Search

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of slaughtering feedlot Texel lambs during different climatic conditions on carcass and meat quality traits. Twenty castrated male Texel lambs (21.8 ± 0.62 kg) were distributed to two treatments according to the climatic conditions during the finishing period and at pre-slaughter: warm season (WS; mean temperature of 23.4 °C and 77.5% relative humidity) and cool season (CS; mean temperature of 14.9 °C and 79.5% relative humidity). During the pre-slaughter, thermal comfort was evaluated through the variables: respiratory frequency, rectal temperature, temperature of the ocular region, and temperature-humidity index (THI). After the finishing period, lambs were slaughtered, and carcass and meat quality traits were assessed. The THI values indicate that animals harvested in the WS spent 13 h of the day under potential thermal discomfort conditions in the week before slaughter and in the pre-slaughter period, whereas lambs harvested in the CS did not experience any thermal discomfort. Slaughter weight, carcass weight, carcass dressing, and backfat thickness were greater (P ≤ 0.03), whereas cooling losses were lower (P 0.01) for lambs slaughtered in the CS. Moreover, thawing losses were lower (P 0.01), whereas cooking losses were greater (P 0.01) for lambs harvested in the CS. Lambs slaughtered in the CS also showed greater meat redness, yellowness, and chroma values (P 0.05). Although carcass traits were affected by the greater thermal discomfort exposure, meat quality of lambs was less impacted by the climatic conditions at slaughter.

In the intensification of sheep production systems, feedlot finishing plays a fundamental role in preparing lambs for slaughter, as well as relieving the grazing pressure on pasture. The profit margins in feedlot operations are often narrow and require the economics of scale to generate a sufficient income. In order to minimise expenses, intensive management and precision rearing of lambs to an ideal slaughter weight is needed to obtain premium carcass prices. The South African sheep industry is made up of wool, dual-purpose as well as meat type breeds, which also vary in terms of maturity. In order to implement precision finishing of South African lamb, a complete understanding of the growth, intake and fat deposition trends of growing lambs of different breed types is needed. This review outlines feedlot lamb production within the Southern African context for the major commercial breeds, while also providing insight in the considerations necessary to develop a decision support system for lamb rearing. Integrating such a decision support system into a lamb feedlot operation can then be used for precision finishing of lambs by predicting the optimal length of the feeding period and ideal slaughter weights of lambs.

The objective was to assess grazing as an element of profitability and competitiveness of a small-scale lamb fattening production system in central México and compare its economic performance by means of an analysis of scenarios. Two scenarios were analysed to assess the contribution of grazing on profitability and competitiveness. The first analysis was when grazing was the feed base, and secondly, costs of opportunity and economic impacts were studied under the assumption that sheep do not graze, and total feed has to be bought from external suppliers. The economic effect of grazing on the profitability was analysed by means of the Policy Analysis Matrix. Differences were found between strata; farmers with more than 70 sheep have the best profitability indices and the least vulnerability under the non-grazing scenario. Grazing had a positive effect reducing the cost of production and increasing competitiveness in the four strata assessed. However, farmers with higher technical level, specialised breeds and larger flocks (strata 3 and 4) have higher economic profits. The conclusion was that the profitability in fattening sheep is linked to taking advantage of grazing. However, to keep and improve the current financial performance, there is a need for the adoption of strategies for an integral improvement of the system and the adoption of better grazing management to further reduce production costs.

In order to evaluate the environmental performance generated by a "semi-technified" pig farm, as well as the comparison of different pig production scenarios, pig feed and animal production subsystems were evaluated considering both: (a) origin of feed ingredients and (b) variations in pig weight. Life cycle assessment methodology was used to evaluate the environmental performance, establishing 1 market pig as the functional unit (FU). Three ingredient origin distances (400, 950, and 1800 km) and three slaughter weights (110, 100, and 90 kg) were considered for the simulation analysis and comparison. The feed production subsystem was the main generator of environmental impacts, mainly caused by the cultivation of sorghum and the production of fat. The origin of the inputs represented the main increase in environmental impact for the feed production subsystem, mainly in the Fossil Depletion category, with a fivefold increase by acquiring inputs from 900 km and a ninefold increase at a distance of 1800 km. Producing lighter pigs resulted in the best environmental alternative, given the resultant 11% reduction in environmental impact.

Reducing slaughter age can improve meat quality and reduce costs, while an ageing process can result in more standardized products. Thus, the objective of this paper was to measure the physicochemical characteristics of dry aged meat from younger Nellore bulls slaughtered at different body weights. Twenty-four Longissimus thoracis from young bulls (14 months of age) finished in a feedlot at body weights of 350, 400 and 450 kg were used. Fromeach group (N = 8), samples were divided into three portions for 0, 14 and 28 days of dry ageing. After the samples reached their dry aged period weight, pH and colour were measured. Next, water losses, shear force, the chemical composition and the fatty acids profile of the meat were measured. Reducing slaughter weight (350 kg) of young bulls did not affect meat tenderness but increased saturated fatty acids contents at day 1 of dry ageing. During the dry ageing process, drip loss increased, but thawing losses were reduced. Colour parameter was reduced by dry ageing and meat becomes darker, but meat tenderness was increased. Dry ageing increased the ash content. Dry ageing increased saturated fatty acid and reduced the monounsaturated and saturated fatty acid ratio (MUFA/SFA), but did not change the polyunsaturated fatty acids. Nellore young bulls (14 months) can be slaughtered with 400 or 450 kg without compromising physicochemical characteristics, while dry ageing improved meat tenderness but increased saturated fatty acids and changed meat colour. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The present study is aimed at comparing the fatty acid profiles, cholesterol, and atherogenicity index of Bactrian and dromedary camel meat by using discriminant analysis to identify the more discriminating fatty acids. Six muscles were sampled from nine Bactrian and nine dromedary camels and analyzed for fatty acid parameters and cholesterol content. The mean fatty acid profiles differed in higher proportion between species than between muscles. The main discriminating fatty acids between species (100% well-classed samples) were C15:0, C17:1, C14:1, C20:0, and C18:0. A significant difference was also observed in cholesterol content, with more cholesterol in Bactrian meat (53.6 ± 12.5 mg/100 g) compared to dromedary meat (49.4 ± 11.2 mg/100 g). However, the atherogenicity index was lower in Bactrian meat (1.196 ± 0.148) than in dromedary meat (1.379 ± 0.109). Despite the dietetic interest in camel meat due to its low cholesterol and low-fat content, the high atherogenicity index compared to other red meat appeared as an unfavorable argument.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an important public health concern pathogen, as it produces two toxins, Stx1 and Stx2, with cytotoxic capacity. In addition, STEC strains are frequently involved in food outbreaks worldwide, leading to public health challenges and economic losses. In this context, the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance profile of the STEC isolated from fresh beef produced in Mato Grosso, Brazil, were estimated. One hundred seven retail beef under vacuum-packaged produced by 13 different slaughterhouses were submitted to microbiological, molecular, and antimicrobial resistance analyses. STEC occurrence in beef was of 4.67%, and five strains presented the stx2 gene. The O111 serogroup, reported in several outbreak cases worldwide, was detected, and other serotypes (O8:H20, O22:H16, and O141:H49) were also isolated. All isolated strains displayed sensitivity to 12 antibiotics, except for two strains, which where streptomycin-resistant. The presence of STEC in retail beef samples indicates public health risks with significant economic impact throughout the retail beef chain.

The objective was to determine the growth performance of Friesian calves given milk or milk replacer (MR) at varying levels. Forty-eight male Friesian calves were divided into four groups of 12 animals each. Calves were offered either milk or MR at either 10 or 15% of body weight (BW), with upper limits of 5 and 6 L/d, respectively until week 8. The calves were weaned at 10 weeks of age by gradually reducing the offered liquid to zero. In addition, from the second week, calves were offered calf starter ration (CS) until each calf reached 120 kg. The calves raised on milk had better growth rates (610 ± 25 vs. 487 ± 25 g/d; P0.05), displayed higher weaning weights (71 ± 1.5 vs. 55.9 ± 1.5 kg; P0.05) and reached the target weight of 120 kg earlier (20.9 ± 0.8 vs. 24.1 ± 0.8 weeks; P0.05) than those on MR. However, growth rate was not affected (535 ± 25 vs. 568 ± 25; P0.05) by liquid feeding level. Cost per kg live weight gain was not affected (325 ± 8 vs. 319 ± 8; P0.05) by feeding source or feeding levels (317 ± 8 vs. 328 ± 8). Thus, feeding milk at 10% of body weight saves time and labour required to achieve target weight in veal calves.

This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of soybean oil level on performance and fatty acid profile of backfat and longissimus lumborum muscle of gilts. Forty-eight gilts with an initial weight of 21.75 ± 0.138 kg and final weight of 98.65 ± 2.106 kg were subjected to one of the following six dietary soybean oil inclusions (0.00, 1.086, 2.173, 3.259, 4.345, and 5.432%). Experimental design was completely randomized block with six treatments and four replicates of two animals each. Lipid profile of backfat and longissimus lumborum muscle was analyzed by gas chromatography. Increasing dietary soybean oil levels did not influence final weight, daily weight gain, and feed intake (P > 0.05) but improved feed to gain ratio (P

A phenotypic analysis of the Meatmaster breed was done, using linear body measurements, qualitative assessment, slaughter data and pedigree performance data. The linear body measurements and pedigree performance data were collected from 187 rams and 222 ewes of all age categories. The following means were recorded in rams and ewes respectively: Body weight (kg) (80.47±13.33; 57.51±12.43), head length (cm) (23.93±1.55; 22.68±2.05), neck length (cm) (28.35±5.16; 29.61±3.82), chest girth (cm) (102.45±8.42; 92.95±8.08), tail length (cm) (38.24±4.88; 36.64±4.70), wither height (cm) (63.91±4.04; 58.99±4.86), chest depth (cm) (37.51±2.97; 34.47±2.97), chest width (cm) (23.47±2.56; 21.24±2.85), body length (cm) (78.95±5.59; 72.67±6.06), rump length (cm) (21.82±3.29; 20.77±1.93), rump width (cm) (23.87±2.82; 21.36±3.15), skin thickness (mm) (2.846±0.5; 2.805±0.5), pelvic length (cm) (7.66±.98), pelvic width (cm) (7.66±.90), pelvic area (cm

With the objective to determine the best mathematical model that could demonstrate the relationship between body weight and age in crossbred sheep, and to evaluate its applicability in different farms, 9985 live weight records of 837 crossbred lambs of Texel, Ile de France, Suffolk, and Hampshire Down breeds were used. Brody, von Bertalanffy, Richards, Logistic, and Gompertz models were fitted to the weight data, which were compared based on adjusted R2, Syx%, chi-square, and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, as well as residual analysis. After selecting the model, lambs whose weights at different ages fell within, below, or above ±20% of the values predicted by the model were classified as medium, low, or high performance, respectively. To validate the model, we used a validation dataset comprising 2898 weights of lambs from 6 different farms. Based on statistical analysis and biological characteristics (sigmoid trend of weight over time, weight at birth, and standard deviation), the model that best represented the growth of the lambs was the Richards model. The percentage of lambs classified as below, within, and above the predicted values based on the model was highly similar for the original and validation data, which indicates that this model could be used in different farms. It was concluded that the Richards model best described the live weight growth of crossbred lambs and aided in classifying the lambs as high, medium, or low performance, thereby providing a complementary tool in management decision-making.

The present study assessed the influence of the type of the tropical pastures on lamb body weight (BW) gain and meat quality. Fifty-four lambs were allocated to three grazing pastures: (1) AG - Aruana grass (Panicum maximum cv. IZ-5); (2) PP - pigeon pea legume (Cajanus cajan cv. Anão); and (3) CS - contiguous swards, half of the paddock with AG and half with PP. After 92 days of grazing, the lambs were slaughtered. Carcasses were evaluated and the longissimus muscle was collected to determine color, lipid profile, tocopherol concentrations, and lipid oxidation. Although the pastures present differences in the characteristics of nutritional quality, the animals did not show difference in BW gain. The results show that all forage presented similar concentration of alpha-tocopherol (137 ± 14.37 mg kg

Fattening performance, slaughter, and carcass traits of intact and castrated Angora goat kids slaughtered at different slaughter weights were examined. A total of 96 (48 intact, I-kids, and 48 castrated, C-kids) single Angora kids were fattened, and 48 of them (24 I-kids and 24 C-kids) were slaughtered at slaughter weights (SW) of 20, 25, and 30 kg. Castration negatively affected fattening performance, and the kids showed rising daily weight gain with increasing SW. While dressing percentages were not affected by castration, it caused a tendency for a decrease in offal. However, with the increase in SW, dressing percentages increased, and offal decreased. Castration increased non-carcass fat percentages and back fat depth. The proportions of individual cuts did not generally vary because of castration but changed with SW; foreleg percentages decreased (P

The search for healthy food leads to demand for functional foods that do not harm the health of the consumers. The objective was to evaluate the impact of the supply of cottonseed and crude glycerin as modulators of the lipid profile of the beef produced on pasture. The concentrated supplement was formulated with two levels of cottonseed (0 and 25%) and/or two levels of crude glycerin (0 and 15%), totaling four experimental groups. Two experiments were conducted; the first experiment was outlined in a 5 × 5 Latin square design, contrasting the protein-energy supplementation with the mineral supplementation. The concentrate supplementation allowed the increase in intake and digestibility of the dry matter (P = 0.03), ether extract, crude protein, and non-fibrous carbohydrate (P < 0.01). However, the results showed no effect of crude glycerin or cottonseed inclusion on intake or nutrients digestibility. The second experiment evaluated the protein-energy supplementation and its impact on the lipid profile of meat produced, carcass characteristics, and animal performance. There was no influence of cottonseed or crude glycerin in performance or carcass characteristics. However, the use of the cottonseed reduced the content of short-chain fatty acids, omega 3 linolenic acid, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) C18: 2 cis 9 trans 11 (P < 0.01), and the inclusion of crude glycerin led to increased conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) C18: 2 cis 9 trans 11 (P = 0.04). An important result is given by illustrating the impact of these fatty acids in the nutritional quality of the meat. Thus, it is possible to manipulate the lipid profile of meat produced by cottonseed or crude glycerin supplementation, without affecting the animal performance.

Submitted by Rodrigo Martins Cruz (rodrigo.cruz@ufvjm.edu.br) on 2019-11-14T16:47:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 The phenotypic relationship between residual intake_preprint.pdf: 460118 bytes, checksum: 8a9ec203bf3818fe91004f48296d1874 (MD5) Approved for entry into archive by Rodrigo Martins Cruz (rodrigo.cruz@ufvjm.edu.br) on 2019-11-14T16:48:02Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 The phenotypic relationship between residual intake_preprint.pdf: 460118 bytes, checksum: 8a9ec203bf3818fe91004f48296d1874 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2019-11-14T16:48:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 The phenotypic relationship between residual intake_preprint.pdf: 460118 bytes, checksum: 8a9ec203bf3818fe91004f48296d1874 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019-02 This study aimed to compare feed efficiency measures of Nellore beef cattle on different residual intake and gain (RIG) classes. We used data from 610 animals weighing on average 236.33?kg and average of 283?days of age from feedlot performance tests carried out between 2005 and 2012. Animals were grouped based on RIG into three different classes: high RIG (>?mean?+?0.5 standard deviation (SD), most efficient; n?=?193), medium RIG (mean???0.5 SD; n?=?235), and low RIG (mean?-?0.5 SD, least efficient; n?=?182). Residual feed intake (RFI), residual gain (RG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed efficiency (FE), relative growth rate (RGR), and Kleiber ratio (KR) of animals in each RIG class were compared by Tukey test at 1% of probability. Phenotypic correlations between variables were evaluated as well. Animals on high RIG class showed lower dry matter intake (P?

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence and distribution of Fasciola gigantica infections in communally grazed and ranch-grazed beef cattle through coprological examination. A total of 8646 cattle (4618 adults, 2843 weaners and 1185 calves) faecal samples were collected during the 24 months of study. Results from this study indicated that only 64 (0.74%; 95% CI 0.57, 0.94%) of the samples were positive for F. gigantica eggs. The positive samples were detected in one (Central) of the six study districts and was restricted to the Tuli Block (commercial) farms in Machaneng village in eastern Botswana. The prevalence of fluke eggs was significantly higher in adult cattle (12.85%; 95% CI 9.72, 16.54%) than weaners (6.49%; 95% CI 3.40, 11.06%) and calves (0.79%; 95% CI 0.02, 4.31%), (χ2(2) = 19.01, p

Both quantity and quality of forages are important in dry season feeding. Eight Thai native beef bulls were arranged in a Completely randomized design to evaluate dwarf Napier namely Sweet grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mahasarakham) preserved as silage or hay on feed intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation. The animals were fed with forage ad libitum supplemented with concentrate mixture at 1.0% of BW for 21 days; data were collected during the last 7 days. The results showed that there were differences (P 0.05) between treatments in dry matter (DM) intake, DM digestibility, and ruminal pH, in which hay feeding gave enhanced feed intake and more favorable ruminal pH. Nevertheless, mean ruminal ammonia nitrogen, total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs), proportion of VFAs, bacterial and protozoal population, and blood urea nitrogen were similar (P 0.05) in animals fed silage and hay. Sweet grass is better preserved as hay rather than silage.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of feeding fresh cassava root (CR) along with a feed block containing high was to sulfur (FBS) on feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, and blood thiocyanate concentration in Thai native beef cattle. Four Thai male native beef cattle, initial body weight (BW) of 130 + 20.0 kg, were used in this study. The experiments were randomly assigned according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The main factors were supplemented fresh CR levels (1.0 and 1.5% BW) and across to a feed block supplemented with sulfur added 2% (FBS-2) and 4% (FBS-4). Intakes of rice straw, concentrate diets, and FBS were not affected by treatments. Intakes of CR, sulfur, and total intake were significantly altered by the FBS treatment. The apparent dry matter and organic matter digestibility coefficient were significantly higher in animals fed FBS-4 than in those fed FBS-2. The ruminal ammonia nitrogen concentration was not affected by treatment and ranged from 15.6 to 17.6 mg/dl. Populations of protozoa and fungal zoospores were similar across treatments, whereas the bacterial population was significantly different between sulfur levels in the feed block. Feeding CR with FBS did not change total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations and VFA profiles except for the propionic acid concentration, which was higher in the group with CR supplementation at 1.5% BW. Cattle fed CR with FBS showed similar blood urea nitrogen concentration at various feeding times and overall. In contrast, CR supplementation at 1.5% BW with FBS-2 increased blood thiocyanate concentrations. Therefore, supplementation of FBS-2 was beneficial to Thai native beef cattle fed with 1.5% BW fresh CR as it improved digestibility and rumen fermentation presumed, because HCN from fresh cassava root was converted into thiocyanate, which is nontoxic to farm animals.

The potential of using whole corn crop silage and rice straw as an alternative feed for the beef cattle based on the intake and growth performance were evaluated. Using randomised completely block design, nine adult Mafriwal cattle were blocked intro three groups and treated with three different forage diets supplemented with 20% pelleted palm kernel cake on dry matter basis. The treatments were 100% rice straw (RS), 100% corn silage (CS) and an equal mixture of rice straw and corn silage (MIX) fed ad libitum. The animals were housed in individual pens, and the feeding trial was conducted for 12 weeks with 2 weeks of adaptation period. The results showed that CS had the best feed nutritive composition with the lowest concentration of highly indigestible fibre and the highest concentration of organic matter and energy. The CS also had the highest intake, and the corn silage inclusion in MIX managed to improve the intake on par with CS in terms of the dry matter intake of body weight (DMI of BW), voluntary intake (VI) and crude protein (CP) intake. Cattle fed with CS gave the highest and most stable BW gain with an average daily gain (ADG) of 808 g/day rivalling cross-bred cattle fed with high amount of concentrates. The all straw diet (RS) supplemented with PKC recorded a positive ADG of 133 g/day while the MIX gave 383 g/day matching total Napier grass diet.

Supplementation of animals in the rainy season is essential to maximise weight gain. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with low-, medium- and high-protein levels on nutritional parameters of grazing beef cattle in the rainy season. Eight rumen-cannulated Nellore bulls (437 kg body weight) were used in a 4 × 4 double Latin square design with four supplements and four experimental periods. The treatments were mineral supplement (ad libitum) and supplements with low-protein (LPSU), medium-protein (MPS) and high-protein (HPS) levels, providing 106, 408 and 601 g/day of crude protein (CP), respectively. There was no difference (P > 0.05) between treatments for dry matter and forage intake, ruminal pH, ruminal ammonia nitrogen (RAN) at time 0 (before supplementation) and microbial protein yield. Animals on MPS had a higher (P > 0.05) intake and digestibility of CP, higher RAN levels (3 and 6 h after supplementation), increased nitrogen intake and a better nitrogen balance than animals on LPSU. The HPS provided higher (P > 0.05) RAN at time 6 and a better nitrogen balance when compared with MPS. We therefore infer that the high-protein supplement positively impacts nitrogen metabolism and efficiency in grazing beef cattle during the rainy season.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate reduced supplementation frequencies for grazing beef cattle in rainy season. In experiment 1, evaluating the nutritional parameters, four rumen-cannulated Nellore bulls (BW = 410 kg) were used. In experiment 2, evaluating animal performance, 48 Nellore bulls (BW = 358 kg) were used. The treatments were as follows: mineral supplement (MS) alone and MS plus protein-energy supplement provided 3×, 5× and 7×/week. Supplementation frequency did not affect (P > 0.05) intake and digestibility. Average daily gain was greater (P

We designed and piloted a livestock identification and traceability system (LITS) along the Northern Tanzania–Narok–Nairobi beef value chain. Animals were randomly selected and identified at the primary markets using uniquely coded ear tags. Data on identification, ownership, source (village), and the site of recruitment (primary market) were collected and posted to an online database. Similar data were collected in all the markets where tagged animals passed through until they got to defined slaughterhouses. Meat samples were collected during slaughter and later analyzed for tetracycline and diminazene residues using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Follow up surveys were done to assess the pilot system. The database captured a total of 4260 records from 741 cattle. Cattle recruited in the primary markets in Narok (n = 1698) either came from farms (43.8%), local markets (37.7%), or from markets in Tanzania (18.5%). Soit Sambu market was the main source of animals entering the market from Tanzania (54%; n = 370). Most tagged cattle (72%, n = 197) were slaughtered at the Ewaso Ng’iro slaughterhouse in Narok. Lesions observed (5%; n = 192) were related to either hydatidosis or fascioliasis. The mean diminazene aceturate residue level was 320.78 ± 193.48 ppb. We used the traceability system to identify sources of animals with observable high drug residue levels in tissues. Based on the findings from this study, we discuss opportunities for LITS—as a tool for surveillance for both animal health and food safety, and outline challenges of its deployment in a local beef value chain—such as limited incentives for uptake.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T17:39:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-08-01 This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different salinity levels in drinking water on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of lamb carcass and meat. Ram lambs (n = 32) were distributed in a completely randomized design with four levels of salinity in the drinking water (640 mg of total dissolved solids (TDS)/L of water, 3188 mg TDS/L water, 5740 mg TDS/L water, and 8326 mg TDS/L water). After slaughter, blending, gutting, and skinning the carcass, hot and biological carcass yields were obtained. Then, the carcasses were cooled at 5 A degrees C for 24 h, and then, the morphometric measurements and the cold carcass yield were determined and the commercial cuts made. In the Longissimus lumborum muscle color, water holding capacity, cooking loss, shear force, and chemical composition were determined. The yields of hot and cold carcass (46.10 and 44.90%), as well as losses to cooling (2.40%) were not affected (P > 0.05) by the salinity levels in the water ingested by the lambs. The meat shear force was 3.47 kg/cm(2) and moisture, crude protein, ether extract, and ash were 73.62, 22.77, 2.5, and 4.3%, respectively. It is possible to supply water with salinity levels of up to 8326 mg TDS/L, because it did not affect the carcass and meat characteristics of Santa Ins lambs. Fed Univ Vale Sao Francisco, Dept Anim Sci, BR-56300000 Petrolina, PE, Brazil Embrapa Semiarido, BR-56302970 Petrolina, PE, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Biol, Ilha Solteira Sch Engn, BR-15385000 Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil Univ Fed Bahia, BR-40170110 Salvador, BA, Brazil Coll Amazonia Reunida FESAR, BR-69550325 Redencao, PA, Brazil Sao Paulo State Univ, Dept Biol, Ilha Solteira Sch Engn, BR-15385000 Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of partial or total replacement of Tifton 85 hay with cassava foliage hay and/or spineless cactus on the weight gain, body measurements, ingestive behaviour, and parasite infection of confined sheep. Thirty-five non-castrated male lambs with no defined breed were housed in individual pens for 90 days. Five treatments in a complete mixture were offered twice a day: Tifton hay (TH), cassava foliage hay (CFH), Tifton hay + cassava foliage hay (TH + CFH), Tifton hay + spineless cactus (TH + SC), and cassava foliage hay + spineless cactus (CFH + SC). The data were evaluated by analysis of variance and Tukey's test at 5% probability. The dry matter and crude protein intake were higher in sheep fed CFH and CFH + SC than sheep fed TH. Animals fed TH + SC presented a higher average daily gain (0.215 g) than sheep fed TH (0.125 g). The addition of spineless cactus to the diet with Tifton hay increased the feed efficiency by approximately 100% but did not affect the faecal egg count/g. The use of cassava foliage hay and its association with spineless cactus is recommended for the replacement of Tifton 85 hay in the diet of confined sheep.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of rumen-protected oil (soybean and palm oil) in supplements for beef cattle during the fattening phase in pastures on the intake and digestibility of nutrients, animal performance, and carcass characteristics. Forty-eight noncastrated male Nellore cattle (15 ± 2 months and 389.5 ± 20 kg of body weight) were used in a completely randomized design to evaluate the following treatments: protein-energy supplement (PES) without rumen-protected oil (control: CO), PES containing palm rumen-protected oil (PRPO), PES containing soybean rumen-protected oil (SRPO), and PES containing a mixture of soybean and palm rumen-protected oil (SPRPO). The study lasted 112 days, and there was a decrease in crude protein intake (P 0.05) and an increase in ether extract intake (P 0.05) when rumen-protected oil was included in the supplements. In comparison to the palm rumen-protected oil supplement, the soybean rumen-protected oil supplement promoted a lower average daily gain (ADG) (P 0.05); however, regardless of the rumen-protected oil source, an increase in the fat thickness of the subcutaneous tissue was observed. In addition, there was no difference in carcass gain (P 0.05) regardless of oil source. Rumen-protected oil is a tool to increase the finishing of pasture-finished young beef cattle in the dry season.

This study aimed to identify factors associated with cattle reproductive output in rural smallholder farms in Cambodia in order to determine the main causes of reproductive failure and design efficient interventions for improvement. The majority of the nation's beef is produced on smallholder farms where productivity is constrained by poor animal reproductivity reflected in the recent livestock population decline of approximately 13 % from 2009 to 2013. Farmers (n = 240) from 16 villages from five provinces were surveyed in mid-2015 to determine their baseline knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) associated with cattle reproduction. In addition, 16 case studies from three of these provinces were conducted to provide a more detailed assessment of current cattle reproductive husbandry practices. In order to assess the reproductive impact of previously implemented interventions, an endpoint KAP survey and longitudinal health and husbandry study from three Cambodian provinces conducted between 2008 and 2013 were also analysed. Three multivariable prediction models (two KAP and one longitudinal) identified the following significant factors associated with the reproductive outcomes 'number of calves born' or probability that cows 'gave birth': target feeding (P = 0.074), growing vegetables (P = 0.005), attitudes towards cattle vaccination (P = 0.010), improving bull selection (P = 0.032), local breed use (P = 0.005), number of joining attempts (P

The objective of this study was to evaluate if short-term dietary concentrate supplementation increased IGF-I serum concentration and resulted in a reproductive response during estrus synchronization treatment in non-lactating beef cows. Thirty non-lactating beef cows (Bos indicus × Bos taurus) were allocated to the same pastureland and fed native tropical grasses as a basal diet. Cows were synchronized using a 7-day CO-Synch plus controlled internal drug release (CIDR) protocol and received fixed time artificial insemination (FTAI). Cows were divided into two groups; the control group (n = 16) received 0.5 kg of concentrate/cow/day, whereas the supplemented group (n = 14) received 4.0 kg of concentrate/cow/day. The period of supplementation was 10 days from the day of CIDR insert to FTAI. The concentration of IGF-I increased (P 0.05) in the supplemented group, while no significant changes were observed in the control group. Moreover, at the time of insemination, IGF-I serum concentrations were higher in supplemented cows compared with control cows (P 0.05). Notably, metabolite and insulin concentrations did not differ (P 0.05) between treatment groups or sampling day. The response to estrus induction, measured as estrus presentation, ovulation rate, and pregnancy rate, was similar between experimental groups (P 0.05). In conclusion, our results indicated that supplementation with dietary concentrate for 10 days in non-lactating beef cows changed the endocrine milieu, specifically increasing IGF-I serum concentration. However, these endocrine changes did not affect response to estrous induction treatment.

In emergent economies and developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, the major cause for carcass rejection from the international market is bruising; nevertheless, many of these carcases are destined to local markets and meat processing industries for human consumption. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of bruised meat on pH, microbiologic count and biogenic amine (BA) profiles along 21 days of ageing (sampling 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st day) with two packaging method (plastic bag vs vacuum) at 4 °C. A total of 50 bruised carcasses were sampled from 1000 young bulls (Brown Swiss X Zebu) of 18-24 months old and an average live weight of 450 ± 66 kg. The results showed significant differences between packaging systems and bruised vs non-bruised meat. The bruised meat caused higher biogenic amine concentrations than did non-bruised meat. We conclude that bruised meat favoured increments of biogenic amine concentrations, even more than did non-bruised meat. The plastic bag + vacuum system limited the increments of BA concentration during storage time therefore it improved shelf life of meat. These results emphasized the importance of implementing best management practices during pre-slaughter operations of cattle in order to reduce a possible risk factor for bruised meat.

Improved large ruminant productivity is increasingly acknowledged as a pathway for the alleviation of rural poverty and food insecurity in smallholder communities in Southeast Asia; yet, in much of Laos, bovine reproductive management is practically absent. Large ruminant reproduction skills were studied, using face-to-face surveys (n=60) of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of farmers, plus an extension of an examination of parameters of reproductive efficiency (n = 1786 cattle and 434 buffalo) in the northern provinces of Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang. The surveys particularly involved female farmers to provide gender-disaggregated data, with females making up 38.3 % of participants. Results confirmed that KAPs of smallholder farmers on bovine reproductive management were low (34-46 %) with trends toward higher KAP scores in male survey respondents. Poor reproductive parameters were identified in both provinces, with low calving percentages of 54-75 and 45-54 % in cattle and buffalo groups, respectively, and prolonged inter-calving intervals of 14.1-19.8 and 26.0 months for the cattle and buffalo groups, respectively. Improving the reproductive efficiency of large ruminants in the northern upland regions would enable smallholder farmers to be more effectively engaged in the dramatic economic growth of the Southeast Asia region, although these findings indicate that intensive training and supportive interventions are required to improve large ruminant reproductive outcomes in communities that have low-level large ruminant husbandry skills.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the partial replacement of elephant grass silage with babassu cake (Orbignya speciosa) on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of feedlot lambs. Forty-five castrated male Santa Ines sheep (19.08 ± 0.41 kg) approximately 4 months old were distributed in a completely randomized design, with five treatments 0.0, 12.5, 25.0, 37.5 and 50 % (%DM) replacement of babassu cake with silage forming isoproteic diets formulated at a ratio of 40 % roughage to 60 % concentrate. All of the studied animals were slaughtered at the end of the experiment. The liver weights and yields increased with the inclusion of babassu cake. The weight of the shoulder increased from 2.31 to 2.61 kg, while the loin yield decreased from 7.38 to 6.64 % with the inclusion of babassu cake, both linearly. The body length, thoracic perimeter, rump perimeter and carcass compactness index showed high and positive correlations with the hot and cold carcass weights. The myofibrillar fragmentation index decreased linearly as a function of the inclusion level of babassu cake, but other quality variables were not affected. The replacement of up to 50 % of the elephant grass silage with babassu cake in the diet of lambs does not cause negative effects on carcass characteristics or meat quality.

Estimation and prediction ability of linear and threshold models for yearling breed quality score (BQ) and navel development score at weaning (WN) and yearling (YN), considering variances, heritabilities, and rank correlations based on the breeding values predicted for bulls, were compared. Furthermore, it was determined whether BQ, WN, and YN are genetically associated with growth traits (BWG: birth to weaning weight gain, WH: weaning height, WYG: weaning to yearling weight gain, YH: yearling height) to field data of Nelore cattle. For BQ, similar heritabilities were estimated using linear (0.14 ± 0.01) and threshold (0.15 ± 0.02) models. For navel development scores, higher heritability was estimated with threshold (WN 0.22 ± 0.03; YN 0.42 ± 0.03) rather than linear (WN 0.16 ± 0.01; YN 0.29 ± 0.01) models. Rank correlations between sires breeding values predicted for visual scores with linear and threshold models ranging from 0.53 to 0.98, indicating that different sires would be selected using these models, mainly for higher selection intensities. The BQ showed little genetic variability and was not associated with WH and YH. However, low and positive genetic correlations were obtained between BQ with BWG (0.27 ± 0.02) and WYG (0.25 ± 0.02). In general, they are expected low genetic gains for BQ as correlated response to selection based on any of the growth traits studied. The WN showed higher genetic correlation with BWG (0.63 ± 0.02) and WH (0.53 ± 0.02) rather than WYG (-0.06 ± 0.02) and YH (0.26 ± 0.02), indicating that selection for increased growth at weaning (height and weight gain) should lead to longer and most pendulous navels at this age. Weak genetic correlations were obtained between yearling navel and growth traits.

The aim of this study was to investigate the susceptibility of 93 Lactobacillus strains to seven antimicrobial agents, i.e., penicillin G, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, vancomycin, tetracycline, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, by disk diffusion test. The Lactobacillus strains were isolated from fecal samples taken from 90 healthy, food-producing animals (fattening pigs, free-grazing ducks, and beef cattle) and 30 healthy human subjects (1- to 6-year-olds) in Khon Kaen. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of tetracycline and ciprofloxacin against all strains were determined using the E-test. All 93 Lactobacillus isolates were identified at the species level using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The most common species of Lactobacillus isolated from fattening pigs, free-grazing ducks, beef cattle, and humans were L. reuteri (30 %), L. salivarius (46.7 %), L. acetotolerans (20 %), and L. gasseri (33.3 %), respectively. A total of 83 Lactobacillus strains were resistant to the examined antibiotics. Some strains were resistant to two to six types of antibiotics. More than 50 % of Lactobacillus species were intrinsically resistant to vancomycin, streptomycin, ciprofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. The prevalence of acquired resistance to tetracycline was observed for Lactobacillus isolates from fattening pigs, humans, free-grazing ducks, and beef cattle at 92.3, 85.7, 77.8, and 68.4 %, respectively. These results demonstrate the impact of antibiotic use in human and veterinary medicine on antibiotic treatment efficacy and may support the spread of transferable antibiotic resistant genes to other bacteria via the food chain.

The effect of feeding tannin-degrading bacteria (Streptococcus gallolyticus strain TDGB 406) on carcass characteristics of goats fed with oak (Quercus semicarpifolia) leaves was studied on 18 male goats (4 months old, average body weight 9.50 ± 1.50 kg), distributed into three groups of six animals each. The animals of group 1 served as control, while the animals of groups 2 and 3 were given (at 5 ml/kg live weight) autoclaved and live culture of isolate TDGB 406 (106 cells/ml), respectively. The animals were fed with oak leaves as a basal roughage source and maize hay along with fixed quantity of concentrate mixture. After 4 months of feeding, the animals were slaughtered for carcass studies. The feeding of live culture of isolate TDGB 406 did not cause any effect (P > 0.05) on pre-slaughter weight, empty body weight, carcass weight, dressing percent, and yield of wholesale cuts (neck, rack, shoulder, breast, shank, loin, leg, and flank) of the goat meat. The chemical composition of longissimus dorsi muscle was comparable (P > 0.05) among the groups. The organoleptic evaluation of pressure-cooked meat in terms of tenderness and overall palatability was increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the meat of group 3 where live culture was supplemented. The other attributes were similar among the groups. It was concluded that supplementation of tannin-degrading bacteria S. gallolyticus strain TDGB 406 to goats fed with oak leaves did not affect the carcass characteristics and meat quality.

Improper use of veterinary drugs by pig farmers may affect food safety and agro-ecological environment. This study analyzed the influence of pig farmer characteristics on the improper use of veterinary drugs in rural China. A multivariate ordered logistic model was applied to examine survey data from 654 pig farmers in Jiangsu Province, China. Results showed that poorly educated, older, male farmers with over 10 years of pig production experience on small- and medium-scale farms were most likely to engage in improper veterinary drug use. Furthermore, male farmers with over 10 years of pig production experience on small-scale farms were more likely to exhibit medium-risk improper use of veterinary drugs, while farmers on medium-scale farms with the same characteristics were more likely to exhibit high-risk improper use. It is concluded that poorly educated male farmers, especially from small- and medium-scale farms, with over 10 years of pig production experience, should be the key target of government classification, regulation, and supervision.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of beef calves’ supplementation in creep feeding systems on milk yield, body weight (BW), and body condition score (BCS) of their dams on tropical pastures using a meta-analytical approach. The database was obtained from 11 experiments conducted between 2009 and 2014 in Brazil, totaling 485 observations (cows). The database consisted of 273 Nellore and 212 crossbred (7/8 Nellore × 1/8 Holstein) cows. All experiments were carried out in the suckling phase (from 3 to 8 months of age of calves) during the transition phase between rainy and dry seasons from February to June of different years. The data were analyzed by a meta-analytical approach using mixed models and taking into account random variation among experiments. Calves’ supplementation (P ≥ 0.59) and the calves’ sex (P ≥ 0.48) did not affect milk yield of cows. The average fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield was 6.71 and 6.83 kg/day for cows that had their calves supplemented and not supplemented, respectively. Differences were observed (P

Four beef cattle with initial body weight of 283 ± 14 kg were randomly allocated according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design to study on the effect of feeding sugarcane bagasse (SB) treated with urea and/or calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) on feed intake, digestibility, and rumen fermentation. The treatments were as follows: rice straw (RS), untreated SB (SB), 4 % urea-treated SB (SBU), and 2 % urea + 2 % Ca(OH)2-treated SB (SBUC), respectively. The results revealed that cattle fed with SBU and SBUC had higher feed intake and apparent digestibility. Ammonia nitrogen and blood urea nitrogen were increased in cattle fed with SB as roughage source (P

Little information is available on the epidemiology of Giardia duodenalis in beef cattle from Vietnam. This study was performed to determine the prevalence and genotypes/assemblages of G. duodenalis in native beef calves younger than 6 months in the region. A total of 412 calf fecal samples, randomly selected from 99 small-scale farms located in DacLac and KhanhHoa provinces, central Vietnam, were screened for the presence of G. duodenalis cysts using the zinc-sulfate flotation method followed by iodine staining. The overall prevalence on the sample and herd levels were 13.8% (57/412) and 42.4% (42/99), respectively. Molecular analysis in the β-giardin and triosephosphate isomerase genes demonstrated the presence of only G. duodenalis assemblage E in the animals. Since assemblage E has been rarely reported in humans, the zoonotic risk in beef calves in the region appears to be minimal.

Akabane disease, which is distributed in temperate and tropical regions in the world, is a vector-borne disease of ruminants caused by the Akabane virus, transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. In 2011, outbreaks of Akabane viral encephalomyelitis occurred in the Shimane Prefecture in western Japan. In this study, a spatial epidemiological analysis was conducted to understand environmental factors associated with the spread of Akabane disease. By applying a conditional autoregressive model, the relationship between infection and environmental variables was explored. The results showed that the dominance of farmlands and the presence of infected farms within a 3-km radius had a significant effect on infection. This result implies that land use, which would relate with the vector habitat, and the presence of neighboring infected farms as a source of infection may have influenced the spread of the disease in this region. These findings provide basic insights into the spread of Akabane disease and useful suggestions for developing a surveillance program and preventive measures against the disease.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of concentrate supplementation strategies on the nutritional characteristics of beef cattle in intensive management of tropical pasture. Twenty-four Nellore steer at 250 kg body weight (BW) were used, divided into two plots, with 12 animals in each plot. The experimental area consisted of 32 paddocks with 0.25 ha of Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça. The experiment consisted of 96-day experimental periods, with three periods of 32 days. The strategies studied were P = exclusively on pasture and without concentrate supplementation (control), ES = pasture and supplemented with a concentrate low in protein, PS = pasture and supplemented with high protein content, and PES = pasture and supplementation with balanced protein-energy. There was reduced intake of DM in animals of the treatment P in relation to supplemented pasture, regardless of supplementation. Animals fed on ES showed an intake of more nutrients than the animals on PS. The CP and TDN were also lower in P than in pastures where animals received the additional types of concentrate, and the PS animals showed greater digestibility of CP and TDN than the ES animals. However, the animals exhibited similar weight gains. Animals on P ingested smaller amounts of N and had lower fecal excretion compared to the supplemented animals, but there was no difference between treatments in nitrogen balance. Urea nitrogen and urea from the blood were higher in the supplemented animals than in animals fed on pasture; these levels were also higher in PS animals compared to animals receiving ES. Both the purines absorbed and microbial protein production were similar between treatments. However, the animals fed with concentrate supplementation, independent of the strategy involved, showed higher microbial efficiency compared to animals fed exclusively on pasture.

This investigation was undertaken to assess the population of indigenous (Bareilly local) pigs for meat quality genes (RYR1, PRKAG3, HFABP, MYF-5, and MC4R). The results showed that indigenous pigs were monomorphic at RYR1locus (100% NN genotype), HFABP locus (100% HH genotype), and MYF-5 locus (100% DD genotype). Homozygote RR and heterozygote QR genotypes were observed at PRKAG3 (c.599 GA) SNP locus with 89 and 11% frequency. The frequency of wild (R) and mutant (Q) allele at the said locus was 95 and 5%. The MC4R SNP had three genotypes; homozygote AA with 5% frequency, heterozygote AG with 53% frequency, and homozygote GG with 42% frequency. Corresponding frequency of A and G allele was 32 and 68%, respectively. Monomorphic status at RYR1locus for NN genotype, HFABP locus for HH genotype, and MYF-5 locus for DD genotype indicated that favorable genes for quality pork production have been fixed in the population. The higher frequency of RR genotype (89%) at PRKAG3 and GG genotype (42%) at MC4R locus further explained the existence of favorable genotypes in indigenous pigs.

Twenty nine Pelibuey × Katahdin hair ewes rearing single lamb were used during 42 days of lactation to evaluate the effect of including the Mucuna pruriens whole pods in the diets of lactating ewes on milk production and offspring performance. Animals were distributed at random into three experimental diets: a control diet without Mucuna (M0), and two more diets with the inclusion of 13 (M13) and 26% (M26), of milled pods of Mucuna pruriens, respectively. Dry matter intake, was not significantly different (P > 0.05) among diets. Milk yield (P > 0.05) was 734, 786, and 694 g/day for diets M0, M13, and M26, respectively. Milk fat (P > 0.05), milk protein (P > 0.05), and milk lactose (P > 0.05) did not differ between treatments. Lambs had similar daily weight gain (P > 0.05) among diets (180, 174, and 171 g/day for diets M0, M13, and M26, respectively). Diets with Mucuna whole pods were 5.6 and 12.9% more profitable (M13 and M26, respectively) than control diet. Under the conditions of this work, Mucuna pruriens whole pods can be included up to 26% in the diets of lactating crossbred hair ewes without negatively affecting their productive performance during the first 6 weeks of lactation.

This study aimed to determine fatty acid (FA) composition of Longissimus dorsi (LD) and Biceps femoris (BF) muscles of an Iranian indigenous goat (Lori goat) at two live weights at slaughter (LWS). Twenty male Lori goats (5 to 8 months) raised in nomadic system were slaughtered either at LWS less than 20 kg (light) or LWS more than 30 kg (heavy). Carcass dressing and FA composition of intramuscular fat of LD and BF muscles as well as cholesterol content of LD muscle were determined. Heavy goats had higher dressing percentage than light ones (42.7vs.39.3%, P

A study was conducted to investigate the presence of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in the slaughter facilities in 10 regions of Tanzania that reported pathological lesions suggestive of CBPP during meat inspection. The aim was to ascertain if slaughter facilities can be used to monitor the occurrence and spread of CBPP in the country. The study involved a questionnaire survey, clinical examination of animals for CBPP symptoms prior to slaughter and postmortem examination of the respiratory system in slaughtered cattle. A total of 12 slaughterhouses and 31 animal markets were involved in the study. A total of 2736 cattle were slaughtered comprising 1978 and 758 in slaughterhouses and animal markets, respectively. Of the total slaughtered stock, 351 of 2736 (12.8 %) had lesions suggestive of CBPP and of these, 236 (8.6 %) were from slaughterhouses and 115 (4.2 %) from animal markets. Acute CBPP cases were observed in 192 of the 236 (81.4 %) and 71 of the 115 (61.7 %) of the animals inspected in the slaughterhouses and markets, respectively. Chronic cases were encountered in 24 (10.2 %) of the animals slaughtered in the slaughterhouses and 19 (16.5 %) at animal markets. This work has confirmed that targeted monitoring for CBPP lesions through meat inspection can be a useful tool for CBPP surveillance in endemic countries like Tanzania.

Prevalence of Coenurus cerebralis prevalence was assessed in sheep and goats at three slaughter slabs in Ngorongoro district, Tanzania. Predisposing factors were also determined by using a structured questionnaire. Between January 2013 and April 2013, a total of 180 heads (90 sheep and 90 goats) were collected and examined for the presences of C. cerebralis cysts. Out of 180 heads examined, 80 were found to be infected with C. cerebralis. Lack of knowledge in the community on how coenurosis occurs, free access of dogs to the carcasses/offal of small ruminants and inadequate animal health services for dogs especially worm control were major factors which contribute to persistence of coenurosis. This study, in Ngorongoro district, reports for the first time the occurrence and prevalence of coenurosis in slaughtered sheep and goats due to Taenia multiceps metacestode (C. cerebralis). It is recommended that more studies are undertaken in order to pave the way for developing preliminary coenurosis control guidelines and for sign posting the direction for future research.