Animal Science Journal

We compared nucleic acid-extracted torula yeast (NTY) with soybean meal (SBM) to evaluate NTY as a potential protein feed for ruminants in a metabolic trial using four castrated male goats. NTY was replaced isonitrogenously with SBM at a 25% crude protein (CP) level on a dry matter (DM) basis. NTY has 55% CP and 74% total digestive nutrients on DM. Absorbed N was lower on the NTY diet, but since the urinary N excretion was lower on the NTY diet, no significant between-diet difference in retained N was observed...

This study aims to evaluate the effect of different dietary fat sources on the quality of a Spanish-cooked meat product Lomo de Sajonia (LSA) and its shelf-life. Forty loins were selected from Iberian pigs fed four dietary treatments containing pork fat (G-1), Greedy-Grass Olive® (GGO) (enriched oleic-acid oil) (G-2), G-2 and high oleic sunflower (G-3), and G-3 plus a mixture of commercial organic acids (Bioll®) (G-4). Loins were manufactured to obtain LSA, and the quality and sensorial attributes were assessed...

Cryopreservation of oocytes is an important technology for the in vitro gene banking of female germplasm. Although slow freezing is not feasible, porcine oocytes survive vitrification at high rates. Cryopreservation at the germinal vesicle stage appears to be more advantageous than that at the metaphase-II stage. Several factors are considered to affect the success of vitrification and subsequent utilization of immature porcine oocytes such as the device, the protocols for cryoprotectant application, warming, and the post-warming culture...

The composition of milk fatty acid (FA) was determined using Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectroscopy, which enables the rapid measurement of many samples. Milk FA is one indicator supporting the management of dairy cows and herds. This study aimed to determine an appropriate sampling method for milk FA in a practical farm condition based on intraday and interday variations in milk FA composition during early and late lactation stages. Milk samples were collected in the morning (07:00-08:00 h) and afternoon (16:30-17:30 h) for five consecutive days during early and late lactation...

We compared the in situ dry matter degradability (ISDMD) and crude protein degradability (ISCPD) of high-moisture corn grain silage and dried corn grains produced in Japan (JHC and JDC, respectively) with corn grains imported from the United States (USC), Brazil (BRC), and South Africa (SAC). The ISDMD values of USC, BAC, and SAC were between those of JHC and JDC, but ISDMD did not differ significantly between USC and SAC. In contrast, ISDMD was lower for BAC than USC and SAC. Overall, our results indicate that ISDMD and ISCPD in the rumen differ between corn grains sources (domestic compared with imported and between production locations), primarily due to differences between the corn varieties represented...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of two different organic selenium (Se) supplements, selenomethionine (Se-Met) and selenohomolanthionine (Se-Hlan), on the serum biochemical parameters and Se status of dairy cows. Different dietary Se supplementation treatments were set as follows: a control group (CON, adding sodium selenite at 0.3 mg Se/kg dry matter [DM]), 0.3 and 0.5 Se-Met (adding Se-Met at 0.3 and 0.5 mg Se/kg DM, respectively), as well as 0.3 and 0.5 Se-Hlan (adding Se-Hlan at 0...

The present study aimed to determine carcass characteristics, meat quality, nutrient profiles, and sensory characteristics of Mithun meat. Sixteen Mithun were selected and divided into four groups, MM-4 (male; n = 4; <4 years of age), MM-47 (male; n = 4; 4-7 years of age), MF-4 (female; n = 4; <4 years of age), MF-47 (female; n = 4; 4-7 years of age). Carcass characteristics showed that adult males (MM-47) have significantly higher (P < 0...

Mammalian oocytes undergo maturation and fertilization in the low-oxygen (O2 ) environment of the oviduct. To evaluate the effect of O2 tension during in vitro maturation and fertilization on embryo yield, quality, cryotolerance, and gene expression, we matured and fertilized bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes under low (5%) or high (20%) O2 tension. Presumptive zygotes from both groups were cultured at 5% O2 for 8 days. Blastocysts were vitrified, and then warmed, and cultured for further 24 h to assess their cryotolerance...

Lactation is a characteristic physiological function of mammals and is important for nourishing infants and the dairy industry; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the function remain to be elucidated. A technique to directly evaluate the quantity and quality of milk in mice is necessary for the study of the lactation mechanism in vivo. By measuring the changes in milk amount after different durations of milk accumulation (0-24 h) using a ductal cannulation technique and oxytocin supplementation, we estimated the milk production rate at a single mammary gland level...

This experiment aimed to study the degradation characteristics of bagasse after three fermentation treatments in beef cattle. Bagasse 1 was treated with 0.3% lactic acid bacteria (w/w). Bagasse 2 was treated with 0.3% mixed strains (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, and lactic acid bacteria at 2:1:1:1). Bagasse 3 was treated with 0.1% cellulase and 0.1% xylanase in addition to 0.3% mixed strains of bagasse 2. The dry matter (DM), crude ash (ASH), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in the bagasses were determined...

This study investigated the nausea-like behavior induced by road transportation in goats, and the effects of an anti-motion sickness (MS) medication on this behavior. In the first experiment, 11 adult Shiba goats were road transported twice with either a saline (control) or a commercial anti-MS medication (Travelmin) injection at the first or second transportation. Almost all goats showed nausea-like behavior, which was defined as pointing their heads downward, closing their eyes, and staying relatively still...

High-yielding dairy cows undergo various physiological stresses during the transitional phase of the calving cycle. In this period, they experience negative energy balance, subjecting the liver to significant metabolic stress from an influx of nonesterified fatty acids. This metabolic stress not only impairs liver function but also diminishes milk production. Early lactation dairy cows may develop endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the liver, potentially leading to liver-related diseases and contributing to ER stress in mammary epithelial cells, resulting in decreased milk production...

In this study, we characterized the effects of CT dietary inclusion at 2% (wt/wt) dry matter on the goat rumen metabolome and fermentation characteristics. Barley (BA) and corn (CN) were separately used as basal grain for the control rations, and rations supplemented with CT were BACT and CNCT, respectively. The rations were tested using eight Japanese Shiba × Saanen goats in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square arrangement (28 days for each period). Ruminal fluid was obtained on day 25 of each period, and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analysis was performed...

A method of calculating weighted values for objective traits from the phenotypic records of all animals in a population was devised as an alternative to the conventional method of calculating weighted values from a family selection index. The genetic improvement of this method was verified by Monte Carlo computer simulation. A base population consisting of 10 males and 50 females, and five separate generations, other than the base population that had been randomly selected, was bred for two traits with different heritabilities...

This study aimed to investigate the effects of various cooking procedures on the sensory and physicochemical properties of Japanese jidori chicken (Choshu-Kurokashiwa) and broiler thigh meat. Thigh meats were cooked using three different procedures: grilling, boiling, and deep-frying. Subsequently, we performed sensory evaluation by a trained panel and instrumental analysis on both raw and cooked meat to determine changes in pH, shear force value, cooking loss, nucleotide metabolite contents, and proximate, free amino acid, and fatty acid composition...

In this study, the genetic parameters of major visceral diseases were estimated using the postmortem inspection records of 9057 fattening Japanese Black cattle in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, and the genetic correlation between visceral diseases and carcass traits was analyzed. There were six visceral diseases with a prevalence of 5% or higher, namely, pleurisy, pneumonia, bovine abdominal fat necrosis (BFN), rumenitis, hemorrhagic hepatitis, and perihepatitis. Variance components were estimated using the Gibbs sampling method, and the heritability of the visceral disease ranged from 0...

Vitrification is a valuable technology that enables semipermanent preservation and long-distance or international transportation of genetically modified and native animals. In laboratory mice, vitrification maintains and transports embryos, and many institutions and companies sell vitrified embryos. In contrast, despite numerous papers reporting on vitrification in livestock over the past decade, practical implementation has yet to be achieved. However, with advances in genome editing technology, it is anticipated that the number of genetically modified domestic animals will increase, leading to a rise in demand for vitrification of oocytes and embryos...

Three methods of predicting the response to truncated selection based on BLUP of breeding values (BVs) were compared under conditions in which the phenotypic values for the progenies of selected animals were not available. The following methods were used to predict the response to selection: (1) based on the mean of estimated breeding values (EBV) in the candidate population for selection ( <mml:math xmlns:mml="https://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:semantics><mml:mrow><mml:mo>∆</mml:mo> <mml:msub><mml:mi>g</mml:mi> <mml:mn>1</mml:mn></mml:msub> </mml:mrow> <mml:annotation>$$ \Delta {\mathrm{g}}_1 $$</mml:annotation></mml:semantics> </mml:math> ), (2) based on the variance of EBV in the candidate population for selection ( <mml:math xmlns:mml="https://www...

This study aimed to investigate the effect of supplementing Isochrysis galbana (I. galbana) at levels of 0 (control), 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (g/100 g DM) of the diet on the gas production kinetics, methane production, rumen fermentation parameters, and relative microbial population in vitro. Supplementation of I. galbana at high level (5 g/100 g DM) caused a significant decrease in total gas production (p < 0.05). High supplementation rates (4 and 5 g/100 g DM) decreased CH4 production relative to the control by 18...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of calf starters with different starch content on rumen and blood properties in calves fed under a high plane of nutrition program. Twenty-seven Holstein calves (14 female, 13 male) were assigned to one of three starter treatment groups in a randomized block design: high-starch (41.8%) (n = 9), H; medium-starch (31.9%) (n = 9), M; low-starch (22.0%) (n = 9), L. Milk replacer on powder basis was fed up to 1.2 kg/day as fed, gradually reduced from 6 weeks of age; calves were weaned at 8 weeks of age...