A SNP in the promoter region of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF1) (c.-512C>T) was analysed for associations with 10 fat deposition and carcass merit traits in hybrid (n = 455), Angus (n = 204) and Charolais (n = 186) beef cattle populations. Significant associations of the SNP were found for ultrasound backfat thickness (P = 0.030), carcass average backfat (P = 0.015) and carcass lean meat yi...

Two broiler experiments were conducted to assess the relative bioefficacy of liquid DL-Met hydroxy analog-free acid (MHA-FA) and DL-Met (DLM). Exponential regression analysis was used to determine biological efficacy based on body weight, feed conversion, and carcass responses to dietary Met source. In Trial 1, four graded inclusion levels of DLM and liquid MHA-FA (0.06, 0.12, 0.18, and 0.24%) ...

Effects of ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) and zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) on saleable yield of carcass sides from calf-fed Holstein steers were evaluated using steers implanted with a progesterone (100 mg) plus estradiol benzoate (10 mg) implant followed by a terminal trenbolone acetate (200 mg) plus estradiol (40 mg) implant. Steers were blocked by weight into pens (n = 32) randomly assigned...

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of leucine (Leu) supplementation on performance and carcass traits broilers along with re-evaluation standardized ileal digestible (SID) Leu requirement broiler chicks days 0-14. Birds were fed seven experimental diets SID levels 16.3 (basal), 17.3, 18.3, 19.3, 20.3, 21.3, 22.3 g/kg. Some 280 male randomly assigned dietary treatments in a...

A six-week trial was conducted to study the effect of decreasing dietary crude protein (CP) level on the performance of broilers in hot climatic conditions. Four experimental rations having CP 23 (control group), 22, 21 and 20%, with optimal amino acid balance were prepared. All the four rations were isocaloric having ME 3200 kcal/kg with Energy: Protein (E:P) 139.0, 146.5, 152.4 and 160 in die...

This article aimed at compiling recent studies on the main factors that influence ostrich meat quality and carcass yield. Few articles investigated the effect of subspecies, which generally are not even mentioned. There are important dietary effects, particularly those caused by dietary protein to energy ratio. Rigor mortis follow-up studies showed that there are no losses in meat quality when ...

Spanish x Boer (n = 16) and Spanish x Kiko (n = 18) wethers (7 mo) and bucklings (5 mo) were harvested under USDA inspection to evaluate the effect of dam breed on carcass traits of crossbred kids. Boer and Kiko dams, respectively, originated from five and seven seedstock farms. Each dam was purebred or fullblood (93.75 to 100%). Traits of interest included live weight and conformation score, c...

Heritabilities of and genetic correlations between additive direct and maternal genetic effects for calf market weight, and additive direct genetic effects for carcass traits, were estimated for Japanese Black cattle by REML procedures under 2-trait animal models. Data were collected from calf and carcass markets in Hyogo and Tottori prefectures and analyzed separately by prefecture. Calf marke...

Crossbred pigs (n = 200) from Duroc sires mated to Landrace x Large White dams, with a mean BW of 107.0 +/- 2.4 kg and intended for highquality dry-cured hams (Teruel ham) from Spain, were used to investigate the effects of sex (barrows and gilts) and slaughter weight (SW; 120, 125, 130, 135, and 140 kg of BW) on growth performance and carcass characteristics. For productive performance, there ...

Myostatin is a regulator of myogenesis and has been implicated in the regulation of adiposity and in controlling the structure and function of tendons. Polymerase Chain Reaction Single-Stranded Conformational Polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis of intron-1 was used to identify five variants (designated A-E) of the myostatin gene (MSTN). The effect of this genetic variation on growth and carcass tr...