The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with acacia foliage, a tannin source, and feeding systems on Barbarine lambs' growth, carcass traits, and meat quality under grazing and feedlot conditions. Twenty-eight male lambs (5-month-old, 22.5 ± 3.6 kg) were divided into four groups based on body weight (BW) and assigned to one of four diets for a 60 d trial. Two groups were raised in stalls (S) and fed hay and concentrate, while two grazed on pasture (P) with the same concentrate supplementation. Within each system, one group received 100 g of Acacia cyanophylla daily (S-T, P-T), and the other did not (S-0T, P-0T). Pasture-fed lambs had higher total daily intake, average daily gain (ADG) and slaughter body weight than stall-fed lambs. Carcass weights and dressing percentages were also higher for grazing lambs. Tannin supplementation did not affect carcass traits or meat quality. Grazing lambs showed more developed red organs and higher fat deposition. Meat quality, including pH, color, chemical composition and sensory attributes, was similar across groups. Low doses of dietary tannins improved growth and dressing percentages when combined with a low-tannin diet but reduced growth rates when basal diets were tannin-rich. These findings suggest that dietary tannins' effects depend on the basal diet's composition.
This study was conducted to evaluate the potential use of Viburnum opulus L. (VO) fruit as a phytogenic feed additive in the diets of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) and its effects on egg quality parameters and egg yolk cholesterol concentration. A total of 176 Japanese quails aged 30 weeks were used in the study. They were allocated into 4 main groups with 11 replicates, each consisting of 3 females and 1 male. The experimental groups consisted of the control (VOFP0) and the VOFP5, VOFP10, and VOFP15 groups, which received the basal diet supplemented with Viburnum opulus L. fruit powder (VOFP) at 0, 5, 10, and 15 g kg−1, respectively. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. According to the results, dietary VOFP supplementation had no statistically significant effects on the quails' body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (P>0.05). The absence of adverse effects on growth performance parameters suggests that VOFP was well tolerated under the conditions of this study. The lowest total feed consumption was recorded in the VOFP15 group, whereas the addition of VOFP5 resulted in the highest total egg weight (1828.60 g). Evaluation of egg quality parameters showed that VOFP supplementation improved selected internal egg quality parameters. The dose of VOFP5 significantly increased egg yolk height and yolk index compared with the control group (P<0.01). Regarding shell characteristics, VOFP supplementation reduced shell weight, whereas no adverse changes were observed in shell thickness and breaking resistance. Egg yolk cholesterol concentration showed VOFP supplementation numerical reductions at several sampling points; however, a statistically significant decrease was observed only in the sixth week in the VOFP15 group compared with the control group (P<0.05). In conclusion, the inclusion of VOFP5 in quail diets improved selected egg internal quality parameters, while VOFP15 showed a potential cholesterol-modulating effect, with a significant reduction observed only in the sixth week of the experiment. Considering the limited information available on VOFP supplementation in poultry nutrition, these findings provide preliminary evidence regarding the potential use of VOFP as a phytogenic feed additive and support further investigations into its effects on egg quality characteristics and potential functional properties of eggs.
This systematic review and meta-analysis re-evaluated how dietary caprylic acid (CA) supplementation affects Campylobacter jejuni colonisation and growth performance in broiler chickens, and which factors modulate its efficacy. Because caecal colonisation at the end of rearing is a principal determinant of carcass contamination at processing, and because growth performance governs slaughter weight and carcass yield, the two outcomes were treated here not as independent endpoints but as complementary dimensions of a single theme: the microbiological and technological quality of the final poultry product. We searched PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar for controlled in vivo broiler trials published between January 2000 and July 2025 that administered CA orally and reported quantitative outcomes for caecal C. jejuni counts or growth performance. Data were extracted from the primary publications and synthesised with random-effects models, using the mean difference (MD, log10 colony-forming units (CFU) g−1) for colonisation and the standardised mean difference (SMD) for growth, with pre-planned subgroup, dose–response and sensitivity analyses. Twelve studies met the eligibility criteria; 11 contributed 15 comparisons to the quantitative syntheses and one could be included only qualitatively. Caprylic acid reduced caecal C. jejuni by a pooled −1.46 log10 CFU g−1 (95 % confidence interval (CI) −2.50 to −0.41; P=0.006), with substantial heterogeneity (I2=88.1 %). Route of administration accounted for most of that heterogeneity: in-feed application reduced colonisation by −2.68 log10 CFU g−1 (95 % CI −3.88 to −1.49; I2=39.0 %), whereas water-based application had no detectable effect (−0.05 log10 CFU g−1; 95 % CI −0.68 to +0.58). Growth performance was unaffected overall (SMD +0.16; 95 % CI −0.32 to +0.64; P=0.524), but the dose–response analysis showed that inclusion above about 1 % of feed depressed feed intake and body weight while conferring no additional antimicrobial benefit. Funnel-plot asymmetry was significant (Egger's test, P=0.009) but coincided with the feed-versus-water contrast, so publication bias and genuine subgroup heterogeneity could not be separated. Caprylic acid is therefore a credible component of antibiotic-free Campylobacter control in broilers when delivered in feed at approximately 0.35 % to 0.875 % but not when delivered in drinking water.
Reproductive performance is a key determinant of productivity and economic sustainability in dairy farming and is influenced by a complex interaction of biological and management-related factors. This study aimed to evaluate reproductive performance in dairy cows and to identify the most influential risk factors at both global and individual animal levels using an explainable machine learning framework. An eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) regression model was applied to evaluate reproductive performance based on days to first insemination. Model performance was assessed using standard regression metrics. Model interpretability was achieved through SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), allowing both global feature importance assessment and local, animal-specific interpretations. SHAP analysis indicated that age had the greatest contribution to the model predictions, followed by mastitis, retained placenta, ovarian cysts, ketosis, and metritis. The direction and magnitude of the SHAP contributions varied across individual animals, highlighting heterogeneity in the model explanations. Model performance on the independent test dataset (RMSE = 39.05 d, MAE = 18.58 d, R2 = 0.01) indicated limited predictive generalizability. Nevertheless, SHAP analysis provided transparent global and local explanations of model behavior, demonstrating how explainable machine learning can be applied to investigate reproductive performance in dairy cows. These findings should be regarded as a methodological demonstration, and further studies using larger, more comprehensive datasets that include a broader range of variables are required before clinical decision-support applications can be considered.
Pedigree completeness is fundamental for accurate estimation of genetic parameters and reliable prediction of breeding values, yet incomplete pedigree records remain a persistent limitation in smallholder dairy systems, especially in multibreed populations. Although genomic data capture genetic relationships and compensate for missing pedigree information, the extent of this compensation under varying pedigree losses is not fully understood. This study evaluated the impact of pedigree completeness on genomic-polygenic evaluations of 305 d milk yield (MY), fat percentage (FP), and age at first calving (AFC) in the Thai multibreed dairy cattle population. Phenotypic records from 14 239 first-lactation cows and genotypes from 5175 animals imputed to 117 796 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed using a three-trait single-step genomic-polygenic model across nine scenarios (SO1-SO9). These ranged from full pedigree (SO1) to progressive exclusion of records for up to 50 % of phenotyped animals (SO9). Declining pedigree completeness altered variance structures, increasing additive genetic variance and heritability estimates for MY but reducing them for FP and AFC. Genomic-polygenic estimated breeding value (GPEBV) accuracies and ranking stability also declined with pedigree losses, particularly for FP and AFC, once more than 20 % of phenotyped animals lacked pedigree information. While genomic data partially compensated for moderate pedigree omissions, this capacity was trait-specific and dependent on the accuracy of imputation. The findings underscore that pedigree completeness remains indispensable for robust genomic-polygenic evaluations, particularly for low-heritability traits, where genomic information alone cannot ensure reliable selection. This study highlights the importance of systematic pedigree recording in smallholder-based tropical dairy systems to safeguard the accuracy of genetic evaluations and sustain long-term genetic improvement in multibreed populations.
In this study, Legendre polynomial random regression models (RRMs) of orders 2 to 6 were applied to estimate genetic parameters (heritability coefficients and genetic correlations) for weekly body weight (5745 records) from hatch up to 9 weeks of age in 575 Japanese quails (423 females and 152 males). Based on the Bayesian information criterion (BIC), the optimal RRM was of the fifth order and incorporated nine heterogeneous residual variance classes. The model demonstrated high predictive accuracy, yielding a symmetric mean absolute percentage error (SMAPE) of 2.6 % and a CV(RMSE) of 5.0 %. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.25 (at hatch) to 0.15 (at day 63), peaking at day 21 ( h 2 ≈ 0.30 ). Genetic parameter estimates from the optimal RRM were highly consistent with those from a multivariate analysis, showing that genetic correlations were highest between adjacent ages and decayed progressively as the time interval increased. Eigenfunction decomposition of the additive genetic covariance matrix identified two principal modes of variation: the first eigenfunction (84.8 %) represented uniform shifts across the entire growth trajectory, whereas the second (10.2 %) captured a genetic trade-off between early and late growth phases. Simulated selection targeting the top 10 % of birds based on estimated breeding values (EBVs) at early (1-14 d), middle (21-35 d), and late (42-63 d) growth stages differentially altered the genetic response curves, demonstrating the capacity to tailor selection strategies to specific breeding objectives. Overall, selection between 21 and 35 d of age provided the most balanced genetic response across the growth trajectory, identifying this period as the optimal selection window for Japanese quail breeding programmes.
This study investigated the fattening performance, slaughter, and carcass characteristics of Lalahan-genotype lambs at different slaughter weights. The animal material of the study consisted of 36 male Lalahan-genotype lambs, randomly divided into three groups and fed intensively. Six lambs were slaughtered from each group, with average weights of 35 (Gr35), 40 (Gr40), and 45 kg (Gr45). The average daily weight gain (DWG) in each group was 241.50 ± 17.90, 243.33 ± 29.68, and 235.45 ± 26.15 g, respectively, while feed conversion rate (FCR) was 3.590, 3.958, and 4.392, respectively. Cold-dressing percentages were 45.26 ± 0.57 %, 44.66 ± 1.15 %, and 46.11 ± 0.85 %, respectively. Carcass lean and fat percentages differed significantly at 61.82 ± 0.60 %, 61.04 ± 0.47 %, and 57.53 ± 0.74 % (P < 0.001) and 13.57 ± 0.24 %, 14.05 ± 0.17 %, and 19.46 ± 0.68 % (P < 0.001). Leg, back, and loin percentages differed significantly at 31.57 ± 0.71 %, 30.04 ± 0.58 %, and 28.41 ± 0.27 % (P < 0.01); 13.39 ± 0.23 %, 12.63 ± 0.46 %, and 14.72 ± 0.56 % (P < 0.05); and 8.41 ± 0.13 %, 7.88 ± 0.26 %, and 7.19 ± 0.12 %, respectively (P < 0.001). The lean / fat ratios in Gr35 and Gr40 were significantly higher than in Gr45 (P < 0.001), but the meat / bone ratio was similar in all groups. The findings indicate that the Lalahan genotype is similar to or better than the Kıvırcık breed from which its genotype originates in terms of fattening performance, slaughter, and carcass characteristics and has potential for meat production in steppe climatic conditions. Parameters such as average daily weight gain, meat percentage, and fat percentage were evaluated based on a slaughter weight of 40 kg being appropriate.
This study investigated the effects of short-term supplementation with safflower seed, a linoleic-acid-rich oilseed, on reproductive performance and endocrine responses in Hungarian Merino ewes during the non-breeding season. Forty-four clinically healthy multiparous ewes were allocated to two equal groups: a control group and a safflower group. Ewes in the safflower group ( n = 22 ) received 75 g ewe-1 d-1 of whole safflower seed in addition to the standard ration during the 7 d sponge period, whereas control ewes ( n = 22 ) received no oilseed supplementation. All ewes were treated with an intravaginal sponge containing 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate for 7 d during April. At sponge removal, 500 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) was administered intramuscularly. Ewes showing estrus were mated with proven fertile Merino rams (ewe : ram ratio of 5 : 1 ). Blood samples were collected on day 0, day 7, and immediately after mating on the day of estrus to determine serum estradiol (E2) and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandin F2 α (PGFM) concentrations. Pregnancy was diagnosed by transabdominal ultrasonography 50 d after mating, and reproductive parameters were calculated. Under the present experimental conditions, short-term safflower seed supplementation did not produce statistically detectable improvements in estrus rate, pregnancy rate, lambing rate, or litter size compared with the control group ( p > 0.05 ). Serum E2 concentrations increased, whereas PGFM concentrations decreased over time in both groups; however, no treatment effect or treatment × time interaction was detected. In conclusion, supplementation with 75 g ewe-1 d-1 of whole safflower seed during progestagen treatment was not associated with measurable improvements in reproductive outcomes or detectable changes in circulating E2 and PGFM concentrations.
This study aimed to evaluate the expected responses to a selection index based on body-weight-related traits to improve the productive performance of turkeys and to investigate the relationship between body weight and growth hormone (GH) gene expression. Two lines of local Baladi turkeys were used: a selected line (S), chosen for high body weight at 6 months of age; and an unselected random-bred control line (C). Both lines originated from the same randomly mated base population. A selection index incorporating body weight (BW), shank length (SL), and breast width (BRW) at 6 months of age was constructed. This index resulted in expected genetic gains per generation of 441.71 g for BW, 0.26 cm for SL, and 1.93 cm for BRW. Growth hormone gene expression in the selected line was significantly higher than in the control line for both sexes. In males, GH showed a relative gene expression of 1.43 in the selected line compared with 1.01 in the control line, while in females, the corresponding values were 1.76 and 1.31, respectively. Differences in GH-mRNA expression between the two lines indicate a positive association between gene expression level and body weight, suggesting that GH expression may be a useful molecular marker in genetic selection programs aimed at improving body weight in turkeys.
The study examined the meat quality characteristics and expression levels of 3 genes (SREBP-1c, PPARγ, and FASN) affecting fatty acid composition in Lalahan lambs at different slaughter weights. Thirty-six male lambs were randomly divided into three groups and fed intensively. Six lambs from each group were slaughtered at average slaughter weights of 35 (Gr35), 40 (Gr40), and 45 kg (Gr45), respectively. Slaughter weight had a significant effect (P<0.05) on pH and a∗ index from color parameters at 24 h post-mortem, but there was no significant effect on ΣPUFA/ΣSFA, ΣUFA/ΣSFA, ω6/ω3, AI, and TI values. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of the expression of SREBP-1c and PPARγ genes in either liver or Musculus longissimus dorsi lumbalis (MLD) tissues, whereas the difference in expression was significant for the FASN gene in liver and MLD (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of the expression of the three genes in gluteal adipose tissue. The findings indicate that Lalahan lambs exhibit favorable meat quality traits and lipid metabolism gene expression patterns under intensive feeding conditions. Comparisons with previously published studies suggest that these characteristics may be somewhat better than those reported for Kivircik sheep (Lalahan sheep are a breed derived from Kivircik sheep); however, studies conducted under the same experimental conditions are needed to make direct comparisons among breeds. In short, high-quality meat can be produced from lambs of the Lalahan sheep genotype.
A methodology called semantic modelling can be used to synthesise scientific information to assess farm animal welfare. Different housing systems consist of attributes that can each have an effect on the welfare of the animal. Examples include type of floor, water provision system, and lighting system. Each of those attributes has so-called attribute levels. So, for instance, a water provision system can be drinking nipples, bowls, or troughs. Statements from the scientific literature that report the welfare effects of certain attribute levels serve as the basis for the welfare assessment. A semantic model takes attribute levels describing a housing system as input and generates a weighted overall welfare score as output. Although the procedure used in semantic modelling to decompose scientific statements into welfare-relevant attributes has been applied to multiple contexts, the procedure of information extraction has not been described in sufficient detail to allow new modellers to easily understand the procedure. Hence, the reproducibility of semantic modelling may be at stake despite its potential for integrated animal welfare research. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to provide a set of formalised rules showing how scientific information can be decomposed and weighted using semantic-modelling principles. We describe how to read the scientific literature to select scientific statements and how to decompose them to extract the relevant information for building a semantic model. Statement decomposition entails that the original formulation of the scientific statement is transformed into an “if–then” rule using this format: “if attribute A's level L1 is compared to its level L2 then there is a ([large] [significant]) effect on welfare measure M, with M belonging to a specified category of measures used for weighting (a so-called weighting category, WCat)”. The attribute levels are then weighted based on the incidence, duration, and intensity of the measured welfare effect, expressed by a so-called weighting-category level score (WCatLevSc). The guidelines presented in this paper could be an important step towards the transparent use of available scientific information for sustainable development supporting both human and animal welfare.
A modern evidence-driven approach to assess the welfare of farm animals is semantic modelling. It enables the (semi-)quantitative assessment of the overall welfare status, as well as a welfare comparison of different housing systems, through systematic and formalised knowledge extraction from the scientific literature. A semantic model essentially enables a description of housing systems in terms of their welfare-relevant properties (so-called attributes, e.g. space per pen or the availability of enrichment materials) using weighted welfare component scales. Based on this approach, we developed the ANyWEL framework (ANimal WELfare assessment of anY farm animal): a semantic-modelling framework to assess the welfare status of any species of farmed animal kept in housing systems that meet predefined criteria (i.e. the model's assessment domain and the available scientific literature). Compared to previous semantic models, the ANyWEL framework is not restricted to a single species or production direction. It is generalised across species and production directions. Due to its conceptual character, the ANyWEL framework can be applied to new species and systems in the future. We show that it can use new scientific knowledge, even when this would go against mainstream perceptions (e.g. that extensive systems “must be” better for welfare than intensive systems). The objectives of this paper are (i) to explain the general procedure and principles used in semantic modelling, (ii) to introduce the ANyWEL framework by comparing it with a previous semantic model and to illustrate it with an example of a fictitious animal species called anYmal, and (iii) to reflect on the strengths and limitations of this new generalised model framework even with unexpected outcomes.
The research was performed on 30 adult clinically healthy Lika Pramenka sheep, aiming to determine the influence of late pregnancy and lactation on blood metabolic profile and complete blood count. Sheep were, on average, 5 years old, in the fourth lactation. The sheep were fed meadow hay at an amount of 1.8 kg d - 1 and oat at an amount of 800 g d - 1 . Blood was sampled during the late-pregnancy stage of the sheep (on the 20th day before lambing) and during the lactation period on the 40th, 70th and 100th days. Complete blood counts determined in this research were the blood cell counts; hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT) and erythrocyte constants; and differential blood count. Biochemical analyses in sheep blood serum determined concentrations of minerals, metabolites and enzyme activities. This research proved that the late pregnancy and lactation had a significant influence on the indicators of the sheep's blood metabolic profile and complete blood count. Significant changes in complete blood count were particularly expressed in late-pregnancy and lactating sheep in the first measurements, especially in terms of values of RBCs (red blood cells), HGB, HCT, PLTs (platelets), lymphocytes and neutrophils; indicators of energy (NEFAs or non-esterified fatty acids, glucose and triglycerides), protein (TP or total protein, ALB or albumin, urea) and mineral status (Ca, P-inorganic); and liver status (changes in most liver enzymes). Moreover, the quality of feed (protein and mineral content) plays an important role in the determination of the blood metabolic profile and complete blood count of sheep during late pregnancy and lactation. Therefore, this research suggests that studies should include late pregnancy and lactation and feed quality in the determination of the metabolic profile and complete blood count of sheep's blood in order to obtain the best possible information on the herd.
Buffalo milk is favoured by consumers due to its higher nutritional components, as well as its rich and mellow flavour. However, research on the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of lactation traits in buffalo remains limited. In this study, we systematically investigated the regulatory effects of estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) on lactation-related functions in buffalo mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) using overexpression and small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing strategies. Our results demonstrated that ESR1 knockdown via siRNA significantly suppressed BMEC viability and proliferation and downregulated the expression of genes associated with lipid transport and secretion (PPARG, LPL, PLIN2, VLDLR, ADFP, CD36), milk protein synthesis (CSN1S1, CSN1S2, RPS6, RHEB, EIF4E, AKT1), and cell proliferation (STAT5A, MTOR, ELF5, CCND1, EGF, IGF1). Concurrently, silencing ESR1 markedly upregulated pro-apoptotic genes (BAX, CASP9) and downregulated the anti-apoptotic gene BCL2. Conversely, ESR1 overexpression exerted opposite effects on BMECs, further validating the critical role of ESR1 in modulating BMEC proliferation and milk component synthesis. In conclusion, ESR1 expression enhances buffalo lactation traits by promoting milk fat and milk protein synthesis, stimulating BMEC proliferation, and inhibiting cellular apoptosis. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms governing buffalo lactation and offer valuable references for the development and utilization of lactation-related genetic resources in buffalo breeding.
The content of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) is significantly associated with the flavor, taste, and nutritional value of beef. Adipose tissue (AT) develops in multiple depots, and the UFA content of AT varies among different depots. To elucidate the regulatory role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in UFA synthesis across different AT depots in buffaloes, we conducted RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on AT samples from six distinct depots. A total of 8926 lncRNAs were identified and 1363 of them were novel. The numbers of lncRNAs identified in different AT depots were similar. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), a module including 207 lncRNAs with a high correlation with UFA content was revealed. Functional enrichment analysis showed that these lncRNAs were significantly enriched in fat deposition and fatty acid metabolism. Notably, two lncRNAs (MSTRG.11229 and MSTRG.16994) were further identified. Both lncRNAs exhibited predominant expression in sternum subcutaneous AT (SSAT) and were upregulated during adipogenic differentiation in SSAT-derived adipocytes. What is more, the expressions of the two lncRNAs presented a high correlation to adipogenesis and UFA synthesis genes as well as UFA content. Collectively, this study provides a comprehensive atlas of lncRNA profiles across six AT depots and identifies two lncRNAs with high correlation with UFA content in buffaloes. These findings offer valuable insights and lncRNAs for the regulation of UFA synthesis in buffaloes.
To obtain genetic parameters relevant for the management of animal genetic resources, this study provides a comparative characterization of the Trakehner (TRAK) horse population in relation to four other horse populations maintained in Lithuania - Arabian (ARAB), Baltic Warmblood (BW), Lithuanian Warmblood (LW), and Zemaitukai (ZEM). These populations represent diverse histories, selection goals, and breeding practices. Pedigree data (n= 22 666) and parentage verification genetic data based on blood group markers (n= 1293) were used to evaluate genetic diversity, population structure, and inter-population relationships. Despite a 25 % population decline in recent years, the TRAK population maintained moderate inbreeding (F= 0.037) and a balanced genetic structure. The effective population size (Ne) was lower than in BW and LW but higher than in the endangered ZEM population. TRAK retained a high number of alleles (Na= 3.83), with observed heterozygosity (Ho= 0.460) slightly lower than that observed in open sport horse populations. Comparison of all individuals and the Lithuanian reference populations revealed stable or increased heterozygosity in currently breeding individuals, particularly within TRAK. Genetic distances and assignment tests confirmed close relationships among TRAK, BW, and LW, reflecting shared ancestry. In contrast, ARAB and ZEM populations remained genetically distinct. PCA and heatmap analyses further supported the separation between closed and open populations in the current breeding context. These findings highlight that population structure, historical gene flow, and management practices jointly shape genetic variability. The results can be used to optimize mating plans by balancing sire and dam contributions, monitor inbreeding and effective population size trends, manage gene flow between related populations (TRAK, BW, LW), and develop targeted conservation strategies for genetically distinct breeds such as ZEM and ARAB.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of heat stress and nighttime temperature drop on oocyte yield and in vitro embryo production (IVEP) success. The study was conducted on Holstein heifers within the same herd, under similar management and feeding conditions. Each session of ovum pick-up (OPU) was classified into continuous heat stress (CHS; THImax ≥ 72 and THImean ≥ 68 ), high daytime temperature-humidity index (THI) with nighttime recovery (HDT-NR; THImax ≥ 72 and THImean < 68 ), and thermoneutral (TN; THImax < 72 and THImean < 68 ) groups based on environmental THI values. The TN group was found to have a greater number of small- to medium-sized follicles and a higher total number of follicles in comparison to the CHS group ( p < 0.05 ). In terms of oocyte yield, the numbers of grade-A, total, and viable oocytes were found to be higher in the TN and HDT-NR groups than in the CHS group ( p < 0.05 ). The assessment of the IVEP revealed that the mean number of blastocysts per OPU was lower in the CHS group ( p < 0.05 ). Consequently, even when the daytime maximum THI was high, nighttime cooling, reflected by a lower mean THI, appeared to preserve OPU and IVEP performance without adverse effects. Therefore, during the summer season, when the likelihood of heat stress is increased, considering nighttime recovery while planning and conducting in vitro embryo production processes may be an important criterion for improving production success.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of pregnancy type, genotype, and parturition stage on sheep behavior. It also examined how pregnancy type and genotype influence labor characteristics. These evaluations were necessary because the length and difficulty of the early stages of parturition can impact the ewe's condition and parturition-related behavior, potentially disrupting the development of ewe-lamb bonding, which plays a critical role in neonatal lamb survival. Behavioral data were collected via video recordings from three sheep genotypes. The average lying and standing frequencies (hourly posture changes) during the first and second stages of parturition were 3.62 ± 0.33 and 8.53 ± 1.35, respectively ( P < 0.001 ). In the first stage, these frequencies were 4.39 ± 0.51 for singleton pregnancies and 2.85 ± 0.38 for twin pregnancies ( P = 0.041). During the second stage, the frequencies were 12.64 ± 2.35 for singleton pregnancies and 4.42 ± 0.59 for twin pregnancies ( P = 0.013). The duration of the second stage of parturition was significantly affected by pregnancy type ( P = 0.009), averaging 48.18 ± 11.39 min for singleton pregnancies and 90.09 ± 10.09 min for twin pregnancies. Genotype had no significant effect on the duration of the second stage of parturition ( P = 0.782). Time of day had an impact ( P = 0.002), with 18:00-00:00 (Türkiye, UTC + 3) being the period with the highest proportion of births (41.56 %). In conclusion, parturition-related behaviors are generally influenced by pregnancy type and stage of labor, while genotype appears to have minimal effect. The lying and standing frequencies per hour may serve as a useful indicator for predicting pregnancy type and timing of delivery.
Dietary supplementation with feed additives may influence intake, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation in grazing cattle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with capsaicin and/or monensin on intake, nutrient digestibility, energy balance, blood parameters, ruminal kinetics, ingestive behavior, and ruminal fermentation of grazing bulls. Four crossbred (Holstein × Zebu) bulls (375 ± 14 kg body weight (BW); 24 ± 1 months of age), fitted with rumen cannulas, were assigned to a 4 × 4 Latin square design and maintained on 1.2 ha of Pangola grass (Digitaria decumbens) pasture with supplementation at 0.3 % of BW. The bulls were allocated to the following treatments: (1) control (CON): supplementation without additives; (2) capsaicin (CAP): supplementation including 100 mg kg-1 of total dry matter (DM) of capsaicin (CAPCIN®, NutriQuest, São Paulo, Brazil); (3) monensin (MON): supplementation including 20 mg kg-1 of total DM of sodium monensin (Poulcox 40®, Huvepharma, Bulgaria); and (4) capsaicin + monensin (CAPMON): supplementation including sodium monensin (20 mg kg-1 DM) and capsaicin (100 mg kg-1 DM). Supplementation with CAP and MON increased the total tract digestibility of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) compared with CAPMON supplementation. A tendency toward a greater ruminal DM pool was observed in bulls supplemented with CAPMON compared with those receiving CAP and MON, whereas bulls supplemented with MON showed higher passage and turnover rates of potentially digestible neutral detergent fiber (tdNDF) than those supplemented with CAP. Bulls receiving CAPMON spent more time grazing (min d-1) compared with those supplemented with CAP and MON. In addition, bulls supplemented with CAP and MON exhibited higher ruminal pH and lower propionate concentration than those supplemented with CAPMON. The use of capsaicin and/or monensin at the evaluated doses may be applied in animal production.
This study examined the effects of subclinical pregnancy toxemia (SPT) on follicular development and evaluated the protective potential of dietary L-carnitine supplementation in ewes. Eighteen crossbred Hamdani ewes underwent estrous synchronization, natural mating, and pregnancy confirmation via ultrasonography on day 45 post mating. The ewes were fed according to the National Research Council (NRC) (2007) guidelines until day 100 of gestation, after which they were assigned to one of three groups: SPT (G1, n=6), SPT+L-carnitine (G2, n=6), and control (G3, n=6). Blood β-hydroxybutyrate (βHBA) levels were measured on days 100 and 138. Following slaughter, ovarian tissues were collected, processed, stained with Harris hematoxylin and eosin, and imaged for histometric analysis. Follicle types, oocyte diameters, and zona pellucida (ZP) thickness were recorded. Primordial follicle numbers did not differ significantly among groups (p>0.05). Primary follicles tended to be higher in G1 compared to G2 and G3, but this was not statistically significant (p<0.05). Secondary follicles differed significantly, with G2 exhibiting higher counts than G1 and G3 (p<0.05), indicating enhanced secondary follicle development with L-carnitine supplementation. Antral follicles were low across all groups, with no significant differences (p>0.05), consistent with limited preovulatory follicle formation during pregnancy. Atretic follicles were more numerous in G1 than in G2 and G3 (p<0.05), suggesting increased follicular regression in ewes with subclinical pregnancy toxemia (SPT). Secondary follicle oocyte diameters were larger in G2 and G3 than in G1 (p<0.05), while antral follicle oocyte diameters showed no significant differences (p>0.05). ZP thickness tended to be higher in G3 for both secondary and antral follicles, although differences were not significant between groups (p>0.05). Pairwise effect sizes (Cohen's d) also indicated a large effect of L-carnitine on secondary follicle and antral follicle development, and oocyte diameter; and a negative effect of subclinical pregnancy toxemia on follicle development. These results highlight the importance of adequate nutrition and metabolic support during late gestation and suggest that L-carnitine supplementation may enhance follicular growth and reproductive performance in ewes with SPT. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms by which L-carnitine protects ovarian functions and follicular development.
