies to enhance meat quality and economic sustainability. This study evaluated meat quality traits and candidate gene expression in muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue from different genetic lineages and sexes. A total of 120 pigs from three lineages—Line D (½ Duroc × ½ DB90), Line P (½ Pietrain × ½ DB90), and Line H (½ [Duroc and Pietrain] × ½ DB90); including immunocastrated males (IM) and females, were randomly selected. Meat quality was assessed using physicochemical parameters, and gene expression analysis was performed in 36 pigs using RT-qPCR with B2M, TBP, and RPL4 as references, and COL1A1, PRKAR2A, CAST, ADIPOQ, and PPARGC1A as targets. Lineage influenced drip loss and intramuscular fat, while lineage–sex interaction affected tenderness and color (L* and b*), and sex influenced b*. In muscle, sex affected COL1A1 and PRKAR2A, and lineage influenced COL1A1 and CAST. In adipose tissue, only CAST was lineage-dependent. Full article

Sesame meal possesses high crude protein content (40–50%), abundant methionine, and natural antioxidant components such as lignan compounds, making it a high-quality feed alternative to soybean meal in ruminant production. This study systematically evaluated the effects of completely replacing soybean meal with sesame meal in the diet on growth performance, serum biochemistry, antioxidant activity, rumen fermentation parameters, and microbial composition in finishing beef cattle. The trial employed a completely randomised design, selecting 18 Angus bulls with similar initial body weights (566.7 ± 38.1 kg). Animals were randomly assigned to the SBM group (n = 9) and SSM group (n = 9), with a 7-day pre-trial period followed by a 96-day main trial period. Results indicate that replacing soybean meal with sesame meal significantly enhances the antioxidant capacity of fattening beef cattle. Catalase (CAT) activity markedly increased (p < 0.05), while glutathione peroxidase activity showed an upward trend (0.05 < p < 0.1). This improvement was accompanied by a substantial shift in rumen microbial composition, highlighted by a marked enrichment of beneficial bacteria including p_Verrucomicrobiota, p_Spirochaetota, g_CAG_352, norank_f_Lachnospiraceae, and g_Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, which collectively contributed to greater microbial complexity and stability. Regarding nitrogen metabolism, urinary nitrogen and serum urea nitrogen levels were significantly reduced in the sesame meal group (p < 0.05), indicating improved nitrogen utilization efficiency. Overall, completely replacing soybean meal with sesame meal in the diet of finishing beef cattle did not adversely affect growth and slaughter performance. It simultaneously significantly enhanced antioxidant capacity, reduced urinary nitrogen excretion, and lowered feed costs. These findings underscore the potential of sesame meal as a sustainable, nutritionally advantageous alternative for optimising beef cattle diets. Full article

This study investigated the effects of dietary stevia straw supplementation on meat quality, amino acid and fatty acid content, and rumen microbial diversity in sheep. A total of 50 ram lambs (3–4 months, 27.01 ± 3.8 kg) were randomly assigned to five groups. Each group received a total mixed ration supplemented with 0% (control), 5%, 15%, 25% and 35% dry stevia straw for 72 days. Adding 15% and 25% stevia straw significantly increased the pre-slaughter body weight. EE content was also significantly higher across all experimental groups (p < 0.01), showing a linear increase with supplementation. Glutamic acid content in the 15% group was significantly higher than that in the 25% group (p < 0.05). The addition of stevia straw improved the fatty acid profile: C18:1n9c content in the 5%, 15%, and 25% groups was significantly higher than that in the CK (Control) group (p < 0.05); C18:2n6c content in the 25% group was significantly higher than that in the CK, 5%, and 15% groups (p < 0.05); the content of (C20:1) was extremely significantly higher in all experimental groups compared to the CK group. Additionally, the unsaturated fatty acid content in the 25% group was significantly higher than that in the CK group (p < 0.05). The relative abundances of Bacteroidota and Firmicutes were increased in the 25% and 35% groups, but the differences were not significant (p > 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 15–25% stevia straw to the ration can significantly improve the slaughtering performance, meat quality and muscle nutrient composition of fattening sheep. In addition, the addition of stevia straw had no negative effect on the rumen microflora, and the 15% level could increase the abundance and activity of the rumen microflora, so it is recommended to use 15% stevia straw in the ration for sheep during the fattening period. Full article

Bruises in beef cattle carcasses are important indicators related to pre-slaughter handling and transport conditions, with implications for animal welfare and meat quality. This study analysed 19.4 million cattle carcasses transported from 42,805 farms to 38 slaughterhouses in Brazil to identify factors associated with bruising. Logistic regression models were used to assess the effects of sex, age, transport distance from farm to industry, and truck class. At least one bruise was found in 33.8% of the analysed carcasses. Older animals had a greater prevalence of bruising, and females were the most affected. The relationship between transport distance and bruising varied across carcass regions, showing distinct patterns rather than a uniform trend. Compared with larger-capacity vehicles, smaller trucks increased the risk of bruising. The round, rump, and flank regions presented the greatest number of bruises. The models assessing individual effects demonstrated good overall performance, with accuracy ranging from 75% to 82% in identifying bruises. The best performance was observed for round-rump, likely due to the higher frequency of bruises in these cuts. These findings highlight the need to improve transport logistics, adopt better handling practices, and implement specific interventions to reduce bruising. Full article

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply conducted a microbiological baseline study to determine the national prevalence of Salmonella in pig carcasses, and characterize the contamination risk according to the abattoir size under federal inspection in 2014–2015. All establishments were size-classified according to their slaughtering capacity per day. Sample weights were defined to increase the external validity of data. Samples were collected after the random selection of two half-carcasses from 76 slaughterhouses, one at the pre-chilling stage and the other at least 12 h after chilling. A total of 1544 samples were analyzed in official laboratories using Vidas SLM and SPT systems; for positive samples, we used the ISO 6579:2014. The results revealed that 10.00% (CI 7.50–13.22) of the pre-chilling carcasses tested positive for Salmonella spp. The medium-sized establishments exhibited the highest prevalence (18.51%). National and international market establishments had prevalences of 17.43%, and 9.05%, respectively. For carcass samples collected after chilling, the estimated prevalence was 4.58% (CI 3.13–6.65), with the highest prevalence recorded in the medium-sized establishments (7%), and values of 12.25% and 3.5% in the NM and IM, respectively. The information and knowledge thus acquired may support the further investigation and evaluation of surveillance programs, improving food safety. Full article

Minimizing the risk of disease transmission, disseminating superior genetics, and reducing transportation costs are recognized advantages of embryo biotechnologies. These advantages make the development of a minimally invasive and repeatable procedure in pigs enticing, but simultaneously magnify the anatomical constraints. For decades, the swine industry has struggled to establish a universal procedure to collect pre-implantation embryos from pigs due to their long and convoluted uterine horns (UHs). Thus, the objectives were to evaluate the benefits of employing a transitional surgical model by shortening UH tissue using a 40 cm ipsilateral resection and assess the compensatory ovulatory response following an ovariectomy. The surgery was deemed successful as the UH was resected and the contralateral UH was fully ligated. The dam- and sire-line gilts exhibited ovarian hypertrophy between surgery and slaughter on the remaining ovary, illustrated by an increase in the number of corpora lutea (13.4 and 3.0 vs. 27.2 and 12; p < 0.05, respectively) and intact ovary weight (11.9 and 7.7 vs. 25.9 vs. 38.7 g; p < 0.05, respectively). This research is a vital step in assessing whether this interim surgical approach serves as a valuable method to advance the development of non-surgical techniques to collect pre-implantation embryos in pigs. Full article