Agricultural manures have been thought to be a relatively minor greenhouse gas (GHG) emission source within Australasia’s agricultural sector. However, our review revealed omissions and assumptions in current manure emission GHG estimates that, when accounted for, could mean that manures are indeed a major GHG emission source. The encouraging news is that several ‘close-to-market’ options exist to mitigate these emissions.

Milk harvesting is a fundamental component of dairy farming, requiring significant labour input. Consequently, with increasing herd sizes, there is a constant drive to improve milking efficiency. Explaining differences in milking efficiency by monitoring milking practices and the adoption of new technologies can, therefore, be beneficial to the industry. The results of this work indicate the use of technology was associated with greater labour efficiency but the potential benefits of each technology require careful evaluation to ensure appropriate selection decisions are made by farmers to meet their requirements.

Although myo-inositol is proportionately equivalent to phosphorus in phytic acid, its contribution to the observed beneficial effects of phytase in poultry and swine nutrition is obscure. Evidence is presented herein to show substantial increases in myo-inositol concentrations in the plasma of poultry in response to phytase addition. As myo-inositol has recently been shown to be an insulin-mimetic, links between insulin pathways, glucose uptake, protein accretion and exogenous phytase are drawn.

The search for solutions to safeguard animal performance and health while reducing antibiotic usage currently attracts worldwide interest. While certain feed additives such as probiotics and phytogenics show promising results, tailoring additive combinations as part of an overall efficacious dietary strategy is largely undeveloped. Our results support the concept of sequential or throughout probiotic and phytogenic administration as being beneficial for broiler performance and broiler antioxidant status, worth of further investigation.

Co-products from the bioethanol industry used as feed for farm animals are receiving considerable attention as worldwide bioethanol production is increasing. There is little information on the nutritional value of wet co-products from bioethanol production as feed for pigs. It can be concluded from the results of this study that wet concentrated distillers solubles manufactured from wheat contain more energy and ileal digestible amino acids than corresponding dried co-products recorded in recognised tables with information on nutritional value of feed ingredients.

Plant extracts in ruminant diets might have beneficial effects on nutrient degradation in the rumen while mitigating methane production. In this study the main bioactive components of black seed (Nigella sativa) oil and of the root powder of Ferula elaeochytris were identified and their effects were investigated in an incubation system. No significant changes on nutrient degradation and methane formation were observed, possibly depending on the low dosages tested.

This paper is about the inclusion of ingredients of soybean origin in supplements and the frequency of supplementation of grazing cattle during the drier periods of the year, evaluating the effects on animal performance. The main finding was that frequency of supplementation did not affect the weight gain of cattle, but suggested that supplementation could be done 3 days a week opposed to daily, and would decrease production costs.

Rapid increase in milk production in early-lactation cows leads to reduced dry matter intake, negative energy balance, lipolysis and insulin resistance. Thus, the concentrations of some blood metabolites and enzymes that are indicative of liver function may be altered. Choline and vitamin E supplementation may improve liver function in dairy cows in early lactation.

In the arid zones of Mexico young kids graze/browse together with their mothers on rangeland. It is unknown if goat kids discern between forages, therefore the aim was to find out if 4-week-old goat kids display an efficient foraging behavior. Kids ingested a diet richer in nutrients than mature goats; thus, herbage selection seems to be shaped by physiological effort.

The study was conducted to observe the impact of simulated heat-stress model on productive and adaptive capability of Malpura ewes. Compared with constant heat-stress models, the simulated model inflicts less severe physiological strain as evidenced by relatively lower changes in the heat-stress markers such as RR, RT and plasma cortisol. However, their growth and reproductive performance are compromised during the process of adaptation.

Biofuel industry generates vast amounts of plant by-products, including rapeseed cake (RC) and distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS). The aim of study was to determine whether RC and wheat DDGS can be used as components of diets for rabbits. Our study demonstrated that 5% RC can be incorporated into rabbit dietary as a substitute of soybean meal. Because the productivity of rabbits fed 2.5% of DDGS (with 2.5% RC) was comparable to the 5% RC, the incorporation of up to 2.5% wheat DDGS to a diet should also be taken as a dietary option. The higher content of DDGS (5%) in the diet deteriorated the growth of rabbits.

As an alternative to traditional weaning by abrupt separation, weaning beef calves in two stages by fitting nose flaps to prevent nursing before the final separation might reduce the stress response. Although two-stage weaning positively influenced the post-weaning behaviour of the calves and cows, the devices caused heavy irritations of the nasal septum. Therefore, the design of the anti-suckling devices and the period the devices are fitted should be modified in order to minimise nasal abrasions.

Furnished cage type is concerned with productivity, welfare and egg quality of lying hens. The effects of large and small furnished cages on layer hens were studied and the results showed that the hens in LFC had lower productivity, higher egg quality and better welfare than those in SFC and CC. The study provided further information for furnished cage design.

Path analysis was used to investigate effects of some morphological measurements on slaughter and carcass traits. The direct effect of bodyweight on carcass weight was the strongest and positively influenced (P < 0.01). Finally, the optimum multiple regression equation on carcass weight was found bodyweight as R² of 0.7463.

Current society shows an increasing interest in traditional production systems: related to rural development, animal welfare and healthier products. The aim of this work was to raise ‘Segureña’ lambs on pasture with salt-tolerant forages, however lambs showed lower growth rate and carcasses with poorer conformation scores than those raised in an intensive system. Supplementation with concentrates in grazing systems seems to be necessary to improve lambs’ performance in semiarid regions.

Cottonseed by-products are alternative feedstuffs that may be successfully fed to ruminants; however, their use is limited by gossypol, a toxic compound present in the cottonseed plant that affects animals and humans. This study evaluated productive and health parameters, as well as the presence of gossypol residues in the meat of lambs fed cottonseed by-products. The results obtained were satisfactory and no gossypol residues were found in meat, demonstrating the potential of these by-products as feedstuffs for lambs.

As protocols for oestrus synchronisation shortened the time of exposure to progesterone, CIDR devices were able to be reused; however, they can be a health risk. This study demonstrated that new and previously used (and autoclaved) devices are equally effective for synchronisation of oestrus and ovulation during the breeding season in goats. This approach decreases the cost of oestrus synchronisation program and makes it more economically feasible for producers.