Meat Science Commons^™

Comparison Of Corn Silage And Earlage In Finishing Diets When Fed As A Roughage On A Neutral Detergent Fiber Basis, Garrett N. Lemon, Rebecca Mcdermott, Alfredo Dicostanzo, Galen E. Erickson, Pablo L. Loza

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The finishing trial was conducted to evaluate the ability of earlage to serve as a roughage source compared to corn silage when both sources were balanced on an NDF basis. Steers were fed in a randomized block design with a 2x2 treatment arrangement, with one factor being NDF source (corn silage or earlage) and the other factor being inclusion ("normal" amount of roughage provided by corn silage or earlage as the only grain source and roughage source). No significant interactions were observed between roughage source and inclusion level on steer performance. Steers fed corn silage and grain had greater intakes …

Nebraska Producer Perceptions On The Role And Implications Of Negotiations In Fed Cattle Transactions, Taralee Hudson, Elliott James Dennis, Brad D. Lubben, James C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A survey of ten feelot operators, as identified through the Nebraska Department of Agriculture's (NDA) 2019-2020 Cattle Feeder's Directory was conducted to identify the important concepts related to negotiated transactions and price discovery within the fed cattle market. The surveyed feedlots account for approximately 10 percent of the cattle on feed identified within the directory, on a one time capacity basis. Conducted in April of 2023 via phone conversation, the questions were related to 1) negotiated cash transactions, 2) the bidding process, and 3) thinning cash trade. Such results lend insight into the marketing practices that currently dominate the fed …

Evaluation Of Gas Emissions From Cattle On Different Diet Adaptation Strategies Using Either Forage Or Ramp, Cindy D. Mansfield, Rebecca Mcdermott, Braden C. Troyer, Mitchell M. Norman, Maggie Youngers, Andrea K. Watson, Rick Stock, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A 173-day finishing experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding RAMP (Cargill Corn Milling, Blair, NE) during diet adaptation compared to a traditional forage adaptation program on methane and carbon dioxide emissions, animal performance and carcass traits in beef steers. Cattle were monitored using a calorimetry emission barn to quantify production of methane and carbon dioxide during step 1 of grain adaptation and at two subsequent times while fed a common finishing diet. Feeding RAMP reduced methane by 12% during the initial diet (step 1) compared to a traditional diet that contained 43% forage. When cattle were fed …

Effect Of Biochar On Enteric Methane Production And Cattle Performance, Hanna Cronk, Holly Heil, Rebecca Mcdermott, Mitch Norman, Galen E. Erickson, Andrea Watson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Because ruminant animals, including cattle, emit methane, strategies are actively being sought to reduce these emissions. Pistachio shell-sourced biochar was included at 0.5% of a finishing cattle diet to determine effects on methane emissions and cattle performance. Eight pens of cattle were rotated through a 2-chambered emissions barn to analyze methane and carbon dioxide produced by the cattle. Biochar tended to increase methane emissions on a g/d basis with no effect on methane emissions as g/lb of feed intake and no differences in carbon dioxide emissions. There were no differences …

Rethinking Corn Residue: Effects Of Grain Yield On Quality And Quantity Of Residue, Kaylee E. Wheeler, Jessica Miller, Sadie Ference, Stephan Geu, Bill Struckmeyer, Amanda Easterly, Cody F Creech, Brian Maust, Daren D. Redfearn, Jay Parsons, Mary E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A two-year experiment evaluated the effects of corn grain yield on the resulting quality and quantity of corn residue. Among the wide variety of corn hybrids, locations, and growing conditions, observed grain yields ranged from 120 to 350 bushels per acre. As corn yield increased, the total pounds of residue increased. However, the amount of reside relative to grain decreased. Within the residue, the proportion of leaf increased from 10 to 28% as corn yield increased while husk remained unchanged at 13%. Overall, the yield of leaf and husk per bushel of corn grain was not affected by grain yield …

Survey Of Current Management Practices And Evaluation Of Their Impact On Nutrient Content Of Small Cereal Silage In Nebraska, Alexa R. Johnson, Mary E. Drewnoski, Daren D. Redfearn, Susan Vanderplas, Jenny Rees, Ben Beckman, Erin Laborie, Todd Whitney, Kim Clark, Brad Schick, Gary Lesoing, Conner Biehler

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The nutrient content of small cereal silage from 16 producers in Nebraska was measured at harvest and post-fermentation. At packing, 42% of the samples were below the target dry matter of 30-35%. Samples with dry matter percentage below 30% had a significant increase in the loss of energy (total digestible nutrient) content of the silage. The wetter silage appeared to have increased rates of clostridial fermentation as indicated by production of butyric acid. These data suggest that moisture management is a challenge and increased attention to ensuring the target dry matter content is achieved before packing could improve the quality …

Cereal Rye, Winter Triticale Or Winter Wheat: Which Is Best For Early Spring Grazing?, Alyssa K. Hall, Abigail M. Sartin, Kallie J. Calus, Morgan T. Grabau, Daren D. Redfearn, Robert B. Mitchell, Mary E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A study was conducted to determine which winter-hardy small cereal grain was best suited for early spring grazing. Three species were evaluated: winter wheat, cereal rye, and winter triticale, as a double-cropped forage in a continuous soybean rotation. Within this rotation the number of grazing days is limited, but all three species provided high rates of cattle weight gain, with an average daily gain (ADG) of 3 lb/d in April. However, in a year where freezing conditions occurring after cattle started grazing, cattle grazing cereal rye had the greatest ADG, likely due to greater forage growth. Thus, cereal rye may …

Impact Of Strip-Grazing Stockpiled Annual/Cover Crop Forages On Carrying Capacity And Animal Performance, Shelby L. Davies-Jenkins, Abigail Sartin, Devin Jakub, Zac Carlson, Erin Laborie, Jack Arterburn, Ben Beckman, Brad Schnick, M. E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Annual forages/cover crops can be used to fill the fall/winter grazing gap, and strip grazing may increase carrying capacity by reducing trampling losses of the forage. The current experiment utilized a series of on-farm experiments across two growing seasons to compare continuous and strip grazing of various summer planted cover crops. Strip grazing increased carrying capacity by an average of 47 ± 15% and gain per acre by 44 ± 5% compared to continuous grazing although significant variability in the amount of increase was observed. This variability can likely be attributed to forage type (quality), frequency of moves, and forage …

Strategies For Ddgs Supplementation Frequency To Frazing Yearling Streers, Sydney T. Vanderhoff, Rebecca L. Sjostrand, Mitchell M. Norman, Isaque F. Vicci, Jim C. Macdonald, Mary E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Infrequent supplementation saves labor and may reduce animal performance, but recent research with reduced fat distillers grains has provided inconsistent results. This experiment evaluated the effects of daily and three times a week supplementation of dried distillers grains on yearling steer performance grazing smooth bromegrass pastures from May to August. Daily supplemented steers received 5.6 pounds of dry matter per steer of dried distillers grains with solubles 7 days/week. The three times a week supplemented steers received 13.0 pounds of dry matter per steer of dried distillers grains with solubles three days/week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). A control treatment received no …

Effect Of Methionine Supplementation During Late Gestation In Beef Females, Landon F. Tadich, Jim R. Teichert, Kathryn J. Hanford, Jacki A. Musgrave, Rich N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Some amino acids are known to be essential to cattle and effect protein availability to the animal, especially during gestation when nutrient requirements are higher. Methionine is found to be one of the most limiting in low quality forage diets. Two 3-yr studies were performed to evaluate the impact of methionine supplementation during late gestation on intake, body weight, average daily gain, and subsequent calf performance in primiparous and multiparous females. In exp 1, 120 artificially inseminated pregnancy heifers were placed in a Calan gate feeding system (n=40/yr) and assigned 1 of 3 treatments during late gestation and fed ad …

Vitamin A In Cow-Calf Production: Impacts Of Maternal Supplementation And Status On Offspring, Hannah F. Speer, Harvey C. Freetly, Karla H. Jenkins, Mary E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The young calf is at greatest risk of vitamin A deficiency when cow vitamin intake is low in late pregnancy. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the relationship between cow and calf vitamin A status and how vitamin A status of cow-calf pairs was influence by maternal vitamin A supplementation. In general, calves did not have adequate liver vitamin A concentrations despite cows having adequate liver vitamin A stores following calving. Both cow iver stores and cow vitamin A intake during late gestation influence the amount of vitamin A in colostrum, so it benefits the calf if the cow has …

The Effect Of Postpartum Supplementation Strategy On Performance In May-Calving 2- And 3-Yr-Old Range Cows, Nicole M. Woita, Selby L. Boerman, J. A. Musgrave, Kacie L. Mccathy, J. Travis Mulliniks

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Reproductive performance in young 2- and 3-yr-old cows are often the lowest in the cow herd, which is due to their inability to consume enough energy and protein to meet their requirements for growth and lactation. A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate the effects of postpartum supplementation strategy on reproduction, cow body weight, and calf performance in lactating young 2- and 3-yr-old May-calving range cows. Supplementation was initiated 20 d prior to the start of the breeding season (45-d postpartum) and continued throughout the 45-d breeding season (125-d postpartum). Supplementation was provided daily with treatments being 1) mineral supplement …

The Impact Of Prepartum Supplementation Strategy On Cow-Calf Performance In May-Calving Mature Cows, J. A. Musgrave, Kacie L. Mccathy, J. Travis Mulliniks

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Implementation of minimal supplemental protein strategies during late gestation may have the potential to minimize any negative postweaning progeny performance while decreasing feed costs. A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate the effects of mid- to late-gestation supplementation strategies on reproduction, cow body weight, and calf performance in May-calving mature range cows grazing upland native range. Supplementation was provided 2x weekly with treatments being 1) 05 lb per day of a 30% CP distillers-based supplement, 2) 1 lb per day of a 30% CP distillers-based supplement, 3) a negative control as a flexible supplementation strategy. The Flex strategy was developed …

The Effect Of Late Gestation Supplementation Strategy On Cow-Calf Performance In March-Calving Mature Cows, J. A. Musgrave, Kacie L. Mccathy, J. Travis Mulliniks

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Implementation of supplemental protein strategies during late gestation has been shown to positively affect postweaning progeny performance. A 2-yr study was conducted to evaluate the effects of late gestation supplementation strategies on reproduction, cow body weight, and calf performance in March-calving mature range cows grazing dormant upland range. Supplementation was individually fed and provided daily with treatments being: 1) no supplementation, 2) 2 lb per day of a 30% CP distillers-based supplement, 3) 2 lb per day of a 30% CP distillers-based supplement with the inclusion of 160 mg/cow daily of monensin, 4) 2 lb per day of a 30% …

Effect Of Glucogenic Feed Additive On Reproductive Performance In Young Postpartum Range Cows, Tasha M. King, J. A. Musgrave, Nicole M. Woita, Shelby L. Boerman, J. C. Macdonald, J. Travis Mulliniks

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Performance of young March-Calving range cows receiving a protein supplement with the addition of either monensin or propionate salt were compared to evaluate the effect of feed additive on overall production in the postpartum stage. cow body weight and body condition were not impacted by postpartum supplementation throughout the study. Calf body weights were not impacted by type of feed additive at birth, weaning, or 205-d. Twenty-four-hour milk production was not impacted by the type of feed additive. Conception rates for cows receiving postpartum supplementation containing propionate salt were greater than cows receiving monsensin. This implies that the addition of …

Effect Of Heifer Percent Mature Body Weight At Breeding On Heifer Performance, Calf Production, And Subsequent Pregnancy Rates, Josie N. Crouch, J. Travis Mulliniks, J. A. Musgrave, Kathy J. Hanford, Kacie L. Mccathy

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A retrospective study was done utilizing 1,434 March- and May- calving Red Angus x Simmental crossbred cows and heifers from 2005 through 2019. Heifer weight as a percentage of mature body weight at breeding was used to conduct a regression analysis from 50 to 70% of mature body weight to determine the impact of body weight at breeding on reproductive performance. Heifer pregnancy rates and second pregnancy rates as 2-year-olds were greater for heifers at 60, 65, and 70% of mature body weight at breeding than heifers at 50 and 55%. However, heifer percent mature body weight at breeding did …

Artificial Insemination Of Beef Heifers With Multi-Sire Semen, Dempster Christenson, Jordan Thomas, Daniel J. Kelly, John G. Maddux, R. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The study compared pregnancy rates of beef heifers artificially inseminated with multi-sire semen to single-sire semen at ranch 1 and demonstrated pregnancy to multi-sire sexed semen at rand 2. It was hypothesized pregnancy rates resulting from multi-sire semen would be increased compared to single-sire semen. Ranch 1 heifers were inseminated with either single-sire or multi-sire semen and all heifers expressing estrus at ranch 2 were inseminated with multi-sire semen averaged numerically greater pregnancy rate than the average single-sire pregnancy rate and pregnancy outcomes from multi-sire sexed semen exceed previous literature but cannot be directly compared. Despite similar pregnancy results between …

Impact Of Increasing Level Of Milk Production On Cow-Calf Performance In Nebraska Sandhills, Selby L. Boerman, Jacki A. Musgrave, Kathryn J. Hanford, Mitchell B. Stephenson, J. Travis Mulliniks

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

In a 2-yr study, data were collected on 118 crossbred cow-calf pairs from March and May-calving herds. On approximately 30, 60, 90, 120, and 210 d postpartum, individual cow 24-h bilk yield was estimated through weigh-suckle weigh techniques. Cow body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) were collected weekly through breeding. Calf BW was recorded at each milking. Individual cow milk area under the curve (AUC) values were calculated and data were analyzed using linear regression analysis. Results from this study illustrate that increasing total milk produced throughout the lactation period had minimal influence on the cow production parameters …

Long-Term Performance Of Steers Grazing Smooth Bromegrass Pastures, Morgan Hodges, Holly Heil, Rebecca Mcdermott, Anastasios Mazis, Tala Awada, Galen E. Erickson, Andrea K. Watson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

Body weight gain of yearling steers grazing smooth bromegrass pastures was measured across 17 years from 2005 to 2021. Three treatments were applied, (1) control pastures with no additional inputs, (2) pastures fertilized with 80 lb of N per acre, and (3) pastures grazed with cattle supplemented daily with approximately 5 lb of dry distillers grains. The cnntrol treatment pastures (1.4 acres/steer) were stocked 30% lighter than the fertilized and supplemented pastures (1.0 acre/steer). Across the 17 years, the supplemented cattle gained 2.24 lb/day while the non-supplemented cattle (both control and fertilized treatments) gained 1.57 lb/day. Body …

Carbon Neutral By 2030 - Katanning Research Station, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Climate Science Published Reports

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's (DPIRD) Katanning Research Station (KRS) is developing practical techniques and methods for mitigating carbon emissions from the livestock industry.

This research will help the livestock industry in Western Australia (WA) access anticipated future markets for carbon neutral food and fibre products.

Increasing Soy Products Inclusion In Swine Diets To Improve Growth Performance, Health, And Pork Quality, Ashir Foreman Atoo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite its excellent nutritional profile, soybean meal (SBM) is limited in nursery pig diets due to its anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), which young pigs tolerate poorly. In the first study, strategies to mitigate these effects included supplementation with enzymes, alone or with acidifiers. A total of 240 weaned pigs (5.9 ± 0.8 kg average body weight [BW]) were assigned in randomized complete block design to five dietary treatments: low, medium, or high SBM diets, high SBM with multienzyme, and high SBM with multienzyme plus acidifier. Diets were fed in three phases: phase 1 (0–1 weeks), phase 2 (1–3 weeks), and phase …

Palmitate Induces Integrated Stress Response And Lipoapoptosis In Trophoblasts, Prakash Kumar Sahoo, Chandan Krishnamoorthy, Jennifer R. Wood, Corrine Hanson, Ann Anderson-Berry, Justin L. Mott, Sathish Kumar Natarajan

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Maternal obesity increases the risk of childhood obesity and programs the offspring to develop metabolic syndrome later in their life. Palmitate is the predominant saturated free fatty acid (FFA) that is transported across the placenta to the fetus. We have recently shown that saturated FFA in the maternal circulation as a result of increased adipose tissue lipolysis in third trimester of pregnancy induces trophoblast lipoapoptosis. Here, we hypothesized that palmitate induces integrated stress response by activating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and granular stress and lipoapoptosis in trophoblasts. Choriocarcinoma-derived third-trimester placental trophoblast-like cells (JEG-3 and JAR) referred …

Combined Purebred And Crossbred Genetic Evaluation Of Columbia, Suffolk, And Crossbred Lamb Birth And Weaning Weights: Systematic Effects And Heterogeneous Variances, Napoleón Vargas Jurado, David R. Notter, Joshua B. Taylor, Daniel J. Brown, Michelle R. Mousel, Ronald M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Despite the benefits of crossbreeding on animal performance, genetic evaluation of sheep in the U.S. does not directly incorporate records from crossbred lambs. Crossbred animals may be raised in different environments as compared to purebreds. Systemic factors such as age of dam and birth and rearing type may, therefore, affect purebred and crossbred performance differently. Furthermore, crossbred performance may benefit from heterozygosity, and genetic and environmental variances may be heterogeneous in different breeds and their crosses. Such issues must be accounted for in a combined (purebred and crossbred) genetic evaluation. The objectives of this study were to i) determine the …

Effects Of Electrical Stimulation On Water-Soluble Flavor Compounds In Beef Semimembranosus Muscle, Chelsie Beebe

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of electrical stimulation on water-soluble flavor compounds in beef semimembranosus muscle, collected immediately after exsanguination (PRE), immediately after stimulation (POST), and 24 h postmortem (H24) from both stimulated (ES) and non-stimulated (CON) carcasses. Short-chained peptides were greater in ES at H24 (P = 0.007). Glutamic acid concentration was above its taste threshold (0.044 mmol/kg) and was less in ES at PRE and POST by 0.030 mmol/kg (P ≤ 0.028) but was similar in both ES and CON by H24 (P = 0.142). Lysine, a Strecker amino acid, was greater in ES at H24 by 0.138 …

Effects Of Wet Aging On Water-Soluble Flavor Compounds, Descriptive Flavor, Consumer Acceptability, And Willingness-To-Pay Of Beef Longissimus Lumborum Steaks, Shangshang Wang

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the effects of wet aging on water-soluble flavor compounds, descriptive flavor, consumer acceptability, and willingness-to-pay of beef strip steaks. Twenty USDA Select boneless beef loins (NAMP #180) were dorsally divided into four equal portions, which were randomized to receive either 0, 7, 14, or 21 d of wet aging. Short-chained peptide concentration increased from 4.11 mg/g on d 0 to 5.12 mg/g on d 7 (P = 0.011) and subsequently increased to 7.14 mg/g on d 21 (P < 0.001). Cooked beef contained 1.85 mg/g less short-chained peptides than raw beef (P < 0.001). Wet aging for 21 d increased the concentrations of amino acids, which are precursors for the Maillard reaction, including methionine, threonine, cystine, serine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine (P < 0.001). Wet aging decreased the nucleotide concentrations (P ≤ 0.003) and increased hypoxanthine concentration, a compound that imparts bitter flavor (P …

Assessment Of Dietary Energy And Amino Acid Diet Formulation In The Modern Broilers, Matheus Freitas Costa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As a result of the advancement of genetics, understanding broiler requirements for dietary energy and amino acids is essential for improving live performance and carcass characteristics. The energy system used to formulate diets in poultry is based on metabolizable energy (ME); this equation can be described as the total amount of energy in the feed minus gases and feces. However, the net energy (NE) system may be the best depiction of the energy utilized by birds for production and maintenance purposes once the heat increment (HI) is measured. Thus, a series of studies were conducted to establish the responsiveness of …

The Effects Of Sous Vide Cooking And Cysteine Proteases On Instrumental And Sensory Textural Properties Of Lower Value Cuts Of Beef, Ian Smith

All Theses

Sous vide cooking has the potential to increase the value of lower quality cuts of beef. Understanding the textural properties following a cook-chill sous vide process is crucial to maximizing this potential. The use of enzymes may further increase the value of these products if able to positively alter the texture of the final product.

The first research objective was to use instrumental texture analysis to evaluate potential relationships between enzymatic treatments and sous vide processing time of lower value cuts of beef. Three cuts were evaluated: infraspinatus (top blade), semitendinosus (eye of round), and beef tongue. Infraspinatus and semitendinosus …

Impact Of Reducing Ammonia Concentration By Ozone Technology And Its Potential Improvement On Broiler Performance, Odilpio Quintana Ortega

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The employment of ozone in livestock production as a means of mitigating ammonia is used for enhancing air quality within animal confinement facilities, such as swine or poultry barns. Ammonia is a byproduct of animal excrement. Elevated ammonia concentrations can adversely affect the well-being of both animals and humans. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the effects of Ozone Technology Machine Unit (OTMU) utilization in poultry barns regarding ammonia concentration and its potential benefit in terms of broilers performance and welfare. In recent years, there has been a significant boom in technological advances. New devices that help mitigate …

Determination Of P Availability In Feedstuffs And The Effect Of Feedstuffs And Anti-Nutritional Factors On Secretory Iga Production And Host Nutrient Losses In Poultry, Benjamin Parsons

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The availability of P in feedstuffs and the effect of feedstuffs, feed additives, and anti-nutritional factors on secretory IgA (sIgA) production in chickens were evaluated. A rapid method was developed using the precision-fed rooster assay to evaluate phytic acid disappearance, P digestibility, and phytase efficacy. Further, exogenous phytase was found to be effective at degrading myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis, however, the enzyme was less efficient at P release from lower inositol phosphates. The availability of P in feedstuffs was found to be affected by dietary Ca content, where increasing Ca linearly reduced (P < 0.05) both phytic acid hydrolysis and P digestibility. For example, the standardized ileal digestibility of P was reduced from 73 to 47% in soybean meal when the dietary Ca content was increased from 0.30 to 0.75%. The digestibility of P in distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and corn fermented protein (CFP), however, was high across all Ca levels (71 to 80%). Relative P bioavailability based on tibia bone ash was also found to be high for DDGS and CFP, being 81 and 78%, respectively. Upon further evaluation, it was observed that utilizing low dietary Ca levels (0.30%) when P digestibility in individual plant-based feedstuffs was determined overestimated the P digestibility in practical grower diets by up to 16 percentage units. Utilization of higher Ca levels (0.75%) when P digestibility in individual plant-based feedstuffs was determined, however, resulted in calcualted P digestibility values that were within 1 to 3 percentage units of the measured digestibility in practical grower diets. Aside from P, feedstuffs were also evaluated to determine their effect on sIgA production in the intestine. Roosters excreted approximately 6 to 30 mg of sIgA / 24 h. Further, the proportional contribution of sIgA to total endogenous amino acid (AA) losses ranged from 1 to 13%, with the greatest contribution being observed for Trp. The addition of casein to a protein-free diet increased (P < 0.05) sIgA production in both roosters and broiler chickens. There was no change (P > 0.05) in sIgA production compared with the protein-free diet …

The Effects Of Probiotics And Environment On The Swine Gut Microbiome, Bin Zuo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The gastrointestinal tract is crucial for nutrient absorption and immune system functionality. It employs a synergistic approach, merging physical and biochemical defenses, to counteract pathogens that enter through dietary or other external routes. This system also facilitates the breakdown of complex carbohydrates, a process beyond the host's innate capacity. In swine, gut microbiota early colonization plays a significant role in several physiological developments, shaped by a variety of determinants including maternal factors and environmental conditions. In the swine industry, the shift to indoor pig farming enhances efficiency but limits soil interaction, potentially impacting gut microbiota diversity. Additionally, the practice of …