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Simple Summary: Practical and ethical problems arise in farms specializing in female-derived products (milk, eggs), as the evaluation of surplus male offspring is limited. Defining the carcass quality of male kids born from dairy goats, especially the Saanen breed, and knowing the factors affecting carcass yield is essential in improving carcass quality and increasing productivity. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the molecular basis of phenotypic diversity observed in terms of growth, carcass yield, and carcass characteristics in Saanen kids. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the expression levels of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) gene family members (Myogenic Factor 5, Myogenic Factor 6, Myoblast Determination Factor, and Myogenin) and growth and carcass characteristics in Saanen male kids with varying slaughter weights. The current results showed that changes in the expression levels of MRF gene family members may have significant and mixed effects on body weight and carcass characteristics of Saanen male kids raised and fattened under the same conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between the MRF gene family members and slaughter characteristics in Saanen kids with varying slaughter weights. Twenty male kids of the Turkish Saanen breed were individually fattened for 60 days after weaning under an intensive management system. The kids were divided into two groups: low slaughter weight (L; n = 11; ≤29 kg) and high slaughter weight (H; n = 13; >29) at the end of the fattening. After slaughter, muscle samples from Longissimus-dorsi (LD) and Semitendinosus (ST) muscles were obtained. Carcass characteristics were higher in H than in L kids (p < 0.05). Myogenic Factor 5 gene expression level in the LD muscle of H kids was higher (p < 0.05) than that of L kids. A similar trend was observed regarding Myogenic Factor 6 and Myoblast Determination Factor gene expression levels in the LD muscle (p < 0.05). Also, the Myogenin gene expression level of H kids was higher than that of L kids in both muscles (p < 0.05). There were positive correlations among the slaughter weight, carcass characteristics, and some MRF gene expression levels in both muscles (p < 0.05) that the higher gene expression increases the weight and affects the carcass characteristics. The study results suggest that the difference in slaughter weight at the end of fattening in Saanen kids may be due to the expression level of myogenic regulatory factor (MRF) genes. Fattening performance and MRF genes may have a positive correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, conducted between February 2016 and October 2017 on the coast of Erdek in the Marmara Sea, established two longline systems (buoy and pipe). Monthly growth rates of juvenile mussels placed in polyethylene and polyamide nets within these systems were monitored. The monthly chemical composition and meat yield of mussels that reached harvest size were analyzed in both systems. Environmental parameters were measured monthly to assess environmental conditions. The highest meat yield of harvested mussels was recorded in January, with values of 36.99 ± 0.72% for mussels cultured in the pipe system and 31.43 ± 1.82% for those cultured in the buoy system. The highest growth in mussels was achieved in the group cultured in the pipe system within polyamide nets. The December sample showed the highest moisture content of 83.98% and the highest ash content of 2.34%. The highest crude fat content was found in the September sample. The June sample had the highest protein content. The Black Sea, Sea of Marmara, and Aegean Sea offer suitable areas for mussel cultivation. Currently, mussel farming is conducted in these areas, producing tens of thousands of tons annually. This publication contributes to the expansion of the production process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the length of eating and rumination time in young fattening bulls of different ages and also to evaluate the relationship of these parameters to the meat yield of these bulls. Monitoring was carried out on Czech Fleckvieh-Simmental bull breed. In the case of bulls, the length of eating time increases statistically from 117.62 minutes per day at 2 months of age to 314.93 minutes per day and also the length of rumination from 308.56 minutes to 515.88 minutes per day. The rumination time had an apperently positive effect on the classification of bulls according to carcass classification (SEUROP, P < 0.05) when bulls classified in the fleshiness class U achieved a longer rumination time during monitoring (439.48 minutes) compared to bulls who were classified in the fleshiness class R (419.43 minutes). In the case of eating time, there was an opposite trend, when bulls with a shorter eating time (212.10 minutes) were included in class U compared to class R (241.31 minutes), (P < 0.05). There is a positive relationship between the length of rumination and the net weight gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Due to rising feed ingredient costs and the shift toward more sustainable agricultural practices, alternative feed sources and by-products are becoming increasingly important. Citric acid by-products from rice (CABR) show potential as a nutritious feed option that supports chicken production. This study compared the growth performance, carcass yield, and meat quality of broilers fed CABR-based diets with those on traditional feeds. The findings indicate that incorporating 3–6% CABR into broiler diets can deliver comparable results to conventional diets without compromising carcass quality. By adopting CABR, poultry farmers can reduce their reliance on standard feed ingredients, support a more sustainable food system, and better manage feed price volatility. This research aimed to enhance the diet of Thai broiler chickens (KKU 1) by assessing the impact of CABR on growth performance, carcass yield, and meat composition. A total of 320 one-day-old mixed-sex (1:1) Thai KKU 1 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments incorporating CABR at levels of 0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%. The chicks were fed for a period of 56 days, divided into three phases: 1–21, 22–49, and 50–56 days. In the grower phase, birds receiving 3% and 6% CABR displayed the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to other groups, while their body weight (BW) and BW gain (BWG) were significantly higher than those of other treatments (p < 0.05). In the finisher phase, performance differences were minimal, except for birds on the 3% CABR diet, which had greater BW than those on 9% or 12% CABR diets. Overall, throughout all phases, the inclusion of 3% CABR resulted in improved BWG and FCR compared to other groups across the study period (p < 0.05). Additionally, the 12% CABR treatment reduced dressing percentage compared to other groups, but it did not negatively impact the relative organ weights of the carcass or the quality of breast meat. Incorporating 3% and 12% CABR resulted in the highest values recorded for gross energy and ether extract in breast meat (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the gross energy of thigh meat increased with 3% to 12% CABR inclusion, peaking at the 6% CABR treatment (p < 0.05). This study found that adding 3% or 6% CABR to the diet of Thai broiler chickens improves their growth without negatively impacting meat or carcass quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the monthly population parameters of Pontastacus leptodactylus in Lake Yeniçağa, including sex, length, and weight compositions, length-weight relationship, fecundity, morphometry, meat yield, and crayfish plague ratio. For this purpose, 641 crayfish were collected using fyke nets with a 34 mm mesh size. The females carrying eggs were observed between February and May. The female specimens carried between 103 and 841 eggs each, with a diameter ranging from 2.03 to 2.82 mm. The research revealed a size range of 80–168 mm and weight range of 15–133 g for crayfish specimens. As a result of regression analyses, the length-weight relationship was calculated as W = 0.0392L2.9148 for males and W = 0.0701L2.6139 for females. The population exhibited negative allometric growth based on the length and weight data. The evaluation of meat yield was based on the total meat yield, which comprises cheliped meat yield and abdomen meat yield. The study found that 14.35% of the P. leptodactylus population in Yeniçağa Lake was affected by crayfish disease. The results indicate that the P. leptodactylus population in Lake Yeniçağa has an overall healthy population structure, with a size suitable for fishing, and should be considered from an economic standpoint.

ABSTRACT The red rock crab, Cancer productus, is primarily harvested by a recreational fishery, with a small commercial harvest in California. Although relatively large, meat yields are low because the legs are small, and meat is largely confined to the claws. We investigated the potential for a claw‐only harvest for this species. Although hand removal is used in the stone crab fishery, it caused > 90% post‐harvest mortality in red rock crabs. Inducing autotomy by inserting a spike into the arthrodial membranes or by cutting into the autotomy plane resulted in a high post‐harvest survival. We recommend a minimum harvest size of 35 mm claw height to produce a claw size similar to medium‐sized stone crabs and standard‐sized brown and Jonah crabs and to ensure that severed claws are unlikely to have come from female crabs, which is important for regions that mandate a male‐only harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects of different forage sources on the ruminal bacteriome, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers during the fattening stage. In Korea, where high-concentrate feeding is common, selecting suitable forage is crucial for sustainable beef production. Fifteen 23-month-old Hanwoo steers, weighing an average of 679.27 ± 43.60 kg, were fed the following five different forage sources: oat hay (OAT), rye silage (RYE), Italian ryegrass (IRS), barley forage (BAR), and rice straw silage (RSS), alongside 1.5 kg of dry matter concentrate daily for five months. Carcass traits were evaluated post-slaughter, and rumen fluid samples were analyzed using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing to determine the bacteriome composition. The forage source significantly affected the alpha-diversity indices and bacteriome biomarkers linked to the feed efficiency and ruminal fermentation. Differences in the backfat thickness and meat yield index were noted, with alpha-diversity indices correlating with carcass traits. The phylum Planctomycetota, especially the family Thermoguttaceae, was linked to nitrogen fixation in high-protein diets like IRS, while the genus Limimorpha emerged as a biomarker for the meat yield. These findings highlight the importance of forage selection during late fattening to optimize beef production, considering diet and bacteriome shifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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IntroductionIn Northeast China, Dorper and Australian White rams are commonly crossbred with small-tailed Han (STH) ewes to improve the offspring's meat yield and quality. However, the differences in traits and the flavor between the crossbred sheep and STH sheep remain unclear. In addition, the candidate genes potentially influencing the meat quality in the three sheep breeds require further verification.MethodsA total of 18 2-month-old healthy rams were raised over a period of 5 months, which included 6 STH, 6 Dorper and small-tailed Han crossbred (Do × STH), and 6 Australian white and small-tailed Han crossbred (Au × STH) offspring. The differences in slaughter, meat quality traits, fatty acid and amino acid composition in the muscular longissimus dorsi (MLD), and volatile compounds in the semitendinosus muscle were compared between the sheep breeds. The candidate genes related to intramuscular fat (IMF) content and fatty acids were validated.ResultsThe results of this study revealed that the crossbred sheep had higher body weight, carcass weight, bone weight, net meat weight, and IMF content than the STH sheep (p < 0.05). The Do × STH offspring had a higher pH value (24 h), moisture content, and cooking percentage; they also had redder and brighter meat color. The content of myristate, palmitic, and margaric acids in the crossbred sheep was higher than that in the STH sheep (p < 0.05). The Do × STH offspring had the highest saturated fatty acid content (p < 0.05). The Au × STH offspring had the highest protein content (p < 0.05). The arachidonic acid and amino acid (Asp, Ala, Ile, Leu, Lys, Thr, and essential amino acid) contents were higher in the STH sheep than in the crossbred sheep (p < 0.05). The odor activity value (OAV) analysis showed that most of the aldehydes in the Au × STH offspring had higher values. The PDK4 gene expression was positively associated with the IMF content and was negatively correlated with the linoleic acid content in the Do × STH sheep (p < 0.05). The TMEM273 gene expression was positively associated with linoleic and arachidonic acid contents and was negatively correlated with oleic and palmitic acid contents in the Do × STH sheep (p < 0.05).DiscussionThe results showed the differences between the crossbred sheep and STH sheep and provided the candidate genes related to meat quality in sheep.

Introduction: Investigating the genetic markers and genomic signatures related to chicken meat production by combing multi-omics methods could provide new insights into modern chicken breeding technology systems. Object: Chicken is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly livestock, especially the fast-growing white-feathered chicken (broiler), which is well known for high meat yield, but the underlying genetic basis is poorly understood. Method: We generated whole-genome resequencing of three purebred broilers (n = 748) and six local breeds/lines (n = 114), and sequencing data of twelve chicken breeds (n = 199) were obtained from the NCBI database. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing of six tissues from two chicken breeds (n = 129) at two developmental stages was performed. A genome-wide association study combined with cis-eQTL mapping and the Mendelian randomization was applied. Result: We identified > 17 million high-quality SNPs, of which 21.74% were newly identified, based on 21 chicken breeds/lines. A total of 163 protein-coding genes underwent positive selection in purebred broilers, and 83 genes were differentially expressed between purebred broilers and local chickens. Notably, muscle development was proven to be the major difference between purebred broilers and local chickens, or ancestors, based on genomic and transcriptomic evidence from multiple tissues and stages. The MYH1 gene family showed the top selection signatures and muscle-specific expression in purebred broilers. Furthermore, we found that the causal gene SOX6 influenced breast muscle yield and also related to myopathy occurrences. A refined haplotype was provided, which had a significant effect on SOX6 expression and phenotypic changes. Conclusion: Our study provides a comprehensive atlas comprising the typical genomic variants and transcriptional characteristics for muscle development and suggests a new regulatory target (SOX6–MYH1s axis) for breast muscle yield and myopathy, which could aid in the development of genome-scale selective breeding aimed at high meat yield in broiler chickens.

This study was conducted to determine the meat yield, morphometric characteristics, length– weight relationships (LWRs) and their correlations with environmental variables of five commercial bivalve species collected monthly between 2014 and 2015 from the coastal waters of the Çanakkale Strait. A total of 8588 individuals were examined, and different ranges for both shell length (9.00- 108.50 mm) and total weight (0.30-234.20 g) were determined according to species. The highest meat yields from Donax trunculus (16.40-23.34%), Mytilus galloprovincialis (14.89-34.35%) and Ostrea edulis (5.91-26.24%) were determined in spring, while Ruditapes philippinarum (10.80- 29.53%) and Chamelea gallina (12.26-18.92%) had maximum yield in late summer and early autumn (p

This study examined the effects of different forage sources on the ruminal bacteriome, growth performance, and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers during the fattening stage. In Korea, where high-concentrate feeding is common, selecting suitable forage is crucial for sustainable beef production. Fifteen 23-month-old Hanwoo steers, weighing an average of 679.27 ± 43.60 kg, were fed the following five different forage sources: oat hay (OAT), rye silage (RYE), Italian ryegrass (IRS), barley forage (BAR), and rice straw silage (RSS), alongside 1.5 kg of dry matter concentrate daily for five months. Carcass traits were evaluated post-slaughter, and rumen fluid samples were analyzed using full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing to determine the bacteriome composition. The forage source significantly affected the alpha-diversity indices and bacteriome biomarkers linked to the feed efficiency and ruminal fermentation. Differences in the backfat thickness and meat yield index were noted, with alpha-diversity indices correlating with carcass traits. The phylum Planctomycetota, especially the family Thermoguttaceae, was linked to nitrogen fixation in high-protein diets like IRS, while the genus Limimorpha emerged as a biomarker for the meat yield. These findings highlight the importance of forage selection during late fattening to optimize beef production, considering diet and bacteriome shifts.

ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study was to explore the impact of dietary supplementation with a postbiotic derived from Bacillus subtilis ACCC 11025 on growth performance, meat yield, meat quality, excreta bacterial populations, and excreta ammonia emissions of broiler chicks. A total of 480 day-old Arbor Acre broiler chicks, initially weighing 52.83 ± 1.38 g, were randomly allocated into 4 distinct groups. Each group was housed in 6 separate cages, each containing 20 birds. The experimental phase spanned 42 d, divided into 2 periods (d 1–21 and d 22–42). Dietary interventions were based on a basal diet, with postbiotic supplementation at levels of 0.000, 0.015, 0.030, or 0.045%. Our findings indicate that dietary supplementation with postbiotic had a positive influence on body weight gain (BWG) and feed efficiency. The most substantial improvements in BWG and feed efficiency were observed in the group of broiler chicks fed a diet containing 0.015% postbiotic. Furthermore, the inclusion of postbiotic in the diet led to an increase in the yield of breast and leg muscles, with a significant difference in meat yields observed between the control group and the group receiving 0.015% postbiotic supplementation. It's noteworthy that dietary manipulation did not exert any discernible impact on the quality of breast and leg muscle samples. Concurrently, we observed an elevation in serum albumin and total protein contents corresponding to the increasing postbiotic dosage in the diet. Additionally, dietary supplementation with postbiotic effectively controlled the emission of ammonia from excreta and reduced the abundance of Salmonella in excreta while enhancing the presence of Lactobacillus bacteria. The group receiving 0.015% postbiotic supplementation displayed the lowest levels of ammonia emission and the highest counts of Lactobacillus bacteria in excreta. In light of these results, we conclude that dietary supplementation with 0.015% postbiotic represents an efficacious strategy for increasing BWG and meat yield of broiler chicks by enhancing feed efficiency as well as mitigating ammonia emissions from excreta by modulating the composition of excreta bacterial communities.

[Display omitted] • The genomes of modern purebred broilers carried fewer deleterious mutations compared to local chickens and wild ancestors. • 163 protein-coding genes were selected positively in purebred broilers during long term selection. • The MYH1 gene family harbored the top significant selective sweep windows and displays muscle-specific expression in purebred broilers. • SOX6 gene provided key regulatory function to breast muscle traits and adaptation to artificial selection. • A haplotype within SOX6 appeared differential pattern in gene expression, breast muscle traits, and haplotype frequency. Investigating the genetic markers and genomic signatures related to chicken meat production by combing multi-omics methods could provide new insights into modern chicken breeding technology systems. Chicken is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly livestock, especially the fast-growing white-feathered chicken (broiler), which is well known for high meat yield, but the underlying genetic basis is poorly understood. We generated whole-genome resequencing of three purebred broilers (n = 748) and six local breeds/lines (n = 114), and sequencing data of twelve chicken breeds (n = 199) were obtained from the NCBI database. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing of six tissues from two chicken breeds (n = 129) at two developmental stages was performed. A genome-wide association study combined with cis -eQTL mapping and the Mendelian randomization was applied. We identified > 17 million high-quality SNPs, of which 21.74% were newly identified, based on 21 chicken breeds/lines. A total of 163 protein-coding genes underwent positive selection in purebred broilers, and 83 genes were differentially expressed between purebred broilers and local chickens. Notably, muscle development was proven to be the major difference between purebred broilers and local chickens, or ancestors, based on genomic and transcriptomic evidence from multiple tissues and stages. The MYH1 gene family showed the top selection signatures and muscle-specific expression in purebred broilers. Furthermore, we found that the causal gene SOX6 influenced breast muscle yield and also related to myopathy occurrences. A refined haplotype was provided, which had a significant effect on SOX6 expression and phenotypic changes. Our study provides a comprehensive atlas comprising the typical genomic variants and transcriptional characteristics for muscle development and suggests a new regulatory target (SOX6 – MYH1s axis) for breast muscle yield and myopathy, which could aid in the development of genome-scale selective breeding aimed at high meat yield in broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to determine the meat yield, morphometric characteristics, length-weight relationships (LWRs) and their correlations with environmental variables of five commercial bivalve species collected monthly between 2014 and 2015 from the coastal waters of the Çanakkale Strait. A total of 8588 individuals were examined, and different ranges for both shell length (9.00-108.50 mm) and total weight (0.30-234.20 g) were determined according to species. The highest meat yields from Donax trunculus (16.40-23.34%), Mytilus galloprovincialis (14.89-34.35%) and Ostrea edulis (5.91-26.24%) were determined in spring, while Ruditapes philippinarum (10.80-29.53%) and Chamelea gallina (12.26-18.92%) had maximum yield in late summer and early autumn (p<0.05). Elongation index (SH/SL), compactness index (SW/SL), convexity index (SW/SH), and density indexes (TW/SL) were significant (p<0.05) and had high correlation coefficients (r=0.806-0.975). The mean value of the allometry coefficient (b) was 3.257±0.168, ranging from 2.291 to 4.058. Four species had negative allometries, namely D. trunculus (2.738), C. gallina (2.889), M. galloprovincialis (2.597) and O. edulis (2.728), while R. philippinarum (3.137) displayed positive allometry. The morphometric indices show high morphological resemblances. As a result, it is thought that the data obtained in this study can both provide data in the fields of biology and ecology for current scientific studies on these species, and can be used as a resource for the sustainable production of these commercial species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bibliometric analysis is commonly used to guide decisions regarding research funding and the creation of research policies and provides scientists with helpful information about research trends, patterns, and impact. Thus, researchers can track collaborators in this subject and find prospective scientific alliances. Additionally, researchers can develop new research themes by constantly monitoring the most recent trend study topics in this area. Therefore, we performed a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 4085 documents scanned in the Web of Science (WoS) database on some major effect genes associated with meat yield traits in livestock between 1981 and 2023. The analysis shows that interest in this topic has recently grown. The fact that numerous scholars participated in the investigations, which major research groups conducted, demonstrates the growth of this field's collaborative working culture. The publication of studies in this field in high-impact journals such as Meat Science, Journal of Animal Science, and Animal Genetics reveals the scientific impact of this field. Keywords used in studies in this field are generally related to investigating the genetic factors affecting livestock's growth, muscle development, and meat quality characteristics. In country-based studies, China and the United States have the most studies in this field. The citation records of articles reveal the significant impact of this field in literature. The scientific community has recently been particularly interested in investigating some major effect genes associated with meat yield traits in livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the meat yield of bogue (Boops boops) and some quality properties of the obtained fish balls. In this context, meat yield pH, total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), total psychrophilic aerobic bacteria (TPAB), and sensory analyses were performed. The meat yield of bogue used for producing fish balls was determined as 48.10±1.12 %. Fish ball samples were determined with pH values of 6.15±0.03 - 6.64±0.12, TMAB count is 5.23±0.04 - 9.05±0.04 log cfu/g and TPAB count is 4.67±0.01 - 9.04±0.01 log cfu/g during storage (4±1 ²C). As a result of the sensory evaluation of the panelists, it was determined that fish balls obtained from the bogue were liked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Length-weight relationships of three freshwater mussel species (Hyriidae), Eastern Amazon: the length-weight relationships allow important biological estimates for the fisheries management of species. Through this relationship, it is possible to estimate the weight of the individuals by their lengths, from which the biomass of the studied population can be determined. In addition, it gathers important data to assess the ecological patterns of different populations. The aim of this study was to analyze the length-weight relationships and their respective meat yields of three species of freshwater mussels: Castalia ambigua, Triplodon corrugatus and Paxyodon syrmatophorus from Capim River Bay, Pará, Brazil. For this, the total length, visceral weight, and total weight of 1,057 individuals were determined. All three relationships were considered strong, with determination coefficients greater than 0.9. The species C. ambigua showed negative allometric growth, while the other species P. syrmatophorus and T. corrugatus showed isometric growth. The species with the highest meat yield was P. syrmatophorus with 14.8%. The study presents the first parameter record of weight-length relationships for these three freshwater mussel species.

Objective For decades, LYD ([Landrace×Yorkshire] ♀×Duroc ♂) pigs are the most commonly-used commercial breed for meat production in Korea. Recently, due to the increasing demand for premium pork, the National Institute of Animal Science (Korea) has synthesized a novel pig breed named Woori Heukdon (WHD). This study aimed at comparing the carcass traits, meat yield and quality characteristics between the LYD and WHD pigs under identical rearing condition. Methods The WHD and LYD pigs (n = 15 each) were reared under identical conditions and fed the same commercial diet until reaching recommended market weight (100 to 120 kg). After slaughter, the carcasses were evaluated for traits and meat yield, and the meat quality was assessed on shoulder butt and belly cuts. Results Although no significant differences (p>0.05) occurred in slaughter weight between two pig types, WHD had a lower meat yield (by about 6 kg corresponding to approximately 7%) compared to the LYD pigs (p

Between January and December 2019, banded carpet shell (Polititapes rhomboides, Pennant 1777) were gathered from Çardak Lagoon (Çanakkale Strait). The length value was found to range from 32.92 to 36.37 mm, weight between 7.90 and 11.75 g, condition index from 4.44 to 8.70, and meat yield was found to be ranging from 11.95% to 24.95%. Negative allometry was determined in the W/L relationship of P. rhomboides. The main meat component of P. rhomboides was moisture (54.70-65.57%) and protein (52.89-62.10%) with the other components being carbohydrate (10.95-21.30%), lipid (12.79-17.18%) and ash (7.69-19.93%). The correlation between moisture and carbohydrate was positive, whereas the correlation between moisture and protein was negative (p<0.05). The present study not only informs us on composition but also recommends consumption of the species since it is easier to market and consume. Arginine amino acid was found to be the highest in quantity, which was followed by glutamic acid, serine, methionine, alanine, and aspartic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The buffalo should not only be recognized for its good production of milk and dairy products. They should also be appreciated for converting forage into quality meat and their use as a work animal. To evaluate the potential of the buffalo as a meat-producing animal, 181 Murrah buffaloes weaned between 9 and 9.5 months of age with an average of 188 ± 10 kg (minimum 175, maximum 198) and a coefficient of variation (CV) of 5.32% were evaluated. From birth to weaning, they were fed under the Voisin grazing (Vg) modality with a single milking (from their mothers) receiving the milk produced from the right anterior teat until four months of age, and later, they only received the draining of the udder of the buffalo once the milking was concluded. After weaning, their feeding was at Vg without the supply of concentrated feed and ad libitum mineral supplement. They were weighed with 18 hours of fasting every 14 days during the 15.5 months of fattening. The weighing was performed with a digital scale without decimals and calibrated every ten weighings. PROC MEANS was used to calculate descriptive statistics, and a correlation analysis was performed between weaning weight and slaughter weight using the statistical package SAS version 9.1. The average gain was 285 ± 14.3 kg and CV 5.02% (weaning to slaughter). The total fattening and fattening period was 15.5 months (472 days); the average slaughter weight was 473 ± 17.5 kg and CV of 3.69% (minimum 450, maximum 496 kg) at 25 months of age. The average gain/day was 0.604 ± 0.048 g/day, with a CV of 7.94%. Weight loss from farm to slaughter was 10.62 ± 0.65 kg with a CV of 6.12%. The average weight of the hot carcass (HC) was 240.86 ± 6.77 kg with a CV of 2.82%. The yield in HC was 50.92% (minimum 49.96 and maximum 52.33%). Out of the 181 buffaloes, 12 were selected with an average slaughter weight of 460 kg, and the body weight distribution was evaluated: head: 17.38 kg; blood: 11.8 kg; skin: 46.68 kg; tail and ears: 3.72 kg; feet: 8.41 kg; meat: 182.15 kg; red and white bone: 73.29; white viscera: 30.26; red viscera: 21.79; fat: 24.30 and gastrointestinal contents: 40.22 kg. This group of buffaloes averaged 236.90 kg in HC with a 51.5% yield. No correlation was observed between weaning weight and slaughter weight. It can be concluded that the buffalo has an excellent meat yield, 39.59% of meat concerning live weight.

The present study investigated the length-weight relationships and meat yield of narrow-clawed crayfish, Pontastacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823), in Kocahidir Irrigation Reservoir. Between July 2015 and June 2016, a total of 653 individuals (255 females and 398 males) were sampled, and their carapace lengths (CL), total lengths (TL), and total weights (TW) were measured. The female-to-male ratio for the entire population was found to be 0.64:1.00. The results showed that the CL of the narrow-clawed crayfish ranged between 37 and 90 mm (39-79 mm for females and 37-90 mm for males), while the TW ranged from 10.10 to 165.61 g (11.13-90.01 g for females and 10.16-165.61 g for males). The TL of female individuals was 114.09 mm, with a weight of 40.43 g, while the TL of male individuals was 116.32 mm, with a weight of 53.45 g. The ratio of individuals above the minimum legal-size limit of 100 mm was determined to be 80.70% for the crayfish population in Kocahidir Irrigation Reservoir. Regression analysis indicated that the TL-TW and CL-TW relationships for female narrow-clawed crayfish exhibited negative allometric growth, while males showed positive allometric growth in terms of the TL-TW relationship and isometric growth in terms of the CL-TW relationship. Isometric growth was observed in the whole population for both male and female individuals in terms of TL-TW and CL-TW characteristics. Female individuals with carapace lengths ranging from 43-82 mm had a chelae meat yield of 2.48%, an abdomen meat yield of 11.38%, and a total meat yield of 13.85%. Male narrow-clawed crayfish with carapace lengths ranging from 35 to 90 mm had a chelae shear meat yield of 4.13%, an abdomen meat yield of 10.52%, and a total meat yield of 14.64%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: For decades, LYD ([Landrace×Yorkshire] ♀×Duroc ♂) pigs are the most commonlyused commercial breed for meat production in Korea. Recently, due to the increasing demand for premium pork, the National Institute of Animal Science (Korea) has synthesized a novel pig breed named Woori Heukdon (WHD). This study aimed at comparing the carcass traits, meat yield and quality characteristics between the LYD and WHD pigs under identical rearing condition. Methods: The WHD and LYD pigs (n = 15 each) were reared under identical conditions and fed the same commercial diet until reaching recommended market weight (100 to 120 kg). After slaughter, the carcasses were evaluated for traits and meat yield, and the meat quality was assessed on shoulder butt and belly cuts. Results: Although no significant differences (p>0.05) occurred in slaughter weight between two pig types, WHD had a lower meat yield (by about 6 kg corresponding to approximately 7%) compared to the LYD pigs (p<0.05). The WHD had a higher fat content (by 4.26% and 13.52% in the shoulder butt and belly, respectively) compared to those of LYD pigs (p<0.05). The WHD meat showed a lower cooking loss and higher a* (redness) value (p<0.05). The WHD belly had a significantly (p<0.05) higher oleic acid content and concentrations of nonanal, octanal and decanal associated with fatty odor while, the LYD meat had a higher number of pyrazines associated with roasty odor. Regarding sensory quality, higher flavor, juiciness, and acceptability higher scores were given for the WHD meat than for the LYD meat (p<0.05). Conclusion: Under identical rearing conditions the WHD exhibited a better meat quality and sensory properties. However, the use of this diet resulted in a high fat level that may be associated with high trimming loss for the WHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Due to the harmful effects resulting from the addition of antibiotics to treat diseases affecting poultry and their use as growth promoter, it was necessary to have safe alternatives such as organic acids and probiotics, which work to provide an appropriate pH for activity of beneficial bacteria and reducing the numbers of harmful pathogenic bacteria. Objective. To assess the effects of dietary supplementation of probiotics, with or without organic acids (acetic, propionic, and benzoic) on growth performance, carcass quality, digestibility, intestinal development, gut microbiota, and serum parameters of broiler chicks. Methodology. A total number of 250 one-day old, unsexed Ross (308) broiler chicks, were equally assigned to five feeding treatments (50 birds/treatment, five replicates of ten birds/treatment) as follows: T1 (control); fed a basal diet (BD), T2; fed BD + 2g commercial probiotics (PRO)/kg diet, T3: fed BD + 2g PRO/ kg diet + 10 ml acetic acid/kg diet, T4: fed BD + 2g PRO/kg diet + 10 ml propionic acid/ kg diet, and T5: fed BD + 2g PRO/ kg diet + 10 ml benzoic acid / kg diet. The trial prolonged from day 1 to day 42 of age. Results. Compared to the control, the results revealed that body weight and body weight gain were significantly improved at 3 and 6 wks of age as a result of supplementing the diets with probiotics and organic acids (especially benzoic acid). The positive impacts of the supplements on FCR were more pronounced from 4-6 weeks and for the overall period (0-6 wks). No mortalities occurred when organic acids were supplemented. The tested supplements also decreased bacterial counts of ileal E. coli. Moreover, probiotics plus benzoic acid treatment (T5) significantly (P < 0.05) increased the ileal lactobacilli count. Carcass traits, internal organs and GIT histological parameters were positively affected by different treatments, especially probiotics plus benzoic acid treatment. The supplements improved ALT, AST and ALP activity and decreased cholesterol and triglycerides content in blood serum (P

In this study, morphometric measurement, meat yield, moisture, pH, protein, fat, fatty acids and ash content were determined in a total of 102 (15 female and 87 male) freshwater crab (Potamon persicum Pretzmann, 1962) caught from Aşağı and Yukarı Çay of Pertek, Tunceli. Meat yield in male and in female crabs were found to be as 12.75±0.38% and 10.93±0.32%, respectively. It has been observed that moisture and protein amounts were higher in female crabs than in male crabs. The amounts of fat were 0.96±0.31% in male crabs and 0.97±0.35% in female crabs. The amount of ash was 2.68±0.04% in male crabs and 2.66±0.03% in female crabs. It was determined that the content of monounsaturated fatty acids (female:male 33.56%:37.44%) in female and male crabs were higher than polyunsaturated (female:male 24.19%:21.62%) and saturated fatty acid (female:male 28.11%:32.85%) content. The highest fatty acid was found to be as omega-9, in terms of omega-3 (male crabs 8.54%, female crabs 14.85%), omega-6 (male crabs 10.04%, female crabs 5.46%) and omega-9 fatty acids (male crabs 23.65%, female crabs 19.14%) in freshwater crab (Potamon persicum Pretzmann, 1962) meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat yield and quality are important economic traits of livestock. Herein, longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles of Leizhou black goats aged 0, 3, and 6 months were used to identify differentially expressed messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) by high-throughput RNA sequencing. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were used to analyze differentially expressed genes. Expression levels of regulator of calcineurin 1 (RCAN1) and olfactory receptor 2AP1 (OR2AP1) were significantly different in LD muscles of goats aged 0, 3, and 6 months, indicating potentially important roles in postnatal muscle development. Differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs were mainly enriched in biological processes and pathways related to cellular energy metabolism, consistent with previous studies. Three lncRNAs, TCONS_00074191, TCONS_00074190, and TCONS_00078361, may play a cis-acting role with methyltransferase-like 11B (METTL11B) genes and participate in the methylation of goat muscle proteins. Some of the identified genes may provide valuable resources for future studies on postnatal meat development in goat muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in the growth and development of skeletal muscle. However, there is limited information on goats. In this study, expression profiles of lncRNAs in Longissimus dorsi muscle from Liaoning cashmere (LC) goats and Ziwuling black (ZB) goats with divergent meat yield and meat quality were compared using RNA-sequencing. Based on our previous microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA profiles obtained from the same tissues, the target genes and binding miRNAs of differentially expressed lncRNAs were obtained. Subsequently, lncRNA-mRNA interaction networks and a ceRNA network of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA were constructed. A total of 136 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified between the two breeds. Fifteen cis target genes and 143 trans target genes were found for differentially expressed lncRNAs, and they were enriched in muscle contraction, muscle system process, muscle cell differentiation, and p53 signaling pathway. A total of 69 lncRNA-trans target gene pairs were constructed, with close relationship with muscle development, intramuscular fat deposition, and meat tenderness. A total of 16 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA pairs were identified, of which some reportedly associated with skeletal muscle development and fat deposition were found. The study will provide an improved understanding of the roles of lncRNAs in caprine meat yield and meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective For improving meat quality especially tenderness, male cattle are usually castrated to removes both the testicles. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect castration method (half- and complete-castration) on meat yield and quality characteristics of Hanwoo male cattle. Methods Thirty-two similar age (5.9 months) Hanwoo male calves were divided into: half-castration (HC) and complete-castration (CC) groups (n = 16 per group). At 7 months of age, all the animals were castrated in which the HC calves had only one testicle surgically removed while, the CC calves had both testicles surgically removed. The castrated animals were reared under identical conditions until 25 months of age. After slaughter, the carcasses were evaluated for carcass traits and meat yield of primal cuts. For examination of the castration effect on meat quality, L. lumborum and semimembranosus muscles were used. The meat samples were analyzed for chemical composition, color, pH, shear force and water holding capacity, fatty acids, metabolites and volatile aroma compounds. Results The HC group showed higher meat yields of all primal cuts (p0.05). The meat from HC animals exhibited higher amount of free amino acids associated with sweetness (p< 0.05). Furthermore, the castration method only exhibited a negligible effect on metabolites and volatile aroma compounds in the cooked meat. Conclusion Half-castration emerged as an alternative practice to be used for increasing the yield and tenderness of male cattle meat.

The myostatin gene (MSTN) is one of the main regulatory genes involved in muscle growth and development in many animals. This study aims to determine the variations in the exon 3 region associated with MSTN expression in Savak Akkaraman sheep and analyze their relationship with growth characteristics. Molecular analyses (RLFP, Real-Time PCR and DNA sequencing) were performed using DNA and RNA isolations from 70 different sheep blood and meat samples. As a result of the study, exon 3 region analysis was performed using NgomIV, Alu I, Dra I, Hae III and Msp I restriction endonucleases to determine the genetic diversity in Savak Akkaraman sheep breed. Two genotypes (MM and Mm) were detected for MSTN/MspI and a monomorphic mm genotype indicating the conserved exon 3 region for MSTN/HaeIII. Additionally, four new Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected at different positions (164th, 204th, 347th, and 441th) in the working exon region. Two of these SNPs (204th T→G: isoleucine→ methionine and 347th C→A-G: proline→glutamine-arginine) caused amino acid changes. In expression studies, it was determined that MSTN gene expression was higher in female sheep than in male sheep (p<0.05). The MM genotype (MSTN/MspI) was significantly associated with increased weight gain and MSTN expression, while TT genotype at SNP 204 and GG genotype at SNP 347 was found to be associated with meat yield and growth traits (p<0.05). As a result, the genetic differences and functional effects of the new genotypes determined in this study may shed light on breeding strategies aiming to increase meat production. • The MM genotype in Savak Akkaraman sheep is linked to higher weight gain and MSTN expression. • Two novel SNPs in MSTN exon 3 (204th and 347th) affect meat yield and growth traits. • MSTN gene expression is significantly higher in female sheep than in males (p<0.05). • These genetic findings offer insights for improving meat production in Savak Akkaraman sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production performance and meat quality of the slow-growing hybrid Hubbard JA757 were monitored under conditions of diets differentiated by crude protein content. A total of 1200 as-hatched day-old chickens were equally and randomly allotted into two treatments (T-1 and T-2), with six replicates provided for each treatment (100 chickens/replicate). T-1 chickens received standard diets (according to Hubbard Company recommendations), and those in T-2 were fed diets supplemented with crude protein (+0.5% CP in the growing phase and +1.0% CP in the finishing phase). At the end of the investigations (age 56 days), the T-2 chickens performed better than the T-1 chickens for growth traits (+2.72% body weight; +2.77% daily growth gain; −0.34% mortality; and −4.15% feed conversion ratio); for slaughtering (+0.66% dressed yield; +1.10% breast weight; and +1.25% thigh weight); and for quality meat (+0.55% dry matter in thigh muscles and +1.52% dry matter in breast muscles) (p > 0.05). Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) occurred between treatments for body weight, daily weight gain, and feed conversion ratio due to the 0.5% CP feed supplementation during the 15–28 day age period, justifying the usefulness of the CP increasing throughout the grower diet only and not during the finishing period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to provide a hypothetical estimate of the number of domestic animals that a Bronze Age village in northern Italy may have supported over a given period. For this purpose, it was decided to analyse in detail a selected sample of faunal remains from two distinct areas of the village via Ordiere in Solarolo (RA), one purely for settlement and the other marginal to the village, both spanning the Middle Bronze Age 2. The short time span (restricted to about 100 years of the settlement’s occupation) was further divided into four sub-phases of 25 years each. The analysis of the sub-phases has provided not only an accurate term of observation for the faunal data useful to determinate the minimum number of individuals (MNI) killed for each species, but also the basis for projecting the data to the entire settlement. From the analysis conducted, diversified exploitation forms of the different domestic species (cows, sheep, goats, and pigs) have emerged, allowing to postulate the role and importance that the different domestic resources had in the local economy, both in terms of productivity and costs, and their impact on the management of the territory. The projections of data led, in fact, to obtain the number of animals supposedly living at the same time in the settlement, while a simulation allowed to theorise the carrying capacity of the territory based on its extension and intended uses. Therefore, a methodological approach has been proposed to provide valuable data for the reconstruction of the population (animal and human) and to guide future methods for collecting and analysing the archaeological material during the excavation and the study phase. The contribution concludes by providing estimates of the presence of domestic animals useful for demographic reconstruction based on human food consumption.

The study of the production traits of 22 genotypes of fattening pigs was carried out on two pig farms (Farm A and Farm B) in Central Serbia, under the influence of the following factors: farm, genotype and sex of fattening pigs, and pre-slaughter weight. The characteristics of fattening animals included in the research are: warm carcass side growth (WCSG); bacon thickness - rump (FTR); bacon thickness - back (FTB); bacon thickness - rump + back (FTRB); meat yield - carcass sides (JUSKG) and meat yield in percentage (JUSPRO), as well as weight and ratio of French dressing in warm carcass sides (FDKG and FDPRO). Animals of both sexes were used in the trial (female non-castrated rats and surgically castrated males). Total of 1166 fattening animals were included in the trials. Statistical data processing was performed using the Harvey software package. All included factors in the used models show a highly statistically significant effect on the variation of fattening traits (P

ABSTRACT The objective of this trial was to investigate the potential benefits of enzyme and probiotic supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass traits, and meat quality of Simmental cattle. Sixty Simmental steers (367.75±4.69 kg) were randomly divided into three groups: control (fed basal diet), BC1 group (fed basal diet and 10 g/d brewer’s yeast and cellulase supplementation per cattle), and BC2 group (fed basal diet and 20 g/d brewer’s yeast and cellulase supplementation per cattle). A 10-d preparation period was followed by a 120-d experimental period. The results showed that the final weight of the BC2 group was greater than that of the control group. Also, feed conversion ratio of the BC2 group was better than that of the control group. Net meat weight increased by 3.86% in the BC2 group compared with the control group. The apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and crude protein of the BC2 group was greater than that of the control group. Dietary supplementation with brewer’s yeast and cellulase supplementation could improve the growth performance and nutrient digestibility of Simmental cattle.

Simple Summary: Future technologies in poultry nutrition must support the growth, gut health, and energy status of the birds. One of these technologies is in ovo nutrition, in which nutrients enter the egg by a needle puncture without any harm to the embryo. Amino acids, vitamins, and even carbohydrates can be injected into various parts of the egg, mainly during the last days of hatch. Carbohydrates, as a primary energy source, are crucial for the avian body, especially on the day of hatch, when the carbohydrate resources of the egg yolk do not meet the needs of the embryo. In our study, a carbohydrate mixture composed of disaccharides and glucose was tested to examine the performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. It can be concluded that a carbohydrate mixture tends to reduce hatchability; however, the correct quantity of fluids, injection day, and osmolality of the mixture still need to be specified. In addition, many other factors can determine performance, such as the hatching day, sex, and the size or weight of the egg. On the other hand, this technique may improve carcass traits. Further studies are needed to refine the method to avoid embryo death. Chickens raised for their meat (Gallus gallus domesticus) tend to have a critical phase of life right after hatching due to the management of modern production systems. Early nutrition strategies such as in ovo intervention can be an alternative means to support growth and gut health by compensating for the energy deficit after pipping out of the egg. In the current study, 1200 Ross 308 eggs were used to examine the effects of a complex carbohydrate solution of disaccharides and glucose applied in ovo on hatchability, the hatching time of different-sized eggs, and the development, performance, and carcass characteristics of broilers of both sexes. The eggs were divided into three treatment groups: intact (NT), in ovo saline (ioS), and in ovo carbohydrate mixture (ioCH). The incubation protocol was performed according to the recommendations of Aviagen (2019), and the in ovo process was carried out on day 17 by manually injecting 0.5 mL of the solutions into the amniotic fluid. After hatching, the birds were kept in floor pens until day 35 and fed ad libitum in a three-phase feeding program. Body weight, average daily weight gain, feed intake and conversion, and carcass characteristics were measured during the trial. In ovo carbohydrates reduced hatchability by 15%, while growth performance and the weight of thigh and breast muscle were enhanced significantly (p < 0.05) compared with ioS as a possible outcome of carbohydrate-to-muscle satellite cell proliferation and protein accumulation. However, further study is needed to refine the in ovo carbohydrate supplementation method to minimize the mortality of embryos during hatching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate some morphometric traits, length-weight relationship, meat yield, fecundity and some biochemical compositions of Astacus leptodactylus, in one of the Bafra Fish Lakes named Ulugöl, Samsun, Turkey. A total of 378 A. leptodactylus (198 female and 180 male) were examined. The average carapace length was 50.96±0.46 mm for females, 51.31±0.66 mm for males and 51.13±0.40 mm for all sampled crayfish. Abdomen length was 52.36±0.49 mm for females, 49.26±0.62 mm for males and 50.87±0.40 mm for all sampled crayfish. Live weight was between 14.38 g and 105.03 g with an average of 38.26±0.73 g. The average weight of females was less than that of males. There was a strong relationship between length and weight. The weight of crayfish with pleopodal eggs ranged from 28.24 g, to 59.50 g with an average of 41.73±1.09g. The average number of eggs per individuals was 192.90±9.94 with an average number of 4.62±0.21 per unit of live weight. The average total egg weight was 3.35±0.19 g while the average egg diameter was 2.17±0.03 mm. Abdomen meat was lower for males comparing with females. Average moisture, crude ash, crude oil and crude protein of abdomen meat were 81.27%, 1.47%, 0.81% and 16.45%, respectively.

Inconsistent results about the effects of free-range and conventional systems on economic carcase characteristics and the chemical composition of chicken meat have been reported. Free-range chicken meat has been presumably known as more nutritious and healthier than conventionally meat products so it has become highly present in the marketplace. In this study, due to an extensive systematic review plus meta-analysis, the effect of conventional and free-range rearing systems on meat quality and carcase traits has been evaluated based on thirty-nine included studies. A high level of heterogeneity was seen among studies, therefore, statistical analyses of random-effect models have been conducted to calculate summary statistics for the standardised effect size of the difference between free-range and conventional rearing systems. As a result, free-range significantly influenced abdominal fat yield, meat yellowness, protein and fat content of breast meat. However current meta-analysis showed that free-range had no significant negative effect on carcase weight, breast yield, leg yield, initial/ultimate pH, meat redness, cooking loss, drip loss, water holding capacity, and ash. In addition, two subset analyses according to sex (male, female and both sexes) and comparison type (slow-growing, fast-growing) clarified a part of sources of heterogeneity. Eventually, this study reported conclusive results that free-range significantly increased meat-related traits typically yellowness and protein of breast meat and conversely decreased abdominal fat yield and fat content of breast meat. In conclusion, free-range meat products can be characterised by different appearances due to the lower proportion of abdominal fat and yellower breast meat, also healthier and more nutritious because of lower fat concentration and higher protein content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the genetic factors that influence meat yield is crucial due to the economic importance of average daily live weight gain (ADWG) in livestock. This study investigates the relationship between the c.*188G>A SNP in the 3'-UTR region of the akirin 2 gene and growth traits in Zavot cattle, focusing on the gene's role in muscle development. Genotyping of the c.*188G>A SNP was conducted using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, revealing frequencies of 0.09 for AA, 0.75 for AG and 0.16 for GG genotypes, respectively. Our findings demonstrate a significant association between this SNP and ADWG, as well as percentage. These results suggest that the c.*188G>A SNP within akirin 2 could serve as a valuable DNA marker for predicting ADWG and percentage traits in Zavot cattle., (© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

We cultivated the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) simultaneously in three types of cultivation device sets deployed in two sites: a sheltered site and a non‐sheltered site in the coast of the central area of Chile. Oysters were cultivated in polypropylene trays, nylon cones and lanterns suspended at 2, 5 and 8 m depth from long‐lines. Organism sampling was performed monthly from June, 2014 to May, 2015, measuring temperature, salinity and chlorophyll a. Growth was measured by shell length, wet meat weight and meat yield. At the end of cultivation, there were significant differences in the growth of oysters with higher growth in lanterns at 2 m at Punta Lobería (non‐sheltered site). Higher growth was also found at 2 m in Coliumo bay (sheltered site). Better growth seems associated with the stability of salinity and chlorophyll a. This is the first study that demonstrates the viability of oyster cultivation in non‐sheltered environments on the coast of central Chile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of freezing methods, including rapid freezing (RF) or slow freezing (SF), combined with thawing methods, e.g., water immersing thawing (WT) or cold thawing (CT), on the meat yield, drip loss, gel properties, and digestive properties of meat detached from red swamp crayfish were investigated. RF greatly reduced the freezing time compared to SF, and the thawing time of frozen crayfish was obviously shortened by WT in comparison to CT. RF and CT improved the meat yield but increased the drip loss, probably as a result of the greater protein denaturation or degradation. A soft and flexible gel was obtained by SF-CT, while a hard one was achieved by RF-WT. An SEM analysis showed that SF resulted in rough and irregular microstructures with larger pore sizes. Freeze-thawing led to an increase in the β-sheet content at the expense of α-helix and variations in the microenvironment of tyrosine and tryptophan residues in protein molecules of the gels, which was more pronounced in the SF-CT group. Moreover, freeze-thawing could cause enhanced protein digestibility but reduce the antioxidant activity of gels. These findings underline the promise of the freezing-thawing treatment in tuning the gel-based meat products of crayfish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Pellet durability, particle size distribution, growth response, tibia bone characteristics and energy retention were measured to evaluate cassava as an alternative energy source to replace maize in broiler diets with or without Ronozyme (A+VP) enzyme composites. Methods A total of 480 one-day broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 8 treatments in a 4×2 factorial arrangement. Four levels of cassava: (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%) and 2 levels of enzymes (0 and 500 g/tonne) were used. Each treatment was replicated six times, with ten birds per replicate. Results The particle size distribution in the diets showed an increasing trend of small particles with increase in cassava level. Pellet durability decreased (p

Objective This study evaluated the effect of yeast products on growth performance, visceral organ weights, endogenous enzyme activities, ileal nutrient digestibility and meat yield of broiler chickens fed diets containing autolyzed whole yeast (WY) and yeast cell walls (YCW) at varying levels of inclusion. Methods Nine dietary treatments consisting of WY or YCW included at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 g/kg diet and a control diet without yeast supplementation was used in the experiment. Each of the nine treatments was replicated six times with nine birds per replicate. Birds were housed in cages, in climate-controlled rooms and fed starter, grower and finisher diets. Results There was an improvement (p

Heterosis has been widely utilized in agricultural production. Despite over a century of extensive research, the underlying mechanisms of heterosis remain elusive. Most hypotheses and research have focused on the genetic basis of heterosis. However, the potential role of gut microbiota in heterosis has been largely ignored. Here, we carefully design a crossbreeding experiment with two distinct broiler breeds and conduct 16S rRNA amplicon and transcriptome sequencing to investigate the synergistic role of gut microbiota and host genes in driving heterosis. We find that the breast muscle weight of hybrids exhibits a high heterosis, 6.28% higher than the mid-parent value. A notable difference is observed in the composition and potential function of cecal microbiota between hybrids and their parents. Over 90% of differentially colonized microbiota and differentially expressed genes exhibit nonadditive patterns. Integrative analyses uncover associations between nonadditive genes and nonadditive microbiota, including a connection between the expression of cellular signaling pathways and metabolism-related genes and the abundance of Odoribacter, Oscillibacter, and Alistipes in hybrids. Moreover, higher abundances of these microbiota are related to better meat yield. In summary, these findings highlight the importance of gut microbiota in heterosis, serving as crucial factors that modulate heterosis expression in chickens., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)