Detecting the trends of species and populations is fundamental to identify taxa with high conservation priority. Unfortunately, long-term monitoring programs are challenging and often lacking. The Italian agile frog Rana latastei is endemic to Northern Italy and adjacent countries, is considered vulnerable by the IUCN, and is protected at the European level. However, quantitative estimates of its decline are extremely scarce. In this study, we document the trends in abundance and distribution of Rana latastei within the Monza Park, which currently represents the area closer to the type locality of the species. Wetlands within the park were monitored from 2000 to 2023; counts of egg clutches were taken as a measure of reproductive output and of the abundance of breeding females. In 2000, the species occurred over a significant proportion of the park. Total abundance showed strong yearly variation but remained rather constant from 2000 to 2019. However, Rana latastei disappeared from the park around 2021 and was never detected in 2022-23. The decline is probably related to the joint effect of multiple factors, including the conversion of breeding sites for farming, inappropriate water management, invasive alien species, and severe drought. The local extinction of Rana latastei occurred despite legal protection, highlighting the need for more effective and stringent tools for the conservation of European biodiversity.

The genus Clostridium is an important group of pathogenic and nonpathogenic Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria with sporulation capacity and wide distribution in different environments, including the gastrointestinal tract of healthy and diseased animals and humans. Among the pathogenic species of the genus, Clostridium chauvoei stands out as a histotoxic agent. It causes important myonecroses such as blackleg, a disease with high lethality and mortality, especially in young cattle, and is responsible for significant losses to livestock worldwide. The pathogenic-ity of the disease is complex and has not yet been fully elucidated. The hypotheses cover pro-cesses from the initial absorption to the transport and deposition of the agent in the affected tis-sues. The virulence factors of C. chauvoei were divided into somatic and flagellar antigens and soluble antigens/toxins, which are the main antigens involved in vaccines against blackleg in Brazil and worldwide. This review provides important information on the first and current ap-proaches to the agent C. chauvoei and its virulence factors, as well as provides a compilation of data on Brazilian studies related to blackleg.

It could be helpful if behaviours presented in routine handling could be used as temperament indicators, thus directing tailor-made managements, optimising resources, and animal welfare. We evaluate whether behaviours presented by 25 foals during the first navel treatment and first halter session at weaning. Their behaviour was assessed during a novel object transposition test when they were one year of age. Behavioural parameters presented then were correlated with behaviours presented at navel treatment and haltering. Foals that showed higher exploratory activity during the test correlated to foals that showed less reactivity and less tickling at navel treatment and that were more relaxed and showed less reactivity haltering. Confidence to transpose the novel object was correlated with foals that were more relaxed, showed less reactivity and were less ticklish at navel treatment and were more relaxed during haltering. Transposition style correlated foals less prone to transpose with foals less curious in humans at navel treatment and more vigilant at haltering. Correlations verified between routine management and behaviour test indicate the possibility of early identification of equine temperament, allowing management techniques and specific training for the individual, enhancing training efficiency, animal welfare, and better human-horse interactions.

Firocoxib is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug specifically formulated for veterinary medicine and selectively acts on inhibiting the cyclooxygenase 2 enzyme(COX-2). This study aimed to evaluate the possible adverse effects of administering oral therapeutic firocoxib on gastric mucosa, hematological parameters, coagulation cascade, and hepatic and renal biochemistry in healthy horses. Nine clinically healthy Arabian horses, approximately nine years old, received 0.1mg/kg of oral firocoxib for 14 days. Before beginning treatment, a gastroscopic examination was conducted, and venous blood samples were obtained for laboratory tests on D0. Follow-up blood samples and gastroscopic examinations were taken on D7 and D14 after starting treatment and one week after completing treatment on D21. No changes were found in the gastroscopic and hematological tests. Additionally, coagulation and serum biochemistry levels remain between normal values for this particular species. However, the increased activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) indicate reduced blood coagulation capacity, which contradicts the expected effect of treatment with selective COX-2 inhibitors, as these drugs theoretically promote coagulation. Administering Firocoxib to horses is safe as it does not cause any significant adverse reactions. Therefore, it is a suitable option for managing inflammatory conditions in these animals.

The mites that infest laying hens and broiler chickens in poultry farms have caused great inconvenience to the industry due to the difficulty of controlling or eliminating their populations within the production systems. Dermanyssus gallinae and Ornithonyssus spp. are the mites that mainly interfere with the well-being of the poultry, harming the animals’ health and damaging the production and quality of the end product, with special emphasis on Ornithonyssus sylviarum and Ornithonyssus bursa. The objective of this article is to analyze the impact of hematophagous mites that infest commercial egg and meat production systems, the consequences of this form of parasitism, and discuss the methods of control it, including chemical and non-chemical means with the use of plants, entomopathogenic fungi, diatomaceious earth-based products and synthetic silica, and new lines of study aimed at developing vaccines as a new way of effectively controlling these pests.

Chronic heat stress (CHS) has been exerting great pressure on the poultry industry due to the global warming. CHS-induced negative impacts deeply change the physiology, metabolism, egg production and meat quality of ducks. To reduce the increasing economic loss, different environmental strategies have been adopted. Here, we comprehensively compared three rearing modes for Cherry-Valley ducks (CVds) mainly by changing the environmental temperature. Plus, the transcriptome analysis and physiological anatomy were implied to investigate the underlying molecular biology and pneumonocyte dynamics. It turns out that the CVds affected by CHS have poor growth performance and bad carcass traits. In addition, the irreversible damage caused by CHS in the lung tissue of CVds was observed. Furthermore, several potential genes related to CHS have been found, such as HSPA8, IGF1, FGFR1, ACSL3, ACSL6, NR1H3 and GAPDH. This study strongly indicates the severe injury of CHS from the high-temperature environment and points out one of the adopting directions for duck rearing.

During last decades, production and consumption of small ruminant milk has been increased. As a result of it, sheep and goat farming has been developing and scientists are focused on these animal researches both clinical and feeding strategies. By the evolutionary challenges and adaptations, colostrum has a crucial role of immune complementation for litter. As a result of these challenges and adaptations neonatal life is especially more important in ruminants because of it affects their whole life and future of livestock. Passive immune transfer is the main mechanism that explained by biological evolution between dam and lamb and also it is effected by factors up to dam and up to the litter. Today importance of passive immune transfer is well known for the future of livestock economy and animal welfare. In the literature, researchers are focused on correlation between colostrum quality (especially immunoglobulin amounts) and blood serum levels of newborns. Aims of present review are to discuss datas of recent studies, point out different effecting factors in colostrum quality and passive immune transfer, enlighten and give new ideas to researchers.

The epidemiological and clinical pathological aspects of polioencephalomalacia (PEM) in five buffaloes (buffaloes 01 to 05) in the amazon biome are described. Epidemiological data were obtained during the clinical visit in which the animals with clinical signs compatible with polioencephalomalacia were submitted to a general and specific clinical examination of the nervous system. During the necropsy of the five animals, the intensity and location of the lesions were evaluated and fragments from different organs were collected and fixed in 10% buffered formalin and sent to the Pathological Anatomy Sector of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro for histopathological examination. Of the five studied animals, all were of the Murrah breed, four male and one female, with ages ranging from two months to one year. Two buffaloes (buffalo 01 and 02) were from the municipality of Castanhal, Pará, kept in an extensive breeding system on Urochloa brizantha pasture. Buffaloes 03 and 04 belonged to a property located in the municipality of Cachoeira do Arari, Marajó Island, Pará, and buffalo 05 was from a property located in the municipality of Itaubal, state of Amapá, all of them were raised in an extensive system in flooded of native pasture. At the clinical examination, all buffaloes had a body score between 2.5 and 3 (scale from 1 to 5), and there was noted decreased alertness, postural changes, marked hypermetria when stimulated to move, total or partial blindness demonstrated by colliding to the corral structures, head pressing and circumduction of the hindquarters when supported on the forelimbs, opisthotonos, muscle tremors, convulsions, paddling movements, sialorrhea, decrease in palpebral and pupillary reflexes and eyeball rotation placing the pupillary slit in a vertical position. At necropsy, mild lesions characterized by edema and flattening of the cerebral convolutions were observed. Histopathological examination showed laminar necrosis of the cerebral cortex. The diagnosis of polioencephalomalacia was based on epidemiological, clinical-pathological, and histopathological findings, similar to findings in other ruminants. The cause of polioencephalomalacia in the studied buffaloes was not established, which indicates the need for further studies to elucidate this disease in the species, mainly in the Amazon region.

Aquaculture assumes a pivotal role in meeting the escalating global food demand, and shrimp farming, in particular, holds indispensable significance for the global economy and food security, providing a rich source of nutrients for human consumption. Nonetheless, the industry faces formidable challenges, primarily attributed to disease outbreaks, and the diminishing efficacy of conventional disease management approaches, such as antibiotic usage. Consequently, there is an urgent imperative to explore alternative strategies to ensure the sustainability of the industry. In this context, the burgeoning field of epigenetics emerges as a promising avenue for combating infectious diseases in shrimp aquaculture. Epigenetic modulations entail chemical alterations in DNA and proteins, orchestrating gene expression patterns without modifying the underlying DNA sequence by utilizing DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA molecules. Exploiting epigenetic mechanisms presents an opportunity to enhance immune gene expression and bolster disease resistance in shrimp, thus revolutionizing disease management strategies and optimizing shrimp health and productivity. Additionally, the concept of epigenetic inheritability in marine animals holds immense potential for the future of the shrimp farming industry. To this end, this comprehensive review thoroughly explores the dynamics of epigenetic modulations in shrimp aquaculture, with a particular emphasis on its pivotal role in disease management. It accentuates the significance of harnessing advantageous epigenetic changes to ensure the long-term viability of shrimp farming while deliberating on the potential consequences of these interventions. Overall, this appraisal highlights the promising trajectory of epigenetic applications, propelling the field toward strengthening sustainability in shrimp aquaculture.

The objectives of this research were to determine 1) the energy contents of broken rice in dairy cows by animal calorimetry and 2) the effects of various levels of broken rice in diets on dairy cow performance. Four multiparous Holstein-Friesian crossbred cows at 70 ± 31 (mean ± SD) days in milk were assigned according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design with four periods. The four treatments included a diet substitution with broken rice on a 0, 12, 24, and 36% dry matter basis in the basal ration. Indirect calorimetry with a ventilated head box respiration system was used to determine energy metabolism. The substitution of broken rice in the diet did not affect dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition, feed efficiency or energy balance (p > 0.05). Increasing broken rice substitution in the diet resulted in a linear increase in enteric methane energy losses and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, and fiber (p < 0.05), whereas the digestibility of crude protein and ether extract decreased (p < 0.05). The metabolizable energy requirement for maintenance was 504 kJ/kg metabolic body weight, and the efficiency of metabolizable energy used for lactation was 0.76. The estimated net energy value of broken rice for lactation was 8.68 MJ/kg. Our results indicated that increasing the proportion of broken rice in the diet up to 36% had no adverse effect on feed intake and production performance in dairy cows.

The current study aimed to investigate the effects of feeding silage of Napier Pakchong 1 fermented with mung bean concentrate on production performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass yield, and meat quality of male dairy goats. Silage made for experimental treatments was prepared as follows: Treatment 1 (T1) containing 100% Napier Pakchong 1 grass (without mung bean concentrate added) as a control, while Treatment 2 (T2) and Treatment 3 (T3) containing 90% and 80% Napier Pakchong 1 grass, respectively, mixed with 10% and 20% mung bean concentrate, respectively. Fifteen weaned male Saanen-growing goats were assigned to 3 experimental treatments in a completely randomized design; the study lasted for 150 days. The nutritive value of feed, production performance, nutrient digestibility, blood urea nitrogen, carcass yield and dressing, basic meat quality, and composition of meat were collected or analyzed. The results found that the goats fed with the silage made from Napier Pakchong 1 added 10% and 20% mung bean concentrate showed improvements in nutritive value, growth rate, key nutrient digestibility, blood urea nitrogen, carcass yield, the water-holding capacity of cooked meat, and fat content in meat. However, adding 10% mung bean concentrate had a trend of more beneficial value added into the production chain of male Saanen dairy goats for meat purposes. Thus, silage made from Napier Pakchong 1 fermented with 10% mung bean concentrate as a roughage source for male Saanen dairy goats intended for meat purposes is recommended.

Trypanosomes are the extracellular protozoan parasites that cause human African trypanosomiasis disease in humans and nagana disease in animals. The disease is endemic in African countries where tsetse flies which act as a vector for the transmission of disease are present. The animals infected by these parasites become useless or workless and disease can become fatal if not treated. Old drugs used for treatment have many side effects and some are responsible for death in 5% of the patients. The parasite possesses a major surface protein known as variant surface glycoprotein. The immune system of the host develops antibodies against this antigen but due to antigenic variation, parasites evade the immune response. Currently, no vaccine is available that provides complete protection. Only partial protection using certain antigens in murine models was investigated. The tools of molecular biology and immunology have enabled a novel approach to the development of vaccines against trypanosomes. Immunization is the sole method for the control of disease because the eradication of the vector from endemic areas is an impossible task. Genetic vaccines can carry multiple genes encoding different antigens of the same parasite or different parasites. DNA immunization induces the activation of both cellular immune response and humoral immune response along with the generation of memory. This review highlights the importance of DNA vaccines and advances in the development of DNA vaccines against T. brucei.

This review aimed to analyze the effects of additives in the process of producing silage from re-hydrated corn grains for ruminants. Control treatment studies used in this analysis was corn grain rehydrated with water only. To be included in the review, the studies needed to follow stand-ardized criteria, including the absence of additives in the control treatment and the evaluation of the silage in beef animals, such as cattle, goats, and sheep. A total of seven publications, published between 2014 and 2022, were included in the final dataset. To compare the results, the PROC ANOVA of SAS was used, which included a random effect of comparison within the study, per-forming a paired comparison. It was observed that the use of additives did not influence the chemical composition, pH, organic acid and ethanol content, microbial population, fermentative losses, aerobic stability, and dry matter in vitro digestibility of rehydrated corn grain silage (p >0.05). Based on this information, it is concluded that the use of additives in rehydrated corn grain silage did not show major differences on silage quality. It is important, however, to evaluate the effects of additives in silages on animal performance.

Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, is a necessary and complex micronutrient for cows. During the transition period, vitamin E deficiency (VED) is among the highest prevalent micronutrient deficits in dairy cows. It may eventually result in oxidative stress and immunological malfunction, and it increases the risk of peripartum disorders. At present, detailed data on blood metabolites in VED cows are limited. Consequently, the purpose of this research was to examine the alterations in the serum metabolic profile of VED cows throughout the early postpartum period. Using comprehensive 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), the alterations in serum metabolic activities of VED cows were analyzed. In total, 28 multiparous Holstein cows were assigned according to serum α-tocopherol (α-Toc) concentrations into a normal (α-Toc ≥ 4 μg/mL, n = 14) and VED (α-Toc &lt; 3 μg/mL, n = 14) groups at 21 days postpartum, and their blood samples were collected for biochemical and 1H NMR analyses. A t-test on independent samples as well as multivariate statistics were used to assess the findings. In comparison with normal cows, VED cows showed significantly worse body condition scores, milk yield, and dry matter intake (p &lt; 0.05). Significantly higher levels of serum non-esterified fatty acids, aspartate aminotransferase, low-density lipoprotein, and malonaldehyde were found in VED-affected cows, as well as lesser concentrations of serum albumin, high-density lipoprotein, and total antioxidant capacity in comparison with normal cows (p &lt; 0.01), while other vitamins and minerals concentrations showed no distinction between the groups (p &gt; 0.05). Furthermore, 24 upregulated serum metabolites were identified under VED conditions. The metabolomics pathway analysis of these metabolites demonstrated that a global metabolic response to VED in cows was represented by changes in 11 metabolic pathways, comprising energy, carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism. These outcomes suggest that VED cows were more likely to experience a negative energy balance characterized by alterations of common systemic metabolic processes and develop oxidative stress, inflammation, and ultimately liver injury. This study provides the first evidence of metabolic changes in cows with VED.

Animal hoarding is a complex issue that, when discovered, frequently necessitates opening shelter doors to many animals. This is due to hoarders' inability to provide even the most basic welfare standards for their animals, resulting in poor welfare conditions that frequently border on mis-treatment. These people are frequently unaware of their failure to care for their animals, as well as of the harm that they cause to people around them and the environment. They usually don't care for themselves either. The majority of hoarders have difficult histories, and they all need help get-ting back on track. Meanwhile, when the agencies discover the status quo, the animals are usually seized and taken to shelters, where they face a variety of welfare consequences, beginning with confinement in an unknown environment that is associated with additional risks (e.g., infectious diseases, behavioral deterioration, and distress). Furthermore, the targeted shelters are frequently overcrowded and cannot adequately accommodate the large number of animals found in hoard-ers' environments. The One Welfare approach, which is increasingly being used alongside One Health to work at the intersection of human and animal health and welfare, could be adopted to benefit animals while also addressing the poor states of humans. This concept’s depiction of the interconnections between animal welfare, human wellbeing, and the environment can fit with all the components of the animal hoarding phenomenon, including the peculiarities of the hoarding environment as well as those of shelters where animals are often moved. The purpose of this paper is to offer insights into how the One Welfare concept may be critical in tackling all of the interests concerned in these cases and offering solutions.

In this study, four experimental treatments were evaluated: (T1) alfalfa hay + concentrate, (50:50%, DM); (T2) alfalfa hay + Leucaena leucocephala + concentrate, (30:20:50%, DM); (T3) alfalfa hay + prickly pear + concentrate, (30:20:50%, DM); and (T4) alfalfa hay + Leucaena leucocephala + prickly pear + concentrate, (30:10:10:50%, DM). NH3-N concentrations in T2 and T4 decreased when replaced alfalfa hay in 20 and 10 %, respectively. Treatments did not affect the concentration of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) between T3 and T4 (p>0.05); while the concentrations among T1 and T2 were different (P<0.05). T2 showed a reduction of 25.5 % in the methane production when compared to T1(p < 0.05).The lowest concentrations of protozoa were observed in T2 and T4, which contained Leucaena leucocephala (T2) and Leucaena leucocephala + prickly pear (T4) (p<0.05). The highest concentration of total methanogens was recorded in T1 and were different to T2, T3 and T4 (p<0.05). Leucaena leucocephala at a inclusion percentage of 20 % decreased the methane when compared to T1; whereas prickly pear there was not a positive effect the methane production.

Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis), a nematode parasite, is the major cause of Trichinellosis, a zoonotic disease. A key role of MAPR in the reproductive system is to maintain pregnancy. Previous studies found antihormone (P4 and RU486) drug design and vaccine therapy of recombinant protein (rTs-MAPRC2) to control T. spiralis infection. The current study investigates the inhibitory effects of different ratios of antibody against Ts-MAPRC2 on the development of muscle larvae (ML) and newborn larvae (NBL). First, we performed indirect immunofluorescence assays (IIFA) and examined the effects of rTs-MAPRC2-Ab on ML and NBL in vitro as well as in vivo. After-ward, siRNA-Ts-MAPRC2 was transfected into T. spiralis muscle larvae. Following that, Ts-MAPRC2 protein was detected by Western Blotting and mRNA levels were determined by qPCR. Also, we assessed whether siRNA-treated NBLs were infective by analyzing muscle larvae burden (MLs). Our Result showed rTs-MAPRC2-Ab greatly inhibited the activity of the Ts-MAPRC2 gene in ML and NBL of T. spiralis. rTs-MAPRC2-Ab reduced larval infectivity and survival in the host in a dose-dependent manner (1:50, 1:200, 1:800 dilutions). Further, siR-NA-Ts-MAPRC2 effectively silenced the Ts-MAPRC2 gene in muscle larvae (ML) by in vitro, as well as in new-born larvae (NBL) of T. spiralis by in vivo. In addition, siRNA-Ts-MAPRC2 (siR-NA180, siRNA419, siRNA559) reduced host larval survival and infectivity significantly. The effect of siRNA on larval development, survival, and infectivity was significantly reduced when the Ts-MAPRC2 gene was knocked down. This study, therefore, suggests that Ts-MAPRC2 might be a novel molecular target that might be useful in the development of vaccines against T. spiralis infection.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are the most polymorphic genes in vertebrates, and their proteins play a critical role in adaptive immunity for defense against a variety of pathogens. MHC diversity was lost in many species after experiencing a decline in size. To understand the variation and evolution of MHC genes in the Siberian ibex, Capra sibirica, which has undergone a population decline, we analyzed the variation of the second exon of MHC class II DRB genes in samples collected from five geographic localities in Xinjiang, China, that belong to three diverged mitochondrial clades. Consequently, we identified a total of 26 putative functional alleles (PFAs) with 260 bp in length from 43 individuals, and found one (for 27 individuals) to three (for 5 individuals) PFAs per individual, indicating the presence of one or two DRB loci per haploid genome. The Casi-DRB1*16 was the most frequently occurring PFA, Casi-DRB1*22 came after found in only seven individuals, 14 PFAs occurred once (7 PFAs twice), implying high frequency of rare PFAs. Interestingly, more than half of the (15) PFAs were specific to clade I, only one and three PFAs were specific to clades II and III, respectively. So, we assume that the polygamy and sextual segregation nature of this species likely contributed to the allelic diversity of DRB genes. Genetic diversity indices showed that PFAs of clade II were lower in nucleotide, amino acid, and supertype diversity compared to those of the other two clades. The way of allele sharing and FST values between three clades were to some extent in agreement with pattern observed in mitochondrial DNA divergence. In addition, recombination analyses revealed no evidence for significant signatures of recombination events. Alleles shared by clades III and the other two clades diverged 6 million years ago, and systematic neighbor grids showed cross-species polymorphisms. Together with the PAML and MEME analyses, the results indicated that the DRB gene in C. sibirica evolved under balancing and positive selection. However, by comparison, it can be clearly seen that different populations were under different selective pressures. Our results are valuable in understanding the diversity and evolution of the DRB gene in a mountain living C. sibirica and in making decisions on future long-term protection strategies.

The quality of sedation and changes in cardiorespiratory variables after the intramuscular administration of alfaxalone and butorphanol in Galgo Español dogs were evaluated. Twenty-one adult dogs were included. The dogs received alfaxalone (2 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0,2 mg/kg) intramuscularly. Sedation scoring, cardiorespiratory parameters (including blood gas analysis), echocardiography, thoracic radiography and electrocardiography were performed before sedation and 30 minutes after drug administration. Moderate sedation was observed, and side effects, such as tremors, nystagmus and auditory hyperesthesia, were noticed. Statistically significant changes in heart rate, invasive blood pressure, pH, arterial saturation of O2 and partial pressure of O2 and CO2 were found. Echocardiographic variables, including end-diastolic volume, left ventricular diameter in diastole, aortic and pulmonic flow, diastolic transmitral flow and left atrial/aortic ratio, and electrocardiography parameters, including PQ interval and QT interval, showed statistically significant changes. In conclusion, the intramuscular administration of alfaxalone and butorphanol to healthy dogs produced moderate sedation with mild cardiorespiratory, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic changes, without alterations in cardiac size on X-ray images.

Sodium butyrate (NaB) is one of the short-chain fatty acids and is notably produced in large amounts from dietary fiber in the gut. Recent evidence suggests that NaB induces cell proliferation and apoptosis. The skeletal muscle is rich in plenty of mitochondrial. However, it is unclear how NaB acts on host muscle cells and whether it is involved in mitochondria-related functions in myocytes. The present study aimed to investigate the role of NaB treatment on the proliferation, apoptosis, and mitophagy of bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells (BSCs). The results showed that NaB inhibited the proliferation and promoted apoptosis of BSCs, and promoted mitophagy in a time and dose-dependent manner in BSCs. In addition, 1mM NaB increased the mitochondrial ROS level, decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), increased the number of autophagic vesicles in mitochondria, and increased the mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) and ATP level. The effects of the mTOR pathway on BSCs were investigated, and the results showed that 1mM NaB inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of mTOR and genes AKT1, FOXO1, and EIF4EBP1 in the mTOR signaling pathway, while the addition of PP242, an inhibitor of the mTOR signaling pathway, also inhibited mRNA and protein expression levels of mTOR, AKT1, FOXO1, and EIF4EBP1, and promoted mitophagy and apoptosis, which were consistent with the effect of NaB treatment. In conclusion, NaB might promote mitophagy and apoptosis in BSCs by inhibiting the mTOR signaling pathway. Our results would expand the knowledge of sodium butyrate on bovine skeletal muscle cell state and mitochondrial function.

Research on alternatives to rectal thermometry in canine and feline patients has focused on equipment and measurement location but not procedure duration. In a cross-over designed clinical scenario, we evaluated the time prior to and after (Pre-TempT and Post-TempT) rectal and axillary thermometry in canine (n = 114) and feline (n = 72) patients. Equipment duration was controlled for to determine a presumptive total time (TTime) associated with each thermometry method. Pre-TempT and TTime was significantly shorter in axillary thermometry trials for both canine and feline pets (P < 0.001). There was no difference in Post-TempT between thermometry methods in canine patients (P = 0.887) however, the Post-TempT was longer in felines after axillary thermometry (P = 0.004). Reductions in Pre-TempT and TTime were not significant in Scottish Fold breed cats and within the feline rectal trials, the TTime of domestic-long hair breeds was significantly longer than domestic-short hair breeds (P = 0.019). No other tested parameter played a significant role in these results. Axillary thermometry was faster than rectal thermometry in both canine and felines pets due primarily to the time associated with animal approach and restraint (Pre-TempT). These results have implications when optimizing clinic workflow, appointment durations and patient handling time.

We conducted an experiment on lambs to determine the effect of infection with the gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) Haemonchus contortus on growth performance, nutrient composition, microbiota, and ruminal fermentation in vivo and in vitro. Twelve female lambs were equally divided into two groups: uninfected animals (CON) and animals infected with approximately 5000 third-stage ISE larvae derived from the MHCo1 strain of H. contortus (INF). Two lambs per group were killed on days 48, 49, and 50 after infection and ruminal content was collected separately from each lamb. Batch cultures of ruminal fluid from CON and INF were incubated in vitro with 0.25 g meadow hay, a plant mixture and chicory used as substrates. The ruminal populations of protozoa, bacteria, total Archaea, and the archaean orders Methanobacteriales and Methanomicrobiales were significantly higher in INF than CON. In vivo concentrations of n-butyrate, iso-butyrate, and iso-valerate were significantly lower in INF than CON. In vitro values after 24 h of ruminal fermentation varied within the substrate. GIN infection by H. contortus was associated with increased methanogenesis. In conclusion, chicory was a promising substrate for mitigating methane production and may modulate the ruminal microbiome of GIN-infected lambs due to its chemical and phytochemical composition.

Early weaning of piglets caused excessive concentration of free radicals, which would oxidize and damage the intestinal tract of piglets, resulting in dyspepsia, low growth, diarrhea, microbiota disorders and intestinal infections. This research studied on effect of different levels of taurine in diets on intestinal oxidative damage in early weaned piglets. A total of 48 weaned piglets (6.71 ± 0.73 kg) of 28-day-old crossbred "Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire" were assigned to 4 groups with 12 replicates per group and 1 pig per replicate: piglets were fed a basal diet with 0.0% (CON), 0.2% taurine (L-Tau), 0.3% taurine (M-Tau), or 0.4% taurine (H-Tau). The animal experiment lasted for 30 days. With the increase of dietary taurine dosage, the activity of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase（SOD）,glutathione peroxidase（GPX）,catalase（CAT） and peroxidase（POD） were up-regulated (Linear, P &lt; 0.05), the mRNA abundance of antioxidant enzymes including SOD1, SOD2, GPX1 and heme oxygenase-1（HO-1）were up-regulated (P &lt; 0.05), glutathione (GSH) concentrations was up-regulated (Linear, P &lt; 0.05) , nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations were down-regulated (Linear, P &lt; 0.05);The villus height (VH) and villus height/ crypt depth (VH/CD) of jejunum and ileum were increased (Linear, P &lt; 0.05); The expression of tight junction proteins including zonula occludens protein 1(ZO-1), occludin (OCLN) and closure protein 1(CLDN-1) in the jejunum mucosa were up-regulated (Linear, P &lt; 0.05), the mRNA abundance of ZO-1, OCLN and CLDN-1 were up-regulated (P &lt; 0.05),and the D-lactose (D-LA) content in blood was down-regulated (Linear, P &lt; 0.05); the colonization abundance of Firmicutes was increased (Linear, P &lt; 0.05), while Proteobacteria and Spirochaetota was decreased (Linear, P &lt; 0.05); The diarrhea index decreased (Linear, P &lt; 0.05), while the feed conversion rate increased (Linear, P &lt; 0.05). Collectively, supplementation of 0.3% and 0.4% taurine in feed can significantly alleviate intestinal oxidative damage by enhancing antioxidant capacity of piglets, and improve feed utilization of piglets after repairing intestinal damage.

This paper aims to analyze the role of natural heritage cataloging when criminal events challenge natural history museums. This study investigates the rhino horn thefts in Italian natural history museums from 2011 to 2015 to provide a comprehensive framework for these robberies while highlighting the weaknesses and strengths to prevent thefts and safeguard both rhino horns and natural history collections from future targeting

Marine sediment sample was collected and the total aerobic population was counted and probiotic Bacillus cereus was isolated. Then it was mixed with formulated feed by spraying, while control diet was purchased from a local aquarium. 30 days of feeding experiment was conducted. Carassius auratus fishes were randomly divided into two experimental groups in rectangular tanks. The first group served as a control in which fishes were fed with commercial feed. The second group of fish were fed with probiotic incorporated feed. After 40 days, their survival and growth performance were detected. Bacillus cereus incorporated feed significantly yielded higher survival rate of the fish compared to control. Food conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lower than the control group. The main aim of this work is to investigate the effect of a marine probiotic bacteria, Bacillus cereus on the survival and growth performance of gold fish Carassius auratus.

COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory illness caused by SARS-CoV-2, and acute lung injury (ALI) is the major cause of COVID-19. The challenge in studying SARS-CoV-2 pathogenicity is the limited availability of animal models. Therefore, it is necessary to establish animal models that can reproduce multiple characteristics of ALI to study therapeutic applications. The present study established a mouse model that has features of ALI that are similar to COVID-19 syndrome to investigate the role of ACE2 and the administration of the Chinese herbal prescription NRICM101 in ALI. Mice with genetic modifications, including overexpression of human ACE2 (K18-hACE2 TG) and absence of ACE2 (mACE2 KO), were intratracheally instillated with hydrochloric acid. The acid intratracheal instillation induced severe immune cell infiltration, cytokine storms, and pulmonary disease in mice. Compared with K18-hACE2 TG mice, mACE2 KO mice exhibited dramatically increased levels of multiple inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β1) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, histological evidence of lung injury, and dysregulation of MAPK and MMP activation. In mACE2 KO mice, NRICM101 could ameliorate the disease progression of acid-induced ALI. In conclusion, the established mouse model provided an effective platform for researchers to investigate pathological mechanisms and develop therapeutic strategies for ALI, including COVID-19-related ALI.

This paper pioneers a novel exploration of environmental impacts in livestock farming, with a focus on pig farming's intersection with climate change and sustainability. It emphasizes the transformative potential of data-driven Artificial Intelligence (AI) methodologies, specifically the Internet of Things (IoT) and multimodal data analysis, in promoting equitable and sustainable food systems. The study observes five pigs, aged 86 to 108 days, using a tripartite sensor that records heart rate, respiration rate, and accelerometer data. The unique experimental design alternates between periods of isolation during feeding and subsequent pairing, enabling the investigation of stress-induced changes. Key inquiries include discerning patterns in heart rate data during isolation versus paired settings, fluctuations in respiration rates, and behavioral shifts induced by isolation or pairing. The study also explores potential detection of gait abnormalities, correlations between pigs' age and their gait or activity patterns, and the evolution of pigs' walking abilities with age. The paper scrutinizes accelerometer data to detect activity changes when pigs are paired, potentially indicating increased stress or aggression. It also examines the adaptation of pigs to alternating isolation and pairing over time, and how their heart rate, respiration rate, and activity data reflect this process. The study considers other significant variables, such as time of day and isolation duration, affecting the pigs' physiological parameters. Sensor data is further utilized to identify behavioral patterns during periods of feeding, isolation, or pairing. In conclusion, this study harnesses IoT and multimodal data analysis in a groundbreaking approach to pig welfare research. It underscores the compelling potential of technology to inform about overall pig welfare, particularly stress levels and gait quality, and the power of data-driven insights in fostering equitable, healthy, and environmentally conscious livestock production systems.

We evaluated the growth of four genetic groups, two pure (pacu and tambaqui) and two hybrids (tambacu and paqui) of Serrasalmidae fish fed with different feeding programs. Over the five months, 30 animals from each genetic group that were evaluated in three cages with 10 animals from each genetic group per cage. A different feeding program was used for each cage, consisting of three commercial diets containing 24, 28, or 32% crude protein (CP) in different combinations. A logistic model or an exponential were used to fit the growth curves. The evaluation time did not allow the adjustment of the logistic model for the tambaqui and paqui groups, as well as for the animals fed the food program with the highest initial protein intake. Pure pacu proved to be an early performing group, while tambacu hybrid reached a higher final weight without slowing down growth.

Chronic stress in dairy cattle industry has negative impacts on animal health, productivity, and welfare. It has been confirmed that cortisol transfers to milk and resists the high temperature during milk processing. This study evaluated the relationship between milk cortisol concentration (MCC) in commercial milk products and the temperature-humidity index (THI) at time of milk production. Eleven commercially produced pasteurized and sterilized milk products, purchased in Chuncheon, Korea, with production dates ranging from July to October 2021 were analyzed. The MCC was extracted using diethyl ether and analyzed using enzyme immunoassay. Average THI values based on microclimate data provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration were 77±0.8, 75±1.4, 69±1.4, and 58±1.8, in July, August, September, and October, respectively. The average MCC levels were 211.9±95.1, 173.5±63.8, 109.6±53.2, and 106.7±33.7 pg/mL in July, August, September, and October, respectively. MCC in July was higher than in August, September and October (p<0.05), while it was lower in September and October than in August (p<0.05). Significant variations in MCC were observed in commercial milk products across the four production months (p<0.05), except for two milk products. Overall, monitoring cortisol residue in commercial dairy milk products can be an alternative indicator of stress in dairy cattle of farms.

Cryptosporidiosis is a widespread disease caused by the parasitic protozoan Cryptosporidium spp., which infects various vertebrate species, including humans. Once unknown as a gastroenteritis-causing agent, Cryptosporidium spp. is now recognized as a pathogen causing life-threatening disease, especially in immunocompromised individuals such as AIDS patients. Advances in diagnostic methods and increased awareness have led to a significant shift in the perception of Cryptosporidium spp. as a pathogen. Nowadays, genomic and proteomic studies have played a main role in understanding the molecular biology of this complex-life-cycle parasite. Genomics has enabled the identification of numerous genes involved in the parasite's development and interaction with hosts. Proteomics has allowed for the identification of protein interactions, their function, structure, and cellular activity. The combination of these two approaches has significantly contributed to the development of new diagnostic tools, vaccines, and drugs for cryptosporidiosis. In this review, we summarize the major accomplishments in the field of Cryptosporidium research using genomics and proteomics.

This study aims to report the clinical signs, therapy, necropsy, and histopathological findings of airsacculitis caused by enterobacteria and the occurrence of the superfamily Diplotriaenoidea eggs in the feces of Megascops choliba in the Amazon Biome. A tropical screech owl nestling was rescued and admitted for hand-rearing. The animal was bred for five months. The feed was based on Zophobas morio larvae and thawed chicken breast meat with vitamin and mineral supplements. On the 37th day of hacking training for release, the owl showed weakness, lack of appetite, regurgitation, cachexia, dyspnea, ruffled feathers, dry feces in the vent and peri cloaca, and diarrhea. The parasitological examination showed eggs of the Diplotriaenoidea superfamily in the feces. The therapy was with oxytetracycline (48 mg/kg), sulfamethoxazole (48 mg/kg), mebendazole (25 mg/kg), potenay (0.5 ml/kg), sodium chloride 0.9% (50 ml /kg) and mercepton (5ml/kg). However, after five days of starting the treatment, the bird died. At necropsy, prominence of the keel, pieces of undigested food in the oral cavity and proventriculus, intestinal gas, and thickened and turbid air sacs were found. The microbiological analysis of air sacs identified Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter aerogenes. Histopathological examination showed heterophilic bacterial airsacculitis.This study aims to report the clinical signs, therapy, necropsy, and histopathological findings of the first case of airsacculitis caused by enterobacteria and eggs of the superfamily Diplotriaenoidea in M. choliba in the Amazon Biome. The bird was admitted without clinical signs, had been hospitalized for observation for five months, and had started the rehabilitation process for release 37 days before it started to show signs of weakness, lack of appetite, cachexia, dyspnea, ruffled feathers, vomiting, and dry feces. Therapy with oxytetracycline (48 mg/kg), sulfamethoxazole (48 mg/kg), mebendazole (25 mg/kg), potenay (0.5 ml/kg), sodium chloride 0.9% (50 ml /kg) and mercepton (5ml/kg), however, after five days of starting the treatment, the bird died. At necropsy, prominence of the keel, pieces of food in the oral cavity and proventriculus, thickened air sacs, intestine with firm stools, and the presence of gas, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly were observed. The parasitological examination showed eggs of the Diplotriaenoidea superfamily. The microbiological analysis identified Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter aerogenes. Histopathological examination showed heterophilic bacterial airsacculitis. The diagnosis was confirmed through clinical signs, necropsy findings, and parasitological, microbiological, and histopathological examination results.

There is a need for cost-effective and non-invasive methods of monitoring feeding behavior in livestock operations, considering the significant impact of feed costs on economic efficiency and assisting in detecting health issues of group-fed animals. This paper proposes using deep learning-based computer vision techniques to detect pen-fed beef cattle feeding behavior using Mask Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (RCNN). A deep learning model was pre-trained on the Common Objects in Context (COCO) dataset to generate cattle instance segmentation. Manually defined feed bunk polygons are compared with these segmentation masks to derive feeding time for each bunk. A full day’s worth of video data and the corresponding physical sensor data are collected for the experiment. By benchmarking the computer vision detected data with physical ground truth over random time segments from morning to evening (thus various lighting conditions), the optimal thresholds for Mask RCNN are determined to be 0.7 for bounding boxes and 0.1 for masks. Using these parameters. The reports suggest that the computer vision system achieved a precision of 87.2% and a recall of 89.1%, signifying precise detection of feeding events. Our study, to the best of our knowledge, was one of the first investigations of instance segmentation on feeding time sense, which combines deep learning methods with traditional computer vision logistics, reporting on feeding time data collection and processing, camera testing and adjustment, and performance evaluation. Future research directions include computer vision applied in feed grading and animal re-identification for individual production analysis.

The aquaculture sector has become increasingly reliant on soybean meal (SBM) and soy-derived proteins, because of their large abundance, low price and favorable amino acid profile. However, for Atlantic salmon, a major aquaculture species, the inclusion of soybean meal, and soy protein concentrate (SPC) in certain combinations has adverse impacts on its gut health and welfare. This study evaluated two enhanced SBM targeting improved gut health for inclusion in freshwater phase salmon diets, enzyme pre-treatment (ETS) and addition of fructose oligosaccharide (USP), respectively in comparison to untreated soybean meal (US) and fish meal (FM). The impact on growth performance, gut microbiome, and behaviors relevant to welfare was investigated. Both enhancements of SBM were found to support comparable growth performance to FM. Both targeted treatments altered the gut microbiome community. Fish fed SBM showed a tendency for more reactive behavior compared to those fed the FM-based control. All fish had a similarly low response to elicited stress, although ETS fed fish responded more actively than those fed the US diet. SBM fed fish also had lower repeatability of behavior, which may have implications for welfare. Both enhancements provide a promising basis to optimize the application of this widely used protein source.

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is a vulnerable specie from Central and South America and is considered extinct in Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Uruguay. Therefore, studies describing the reproductive characteristics of this species are pivotal for its conservation. Thus, this study aimed to provide a morphological description of their female reproductive tissues. We collected tissue samples from six female giant anteaters, and performed gross, morphological, and histochemical analyses. Five adult and one young subjects were enrolled in the study. In the ovary, classifications were made according to the follicle and oocyte sizes: primordial, primary, secondary, early antral, or antral. Typical follicles with a single oocyte surrounded by a simple or stratified layer of cubic epithelium, atretic follicles, corpora lutea, corpora albicans, and ovarian cysts were also observed. No ovarian lesions were observed. By contrast, endometritis, metritis, mucometra, and endometrial cysts were identified in the uterus. Uterine alterations in these subjects were frequent and could affect reproduction.

The performance of 5 forecasting models was investigated for predicting nursery mortality using the master table built for 3,242 groups of pigs (~ 13 million animals) and 42 variables, which concerned the pre-weaning phase of production and conditions at placement in growing sites. After training and testing each model’s performance through cross-validation, the model with the best overall prediction results was the Support Vector Machine model in terms of Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE=0.406), Mean Absolute Error (MAE=0.284), and Coefficient of Determination (R2=0.731). Subsequently, the forecasting performance of the SVM model was tested on a new dataset containing 72 new groups, simulating ongoing and near real-time forecasting analysis. Despite a decrease in R2 values on the new dataset (R2=0.554), the model demonstrated high accuracy (77.78%) for predicting groups with high (5&gt;%) or low (5&lt;%) nursery mortality. This study demonstrated the capability of forecasting models to predict the nursery mortality of commercial groups of pigs using pre-weaning information and stocking conditions variables collected post-placement in nursery sites.

Smallholder dairying engages around 70 to 80 million rural households who are mostly landless, small and marginal farmers. These farmers face challenges in terms of adoption of balanced feeding practices including inclusion of compound feed in animal feeding. This necessitates to understand the socio-economic factors that are influencing the adoption of compound feed. The study found that 51% of dairying households adopted compound feed in animal feeding. The adopters and non-adopters of compound feed differed (P< 0.01) in terms of land holding, family educational status, breeds owned, membership status in farmer’s collectives, fodder adoption, area under fodder, access to grazing resources, availability of crop residues, milk production and milk marketing opportunities. Furthermore, users and non-users of compound feed had significant difference (P< 0.05) in extension agency contact, mass media contact, attitude towards dairying and gender participation in farming. The logit regression model explained the variance in adoption to 30%. Further it indicated the role of selective socio-economic characters, farming situations, feeding and marketing practices in adoption of compound feed. In specific membership in farmer’s collectives, marketing opportunity, milk production, farm men participation, family education status, grazing resources and attitude towards dairying has greatly influenced the adoption behaviour of compound feed in positive direction. Added, households with high experience, cultivating fodder and having access to crop residues tend to influence the adoption decision negatively. The research observed that farmers tend to use compound feed for increasing productivity in areas of better markets and there exists trade-offs between milk market opportunities, access to cheaper roughages and usage of compound feed.

Manipulation of the intestinal microbiome is an emerging area of research, especially in hind-gut fermenters such as the horse. The aim of this study was to determine whether fecal pH can provide a simple and cost-effective tool to document changes in the intestinal metabolome and microbiome following supplementation of feed with an enzyme rich malt extract (ERME). Fecal pH was determined weekly in triplicate using a commercial soil pH meter in 72 Thoroughbred racehorses in training before and during supplementation with ERME (300mls per day divided into two feeds) alongside their regular feeding schedule. No control group was included. Fecal pH increased over the 4 weeks of treatment from 6.20 (6.15-6.24) to 6.40 (6.38-6.44; P&lt;0.0001). Changes were not observed at one-week intervals but were apparent after 2 weeks There was a significant increase in the proportion of horses with a ‘normal’ pH at the end of the study (55%) compared to the start of the study (11%; p&lt;0.001). These data support the further validation of the use of fecal pH in large scale microbiome/metabolome studies in the horse, although comparisons with these outcomes are now warranted.

This critical review illuminates the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sensor technologies in the dairy livestock export industry, an area facing mounting pressure for heightened efficiency and sustainability. We rigorously scrutinize the uptake of these novel technologies in identifying 'shy feeders,' automating weight monitoring of individual livestock, and refining cattle enumeration procedures. The investigation unravels their capacity to bolster animal welfare standards, minimize supply chain discrepancies, and amplify operational productivity. Moreover, the research delves into how these innovations may enhance market access and competitiveness in a swiftly shifting global dairy landscape. We further highlight the challenges encountered and future trajectories, providing a strategic framework for technology integration within the livestock export sector. Ultimately, this review underlines the importance of adopting AI and sensor technologies, indicating a shift towards precision digital livestock farming that amalgamates efficiency, animal welfare, and profitability.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has caused great damage to the global pig industry. The innate immunity plays a significant role in resisting viral infection, however, the exact role of innate immunity in the anti-PEDV response has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we observed that various porcine innate immune signaling adaptors are involved in the anti-PEDV activity. Among these, TRIF and MAVS showed the strongest anti-PEDV activity. The endogenous TRIF, MAVS and STING were selected for further examination of anti-PEDV activity. Agonist stimulation experiments showed that TRIF, MAVS and STING signaling all have obvious anti-PEDV activity. The siRNA knockdown assay showed that TRIF, MAVS and STING are also all involved in anti-PEDV response, and their remarkable effects on PEDV replication were confirmed in TRIF-/-, MAVS-/- and STING-/- Vero cells. For further verification, the anti-PEDV activity of TRIF, MAVS and STING could be reproduced in porcine IPEC-DQ cells. In summary, this study reveals that multiple pattern recognition receptor (PRR) signaling pathways of porcine innate immunity play an important role in the anti-PEDV infection, providing new and useful antiviral knowledge for prevention and control of PEDV spreading.

Vitamin E is a group of eight compounds divided into two subgroups: four tocopherols (α-, β-, γ-, and δ-) and four tocotrienols (α-, β-, γ-, and δ-). α-Tocopherol is considered the most biologically active form. This review paper summarizes the current knowledge and historical progression of vitamin E research, with particular emphasis on its role in animal nutrition. Early studies in the 1920s identified vitamin E’s role in preventing neonatal mortality in rats. Over the following decades, scientists discovered the compound’s chemical structure and its importance for the immune system, skin health, anti-inflammatory properties, hormonal balance, and other bodily functions. Production of vitamin E products has evolved, starting with isolating the vitamin from natural sources and advancing to synthesizing it with greater efficiency and standardized potency units. Early animal studies focused on reproductive health and growth disorders, but further research demonstrated the importance of vitamin E in preventing encephalomalacia in domestic fowl and muscular dystrophy in rabbits and other animals. Today, vitamin E is commonly used as a feed additive to meet animals’ requirements and assure immune function and overall health. Despite much knowledge on vitamin E’s role in animal nutrition, many questions remain unanswered, and current research aims to determine optimal supplementation levels, interactions with other nutrients, impacts on gene expression, cell signaling and communication, and effects of supranutritional dosages in livestock. Vitamin E has a long and fascinating history in scientific research, with significant advancements in understanding its chemical structure and biological activity. In animal nutrition, vitamin E continues to play an important role in improving animal health, and ongoing research will continue to expand our understanding of its benefits and mechanisms of action.

In response to escalating global demand for poultry, the industry grapples with an array of intricate challenges, from enhancing productivity to improving animal welfare and attenuating environmental impacts. This comprehensive review explores the transformative potential of digital phenotyping, an emergent technological innovation at the cusp of dramatically reshaping broiler production. The central aim of this study is to critically examine digital phenotyping as a pivotal solution to these multidimensional industry conundrums. Our investigation spotlights the profound implications of 'digital twins' in the burgeoning field of broiler genomics, where the production of exact digital counterparts of physical entities accelerates genomics research and its practical applications. Further, this review probes into the ongoing advancements in the research and development of a context-sensitive, multimodal digital phenotyping platform, custom-built to monitor broiler health. I critically evaluate this platform's potential in revolutionizing health monitoring, fortifying the resilience of broiler production, and fostering a harmonious balance between productivity and sustainability. Subsequently, the paper provides a rigorous assessment of the unique challenges that may surface during the integration of digital phenotyping within the industry. These span from technical and economic impediments to ethical deliberations, thus offering a comprehensive perspective. The paper concludes by highlighting the game-changing potential of digital phenotyping in the broiler industry and identifying potential future directions for the field, underlining the significance of continued research and development in unlocking digital phenotyping's full potential. In doing so, it charts a course towards a more robust, sustainable, and productive broiler industry. The insights garnered from this study hold substantial value for a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the broiler industry, setting the stage for an imminent technological evolution in poultry production.

Porphyromonas spp. are oral anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria that form black-pigmented colonies on blood agar and produce volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methyl mercaptan (CH3SH), and dimethyl sulfide ((CH3)2S), which cause halitosis and the destruction of periodontal tissues. P. gulae is considered the main pathogen involved in periodontal disease in dogs. However, the characteristics of the VSCs produced by P. gulae are unknown. In the present study, VSCs were measured in 26 isolates of P. gulae and some isolates of the other Porphyromonas spp. obtained from the oral cavities of dogs with periodontal disease using an in vitro assay with an Oral ChromaTM gas chromatograph. The results demonstrated that P. gulae was able to produce large amounts of H2S and CH3SH, and the dominant one was CH3SH (CH3SH/H2S was approximately 2.2). Other Porphyromonas spp. that were also obtained from the oral cavities of dogs with periodontal disease indicated the similar levels of production of H2S and CH3SH to those of P. gulae. It is strongly suggested that the high levels of H2S and CH3SH in P. gulae and other Porphyromonas spp. contribute to halitosis and the destruction of periodontal tissues during the progression of periodontal disease in dogs.

Abstract:This study aimed to explore the effects of supplementary feeding on milk yield, blood biochemical indexes, milk components, and fecal microflora diversity of Yili horses under grazing condition.18 grazing Yili mare horses with physiological condition consistent were randomly assigned to three groups with six mare horses each. The control group normal grazing, whereas the test group I and II were provided with supplemented with 1 kg/d of concentrate and 1 kg/d of concentrate + 0.4 kg/d coated fatty acids, respectively. After 3 days of pre-feeding, begin the experiment.Horse milk was collected every 7 days, and 10% of the milk yield of each horse was mixed in 100 mL milk sample bottles and stored in -20℃ refrigerator.Which blood samples were collected from the jugular vein before morning feeding (0 h) and at 1,2,3,4,6,9 and 12 h after morning feeding on day 40, and the plasma were centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 15 min and conservation at-20℃. Excrement was collected within 8 h on days 45 and 46 of the test, mixed with 5g of fresh fecal samples in a 5 mL frozen storage tubes and stored in liquid nitrogen. Compared with the control group, the lactation volume of Yili horses in test groups I and II was significantly higher throughout the trial period (P <0.05), and the late test group II was significantly higher than test group I (P <0.05). The yield of milk fat, lactose, and milk protein in test group II was significantly higher than that in test group I and control group (P <0.05); the urea nitrogen content in test group I was significantly lower than the control group (P <0.01). The lauric acid, tetradecanoic acid, cis-11,14,17-eicosotrienic acid, total saturated fatty acid, and total saturated fatty acid/total unsaturated fatty acid in test group II were significantly higher than those in the control group and test group I (P <0.05); The plasma glucose concentration of mares in test group II was significantly higher than that of control group and test group I at 1, 2 and 9 h after feeding (P <0.05), and significantly higher at 4 h after feeding (P <0.05); At 3 h and 6 h after feeding, test group II mares had significantly higher plasma free fatty acids and triglycerides concentrations than the control and test group I (P <0.05), at 4 h after feeding, the plasma triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher than the control and test I groups (P <0.05). Plasma low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein concentrations were significantly higher in mares at 3 h and 9 h after feeding than in control and group I (P <0.05). The total number of OTUs was 3483, and the number of OTUs was 4984,5487, and 5158 in the control and test I and II, respectively. At the phylum level, the total abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes was more than 75%, and the test group Verrucomicrobia was significantly higher than the control group (P <0.05), and the test group II was significantly higher than the test group I (P <0.05). The Treponema_saccharophilum was significant difference in the feces of the control group (P <0.05); WCHB 1_41, kiritimatiellae, and Verrucomicrobia were significant difference of the test group II (P <0.05) and the fecal flora was mainly related to lipid synthesis, metabolism, and energy metabolism (P <0.05). Supplemental feeding can improve lactation volume of grazing Yili horses, improve the absorption and utilization of fatty acids, and improve the composition and diversity of horse milk and fecal flora to a certain extent.

As most prominent plant-associated disease, photosensitization in large herbivores provides a substantial data base to evaluate the conditions under which animals are concerned. The purpose of this meta study was to investigate whether the level of feed plant diversity and feed choice influence the incidence of photosensitization. Case reports from 1900 to 2022 served as database. 113 publications described 178 cases of altogether 12 animal species, most of them being farm animals. 73.6% of the cases originated from three continents: South America, Australia and North-America. Of the 40 phototoxic agents, herbs represented the majority (63.6%). Brachiaria, Froelichia and other four genus were associated in almost 50% of the cases. Usually, animals received feed both of normal quality and in fresh state. Secondary photosensitization was most frequent only when associated with poor feed quality. If the animals had had access to high-diversity feed instead of low-diversity feed, the incidence was 27.5% smaller. If the animals had the choice between various kind of feed, the incidence was even reduced by 56.1%. Horses could select the least, however, suffered mainly from primary photosensitization. We conclude that farmers may prevent photosensitization in husbandry animals by allowing both more feed choice and feed diversity.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the only primitive spermatogonial cells in males that can naturally transmit genetic information to their offspring and replicate throughout their lives. Phospholipase D family member 6 (PLD6) has recently been found to be a surface marker for SSCs in mice and boars; however, it has not been validated in cattle. The results of RT-PCR and qRT-PCR found that the relative expression of PLD6 gene in the testicular tissues of 2-year-old Simmental calves was significantly higher than that of 6-month-old calves. Immunofluorescent staining further verified the expression of PLD6 protein in bovine spermatogenic cells like germ cell marker VASA. Based on multiple bioinformatic databases, PLD6 is a conservative protein which has high homology with mouse Q5SWZ9 protein. It is closely involved in the normal functioning of the reproductive system. Molecular dynamics simulation analyzed the binding of PLD6 as a phospholipase to cardiolipin (CL), and PLD6-CL complex showed high stability. The protein interaction network analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between PLD6 and piRNA binding protein. PLD6 acts as an endonuclease and participates in piRNA production. In addition, PLD6 in bovine and mouse testes has a similar expression pattern with the spermatogonium-related genes VASA and PIWIL2. In conclusion, these analyses imply that PLD6 has a relatively high expression in bovine testes and could be used as a biomarker for spermatogenic cells including SSCs.

In this world that we share with them, they became unintended sentinels for the consequences of pollutant exposure, developing similar conditions to humans, and even earlier. This review focuses on the human-pet interaction and on the effects of the environment pets share with us. Alongside other species, canine and feline companions are veritable models in human medical research. The latency period for showing chronic exposure effects to pollutants is just a few years in them, compared to considerably more, decades in humans. Comparing the serum values of man's best friends to ours can indicate the degree of poisonous lead-load we are exposed to, for example, and of other substances as well. We can find 2.4 times higher perfluorochemicals from stain- and grease-proof coatings in canine companions, 23 times higher values for PBDEs in cats, and five times more mercury compared to the average levels obtained in humans. All these represent early warning signals. Taking into account all these, and the animal welfare orientation of today’s society, finding non-invasive methods to detect the degree of environmental pollution in our animals becomes paramount, alongside with the need to raise awareness on the risks carried by certain chemicals we knowingly use.

Equines play an important role throughout the world, whether for work, culture, or leisure, providing an ever-growing significant contribution on the economy. The increase in importation and movement of horses, both nationally and internationally, has inevitably allowed for the global equine industry to grow. Subsequently however, the potential for transmission of fatal equine bacterial diseases has also escalated, and devasting outbreaks continue to occur. To prevent such events, disease surveillance and diagnosis must be heightened throughout the industry. Current common, or "gold-standard" techniques, have shown to be inadequate at times, thus requiring newer technology to impede outbreaks. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has proven to be a reliable, rapid, and accessible tool in both diagnostics and surveillance. This review will discuss equine bacterial diseases of biosecurity relevance and their current diagnostic approaches, as well as their respective LAMP assay developments. Additionally, we will provide insight regarding newer technology and advancements associated with this technique, and their potential use for the outlined diseases.

Laminitis is considered as an important underlying cause of lameness diseases, yet its specific pathogenesis remains unclear. Autophagy is an intracellular degradation mechanism that controls recycling of membrane-associated integrin and may aid in the progression of metabolic diseases. But the significance of autophagy for initiation and development of laminitis is unknown. The present study aimed to explore autophagy activity in the laminar tissue of dairy cows with oligofructose-induced laminitis. Twelve healthy non-pregnant Holstein cows were randomly divided to 2 groups of 6 cows each, entitled the control group and the oligofructose overload group (OF group), respectively. At 0 h, cows in OF group were gavaged with oligofructose (17 g/kg BW) dissolved in warm deionized water (20 mL/kg BW) through oral rumen tube, and dairy cows in control group were gavaged with the same volume of deionized water by the same method. At -72 h before perfusion as well as 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 60 h, and 72 h after perfusion, clinical evaluations in both groups were monitored. After 72 h, laminar tissues of dairy cows in both groups were collected to examine genes and proteins. We found the significantly higher (P<0.05) levels of mRNA ATG5, ATG12, and Becilin1, but P62 and mTOR were extensively lower (P<0.01) in the laminar tissue of the OF group than the control group. Protein expression level of Becilin-1 was higher significantly (P<0.05), and the protein expression level of LC3II was lower significantly (P<0.05) in OF group than control group. However, the expression of P62 reduced (P>0.05) non-significantly in OF group than control group. The distribution of Beclin1 protein in laminar tissue increased (P<0.01) significantly, and distribution of P62 protein decreased (P<0.05) significantly in OF group than control group. In conclusion, laminar tissue damage occurred during the onset of laminitis, which promoted the occurrence of autophagy, and confirmed that autophagy was involved in the regulation and pathogenesis of laminitis in dairy cows.

Piceatannol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound that is widely found in grapes, blueberries, mushrooms, passion fruit and other edible fruits and vegetables. It has a variety of biological activities and pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidation, antiaging, antiviral, antitumor, anticancer, antiatherosclerosis, antiparasitic, immunoregulatory, and cardiovascular protection effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiherpesvirus effects of piceatannol. Pseudorabies virus (PRV) belongs to the family Herpesviridae. PRV has a wide host range and can cause cytopathic effects (CPEs) in PK-15 cells. Therefore, PRV was used as a model to study the antiherpesvirus effect of piceatannol. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral activity of piceatannol against PRV in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that piceatannol could reatrain PRV multiplication in PK-15 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 0.0307 mg/mL, the IC50 was 0.0307 mg/mL, and the selectivity index (SI, CC50/IC50) was 3.68. The addition of piceatannol at different stages of PRV infection inhibited the viral adsorption and intracellular replication phases of PRV. Piceatannol significantly reduced the expression levels of the IE180, EP0, UL29, UL44, US6 and UL27 genes of PRV within 48 h, significantly reduced the expression levels of the PRV gB and gD proteins, and reduced PRV-induced apoptosis. Molecular docking showed that piceatannol had good binding activity with the PRV gB and gD proteins. The results of animal experiments in vitro indicated that piceatannol could delay the onset of disease, improve the survival rate of the mice (14.3%), reduce the viral load in the brain and kidney of the mice, alleviate the pathological changes in the mouse tissues and organs, and increase the levels of TNF-α, IEN-γ and IL-4 in the serum of the mice. These data indicate that piceatannol has good anti-PRV activity in vitro and in vivo, indicating that it could be a novel antiherpesvirus infection agent in the future.

This article traces the origination, distribution, kinematics, function, and nature of alternative lateral horse gaits, i.e. intermediate speed lateral-sequence gaits involving the synchronization of ipsilateral limbs in the swing phase. Such alternative lateral horse gaits (namely, the running walk, rack, broken pace, hard pace, and broken trot) have been prized by equestrians for their comfort, and have been found in select horse breeds for hundreds of years and even exhibited in fossil equid trackways. After exploring the evolution and development of alternative lateral gaits via fossil equid trackways, human art and historical writings, and the genetics and history of modern horse breeds, functional and biomechanical reasons are offered for the genesis of these gaits. The article concludes by tracing similarities and differences between and within the expression of these alternative lateral gaits by various horse breeds. Fast and low-swinging hard pacing gaits are common in several horse breeds of East and North Asia, high-stepping rack and running walk gaits are often displayed in European and North and South American breeds, the broken pace is found in breeds of Central Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, Western North America, and Brazil in South American, and the broken trot occurs in breeds of North Asia, South Asia, and the Southern United States, and Brazil South America.

Genes encoding retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4), follicle stimulating hormone subunit beta (FSHB) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) have been proposed as candidate genes for reproduction traits in pigs. The study presented in this paper aimed to find associations between variants of these genes and reproduction traits in pigs reared in Poland. Investigation included Polish Large White x Polish Landrace (n=288) and Yorkshire (n=195) sows. Individual genotypes were determined by means of PCR-RFLP (single nucleotide polymorphism in RBP4, FSHB) or PCR (insertion/deletion in EGF) methods. Obtained result showed that RBP4 variants were related to total number born (TNB) and number born alive (NBA) in 1st, 2nd and 5th parities, FSHB to TNB and NBA in first two parities, however EGF with both traits in all parities (P≤0.05 or P≤0.01). In case of RBP4 gene, heterozygous genotype (AB) was favorable for analyzed traits, however in case of FSHB and EGF homozygous genotype, AA and BB respectively. Obtained results indicate that polymorphism in three analyzed genes is associated with important reproductive traits of pigs kept in Poland.

This experiment examined the effect of feeding graded levels of Momordica foetida leaf (MFL) as a substitute for Noug Seed Cake (NSC) on feed intake, digestibility, growth performance, and economic efficiency. Forty-two yearling lambs (16.1±0.6 kg) were randomly allotted to six dietary treatment groups for 90 days feeding trial followed by ten days digestibility trial. Treatments were T1(Control) = adlibitum PG (Pennisetum glaucifolium) + 449.3gm WB (Wheat Bran), T2 = 449.3gm WB + 100% MFL; T3 = 449.3gm WB + 75% MFL + 25% NSC; T4 = 449.3gm WB + 50% MFL + 50% NSC; T5 = 449.3gm WB + 25% MFL + 75% NSC; T6 = PG + 449.3gm WB + 0% MFL + 100% NSC. Data were analyzed using SAS's General Linear Model (GLM) procedures (version 9.4, 2019). The result indicates that the increasing level of MFL had no significant effect on basal dry matter intake. The apparent digestibility of DM was higher (P<0.001) in T1 (60.5%) and T6 (62.5%); a higher (P<0.001) average daily gain was recorded for animals in T6 (171.0g/d). The cost-benefit analysis revealed that T5 has a good and optimum final body weight gain (30.5kg), 765.5 ET/head total return, and 381.1 ETB/head net return. It was concluded that 25% inclusion of MFL in the diet increases nutrient intake, weight gain and economic efficiency in Bonga sheep.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a palygorskite-based antibacterial agent (PAA) as an alternative to antibiotics on growth performance, blood parameters, rumen fermentation, and rumen microbiota in sheep. A total of 120 sheep were randomly divided into five groups of six replicates with four sheep each. Sheep were fed a basal diet, an antibiotic diet supplemented with 500 g/t chlortetracycline (CTC), and a basal diet supplemented with 500, 1,000, and 2,000 g/t PAA for 80 d, respectively. Supplementation with 2,000 g/t PAA and 500 g/t CTC increased the average daily gain (ADG) of sheep compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Diets supplemented with 2,000 g/t PAA and 500 g/t CTC reduced (P < 0.05) the feed: gain (F/G ratio) in the overall periods. Dietary Supplementation with 1,000 g/t PAA significantly increased albumin and total protein (P < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between growth hormone concentration and PAA supplementation (P < 0.05). In addition, compared to the control group, the CTC group had higher growth hormone concentration and lower lipopolysaccharide concentration (P < 0.05). No dif-ference was observed between the five groups in terms of rumen fermentation characteristics (P > 0.05). At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria was lower in the PAA 2000 and CTC 500 groups than that in the control and PAA 500 groups (P < 0.05). At the genus level, a sig-nificant decrease (P < 0.05) in the relative abundance of RuminococcaceaeUCG-010 was observed in the PAA 1000, PAA 2000, and CTC 500 groups compared with that in the control group. In addition, the relative abundance of Prevotella1 (P < 0.05) was higher in the PAA 2000 group than that in the control group. These findings indicate that dietary supplementation with PAA has ameliorative effects on growth performance, blood parameters, and rumen microbiota, with an optimal dosage of 2,000 g/t for sheep.

In this study, a case of acute cattle death was investigated. The pathogen was identified, and its molecular characteristics and vector were analysed. This study provides a reference for the prevention and control of babesiosis and the healthy breeding of cattle. In this study, unengorged and engorged Rhipicephalus microplus ticks were collected from the Chongqing area. The unengorged ticks were cultured on cattle under laboratory conditions, and the engorged ticks were cultured to lay eggs. In the process, the cattle suddenly died at 12 days from the bite of an unengorged R. microplus tick. In addition, the larvae hatched from R. microplus eggs, which were cultured on the other cattle, and the experimental cattle died in approximately 14 days. Blood was collected from a second dying and stored at 4 ℃ for one week. Two millilitres of anticoagulated blood was injected subcutaneously into the third cow without piriformis infection. On the fourth day, the body temperature rose to 41 ℃ with slight lymphadenopathy. On the fifth day, the cow suddenly fell and died approximately 4 hours later. DNA was extracted from the blood of all dead cattle and amplified by PCR with piriformis universal primers. The results showed that the cattle were infected with Babesia bovis. The phylogenetic tree based on 18S rRNA showed that the Chongqing strain of B. bovis, which caused the death of cattle, was closely related to the Yunnan strain in China and had the same taxonomic status as the Spanish strain. This case report will draw people's attention to B. bovis once again, and positive control measures should be taken to reduce the losses of farmers to achieve the goal of healthy breeding.

No system nor standardized analytical procedures at commercial laboratories exist to facilitate and accurately measure potential viable virus contamination in feed ingredients and complete feeds globally. As a result, there is high uncertainty of the extent of swine virus contamination in global feed supply chains. Many knowledge gaps need to be addressed to improve our ability to prevent virus contamination and transmission in swine feed. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge involving: 1) the need for biosecurity protocols to identify production, processing, storage, and transportation conditions that may cause virus contamination of feed ingredients and complete feed, 2) challenges of measuring virus inactivation, 3) virus survival in feed ingredients during transportation and storage, 4) minimum infectious doses, 5) differences between using a Food Safety Objective versus a Performance Objective as potential approaches for risk assessment in swine feed, 6) swine virus inactivation from thermal and irradiation processes, and chemical mitigants in feed ingredients and complete feed, 7) efficacy of virus decontamination strategies in feed mills, 9) benefits of functional ingredients, nutrients, and commercial feed additives in pig diets during a viral health challenge, and 10) considerations for improved risk assessment models of virus contamination in feed supply chains.

CGT is composed of fiber residues, leaves, dust particles, soil and others derived during the ginning and yarn spinning process at processing industries,. In the cotton spinning industrial clusters, farmers are using CGT) as one of the alternative roughage feed for their sheep, mainly during forage shortages in the summer months. To have baseline information on farmers using gin and factors driving them to choose CGT as a roughage source, which need to be identified for future planning on the usage of CGT in sheep feeding. Considering the above facts, the present study was undertaken to assess socio-personal characteristics, managemental practices associated with farmers using cotton gin in the feeding of sheep and also identify the factors driving the choice of the CGT as the primary source of roughage in the cotton spinning industry cluster of Tamil Nadu. For this, a survey among 80 sheep farmers was carried out using a pre-tested in-terview schedule. The collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics and logit regres-sion. The results indicated that the majority of male, aged, and large-land farmers were involved in practicing CGT feeding during the summer and also indicated the non-availability of green fodder during the summer season. The coarse type of CGT preferred more than the fine type of CGT trash in that area due to quality perception and price. The replacement level of CGT as roughage ranged from 33 to 75% of the total roughage requirement per day. About 88 percent-age of farmers were highly satisfied with the results of using CGT and they also expressed that the presence of foreign particles and dust were the major problems with using CGT. The choice of CGT as primary roughage among sheep farmers was primarily influenced by selective farming contexts, namely landholding, access to labour, and feeding practices of other livestock with cotton gin. Further, research has to be focused on to improve the quality of CGT in the future, as it is being utilised largely by sheep farmers.

This paper explores the ethical imperative of rehoming all healthy animals of sentient species after experiments have finished or when they have become otherwise redundant. We take into account disparate perspectives in animal ethics and see how they point in the same direction. We illustrate our case with our own rehoming experience from the joint Animal Welfare Body of Utrecht University and the University Medical Centre Utrecht, the Netherlands. The primary pilot proved successful, after which the principle of rehoming became standing policy and common practice. We discuss several challenges and our responses to those through continuous evaluation of the adoption program.

Dietary inclusion of trace minerals (TM), such as copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) is of importance to cover the ever-evolving requirements for growth, production, and reproduction in ruminants. Various sources of TM are commercially available, such as inorganic (ITM), organic (OTM) or hydroxy (HTM) forms, however their bioavailability and efficiency to improve ruminant zootechnical parameters may be highly influenced by ruminal solubility and effects on the rumen environment. The objective of this review was to compile the most up-to-date information on the ruminal solubility of ITM, OTM and HTM, and their effects on fermentation parameters and rumen microbiota, aiming to support specialists from the animal feed industry when choosing TM products for ruminant supplementation. Some commonly used ITM sources, like sulfates, have a high ruminal solubility, while oxides are less soluble. The ruminal solubility of OTM is mostly found to be high, however data on these TM forms are still lacking. Regarding HTM, ruminal solubility is reported to be low, nevertheless results are inconsistent. Considering rumen fermentation, ITM show a negative effect, OTM might improve, while HTM do not affect parameters like dry matter degradability, volatile fatty acid production, pH, or microbial protein synthesis. As to rumen microbiota, ITM do not affect microbial populations; OTM could decrease abundance of some specific bacteria, like fibrolytic microorganisms, while studies with HTM are missing or inconclusive. Further research is necessary to better understand the ruminal solubility kinetics of TM sources and the different interactions with fermentation parameters and rumen microbiota to successfully apply precision TM supplementation of ruminants, tackling deficiency occurrences.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that has a cosmopolitan geographical distribution, reported in domestic and wild animals, which act as reservoirs and contribute to the spread of the microorganism in the environment. In Brazil, studies on the occurrence of leptospirosis in buffaloes in the Amazon biome are scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence of antibodies against Leptospira spp., including serovar Hardjo (Bolivia), isolated from cattle in Brazil and not yet tested in buffaloes. A total of 387 blood serum samples of animals from nine municipalities in the Marajó Island, state of Pará, northern Brazil, were obtained from a biological sample bank and analyzed using the serum agglutination microscopic test (SAM). Serology revealed 91.5% (387/354) of the animals tested positive for anti-Leptospira antibodies. Among the serovars tested, the serovar Hardjo (Bolivia) was the most prevalent, present in 79.3% of the reactive buffaloes.

Alphavirus species are globally distributed zoonoses, primarily transmitted by arthropods. In Costa Rica, Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) and Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) are endemic. The objective of this study is to detect these viruses in brain samples from equines displaying nervous signs. For this purpose, four published universal RT-PCR methods were compared. The most sensitive and specific RT-PCR method was used to test a total of 70 brain samples, including 40 from bovines and 30 from equines, all exhibiting nervous signs. In the positive cases, eight different brain regions were extracted and tested using this RT-PCR. Positive cases were confirmed through sequencing. Among the four universal RT-PCR assays, Torii RT-PCR demonstrated the highest sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing VEEV and EEEV. Not all assessed brain regions showed DNA amplification. None of the bovine brains was positive and out of the 30 equine brain samples, only four tested positive, and sequencing confirmed two of these samples as VEEV subtype IE. Torii RT-PCR successfully detected VEEV in pools of the hip-pocampus, spinal cord, and basal nuclei, making these brain regions suitable for diagnosing this virus. None of the samples were positive for EEEV.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an intestinal disease that results in poor performance, inefficient nu-trient absorption, and has a devastating economic impact on poultry production. This study evaluated the effects of a saponin-based product (Clarity Q [CQ]) during a NE challenge. A to-tal of 1,200 male chicks were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (10 pens/treatment; 30 birds/pen): treatment 1 (NC): a non-medicated corn-soybean basal diet; treatment 2 (PC) NC + 50 g/metric ton (MT) of Bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD); treatments 3 (CQ15) and 4 (CQ30) NC + 15 and 30 g/MT, respectively. On day (d) of placement, birds were challenged by a coccidia vaccine to induce NE. On d 8, 14, 28, and 42, performance parameters were measured. On d 8, three birds/pen were necropsied for NE lesions. On d 8 and d 14, jejunum samples from one bird/pen were collected for mRNA abundance of tight junction proteins and nutrient trans-porter genes. Data were analyzed in JMP (JMP Pro, 16) and significance (P ≤ 0.05) between treatments identified by Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) test. Compared to PC and NC, CQ15 had higher average daily gain (ADG), while CQ30 had lower average daily feed in-take (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). NE lesions in the duodenum were lower in CQ15 compared to all other treatments. On d 8, mRNA abundance of CLDN1, CLDN5, AMPK, PepT2, GLUT2, and EAAT3 were significantly greater in CQ30 (P < 0.05) compared to both PC and NC. On d 14, mRNA abundance of ZO2 and PepT2 was significantly lower in PC when compared to all treatments, while that of ANXA1, JAM3, and GLUT5 was comparable to CQ15. In summary, adding Clarity Q to broiler diets has the potential to alleviate adverse effects caused by this enteric disease by improving performance, reducing intestinal lesions, and positively modulating the mRNA abundance of various tight junction proteins and key nutrient transporters during peak NE infection.

Many factors affect the quality of red meat. The aim of the study, carried out on 44 Polish Merino lambs, was analysis of physicochemical traits (pH, meat color, expressed juice, content of moisture, protein, fat, total collagen and fatty acid ) and content of carnosine, taurine, L-carnitine on fresh and meat aged for 7 and 14 d in the longissimus lumborum (LL) and gluteus medius (GM) muscles., Higher (p&lt;0.05) redness value (a*), lower yellowness (b*) were recorded in meat after of aging in gluteus medius muscle. A lower value (p&lt;0.05) of expressed juice was found in both LL and GM after 7 days of aging. The increase (p&lt;0.05) in protein and fat content in both muscle and collagen content in LL was observed in aged meat. There was no difference in fatty acid groups and C18:2 c9, t11 content between GM and LL muscle and fresh and aging meat. A higher TBARS content (p&lt;0.05) was recorded in meat after aging in both GM and LL. The meat aging process increased (p&lt;0.05) the content of carnitine and taurine, while the content of carnosine decreased. In summary the processes that turn muscles into meat in different types of muscles affect the physicochemical characteristics and the content of bioactive ingredients.

The impact of a non-anticholinergic spasmolytic drug (drotaverine hydrochloride) on 23 heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV) and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) motility in the normal, resting 24 horses was determined. Ten adult riding horses had ECG recordings for 180 minutes after treat-25 ment with drotaverine (180 mg) or saline. Horses from the drotaverine group presented a de-26 creased of GIT contraction for two hours after treatment, but also showed drowsiness. Drotaverine 27 caused a reduction in cardiac vagal modulation of HR at T30 (P=0.050) and T60 (P=0.008) compared 28 to those receiving saline. RMSSD and high frequency (HF) recorded significantly low values after 29 drotaverine treatment by the end of the study, suggesting a decrease in parasympathetic activity. 30 HRV analysis indicated that drotaverine decreased both the low frequency (LF) and Lf/HF ratio 31 reflecting a decrease in sympathetic system. Non linear parameters registered low values after 32 drotaverine administration pointing a diminished in parasympathetic (for SD1) and sympathetic 33 (for SD2) activity. Decreased HRV was suggestive for a pervasive state of sympathetic hypervigi-34 lance of horses. The marked effect of drotaverine on HRV and GIT function in horses should be 35 taken into consideration when evaluating a clinical response to this drug in diseases associated 36 with smooth muscle spasm.

In order to improve the adaptability of broilers to low-temperature environments and their ability to resist acute cold stress (ACS), 240 one-day-old broilers were selected and randomly divided into three groups. The control treatment (CC) was raised at the conventional feeding temperature from 1-43 days (d), the cold stimulation treatments (CS) were kept at 3 °C below the temperature of CC at 1-d intervals for 3 and 6 hours from 15 to 35 d, namely CS3 and CS6, respectively. Then all broilers were kept at 20 °C from 36 to 43 d. ACS was then carried out at 44 d, and the ambient temperature was dropped to 10 °C for 6 hours. The study investigated the production perfor-mance, as well as levels of intestinal barrier genes (including Claudin-1, E-cadherin, Occludin, ZO-1, ZO-2 and Mucin2), secretory IgA in duodenum and jejunum, and immunoglobulins (IgA and IgG) in serum. The results showed that IMCS could increase the daily weight gain and decrease the feed conversion ratio. During the IMCS, the expression levels of intestinal barrier genes were up-regulated and the content of secretory IgA was increased. When IMCS ceased for one week, the level of immunoglobulins in serum stabilized, and the expression levels of Occludin, ZO-2 and Mucin2 still maintained high levels. After ACS, broilers that received IMCS training maintained the high levels of intestinal barrier genes and secretory IgA.

Chicken infectious anemia (CIA) poses a significant threat to the chicken industry in China. De-spite its non-specific symptoms, the disease is often overlooked. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the etiology and pathology of CIA in Guangxi Province, China. Three strains of the chicken infectious anemia virus (CIAV) were isolated from liver samples of diseased 20-week-old chickens. The complete genomes of these strains were sequenced, and experiments on specific pathogen-free (SPF) chicks revealed that the GX21121 strain exhibited high virulence. Histopathological examination of the deceased chicks showed liver cell necrosis, fibrous-serous exudation, inflammatory cell infiltration, hemorrhage in liver tissues, as well as congestion in lung and renal tissues. Phylogenetic analysis of the genome revealed that the three strains had a close genetic relationship to the Heilongjiang wild-type (GenBank KY486144). The genetic evolu-tion of their VP1 genes indicated that all three CIAV isolates belonged to genotype IIIc. In sum-mary, this study demonstrated the genomic diversity of three CIAV strains in adult layer hens. The isolation and characterization of the GX21121 strain as a highly virulent isolate provide val-uable information for further investigations into the etiology, molecular epidemiology, and viral evolution of CIAV.

Farmers are continually looking for new reliable, objective and non-invasive methods for evaluation of ewe condition. Live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) are used by farmers as a basis to determine the condition of the animal. Body composition is an important aspect of monitoring animal condition. The body composition is the amount of fat, lean and bone; knowing the amount of each is important because the information can be used for better strategic management interventions. Experiments were conducted to establish the relationship between body composition and body parameters, at key life’s stages (weaning and pre-mating), using measurements automatically determined by an image processing ap-plication at Lincoln University sheep farm for 88 Coopworth ewes. Computerized Tomography technology was used to develop relationship with body parameters and a subset was used to validate the predicted model. Multivariate linear regression (MLR), artificial neural network (ANNs) and regression tree (RT) statistical analysis methods were evaluated to determine their efficacy to predict body fat, lean and bone. The results showed a correlation between fat, lean and bone determined by CT and the fat, lean, bone weight estimated by live weight and body parameters calculated using the image processing application with R2 values of 0.90 for fat, 0.72 for lean and 0.50 for bone using ANNs statistical model. From these results, farmers can utilize accurate measures of fat which will enhance nutritional and management practices.

In China, the demand for rabbit meat is also increasing, and the production for rabbit meat is important. However, the underlying mechanisms of regulate skeletal muscle growth and development in rabbits remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify candidate genes related to skeletal muscle growth in rabbits and explore their potential regulatory mechanisms. RNA-seq technique was used to compare the differences of skeletal muscle transcriptome in Fujian white rabbits at different developmental stages (day 20 and 26 of embryos and birth 1, 30 and 60-day-olds) with a total of 25 individual selected. A total of 9737 DEGs that were acquired from the five groups were annotated into three ontologies of the GO database: biological process (BP), cell component (CC), and molecular function (MF). For KEGG analysis, there are 8249 genes were enriched in 1148 pathways, of which 67 pathways were significantly enriched, mainly in Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the PPAR signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway. Among all comparison groups, SE was the most abundant AS event. Real-time PCR verified that the expression patterns of differential genes were consistent with the transcriptome sequencing results. These results will provide a molecular regulation mechanism of muscle growth and development in Fujian white rabbits, and should serve an important theoretical basis for improving meat performance and growth rate of Chinese local meat rabbit breeds.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of autologous microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT), obtained by mechanical fragmentation, on radiographic bone healing in dogs subjected to tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO). Twenty dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate disease were enrolled and randomly assigned to the treatment group (MFAT) or the control group (NT). The MFAT group underwent TPLO and autologous MFAT intra-articular administration while the NT group underwent TPLO alone. The adipose tissue was collected from the thigh region and MFAT was obtained by mechanical fragmentation at the end of the surgery. The patients were subjected to X-ray exam preoperatively, immediately postoperatively (T0) and at 4 (T1) and 8 (T2) weeks postoperatively. Two radiographic scores that had previously been described for the evaluation of bone healing after TPLO were used. A 12-point scoring system (from 0 = no healing to 12= complete remodelling) was used at T0, T1 and T2, while a 5-point scoring system (from 0 = no healing to 4 = 76%–100% of healing) was used at T1 and T2. The median healing scores were significantly higher at T1 and T2 for the MFAT group compared with the NT group for the 12-point (p < 0.05) and 5-point (p < 0.05) scoring systems. The intra-articular injection of autologous microfragmented adipose tissue can accelerate bone healing after TPLO without complications.

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a serious contagious disease of canines, cats and sometimes ra-coons. The study included seven raccoons from Timisoara Zoo. The detection of CDV in all raccoons was accomplished using qRT-PCR, but several other exams were also conducted. Clinically, severe digestive disorders were observed, characterized by diarrhea and repeated hematemesis. Pseudomembranous gastroenteritis, congestion and pulmonary edema were found during the ne-cropsy of two racoons. Immunohistochemically, the brown color was highlighted in the examined sectionsand it was present in the cytoplasm of the cells from the germinal centers of the medullary area. Histopathological examination revealed lymphocyte depletion and intranuclear and intracy-toplasmic inclusions in the intestine. Based on the qRT-PCR assay, laboratory tests and lesions ob-served, it was established that the raccoons got infected with CDV, and two of them died as a result. The necropsy, histological lesions and immunohistochemical results are comparable between dogs and racoons. Through the results obtained, it was concluded that the interspecific infection is possible and the epidemiological risk of infection transmitted by racoons to domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, needs to be examined in the future.

Animal welfare assessment protocols are important for identifying welfare problems in conservation programs. This study aimed to develop a baseline welfare protocol for the assessment of welfare in huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) in conservation centers. This protocol is based on the Welfare Quality® (WQ) framework for cattle, considering the available literature on the behaviours, ecology, conservation plans, captive management of this species, and welfare assessment protocols for other ungulate species. As a result, the protocol was specifically developed for huemuls and included four principles, 12 criteria, and 23 animal- and resource-based indicators. The 12 criteria of the WQ protocol were reduced to nine, and three new criteria were added because they were both feasible and essential for welfare assessment in captive huemuls. This protocol is mainly intended to identify welfare problems in endangered species in the context of conservation centers (reproduction, rescue, rehabilitation, or treatment centers). Thus, aggregation of different measures to obtain a global score has not been proposed. However, a scoring system that assigns a value on a 0-2 scale (0= No welfare concern; 1= welfare concern; 2= urgent welfare concern) is proposed for each category. Although further research is still needed to fully validate the protocol, this is the first development of a completed protocol for huemul welfare assessment.

Deciding when to replace dairy bulls presents a complex challenge for artificial insemination (AI) companies. These decisions encompass multiple factors, including a bull's age, predicted semen production, and estimated genetic merit. This study's purpose was to provide a practical, objective tool to assist in these decisions. We utilized a Markov Chain model to calculate the economic valuation of dairy bulls, incorporating key factors such as housing costs, collection and marketing expenses, and the bull's probable tenure in the herd. Data from a leading AI company were used to establish baseline values. The model further compared a bull's net present value to that of a potential young replacement, establishing a relative valuation (BullVal$). The range of BullVal$ observed spanned from -$316,748 to $497,710. Interestingly, the model recommended culling for 49% of the bulls based on negative BullVal$. It was found that a bull's net present value was primarily influenced by market allocation and pricing, coupled with the interaction of semen production and genetic merit. This study offers a robust, data-driven model to guide bull replacement decisions in AI companies. Key determinants of a bull's valuation included market dynamics, semen production rates, and genetic merit.

Ultrasonography is a relevant diagnostic tool extensively used andrology of human and do-mestic animals, including dogs. The present review aimed to describe all the technologies based on ultrasound, starting with the basic B-Mode ultrasonography to the recent contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and the ultrasound elastography, available to assess the testicle of the dog. The principles of the different technologies and the relevant findings in normal and ab-normal testicular conditions were described and discussed. B-mode ultrasonography aims at the examination of the testis detecting focal lesions but lacks objectivization. Other technologies, such as Doppler ultrasonography, B-Flow, and CEUS allow the definition of vascular patterns, that could be measured with specific applications, such as spectral Doppler or quantitative CEUS. Finally, ultrasound elastography allows the estimation of parenchyma stiffness, in both qualitatively and quantitatively manner. Ultrasound-based technologies assist the andrology in the evaluation of the testicular function and integrity, offering valuable information to define pathological conditions that could have an impact on the health and life quality of the male dog.

Gram-negative bacterial infections pose a significant threat to public health. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) recognizes bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and induces innate immune responses, autophagy and cell death, which have major impacts on the body physiological homeostasis. However, the role of TLR4 in bacterial LPS-induced autophagy and apoptosis in large mammals remains unknown, which are closer to humans than rodents in many physiological characteristics. So far, few reports focus on the relationship between TLR, autophagy and apoptosis in large mammal levels. We urgently need more tools to further explore their crosstalk. Here, we generated a TLR4-enriched mammal model (sheep) and found that a high-dose LPS treatment blocked autophagic degradation and caused strong innate immune responses and severe apoptosis in PBMCs of transgenic offspring. Excessive accumulation of autophagosomes/autolysosomes might contribute to LPS-induced apoptosis in PBMCs of transgenic animals. Further study demonstrated that inhibiting TLR4 downstream NF-κB or p38 MAPK signaling pathways reversed the LPS-induced autophagy activity and apoptosis. These results indicate that the elevated TLR4 aggravates LPS-induced PBMCs apoptosis by leading to lysosomal dysfunction and impaired autophagic flux, which is associated with TLR4 downstream NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. This study provides a novel TLR4-enriched mammal model to study its potential effects on autophagy activity, inflammation, oxidative stress and cell death. These findings also enriched the biological functions of TLR4 and provided powerful evidence for bacterial infection.

Caseous lymphadenitis (CL) is a chronic contagious disease that affects small ruminants and is characterized by the formation of pyogranulomas in lymph nodes and other organs. However, the pathogenesis of this disease and the response of the host genome to infection are not yet fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the whole blood transcriptome and evaluate differential gene expression during the later stages of CL in naturally infected ewes. The study included diseased, serologically positive (EP), exposed, serologically negative (EN) ewes from the same infected flock and healthy ewes (CN) from a different flock. RNA sequencing was performed using the Illumina NextSeq system, and differential gene expression was estimated using DESeq2 and Edge R approaches. The analysis identified 191 annotated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the EP group (102 upregulated and 89 downregulated) and 256 DEGs in the EN group (106 upregulated and 150 downregulated). Infection influenced numerous immunoregulatory interactions between lymphoid and nonlymphoid cells in both EP and EN ewes. Immune DEGs were preferentially assigned to antigen presentation through the MHC complex, T-lymphocyte mediated immunity, and extracellular matrix interactions. Furthermore, the EP group showed altered regulation of cytokine and chemokine signalling and activation and recombination of B-cell receptors. Conversely, NF-kappa B signalling, apoptosis, and stress response were the main processes influenced in the EN group. In addition, statistically significant enrichment of the essential immune pathways of Binding and Uptake of Ligands by Scavenger Receptors in EP and p53 signalling in the EN group was found. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the disease course and host‒pathogen interaction in naturally CL-infected sheep by investigating the blood transcriptome.

Glutathione (GSH) and melatonin (MLT) are two antioxidants that have been described as having a protective role against oxidative stress in several animal species, improving sperm quality and survival after cryopreservation. Since there is no knowledge on the simultaneous use of these two substances concerning its effects on ram semen cryopreservation, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of MLT, GSH, or their association, on in vitro parameters of ram semen after thawing. During eight weekly sessions, the semen from three Merino rams was pooled, divided into four aliquots, and diluted with an egg yolk-based semen extender without (control) and with antioxidants (MLT 1mM, GSH 5mM, and MLT 1mM + GSH 5mM). Diluted semen was evaluated before and after freezing process. Supplementation of fresh semen with GSH at 5 mM had a deleterious effect on total motility progressive (TPM), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), average-path velocity (VAP), linearity (LIN), straightness (STR) and increased slow spermatozoon (%). MLT at 1 mM also has a negative effect on TPM, VSL, and STR in fresh semen. In thawed semen, 1 mM of melatonin increased the TPM regarding the group control. Also, the combination of both antioxidants attenuates the negative effect of GSH 5mM on TPM, VSL and BCF. These results indicate that 5mM GSH impairs or does not improve sperm kinetic parameters in fresh semen and suggest that melatonin when combined with GSH plays a protective role on these effects.

The objective was to evaluate the metabolic and performance differences in primiparous Nellore cows, which became pregnant at 14 or 24 months. Thirty-eight primiparous Nellore cows, which were bred for first pregnancy at 14 or 24-mo of age, with 202 ± 5 days of gestation were divided into two treatments according to breeding age: 14 or 24 months in the breeding season. Cows were evaluated for weight, body condition score (BCS), carcass characteristics, milk yield and blood parameters: glucose, total proteins, albumin, urea, beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), progesterone, and for insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). There was an in-teraction (p < 0.01) between age at first pregnancy and time for body weight, where 24-mo cows were heavier, but both categories loss weight at parturition which concomitant decrease in the BCS (p < 0,01). However, BW of 24-mo remained stable (p > 0.05) after parturition. Milk yield was higher in 24-mo cows (p < 0.01). Interaction between sampling time and breading age was observed for Longissimus muscle area (p < 0.01) and tended for Longissimus muscle depth, where 24-mo cows had greater values in prepartum. Calves born from the cows bred at 24-mo, where was higher (p < 0.01) from 160 days of age until weaning at 240 days. Glucose, urea, total proteins, albumin and NEFA were affected (p < 0.01) by the parturition data-point. There was an interaction (p < 0.01) between breading age and sampling period for β-OHB. Progesterone concentration was greater in 24-mo cows (p < 0.01). It was concluded that primiparous cows that became pregnant at 14 or 24 months of age have different nutritional and metabolic responses.

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an annual plant belonging to the family of Cannabaceae with several varieties characterised by different fatty acid profiles, content in flavonoids, polyphenols and cannabinoid compounds. Hemp is mostly used in livestock nutrition as oil or as protein cake, not as inflorescences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary hemp inflorescences on milk yield and composition in grazing goats. Twenty goats (Camosciata delle Alpi), after kidding, were equally divided into two groups (G: Grazing and GH: grazing and hemp), homogeneous for milk yield in the previous lactation, parity and live weight. For three months, all goats were fed on a permanent pasture and received 700/head/day of concentrate (barley, oats and faba bean); diet of group GH was supplemented with 20 g/head/day of hemp inflorescences. Pasture DM intake was estimated according to previous research performed in the same area. In addition, goats’ body weight did not change along the trial meaning that their energy requirements were guaranteed. Individual milk yield was daily registered and samples collected every 20 days for chemical com-position (Milkoscan) and fatty acid profile (Gas Chromatography). The data were analysed by ANOVA (GLM procedure of SAS, 2000), for repeated measure. No significant differences were found for milk yield and chemical composition. Lauric acid (C12:0) was significantly higher in milk of group GH (4.83% vs 4.32%; P<0.01) as well as total conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) (0.435% vs 0.417%; P<0.01).

Many studies link changes in avian phenology in Europe to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), as a proxy of conditions at western Europe. But effects of climate variation in other regions of Eu-rope on phenology of short-distance migrants with wide non-breeding grounds remain unclear. We determined the combined influence of large-scale climate indices, NAO, the Mediterranean Oscillation Index (MOI), and the Scandinavian Pattern (SCAND), during the preceding year on spring migration timing of European Wren at the southern Baltic coast during 1982–2021. We modelled the effects of these climate variables on the entire passage and subsequent percentiles of Wren’s passage at Bukowo-Kopań and Hel ringing stations. The start and median of migration shifted earlier at Hel, but the end of passage shifted later at both stations over 1982–2021. In the effect, the duration of passage at Hel extended by 7.6 days. Early passage at Hel was related with high MOI1 in spring and in preceding autumn. Spring passage at Bukowo-Kopań was late after high NAO in the previous breeding season, and high winter and spring NAO. At both stations late spring passage occurred after high SCAND in previous summer. Early beginning or median of passage at our stations followed high local temperatures. We conclude that phenology of Wren’s spring migration at the Baltic coast was shaped by conditions that different populations encounter at wintering quarters in western Europe, where NAO operates, and in the south-eastern Europe, where the MOI1 operates, in combination with conditions in Scandinavia during previous breed-ing season. We showed that climate variability in different parts of the migrants’ range has com-bined carry-over effects on in migrant’s phenology in Europe.

Poultry eggs are a critical source of protein, vitamins, and minerals for people worldwide; facing the current global egg shortage is a significant concern. The shortage results from various factors, including avian flu outbreaks, changes in consumer demand, and supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic crisis caused by the pandemic has also impacted the availability and affordability of eggs, particularly in low-income countries. The global egg shortage has implications for public health, particularly for vulnerable populations who rely on eggs for essential nutrients. One Health, an approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, provides a useful framework for understanding and addressing the egg shortage. One Health approaches to the egg shortage involve collaboration between agriculture and environmental sectors to address the root causes of the lack and ensure the sustainable production and distribution of eggs. Addressing the global egg shortage requires a multifaceted approach considering the complex social, economic, and environmental factors. One Health perspectives offer a way to understand and address the interconnected factors contributing to the shortage to ensure access to affordable, nutritious eggs for all in a healthy way

Lead (Pb) is a non-essential, highly toxic, and persistent element widely recognised as one of the most concerning pollutants, and it is listed in the Priority List of Hazardous Substances. Widespread environmental contamination from Pb is a serious issue for human health and wildlife. The liver, a key compartment for metal detoxification and excretion, is also the organ in which Pb mainly accumulates in fish. Herein, we investigated for the first time the morphological and functional injuries induced in zebrafish (Danio rerio) liver by two very low and environmentally relevant concentrations of Pb (2.5 and 5 μg/L) after 48, 96, and 192 hours of exposure. We showed significant histological alterations in all the exposed samples, also demonstrating that the extent of injuries increased with dose and exposure time. The most common modifications observed were congestion of blood vessels and sinusoids, cytoplasmic vacuolizations, parenchyma dyschromia, and macrophage proliferation. Pb administration also resulted in a significant increase in lipid content and the upregulation of key genes involved in metal detoxification (mtf1) and the defensive response against oxidative stress (sod1 and cat). We showed that even very low doses of Pb can disrupt liver morphology and function.

In sheep raised for meat production, the relationship between external udder conformation, colostrum quality, and lamb growth rates has not received much attention. We hypothesize that ewes with a more desirable udder conformation at lambing have greater colostrum quality and increased growth rates in lambs. Fifty Suffolk ewes were used in this study. Within 6-8 hours of parturition, colostrum samples from both halves of the udder were collected and a visual scoring of the udder was conducted. Colostrum quality was measured for total protein using both optical and Brix refractometers. On day 2, day 45, and day 60 after parturition, lamb weights were recorded, and udder conformation measurements were repeated. A visual scoring system evaluating udder floor (scale 1-4), udder depth (scale 1-9), teat placement (scale 1-9), teat lesions (present or absent), and the presence of wool (present or absent) was used to assess external udder conformation. Normal udder parameters include udder depth scores of 5 or 6, udder floor score of 1 or 2, teat placement scores 4, 5, and 6, and the absence of teat lesions and wool. All ewes not meeting normal parameters were considered to have an abnormal udder. The data was analyzed using the GLM procedure. Mean total colostrum total protein was greater (p = 0.03) in ewes displaying ‘normal’ udder conformation compared with those with ‘abnormal’ (14.82±0.5 and 13.31±0.3mg/dl). Mean Brix values were also greater (p = 0.03) for ewes with a ‘normal’ udder compared to an abnormal udder confirmation, respectively (21.70±0.8 and 19.54±0.5). On day 2 after parturition, mean lamb body weight was not different between ewes with ‘normal’ and abnormal udder (5.38±0.26 vs 5.46±0.15). No difference (p > 0.05) in lamb weights were detected between ewes with normal and abnormal udder conformations on day 45 and 60 after parturition. This data provides evidence of increased colostrum total protein values and increased Brix values present in ewes with ‘normal’ udder conformation and no difference in lamb weights between udder conformations.

The metaverse, a virtual world comprising a collective virtual shared space where users interact with one another through avatars and computer-generated objects, aims to closely mimic our real world by integrating elements of Artificial Intelligence (AI), immersive reality, advanced connectivity, and Web3. As metaverse technologies gain momentum across multiple sectors, including animal farming, their potential for addressing complex challenges such as climate change and sustainability in precision food production systems becomes increasingly apparent. However, it is crucial to consider the ethical implications and the role of sensor data and livestock behavior analysis in developing metaverse technologies for modern animal farming, given the sensitive and controversial nature of animal welfare. Failure to address these ethical considerations and harness the power of sensor data and behavior analysis could lead to a lack of credibility and insensitivity towards adopting metaverse technologies in the animal farming sector. It is essential to ensure that the development of metaverse technologies does not prioritize technology over animal welfare, ethics, socio-economic implications, and the potential for data-driven insights. Addressing diversity and equity in the context of animal farming and the metaverse is crucial to avoid perpetuating existing inequalities during the implementation of metaverse technologies. This groundbreaking paper ventures into unexplored territory, shedding light on the untapped potential of the metaverse for modern animal farming. While research on this topic is still in its infancy, we embark on a journey of visionary speculation, presenting a compelling technology forecast that envisions the extraordinary possibilities awaiting us in the future. By delving into the metaverse's transformative capabilities, we provide a glimpse into a world where animal farming transcends its traditional limitations and embraces a new era of efficiency, sustainability, and ethical practices.

The suitability of an animal model to study human diseases heavily relies on the similarity between the two species at the genetic, epigenetic, gene expression and metabolic levels. However, consistent data from different animal models at each level to evaluate this suitability is lacking. With the availability of genome sequences for many mammalian species it is now possible to compare animal models based on the genomic similarities. Here, we compare the coding sequences (CDS) of five mammalian models that include rhesus macaque, marmoset, pig, mouse and rat with those from human. We identified 10,316 conserved CDS across the five organisms and human based on the sequence similarity. Mapping the human disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from these conserved CDS in each species has identified species-specific association with various human diseases. While associations for a disease such as colon cancer were prevalent in multiple model species, pig showed the highest number (117 diseases) of model-specific human disease associations. Based on the percentage of disease-associated SNP-containing genes, marmoset models are well suited to study many human ailments including behavioral and gastrointestinal diseases. Comparison of gene expression levels of the conserved CDS from colon, heart, kidney, lung, skeletal muscle, and spleen tissues in these models showed correlations with human expression levels in a tissue-specific manner. In the gastrointestinal tissues (colon, spleen), the pig showed the highest correlation while mouse displayed a better correlation in the heart and kidney. This study demonstrated genomic as well as tissue-specific expression-based similarity evaluation of five animal models against human that could help investigators select a suitable animal model to study their targeted disease.

This study aims to report the clinical signs, therapy, necropsy, and histopathological findings of the first case of airsacculitis caused by enterobacteria and eggs of the superfamily Diplotriaenoidea in M. choliba in the Amazon Biome. The bird was admitted without clinical signs, had been hospitalized for observation for five months, and had started the rehabilitation process for release 37 days before it started to show signs of weakness, lack of appetite, cachexia, dyspnea, ruffled feathers, vomiting, and dry feces. Therapy with oxytetracycline (48 mg/kg), sulfamethoxazole (48 mg/kg), mebendazole (25 mg/kg), potenay (0.5 ml/kg), sodium chloride 0.9% (50 ml /kg) and mercepton (5ml/kg), however, after five days of starting the treatment, the bird died. At necropsy, prominence of the keel, pieces of food in the oral cavity and proventriculus, thickened air sacs, intestine with firm stools, and the presence of gas, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly were observed. The parasitological examination showed eggs of the Diplotriaenoidea superfamily. The microbiological analysis identified Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter aerogenes. Histopathological examination showed heterophilic bacterial airsacculitis. The diagnosis was confirmed through clinical signs, necropsy findings, and parasitological, microbiological, and histopathological examination results.

Adipose tissue composition contributes greatly to the quality and nutritional value of meat. Transcriptomic and lipidomic techniques were used to investigate the molecular mechanism of fat deposition difference among Ningxiang, Berkshire and F1 pigs. Transcriptomic analysis identified 680, 592 and 380 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by comparing the groups of Ningxiang pigs vs Berkshire pigs, Berkshire pigs vs F1 pigs, Ningxiang pigs vs F1 pigs. Lipidomic analysis screened 423, 252, and 50 significantly changed lipids (SCLs) by comparing the groups of Ningxiang pigs vs Berkshire pigs, Berkshire pigs vs F1 pigs, Ningxiang pigs vs F1 pigs. Lycine, serine and threonine metabolism pathway, fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism related pathways were siginificant enriched in the groups of Berkshire pigs vs Ningxiang pigs and Berkshire pigs vs F1 pigs. The DEGs (PHGDH, LOC110256000) and the SCLs (Phosphatidylserines) may have a great impact on lycine, serine and threonine metabolism pathway. Moreover, the DEGs (FASN, ACACA, CBR4, SCD, ELOV6, HACD, CYP3A46, CYP2B22, GPX1, GPX3) and the SCLs (palmitoleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, icosadienoic acid) play important role in fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism. Thus, the fat deposition difference among Ningxiang, Berkshire and F1 pigs may be caused by the difference of the expression pattern of key genes in multiple enrichment KEGG pathways. The research presented multiple lipids that were potentially available biological indicator and screened key genes that were potentially gene targets for molecular design breeding. The research also explored the molecular mechanisms of fat deposition difference among Ningxiang, Berkshire and F1 pigs and provides insight into the selection of backfat thickness and fat composition of adipose tissue for future breeding strategies.

Large ruminant production is associated with high greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe) intensity, with the highest in southeast Asia being Laos at 102.9 CO2eq/kg meat produced, compared with average global meat emissions intensity of 33 CO2eq/kg. As recent studies in Laos identified emissions control molasses blocks (ECBs) achieved abatement of 470kg CO2eq/20kg block consumed, a study was conducted with a supplement mix with reported methane reducing properties, containing plant tannins and citral extract, salt, molasses and water. Groups of housed dairy buffalo (n=7) and pasture-fed grazing beef cows (n=11) were randomly selected, body condition scores estimated (BCS:1-5) and baseline nasa-oral methane eructation measured daily for 2 weeks. All animals were offered 300-400g/day of the mix for a month, with buffalo accessing abundant fresh cut forages whereas the grazing cows accessing rice straw and pasture declining in quality and quantity due to severe drought. The buffalo consumed all of the mix and retained their BCS of 3, whereas the cattle consumed between 200-300g/day of the mix and their BCS declined from 1.5 to 1.0 during the trial. Analysis of data points (buffalo n=309; cattle n=378) found average methane concentration (AMP) per animal of both cohorts increased over the 2 week baseline period, then declined during the supplementation period by 36% in the buffalo and 18% in cattle cohorts.

Production of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) has become crucial in controlling sea lice levels in salmonid aquaculture. To improve their breeding, there is a need for early sex identification. The genomic region containing anti-Müllerian hormone (amh) gene was suggested as the candidate sex-determining gene in lumpfish. However, the genome of lumpfish contains three copies of amh with ambiguous sex specificity, designated amh1, amh2, and amh3. The study aims to analyse the male-specific region between these amh paralogues, for its application as a sex marker. In this study, we utilised polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays to identify the male-specific amh markers in lumpfish and estimate the length of the male-specific region in the lumpfish genome. Our results suggest that a region of approximately 26 kilobase (kb) region containing amh1 and amh2 is male-specific, while both sexes share amh3. The developed PCR-based genetic sex identification assays targeting amh1 and amh2 exhibited more than 97% accuracy. Further experiments in other members of the Cyclopteridae: Aptocyclus ventricosus, Eumicrotremus taranetzi, and E. asperrimus revealed male-specific amh fragments only in A. ventricosus. Phylogenetic analyses using the available Cyclopteridae amh sequences suggest that male-specific amh arose early in the Cyclopteridae lineage. These findings and development of the PCR test will be of service to lumpfish aquaculture as well as to future studies attempting to further elucidate the sex-determination system and sex chromosome evolution in lumpfish.

In order to study the burrowing crab Neohelice granulata (Dana, 1851) in the northern limit of its distribution and to test the hypothesis that mesoscale factors are more deterministic than latitudinal variation in this crab life history, the population dynamics of this specie was studied in the Caceribú river (Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil). The sex ratio was female-biased over the year. Males were significantly larger (t-test = 3.53, p < 0.05) than females (CW mean = 29.14 mm and 27.32 mm, respectively), which were predominant in the intermediary-size classes. The breading season took place from February to November, with a peak in May. The recruitment was observed all over the year, but mostly from October to December. The size at maturity was estimated at 19.0 mm for females and 23.9 mm for males. Average fecundity was 20,419 eggs (±12,627.12) and showed a decrease from the first to the last stage of embryonic development. The asymptotic size was similar between males (CW∞ = 24.86 mm) and females (CW∞ = 24.50 mm). Longevity was estimated in 1.33 and 1.23 years in males and females, respectively. Mortality rates were slightly higher in males (Z = 3.71) than in females (Z 0 3.41). Analysing the results of this study and the literature we conclude that the population dynamics of N. granulata do not follow a latitudinal trend. This strengthens the hypothesis that brachyurans’ life histories are mainly driven by mesoscales factors than latitudinal variation.

The purpose of this study was to see how feeding cotton gin trash (CGT) as an alternative meal affected the growth performance, carcass features, and meat quality of Mecheri ram lambs. A growth performance trial was conducted with thirty-two weaned Mecheri ram lambs from four months to nine months (180 days) of marketing age and assigned into four groups (T1, T2, T3 and T4) of eight animals in each group. The lambs were fed with CGT at 0 (T1), 25 (T2), 50 (T3) and 75 (T4) per cent inclusion levels in the roughage portion at 60:40 roughage: concentrate ratio. All the group of animals were fed on dry matter requirement basis at four per cent of their body weight. The lambs fed with 75 (T4) and 50 (T3) per cent inclusion level of CGT showed signifi-cantly (P<0.01) higher total body weight gain (kg) than T1 (14.54) and T2 (15.05) groups. The av-erage daily gain (g) of lambs in T3 (99.24) and T4 (105.51) were significantly (P<0.01) higher than T1 (80.77) and T2 (83.61) groups. Over the course of the 180-day trial period, there was no statisti-cally significant difference in the average DMI (g) between the groups (P>0.05), however the lambs in T4 demonstrated higher feed efficiency (7.4) than the T1 (9.3) group. The slaughter studies revealed that the lambs in T4 followed by T3 group registered significantly (P<0.01) higher hot carcass weight, dressing percentage and Meat: Bone ratio than T2 and T1 group ani-mals. The weights of the liver, spleen, head, stomach, and intestines empty were considerably (P<0.05) larger in the T3 and T4 groups than in the other groups, although there was no signifi-cant (P>0.05) difference in the weights of edible and inedible offals. Meanwhile, there were no significant variations (P>0.05) in pH, water holding capacity, shear force value, sensory charac-teristics, or proximate composition of meat across treatment groups. In accordance to the find-ings, CGT can be added up to 75% of the roughage component in sheep feed as an effective un-conventional supplementation, as it improves body weight, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics in Mecheri ram lambs.

Red beetroot, is a well-recognized and established source of bioactives (e.g., betalains and polyphenols) with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It is proposed as a potential alternative to zinc oxide, with a focus on gut microbiota modulation and metabolite production. In this study, weaned pigs aged 28-days were fed either a control diet, diet supplemented with zinc oxide (3,000 mg/kg), or 2% and 4% pulverized whole red beetroot (CON, ZNO, RB2 and RB4; respectively) for 14 days. After the pigs were euthanized, blood and digesta samples were collected for microbial composition and metabolite analyses. Results showed, red beetroot supplemented diet at 2% improved the gut microbial richness relative to other diets, but marginally influenced the caecal microbial diversity compared to zinc oxide supplemented diet. Further increase in red beetroot levels (4% -RB4) lead to loss of caecal diversity, decreased short chain fatty acids and secondary bile acid concentrations. An increased Proteobacteria abundance, presumably due to increased lactate/lactic acid producing bacteria was also observed. Summarily, red beetroot contains several components conceived to improve the gut microbiota and metabolite output of weaned pigs. Future studies investigating individual components in red beetroot will better elucidate their contributions to gut microbiota modulation and pig health.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of atomized black Maca in the cryopreservation medium of epididymal spermatozoa of alpaca species. Fifteen pares of testes and epididymis from alpacas of reproductive age were collected from a local (Huancavelica) slaughterhouse and transported in NaCl 0,9% at 10°C to the laboratory. Each sample of epididymal sperm was divided into six groups: 1) Fresh, 2) Yolk medium (YM), 3) YM+10mg/ml Maca, 4) YM+20mg/ml Maca, 5) YM+30mg/ml Maca, and 6) YM+ Resveratrol (antioxidant positive control). Sperm cryopreservation was performed through the slow-freezing method. Markers associated with functionality such as motility, vitality and plasma membrane integrity. Cellular markers associated with oxidative damage, such as DNA fragmentation, total ROS production and lipid peroxidation, were analyzed before and after freezing. The results showed that the supplementation with black Maca at 20mg/ml improved the sperm motility, viability and integrity of the membrane. Similarly, total ROS production decreased with Maca at 10 mg/ml (25 ± 2.23%) and 20mg/ml (20 ± 2.52%) (P<0.05). However, DNA fragmentation and lipid peroxidation were similar in all groups. These results suggest that Maca at 20mg/ml has a protective effect during the freezing/thawing process of epididymal sperm of alpaca species.

The effect of the addition of fenugreek seed powder and Moringa oleifera leaf meal on the production performance and egg quality of Lohmann Brown laying hens was investigated. A total of 108 Lohmann-Brown layers, 48 weeks of age, were used and randomly assigned to six experimental groups of three replicates each in a randomized design. A control diet was supplemented with 3.6 g/hen/day of Moringa oleifera leaf meal and fenugreek seed powder alone or in various proportions as follows: control diet (T1), 100% Moringa oleifera leaf meal (T2), 25% fenugreek seed powder and 75% moringa oleifera leaf meal (T3), 50% fenugreek seed powder and 50% moringa oleifera leaf meal (T4), 75% fenugreek seed powder and 25% moringa oleifera leaf meal (T5) and 100% fenugreek seed powder (T6) were added on top of the control diet. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA by the general linear model method, using Tukey's multiple range tests to differentiate means. According to the results, fenugreek and moringa had a crude protein content of 25.17 and 27.8%, respectively. The groups administered T4 had significantly higher mean feed intake (120.75), feed conversion rate (2.315), egg production (77.22), and egg mass (52.08) than the others. Treatment 4 had a significant (P&lt;0.05) improvement in some egg quality traits such as shell weight, shell firmness, albumen weight, yolk weight, yolk color, and Haugh unit compared to the control. In summary, Treatment 4, a mixture of equal parts fenugreek seed powder and Moringa oleifera leaf meal, improved egg production performance and egg quality.

Porcine parvovirus (PPV) 1 is a major causative pathogen of reproductive failure, and porcine circovirus (PCV) 2 is an etiological pathogen causing PCV-associated and PCV diseases worldwide. PPV2–6 and PCV3 were recently identified as newly emerging viruses with unknown pathogeneses. However, little is known of PPV1–6 and PCV3 effects or their co-infections with PCV2. In this study, we examined 926 samples (272 aborted pig fetuses and 654 pig lung tissues) from domestic pig farms for the presence of PPV1–6 or PCV3 and for PCV2 co-infection with these seven viruses. The prevalence of PPV and PCV was significantly greater in lung tissue samples than aborted pig fetus samples. PPV3–6 were detected for the first time in Korean domestic pigs. Co-infection rates with PCV2 and other viruses were significantly higher in abattoir samples than that in aborted pig fetus samples. Concurrent infections are more common than single infection in pig population and nu-merous infectious pathogens such as PPV and PCV2 can impact the respiratory diseases. Fur-thermore, Korean PPV1 strain (PPV1-82) was identical to the virulent PPV-27a strain in this respect. Our results describe, for the first time the prevalence of PPV1–6 and PCV3 infections and their co-infection rates with PCV2 in Korean domestic pigs.

Weaning is a critical period in the pig’s life. Piglets are confronted with abrupt changes to their physical and social environment, as well as management and nutritional changes. Weaning was always associated with a growth check and was frequently accompanied by post-weaning diarrhea in piglets. However, rapid increases in litter size, in the last decade, has increased within-litter piglet weight variation, with piglets now generally lighter at weaning, making the challenges associated with weaning even greater. Many interventions can be employed during the suckling period to ease the weaning transition for piglets. Pre-weaning strategies such as supervised farrowing (assistance with suckling, oxytocin provision), provision of pain relief to sows around farrowing, split-suckling, early oral supplementation with glucose, bovine colostrum, fecal microbiota transplantation, feed additives, solid and liquid creep feeding (milk and liquid feed) have all been investigated. The objective of these strategies is to stimulate earlier maturation of the digestive tract, improve immunity, reduce latency to the first feed post-weaning and increase early post-weaning feed intake and growth. This review focuses in particular on: 1) pain relief provision to sows around farrowing, 2) split-suckling of piglets, 3) pre-weaning provision of supplementary milk and/or liquid feed, 4) other strategies to stimulate earlier enzyme production (e.g. enzyme supplementation) and 5) other nutritional strategies to promote improved gut structure and function (e.g. L-glutamine supplementation). Correctly implementing these strategies can not only increase post-weaning growth and reduce mortality but also maximize lifetime growth in pigs.

The vocal folds are found in the larynx and their vibrations produce the voice. Little is known about morphology and the size of cattle larynx. The aim of the study was to quantify the shape asymmetry of the vocal folds in calves obtained post-mortem using a geometric morphometric approach. A sample of 14 larynges from calves (in an age range 335 to 625 days) belonging to “Bruna dels Pirineus” breed and its F1 crosses was obtained in an abattoir during the first semester of 2021. Landmark sets were superimposed on images of fixed transverse sections of larynges. Using geometric morphometric techniques, we analysed the presence of asymmetries. Results demonstrate differences between right and left vocal fold sides as directional asymmetry, at least in fixed structures. Our findings provide a foundation for quantifying the possible contribution of vocal organ asymmetry among cattle. This study can be considered the first to detect vocal fold asymmetries in cattle. Studies with a larger sample size are needed to validate the information in large populations. One limitation is that the present study does not have samples from adult animals, so it would be interesting to know if the results are similar among them.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that poses a significant threat to human and animal health worldwide. Among different animal species, pigs are known to play a crucial role in the transmission of the pathogenic Leptospira spp. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Leptospira spp. infection and associated risk factors in subsistence pig production in the state of Paraná, Brazil. A total of 1393 serum samples were collected from pigs on 188 subsistence properties in different regions of the state, and tested using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) to detect antibodies against 24 different Leptospira spp serovars. The results revealed an overall seroprevalence of 68.78% for Leptospira spp. antibodies, with Icterohaemorrhagiae, Butembo, and Pomona being the most commonly detected serovars. Poor housing conditions, lack of rodent control, absence of veterinary assistance, and a history of reproductive problems were identified as significant risk factors associated with Leptospira spp. infection in the subsistence pig population. These findings highlight the urgent need for implementing effective control measures, such as improved housing conditions, rodent control, and veterinary assistance, to prevent the spread of this zoonotic disease in subsistence pig production systems in Paraná, Brazil.

Dairy cattle predicted by genomic breeding values to be heat tolerant are known to have less milk production decline and lower core body temperature increases in response to elevated temperatures. In a study conducted at the University of Melbourne’s Dookie Robotic Dairy Farm during summer, we identified the most 20 heat-susceptible and 20 heat-tolerant cows in a herd of 150 Holstein Friesian lactating cows based on their phenotypic responses (changes in respiration rate, surface body temperature, panting score, and milk production). Hair samples were collected from the tip of the cows' tail following standard genotyping protocols. The results indicated variation in feed saved and HT genomic estimated breeding values (GEBVs) (P≤0.05) across age, indicating a potential for their selection. As expected, the thermotolerant group had higher GEBVs for HT and feed saved but lower for milk production. In general, younger cows had superior GEBVs for Balanced Performance Index (BPI), Type Weighted Index (TWI) and Australian Selection Index (ASI), whilst older cows were superior in fertility, feed saved (FS) and HT. The study demonstrated highly significant (P≤ 0.001) negative correlations (-0.28 to -0.74) between HT and GEBVs for current Australian Dairy cattle selection indices (BPI, TWI, ASI, HWI) and significant (P≤ 0.05) positive correlations between HT and GEBVs for traits like FS (0.45) and fertility (0.25). Genomic selection for HT will help improve cow efficiency and sustainability of dairy production under hot summer conditions. However, a more extensive study involving more lactating cows across multiple farms is recommended to confirm the associations between the phenotypic predictors of HT and GEBVs.

Brachycephalic dogs are not only affected by brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), but also comprise up to 30% of canine patients seen by veterinary dermatologists, with English Bulldogs and Pugs particularly overrepresented. Some skin diseases are associated with the abnormal anatomic conformation of brachycephalic dogs, while for others there is a underlying genetic basis or a general predisposition. Anatomic alterations associated with brachycephaly, leading to fold formation of the skin and stenosis of the ear canal, together with primary immunodeficiencies described in some breeds, favor the development of pyoderma, Malassezia dermatitis and otitis externa/media. Frequently neglected but often lifelong dermatological problems of brachycephalic dogs are an important consideration when discussing genetic and medical conditions affecting the welfare of those dogs. Here we review the current state of knowledge concerning dermatological problems of brachycephalic dogs, and combine it with clinical experience in the management of these challenging disorders.

Ningxiang pig is renowned breed for its exceptional meat quality, but it possesses suboptimal carcass traits. To elucidate the genetic architecture of meat quality and carcass traits in Ningxiang pigs, we assessed heritability and executed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) concerning carcass length, backfat thickness, meat color parameters (L.LD, a.LD, b.LD), and pH at two postmortem intervals (45 minutes and 24 hours) within a Ningxiang pig population. Heritability estimates ranged from moderate to high (0.30 ~ 0.80) for carcass traits and from low to high (0.11 ~ 0.48) for meat quality traits. We identified 21 significant SNPs, the majority of which were situated within previously documented QTL regions. Furthermore, the HMGA1 gene emerged as a pleiotropic gene correlated with carcass length and backfat thickness. The ADGRF1, FKBP5, and PRIM2 genes were associated with carcass length, while the NIPBL gene was linked to backfat thickness. These genes hold potential for use in selective breeding programs targeting carcass traits in Ningxiang pigs.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mixture of olive, laurel and rosemary leaf powders, on performance and egg quality, the oxidative state and biochemical, immune, and intestinal morphophysiological parameters of laying hens. One hundred Lohaman Brown hens (28 weeks old) were equally assigned to two groups (n. 50) corresponding to a basal control diet (CON) or the diet supplemented with 6g/kg feed of leaf powder mixture (LPM) containing olive, laurel and rosemary leaves (1:1:1), for 8 weeks. Egg traits, oxidative status, biochemical indices, immune response, cecal short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and intestinal morphological characteristics were evaluated at the end of the experiment. The results indicated that body weight and egg quality parameters were not influenced by LPM. However, LPM improved (P<0.01) the oxidative status and the immune system, total protein (P<0.05) and HDL cholesterol (P<0.01) and decreased total cholesterol (P<0.01) and LDL cholesterol (P<0.05), as compared to the CON. Aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine amino transpherase were significantly better in the LPM than in the CON group. A significant increase (P<0.05) of SCFA content established in the caecum and in villi height and crypt depth in both duodenum and ileum LPM treated hens was observed.