This research is an innovative source of information, which contributes to the study of improving the efficiency of animal production with a focus on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. The dietary supplementation with additives can alter the ruminal metabolism and reduce energy loss in methane form. The results of this research support the study of the reduction of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Quantitative traits, such as growth performances, are influenced both by environment and genes. In particular, they are under the control of several genes. Animal genotyping is a powerful aid to animal breeding. In this study we aimed to investigate a single nucleotide polymorphism within the bovine STAT5A gene in young bulls belonging to Podolica breed, looking for a possible relationship between this polymorphism and some growth performance traits. The investigated mutation seems associated with liveweight and daily gain of animals.

Fertility is an important economic trait in dairy cattle. Most variation in fertility performance is due to phenotypic factors. The classification tree technique may help farmers enhance fertility in dairy cattle herds.

Agricultural industries face the challenge of maintaining and expanding production to meet global food requirements with fewer resources, while producing less greenhouse gas (GHG). This study quantified energy and water use, land occupation and GHG from the major export lamb production regions of Australia using a farm-gate life cycle assessment. Water, energy and GHG emissions were found to be moderate compared with other export nations or global averages. Lamb production primarily utilised non-arable land unsuitable for many alternative foods.

The PigBal model is widely used to predict piggery manure solids and nutrient production, using diet, feed intake and pig production data. Replicated feeding trials demonstrated that the model provided accurate predictions of manure solids and potassium. This suggests that the model can be used confidently for designing piggery effluent treatment systems, evaluating the energy potential from anaerobic digestion of pig effluent, and estimating greenhouse gas emissions.

Broiler breeder hens exhibit an irregular frequency in egg laying, different from those observed with commercial laying hens. It is important to know this characteristic when predicting the daily requirements to develop an adequate feed program for a breeder’s flock. Thus, this study aimed to model egg production in a flock of broiler breeder hens by non-isometric equations. On the basis of the results achieved, the simulation models used here for broiler breeders have a good prediction of the weight of egg and its components over the laying period. Therefore, these models can be used to predict nutrient requirements for broiler breeder hens.

All animals and birds need a daily dose of nutrients with which to maintain their bodies, and these maintenance requirements sometimes make up a greater proportion of the overall requirement for nutrients than do those to sustain egg production or growth, so it is essential when calculating their daily nutrient requirements to work out accurately how much would be needed for maintenance purposes. These requirements should be based on the protein weight of the bird, and not bodyweight, because body fat does not need to be maintained, so the main aim of this research was to determine to what extent body protein weight changes over the life of a broiler breeder. As long as the hen continues to lay eggs it appears that body protein weight does not change, so her maintenance requirements will also not change during the laying period.

Heat stress is a multibillion dollar problem as high environmental temperature compromises animal production leading to devastating economic consequences to global animal agriculture. Therefore, with the aim to ameliorate heat stress impacts, current research developed a new biomarker to investigate oxidative stress induced by heat stress and also suggested antioxidants as a strategy to reduce heat stress in sheep.

Retention of fetal membranes (RFM) in cows seriously affects the production and reproduction efficiency. We identified some metabolic indicators for RFM in Zebu and crossbred cows. These indicators can be used for monitoring the negative energy balance in the herd and to take suitable measures for reducing the incidence of RFM.

For several years nutrient requirements systems have been using maturity as the weight of an adult animal. However, little work has been done to verify if this is physiologically correct. The aim was to quantify the relationship between carcass components to develop an objective method to define maturity weight for Nellore cattle. Our database indicated that in Nellore cattle maturity was reached between 400 and 450 kg.

Knowledge about pedigree is important in studies of population structure, especially where precise estimates of fitness parameters are required. The aim of this study was to use pedigree analysis to evaluate the population structure, genetic variability and inbreeding in Iranian buffaloes. Inbreeding trend was significantly positive over the years and average coancestry was increased in recent years. Avoiding the accumulation of inbreeding in a small population like this one may prevent the significant economic losses and decreased response to selection for important performance traits in the future.

Corn silages are widely used in dairy systems; in order to improve dairy cows’ milk production corn silages of high quality should be achieved. In the present study, the effect of a corn silage with a higher digestibility (brown midrib corn silage) on dairy cow performance was evaluated and showed an increase in milk and protein production. The use of this corn silage is an interesting strategy to enhance milk production in early lactation.

Diet is one the main factors that modifies meat characteristics as well as the main cost in intensive rearing systems. The effect of different fat sources included at low level (3.8–4.0%) on meat quality from young Friesian steers has been assessed. At these low levels, the used fats did not change significantly animal performance or meat quality. Therefore, in concentrate rearing systems, it is possible to include the cheapest fat in the finishing step without significantly modifying the quality of the final product.

Free-range broilers consume unknown amounts of pasture with ambiguous nutritional value and this may influence performance. N-alkanes have been used in this study to estimate the intake of Kikuyu grass at 13.5–14.7% of total as-fed intake by free-range broilers. A significant increase in both feed intake and feed conversion ratio on accounting for grass consumption gives an indication that grass consumption may be under-represented and not systematically considered. The amount of grass consumed causes detrimental effects both for the bird and for production costs.

Potassium diformate (KDF), as an acidifier, has been shown to improve growth performance in pigs, but it is not yet known whether KDF regulates gastric function. Adding 10 g/kg KDF to the diet of weaning piglets changed the expressions of somatostain, gastrin and H⁺-K⁺-ATPase and the activity of pepsin in the gastric oxyntic mucosa, altered the concentrations of lactic acid and hydrochloric acid in the digesta. For the first time, the present paper reports that KDF could regulate the expression of gastric function genes.

Soybean oil can provide different available energy in pigs when its concentration or the composition of diet is different. This research determined the effect of soybean oil concentration and composition of diet on the available energy of soybean oil. The results showed that the more soybean oil pigs consumed the greater available energy soybean oil contained for growing pigs.

In a previous experiment, the proportion of female lambs was higher when Border Leicester × Merino first-cross ewes were fed a diet high in omega-6 fatty acids. In the current study, the proportion of female lambs was also higher when Merino ewes were fed a diet high in omega-6 than a diet low in omega-6 fatty acids either pre-mating only or both pre- and post-mating. The mechanism resulting in the diet high in omega-6 influencing the sex ratio of lambs appears to operate before or around conception. Enterprises breeding first-cross ewes as dams for terminal sire operations may benefit from an increased proportion of females by feeding ewes a diet high in omega-6 around the time of mating.

Thiazolidinediones (TZD) are used in the treatment of diabetes but may increase fat deposition in humans. This study demonstrated that TZDs increase feed intake, growth and carcass fat, but not visceral fat in sheep. In conclusion, dietary TZDs mitigate against the inhibitory effect of carcass fatness on feed intake in sheep but the additional consumed energy is deposited as fat.

It is important to search alternative sources of energy in finishing lambs rations to reduce the use of grains. This study was designed to evaluate the addition of calcium propionate on lamb performance, a compound that usually is not included in the rations. Results show that it is feasible to incorporate 10 or 20 g/kg of calcium propionate in finishing diets.

Consumers have increased interest for natural products and high quality meat products, because they are concerned about the health risks related to consumption of some synthetic antioxidants. The effects of dietary plant extract (PE) on pork muscle and Cremona salami were studied. An improvement in oxidative stability and fat composition were found in raw meat and in Cremona salami respectively. Dietary PE supplementation is a possible strategy to fortify pork and salami production.

Over the past few years, poultry meat product safety and quality have received a negative perspective from consumers. The use of antibiotic growth promoters, PSE (pale, soft, exudative)-like condition and oxidation are some of the concerns. Plant additives are gaining preference as they are perceived to exert antioxidant, antimicrobial and growth-promoting effects, actions that are partially associated with improved production of safe and quality poultry products. In the present study M. oleifera leaf meal enhanced the colour, shelf life and nutrient composition of broiler meat.