Effect of optimal sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate supplementation on growth performance and blood and carcass characteristics in Hanwoo steers during the early fattening period.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of total digestible nutrients (TDN) and sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (SSL) supplementation on growth performance and blood and carcass characteristics in Hanwoo steers during the early fattening period. METHODS: Sixty Hanwoo steers (average body weight, 333±36.4 kg) were randomly allotted to 3 treatments, with twenty steers per treatment, and ten steers per pen with a size of 80 m2. Dietary treatments were as follows: CON, basal diet; treatment (TRT) 0.5, 0.5% down-spec of TDN with 0.1% SSL; TRT 1.0, 1.0% down-spec of TDN with 0.1% SSL. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that average daily gain and feed efficiency increased with TRT 0.5 (0.85 kg and 11.68) vs CON (0.82 kg and 11.27) or TRT 1.0 (0.78 kg and 10.74), indicating that 0.1% SSL supplementation in the feed of early fattening steers may result in a saving of 0.5% TDN. No significant differences were observed amongst all treatments (p> 0.05) for blood metabolite concentration and blood corpuscle values, which were all within the normally accepted range for healthy steers. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that a TDN 0.5% down spec with 0.1% SSL supplemented feed may be effective and profitable for the early fattening period of Hanwoo steers without causing adverse effects.

Effects of age and period of fattening on carcass and non-carcass characteristics of one-humped camels.

This study was conducted to compare the carcass characteristics and quantity of carcass and non-carcass components of 2- and 3-year-old male camels fattened for either 3 or 6 months. Twelve 2-year-old camels with an average body live weight of 268.5 ± 21.4 kg and twelve 3-year-old camels with an average body live weight of 307.5 ± 29.9 kg were used in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. For carcass analysis, three camels from each group were selected and slaughtered. The results showed that camel age and fattening period had no significant effect on average daily gain (ADG). Older camels and a longer fattening period resulted in heavier hot and cold carcass weights. Three-year-old camels had a higher dressing percentage compared to 2-year-old camels, regardless of the period of fattening. Analysis of non-carcass components showed that the heaviest component was the hide and 2-year-old camels fattened for 90 days had the greatest weight of hide as percentage of cold carcass weight. Total muscle weight was greater for the 3-year-old camels compared to the 2-year-old ones, regardless of the fattening period, and camels fattened for 180 days had heavier weight than those fattened for 90 days, regardless of age at fattening. However, the greatest weight of total muscle was detected in camels at 2 years of age fattened for 180 days when it was expressed as percentage of carcass weight. The highest and the lowest total fat content as kilogram or as percentage of cold carcass was observed in 3-year-old camels fattened for 180 days and 2-year-old camels fattened for 180 days, respectively. Our results suggested that the best age for slaughtering is 2 years old with the fattening period of 180 days.

Effect of Age on Energy Requirement for Maintenance and Growth of Dorper and Hu Crossbred F1 Ewes Weighing 20 to 50 kg.

This research aimed to define the energy requirement of Dorper and Hu Hybrid F1 ewes 20 to 50 kg of body weight, furthermore to study energy requirement changes with age and evaluate the effect of age on energy requirement parameters. In comparative slaughter trial, thirty animals were divided into three dry matter intake treatments (ad libitum, n = 18; low restricted, n = 6; high restricted, n = 6), and were all slaughtered as baseline, intermediate, and final slaughter groups, to calculate body chemical components and energy retained. In digestibility trial, twelve ewes were housed in individual metabolic cages and randomly assigned to three feeding treatments in accordance with the design of a comparative slaughter trial, to evaluate dietary energetic values at different feed intake levels. The combined data indicated that, with increasing age, the net energy requirement for maintenance (NEm) decreased from 260.62±13.21 to 250.61±11.79 kJ/kg(0.75) of shrunk body weight (SBW)/d, and metabolizable energy requirement for maintenance (MEm) decreased from 401.99±20.31 to 371.23±17.47 kJ/kg(0.75) of SBW/d. Partial efficiency of ME utilization for maintenance (km, 0.65 vs 0.68) and growth (kg, 0.42 vs 0.41) did not differ (p>0.05) due to age; At the similar condition of average daily gain, net energy requirements for growth (NEg) and metabolizable energy requirements for growth (MEg) for ewes during late fattening period were 23% and 25% greater than corresponding values of ewes during early fattening period. In conclusion, the effect of age upon energy requirement parameters in the present study were similar in tendency with previous recommendations, values of energy requirement for growth (NEg and MEg) for Dorper and Hu crossbred female lambs ranged between the NRC (2007) recommendation for early and later maturating growing sheep.

Dietary effects of protected fat, glycerol, and soybean meal on performance, physiological parameters, carcass characteristics, and behavioral measurements of late-fattening Hanwoo steers under heat stress conditions.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effects of increasing energy and protein levels in diets by including protected fat (PF), glycerol (GL), and soybean meal (SBM) on growth performance, physiological parameters, carcass characteristics, and behavioral measurements of late-fattening Hanwoo steers under heat stress conditions. METHODS: Thirty-six steers (initial body weight, 724.9±58.3 kg; age, 25.5±0.4 month) were assigned into control (total digestible nutrient [TDN] 76%, crude protein [CP] 15%), PF (TDN 83.6%, CP 15%), PF+GL (TDN 83.6%, CP 15%) and PF+GL+SBM (TDN 83.6%, CP 16.5%) by randomized complete block design for a total of 16 weeks with division of 4-week periods. The average temperature-humidity index was 87.0 (1st period; severe), 82.8 (2nd; moderate), 71.4 (3rd; comfort), and 68.1 (4th; comfort). RESULTS: The dry matter intake (DMI) showed no treatments differences during the whole experiment. However, DMI in 1st and 2nd period decreased by approximately 30% and 10% compared to 4th period, respectively. Higher average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were noted for treatments compared to control at both 1st and 2nd period (p<0.05). There were no treatment effects on rectal temperature (RT), cortisol, and behaviors during the entire experiment. However, both RT and cortisol in 0, 1st and 2nd period were higher than those of 3rd and 4th period (p<0.05). Carcass yield and grade remained unaffected by increasing TDN and CP levels. Behavioral changes in the hot season (1st period) included reduced lying (43%), increased standing (48%), decreased walking (62%), and decreased eating (38%) (p<0.05), with an increase in drinking by 54%. Rumination during standing was 53% higher, while rumination during lying was about 33% lower compared to the post-hot season (3rd period) (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation of protected fat in late-fattening Hanwoo steers under heat stress had a positive effect on preventing a reduction in performance.

Effects of heat stress on performance, physiological parameters, and blood profiles of early-fattening Hanwoo steers in climate chambers.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess effects of heat stress on growth performance, physiological parameters, and blood profiles of Hanwoo steers during early-fattening period in climate chambers. METHODS: Four Hanwoo steers (body weight, 454.3±10.9 kg; age, 14±0.1 month) were allocated into four levels of temperature-humidity index (THI) in a 4×4 Latin square design for 21 days (pre-adaptation, 7 d; heat stress, 7 d; post-adaptation, 7 d) per period. Experimental treatments were assigned according to THI chart based on National Institute Animal Science (NIAS, 2022): Comfort (25.5°C to 26.5°C, 60%; THI 73 to 75), Mild (28°C to 29°C, 60%; THI 77 to 79), Moderate (29.5°C to 30.5°C, 80%; THI 82 to 84), and Severe (31°C to 32°C, 80%; THI 85 to 86) in separate climatic controlled chambers. RESULTS: The dry matter intake (DMI) of the formula feed was lower in Severe compared to Mild and Comfort (p<0.05). The DMI of rice straw was the lowest in Severe and lower in Moderate than Comfort and Mild (p<0.05). Both average daily gain and feed conversion ratio of Severe and Moderate were lower than those of Mild and Comfort (p<0.05). Water intake was the highest in Severe and lower in Moderate compared with Comfort and Mild (p<0.05). Heart rate and rectal temperature increased as THI level increased (p<0.05). Glucose was the lowest in Severe and lower in Moderate compared to Comfort (p<0.05). On the contrary, non-esterified fatty acid was the highest in Severe and lower in Moderate compared with Comfort (p<0.05). Blood urea nitrogen of Moderate and Severe were higher than those of Comfort and Mild (p<0.05). Cortisol increased as THI increased (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the negative effects of heat stress on the performance and physiological responses of Hanwoo steers during the early-fattening period. In addition, it is judged that the THI chart for Hanwoo steers of National Institute of Animal Science (2022) was properly calculated.

Physiological roles and regulation of hepatic angiopoietin-like protein 3 in Japanese Black cattle (Bos taurus) during the fattening period.

Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) is expressed predominantly in the liver and plays a major role in regulating the circulating triglyceride and lipoprotein fraction concentrations by inhibiting lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity. Given these physiological roles, ANGPTL3 may play an important role in metabolic changes related to fat accumulation during the fattening period in Japanese Black. This study aimed to reveal the physiological roles of hepatic ANGPTL3 in Japanese Black steers (Bos taurus) during the fattening period and investigate the regulatory effects of hepatic ANGPTL3. To investigate the gene expression and protein localization of ANGPTL3, 18 tissue samples were collected from tree male Holstein bull calves aged 7 wk. Biopsied liver tissues and blood samples were collected from 21 Japanese Black steers during the early (T1; 13 mo of age), middle (T2; 20 mo), and late fattening phases (T3; 28 mo). Relative mRNA expression, blood metabolite concentrations, hormone concentrations, growth, and carcass traits were analyzed. To identify the regulatory factors of hepatic ANGPTL3, primary bovine hepatocytes collected by two Holstein calves aged 7 wk were incubated with insulin, palmitate, oleate, propionate, acetate, or beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA). The ANGPTL3 gene was most highly expressed in the liver, with minor expression in the renal cortex, lungs, reticulum, and jejunum in Holstein bull calves. In Japanese Black steers, relative ANGPTL3 mRNA expressions were less as fattening progressed, and blood triglyceride, total cholesterol, and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations increased. Relative ANGPTL8 and Liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) mRNA expressions decreased in late and middle fattening phases, respectively. Furthermore, relative ANGTPL3 mRNA expression was positively correlated with ANGPTL8 (r = 0.650; P < 0.01) and ANGPTL4 (r = 0.540; P < 0.05) in T3 and T1, respectively, and LXRα showed no correlation with ANGPTL3. Relative ANGTPL3 mRNA expression was negatively correlated with total cholesterol (r = -0.434; P < 0.05) and triglyceride (r = -0.645; P < 0.01) concentrations in T3 and T1, respectively; There was no significant correlation between ANGTPL3 and carcass traits. Relative ANGTPL3 mRNA expression in cultured bovine hepatocytes was downregulated in oleate treatment. Together, these findings suggest that ANGPTL3 downregulation in late fattening phases is associated with the changes in lipid metabolism.

The role of angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) in various animal species under different physiological conditions remains largely unknown. We evaluated the physiological roles of hepatic ANGPTL3 in Japanese Black steers (Bos taurus) during the fattening period and investigated the expressional regulation of ANGPTL3 in bovine hepatocytes. Relative ANGPTL3 mRNA expression decreased late in the fattening phases. Relative ANGPTL3 mRNA expression was positively correlated with ANGPTL4 and ANGPTL8 and was negatively correlated with blood triglyceride concentrations in early fattening phases. Relative ANGPTL3 mRNA expression in cultured bovine hepatocytes was downregulated in oleate treatment. Fatty acids may influence ANGPTL3 expression in cultured bovine hepatocytes through possible regulatory factors. Our findings suggest that the physiological roles of ANGPTL3 are associated with the changes of lipid metabolism during the fattening period, and the ANGPTL family seem to be associated with blood lipid metabolites.

Concentrations of mesophilic bacteria in a poultry farm over two fattening periods focusing on the presence of staphylococci and enterococci.

The increasing animal numbers have a potential impact on the air quality of stables. The aim of this study was to assess the microbial load in the barn air from the day of entry of the chickens to the day of removal for slaughter. A total of 10 measurements in two fattening periods were conducted in a poultry farm with a capacity of 400 chickens in Styria, Austria. The samples were collected with an Air-Sampling Impinger for the investigation of mesophilic bacteria, staphylococci and enterococci. Chicken skin swab samples were collected to detect Staphylococcus aureus. The total colony forming units per cubic meter of mesophilic bacteria of the first measurement series of period I was 7.8 × 104 and increased to 1.4 × 108 at the end and at the fattening period II it increased from 2.5 × 105 to 4.2 × 107. In the measurement series of the fattening period I, the concentration of Staphylococcus spp. increased from 0 to 4.9 × 107 CFUs/m3 and from 0 to 2.1 × 107 CFUs/m3 in the fattening period II. Staphylococcus aureus could not be found on the chicken skin. An interesting finding was the increase of staphylococci while the intestinal enterococci were not detectable in the air of the barn toward the end of both fattening periods.

Effects of feeding wood kraft pulp silage containing sweet-potato shochu distillery by-product on feed intake, feed digestibility, rumen fermentation, blood components, and growth performance in Japanese Black fattening steers during early period.

The effects of long-term feeding of wood kraft pulp (KP) silage containing sweet-potato shochu distillery by-product (SDP) on feed intake, feed digestibility, rumen fermentation, and growth performance of Japanese Black steers were investigated during the early fattening period. Ten Japanese Black steers (9.8 ± 0.6 months of age) were used in this study. Five steers (KP group) were fed KP silage as a replacement for 10% timothy hay (dry matter bases), in contrast to the other five (control group). KP silage consisted of 92.9% KP and 7.1% SDP (dry matter bases). The experiment was conducted for 18 weeks. No significant differences were observed in terms of feed intake, feed digestibility, or daily body weight gain between the groups. In addition, diurnal changes in the rumen pH and ruminal lipopolysaccharide activity did not differ between the groups. However, the plasma concentration of aspartate transaminase in the KP group was slightly lower (P = 0.078) than that in the control group. Thus, our study suggested that feeding KP silage does not reduce feed intake or affect the rumen fermentation or growth performance of Japanese Black fattening steer.

Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics analysis and characteristics of beef in different fattening periods.

Beef quality is influenced by the fattening period. Therefore, meat metabolomics profiles from the different fattening periods (e.g., short-term vs. long-term) were analyzed for identify potential indicators using nuclear magnetic resonance. Additionally, blood, free fatty acid, sensory, and mineral compositions in Korean steers were determined. Blood, free fatty acid, and mineral concentrations showed significant differences between short-term and long-term groups that were fed different diets. However, there were no sensory differences in the two fattening groups. Additionally, the metabolic profiles of meats were clearly separated based on multivariate orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis. Six metabolites of variable importance in the projection plot were identified and showed high sensitivity as candidate markers for meat characteristics. In particular, lactate, carnosine, and creatine could be directly linked to scientific indicators of the fattening stage (31 vs. 28 mo) of meat. Our findings suggest that the metabolomics approach could be a powerful method for the detection of novel signatures underlying the managing period of beef.

The Effect of Diet Based on Legume Seeds and Rapeseed Meal on Pig Performance and Meat Quality.

The aim of this work was to assess the impact of a total dietary replacement of extracted soybean meal (SBM) on body weight gain and pork quality. DanBred hybrid piglets were divided into four groups of 10 piglets each. Groups I (males) and II (females) were the control groups and fed a standardized SBM-based complete feed. The experimental groups III (males) and IV (females) were offered a diet in which the SBM was replaced with extracted rapeseed meal (RSM) and legume plants (pea and yellow lupin). After 83 days of fattening, the animals were slaughtered. Based on the collected data, the daily weight gain (DWG), feed intake (FI), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated. In addition, longissimus dorsi muscle was subjected to physicochemical analyses, including the basic chemical composition. All the analyses were performed in accordance with the applicable methodologies. As a result of this experiment, no interactions were found between the experimental factors (sex and diet). The replacement of SMB by legumes and RSM resulted in a significant reduction in the final body weight of growing-finishing pigs. Additionally, daily body weight gain was reduced between 35-83 days, and through the whole fattening period (0-83 days). Most pork meat quality parameters were not affected by the type of mix feed and sex (p > 0.05). The fattening pigs that were fed legume seeds and RSM had significantly reduced fatness (p > 0.05) compared to the control pigs. In males, there was also a significantly lower pH45 (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that feeding pigs with diets containing legume plants and extracted rapeseed meal does not affect the pork meat quality, but it may worsen the body weight gain.

Influence of the rearing managements and carcass traits on the sensory properties of two muscles: Longissimus thoracis and rectus abdominis.

The aim of this study was to analyse simultaneously the effect of rearing managements (RM), carcass traits, muscle type (longissimus thoracis, LT and rectus abdominis, RA) and their interactions on colour (system L*a*b*), sensory and rheological properties of 77 heifers. The data used were 46 rearing factors defining four RM applied during the heifers' whole life from and 5 carcass traits discriminating two carcass quality clusters (Low and High quality). The results showed that the RM had an impact on the carcass and meat quality traits. The redness and the overall acceptability of LT meat were more sensitive to variation of RM than RA meat. The tenderness of LT and RA were similar or not according to the RM. Higher tenderness was obtained from high carcass quality irrespective the muscle. These results show that similar carcass and meat qualities can be obtained with different RM. They also demonstrated that it is also possible to manage jointly carcass and meat qualities.

Dietary xylo-oligosaccharide supplementation alters gut microbial composition and activity in pigs according to age and dose.

This study explored the effect of dietary xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) supplementation on the gut microbial composition and activity in pigs of different ages. Eighty pigs with an average body weight (BW) of 30 kg were randomly divided into eight groups: A control group, a group that received antibiotic treatment, and six groups fed diets supplemented with 100, 250, and 500 g/t XOS, of which three groups were in the growing period (GP, 30-65 kg BW) and three groups in the growing and fattening period (GFP, 30-100 kg BW). At the end of the experiment, the intestinal contents were sampled for analyses of gut microbiota and bacterial metabolites including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and bioamines. The results showed that 100 g/t XOS supplementation during the GFP significantly reduced the relative abundances of presumably pathogenic bacteria (Proteobacteria and Citrobacter), but enhanced the relative abundances of likely beneficial bacteria (Firmicutes and Lactobacillus). However, XOS supplementation during the GP showed little effect on the gut microbiota when pigs were killed at 100 kg BW. Meanwhile, 100 g/t XOS supplementation during the GFP decreased the level of 1,7-heptane diamine and increased the acetic acid, straight-chain fatty acids, and total SCFAs concentrations in the intestinal contents. Statistical analysis showed that both the dose and exposure time to XOS supplementation affected the microbial communities. In summary, 100 g/t XOS supplementation during the GFP modified the gut microbiota composition and metabolic activity. Possible consequences of such changes for the host are discussed.

Assessment of the dynamics of sensory perception of Wagyu beef strip loin prepared with different cooking methods and fattening periods using the temporal dominance of sensations.

In this study, we assessed the relative sensory perception of Wagyu beef using temporal dominance of sensations (TDS), which is a dynamic sensory method that captures the "dominance of sensation" throughout food consumption. In addition, we checked the integrity of the TDS by comparing the TDS results with a physicochemical analysis. Strip loins were obtained from 24- and 28-month-old Japanese Black cattle ("Wagyu") and were cooked by grilling (yakiniku) or boiling (shabu-shabu). Temporal dominance of sensations was then used to evaluate the four types of samples. "Tender and/or soft," "juicy," "dry," "fat melting," "fat taste," "umami," "sweet taste," and "butter odor" were dominant in at least one of the sample types, with the yakiniku cooking method highlighting texture- and fat-related sensory characteristics, and the shabu-shabu cooking method highlighting flavor-related sensory characteristics. In addition, beef obtained from the 24-month-old Wagyu was significantly more "dry" than that of the 28-month-old cattle, reflecting their different cooking loss. Temporal dominance of sensations successfully demonstrated the dominant sensory perceptions of Wagyu beef prepared with different cooking methods and fattening periods.

Preliminary Study to Determinate the Effect of the Rearing Managements Applied during Heifers' Whole Life on Carcass and Flank Steak Quality.

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of rearing managements applied during a heifers' whole life on the carcass and flank steak (rectus abdominis) meat traits. For this study, rearing managements applied on 96 heifers were identified by conducting surveys in farms. A heifers' whole life was divided into three key periods: Pre-weaning, growth, and fattening. The combination of the rearing factors applied during the heifers' whole life allowed us to characterize several rearing managements. Among them, four have been studied in depth. The main results displayed that the carcass traits were more sensitive to the rearing managements than the flank steak traits. The different managements considered had an impact on the weight, the dressing percentage and the conformation score of the carcass. Whereas, they had no impact on the sensory descriptors, the sheer force and the color of the flank steak. This study showed that the variations observed for carcass and meat traits could not be explained by the variation of only one rearing factor but could be explained by many rearing factors characterizing the rearing management applied. Finally, this study demonstrated that it was possible to improve carcass traits without deteriorating meat traits.

[Effects of socializing piglets in lactation on behaviour, including tail-biting, in growing and finishing pigs]. / Effekte einer frühen Sozialisierung von Ferkeln auf das Verhalten, unter anderem auf das Schwanzbeißen.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether early socialising of piglets influences the later behaviour and the risk of tail biting in growing and finishing pigs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The behaviour of 183 animals (divided in three successive runs) was recorded from birth until the end of the fattening period. Furthermore, the condition of the teats of the sows as well as the integument and tails of the growing and finishing pigs were evaluated. To socialize the piglets, four litters of the experimental group (V) were provided with additional space (walkway) by opening "piglet-doors" (day 10 postpartum of the youngest litter). The piglets of the control group (K) were reared in conventional farrowing crates located in the same compartment of the stable. Post-weaning, the piglets were assigned to three groups: the experimental group (V/V, two litters of group V), the control group (K/K, two litters of group K) and the mixed group (V/K, one litter of group V and one litter of group K). RESULTS: After opening the "piglet-doors", piglets of group V displayed significantly more playing behaviour than piglets of group K. Additionally, the agonistic behaviour increased in group V. Post-weaning, at allocation and mixing, animals of group V/V showed significantly less agonistic behaviour than pigs of group K/K. Tail-biting behaviour occurred in all three groups, but only in runs two and three. On the 100th day of the fattening period, 58.7% of the pigs of group V/V, 51.7% of group V/K and 43.3% of group K/K still had intact tails. In pigs of group K/K, the tails were significantly shorter compared to the other two groups. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Early socialization enhances piglet welfare in farrowing pens by encouraging playing behaviour. Less agonistic behaviour at allocation could furthermore reduce stress at mixing and allocation. The aim to reduce the incidence of tail-biting could not be achieved. However, socializing piglets in lactation could contribute, in accordance with other measures, to an influence on biting behaviour.