The aim of the present study was to: (1) evaluate the impact of lambing order (Ewe age) on the reproductive performance and productivity of fourth-generation (G4) crossbred ewes, with 62.5% D'man (D) blood and 37.5% Ouled Djellal (OD) blood; and (2) to compare the performance of G4 (all parity levels combined) with that of previous generations (G1-G3). Ninety (90) crossbred ewes were used, including 21 females from the first lambing order (1st L), 20 females from the second order (2nd L), 26 females from the third order (3rd L) and 23 females from the fourth order (4th L). All females underwent heat synchronization through ram effect and were mated with purebred OD rams. At G4, the results obtained show an improvement in the fecundity of crossbred ewes in the 4th L (147.83±12.37%; p=0.051) of 55%, 41% and 28%, in numerical productivity (116.67±15.54%; p=0.048) by 88%, 56% and 38%, and weight productivity (18.66±1.49 kg/ewe; p=0.001) by 94%, 7% and 62% compared to the first, second and third lambing. In addition, an improvement in reproductive and productive performance was observed for the four generations (G1-G4), particularly in G2 (50% OD blood and 50% D blood), compared to the values reported in the literature for purebred OD ewes raised under Algerian conditions. The notable improvement recorded in the 4th L ewes of G4 highlights the importance of this factor in the strategies for the second phase of multiplication and selection in this crossbreeding programme, with a view to increase sheep production in Algeria.
In dogs, kidney injury is a sudden deterioration in renal function that can be fatal. Ischemia, inflammation, nephrotoxin exposure, and infectious diseases are the most frequent causes. In several fields of regenerative medicine, ozone therapy has recently attracted considerable attention. Clinical studies have shown that ozone therapy is safe and effective, and that it reduces readmission rates for kidney injury in animal models of renal disorders. This study investigated the efficacy of ozone therapy in experimentally induced ischemic renal failure in dogs. Ten dogs were used in this study. All dogs underwent right nephrectomy and 60 minutes of left renal ischemia followed by reperfusion. The animals were divided into two equal groups. The control group received no treatment, and the O3 group received an ozone–oxygen mixture. All groups were evaluated clinically and biochemically until day 40 after surgery, after which they underwent histopathological assessment. Major ozonated autologous hemotherapy substantially reduced the degree of elevation in the treatment group’s serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels relative to the control group. Medical ozone therapy considerably reduced the degree of glomerular filtration rate decline and notable alterations; it resulted in a morphological improvement in renal tubular structure compared with that in the control group, and a well-structured improvement in glomeruli, which were reasonably close to those in the healthy control group. According to the findings, ozone therapy may be an effective way to enhance renal function. However, our results indicate that the aforementioned treatment has potential as a straightforward therapeutic strategy for the management of renal failure that may be caused by ischemia or other factors.
Saponins are bioactive compounds known for modulating potential inflammatory metabolites produced by the gut microbiome, including ammonia. This study evaluated the effects of the saponin sources, Yucca schidigera (7% saponins) and Gleditsia amorphoides (21% saponins), on intestinal functionality, antioxidant, and inflammatory markers in adult dogs. Eighteen Beagle dogs (10 males and eight females), with 12.20 ± 1.33 kg body weight were randomly divided into three groups: Control (no saponins), 200 g Yucca schidigera/ton of diet (Yucca), and 200 g Gleditsia amorphoides/ton of diet (Gleditsia), totaling six replications per treatment. Dogs were fed experimental diets for 20 days. Fresh fecal samples were collected on day 20 to analyze: dry matter, score, pH, ammonia, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA), and biogenic amines. Blood was also collected on day 20 to analyze inflammatory cytokines, antioxidant enzymes, and liver enzymes. Preliminary results showed that the Gleditsia group had higher fecal propionate concentrations and lower histamine concentrations (P < 0.05). Both the Yucca and Gleditsia groups presented lower fecal concentrations of ammonia and spermine than the Control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the Yucca and Gleditsia groups showed lower lipid peroxidation and higher catalase activity, whereas only the Gleditsia group showed lower alkaline phosphatase activity than the Control group (P<0.05). In conclusion, Yucca and Gleditsia can modulate fecal fermentative metabolites and improve the antioxidant status of dogs. These findings also showed the safety of using Yucca and Gleditsia during the experimental period. Key-words: Ammonia, Propionate, Saponin extracts.
Identifying farmer trait preferences is fundamental to designing participatory breeding programs adapted to local agroecological constraints, yet such data remain scarce for Algeria’s arid zones. This study investigated sheep trait preferences and their socioeconomic determinants among male sheep keepers in El Oued Province, southeastern Algeria. A mixed-method approach combining structured questionnaires and qualitative interviews was applied to 200 randomly selected male sheep keepers registered in the 2023 national sheep census, covering eight municipalities across the province. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and chi-square tests were used to assess the influence of age, education, experience, and occupation on trait prioritization. For rams, breed identity (27%), body conformation (12.5%), and apparent health status (12%) emerged as the most valued selection criteria. For ewes, breed (22%), drought tolerance (16%), and udder size (10%) were ranked highest, reflecting the paramount importance of environmental adaptability and reproductive functionality under arid conditions. Locally adapted breeds, particularly Ouled Djellal, were strongly favored. A significant three-way interaction among education, experience, and occupation (Pillai’s Trace = 0.070, p = 0.009) indicated that farmers with higher education, greater experience, and full-time breeding status prioritized long-term resilience traits, while less experienced or less educated keepers favored readily observable morphological attributes. Farmer age and education level were independently associated with drought tolerance preference in ewes (p = 0.036 and p = 0.004, respectively). These findings provide a socio-ecological evidence base to support the design of context-specific, participatory breeding programs targeting genetic resilience and sustainable livestock production in North African drylands
Extracts from Musa x paradisiaca inflorescences were chemically characterized and tested in vitro on ruminant parasite egg hatch (EHT) and larval migration (LMT) tests. The aqueous (EHW-I) and hydroalcoholic (EOH-I) extracts of the plant were analyzed by using colorimetric assays, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). EHW-I and EOH-I had similar phenolic contents. However, EOH-I had a higher flavonoid content than EHW-I. Both extracts presented low contents of condensed tannins. HPLC analysis showed that EHW-I contained phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid ˃ coumaric acid > ferulic acid), other than rutin (glycosylated flavonoid). EOH-I contained rutin as the predominant compound. EHW-I and EOH-I showed an inhibitory effect on EHT, reaching almost 100% at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL. The inhibitory concentration of 50% (IC50) of egg hatching was 62.58 and 137.79 µg/mL of EHW-I and EOH-I, respectively. Based on the quantification data of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the extracts, chlorogenic acid and rutin were selected for the EHT. Chlorogenic acid presented high activity, with an IC50 of 17.55 µg/mL. Rutin, however, did not affect egg hatching under the conditions tested. It can be inferred that chlorogenic acid may be a candidate with ovicidal activity. EHW-I and EOH-I did not affect the migration of third-stage nematode larvae, which may be related to the low tannin content. The inflorescences of Musa x paradisiaca can be further explored to develop a plant-derived anthelmintic product for ruminants and other animals.
