Search Results (358)

This study investigated the interactive effects of corn silage and ramie silage on in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics, aiming to provide a scientific basis and empirical evidence for the rational incorporation of ramie into ruminant diets. Four binary substrate mixtures were formulated based on dry matter (DM) mass ratios of corn silage to ramie silage: 100:0 (CON), 60:40 (R40), 20:80 (R80), and 0:100 (R100). Rumen fluid was collected from three adult Liuyang black goats surgically fitted with permanent rumen cannulas, and a standardized 48 h in vitro batch culture assay was conducted. Results demonstrated that increasing the proportion of ramie silage significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the DM degradation rate, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradation rate, acid detergent fiber (ADF) degradation rate, and total gas production per gram of substrate DM. Specifically, CON and R40 exhibited significantly higher values for all four parameters than R80 and R100 (p < 0.05). Methane production was significantly reduced in all ramie-containing treatments relative to CON (p < 0.05), whereas hydrogen production increased progressively with ramie inclusion level, with CON yielding significantly less H₂ than both R80 and R100 (p < 0.05). Regarding fermentation parameters, increasing ramie proportion elevated (p < 0.05) both fermentation fluid pH and the acetate-to-propionate ratio, while total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentration declined linearly (p < 0.05). TVFA concentrations did not differ significantly between CON and R40, yet both were significantly greater than those in R80 and R100 (p < 0.05). Collectively, these findings indicate that ramie silage is a nutritionally valuable forage with potential as a high-quality partial replacement for conventional silages in ruminant feeding systems; however, its inclusion in corn–ramie mixed silages should not exceed 40% (on a DM basis) to maintain optimal fermentative efficiency and nutrient degradability. Full article

The intensive lamb rearing and finishing systems are usually based on nutritionally balanced concentrate-based rations. However, the inclusion of feed additives is often necessary to avoid possible disturbances of digestibility. Artificial saliva plays an important role in ruminal buffering, improving the digestibility of the feed under conditions where natural saliva production may be insufficient. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary artificial saliva (AS) on the total mixed ration (TMR) on lambs’ growth performance, carcass characteristics and the efficacy of ruminal fermentation. Forty-five male Naemi lambs (mean body weight of 23 ± 1.8 kg) were randomly assigned to five experimental groups (n = 9 per group) and kept in complete confinement with water and adlibitum feeding. During the 84-day feeding period, animals received isonitrogenous and isoenergetic TMRs that vary in AS inclusion by level: T0 (0% AS), T2 (1.5% AS), T3 (3.0% AS), T4 (4.5% AS), and T5 (6% AS). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in the overall performance parameters. However, lambs fed the control diet (0% AS) had a higher body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and feed intake (FI) than those receiving AS supplementation (p < 0.01). Ruminal pH measured 3 h after feeding and at slaughter remained comparatively stable in lambs fed 3% and 4.5% AS treatments, whereas it declined to 5.21 in the control group. Dietary inclusion of AS at 4.5% significantly increased (p < 0.05 < 0.05) the molar proportions of butyric acid, iso-valeric acid, and valeric acid in ruminal fluid while other levels of artificial saliva were associated with reduced concentrations of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). In conclusion, AS effectively functioned as a buffering agent, enhancing dietary safety without adverse health effects. Full article

Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) tools are increasingly used in dairy production, but their success depends on farmers’ perceptions, needs and investment capacity. This study explores the current use of digital technologies, satisfaction levels and future expectations among Italian dairy farmers. An online questionnaire with 19 questions collected 53 complete responses between May and November 2025. Most of the farms were free-stall Holstein dairy farms located in the Po Valley and managed by relatively young and well-educated farmers, many of whom had a background in animal production. The adoption of PLF tools was widespread: management software (73.6%), automated total mixed ration (TMR) preparation (66.0%), heat stress mitigation systems (62.3%) and collar sensors (52.8%) were the most adopted technologies. Satisfaction with current tools was high, although installation costs and poor system integration were consistently identified as major constraints. Farmers expressed clear priorities for future devices, particularly early diagnosis of health problems, calving, heat, lameness, and feeding and rumination functions. The results suggest that PLF in Italian dairy systems is moving from the adoption phase to that of consolidation. However, improvements in interoperability, affordability and farmer-centred design remain essential to support a wider and more equitable spread of the technology across the sector. Full article

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

Diversifying forage sources may improve the sustainability and flexibility of dairy production. In a 60 d feeding trial, 72 mid-lactation Holstein cows were assigned to three treatments (24 cows/group) and fed a total mixed ration in which corn silage represented 41.16% of dietary dry matter in the control diet; 25% or 50% of this corn silage fraction was replaced with triticale silage (TS) on a dry matter basis. The study evaluated whether partial TS substitution could maintain lactational performance while affecting fecal fermentation and microbiota. Replacing corn silage with TS did not affect milk yield, 4% fat-corrected milk, major milk components, or metabolic indicators. However, 50% replacement increased fecal bacterial richness and diversity, as reflected by ACE, Chao1, and Shannon indices, and altered the overall microbial community structure. This treatment also changed fecal volatile fatty acid profiles, including increasing the proportions of branched-chain volatile fatty acids. Overall, TS can replace up to 50% of the corn silage fraction in the ration of mid-lactation cows without compromising milk production or composition, while modifying hindgut microbial ecology and fermentation patterns, thereby offering greater ration flexibility when corn silage availability is limited or costly. Full article

In ruminant nutrition, the lignocellulosic complex is a primary constraint limiting the utilization of dietary fiber. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of inoculating lignin-degrading bacteria (LDB) isolated from the ruminant rectum on in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics. Rectal fecal samples were collected from healthy beef cattle, dairy cattle, buffaloes, and goats (n = 4 per species) using the grab sampling technique. Twenty-eight bacterial colonies were isolated through enrichment and screening on media containing sodium lignosulfonate. Lignin degradation efficiency was assessed spectrophotometrically, while laccase activity was determined using a 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) oxidation assay. Seven isolates exhibiting ligninolytic activity (1.4–5.6% degradation efficiency) were selected to evaluate their effects on in vitro rumen fermentation using a completely randomized design with four replicates. LDB treatments were standardized to a concentration of 2.4 × 10⁵ colony-forming units/mL of rumen fluid medium, while the control received an equal volume of a 0.85% sterile NaCl solution. A rice straw-based total mixed ration served as the substrate, with rumen fluid collected from beef cattle. All treatments were incubated for 48 h. Notably, isolate BC3 consistently enhanced in vitro dry matter digestibility (23.1%), total gas production (18.6%), and total volatile fatty acid concentrations (13.2%) relative to the control and other LDB isolates (p < 0.01). All seven LDB isolates were identified as Gram-negative, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobic bacteria that exhibit catalase activity and tolerate moderately acidic conditions. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing identified isolate BC3 as being closely related to Escherichia coli strains. These findings demonstrate that the ruminant hindgut is a promising source of LDB with the functional potential to enhance feed digestibility and fermentation end-products in the rumen. Future research should prioritize in vivo trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LDB as a direct-fed microbial, specifically focusing on its impact on animal performance and health. Full article

The electrical characteristics of distribution networks (DNs) are drastically changing, which is mainly due to widespread adoption of small-scale distributed energy resources (DERs) by end-users. In these cases, conventional planning models may lead to overinvestment choices. This paper presents a planning model for utility companies that explicitly incorporates a model of end-users’ energy-related decisions, considering a neighborhood energy trading scheme (NETS). The model is formulated based on the Stackelberg game (SG) approach, which guarantees the optimality of the final solution for each user and the utility. The proposed mixed-integer second-order cone programming (MISOCP) problem finds the optimal investment plan for transformers, lines, distributed generators (DGs), and energy storage systems (ESSs) for the utility, considering the scenarios of end-users’ investments in rooftop photovoltaic (PV) and battery systems that maximize their benefits. Additionally, a dynamic network charge (NC) scheme is designed to rationalize the network use. Also, Benders decomposition (BD) is used to improve the convergence of the solution algorithm. The numerical studies on a real 23-bus low voltage (LV) network in Perth, Australia, using real-world data reveals that the proposed planning model offers the lowest total cost and the highest penetration of DERs in comparison with conventional models. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of zilpaterol hydrochloride supplementation strategies on growth performance, dietary energetics, carcass traits, and meat quality in feedlot finishing lambs. Twenty-four Dorper × Katahdin crossbred male lambs (45.5 ± 4.53 kg, mean ± SD) were used in a 27 d feeding trial. The zilpaterol supplementation strategies were: (1) control, no zilpaterol supplementation (CON); (2) zilpaterol administered once daily as a full dose in the morning feeding (ZMOR); (3) zilpaterol incorporated into the total mixed ration and continuously available throughout the day (ZMIX); and (4) intermittent zilpaterol supplementation applied in a daily alternating pattern, one day on, one day off (ZINT). A target dose of 0.20 mg/kg live weight of zilpaterol hydrochloride per administration was used for all supplemented treatments, with daily administration in ZMOR and ZMIX and alternate-day administration in ZINT. Compared to the CON, zilpaterol supplementation through the ZMOR + ZMIX strategies improved average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (FE) by 28.6% and 18.5%, respectively. Additionally, dressing percentage and longissimus thoracis muscle area increased by 3.2% and 17.0%, respectively. The ZINT strategy also enhanced ADG by 20.9% and FE by 15.4%. However, ZINT did not improve hot carcass weight or dressing percentage. All zilpaterol supplementation strategies increased meat toughness by up to 39.2%. Results indicate that both the ZMOR and ZMIX strategies optimize the response to zilpaterol, with no evidence that ZMOR supplementation results in a diminished response. Full article

Macroporous adsorption resins (MARs) are widely used for preparative-scale flavonoid purification, yet rational resin selection remains difficult because flavonoids differ substantially in hydrophobicity, hydrogen-bonding capacity, molecular size, and planarity. This review reorganizes the available literature into a structure-guided and data-supported selection aid rather than a fully predictive model. A systematic search of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and CNKI (January 2000 to February 2026) identified 55 studies for qualitative synthesis. Because many reports describe total flavonoids or mixed extracts rather than explicit single-compound adsorption data, only the subset with sufficiently clear compound-level or narrowly interpretable adsorption information was used for cautious comparative interpretation. Across the compiled evidence, non-polar resins generally favored less polar aglycones and methoxylated flavonoids, whereas medium-polar and polar resins more often performed well for glycosylated or more hydrophilic targets. On this basis, flavonoids were organized into four operational classes linked to recommended resin polarity, indicative adsorption capacity ranges, and typical ethanol-elution windows. A retrospective comparison with independent literature cases suggests practical value for initial resin prioritization, but the framework should be interpreted primarily as a heuristic, trend-based guide rather than as a strictly predictive model, because mixed-matrix effects, pore accessibility, and competitive adsorption can override simple polarity matching. A generalized operating window for adsorption and desorption is also summarized. Overall, this review provides a mechanism-informed starting point for resin screening while making explicit the conditions under which case-specific experiments remain necessary. Full article

This study evaluated a 181-day finishing system for horses entering the Korean meat chain by comparing retired thoroughbred geldings and Belgian-crossbred geldings under identical management and an ad libitum forage-based total mixed ration. Ten geldings (n = 5 per group) were individually housed, with body weight and feed intake recorded monthly. After slaughter, carcass traits and meat quality grade were assessed, and longissimus thoracis et lumborum samples were analyzed for proximate composition. Belgian-crossbreds consumed more dry matter (18.68 vs. 13.60 kg DM/day), corresponding to 2.3% vs. 2.4% of body weight, but showed markedly greater growth (average daily gain 1.063 vs. 0.290 kg/day) and higher gain-to-feed (0.059 vs. 0.024) than retired Thoroughbreds. Carcass weight and marbling-related traits favored Belgian-crossbreds, including higher intramuscular fat in longissimus thoracis et lumborum (9.15% vs. 3.22%). Despite higher total feed cost per head, the economic feed conversion ratio was substantially lower in Belgian-crossbreds (13,133 vs. 35,088 KRW/kg gain), resulting in a positive gross margin estimate, whereas retired Thoroughbreds showed a negative margin under the same system. These results suggest that meat-type horses may be better suited to short, intensive finishing, while alternative utilization or tailored finishing strategies may be needed for retired racehorses. Full article

The quality of beef fat depends on both intramuscular fat (IMF) content and fatty acid (FA) composition, which can be modulated by finishing diets. This study evaluated the effects of silage type and feeding intensity on IMF deposition, FA profile, desaturase indices, and lipid quality indices in finishing Holstein–Friesian bulls. Thirty-two bulls were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial design (n = 8/group) and fed total mixed rations for 120 days based on grass silage or maize silage, under intensive (≈50:50 forage:concentrate, DM basis) or semi-intensive feeding (≈70:30). FA composition of longissimus lumborum lipids was determined by GC-FID, and lipid quality indices were calculated, including the atherogenic index (AI), thrombogenic index (TI), and the hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (h/H). Feeding intensity increased IMF content (p = 0.001) and the absolute amounts of major FA classes (g/100 g meat). Silage type primarily affected FA composition by increasing n-3 PUFA and lowering the n-6/n-3 ratio in grass silage diets (p = 0.042). Several FAs showed silage type × feeding intensity interactions (p < 0.05), indicating that the response to dietary energy supply depended on the forage base. Overall, feeding intensity mainly regulated lipid deposition, whereas silage type modulated the nutritional profile of intramuscular fat. Full article

This study examined the effects of average daily gain (ADG) during gestation on growth, nutrient digestibility, metabolic response, and subsequent milk yield and composition in dairy heifers. Twenty pregnant Holstein × Gyr heifers (450 ± 5.0 kg; 18 ± 1.1 months) were randomly assigned to moderate (MOD; target 0.35 kg/day) or high (HIG; target 0.70 kg/day) ADG groups, and received a total mixed ration from day 70 of gestation until calving. Body growth, blood metabolites, and lactation performance after birth were measured. At calving, HIG heifers had greater body weight (p < 0.01) and thoracic perimeter (p = 0.02). Nutrient digestibility and most blood metabolites were not affected by ADG (p > 0.05), except for triiodothyronine concentrations, which differed between treatments over time (p < 0.01). Milk yield and energy-corrected milk were not affected by gestational ADG (p > 0.10), while milk fat and total solids showed numerical treatment × week interactions (p ≤ 0.10). These results indicate that higher ADG during gestation increases body reserves at calving but does not affect milk yield. The moderate ADG for Holstein × Gyr heifers during gestation may improve milk quality through higher fat and solids content, emphasizing the importance of tailoring growth strategies for heifers during gestation. Full article

Background: This study evaluated the effects of rumen-protected choline (RUPCHOL) supplementation in dairy cows from 21 days before calving to 28 days postpartum. The objective was to determine how RUPCHOL influences metabolic status, milk composition, and subsequent calf growth until weaning. Methods: Twenty-seven pregnant Holstein cows were assigned to a Control group (n = 13) or an RUPCHOL group (n = 14), both receiving a total mixed ration (TMR), with the RUPCHOL group supplemented with 15 g/day of choline chloride. Cows were monitored during prepartum, calving, and postpartum periods for body weight, body condition score, dry matter intake, rectal temperature, milk yield and composition, and blood metabolites. Results: RUPCHOL supplementation tended to reduce serum aspartate aminotransferase and lowered concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate, indicating improved metabolic status. Milk total solids, fat, and protein percentages were higher in RUPCHOL-fed cows, suggesting enhanced milk quality. Maternal supplementation did not affect colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) content or calf body weight and body measurements (heart girth, wither height, hip height, and body length) from birth to weaning. Conclusions: In summary, RUPCHOL supplementation improved indicators of metabolic health and milk composition of dairy cows during the peripartum period without altering calf growth outcomes. Full article

To promptly address the disruptions caused by various sudden weather events to the normal operations of the quay apron, this study focuses on the optimization of integrated berth and quay crane (QC) scheduling under the impact of adverse weather. It emphasizes two key influences of adverse weather: port closures and the uncertainty in vessel handling times induced by weather conditions. A decision mechanism is designed, and strategies such as vessel dispatch, cargo omission, and backhaul are incorporated. Meanwhile, constraints including the prohibition of QC crossover and the spatio-temporal limitations on vessel berthing are taken into account. With the optimization objective of minimizing the total scheduling cost, a mixed-integer programming (MIP) model is constructed. A variable neighborhood search (VNS) algorithm is developed for solving the model, which proposes multi-layer encoding and a corresponding hybrid initialization strategy. Finally, comparative experiments are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the model and the rationality of the algorithm. Sensitivity analysis is also performed on the duration of port closures and QC handling efficiency. The research results can provide decision support for ports in formulating response strategies against adverse weather. Full article

Milk fatty acid (FA) composition derives from de novo synthesis in the mammary gland and from the uptake of preformed FA derived from diet, ruminal biohydrogenation, and body tissue mobilization. Consequently, milk FA profiles have been related to nutritional stress responses and feed efficiency (FE). This study tested whether dairy sheep with divergent FE would show different milk FA responses to a nutritional challenge. After calculating two FE indices in 40 ewes, the 9 most efficient (H-FE) and 9 least efficient (L-FE) animals were selected and subjected to a 3-day challenge replacing their total mixed ration (TMR) with wheat straw, followed by TMR refeeding. Temporal patterns of milk FA variation showed only minor differences between H-FE and L-FE ewes. The L-FE group exhibited higher concentrations of iso- and anteiso-17:0 and 18:0, suggesting differences in rumen fermentation and biohydrogenation. In contrast, underfeeding induced marked changes in milk FA composition, including a strong reduction in short- and medium-chain FAs (≤C16), consistent with a shift from de novo synthesis toward increased uptake of preformed FA. Overall, limited differences suggest that milk FA composition may not be a suitable marker for FE. Nonetheless, underfeeding-induced changes highlight its value for exploring nutritional stress responses. Full article