Our current environmental challenges, including worldwide abnormal weather, global warming and pollution, necessitate a new and innovative strategy for animal production for the next generation. This strategy should incorporate not only higher-efficiency production, but also advanced biological concepts and multi-functional agricultural techniques, into environmentally friendly systems. In this review, we describe how to control productivity of livestock by nutritional stimulus in foetuses and neonates, or bring out the potential of animals to their maximum level, using the application of foetal and neonatal programming based on epigenetics for livestock production, especially ruminant production with grass resources.

The process of digesting grass in the fore-stomach of cattle releases the by-product methane, a potent greenhouse-gas. Simple methods are required to qualify methane emissions by cattle grazing extensive pastures and any reduction in emissions following a management change. A hypothetical example of feeding lipid to cattle showed that current models could quantify emissions before and during feed supplementation and be used to substantiate a claim for financial reward for greenhouse-gas emission reduction.

Physically effective neutral detergent fibre (peNDF) affects intake, digestibility and chewing activity in beef cattle. This study was to determine the effects of peNDF in a total mixed ration (TMR) on feed intake, digestibility and chewing activity in beef cattle. High levels of peNDF appear to improve TMR, as it can increase efficiency and may prevent ruminal disorders in Hanwoo steer.

This study was designed to provide information about feeding behaviour and reduction of feed selection when Nellore cattle are fed sodium monensin in finishing diets. Cattle fed 9 ppm of sodium monensin were less selective and more efficient at consuming 1 kg of dry matter and neutral detergent fibre. Therefore, the dose of choice should be 9 ppm of sodium monensin.

Beef meat colour is important for consumer acceptance, with unfavourable colours associated with rejection. Meat of a dark colour can have a reduced shelf-life and eating quality. When stored for up to 20 weeks, longissimus scored as light, medium and dark at grading all had a ‘good everyday’ eating quality. We have demonstrated that beef aged for 20 weeks is still acceptable to consumers, regardless of meat colour at carcass grading.

This study was conducted to determine whether re-conception rates in Brahman first-lactation heifers in the Victoria River District (NT) could be reliably improved by pre-partum supplementation with high protein supplements as previous results have been inconsistent. Re-conception rates were significantly higher in supplemented heifers in each of the 3 years of this study and were an average of 42% units higher over the 3 years. It was concluded that feeding pre-partum protein supplements for a period of at least 100 days until green grass is available is a reliable method of increasing re-conception rates in first-lactation heifers in the Victoria River District.

A major objective in livestock production is the use of alternative products that are affordable and capable of enhancing quality and healthiness of food. Dried stoned olive pomace (DSOP) is a by-product from olive oil production and represents an interesting item. Our aim was to evaluate productive performance and milk quality of dairy cattle fed DSOP; the experimentation suggested that DSOP is a good ingredient for lactating cows. In conclusion, olive oil residue is a resource for feeding ruminants and not a waste product.

Changes in climate and water policy will reduce the amount and increase the variability in water allocations to irrigators in northern Victoria. This study examined whether feeding supplements in partial mixed rations, instead of feeding grain in the dairy, would help overcome the impacts of these changes for two irrigated dairy farms in the region. One farm could maintain profitability under a scenario of medium climate change, but variability of annual profit increased. Under more severe reductions in water availability, neither farm was profitable and other changes, in addition to, or instead of, feeding a partial mixed ration would be needed.

This study aimed to reveal protein molecular structure changes induced by moist and dry heating in relation to protein digestion in dairy cows. Compared with dry heating, moist heating significantly decreased protein degradability in the rumen and increased intestinal digestibility of rumen undegraded protein, and these changes were associated with alteration of protein molecular structures. Advance molecular spectroscopy can measure change in protein molecular structures.

The prenatal environment can influence subsequent postnatal growth and development of tissues and organs. Muscle fibre number and size and gene expression in muscles of fetal sheep of different sizes were analysed at three stages of gestation. Myofibre size but not myofibre number was higher in large foetthan in small fetuses in late pregnancy.

There is increasing societal concern for the welfare of experimental animals. This study showed that total emptying of rumen contents from rumen-cannulated sheep causes minor disturbances to rumen fermentative parameters and behavioural comfort under our experimental conditions. This experimental technique operated on trained animals offers an acceptable way to gain further insight into digestive and metabolic mechanisms.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of short-term magnesium supplementation on transport stress in lambs. The results showed that magnesium supplementation for 2 weeks before transport did not decrease stress during transport, but stress associated with transport decreased feed intake after transportation, which could have a negative impact on liveweight gain in these animals.

Understanding the trans-10-shift during rumen biohydrogenation is important in relation to physiological responses in the animal and the fatty acid profile of ruminant meat and milk. Although trans-11-18:1 accumulation most often precedes trans-10-18:1 formation, our study showed that accumulation of trans-11-18:1 is not a prerequisite for the formation of trans-10-18:1. Hence, the shift to an alternative biohydrogenation pathway via trans-10-18:1 does not seem to be induced by saturation of the most common pathway via trans-11-18:1.

Goat milk with low concentrations of free fatty acids is necessary for the production of high-quality cheese. This study tested if goats in high body condition at kidding produced milk with lower free fatty acid concentrations than goats in poor condition. Results showed that goats that attained high condition due to high feed-energy intake prior to kidding produced milk with lower free fatty acid concentrations.

Leaves of black Cují (Acacia macracantha), arid and semi-arid areas of South America species, can be used as part of the diet of rabbits. The leaves of black Cují treated with soaking for several hours may be part of the diet of rabbits to 30% of the total dry matter. The use of treated black Cují leaves consumed by growing rabbits allows intake of food and weight gain similar to those achieved with traditional breeding rabbit diets.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the white rot fungus (Pleurotus ostreatus) to degrade lignin in low-quality crop residues, in an effort to enhance their nutritional value. Results showed that incubation of low-quality crop residues with P. ostreatus under solid-state conditions can upgrade their feeding value by reducing the content of lignin and increasing the content of crude protein and ruminal degradation.