Scholarly Works, School of Animal Sciences

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Predictive Models for Lamb Meat Cuts and Carcass Tissue Based on Ultrasonographic Images and Body Weight
Matos, Alexsander Toniazzo de; Fernandes, Tatiane; Hirata, Adriana Sathie Ozaki; Fuzikawa, Ingrid Harumi de Souza; Fernandes, Alexandre Rodrigo Mendes; Silva, Adrielly Lais Alves da; Santos, Rodrigo Andreo; Leonardo, Ariadne Patrícia; Santos, Aylpy Renan Dutra; Vargas Junior, Fernando Miranda de (MDPI, 2026-03-14)
Sheep farming length of stay in the feedlot directly influences system profitability, mainly due to the high cost of feed. Thus, the use of predictive models based on body measurements is an important tool to define the optimal slaughter point and the ideal feedlot period. Thus, the aim was to evaluate predictive models of meat cuts and tissue carcasses concerning weight at slaughter (WS), loin eye area (LEA), and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) obtained by ultrasound of the lumbar region of lambs. The WS and ultrasound measurements were obtained from a pre-slaughter collection of 45 lambs, divided into five groups, each weighing 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 kg, with nine replications per group. Three regression models were evaluated: WS, LEA, and SFT (independent variables) and the cuts yield or tissue composition (dependent variable). Increasing WS resulted in greater carcass weight and commercial cuts. Above 15 kg body weight, bone weight showed little or no increase (allometric coefficient = 0.06), whereas muscle and fat tissues increased steadily, with allometric coefficients of 0.25 and 0.12, respectively. The commercial cuts showed a high and significant correlation with WS and LEA. The muscle and bone proportion of the leg had a significant (p < 0.10) correlation with SFT. For the weight of commercial cuts estimates, the inclusion of LEA and/or SFT with WS did not improve the coefficient of determination but made the predictions equivalent to the measured values. There were high determination coefficients when WS was only used to predict muscle, fat, and bone weight, but it was not efficient in predicting the muscle/fat and muscle/bone ratios and the percentage of tissues. The WS was the variable that best explained the weight and tissue content. The inclusion of LEA and/or SFT made little improvement to the predictive models.
Whole-Genome Sequencing Reveals Breed-Specific SNPs, Indels, and Signatures of Selection in Royal White and White Dorper Sheep
Liao, Mingsi; Kravitz, Amanda; Haak, David C.; Sriranganathan, Nammalwar; Cockrum, Rebecca R. (MDPI, 2026-03-05)
Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is a powerful tool for uncovering genome-wide variation, identifying selection signatures, and guiding genetic improvement in livestock. Royal White (RW) and White Dorper (WD) sheep are economically important meat-type hair breeds in the U.S., yet their genomic architecture remains poorly characterized. In this study, WGS was performed on 20 ewes (n = 11 RW, n = 9 WD) to identify and annotate SNPs and small insertions and deletions (indels). Functional annotation, gene enrichment, population structure, and selective sweep analysis were also performed. Selective sweep analysis was conducted by integrating the fixation index (F_ST), nucleotide diversity (π), and Tajima’s D to identify candidate regions under putative recent positive selection. A total of 21,957,139 SNPs and 2,866,600 indels were identified in RW sheep, whereas 18,641,789 SNPs and 2,397,368 indels were identified in WD sheep. In RW sheep, candidate genes under selection were associated with health and parasite resistance (NRXN1, HERC6, TGFB2) and growth traits (JADE2). In WD sheep, selective sweep regions included genes linked to immune response and parasite resistance (TRIM14), body weight (PLXDC2), and reproduction (STPG3). These findings were supported by sheep-specific quantitative trait loci (QTL) annotations and previously reported SNP–trait associations. This study provides the first WGS-based genomic comparison between RW and WD sheep, establishing a foundation for future genetic improvement, including targeted selection for enhanced immune function, disease resistance, and other economically important traits in these breeds.
A Decade of Evidence on Broiler Chicken Dead-on-Arrival Rates and Risk Factors: A Scoping Review
Vitek, Samantha; Jacobs, Leonie (MDPI, 2026-03-05)
The preslaughter phase for broiler chickens is distressing and can result in death prior to slaughter. The severity of this animal welfare concern warrants the exploration of the rates and risk factors. The aim of this scoping review was to synthesize current knowledge on rates and associated farm, flock, and preslaughter risk factors for dead-on-arrivals (DOA). Peer-reviewed experimental or observational studies were included that were written in English, published between January 2014 and December 2024, and that reported broiler chicken DOA with rates or associated risk factors in Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. A total of 344 articles were identified, and 24 articles met the eligibility criteria. Mean DOA rates ranged from 0 to 0.85%. In total, nine on-farm or flock-level and 11 preslaughter risk factors were identified, which could be categorized under four major causes of DOA: poor health, distress, thermal stress, and trauma. The risk factors most commonly identified were journey duration and distance, season, ambient temperature, lairage duration, and body weight. The findings highlight multiple opportunities to reduce DOA, including greater consideration of flock characteristics in preslaughter decision making, growing flocks that are at reduced risk of DOA, improvements in catching and loading practices, and better alignment of preslaughter management with environmental conditions.
Serum biochemical profiles are distinct between White Leghorn chicken lines selected for divergent antibody response to sheep red blood cells
Assumpcao, Anna L. F. V.; Caputi, Valentina; Ashwell, Christopher M.; Honaker, Christa F.; Siegel, Paul B.; Taylor, Robert L.; Lyte, Joshua M. (2026-01-13)
Background: For forty-nine generations, White Leghorn chickens have been selected for divergent responses to injection of sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), generating the high (HAS) or low (LAS) antibody response lines. The objective of this study was to determine if selection for systemic antibody concentrations would result in divergence in blood serum biochemistry profiles. Materials and methods: Blood serum samples were collected from the same birds at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 66 weeks to analyze several biochemical serum parameters, including total protein (TP), albumin, globulin, albumin: globulin (A: G) ratio, aspartate transferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), uric acid, glucose, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, total bile acid (TBA), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine transferase (ALT), and total cholesterol (TC). Results: Our results showed that HAS chickens had higher globulin and potassium levels and lower albumin: globulin (A: G) ratio serum concentrations than LAS chickens at 8, 12, and 16 weeks. At 12 weeks, HAS had total protein (TP) higher than LAS. Additionally, at 16 and 66 weeks, HAS had a higher concentration of creatine kinase (CK) than LAS. At 8 weeks, alanine transferase (ALT) levels were lower in HAS than LAS, and at 12 weeks, LAS females’ ALT levels were higher than HAS females. Furthermore, HAS had higher gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels than LAS at 12 and 16 weeks. The TP, globulin, and A: G ratios are consistent with the selection of HAS for higher antibody concentration. Additionally, our data also showed a divergence in potassium and liver enzyme levels between HAS and LAS. Females at 66 weeks had a biochemistry profile consistent with egg production, including increased total cholesterol (TC), total bile acid (TBA), aspartate transferase (AST), calcium, and phosphorus levels, as well as decreased uric acid and GGT concentrations compared with their male counterparts. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that direct selection on the humoral immune system resulted in distinct serum biochemical profiles. These results are likely to serve as potential informative and diagnostic markers in poultry health, food safety, and performance.
Effects of Supplementation with Rumen-Protected Fats and Thermally Processed Soybean on Intake, Nutrient Digestibility, and Milk Composition of Pantaneiras Ewes
Chagas, Renata Alves das; Fernandes, Tatiane; Leonardo, Ariadne Patrícia; Valério, Agda Costa; da Silva, Núbia Michelle Vieira; Cardoso, Cláudia Andrea Lima; de Bessa, Rui José Branquinho; de Vargas Junior, Fernando Miranda (MDPI, 2026-01-07)
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the supplementation with rumen-protected fat from soybean or palm and thermally processed soybean on the feed intake, digestibility of nutrients, milk production, and milk content of ewes. Twenty-five Pantaneiras ewes, 3–6 years old, 39.8 ± 3.51 kg body weight, and 65 ± 4 days in milk, were distributed into five treatments (5 ewes in each) in a completely randomized design continuous trial, over 56 days. The treatments consisted of daily supplementation with soybean-based rumen-protected fat (SPF; 30 g/d), palm-based rumen-protected fat (PPF; 30 g/d), a blend of soybean and palm rumen-protected fats (Blend; 30 g/d), thermally processed soybean (TPS; 124 g/d), and a control without supplementation. We performed a daily evaluation of feed intake and milk production, and every 14 days, we evaluated the nutrient digestibility, milk composition, and fatty acid profile. The protein and casein content were lower in the SPF treatment. Supplementation with PPF resulted in a higher saturated fatty acid content, while supplementation with TPS resulted in higher monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents. The supplementation with SPF resulted in higher milk fatty acid functionality. Feeding ewes SPF or TPS enhanced nutrient intake and digestibility, leading to increased milk production and an improved milk fatty acid profile. In contrast, supplementation with PPF resulted in a less favorable fatty acid composition.
Concurrent increase in fatty acid oxidation and fatty acid synthesis: a unique metabolic state in a pig model of pediatric steatotic liver disease
Yadav, Ravi; Lima, Marta R. M.; McMillan, Ryan P.; Sunny, Nishanth E.; El-Kadi, Samer W. (American Physiological Society, 2025-11-18)
Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is a spectrum of chronic and progressive disorders. Although often associated with obesity, it can afflict individuals without obesity, including infants. We previously reported that neonatal pigs fed formulas enriched with medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), rather than long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs), developed steatosis by day 7 and steatohepatitis by day 14. Here, we examined hepatic regulation of lipolytic and lipogenic pathways and associated metabolic outcomes. Neonatal pigs (n = 18) were fed isocaloric formulas containing MCFAs or LCFAs for 7, 14, or 21 days. Transcript abundance of most lipolytic and lipogenic genes was greater in MCFA- than in LCFA-fed pigs, independent of feeding duration. Upregulation of lipolytic genes of MCFA-fed pigs corresponded with greater lauric (P = 0.04) and palmitic (P = 0.03) acid oxidation, and greater plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations than LCFA counterparts (P = 0.06). Upregulation of lipogenic genes in the MCFA group coincided with greater hepatic medium- (C12:0, C14:0) and long- (C16:0, C16:1) chain fatty acid concentrations (P < 0.05), and greater de novo lipogenic index at all time points (P < 0.001) compared with the LCFA group. Principal component and partial least squares analyses indicated that MCFA-fed pigs clustered with upregulated lipogenic, lipolytic, and transport genes, and were associated with greater medium-chain fatty acids and hepatic fat. However, LCFA-fed pigs clustered with greater polyunsaturated fatty acids and reduced transcript abundance of these genes. These findings demonstrate that pediatric SLD pathophysiology involves metabolic adaptations where fatty acid uptake and synthesis overwhelm the liver's oxidative or export capacity, causing net lipid accumulation.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We identify a distinct metabolic state in neonatal pigs with SLD. Contrary to the prevailing paradigm, disease development and progression to the more severe steatohepatitis occur despite enhanced hepatic fatty acid oxidation and the concurrent upregulation of both lipolytic and lipogenic gene expression. This paradoxical metabolic state, where increased fatty acid oxidation fails to prevent progressive steatosis, provides new insights into early-life SLD pathophysiology.
Behavior-Specific Filtering for Enhanced Pig Behavior Classification in Precision Livestock Farming
Zhang, Zhen; Ha, Dong Sam; Morota, Gota; Shin, Sook (Academy & Industry Research Collaboration, 2025-07-19)
This study proposes a behavior-specific filtering method to improve behavior classification accuracy in Precision Livestock Farming. While traditional filtering methods, such as wavelet denoising, achieved an accuracy of 91.58%, they apply uniform processing to all behaviors. In contrast, the proposed behaviorspecific filtering method combines Wavelet Denoising with a Low Pass Filter, tailored to active and inactive pig behaviors, and achieved a peak accuracy of 94.73%. These results highlight the effectiveness of behaviorspecific filtering in enhancing animal behavior monitoring, supporting better health management and farm efficiency.
Multimodal Sensing Technologies for HPAI Biosurveillance in Poultry Production Systems
Ali, Md. Azahar; Ataei Kachouei, Matin; Jacobs, Leonie; Zhou, Wei (Springer, 2026-02-19)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), with a current focus on the emergent H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, remains a substantial and evolving threat to animal health, food security, and zoonotic safety. Since early 2024, novel genotypic variants within this clade have driven widespread epizootics across US poultry and dairy production systems, along with zoonotic transmission events. With the depopulation of over 168 million birds and economic losses exceeding 1.4 billion USD since 2022, recent outbreaks highlight the urgent need for complementary, decentralized, real-time biosurveillance strategies. This review outlines the molecular pathobiology and transmission kinetics of contemporary HPAI strains and evaluates diagnostic bottlenecks. Then, we explore how molecular amplification, electrochemical detection, and acoustic anomaly analysis can be combined into a single approach for in situ disease recognition. Finally, we describe how behavioral and physiological signal integration can enhance biosensor accuracy and support adaptive One Health biosurveillance systems for anticipatory and scalable field responses.
Optimizing Double-Ovsynch: Timing Is Everything
Ealy, Alan D. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2025-06-30)
Pregnancy Diagnosis in Dairy Cattle: Maximizing Reproductive Efficiency
Ealy, Alan D. (2025-08-31)
Changes in photoperiod during the dry period impact colostrum production in Holstein and Jersey cows
Alward, Kayla J.; Duncan, A. J.; Ealy, Alan D.; Dahl, Geoffrey E.; Petersson-Wolfe, Christina S.; Cockrum, Rebecca R. (Elsevier, 2025-02)
Multiparous Holstein cows exposed to short-day photoperiod (SDPP) of 8 h of light per day during their dry period produced up to 3.2 kg more milk per day compared with cows exposed to long-day photoperiod (LDPP) of 16 h of light per day; it is unknown if a similar response would be observed for Jersey cow milk production. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of photoperiod during the dry period on subsequent colostrum and milk production in Holstein and Jersey cattle. Holstein and Jersey cows (n = 33) were dried off 60 d before their due date and randomly assigned to SDPP (Holstein, n = 9; Jersey, n = 8) or LDPP (Holstein, n = 8; Jersey, n = 8) until calving. Cows were weighed at the time of enrollment (d 0) and were housed in an enclosed barn at 20°C and exposed to 250 to 450 lx during periods of light and <10 lx during periods of darkness. At calving, colostrum volume was weighed and tested for relative protein concentration with a Brix refractometer and a sample was collected for component analysis (fat, protein, lactose, SNF) via infrared spectroscopy, as well as IgA, IgG, IgG1, IgM, lactoferrin, and SCS analysis. After calving, cows were returned to the freestall barn and exposed to ambient photoperiod and temperature. Milk production data were collected for 15 wk postcalving. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS (SAS 9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) with treatment, breed, and d 0 weight as fixed effects. PROC MIXED with repeated measures was used to evaluate the relationship of day length and breed with mature milk volume, fat, and protein production. Random effects included replicate, lactation number, genetic inbreeding percentage, previous lactation mature equivalent 305-d protein production, and calf sex. For colostrum, Brix score, colostral protein, fat, IgA, and IgM were increased in Jersey cows compared with Holstein cows. Total colostrum weight, SNF, lactose, lactoferrin, IgG, IgG1, and SCS did not differ by breed or treatment. Postcalving, ECM production was increased in Holstein cows compared with Jersey cows but unaffected by photoperiod treatment. Conversely, milk protein percentage was increased for Jersey cows relative to Holstein cows but was unaffected by photoperiod treatment. Milk fat increased in LDPP Holstein cows compared with SDPP Jersey cows during the first week of lactation, which is likely due to the transition from colostrum to mature milk production. Overall, photoperiod did not affect colostrum production, but differences by breed were detected. Photoperiod during the dry period did not affect mature milk production or protein, but milk fat percentage was affected by photoperiod × breed. Therefore, altered lighting during the dry period does not unfavorably affect colostrum or milk production in Jersey or Holstein cows.
Cumulus cell expansion, nuclear maturation and embryonic development of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes matured in varying concentrations of follicular fluid
Negron-Perez, Veronica M.; Al Naib, Abdullah; Zezeski, Abigail L.; McCracken-Harlow, Victoria L.; Perry, George A.; Ealy, Alan D.; Rhoads, Michelle L. (Public Library of Science, 2025-02-07)
In this study, we tested the overall hypothesis that CC expansion and early embryo development would be improved by including follicular fluid (FF) from small or large follicles in the oocyte maturation medium. In the first experiment, FF aspirated from bovine abattoir ovaries was added to the maturation medium at 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100%. Images of individual COCs were captured at 0, 6, 12 and 19 hours (h) of the maturation period and analyzed to calculate change in the total area over time. Cumulus cell expansion was greatest in COCs matured in 75% and 50% FF, and these differences were detectable at 12 (75% FF only) and 19 h (50% and 75% FF) of maturation. The improvement in CC expansion was greatest when FF from small follicles was used. Treatments for the subsequent experiments were selected based upon the results of the first experiment. Oocyte nuclear maturation rates were observed after supplementing the maturation medium with 0 or 75% FF and maturing for 19 h. The rate of nuclear maturation as determined by the presence or absence of the first polar body was similar between control (0% FF) and treated (75% FF) groups. In the final experiment, COCs were matured in 0%, 50% or 75% FF in preparation for IVF. Duration of the maturation period (12, 19 or 22 h) and size of the follicles from which FF was collected (small or large) also varied. In general, FF supplementation at 50% did not affect the zygotes’ developmental potential (neither increased nor decreased). Supplementation of maturation medium with 75% FF from small follicles consistently reduced measures of embryo development while 75% FF from large follicles yielded mixed results. It is concluded that FF supplementation improves CC expansion, but the greater CC expansion does not benefit subsequent embryo development. Notably, however, the 50% FF treatment did not reduce blastocyst rates, indicating that FF can be included in maturation media at concentrations of 50% or less with no detriment to IVF outcomes.
Maturation of bovine cumulus oocyte complexes in follicular fluid with or without estradiol, progesterone or the combination affects cumulus cell expansion and blastocyst development
Harl, Audra W.; Negron-Perez, Veronica M.; Stewart, Jacob W.; Perry, George A.; Ealy, Alan D.; Rhoads, Michelle L. (Public Library of Science, 2025-06)
Although laboratory procedures for in vitro bovine embryo production have improved immensely, developmental capacity following fertilization is still limited, especially in comparison to in vivo-produced embryos. In vivo, the maturing oocyte is enclosed in the ovarian follicle and surrounded by its cumulus cells and follicular fluid. Hormones and other components of the follicular fluid change dynamically as the follicle develops and approaches ovulation. The importance of the in vivo follicular microenvironment for oocyte developmental competence has not been well defined, however. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the impact of follicle size and relative estradiol and progesterone concentrations on cumulus cell expansion and early embryo development following follicular fluid exposure during maturation in vitro. All experiments and replicates contained a standard formulation control maturation medium (cOMM). Follicular fluid was collected via needle aspiration from small (2–5 mm diameter) and large (10–20 mm diameter) follicles and pooled according to size. The follicular fluid was added to a hormone-free base medium (eOMM) as follows: supplemented with 75% untreated large follicular fluid (LFF75), 75% untreated small follicular fluid (SFF75), 75% charcoal-stripped large follicular fluid (csLFF75), 75% charcoal-stripped small follicular fluid (csSFF75). Progesterone and/or estradiol were added to the charcoal-stripped follicular fluid treatments based on average concentrations found in fluid from pooled large or pooled small follicles. These six treatment media were formulated using eOMM as a base with the following designations and additions: 75% charcoal-stripped large follicular fluid + 37 ng/ml estradiol (csLFF+E2), 75% charcoal-stripped small follicular fluid + 23 ng/ml estradiol (csSFF+E2), 75% charcoal-stripped large follicular fluid + 160 ng/ml progesterone (csLFF+P4), 75% charcoal-stripped small follicular fluid + 140 ng/ml progesterone (csSFF+P4), 75% charcoal-stripped large follicular fluid + 37 ng/ml estradiol + 160 ng/ml progesterone (csLFF+E2+P4), or 75% charcoal-stripped small follicular fluid + 23 ng/ml estradiol + 140 ng/ml progesterone (csSFF+E2+P4). Cumulus expansion in the csSFF75 maturation medium was less than that of its untreated counterpart (SFF75), while cumulus cell expansion was similar for LFF75 and csLFF75. The addition of estradiol to the follicular fluid treatments was beneficial and improved cumulus cell expansion to values similar to cOMM, while progesterone alone had no effect. The greatest cumulus cell expansion was observed when both estradiol and progesterone were added to the follicular fluid treatments. Cleavage rates were generally reduced by follicular fluid treatments, with the exception being csSFF+P4 which had a cleavage rate similar to oocytes matured in cOMM. Blastocyst rates for LFF75 and csLFF75 were similar to cOMM, while SFF75 and csSFF75 reduced blastocyst rates. Interestingly, the follicular fluid treatments with added progesterone either maintained or improved blastocyst rates such that csLFF+P4 and csSFF+P4 were similar to cOMM. The same could not be said for any of the treatments containing estradiol, whether alone or in combination with progesterone. Taken together, these results suggest a dichotomous relationship between estradiol and progesterone during maturation. Estradiol supports cumulus cell expansion while progesterone concentrations during oocyte maturation are more important for subsequent embryo development.
Effect of maturity at harvest of small grain grasses on the nutritional composition of forage and ration formulation
Ferreira, Gonzalo; Teets, C. L.; Galyon, Hailey; Cappellina, Anna; Schultz, Milton; Payne, Kathryn; Stewart, Shamar; Thomason, Wade E. (2025-02-09)
We hypothesized that, relative to harvesting small-grain grasses at the soft dough stage (SFT) of maturity, harvesting small-grain grasses at the boot stage (BT) of maturity would result in less expensive dairy rations when commodity prices are high but not when commodity prices are low. Small plots of small-grain grasses were planted during the fall of 2020 and 2021 in Blacksburg, Blackstone, and Orange, Virginia. In each year and location, 2 varieties of barley, 2 varieties of rye, and 4 varieties of triticale were planted in plots replicated 6 times, yielding 288 plots. Within each year and location, we harvested half of the plots at BT and the other half at SFT. For each of the 6 small-grain grasses, we formulated 8 rations according to 8 different scenarios using the least-cost optimizer. The scenarios included high and low commodity prices, high and low dietary forage (60% and 40% forage, respectively), and the inclusion of small-grain grasses harvested at BT or SFT. Harvesting at SFT yielded 107% to 205% more DM than harvesting at BT. Relative to BT, small-grain grasses harvested at SFT had greater concentrations of OM, NDF, ADF, ADL, and starch but lower concentrations of CP. Relative to BT, small-grain grasses harvested at SFT also had a greater concentration of undegraded NDF (NDF basis). Species had minimal influence on the nutritional quality of small-grain grasses for silage. Under a low-price scenario, the ration formulation system ignored all 6 small-grain grass silages and included corn silage as the only forage source when we did not limit its inclusion. Under a high-price scenario, the ration formulation system included all 6 small-grain grass silages when formulating low-forage diets with unlimited corn silage. However, a preference between BT and SFT stages did not exist, with the optimizer not consistently selecting a specific maturity stage. After evaluating the yields, the chemical composition, and the effects on ration formulation in this study, future studies should aim to evaluate the influence of maturity at harvest of small-grain grasses on cow performance and environmental impacts.
The implications of weeklong fostering and co-housing on shelter dog welfare
Gunter, Lisa M.; Platzer, JoAnna M.; Reed, Jenifer L.; Blade, Emily M.; Gilchrist, Rachel J.; Barber, Rebecca T.; Feuerbacher, Erica N.; Wynne, Clive D. L. (PeerJ, 2026-01-27)
Meeting the needs of dogs in a typical animal shelter can be a challenging proposition. Negative environmental inputs, such as excessive noise, restrictive kenneling, and social isolation, contribute to the compromised welfare that dogs experience. Human-animal interaction, such as a temporary stay outside of the shelter in a caregiver’s home, has been shown to reduce dogs’ cortisol levels and increase their rest. What is less understood is if longer durations of foster care could extend those benefits. In addition, dogs living with a conspecific in the shelter, co-housing, has been even less explored, but available findings suggest that dogs’ behavior can be improved by living with another dog. In the present study, we investigated the impacts of weeklong fostering on dogs’ urinary cortisol and activity. Two animal shelters, one open and one managed admission, participated. Exclusively at the open admission facility, a smaller sub-study explored the effects of co-housing prior to foster care (i.e., with and without a dog) and following (i.e., without another dog or with a familiar or new dog) in the animal shelter. To answer these research questions, dogs’ urine was collected in the morning for cortisol: creatinine analysis and activity monitors were worn by the dogs for 17 days: five days in the animal shelter, seven days in a caregiver’s home, and five days in the shelter following foster care. In total, 84 dogs participated with 1,385 cortisol:creatinine values and 1,205 activity totals across five activity level types. At both shelters, we found dogs’ cortisol levels decreased, and they spent more time resting during weeklong fostering. Moreover, no significant differences in cortisol or activity were found pre- and post-fostering, with the exception of more time being spent in mid-intensity activity in the shelter following foster care as compared to before. These findings align with investigations of shorter durations of foster care, although the magnitude of the present intervention’s impact was greater. With regards to the type of housing dogs experienced (with or without another dog), no difference was found in dogs’ cortisol values in either the days before or after foster care with no effect on their activity detected pre-fostering; however, dogs’ activity was influenced by living with a familiar dog upon reentry to the animal shelter following foster care. Specifically, dogs rested more and engaged in less high activity, indicating a positive effect on their welfare. Lastly as has been previously observed, significant differences in cortisol and activity were found between our shelters, suggesting that environmental differences are contributing to canine welfare that require further scientific exploration. In total, a weeklong reprieve from the animal shelter, as well as co-housing with a familiar dog upon return to the shelter are two evidence-based interventions that can improve the welfare of shelter-living dogs.
Production performance, nutrient digestibility, and milk fatty acid profile of lactating dairy cows fed diets containing triticale silage of different maturities and different dietary forage levels
Schultz, M. E.; Corl, Benjamin A.; Payne, Kathryn M.; Stewart, Shamar L.; Thomason, Wade E.; Ferreira, Gonzalo (Elsevier, 2025-09)
This study aimed to evaluate the production performance, the milk fatty acid profile, and the nutrient digestibility of high-producing dairy cows fed high-forage (HF) or low-forage (LF) diets containing triticale silages harvested at either the boot stage (BT) or the soft-dough stage (SFT) of maturity. A 10-ha field was seeded with 105 kg/ha of triticale. Half of the field was harvested at BT and the other half at SFT. The harvested forage was ensiled in separate concrete-walled bunker silos for at least 60 d. The BT silage had 97.0% OM, 9.6% CP, 61.0% NDF, 42.0% ADF, 8.9% ADL, and 1.6% starch, whereas the SFT silage had 97.3% OM, 8.3% CP, 63.0% NDF, 44.0% ADF, 10.2% ADL, and 3.7% starch. The similar nutritional compositions of the 2 silages might be related to splitting the field in 2 halves that reflected differences in growing conditions of the crop. The animal study involved 8 primiparous (584 ± 21 kg BW and 105 ± 11 DIM) and 16 multiparous (710 ± 57 kg BW and 105 ± 18 DIM) Holstein cows. The experiment was a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods, with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The HF diets were formulated to contain 55% dietary forage, and the LF diets were formulated to contain 38% dietary forage. Cows were housed in a freestall barn and fed once daily. Cows fed BT and SFT diets had similar DMI, but cows fed LF diets had higher DMI than cows fed HF diets. Feeding BT diets resulted in more milk production (43.5 vs. 42.4 kg/d) and higher milk protein (1.30 vs. 1.23 kg/d) and lactose yields (2.13 vs. 2.04 kg/d) compared with feeding SFT diets. Energy-corrected milk yield did not differ between BT and SFT diets. Cows fed HF diets produced less milk (41.1 vs. 43.0 kg/d) but tended to increase milk fat concentration (4.56% vs. 4.37%) compared with cows fed LF diets. Milk protein concentration was similar between cows fed HF and LF diets, but cows fed HF diets increased lactose concentration (5.02% vs. 4.80%). Triticale maturity did not affect NDF digestibility, but LF diets improved NDF digestibility (45.2 vs. 41.7%). No difference existed in de novo fatty acids between cows fed the BT and SFT diets despite the higher concentrations of CLA trans-10, cis-12 fatty acid and slightly higher concentrations of C18:1 trans-10 fatty acid. Under the conditions of this study, production performance did not appear to be sensitive to diets with triticale silage harvested at different maturity stages, and this occurred with both HF and LF diets.
AI-Driven Livestock Biosensing for Prediction of Metabolic Diseases
Ali, Md. Azahar; Kachouei, Matin Ataei (IEEE, 2025)
We report the development of a highly sensitive 3D-printed sensor for the on-farm, early detection of subclinical hypocalcemia (SHC) in dairy cows. The printed 3D sensing structure incorporates periodic micropatterns of ion-to-electron polymer-based transducing layer that enhances sensitivity when analyzing milk samples. This novel sensor detects radiometric targets of calcium (Ca²⁺) and phosphate (PO4^2-) in milk, enabling the identification of SHC in under a minute. We apply regression models, including k Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) and Logistic Regression, to predict livestock health, evaluating performance through accuracy, area under the curve (AUC), and confusion matrices. Unlike traditional tests, this sensor provides dairy farmers with a tool to monitor the health of transition dairy cows.
Micro-Nano Hybrid Architectures for Sub-Nanogram Detection of Avian Influenza H5N1
Kachouei, Matin Ataei; Jacobs, Leonie; Ha, Dong Sam; Ali, Md. Azahar (IEEE, 2025)
The ongoing spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus has caused severe disruptions in the poultry industry, leading to economic losses and raising concerns about cross-species transmission. Recent outbreaks in mammals increase the risk of zoonotic spillover, making rapid and sensitive virus detection crucial for effective containment and management. We report here a low-cost, lithography-free biosensor incorporating graphene oxide, silver nanowires, and self-assembled monolayer as micro-nano hybrid transducers for the detection of H5N1 hemagglutinin. The sensor achieved a detection limit of 40 picograms per mL. We have also manufactured a fully 3D-printed micropillar array-based sensor and evaluated its performance as a viral sensor against traditional 2D planar electrodes. These printed sensors will be useful for on-farm poultry testing, providing a practical solution for early virus detection and control.
AI-Powered Nanosensing of Lactate in Dairy Cows
Kachouei, Matin Ataei; Chick, Shannon; Ali, Md. Azahar (IEEE, 2025)
Early detection of metabolic diseases, including lactic acidosis, is crucial for effective livestock health management. This study presents the development of a nanosensor platform using graphene nanosheets and lactate oxidase (LOx) enzyme to detect lactate and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations within a minute. Machine learning (ML) techniques, including polynomial regression and random forest (RF) regression, were used to optimize sensor calibration. Polynomial regression (degrees 3 and 4) achieved perfect accuracy (r²=1.00), while RF regression demonstrated strong predictive performance (r²=0.857). These results underscore the lactate sensor's potential for precise, reliable detection in complex biological fluids, providing an advantage over traditional methods in dairy cattle health monitoring.
Nanosensing of Hepatitis E Virus in Swine Using Graphene
Chick, Shannon; Ataei Kachouei, Matin; Knowlton, Katharine; Meng, Xiang-Jin; Ali, Md. Azahar (IEEE, 2025-07-15)
Sensing of the hepatitis E virus is crucial for effective porcine health management and prevention of spread to humans. This study presents the development of a nanosensor using graphene nanosheets to detect hepatitis E antigen within a minute. The graphene layer not only increases the loading of antibodies specific to the hepatitis E virus but also enhances sensitivity and selectivity. This sensor is sensitive to 10 fM of hepatitis E antigen. This nanosensor holds significant potential for the rapid and early detection and monitoring of hepatitis E, thereby contributing to enhanced public health outcomes and the safety of pork products.

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