This work reports the development of a low-density DNA genetic markers (single-nucleotide polymorphism) panel specifically for Bos indicus cattle and their crosses, applied to identify the association of these markers with economically relevant traits and to the genomic selection, with high accuracy of genotype imputation to high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism chips.

The effects of climate change are predicted to have adverse effects on crop and livestock production, particularly in developing countries. The study aimed to investigate practical mitigation strategies that could be implemented in extensive and semi-intensive subtropical ruminant production systems. The results suggest that Lespedeza cuneata has the potential to reduce enteric CH₄ yield and possibly increase production from sheep by improving diet dry matter digestibility and through improved dry matter intake.

More poultry houses are being built to fulfil the demand for poultry products. Increased production with excess protein leads to ammonia in poultry houses. Supplementation with Lactobacillus species in the diet of laying hens caused insignificant effects for bodyweight, feed intake, egg production, feed conversion ratio, ammonia in manure, serum parameters and uric acid in liver.

Limestone is a commonly used calcium source for laying hens. However, it cannot efficiently satisfy the large requirements of calcium for the eggshell formation. The current study evaluated the effects of protected-calcium supplementation on egg production and egg quality in Hy-line brown layers. We found that dietary protected calcium can promote the utilisation of calcium and phosphorus to enhance the eggshell characteristics.

There is a lack of studies concerning the nutrient requirements of dairy calves, mainly, evaluating different genetic groups. The present study determined requirements of dairy calves feeding liquid feed containing increasing dry-matter concentrations and the influence of genetic group (Holstein or Holstein × Gyr) on these requirements. In summary, genetic group had no effect on the requirements of pre-weaned dairy calves and the inclusion of milk replacer in the liquid feed had a negative impact on diet quality.

Production systems using heifers have several commercial advantages in terms of meat production and efficiency such as a shorter time to reach slaughter weight, better meat quality and better carcass grade than male cattle. This study compared a protein–energy supplement with a same-cost maize-based supplement (3 vs 7 g/kg bodyweight.day) for pasture-finished Nellore heifers over 133 days. Supply of maize-based supplement to Nellore heifers on pasture is important because it allows the same final bodyweight but greater hot carcass weight, and in most production systems, producers are paid on the basis of carcass weight.

A study was conducted over 9 years at Douglas Daly Research Station, NT, to compare liveweight gain and sequestration of soil organic carbon when cattle grazed buffel grass under either continuous grazing (CG) or intensive rotational grazing (IRG) regimes. In each year liveweight gain was lower (both per head and per hectare) under IRG than CG, and soil organic carbon stocks did not increase in the IRG treatment over time.

Regular use of antibiotics in feedlot cattle exposes the environment and the consumer of beef to bacteria with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In this experiment we demonstrated that the practice of preconditioning, where calves are carefully prepared before entering the feedlot, reduces disease and the use of antibiotics, while simultaneously improving cattle production. Preconditioning of feedlot cattle may therefore reduce the contribution of beef production to AMR development while adding to the profitability of a beef feedlot.

Milking parameters that affect the health of an animal and profitability of their production are of high importance. In the present study, somatic-cell count (SCC) and various milking parameters collected by an automatic milking system (AMS) were investigated. Information on various factors and their levels provided by the AMS may help farmers manage their herds more effectively.

How calves are fed can affect their long-term growth and performance. We reared calves either with a standard grain-based pelleted meal or a forage-based starter feed. The grain starter produced better early growth, but liveweight was similar for calves reared on both diets from 7 months to slaughter, with little effect on meat quality.

Very fast chilling has the potential to achieve a consistently good eating quality of red meat without a need for ageing by inducing rapid tenderisation, but the required temperature regime is difficult to achieve under commercial conditions. This experiment tested the effect of electrical stimulation with a very fast chilling regime, and found that a less stringent chilling regime was required than without electrical stimulation. Electrical stimulation will make very fast chilling regimes easier to achieve in practice, but further work is required to verify consumer acceptance of lamb processed this way.