Livestock Science

The data is a compilation of studies that have reported various parameters for different traits of importance for beef breeds in the tropics

Results of genotyping of 5 sheep breeds from Kazakhstan with Ovine 50K SNP panel. After quality filtering

A list of references gotten from literature that were used perform meta-analysis of the parameters for indigenous chicken in the tropics. The parameters were heritabilities and genetic and phenotypic correlations.

Dataset as requested by reviewer.

Data used for stochastic partial budgeting using Microsoft Excel and @Risk.

Main manuscript

Bísaro reproductive and longevity traits

Dataset used for the paper "Green light during incubation: effects on hatching characteristics in brown and white laying hens". Abstract: Providing light during incubation is being investigated as a method to improve welfare in later life in poultry. This incubation method would more closely approximate chicken natural environment compared to the current incubation in darkness. Previous studies showed promising results of light during incubation on broiler welfare, but little is known about effects of light during incubation on laying hens. Especially, information about its effects on hatching characteristics (hatch time, hatchability, chick quality, body weight and embryonic age of death) is scarce and requires investigation in both white and brown egg layers. In the current study, Dekalb White (DW) and ISA Brown (ISA) eggs were incubated in complete darkness (dark) or in a light:dark cycle of 12L:12D throughout incubation (light), resulting in four treatment groups: DW-dark, DW-light, ISA-dark, and ISA-light. In the light treatments, green LEDs of 520nm wavelength were used, at an intensity of 400 lux. First, light transmission through the eggshell was measured through 27 eggs. Then, an analysis of the effects of light during incubation on hatching characteristics was performed on 711 chicks in two consecutive experimental rounds. Light transmission was higher through white eggshells than through brown eggshells (N = 27, p < 0.001). Light during incubation had no effects on hatching characteristics (N = 711, p ≥ 0.1). Despite the difference of light transmission through eggshell between hybrids, there was no interaction between incubation treatment and hybrid on hatching characteristics (N = 471, p ≥ 0.06). Hatch time was longer and navel quality was better in DW than in ISA, while body weight and embryonic age of death were lower in DW than in ISA (all p < 0.001). Males and females had similar chick quality scores except for the beak quality, which was better for males (N = 486, p = 0.003). To conclude, green light during incubation did not negatively affect hatching characteristics in either DW nor ISA laying hen hybrids. Future research should therefore focus on its potential benefits for laying hen welfare.

Dataset used for the paper "Green light during incubation: effects on hatching characteristics in brown and white laying hens". Abstract: Providing light during incubation is being investigated as a method to improve welfare in later life in poultry. This incubation method would more closely approximate chicken natural environment compared to the current incubation in darkness. Previous studies showed promising results of light during incubation on broiler welfare, but little is known about effects of light during incubation on laying hens. Especially, information about its effects on hatching characteristics (hatch time, hatchability, chick quality, body weight and embryonic age of death) is scarce and requires investigation in both white and brown egg layers. In the current study, Dekalb White (DW) and ISA Brown (ISA) eggs were incubated in complete darkness (dark) or in a light:dark cycle of 12L:12D throughout incubation (light), resulting in four treatment groups: DW-dark, DW-light, ISA-dark, and ISA-light. In the light treatments, green LEDs of 520nm wavelength were used, at an intensity of 400 lux. First, light transmission through the eggshell was measured through 27 eggs. Then, an analysis of the effects of light during incubation on hatching characteristics was performed on 711 chicks in two consecutive experimental rounds. Light transmission was higher through white eggshells than through brown eggshells (N = 27, p < 0.001). Light during incubation had no effects on hatching characteristics (N = 711, p ≥ 0.1). Despite the difference of light transmission through eggshell between hybrids, there was no interaction between incubation treatment and hybrid on hatching characteristics (N = 471, p ≥ 0.06). Hatch time was longer and navel quality was better in DW than in ISA, while body weight and embryonic age of death were lower in DW than in ISA (all p < 0.001). Males and females had similar chick quality scores except for the beak quality, which was better for males (N = 486, p = 0.003). To conclude, green light during incubation did not negatively affect hatching characteristics in either DW nor ISA laying hen hybrids. Future research should therefore focus on its potential benefits for laying hen welfare.

The metabolism and utilization of nitrogen (N) in dairy cows can be affected by phosphorus (P), as insufficient P intakes reduce ruminal fermentation, resulting in low microbial protein production and nutrient digestibilities. There has been renewed research in recent years on the requirements of N and P of dairy cows in an effort to reduce their excretion, but most studies were conducted with a nutrient fixed while evaluating the level of the other nutrient in the diet. This experiment was undertaken to study the effect of reducing both dietary N and P on excretion and production of dairy cows. Eight lactating cows were paired in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 20-d periods, and cows in each pair were randomly assigned to one of the following four dietary treatments: low crude protein (CP), low P (15% CP, 0.34% P), low CP, medium P (15% CP, 0.39% P), low CP, high P (15% CP, 0.44% P), and high CP, high P (17% CP, 0.44% P). Reducing dietary protein from 17 to 15% resulted in increased conversion of intake N to milk N (P = 0.05) and reduced milk urea N (P < 0.01), ruminal ammonia N (P = 0.03), plasma urea N (P = 0.01), and urinary N (P < 0.01). Reducing dietary P from 0.44 to 0.39 and 0.34% decreased (P < 0.01) P excretion. Feed intake, milk yield, milk composition, nutrient digestibility, plasma metabolites, and ruminal pH and volatile fatty acids were not affected by varying dietary CP or P. Reducing the amount of protein and P fed to dairy cows in the current experiment reduced N and P excretion and increased the efficiency of utilization of these nutrients without affecting milk production.