Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Nathan E. Blake, Matthew Walker, Shane Plum, Jason A. Hubbart, Joseph Hatton, Domingo Mata-Padrino, Ida Holaskova, Matthew E. Wilson
Summary: This study developed a predictive algorithm using machine learning methods to estimate dry matter intake (DMI) in animals. By measuring water intake variables, age, sex, full body weight, and average daily gain (ADG), the algorithm can accurately predict DMI within a 0.75 kg range.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
D. P. Berry
Summary: As a larger proportion of beef output comes from dairy herds, dairy producers are making key decisions on genetic merit of carcasses. There is a growing interest in generating valuable calves from dairy females, with the use of selected beef bulls for mating. Developing breeding objectives for beef bulls suitable for dairy production systems can improve profitability and sustainability by exploiting beef-on-dairy breeding strategies.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Addisu H. Addis, Hugh T. Blair, Paul R. Kenyon, Stephen T. Morris, Nicola M. Schreurs
Summary: In New Zealand, surplus dairy-origin calves are commercially slaughtered at two weeks of age, raising ethical concerns. To address this, a young beef cattle production system maximizing the use of excess calves has been proposed as an alternative. The study found that this system can increase pasture utilization and farm profitability.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Stella Maris Huertas, Pablo Ernesto Bobadilla, Ignacio Alcantara, Emilie Akkermans, Frank J. C. M. van Eerdenburg
Summary: Silvopastoral systems, which combine forage grasses with shrubs and trees for animal nutrition, have been shown to provide a sustainable and enriched environment for animals while also offering additional income through wood production. A study comparing European beef cattle in Silvopastoral Systems (SPS) and Open Pastures Systems (OPS) found no difference in weight gain between the two systems and no signs of impaired welfare in either system, highlighting the potential benefits of SPS for livestock production in temperate climate zones.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Longteng Ma, Lifen Wang, Zixi Zhang, Dingfu Xiao
Summary: This paper summarizes the classification, function, application, and existing issues of biological feed in livestock and poultry production, providing a reference for future research and applications. Biological feed is a feed product developed through bioengineering technologies such as fermentation engineering, enzyme engineering, protein engineering, and genetic engineering. It has functional characteristics of high nutritional value and good palatability, which can improve feed utilization, replace antibiotics, enhance the health level of livestock and poultry, improve the quality of livestock products, and promote a better breeding environment. The article provides a comprehensive review on the types of biological feed, their mechanism of action, fermenting strains, fermenting raw material resources, and their current status in animal production to facilitate in-depth research and development of applications.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Benjamin van Selm, Imke J. M. de Boer, Stewart F. Ledgard, Corina E. van Middelaar
Summary: Integrating dairy and beef production in New Zealand can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the beef sector, while improving the social license to operate for the dairy sector by reducing surplus dairy calves slaughtered at a young age.
AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Barnaby Edmund Howarth, Steven van Winden
Summary: The study highlights the importance of biosecurity advice provided by veterinarians in helping farmers reduce disease burdens on their farms. Private veterinary practitioners perceived significant improvements in their comfort, capability, consistency, and uptake of advice as the longitudinal biosecurity project progressed. The mean time spent delivering biosecurity advice increased and dropped subsequently, indicating an initial thorough process followed by an efficient one. There is a need to enhance the knowledge and training of future generations of private veterinary practitioners in the area of biosecurity, with a specific focus on the veterinarian-farmer relationship.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Alice Poggi Brandao, Reinaldo Fernandes Cooke
Summary: Temperament in beef cattle, evaluated through behavioral responses to human interaction, has shown that more excitable cattle exhibit increased stress response and lower fertility rates. Genetic selection and acclimation to human interaction can improve cattle temperament effectively.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mian Wei, Hui Zhou, Jiliang Ma, Nawab Khan, Jianmin Cao, Xiangdong Hu
Summary: The overuse of feed in China's animal husbandry needs more attention. The study shows that the feed utilization efficiency has gradually improved with technological development, and there are differences in feed utilization efficiency among different scales of farmers in different years. The largest scale does not necessarily represent the best efficiency, and the gap between different scales is narrowing.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Giorgia Fabbri, Matteo Gianesella, Rossella Tessari, Andrea Bassini, Massimo Morgante, Barbara Contiero, Vanessa Faillace, Enrico Fiore
Summary: Young beef bulls are prone to develop growth plate lesions, but current diagnostic methods often rely on the manifestation of severe pain and lameness. This study explored the potential of infrared thermography as a non-invasive tool for rapidly screening beef bulls for the presence of growth plate lesions. The results showed that infrared thermography could accurately diagnose growth plate lesions in beef bulls, allowing for timely treatment and improving animal welfare and production.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Rodrigo da Silva Marques, Reinaldo Fernandes Cooke
Summary: Ionophores are carboxylic polyether antibiotics naturally produced by Streptomyces spp, which modulate ruminal fermentation dynamics by targeting Gram-positive bacteria. They increase propionate concentration, reduce acetate concentration, mitigate ruminal proteolysis and ammonia synthesis, leading to improved efficiency and performance of beef cattle. Despite concerns about microbial adaptation, ionophores remain an important tool in beef production systems for enhancing productivity and profitability.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Farrukh Jobirov, Zhang Yuejie, Cornel Anyisile Kibona
Summary: Owning beef cattle is important for smallholder farmers in Tajikistan to alleviate poverty. This study evaluates the profitability of beef cattle farming and its determinants among smallholder farmers in the Baljovan District of Khatlon region. The results show that education level, family size, farming experience, pasture availability, land size, selling contract, feed costs, medications expenses, access to credits, and sales costs significantly influence the profitability of beef cattle farming.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Igor Nelson Herculano Duarte, Ayrton Fernandes de Oliveira Bessa, Luciana Diniz Rola, Maria Victoria Henrique Genuino, Iasmin Marques Rocha, Cintia Righetti Marcondes, Luciana Correia de Almeida Regitano, Danisio Prado Munari, Donagh Pearse Berry, Marcos Eli Buzanskas
Summary: This study discovered selection signatures in Canchim composite beef cattle through genomic analysis. Most of the identified genes were found near the expected functional genes in the breeding program, which are associated with meat quality and reproductive traits. Additionally, genes related to immunity, adaptation, morphology, and behavior were also identified. Some recently introduced genes in Canchim, such as those related to polled trait, were also identified.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Fernanda M. Rezende, Eduardo Rodriguez, Joel D. Leal-Gutierrez, Mauricio A. Elzo, Dwain D. Johnson, Chad Carr, Raluca G. Mateescu
Summary: Quality of carcass and meat are crucial for beef industry, especially in crossbred cattle in subtropical and tropical regions. Genomic selection is seen as a promising approach to improve these traits as traditional phenotypic selection is unrealistic. This study identified genomic regions with pleiotropic effects on carcass and meat quality traits in a multibreed cattle population.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Alan J. Twomey, Andrew R. Cromie
Summary: Reducing the age at first calving (AFC) in beef cows is economically beneficial. Cows that calve at younger ages are more likely to receive assistance at calving but this risk can be minimized with good management. Overall, AFC has a small impact on key performance traits in beef herds.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)