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Simple Summary: Small ruminants in arid and semiarid regions of the world frequently face water deprivation, which may be intensified with future climatic change. Therefore, it would be beneficial to identify sheep and goat breeds resilient to limited drinking water availability. Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix are the most important hair sheep breeds in the USA. In this study, these 3 breeds of sheep derived from different climatic regions of the USA were assessed for alterations in blood variables (e.g., osmotic pressure, oxygen, urea nitrogen, creatinine, cortisol, and aldosterone) due to water deprivation (sequential restriction of up to 50% of ad libitum consumption for 5 wk). All sheep breeds displayed abilities to minimize changes in blood characteristics and constituent concentrations due to limited drinking water availability, without large differences among breeds or regions. Different hair sheep breeds originated from diverse climatic regions of the USA may show varying adaptability to water deprivation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the effects of restricted availability of drinking water on blood characteristics and constituent concentrations in different breeds of hair sheep from various regions the USA. For this study, 45 Dorper (initial age = 3.7 ± 0.34 yr), 45 Katahdin (3.9 ± 0.36 yr), and 44 St. Croix (2.7 ± 0.29 yr) sheep from 45 farms in 4 regions of the USA (Midwest, Northwest, Southeast, and central Texas) were used. Ad libitum water intake was determined during wk 2 of period one, with 75% of ad libitum water intake offered during wk 2 of period two, and 50% of ad libitum water intake offered for 5 wk (i.e., wk 5–9) in period three. Water was offered at 07:00 or 07:30 h, with blood samples collected at 08:00 and(or) 14:00 h in wk 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9 for variables such as hemoglobin and oxygen saturation and wk 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 for concentrations of glucose and other constituents. The blood oxygen concentration at 08:00 h was 4.86, 4.93, and 5.25 mmol/L in period one and 4.89, 4.81, and 5.74 mmol/L in period three for Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix, respectively (SEM = 0.160; p = 0.001). Blood oxygen at 14:00 h was 4.37, 4.61, and 4.74 mmol/L in period one and 4.66, 4.81, and 5.46 mmol/L in period three for Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix, respectively (SEM = 0.154; p = 0.003). St. Croix were able to maintain a higher (p < 0.001) blood oxygen concentration than Dorper and Katahdin regardless of water availability. The pattern of change in blood concentrations with advancing time varied considerably among constituents. However, concentrations of glucose (55.3 and 56.2 mg/dL; SEM = 0.84), lactate (24.1 and 22.5 mg/dL; SEM = 0.79), total protein (7.08 and 7.17 g/dL; SEM = 0.0781), and albumin (2.59 and 2.65 g/dL in wk 2 and 9, respectively; SEM = 0.029) were similar (p > 0.05) between periods one and three. Conversely, concentrations of cholesterol (56.2 and 69.3 mg/dL; SEM = 1.33) and triglycerides (28.6 and 34.5 mg/dL in wk 2 and 9, respectively; SEM = 0.98) were greater (p < 0.05) in period three vs. 1. In conclusion, water restriction altered almost all the blood variables depending upon severity and duration of restriction, but the hair sheep breeds used from different regions of the USA, especially St. Croix, displayed considerable capacity to adapt to limited drinking water availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: High heat load (HL) can adversely affect livestock health and cause significant production losses as a result of alterations of many physiological functions including nutrient metabolism, oxidative status, blood constituent levels, and gut dysbiosis. Effects of high HL could vary with breed of hair sheep (i.e., Dorper, Katahdin, and St. Croix) as well as region of the United States of America with different climatic conditions where they originated. Differences among the three sheep breeds in levels of a number of blood constituents were observed. Different HL conditions also altered concentrations of several blood metabolites and constituents, including hemoglobin, oxygen concentration, creatinine, heat shock protein, thyroxine, and cortisol. However, there were no interactions between breed and HL for most blood variables, suggesting similar resilience to high HL. In addition, only a few differences among or interactions involving region suggest that the breeds are highly adapted to diverse climatic conditions. Forty-six Dorper (DOR), 46 Katahdin (KAT), and 43 St. Croix (STC) female sheep (initial body weight of 58, 59, and 46 kg, respectively, SEM = 1.75; 3.3 ± 0.18 years of age, 2.6–3.7), derived from 45 commercial farms in four regions of the USA (Midwest, Northwest, Southeast, and central Texas), were used to evaluate responses in blood constituent concentrations to increasing heat load index (HLI) conditions. There were four sequential 2 weeks periods with target HLI during day/nighttime of 70/70 (thermoneutral zone conditions), 85/70, 90/77, and 95/81 in period 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. A 50% concentrate pelletized diet was fed at 53.3 g dry matter/kg body weight0.75. The analysis of most constituents was for samples collected on the last day of the second week of each period at 13:00 h; samples for cortisol, thyroxine, and heat shock protein were collected in week 2 and 8. Previously, it was noted that resilience to high HLI conditions was greatest for STC, lowest for DOR, and intermediate for KAT. There were few effects of region. Other than hemoglobin concentration, there were no interactions between breed and period. Blood oxygen concentration was greatest (p < 0.05) among breeds for STC (5.07, 5.20, and 5.53 mmol/L for DOR, KAT, and STC, respectively; SEM = 0.114) and differed among periods (4.92, 5.26, 5.36, and 5.52 mmol/L for period 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively; SEM = 0.093). There were breed differences (i.e., main effects; p < 0.05) in glucose (50.0, 52.6, and 52.1 mg/dL; SEM = 0.76), urea nitrogen (17.2, 17.3, and 19.4 mg/dL; SEM = 0.33), creatinine (0.991, 0.862, and 0.802 mg/dL; SEM = 0.0151), total protein (6.50, 6.68, and 6.95 g/l; SEM = 0.017), triglycerides (28.4, 29.1, and 23.5 mg/dL; SEM = 0.87), and cortisol (6.30, 8.79, and 6.22 ng/mL for DOR, KAT, and STC, respectively; SEM = 0.596). Differences among periods (p < 0.05) were observed for lactate (27.9, 25.3, 27.8, and 24.0 mg/dL; SEM = 0.99), creatinine (0.839, 0.913, 0.871, and 0.917 mg/dL; SEM = 0.0128), total protein (6.94, 6.66, 6.60, and 6.65 g/l; SEM = 0.094), and cholesterol (60.2, 56.5, 58.3, and 57.6 mg/dL for period 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively; SEM = 1.26). In addition, the concentration of cortisol (7.62 and 6.59 ng/mL; SEM = 0.404), thyroxine (5.83 and 5.00 µg/dL; SEM = 0.140), and heat shock protein (136 and 146 ng/mL for week 2 and 8, respectively; SEM = 4.0) differed between weeks (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the lack of interaction between breed and period with different HLI conditions suggests that levels of these blood constituents were not highly related to resilience to high HLI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the effects of forced swimming on the technetium-99m (99mTc) labeling of blood constituents (BloCs). Rats (Wistar) were submitted to forced swim. In previous experiments, swimming animals would recover for different periods of time. Animals not submitted to swimming were used as control. Blood samples were obtained and the 99mTc labeling of BloCs was carried out. Blood cells (BCs), plasma (P), insoluble fractions (IF-P and IF-BCs), and soluble fractions (SF-P and SF-BC) were isolated. Radioactivity was determined, and the percentage of 99mTc incorporated (%ATI) was calculated in each fraction. Results showed that forced swimming decreased the percentage of 99mTc incorporated (%ATI) in IF-P (p < 0.05). It is suggested that the 99mTc labeling of BloCs could be used to verify the effects of the stress conditions on BloCs and that the radionuclide fixation on plasma proteins might be altered in rats submitted to acute stress induced by forced swimming, returning to control levels after recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Enhancing production of broilers in hot climates is essential to overcoming high-heat problems. High temperature during the summer season is one of the most influential factors affecting poultry production. Heat stress has long been identified as dampening growth performance and increasing vulnerability to diseases. Several methods have been used to alleviate the adverse effects of heat stress. One of these is the dietary fortification of betaine. Betaine (Trimethylglycine) naturally occurs in various plants, and it can be extracted from beetroot. The current experiment examined the effects of dietary betaine fortification on broiler chickens at 1–40 days of age. At 18 days of age, half of the birds were kept under thermos-neutral temperature (22–24 °C), while the other half were kept under high temperature (35 °C). The production efficiency factor was best (p < 0.05) for birds that received 0.10% betaine. Betaine fortification improved the growth, feed utilization, and production index. Betaine fortification at 0.1% betaine supplementation with an 84 g increase in growth, 4.6 points improvement in feed utilization, and 24 points enhancement in production index compared with no betaine fortification. Betaine fortification (0.1%) during heat stress reduced the negative impact on performance and improved production efficiency, suggesting that betaine may be as a practical tool for improving poultry production in hot regions. Improving broilers' production in the hot region is essential to overcome heat-stress challenges. The current experiment examined the effects of betaine's fortification (0.0, 0.075, 0.10, and 0.15%) to broiler chickens during days 1–40 of age. The growth period was divided into the starter (1–18 d) and growing-finishing (19–40 d). During the starter period, there was no heat challenge, and all birds were kept under the same conditions. At 18 days of age, half of the birds were kept under thermos-neutral temperature (TN, 22–24 °C), while the other half were kept under high temperature (HT, 35 °C). However, the production efficiency factor (PEF) was the best (p < 0.05) for birds that received 0.10% betaine. Betaine fortification improved (p < 0.05 and 0.01) body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and production efficiency factor (PEF) in the cumulative finisher heat-stress challenge period (19–40 d). The best performance was achieved at 0.1% betaine fortification with 84 g gain, 4.6 points improvement in FCR, and 24 points improvements in PEF as compared to no betaine fortification. The heat-stressed group consumed less feed (239 g), gained less weight (179 g), converted feed less efficiently (2.6 points), and, as a result, had lower FEF (29 points) as compared to the TN group. Conclusively, heat challenge had a powerful effect on growth performance, meat characteristics, and blood parameters, especially during the grower-finisher period. Betaine fortification (0.1%) during heat stress reduced the negative impact on performance and improved production efficiency, suggesting that betaine is a useful nutritional tool under stress conditions that deserves further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Supplementing enzymes in diet can improve animal performance, carcass traits, physiological status, and reduce cost of feeding due to improving feed utilization. Enzyme supplementation in water is simple to apply, disseminates, and the contact with the substrates is faster. In addition, water supplementation may lessen the negative effects of aggressive heat exposure on enzyme activities when the pelleting temperature exceeds 85 °C and can replace expensive post-pelleting spraying systems. We investigated the effect of different doses of enzymes supplemented in water either continuously or intermittently on growth performance, digestibility of nutrients, and blood profiles. Results indicated that intermittent supplementation of enzymes at 1 mL/L drinking water and continuous supplementation at 0.5 mL/L drinking water can be investigated in further experiments as a tool to improve broiler performance and European production index. The aim of this work was to study the continuous or intermittent impact of a multienzyme supplement on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood metabolites of broilers, and to evaluate production index of dietary supplementation. A total of 315 unsexed day-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were randomly distributed to seven treatments groups, keeping initial body weights similar, in 35-floor pens (replicates) of nine chicks per replicate (pen) and five experimental units per treatment. All experimental groups were fed the same basal diet and administered seven multienzyme treatments: the 1st group (control) did not receive any enzyme supplementation; the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th groups were administered multienzymes at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mL/L drinking water, respectively. Each enzyme supplemented-group was divided into two subgroups, with additives being applied either continuously (24 h/day) or intermittently (12 h/day) from 1 to 35 days old. Regardless of administration method, multienzyme supplements at 1.0 mL/L water along with a corn-soybean meal diet increased the body weight gain (BWG) by 7.8% compared to 0.5 mL/L water during days 1–21 of age. In addition, 1.5 mL/L water significantly improved BWG by 5.1% of broilers compared to 0.5 mL/L water during days 1–35 of age. Enzyme supplementation at 1.5 mL/L water significantly enhanced feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 4.3% during days 1–21 of age, and FCR by 5.2% and European production index (EPI) by 10.4% during days 1–35 of age compared to the group on 0.5 mL/L water. For the whole period, there were improvements of beneficial consideration in BWG (4.0%), FCR (4.0%), and European production index (8.2%) due to continuous multienzyme supplementation at 0.5 mL/L water compared to the same dose added intermittently. A similar trend was observed due to intermittent multienzymes at 1 mL/L drinking water that resulted in increased BWG by (6.4%) and improved FCR by (6.7%) and EPI by (12.7%). Intermittent administration significantly increased feed intake of broilers during 22–35 days of age compared to continuous supplementation. Multienzymes at different doses did not significantly affect the digestibility of nutrients, blood serum biochemical constituent, inner body organs, and markers of functions of liver and renal organs. In conclusion, the highest BWG and the best FCR and EPI for the whole period were from broilers given continuous 1 and 1.5 mL/L drinking water or intermittent multienzyme supplementation at 1.5 mL/L drinking water. Furthermore, intermittent supplementation of enzymes at 1 mL/L drinking water and continuous supplementation at 0.5 mL/L drinking water can be investigated in further experiments as a tool to improve broiler growth performance and economic traits and to decrease the cost of enzyme application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Semen, reproductive traits, and the welfare of males are negatively affected by environmental stressors. Stress-alleviating agents, such as vitamins and osmoregulators, may improve semen quality, seminal and blood plasma constituents, antioxidants' status, and the welfare of roosters exposed to chronic heat stress (CHS). It has been shown that betaine (Bet) may be a useful tool for improving the reproductive traits of roosters exposed to CHS, and may have comparable effects to vitamin C and/or E, thus improving the breeding strategy. In this study, we investigated the influence of betaine (Bet, 1000 mg/kg), with or without vitamin C (VC, 200 mg/kg ascorbic acid) and/or vitamin E (VE, 150 mg/kg α-tocopherol acetate) on semen quality, seminal and blood plasma constituents, antioxidants' status, DNA repair, and the welfare of chronic heat stress (CHS)-exposed roosters. A total of 54 roosters were divided into six groups of nine replicates. One group was kept under thermoneutral conditions, whereas the other five were kept under CHS. One of the five groups served as an unsupplemented CHS group, and was fed with a basal diet. The other four CHS groups were supplemented with Bet, Bet + VC, Bet + VE, and Bet + VC + VE, respectively. Our data indicate that supplementation with Bet, Bet + VC, Bet + VE, and Bet + VC + VE, resulted in complete recovery of the CHS effect on sperm concentration and livability, semen pH, and fertility compared to the thermoneutral group. Seminal plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was significantly (p < 0.05) increased with Bet, with or without vitamins, compared to the thermoneutral and CHS groups. Urea and blood plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) were totally recovered with Bet, with or without vitamin treatments. Both the jejunum and ileum DNA were partially recovered following Bet, with or without vitamin supplementation. In conclusion, Bet, at 1000 mg/kg feed, may be a useful agent for increasing semen quality, fertility, welfare, and to improve the breeding strategy of breeder males in hot climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]