Animal Production Science is an international journal publishing original research and reviews on the production of food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals. Read more about the journalMore
Editor-in-Chief: Wayne Bryden
Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available
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Xylanase is an enzyme that breaks down xylan, a key plant cell wall component, into simpler sugars. In weaned pigs, whose digestion is still maturing, xylanase supplementation aids in breaking down fibrous feed, enhancing nutrient absorption.
, Md Sohel Rana, Peta S. Taylor, Tamsyn M. Crowley and Amy F. Moss
This study investigated the effects of AM/PM feeding on free-range laying hens via several welfare, behaviour and health parameters. The AM diets (12.5 MJ AME/kg, 20.1% CP, 2.5% Ca) were provided from 08:00 hours to 16:00 hours, and the PM diet (10.8 MJ AME/kg, 17.5% CP, 5.6% Ca) from 16:00 hours to 08:00 hours. AM/PM feeding demonstrated possible benefits for laying hen welfare, including the reduction in feather pecking and improved outdoor activity and bone health.
AN24258 Abstract | AN24258 Full Text | AN24258PDF (779 KB) | AN24258Supplementary Material (839 KB) Open Access Article
, Fatemeh Azari Ghaleh Joogh, Shahram Golzar Adabi and Mohammad Amir Karimi Torshizi
Phosphorus in poultry diets is mainly in the form of phytate, which may remain unused. The addition of high concentrations of phytase can reduce the use of inorganic phosphorus resources, and thus lower the production costs. The present study found that the dietary inclusion of higher concentrations of phytase could improve the performance of broiler chickens.
Severe weather events associated with climate change have several negative impacts on livestock, but livestock do contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Most climate-smart approaches to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions are inappropriate for low-and middle-income countries where food insecurity and the need to adapt livestock systems to a changing climate are greatest. This paper gives an discusses climate-smart approaches for enhancing livestock Productivity to simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase livestock adaptation to climate change and improve food security in low- and middle-income countries.
This article belongs to the collection: Sustainable Animal Agriculture for Developing Countries 2023.
AN24215 Abstract | AN24215 Full Text | AN24215PDF (2.3 MB) Open Access Article
, J. B. Gaughan, G. Wijffels and L. F. P. Silva
Cattle exhibit significant variation in growth performance, enabling the selection of superior animals. Efficient nitrogen use in cattle, which can be predicted through nitrogen isotopes in tail hair, correlates with improved growth performance. This study highlights how steers with better nitrogen use efficiency respond positively to a urea supplemented diet, demonstrating enhanced growth on low-quality feed. Identifying such cattle allows for more effective and economical feed and supplement strategies.
AN24210 Abstract | AN24210 Full Text | AN24210PDF (576 KB) Open Access Article
and M. Mabelebele
The use of dietary garlic to enhance ruminant productivity has gained attention in the animal production industry due to its several pharmacological properties. However, there are inconsistent results on the effects of dietary garlic on ruminant productivity. This meta-analysis demonstrated the efficacy of dietary garlic intervention in enhancing small ruminant productivity while reducing methane emissions.
, Hafiz A. R. Suleria and Frank R. Dunshea
The efficacy of plant bioactives in supporting health and productivity of lactating cows and growing ruminants under heat stress remains underexplored. This review provides an overview of existing studies to address this gap. Heat-stressed animals may experience reduced feed intake, compromised immunity, oxidative stress, and productivity losses. Some phytogenics have shown promise in mitigating these effects, especially in lactating cows. However, further research, particularly in pre-weaning calves and under different heat stress severity and durations is needed to validate these findings.
AN23386 Abstract | AN23386 Full Text | AN23386PDF (612 KB) | AN23386Supplementary Material (404 KB) Open Access Article
and Bruce M. Hannon
An adequate understanding of how the energy required to maintain a growing animal changes with body mass is critical to development of efficient animal production systems. Previously we reported that a cubic relationship existed between these variables; therefore, we aimed to determine whether causal factors could be identified that explained this finding. Protein turnover, fat turnover, and rate of growth explained the cubic relationship between maintenance costs and body mass, and identified the energetically optimal mass of a growing animal.
, E. Espés, S. Jiménez and F. Canto
Melatonin implants have been used to improve the survival and growth of lambs, and the improvement of colostrum and milk quality. In this study, we have demonstrated that implanting ewes 30 days before lambing increased growth rates of lambs, particularly in males. Moreover, implanting lambs at 45 days of age produced the highest growth and feed conversion rates in the fattening period. Melatonin treatments pregnant ewes and lambs at weaning are promising methods for increasing productivity of lamb meat production.
, M. A. Khan, T. J. Bosher, P. Maclean and A. Jonker
GreenFeed units are widely used globally to measure methane emissions. In grazing systems, cattle may decrease their visitation frequency to these units, leading to an increased number of measurement days or animals required to precisely determine greenhouse gas emissions. In total, 12–18 measurement days and 9–19 animals are required to estimate methane emissions in grazing cows and heifers.
This article belongs to the collection: Australasian Dairy Science Symposium 2024.
AN24280 Abstract | AN24280 Full Text | AN24280PDF (1.6 MB) | AN24280Supplementary Material (441 KB) Open Access Article
, D. Patton, J. J. Collins, L. Delaby, K. Pierce and B. Horan
This study looked at the white clover inclusion in perennial ryegrass swards on a wetland soil type in the border midland and western region of Ireland. The focus of this study was to substitute chemical nitrogen (N) fertiliser applications with white clover as it can sufficiently support the N requirements of the sward due to its N fixation abilities. The results of the study found very successful clover establishment with significant savings in chemical N fertilier.
This article belongs to the collection: Australasian Dairy Science Symposium 2024.
AN24284 Abstract | AN24284 Full Text | AN24284PDF (368 KB) Open Access Article
, Long Cheng, Richard Eckard , Sineka Munidasa , Lachlan Barnes, John Morton and Brendan R. Cullen
Higher replacement rates in dairy herd lead to increased costs associated with rearing and/or purchasing replacement heifers and greater greenhouse gas emissions from the herd. Reducing the replacement rate has the potential to enhance farm milk solids production and reduce emission intensity. The findings of this study underscore the importance of considering both environmental factors, such as greenhouse gas emissions, and economic aspects, such as net farm income, when evaluating and implementing strategies for sustainable dairy farming.
This article belongs to the collection: Australasian Dairy Science Symposium 2024.
AN24247 Abstract | AN24247 Full Text | AN24247PDF (438 KB) Open Access Article
The liver function index (LFI) indicates liver status and may be key during the postpartum period in dairy cows. This study, which included two groups of cows with two dietary supplements, examined the relationship between the LFI, milk production and ovarian activity. Cows with LFI greater than zero were found to produce more milk at baseline and at 28, days and 89% of cows were in estrus within the first 90 days and had larger ovarian and follicle sizes.
, J. P. McMeniman, M. R. Van der Saag and F. C. Cowley
This study aimed to evaluate existing methods for predicting methane emissions from beef cattle fed barley and wheat-based diets typical in Australian feedlots. All the tested equations were found to be inaccurate to methane emissions of feedlot cattle, underscoring the importance of developing methods with region- or country-specific data. To address this, the study developed new equations that showed better accuracy and precision in predicting methane emissions for cattle on barley and wheat-based diets.
AN24212 Abstract | AN24212 Full Text | AN24212PDF (2.1 MB) | AN24212Supplementary Material (420 KB) Open Access Article
and Chunyi Li
, Kevin Lawrence, Penny Back, Chris Rogers , Michaela Gibson and Keren Dittmer
, Jane Court, Rachelle Meyer, Mark Wootton, Eve Kantor, Rodney Keenan, Hugh Stewart and
Richard Eckard
and Sukru ONALAN
, J. P. McMeniman, M. R. Van der Saag, F. C. Cowley
, David S. Beggs
, M. A. Khan, T. J. Bosher, P. Maclean, A. Jonker
, Sung J. Yu, Thi Thu Hao Van, Yadav S. Bajagai , Dragana Stanley
, Aynur Gul Karahan , Askar Kondybayev, Aliya Kudaibergenova, Alina Nurgazina, Nurlan Akhmetsadykov, Aikerim Ospanova, Shynar Akhmetsadykova
, E. J. McGahan, K. McCormack, S. G. Wiedemann
, G. J. Bishop-Hurley, M. K. Matthews, J. Simington, C. S. McSweeney, S. E. Denman, L. Martinez-Fernandez, J. Padmanabha, P. Giacomantonio, J. Cheung
, Richard C. Hayes, Gordon Refshauge, Benjamin W. B. Holman , Neil Munday, David L. Hopkins, Li Guangdi
, Paige Beckett, Lucas Tey, Riki Burgess, Jeffery Curtis, Axel Heiser, Sally-Anne Turner, Alison J. Hodgkinson
, Youssouf Toukourou, Janvier Egah, Alassan Assani Seidou, Rodrigue Vivien Cao Diogo, Ibrahim Alkoiret Traore
, G. J. Bishop-Hurley, C. S. McSweeney, R. Takeuchi, G. Martinez-Fernandez, S. Denman
, V. H. Oddy, P. F. Arthur, M. B. McDonagh
, Hafiz A. R. Suleria, Frank R. Dunshea
, P. C. Beukes, J. P. Edwards , K. J. Verhoek, J. G. Jago , C. Zammit
, Huu Van Nguyen, Xuan Ba Nguyen, Thi Nga Bui , Cuc Thi Kim Ngo, Viet Don Nguyen , Nam Hoang, Luis Emilio Morales , Stephen Walkden-Brown
, Long Cheng, Richard Eckard , Sineka Munidasa , Lachlan Barnes, John Morton , Brendan R. Cullen
, D. Patton, J. J. Collins, L. Delaby, K. Pierce, B. Horan
, Caroline Lee , Sarah Jane Andrewartha , Megan Verdon
, J. B. Gaughan, G. Wijffels, L. F. P. Silva
This collection brings together selected research and review papers presented at the 2024 Australasian Dairy Science Symposium, Christchurch, NZ. The 2024 symposium was a special occasion, marking 20 years since the first ADSS conference in Shepparton, Victoria.
Collection Editors
Callum Eastwood (DairyNZ)
James Hills (Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania)
Arjan Jonker (AgResearch NZ)
Samuel Wilson (Massey University)
Omar Al-Marashdeh (Lincoln University)
Last Updated: 13 Feb 2025
This Collection compiles papers presented at Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition - Australia 2025 (RAAN-A 2025).
Collection Editor
Wayne Bryden (The University of Queensland)
Last Updated: 14 Oct 2024
The papers in this Collection of Animal Production Science were presented at the 9th biennial conference of Sustainable Animal Agriculture for Developing Countries (SAADC23), held in Vientiane, Laos in 2023. The meeting created a forum for collaboration among animal scientists, producers, and policy makers from developing countries, fostering the exchange of experiences and the development of sustainable animal agriculture practices.
Collection Editor
Wayne L. Bryden (University of Queensland)
Last Updated: 20 Aug 2024
This Collection follows the first Equine Science special issue of Animal Production Science published in 2020. Since the first Australian Equine Science Symposium (AESS) in 2006, there have been six biennial symposia that have provided a platform for equine researchers to enjoy a collegial atmosphere dedicated to the horse. The papers in this collection reflect the strength and diversity of Australasian Equine Science.
Collection Editors
Chris W. Rogers (Massey University)
Wayne L. Bryden (University of Queensland)
Last Updated: 13 Jun 2024
Animal Production Science brings together a Collection of research and review papers presented at the 2022 Australasian Dairy Science Symposium. The theme of the 2022 symposium was ‘A Changing Climate for Dairy Science’ so while this special issue includes papers on a range of topics, a common theme throughout the papers is addressing the challenges faced by the Australian and New Zealand dairy sectors.
Collection Editors
Keith Pembleton (University of Southern Queensland)
Callum Eastwood (DairyNZ Ltd)
James Hills (University of Tasmania)
Last Updated: 23 May 2024
Animal Production Science celebrated 60 years of publication in 2021 and to celebrate, we marked this milestone with this selection of key review papers published in the journal over the last decade, highlighting research breakthroughs, social and economic issues that have influenced primary producers, and the practice of animal production.
Last Updated: 30 Jul 2021
This Research Front comprises selected papers from the 6th International Conference on Sustainable Animal Agriculture for Developing Countries (SAADC 2017) held in Malang, Indonesia.
Last Updated: 01 Nov 2019
This Research Front comprises papers from the 6th Greenhouse Gas and Animal Agriculture Conference (GGAA2016), held on 14-18 February 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. This Research Front follows the GGAA2016 Special Edition published in Volume 56, issue 2–3. Taken together, these issues provide the latest summary of the current state of knowledge on policy developments, measurement, modelling and mitigation of greenhouse gasses from animal agriculture.
Last Updated: 08 May 2018
This Research Front comprises invited papers from Animal Production 2016 – the 31st Biennial Conference of the Australian Society of Animal Production, jointly held with the New Zealand Society of Animal Production in Adelaide, South Australia from 5–7 July 2016. With a theme of ‘Animal Welfare – Meeting Consumer Needs and Increasing Productivity’, keynote speakers included animal behavioural expert Professor Temple Grandin, whose paper is published open access within this issue, alongside papers from the named ASAP lecture series.
Last Updated: 15 Feb 2018
This Research Front comprises selected papers detailing the research conducted at the Orange proof site (Panuara, NSW Central Tablelands) as part of the national EverGraze program. The EverGraze program aimed to develop livestock systems based in productive perennial pasture to increase profit and improve environmental outcomes in the high rainfall zone of southern Australia.
Last Updated: 31 Jul 2017
This Research Front comprises selected papers from the 5th International Conference on Sustainable Animal Agriculture for Developing Countries (SAADC2015) held in Pattaya. SAADC was established by a non-profit volunteer group of researchers and academicians in 2007 with the primary objective of providing a platform for researchers, particularly those from developing countries, to share their research findings and to network for the promotion of sustainable animal agriculture in developing countries.
Last Updated: 26 Jun 2017
The papers published in this Reearch Front comprise research outcomes from the National Agricultural Manure Management Program (NAMMP). This program was developed by a consortium of rural research and development corporations who recognised similar knowledge gaps in manure management systems across Australian intensive livestock production. These gaps included gathering information on the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from different livestock and manure management systems, together with the sources and causes of GHG emissions in the different systems. The NAMMP consortium proved successful for both researchers and industry and is a model that should be considered for any future cross-sectoral programs.
Last Updated: 27 Jul 2016
New genomic technologies have revolutionised our approach to animal breeding and increased the rate of genetic change. This Collection brings together a selection of research articles that review research progress and updates our knowledge of the delivery of livestock genomics research applications, specifically for the beef and dairy cattle and sheep industries globally.
Last Updated: 19 Aug 2013
This Research Front marks a very special milestone in the life of the ProSafeBeef programme (http://www.prosafebeef.eu/) funded by the European Community. It comprises the presentations, discussion and outcomes from an International Workshop entitled ‘Animal Production in a Changing World’ held in Clermont-Ferrand on 9–10 September 2009 and organised by INRA (France) under the auspices of the ProSafeBeef programme.
Last Updated: 15 Dec 2010
The National Dairy Alliance held its second Dairy Science Symposium in Mount Gambier, South Australia on 13 and 14 February 2006. This Research Front contains a selection of plenary papers presented at the Symposium by distinguished scientists developing technologies in the above areas, which are likely to have significant impacts on the future dairy industry.
Last Updated: 06 Aug 2007
This Research Front presents papers describing meat standards in animal production.
Last Updated: 02 Jul 2007
