Stage-specific nutritional management and developmental programming to optimize meat productionOA

Over the past few decades,genetic selection and refined nutritional management have extensively been used to increase the growth rate and lean meat production of livestock.However,the rapid growth rates of modern breeds are often accompanied by a reduction in intramuscular fat deposition and increased occurrences of muscle abnormalities,impairing meat quality and processing functionality.Early stages of animal development set the longterm growth trajectory of offspring.However,due to the seasona...     

Butyrate in combination with forskolin alleviates necrotic enteritis,increases feed efficiency,and improves carcass composition of broilersOA

Background: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance has necessitated the development of effective alternatives to antibiotics for livestock and poultry production. This study investigated a possible synergy between butyrate and forskolin(a natural labdane diterpene) in enhancing innate host defense, barrier function, disease resistance, growth performance, and meat quality of broilers.Methods: The expressions of representative genes involved in host defense(AvBD9 and AvBD10), barrier function(...     

A novel candidate gene CLN8 regulates fat deposition in avianOA

Background The fat deposition has a crucial role in animal meat flavor, and fat deposition-related traits are vital for breeding in the commercial duck industry. Avian fat-related traits are typical complex phenotypes, which need a large amount of data to analyze the genetic loci.Results In this study, we performed a new phenotypic analysis of fat traits and genotyped whole-genome variations for 1,246 ducks, and combed with previous GWAS data to reach 1,880 ducks for following analysis. The carc...     

Improving genomic predictions by correction of genotypes from genotyping by sequencing in livestock populations

Background: Genotyping by sequencing(GBS) is a robust method to genotype markers. Many factors can influence the genotyping quality. One is that heterozygous genotypes could be wrongly genotyped as homozygotes,dependent on the genotyping depths. In this study, a method correcting this type of genotyping error was demonstrated. The efficiency of this correction method and its effect on genomic prediction were assessed using simulated data of livestock populations.Results: Chip array(Chip) and four depths of GBS data was simulated. After quality control(call rate ≥ 0.8 and MAF ≥ 0.01), the remaining number of Chip and GBS SNPs were both approximately 7,000, averaged over 10 replicates. GBS genotypes were corrected with the proposed method. The reliability of genomic prediction was calculated using GBS, corrected GBS(GBSc), true genotypes for the GBS loci(GBSr) and Chip data. The results showed that GBSc had higher rates of correct genotype calls and higher correlations with true genotypes than GBS. For genomic prediction, using Chip data resulted in the highest reliability. As the depth increased to 10, the prediction reliabilities using GBS and GBSc data approached those using true GBS data. The reliabilities of genomic prediction using GBSc data were 0.604, 0.672, 0.684 and 0.704 after genomic correction, with the improved values of 0.013, 0.009, 0.006 and 0.001 at depth = 2, 4, 5 and 10, respectively.Conclusions: The current study showed that a correction method for GBS data increased the genotype accuracies and, consequently, improved genomic predictions. These results suggest that a correction of GBS genotype is necessary, especially for the GBS data with low depths.     

Effects of dietary oil sources and fat extraction methods on apparent and standardized ileal digestibility of fat and fatty acids in growing pigsOA

Background:There is a lack of data for the standardized ileal digestibility(SID) of fat and fatty acids in national feed databases.In addition,it is important to specify the procedures used for fat analyses.Therefore,an experiment was conducted to 1) determine the apparent ileal digestibility(AID) and SID of fat and fatty acids in ten different oil sources for growing pigs and to develop prediction equations for SID of fat based on fatty acid composition;and 2) compare the effect of the fat extr...     

Effect of dietary magnolia bark extract supplementation in finishing pigs on the oxidative stability of meatOA

Background: Magnolia bark extract(MBE) is a natural supplement with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Its properties suggest that the dietary supplementation in livestock could improve the quality of products. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time, the effect of dietary MBE supplementation(0.33 mg/kg) in finishing pigs on the oxidative stability of meat. Oxidative stability is of paramount importance for pork, as it affects storage, r...     

Single-base editing in IGF2 improves meat production and intramuscular fat deposition in Liang Guang Small Spotted pigsOA

Background Chinese indigenous pigs are popular with consumers for their juiciness,flavour and meat quality,but they have lower meat production.Insulin-like growth factor 2(IGF2) is a maternally imprinted growth factor that promotes skeletal muscle growth by regulating cell proliferation and differentiation.A single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) within intron 3 of porcine IGF2 disrupts a binding site for the repressor,zinc finger BED-type containing 6(ZBED6),leading to up-regulation of IGF2 and ca...     

Gas stunning with CO_2 affected meat color,lipid peroxidation,oxidative stress,and gene expression of mitogen-activated protein kinases,glutathione S-transferases,and Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase in the skeletal muscles of broilers

Background: Meat color and lipid peroxidation are important traits related to meat quality. CO_2 concentration is a critical factor that can affect meat quality in the commercial use of gas stunning(GS). However, the effect and mechanism of CO_2 stunning on meat color and lipid peroxidation during long-term storage remain poorly studied. We aimed to study the effects of GS methods, especial y CO_2 concentration, on meat color and meat lipid peroxidation in broilers during long-term storage at 4 °C and to explore the potential mechanism of meat color change via lipid peroxidation and the inner lipid peroxide scavenging system.Methods: Eighteen broilers were sacrificed after exposure to one of the following gas mixtures for 90 s: 40% CO_2+21% O_2+ 39% N2(G40%), 79% CO_2+ 21% O_2(G79%), or no stunning(0% CO_2, control). Meat color, serum variables,enzyme activities, and the gene expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), nuclear factor-erythroid2-related factor 2(Nrf2), glutathione S-transferase(GST) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) were determined.(Continued on next page)Results: The concentrations of serum triiodothyronine(T3, P = 0.03) and the ratio of serum free triiodothyronine/free thyroxine(FT3/FT4, P 0.01) were decreased, whereas levels of serum cortisol(P 0.01) were increased in the 40%CO_2 group compared with the control group. Additionally, the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances(TBARS)3 d(P 0.01) and TBARS6 d(P = 0.01) in breast meat and the TBARS3 din thigh meat(P 0.01) were increased in the40% CO_2 group compared with the control group. Serum T3 was negatively correlated with TBARS6 dboth in the breast and thigh meat(r =-0.63, P 0.01 and r =-0.47, P = 0.05 respectively). T3/T4 was negatively correlated with TBARS6 din the breast meat and in the thigh meat(r =-0.57, P = 0.01; and r =-0.53, P = 0.03 respectively). Compared with the control group, Lightness(L*)1 d(P = 0.03) and L*9 d(P 0.01) were increased, whereas total chromatic aberration(E*)1 d(P = 0.05) and E*3 d(P 0.01) were decreased in the breast meat of both the G40% and G79% groups. The values of yel owness(b*)3 d(P = 0.01), b*6 d(P 0.01) and E*6 d(P 0.01) in the thigh meat were lower in both the G40% and G79% groups than in the control group. In the breast muscle, the m RNA levels of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 2(JNK2, P = 0.03),GSTT1(P = 0.04), and SOD1(P = 0.05) were decreased, and the m RNA levels of JNK1(P = 0.07), Nrf2(P = 0.09), and GSTA3(P = 0.06) were slightly lower in both the G40% and G79% groups compared with the control group. However, among these genes, only the m RNA level of JNK1 was decreased in the G40% group compared with the control group and the G79% group(P = 0.03) in the thigh muscle.Conclusions: Compared with the control group, meat color quality in the breast meat was decreased, and the expression of genes in the MAPK/Nrf2/ARE(antioxidant responsive element) antioxidant pathway in breast muscle was partly suppressed by GS of both 40% and 79% CO_2. However, oxidative stress and meat lipid peroxidation during storage were aggravated by GS with 40% CO_2 compared to GS with 79% CO_2 and no GS.     

Dietary calcium supplementation promotes the accumulation of intramuscular fatOA

Background: In the livestock industry, intramuscular fat content is a key factor affecting meat quality. Many studies have shown that dietary calcium supplementation is closely related to lipid metabolism. However, few studies have examined the relationship between dietary calcium supplementation and intramuscular fat accumulation.Methods: Here, we used C2C12 cells, C57BL/6 mice(n = 8) and three-way cross-breeding pigs(Duroc×Landrace×Large white)(n = 10) to study the effect of calcium addition o...     

Comparisons of carcass traits,meat quality,and serum metabolome between Shaziling and Yorkshire pigs

This study aims to compare the meat quality of Shaziling and Yorkshire pigs and to find the potential indicator in serum for superior meat quality.Six Shaziling and Yorkshire pigs at 30,60,90,150,210,and 300 d of age were selected to examine carcass traits,meat quality,and serum metabolome.The results showed that the body weight,carcass length,and loin eye area of Shaziling pigs at 150,210,and 300 d of age were significantly lower than those of Yorkshire pigs(P<0.05).Shaziling pigs at 150 and 300 d of age had significantly lower backfat thickness than Yorkshire pigs(P<0.05).Compared with Yorkshire pigs,Shaziling pigs at all 6 ages had a lower lean percentage and a higher fat percentage(P<0.05).At 60,90,and 150 d of age,the post-mortem pH-decline,b*value(yellowness),and drip loss of Shaziling pigs were significantly lower than those of Yorkshire pigs(P<0.05).Moreover,at 150 d of age,Shaziling pigs had significantly higher a^*value(redness)and intramuscular fat(IMF)content than Yorkshire pigs(P<0.05).Correlation analysis between the top 40 metabolites and phenotypes indicated that L-carnitine had positive correlations with fat percentage,pH24h,and IMF content,but had negative correlations with lean percentage,L^*value(lightness),and b^*value(P<0.05).Serum L-carnitine content,fat percentage,pH24h,and IMF content all decreased first and then increased as the pigs grew,which verified the positive correlations between L-carnitine and these phenotypes.In conclusion,Shaziling pigs have a slower growth rate but a better meat quality than Yorkshire pigs.The meat quality of Shaziling pigs is the best from 150 to 210 d of age.This study suggests that a higher serum L-carnitine content is a promising indicator for better meat quality.     

Predicting the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs based on net energy and digestible lysine intake using multiple regression and artificial neural networks modelsOA

Backgrounds: Evaluating the growth performance of pigs in real-time is laborious and expensive, thus mathematical models based on easily accessible variables are developed. Multiple regression(MR) is the most widely used tool to build prediction models in swine nutrition, while the artificial neural networks(ANN) model is reported to be more accurate than MR model in prediction performance. Therefore, the potential of ANN models in predicting the growth performance of pigs was evaluated and comp...     

Extracellular vesicles from oviductal and uterine fluids supplementation in sequential in vitro culture improves bovine embryo qualityOA

Background: In vitro production of bovine embryos is a well-established technology, but the in vitro culture(IVC)system still warrants improvements, especially regarding embryo quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of extracellular vesicles(EVs) isolated from oviductal(OF) and uterine fluid(UF) in sequential IVC on the development and quality of bovine embryos. Zygotes were cultured in SOF supplemented with either BSA or EVs-depleted fetal calf serum(dFCS) in the presence(BSA-EV and d...     

Pretreatment with probiotics Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 11181 attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium-induced gut injury through modulating intestinal microbiome and immune responses with barrier function in broiler chickensOA

Background:Preventing Salmonella infection and colonization in young birds is key to improving poultry gut health and reducing Salmonella contamination of poultry products and decreasing salmonellosis for human consumption(poultry meat and eggs).Probiotics can improve poultry health.The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of a probiotics,Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 11181(E.faecium NCIMB 11181) on the intestinal mucosal immune responses,microbiome and barrier function in the pres...     

Fermented mixed feed alters growth performance,carcass traits,meat quality and muscle fatty acid and amino acid profiles in finishing pigs

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of fermented mixed feed(FMF) on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, muscle amino acid and fatty acid composition and mRNA expression levels of genes related to lipid metabolism in finishing pigs. In the present study, 144 finishing pigs(Duroc × Berkshire × Jiaxing Black) were randomly allocated to 3 dietary treatments with 4 replicate pens per group and 12 pigs per pen. The dietary treatments included a basal diet(CON), a basal di...     

Grassland quality response to climate change in Xinjiang and predicted future trends北大核心CSCD

Grassland is a major vegetation type in Xinjiang Province,and is an important component of carbon source-sink calculations. It is therefore important to ecological management decisions to understand the factors driving changes in grassland quality and likely future trends in those changes. We used geographic information maps to eliminate the interference of human activities and determine changes in grassland status and areas of stable grassland from 1980 to 2020,and analyzed changes in grassland quality and its response to climate change using data such as normalized vegetation index（NDVI）,vegetation net primary productivity（NPP）,and meteorological data,among others. We here estimate changes in grassland quality in Xinjiang and predict grassland quality changes from 2021 to 2040 using the Thornthwaite Memorial model and other models. We found that：1） The grassland quality in Xinjiang was generally increasing,with a statistically significant rate of ongoing increase. The grassland cover and quality in mountainous areas of Xinjiang was high,while that at the desert edge was low. 2）The main driving forces for grassland quality changes in Xinjiang are temperature and precipitation. The correlation between grassland quality and precipitation was positive. Temperatures exceeding a certain limit were found to inhibit grassland quality. Sensitivity to temperature and precipitation decline was found to be greater when vegetation cover was lower. 3）The grassland quality and its temporal and spatial changes in Xinjiang can be reflected by climatic productivity. The lower the grassland cover,the stronger was the link between grassland quality and climate factors. 4）Under currently predicted climate change scenarios,the quality of low-cover grassland will be improved in the future,while the quality of other categories will tend to decrease. This information on grassland quality in Xinjiang and its predicted future trends can assist in formulating ecological protection measures and in other ways,such as compilation of carbon stock inventories. © 2022 Editorial Office of Acta Prataculturae Sinica. All rights reserved.     

Establishment of a male fertility prediction model with sperm RNA markers in pigs as a translational animal modelOA

Background: Male infertility is an important issue that causes low production in the animal industry. To solve the male fertility crisis in the animal industry, the prediction of sperm quality is the most important step. Sperm RNA is the potential marker for male fertility prediction. We hypothesized that the expression of functional genes related to fertilization will be the best target for male fertility prediction markers. To investigate optimum male fertility prediction marker, we compared t...     

Dietary resistant starch alleviates Escherichia coli-induced bone loss in meat ducks by promoting short-chain fatty acid production and inhibiting Malt1/NF-κB inflammasome activationOA

Background: Escherichia coli(E. coli) infection in humans and animals usually comes with gut dysbiosis, which is potential culprit to skeletal health, it is still unclear to whether diet interfered gut microbiome changes can be a protective strategy to bone loss development. Here, the effects of resistant starch from raw potato starch(RPS), a type of prebiotic, on E. coli-induced bone loss and gut microbial composition in meat ducks were evaluated.Results: The results showed that dietary 12% RPS...     

The Influence of Lairage Conditions for Finishing Pigs on Behavior,Biochemical Indicators and Meat Quality

<正>A total of 60 crossbred(Large White×Landrace) pigs of halothane genotype NN(castrated males and females) were allotted to three treatments:3 h lairage with toys,3 h lairage and 0 h lairage in a randomized complete block design and used to evaluate the influence of lairage conditions on behavior, biochemical indicators and meat quality for finishing pigs at slaughter.Behavior of the pigs was scored subjectively during lairage.Blood samples were taken at exsanguination s to measure blood temperature, plasma Cortisol,ACTH,glucose,lactate,plasma enzymes and hematological indices.Post-mortem meat quality measurements included muscle colour value(MCV),electrical conductivity(EC),pH at 45 min and 24 h from Longissimus thoracis(LM) and Semimembranosus(SM) mucles and drip loss from LM. The results showed that 3 h lairage group with toys demonstrated significantly improved behavior than the group without toys at 3 sampling times.All the pigs showed increasing calmness as the time of lairage progressed.The omission of lairage increased plasma Cortisol,ACTH,glucose and lactate(P0.05),and decreased plasma lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),and creatine kinase(CK)(P0.05).No biochemical index was influenced by the presence or absence of toys during lairage(P0.05).Muscle colour value, electrical conductivity,pH at 45 min and 24 h from LM and SM and drip loss were not affected by any treatment(P0.05).Pigs provided 3 h lairage,with or without toys,exhibited lower red blood cell(RBC), hemoglobin(HGB),and haematocrit(HCT) when compared to 0 h lairage.3 h lairage with or without toys resulted in higher white blood cell(WBC) and lymphocyte(W-SCC) levels than 0 h lairage.None of the hemocytic indices in pigs given lairage was affected by the presence or absence of toys.We conclude from this pilot study that in local commercial conditions,from the point of view of animal welfare and meat quality,lairage time of 3 h after short travel was beneficial.Pigs resting showed increased relief from stress and a recovery in immune competence.Holding pigs in lairage with toys for a few hours after arrival at the abattoir may be beneficial for the animal's well-being.     

Different dietary starch sources alter the carcass traits,meat quality,and the profile of muscle amino acid and fatty acid in finishing pigs

Background: With increasing health awareness among consumers, the demand for healthier, tastier, higher quality and nutritional value pork is increasing. It has been shown that different dietary starch sources can alter the carcass traits and meat quality. However, research on the effects of different starch sources with clear different amylose/amylopectin ratio on the amino acid and fatty acid composition in Longissimus thoracis(L. thoracis) muscle of pigs is limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different dietary starch sources on carcass traits, meat quality, muscle amino acid and fatty acid composition, and the mRNA expression levels of genes involved in lipid metabolism and muscle fiber characteristics in finishing pigs. A total of 72 Duroc × Landrace × Large White barrows were randomly allocated to 3 different dietary treatment groups with 8 replicate pens/group and 3 pigs per pen.Tapioca starch(TS), corn starch(CS), and pea starch(PS), with amylose/amylopectin ratio of 0.11, 0.25, and 0.44,respectively, were used as their dietary starch sources for 40 days.Results: Results showed that the PS diet significantly increased(P < 0.05) the final body weight, average daily gain,loin-eye area, and fat-free lean index compared with the TS diet, but significantly decreased(P < 0.05) the feed to gain ratio and backfat thickness. Compared with the TS diet, PS diet also increased(P < 0.05) the pH45 min, marbling scores, the content of intramuscular fat and inosine monophosphate in the L. thoracis, and decreased(P < 0.05) the drip loss and shear force. In addition, compared with the TS diet, PS diet increased(P < 0.05) the proportions of flavor amino acids, DHA, EPA, and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA) in the L. thoracis compared with TS diet,but decreased(P < 0.05) the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFA. Furthermore, compared with the TS diet, PS diet also upregulated(P < 0.05) the lipogenic genes(FAS, LPL, SCD, ACCα) and myosin heavy-chain(MyHC)-IIa mRNA expression levels compared with the TS diet, but downregulated(P < 0.05) the CPT1 B and MyHC-IIb mRNA levels.Conclusions: In conclusion, these results provided compelling evidence that the different dietary starch source altered the carcass traits, meat flavor and quality in finishing pigs, and consumption of a diet with higher amylose/amylopectin ratio results in the production of a healthy, higher quality, and nutritional value pork.