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Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) represents a plant with traditional utilisation in medicine in many countries. Despite its potentials stinging nettle is considered by intensive agriculture as a wee...

The following study evaluated effects of a xylanase and beta-glucanase combination on growth performance of broilers fed energy reduced versus nutritionally adequate maize-soybean meal-based diets. A total of 648, one-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were assigned to floor-pens (24 birds/pen, nine pens/treatment, three treatments) in a randomised block design. Treatments included: (1) a nutritionally adequate positive control diet (PC); (2) a negative control (NC) diet in which energy, crude protein and digestible amino acids were reduced by 3.4% (-105 kcal apparent metabolisable energy), 2.3% and 1.2 to 3.0% vs PC, respectively; and (3) NC plus a xylanase and beta-glucanase combination that supplied 1,220 U xylanase and 152 U beta-glucanase per kilogram of final feed. All diets contained a background of 500 FTU/kg phytase and were offered to birds ad libitum. Birds fed NC showed reduced average daily gain (ADG) by -6.1% (P

This experiment evaluated the effects of supplemental protease in maize-based diets formulated with reduced density of digestible amino acids (dAA) on net energy (NE) utilisation and nutrient digestibility in broilers. A total of 312, one-day-old, male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly distributed into 24 floor pens and fed one of three treatments, with eight pen replicates per treatment throughout the starter (1 to 14 d of age) and grower (15 to 28 d of age) phases. Dietary treatments consisted of a positive control (PC) reference diet, a negative control diet (NC; dAA density 60 g/kg less than PC diet), and a NC diet with supplemental protease (200 mg/kg). All diets contained supplemental phytase (200 mg/kg) and xylanase (200 mg/kg). The reduction in dAA density between the PC and NC did not affect (P>0.05) NE, but protease supplementation in the NC diet increased (P0.05) affect nitrogen, starch, or DE in the jejunum or ileum. Likewise, no differences (P>0.05) in jejunal (nitrogen, starch, and DE) and ileal (starch and DE) digestibility values were observed between those offered the NC diets without or with protease, but a small difference (P

Preliminary project design (PPD) is an initial stage in project development that makes it possible for an entopreneur to gain insight into the feasibility and potential profitability of setting up an insect production facility. In this paper a simple, spreadsheet-based model is presented to facilitate the first step of PPD by estimating the overall mass and energy balances for a proposed project. The model calculates outputs on the basis of scientific data and estimated values for operating parameters for the system that is proposed. With the model it is easy to use a trial-and-error approach to investigate the effect of different parameter values on system operation. Thus, the entopreneur can enter values for parameters such as feed composition, temperature of the cooling air, etc. and see the effect on system productivity, conversion efficiency, energy requirements, etc. immediately. This facilitates the overall procedure of reaching final decisions about the organism, the feed, the processing approach, the scale of operation, etc. Normally, this is an iterative procedure that is based on ‘trial-and-error’, the two aspects being referred to here as the ‘twin components of an iterative knowledge engine’. Thus, the outputs from the model will depend very much on the scientific data supplied and the values of the input parameters while, at the same time, use of the model will highlight what additional scientific data is needed and what alternate parameter values might prove profitable. Overall, the model allows the user to explore a large possibility space for both process constitution and operation much more quickly and easily than by experimental means alone. As such, it is a tool that can aid the entopreneur in thinking about a project and considering various alternatives, as well as in making decisions before a major commitment is made to any particular option. It is stressed here that PPD is only a preliminary stage in project development and that the investigation of overall process mass and energy balances is only the first step thereof. It is also stressed that results from modelling are invariably subject to empirical verification as well as ‘common-sense filtering’. The model presented is general and thus not oriented to the production of any species in particular.

The influence of method (direct vs difference method) used to determine the apparent ileal digestibility coefficient (AIDC) of amino acids in two cereals (maize and wheat) and two grain legumes (Australian sweet lupins and peas) was investigated. For the direct method, the test ingredients were incorporated as the sole source of protein in assay diets. The assay diets used in the difference method were formulated by substituting the cereals and legumes for 50 and 25% (w/w), respectively, of a maize-soy basal diet. Each diet contained 3 g/kg titanium dioxide as an indigestible marker and were offered ad libitum to four replicate cages of broilers (four birds/cage) from d 28 to d 35 post-hatching. On d 35, digesta were collected from the terminal ileum and the AIDC of amino acids were calculated using marker ratios in the diet and digesta. Except for histidine, methionine, cysteine and tyrosine, the main effect of methods was found to be significant (P

Recent research has questioned the notion that Campylobacter jejuni is a harmless resident of the avian gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The following trial examined the effect of dietary supplementation with a mixture of enzymes and Bacillus-based probiotics on growth performance, C. jejuni colonisation, GIT immune responses, faecal shedding and extra-intestinal spread in broilers. Fifty-eight, Ross 308 d-old broilers were randomly assigned to one of four treatments, giving 14 or 15 birds/pen. Birds were given nutritionally complete, complex, phased diets unsupplemented (two treatments) or supplemented (two treatments) with a multi-enzyme containing 2,000 U/kg xylanase, 200 U/kg amylase and 4,000 U/kg protease, and 75,000 cfu/g of a combination of three strains of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. One control and one supplemented diet group contained birds orally challenged with 105cfu C. jejuni strain M1 on d 21 of age. Among challenged birds, the mixed-enzymes and probiotic combination numerically reduced faecal C. jejuni shedding (-98% vs challenged control) three days-post-infection (d.p.i.), and at 7 d.p.i. numerically reduced C. jejuni colonisation of the ileal mucosa (-1000-fold vs control) and totally inhibited systemic spread of C. jejuni to the liver, compared to the control (P

1. This study investigated the effect of dietary calcium (Ca) levels on growth performance, bone development and Ca transporter gene expression levels in the small intestine of broiler chickens.2. On the day of hatch, 350, Ross 308 male broilers were randomly allotted to one of five treatments with five replicate pens each and 14 birds per pen. Dietary Ca levels in feed were 5.0, 7.0, 9.0, 11.0 and 13.0 g/kg, in which 9.0 g/kg was in the control diet. All diets contained 4.5 g/kg non-phytate phosphorus (NPP).3. The increase in dietary Ca levels from 5.0 to 13.0 g/kg did not affect the growth performance of 1- to 18-day-old broilers (P > 0.05).4. Increasing the Ca levels linearly increased the ash weight and the contents of ash, Ca and phosphorus (P) in the tibia of broilers at 18 days of age (P

Mastitis is a common disease that prevails in cattle owing mainly to environmental pathogens, they are also the most expensive disease for cattle in dairy farms. Several prevention and treatment methods are available, although most of these options are quite expensive, especially for small farms. In this study, we utilized a dataset of 6600 cattle along with several of their sensory parameters (collected via inexpensive sensors) and their prevalence to mastitis. Supervised machine learning approaches were deployed to determine the most effective parameters that could be utilized to predict the risk of mastitis in cattle. To achieve this goal, 26 classification models were built, among which the best performing model (the highest accuracy in the shortest time) was selected. Hyper parameter tuning and K-fold cross validation were applied to further boost the top model’s performance, while at the same time avoiding bias and overfitting of the model. The model was then utilized to build a GUI application that could be used online as a web application. The application can predict the risk of mastitis in cattle from the inhale and exhale limits of their udder and their temperature with an accuracy of 98.1% and sensitivity and specificity of 99.4% and 98.8%, respectively. The full potential of this application can be utilized via the standalone version, which can be easily integrated into an automatic milking system to detect the risk of mastitis in real time.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of different flow-through heat treatments—68, 73, 78, 85, 100 °C for 16 s—applied to in-line homogenized goat and sheep milk. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in raw goat milk was 324.5 ± 47.3 μg phenol/mL, and that of lactoperoxidase (LPO) was 199.3 ± 6.7 U/L. The respective activities in raw sheep milk were 7615 ± 141 μg phenol/mL and 319 ± 38.6 U/L. LPO activity was not detected in both milk kinds treated at 85 °C for 16 s. Residual enzyme activities at 73 °C for 16 s with respect to the initial levels in raw milk were higher in goat than in sheep milk. The whey protein fraction of sheep milk was more heat sensitive compared to goat counterpart. Sheep milk rennet clotting time (RCT) was not affected by the treatments, while curd firmness decreased significantly (p &lt, 0.05) at 100 °C for 16 s. Treatments more intense than 73 °C for 16 s increased the RCT of goat milk significantly but inconsistently and decreased curd firmness significantly, while yoghurt-type gels made from 73 °C or 78 °C for 16 s treated goat milk exhibited the highest water-holding capacity.

In view of the major methodological challenges which confront researchers in public diplomacy (PD), the paper recognizes the method of comparative-historical analysis (CHA) as an eminently suitable approach for robust empirical studies. The paper starts by exploring different conceptualizations and operationalizations of public diplomacy. Subsequently, four defining characteristics of CHA are identified: (1) CHA starts from a positivist epistemological perspective; (2) CHA-based research usually is concerned with “big questions;” (3) comparative methods are applied in CHA, either across different cases or within cases across time, allowing for in-depth analyses; (4) by considering respective starting points, specific historical developments, and cultural particulars, CHA is committed to methods drawn from historical research, including process tracing and causal narrative. The paper demonstrates that CHA, in view of these characteristics and with its highly interdisciplinary pedigree and methodological eclecticism, is eminently suited for studies exploring PD practices and outcomes. To provide a tailor-made approach for such endeavors, CHA is innovatively combined with the method of structured, focused comparison. Finally, drawing on both the different operationalizations of PD and the requirements of CHA, a comprehensive matrix for CHA-based PD research is presented, offering a tangible framework for future empirical analyses.

Selective use of antibiotic dry cow treatment can be implemented at the cow or quarter level, with the latter having the potential to further reduce antibiotic use. Our objective was to compare these 2 approaches in 6 herds in the United Kingdom in which environmental mastitis predominated. Eight hundred seven cows were enrolled and categorized as having a high cell count (n = 401) or low cell count (n = 406) in the last 3 mo of lactation and clinical mastitis history. All quarters of all enrolled cows received an internal teat sealant. Within each category, cows were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups; in one group antibiotic treatment was allocated at cow level (i.e., all 4 quarters received antibiotic), whereas in the 2 remaining groups antibiotic treatment was allocated at quarter level, based on California Mastitis Test (CMT) findings. Two different thresholds, score 1 and 2, were used to determine likely infection status. Quarter milk samples were collected at dry off and postcalving for bacteriological culture and somatic cell count (SCC). Cows were monitored for clinical mastitis from dry off until 100 d in milk. Cow level SCC and milk yield data were collated from farm records. Within each category, the 2 quarter level treatment groups were compared with cow level treatment at dry off. Leaving quarters untreated with intramammary antibiotic in cows in the high cell count group, with a CMT2 or1, reduced antibiotic use by 55% and 31%, respectively, and resulted in no difference in the odds of being infected with any pathogen postcalving, but was associated with a higher SCC at the first test day. Intramammary antibiotic treatment of quarters with a CMT ≥1 in cows in the low cell count category at dry off was not associated with any reduction in the odds of being infected with a major pathogen postcalving but was associated with a decrease in the odds of being infected with a minor mastitis pathogen postcalving. The use of antibiotics in quarters of cows categorized as low cell count at dry off, increased the proportion of quarters treated with antibiotic from 0% at cow level to 31% (CMT ≥ 1) and 12% (CMT ≥ 2) at quarter level, only resulting in a reduction in SCC of around 20,000 cells/mL at the first test day, if all quarters with CMT score ≥1 were treated with antibiotic. No differences in clinical mastitis incidence and milk yield in the first 100 d in milk were detected between any of the treatment groups. These study findings support selective quarter level dry off treatment only in cows with cow level SCC200,000 cells/mL at dry off.

We evaluated the effects of fatty acid (FA) supplement blends containing 60% palmitic acid (C16:0) and either 30% stearic acid (C18:0) or 30% oleic acid (cis-9 C18:1) on nutrient digestibility and milk production of low- and high-producing dairy cows. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows [118 ± 44 d in milk (DIM)] were divided into 2 blocks by milk production and then randomly assigned to treatment sequence in four 3 × 3 Latin squares within production level, balanced for carryover effects in three consecutive 21-d periods. Cows were blocked by milk yield and assigned to 1 of 2 groups (n = 12 per group): (a) low group (42.5 ± 3.54 kg/d; 147 ± 42 DIM) and (b) high group (55.8 ± 3.04 kg/d; 101 ± 34 DIM). Commercially available fat supplements were combined to provide treatments that consisted of the following: (1) control (CON; diet with no supplemental FA), (2) FA supplement blend containing 60% C16:0 and 30% C18:0 (PA+SA), and (3) FA supplement blend containing 60% C16:0 and 30% cis-9 C18:1 (PA+OA) The FA blends were fed at 1.5% of dry matter (DM) and replaced soyhulls from CON. Preplanned contrasts were (1) overall effect of FA treatments [CON vs. the average of the FA treatments (FAT); 1/2 (PA+SA + PA+OA)], and (2) effect of FA supplement (PA+SA vs. PA+OA). Regardless of production level, overall FAT reduced DMI compared with CON. Also, regardless of level of milk production, PA+OA increased total-tract FA digestibility compared with PA+SA. Treatment by production level interactions were observed for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility, total FA intake, and the yields of 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM), energy-corrected milk (ECM), and milk fat. In low-producing cows, FAT increased DM and NDF digestibility compared with CON. In high-producing cows PA+SA increased DM and NDF digestibility compared with PA+OA. In low-producing cows, PA+SA increased 3.5% FCM, ECM, and milk fat yield compared with PA+OA. However, in high-producing cows PA+OA tended to increase 3.5% FCM compared with PA+SA. In conclusion, low-producing cows responded better to a FA blend containing 60% C16:0 and 30% C18:0, whereas high-producing dairy cows responded more favorably to a FA blend containing 60% C16:0 and 30% cis-9 C18:1. However, further research is required to validate our observations that higher-yielding cows have improved production responses when supplemented with cis-9 C18:1 compared with C18:0.

Silage treated with lactic acid bacteria inoculants has been reported to increase ruminal microbial biomass when tested in vitro. Therefore, we tested if alfalfa silage inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum MTD-1 would improve ruminal N metabolism and increase milk production in high-producing dairy cows. Twenty-eight early lactation Holstein cows (8 ruminally cannulated) were blocked by DIM and milk production; animals were used in a double crossover design consisting of four 28-d periods. Animals in each block were randomly assigned to 2 treatments: a diet containing uninoculated alfalfa silage (control) and a diet containing alfalfa silage inoculated with L. plantarum MTD-1 (LP). Diets were formulated to contain 50% of alfalfa silage, 16% crude protein, and 25% neutral detergent fiber (dry matter basis). Milk production and dry matter intake were recorded in the last 14 d of each period. Milk samples were collected twice at both daily milkings on d 20, 21, 27, and 28 of each period. On d 22, omasal samples were collected from the cannulated animals over a period of 3 d to quantify ruminal digestibility and nutrient flows. Data were analyzed using mixed models of SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute). Compared to the control, cows receiving the LP treatment had greater milk production (40.4 vs. 39.6 kg/d) and lower milk urea nitrogen concentration (11.6 vs. 12.7 mg/dL), despite minor changes in energy-corrected milk. Milk lactose concentration was greater in the milk produced by cows fed the LP treatment, which reflected a tendency for increased milk lactose yield. Although milk true protein concentration was lower for cows in the LP treatment, milk true protein yield was the same on both control and LP treatments. Improvements in milk production of animals under the LP treatment were associated with greater organic matter truly digested in the rumen, especially ruminal neutral detergent fiber digestion. Minor changes were observed in total omasal microbial nonammonia N flow in cows receiving the LP treatment. Therefore, alfalfa silage treated with L. plantarum MTD-1 may improve ruminal fermentation and milk production; however, because of a lack of response in ruminal N metabolism, these changes did not result in greater energy-corrected milk in high-producing dairy cows.

Nonreplacement dairy calves, or bobby calves, are fasted and transported to abattoirs from as young as 5 d of age in Australia. The aims of this cross-sectional observational study were (1) to assess the welfare status, as measured by blood parameters, of bobby calves in the commercial supply chain after transport and lairage, and (2) to assess whether distance and duration of transport are risk factors for poor bobby calf welfare, as measured by blood parameters. We hypothesized that bobby calves transported greater distances would be more likely to show evidence of compromised welfare, as measured by blood indicators of hydration, energy status, and muscle fatigue or damage. We also hypothesized that there would be a large amount of variability in indicators of energy status between calves from different farms. We analyzed blood samples collected at slaughter over a spring and an autumn calving period from 4,484 Australian bobby calves aged approximately 5 to 14 d old from 3 different states, after transport, fasting, and lairage. Packed cell volume (PCV), plasma glucose, and serum urea, total protein, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and creatine kinase (CK) were measured. Radio frequency identification ear tag data were used to estimate the distance that the calves were transported and to identify the farm of origin. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models, except for BHB, which was analyzed using a Goodman-Kruskal gamma test due to left censoring of the data. Twelve percent of calves showed evidence of anemia (PCV less than 0.23 L/L), and 11% had urea concentrations consistent with dehydration (urea more than 7.7 mmol/L). Thirty-six percent of calves had CK activity above normal resting values, and 1% of calves had CK >2,000 U/L, indicating muscle fatigue or damage. Distance transported had significant effects on all blood variables except urea and BHB. With increasing distance transported, calves were more likely to show evidence of a negative energy balance (low plasma glucose) or dehydration (high PCV or total protein). The estimated effect of distance overall was small, but for calves transported more than 500 km, plasma glucose concentration declined more per kilometer. The calves' farm of origin accounted for a reasonable amount of the random variation between calves for plasma glucose (20%). Our results suggest that longer transport distances may increase the risk of poor calf welfare (dehydration, negative energy balance) after transport, and on-farm calf management (e.g., nutrition, timing of feeding before transport) may affect transported calves' energy status; improving this area could result in better energy availability during fasting.

Castration is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in equine practice. Open, closed, and semiclosed techniques are described for castration of horses, and the procedure may be performed in a standing, sedated animal or in a recumbent animal under general anesthesia. Although a relatively routine procedure, complications can occur, with reported complication rates ranging from 10.2% to 60%. Most complications are mild and resolve rapidly with appropriate treatment, but more serious or life-threatening complications can also occur. A thorough knowledge of male reproductive anatomy and physiology combined with good surgical technique is imperative to help reduce the rate of complications.

Stallion sperm is typically cryopreserved using low cooling rates and low concentrations of cryoprotective agents (CPAs). The inevitable water-to-ice phase transition during cryopreservation is damaging and can be prevented using vitrification. Vitrification requires high cooling rates and high CPA concentrations. In this study, the feasibility of stallion sperm vitrification was investigated. A dual-syringe pump system was used to mix sperm equilibrated in a solution with a low concentration of CPAs, with a solution containing a high CPA concentration, and to generate droplets of a defined size (i.e., ~20 μL) that were subsequently cooled by depositing on an aluminum alloy block placed in liquid nitrogen. Mathematical modeling was performed to compute the heat transfer and rate of cooling. The minimum CPA concentration needed for vitrification was determined for various CPAs (glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dimethyl sulfoxide) and combinations thereof, while effects of droplet size and carrier solution were also identified. Sperm vitrification was eventually done using a glycerol/propylene glycol (1/1) mixture at a final concentration of 45% in buffered saline supplemented with 3% albumin and polyvinylpyrrolidon, while warming was done in standard diluent supplemented with 100 mM sucrose. The sperm concentration was found to greatly affect sperm membrane integrity after vitrification-and-warming, i.e., was found to be 21 ± 12% for 10 × 106 sperm mL-1 and 54 ± 8% for 1 × 106 sperm mL-1. However, an almost complete loss of sperm motility was observed. In conclusion, successful sperm vitrification requires establishing the narrow balance between droplet size, sperm concentration, CPA type and concentration, and exposure time.

Aim: The study investigated the genetic polymorphism of the kisspeptin (KiSS1) gene and its relationship with litter size in Cyprus and Iraqi black goats. Materials and Methods: Blood samples (n=124) were collected from the two goat breeds reared at the Agricultural Research-Ruminant Research Station Breeding Station, Baghdad, Iraq. Genomic DNA was isolated using a DNA extraction kit. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the KiSS1 gene. All PCR products were sequenced and samples were used for further analysis using NCBI-Blast online on the exon 1 (595 bp) region of the KiSS1 gene. Results: The results of this study revealed a significantly (PC was identified as a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associated with litter size. Furthermore, the average alleles in KiSS1 gene of both types of goats 0.567 and 0.3715 GG, were recorded. The genotyping at locus g893C>G was demonstrating domination of fecundity quality litter size, Both genotypes SNP of GC were classified at this marked region of KiSS1 gene. Conclusion: The study concluded that the role of the KiSS1 gene in fecundity, revealing the status of this gene as an indicator in the assisted of caprine breeding selection.

California is the leading state for the production of almonds, with more than 400,000 bearing hectares of orchards that produced approximately 1 billion kilograms of shelled nuts in 2017. Almond hulls (AH) are a regional by-product feedstuff fed predominantly to dairy cattle in California. A 2012 study surveyed 40 dairy farms in California and found that 39 out of 104 total mixed rations contained AH, with a mean daily feeding rate of 1.45 kg/cow. In 2017, approximately 2 billion kilograms of AH was produced. At a feeding rate of 1.45 kg/cow daily, even if all 1.7 million lactating cows in California are consuming AH, there will be a surplus of AH on the market as the approximately 130,000 nonbearing hectares come into nut production. Therefore, the potential of feeding varying amounts of AH to lactating dairy cows was investigated using 12 Holstein cows with 4 primiparous and 8 multiparous cows. The dietary treatments were 4 total mixed rations containing 0, 7, 13, or 20% AH. The AH used contained 12.8% crude fiber (as-is basis), which was below the 15% legal limit set by state feed regulations. Diets were formulated so that as the inclusion rate of AH increased, the amount of steam-flaked corn and soyhull pellets decreased and soybean meal inclusion increased. Experimental design was a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square. Diet had a cubic effect on actual milk yield, energy-corrected milk yield, and dry matter intake, with the 7% AH diet having the highest values and the 13% AH diet having the lowest. The percent and yield of total solids and the yields of lactose and fat did not differ with diet, but percent and yield of protein declined linearly with increased AH inclusion, and fat percent increased linearly. Apparent total-tract digestibilities of dry matter and organic matter were higher with the inclusion of AH in the diet. Total percentage of the day spent ruminating increased linearly with higher amounts of AH. Overall, this work demonstrated that AH can be fed at varying amounts, up to 20% of the diet, to lactating dairy cows to support high levels of milk production and that increasing amounts of AH (up to 20%) in the diet could lead to improved digestibility and milk fat percentage but decreased milk protein production.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of exposure to different colors of light during egg incubation on the reproductive parameters of male and female Japanese quails. A total of 1776 eggs were incubated under four lighting conditions for 24 h a day during the entire incubation period: white LEDs, green LEDs, red LEDs and darkness (control). The experimental design was a randomized block (incubation time) with four treatments of six replicates of two cages each. After hatching, the birds were housed in brood cages with 18 birds each to 35 days of age, when they were sexed and transferred to production cages for evaluation of reproductive parameters. After the onset of laying, the number of eggs in each cage was recorded daily, and the values were used to obtain the age of the females at first egg and at 80% laying. At 35 and 60 days of age, several birds from each cage were euthanized for anatomical and histological evaluation of the gonads. Two females from each cage were weighed every three days until 60 days of age to determine the growth curve. After 60 days, eggs from each cage were collected and assessed for external and internal quality. At 70, 74 and 78 days of age, semen collection was performed and seminal quality was evaluated. Then, the males were transferred to cages containing 9 females for the fertility test. Hatchability was higher (P 0.05) in eggs incubated in the dark and under the red LED. The age of maximum growth was higher (P 0.05) in birds from eggs incubated in the dark and under the white LED. There was no difference (P 0.05) in the anatomical and histological characteristics of the testicles between the groups incubated under different light colors, except for the diameter of the seminiferous tubules, which was greater (P = 0.05) in the dark and in the white LED groups. There was no effect (P 0.05) of light color during incubation on the productive index or egg quality of adult birds. There was also no effect (P 0.05) on sperm quality, except for sperm motility, the values of which were higher (P 0.05) in birds from eggs incubated in different colors of light. However, this difference was not sufficient to significantly (P 0.05) influence bird fertility. It is concluded that under the studied conditions, the incubation of quail eggs under white, red, and green LED lamps does not influence the reproductive characteristics of the quails.

Disruption of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis, a condition termed "ER stress," contributes to the development of liver injury in nonruminants. Because liver injury is a prominent pathological feature associated with overproduction of ketone bodies in dairy cows with ketosis, understanding the ER stress state and its functional consequences on liver injury is of particular interest. Here, 30 multiparous cows (within 3 wk postpartum) classified based on blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) as healthy (n = 15, BHB0.6 mM) or clinically ketotic (n = 15, BHB3.0 mM) were used. Compared with healthy cows, ketotic cows had greater levels of serum fatty acids and activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transferase, and glutamate dehydrogenase but lower serum glucose. Furthermore, dairy cows with ketosis had greater protein abundance of ER stress markers in liver tissue, including protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring protein-1α (IRE1α), and cleaved activating transcription factor-6 (ATF6). Cows with ketosis also had higher mRNA levels of hepatic 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) and spliced X-box binding protein 1 (sXBP1). These data confirmed an enhanced ER stress state in clinically ketotic cows. To explore whether enhanced hepatic ER stress was induced by elevated ketone bodies and the possible contribution of ER stress to liver injury, in vitro experiments were then performed using isolated primary calf hepatocytes treated with incremental concentrations of BHB (0, 0.6, 1.2, 3.0, and 4.8 mM) for 12 h with or without overexpression of GRP78 (the master regulator of unfolded protein response). Phosphorylation levels of PERK and IRE1α proteins, level of cleaved ATF6 protein, and mRNA abundance of GRP78 and sXBP1 in hepatocytes increased after treatment with high (3.0 and 4.8 mM) BHB, indicating a mechanistic link between excessive BHB and enhanced hepatic ER stress. Furthermore, treatment with 3.0 and 4.8 mM BHB markedly elevated activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in cell supernatant, indicating exacerbated hepatocyte damage after ER stress was enhanced. Overexpression of GRP78 attenuated both BHB-induced ER stress and the ensuing cellular damage, suggesting that hepatocyte damage caused by excessive BHB can be mediated via enhanced ER stress. Overall, the present study revealed that ER stress may exacerbate liver injury development in clinically ketotic cows, underscoring the biological relevance of this pathway in the context of liver injury.

Background: The permission to contact (PTC) platform is a useful mechanism to increase patient engagement and enrollment into biobanks. It provides biobanks with the ability to select specific pati...

Background Goat milk is very similar to human milk in terms of its abundant nutrients and ease of digestion. To derive greater economic benefit, farmers require more female offspring (does); however, the buck-to-doe offspring sex ratio is approximately 50%. At present, artificial insemination after the separation of X/Y sperm using flow cytometry is the primary means of controlling the sex of livestock offspring. However, flow cytometry has not been successfully utilised for the separation of X/Y sperm aimed at sexing control in dairy goats. Results In this study, a novel, simple goat sperm sexing technology that activates the toll-like receptor 7/8 (TLR7/8), thereby inhibiting X-sperm motility, was investigated. Our results showed that the TLR7/8 coding goat X-chromosome was expressed in approximately 50% of round spermatids in the testis and sperm, as measured from cross-sections of the epididymis and ejaculate, respectively. Importantly, TLR7/8 was located at the tail of the X-sperm. Upon TLR7/8 activation, phosphorylated forms of glycogen synthase kinase α/β (GSK3 α/β) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) were detected in the X-sperm, causing reduced mitochondrial activity, ATP levels, and sperm motility. High-motility Y-sperm segregated to the upper layer and the low-motility X-sperm, to the lower layer. Following in vitro fertilisation using the TLR7/8-activated sperm from the lower layer, 80.52 ± 6.75% of the embryos were XX females. The TLR7/8-activated sperm were subsequently used for in vivo embryo production via the superovulatory response; nine embryos were collected from the uterus of two does that conceived. Eight of these were XX embryos, and one was an XY embryo. Conclusions Our study reveals a novel TLR7/8 signalling mechanism that affects X-sperm motility via the GSK3 α/β-hexokinase pathway; this technique could be used to facilitate the efficient production of sexed dairy goat embryos.

This study approaches the interrelation patterns between composition of milk and whey, curd yield, chromaticity, syneresis, and technological quality of Manchega sheep milk using multivariate factor analysis. In addition, the effect of the main husbandry components (flock, prolificacy, season of the year, stage of lactation, and parity) on the common latent factors that define the pattern of variation of Manchega milk was assessed. For this purpose, 1,200 individual Manchega ewe milk samples from 4 different flocks registered under the Protected Designation of Origin Queso Manchego were analyzed (50 ewes/flock). Samples were collected in 2 different seasons of the year (spring and autumn) and at 3 time points per season: early, mid-, and late lactation. The obtained results suggested that curd yield mainly depends on milk composition, and the retention of water in the curd is related to coagulation traits. Thus, composition and moisture content could be useful indicators to assess the efficiency and quality of milk intended for cheesemaking, regardless of the analysis of coagulation properties. Finally, in terms of husbandry, a direct effect of flock and stage of lactation was observed on all analyzed factors, with a lower influence of season and parity.

Cryopreservation of coral sperm requires reliable, travel-ready, inexpensive hardware. To this end, we developed and tested a robust, second-generation, conduction-based cryovial cooling rack assembled from 3D-printed and commercially available parts. Cooling rates from −10 to −80 °C were found to be repeatable at −22.9 ± 1.9 (rate ± SD) °C/min for 1-mL samples and −35.4 ± 3.3 °C/min for 0.5-mL samples. This represents an improvement on the variability of cooling rates in an older design, which was found to be −31.8 ± 7.1 °C/min for 1-mL samples. Design files and a manual were produced to encourage widespread use and the development of derivative designs.

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of colostrum feeding time on the ileal microbiome of neonatal calves. In this study, 22 male Holstein calves were randomly assigned to different colostrum feeding time treatments: after birth (at 45 min, n = 7); at 6 h after birth (n = 8); and at 12 h after birth (TRT12h; n = 7). At 51 h after birth, calves were killed and ileum digesta was collected for microbiome analysis using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Bacteria, archaea, eukaryotes, and viruses were identified from the ileum microbiome. For the bacteriome, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the predominant phyla, and Escherichia, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus were the 3 most abundant genera. For the archaeal community, Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota were the 2 major phyla, and Methanosarcina, Methanobrevibacter, and Methanocorpusculum were the 3 most abundant genera. In total, 116 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were identified from the ileal microbiome, with "biosynthesis of vancomycin group antibiotics," "biosynthesis of ansamycins," "valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis," "ribosome," and "d-alanine metabolism" as the top 5 functions. When the ileal microbiomes were compared among the 3 treatments, the relative abundance of Enterococcus was higher in TRT12h calves, suggesting that calves may have a higher abundance of opportunistic pathogens when the feeding of colostrum is delayed for 12 h. Moreover, among all KEGG pathways, the enriched "taurine and hypotaurine metabolism" (KO00430) pathway was identified in the ileal microbiome of TRT12h calves; however, future studies are needed to understand the effect on the host. Additionally, 2 distinct ileal microbial profiles were identified across all samples, indicating that that host factors may play a significant role in driving varied microbiome changes in response to colostrum feeding time. Whether such microbiome shifts affect long-term gut function and calf performance warrants future studies.

Objective: Adequate vitamin and trace mineral intake for pigs are important to achieve satisfactory growth performance. There are no data available on the vitamin and trace mineral intake across pig producers in China. The purpose of this study was to investigate and describe the amount of vitamin and trace minerals used in Chinese pig diets.Methods: A 1-year survey of supplemented vitamin and trace minerals in pig diets was organized in China. A total of 69 producers were invited for the survey, which represents approximately 90% of the pig herd in China. Data were compiled by bodyweight stages to determine descriptive statistics. Nutrients were evaluated for vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, niacin, folic acid, biotin, choline, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, selenium, and iodine. Data were statistically analyzed by functions in Excel. Results: The results indicated variation for supplemented vitamin (vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, niacin, and choline) and trace minerals (copper, manganese, zinc, and iodine) in pig diets, but most vitamins and trace minerals were included at concentrations far above the total dietary requirement estimates reported by the National Research Council and the China’s Feeding Standard of Swine. Conclusion: The levels of vitamin and trace mineral used in China’s pig industry vary widely. Adding a high concentration for vitamin and trace mineral appears to be common practice in pig diets. This investigation provides a reference for supplementation rates of the vitamins and trace minerals in the China’s pig industry.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the synergistic effect of exogenous multienzyme and phytase on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, blood metabolites, intestinal microflora, and morphology in broilers fed corn-wheat-soybean meal diets. Methods: A 2×2 factorial design was used in this study. Four dietary treatments consisted of i) basal diets (corn-wheat-soybean meal based diets without multi-enzyme and phytase), ii) basal diets with phytase (0.05%), iii) basal diets with exogenous multi-enzyme (0.05%), and iv) basal diets with exogenous multi-enzyme including phytase (0.05%). A total of 480 broiler chickens (Ross 308 - one day old) were weighed and allotted to thirty-two cages (15 birds per cage), and chicks were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments. Results: The body weight gain and feed conversion rate were improved by supplementation of exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase during the finisher period (pLactobacillus spp., Escherichia coli, and Clostridium were not affected in the ileum and cecum of chickens fed enzyme-supplemented diets. The dietary supplemental exogenous multi-enzyme containing phytase showed a significant improvement in villus height, crypt depth, and villus height and crypt depth ratio, compared to basal diets or dietary supplemental phytase (p

The objective of this systems-scale study was to investigate grazing season timeframes on pasture and milk production and on milk processability of dairy systems with compact spring-calving dairy cows grazing white clover (Trifolium repens L.) based grassland. Fifty-four primiparous and multiparous Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were used in a one-factor study with 3 systems (n = 18) and repeated over 2 yr (2008/09 and 2009/10). The 3 systems were: early spring calving with annual fertilizer N input of 100 kg·ha-1 applied in spring (ES100N; 2.1 cows·ha-1; grazing February to November), early spring calving without fertilizer N (ES0N; 1.6 cows·ha-1; grazing February to November) and late spring calving without fertilizer N (LS0N; 1.53 cows·ha-1; grazing April to January). Annual pasture production was affected by an interaction between grazing system and year: Mean annual pasture yields for 2008 and 2009 were ES100N; 10.35 and 9.88, ES0N; 8.88 and 8.63, LS0N; 9.18 and 10.31 t of dry matter (DM)·ha-1 (SEM 0.39). LS0N had higher pasture DM yield in 2009 due to higher clover DM production and biological N fixation compared with the other systems. Clover stolon and root mass in the following February was correlated with stolon and root mass in the previous November with 64% of stolon mass present on LS0N in February (R2 = 0.84). There were no detectable differences in per-lactation milk yield (6,335 kg·cow-1), fat, protein and lactose yields (271, 226, 297 kg·cow-1, respectively), cow liveweight (585 kg) or body condition score (3.02). Although winter grazing favored subsequent clover DM production, biological N fixation and pasture DM production, delaying calving date in spring and extending lactation into the following winter led to inefficient use of this pasture by the grazing herd and lowered the quality of late-lactation milk for processing purposes. Hence, a mean calving date in mid- to late-February is recommended for zero-fertilizer N input clover-based grassland.

The study describes the details of histological changes occurring during the postnatal development of the wall of the uterine horn in the European shorthair domestic cat. Light microscope observations and morphometric analysis were carried out to investigate the rate of development of the wall of the uterine horns in order to estimate the maturing time. Uterine horns of newborn and 1week-old cats are fetal-like and showing smooth, nonfolded endometrium lined with pseudostratified epithelium, deprived of uterine glands, and poorly developed two-layered myometrium. The lamina propria of the mucosa becomes folded in the first month of postnatal life. At the same time, the primordia of the uterine glands appear, elongating, doubling in number and reaching the basal layer by sixth month of age. In six-month-old cats, the lamina propria of the mucosa is formed into the functional and basal layer and its thickness increases rapidly. Until the sixth month of age, the inner circular muscle layer is the widest part of the myometrium, the outer longitudinal layer is the thinnest, while the width of the vascular layer is an intermediate value between the width of the inner and outer layer. From the seventh month of age, the proportion of the thickness of the inner and outer layer is reversed and the vascular layer becomes the thinnest part of the myometrium. Between seventh and twelfth month of age, the structure of the wall of the uterine horn does not change significantly, as the longitudinal mucosal folds limiting the narrow lumen of the uterine horns, and the arrangement of the layers in the wall is assigned to a pattern according to which the endometrium represents about 40% of the total width of the wall, while the myometrium is about 60%. In the studied time span of postnatal life, the average thickness of the wall of the uterine horn increases 9.4 -fold, the thickness of the lamina propria and mucosal folds increases 6.9-fold and 3.8-fold, respectively, while the thickness of the myometrium increases 17.3-fold. Summing up, the process of maturation of the wall of the uterine horns in the domestic cat lasts up to sixth month of postnatal life and includes the formation of the endometrial longitudinal folds, appearance and development of the uterine glands, division of the lamina propria of the mucosa into the functional and basal layers, and continued development of the circular, vascular and longitudinal muscle layers.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7), one of the most widespread foodborne pathogens, can cause a series of diseases and even lead to death. In this study, a highly sensitive method was developed by combining aptamer-exonuclease III (Exo III)-assisted amplification with lateral flow assay (LFA) based on gold nanoparticles (AuNP). The compound of single-stranded (ss) DNA-anti-E. coli O157:H7 aptamer (ssDNA-aptamer) was formed by hybridization between designed target ssDNA and aptamer. When E. coli O157:H7 was present, target bacteria were bound with the aptamer, and the free target ssDNA was hybridized with the probes of the designed hairpin (HP) structure. Exo III digests the 3' double-stranded blunt end of the complex and releases the enzyme product. Because the remaining sequence of the HP of the designed enzyme product was the same as the target ssDNA sequence, the target ssDNA could be amplified. Finally, the enhanced target ssDNA was combined with AuNP-LFA to achieve visual detection of E. coli O157:H7. The quantitative ability of this platform for E. coli O157:H7 was 7.6 × 101 cfu/mL in pure culture, and the detection limit in milk was 8.35 × 102 cfu/mL. This LFA was highly specific to E. coli O157:H7, and the time for detection of E. coli O157:H7 in milk was 4 h. Hence, this system has important application prospects in the detection of pathogenic bacteria in dairy products.

Respiratory distress in the horse and foal is an emergency. Managing equine respiratory distress in the field starts with appropriate assessment of the patient to determine whether the breathing obstruction stems from the upper or lower respiratory tract or is nonrespiratory in origin. From a thorough, but efficient, physical examination to point-of-care ultrasound and endoscopy, the veterinarian has many tools in the field to help diagnose the patient.

The aim of this research was to determine the influence of lactation number and parity on milk yield of Saanen goat’s breed. It has been concluded that milk yield was higher for goats that had given birth to twins and three kids than for goats that had given birth to a single kid (P

Objective The objective of this study was to define a new composite trait for Holstein dairy cows and evaluate the possibility of joint improvement in milk and fertility traits. Methods A data set consisting 35,882 fertility related records (days open [DO], calving interval [CI], and number of services per conception [NSC], and total milk yield in each lactation [TMY]) was collected from 1998 to 2016 in Polish Holstein-Friesian breed herds. In this study TMY, DO, CI, and lactation length of each cow was used to obtain composite milk and fertility traits (CMF). Results Moderate heritability (0.15) was estimated for composite trait that was higher than heritability of female fertility related traits: DO 0.047, CI 0.042, and NSC 0.014, and slightly lower than heritability of TMY 0.19. Favourable genetic correlations (-0.87) were estimated between CMF with TMY. Spearman rank correlation coefficients between breeding value of CMF with DO, CI, and TMY were high (>0.94) but with NSC were moderate (0.64). Selection on CMF caused favourable correlated genetic gains for DO, CI, and TMY. Different selection indices with different emphasis on fertility and milk production were constructed. The amount of correlated genetic gains obtained for DO and total milk production according to selection in CMF were higher than of genetic gains obtained for DO and TMY in selection indices with different emphasis on milk and fertility. Conclusion The animal selection only based on a composite trait - CMF proposed in current study would simultaneously lead to favourable genetic gains for both milk and fertility related traits. In this situation CMF introduced in current study can be used to overcome to limitations of selection index and CMF could be useful for countries that have problems in recording traits, especially functional traits.

Due to the induced oxidative stress that exists in sperm freezing/thawing procedures and handling media, the use of exogenous antioxidant agents seems necessary. Drug delivery by nanocarriers has been designed to overcome the limitations of antioxidants, such as high-dose toxicity and short biological half-life. In this study, we tried to investigate the effects of tretinoin-loaded solid lipid core nanocapsules (TTN-SLN) added to freezing/thawing and handling media (in three experimental groups) on sperm motility (total/progressive), viability, DNA fragmentation, and extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Sperm samples from at least 30 adult male NMRI mice were evaluated in this study. The results of experiments 1 and 2 showed that the addition of 0.5 μM TTN-SLN in freezing and thawing medium significantly increased sperm viability and total/progressive motility and decreased DNA fragmentation and extracellular ROS levels (

Establishment of a vascular system within the corpus luteum (CL) is critical for progesterone (P4) secretion. Measurement of luteal blood flow (LBF) may be a feasible way to determine luteolysis induced with cloprostenol sodium (CLO). Our overall objective was to establish timelines to assess luteolysis via Doppler ultrasonography. Estrous cycles were synchronized in 11- to 12-mo-old Holstein heifers (n = 37). Heifers were injected CLO at a random stage of the estrous cycle 12 d from treatment. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) was administered 2 (d −10) and 8 d (d −4) after the initial CLO. This satisfied the study objective of inducing simultaneous presence of CL at d 4 of development (D4 CL) and CL at d 10 of development (D10 CL) on the day of treatment with different CLO doses (hereafter referred to as d 0). Heifers were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments on d 0: negative control (NC) consisting of no treatment with CLO (n = 8); a quarter dose of CLO (0.125 mg; n = 8); half dose of CLO (0.25 mg; n = 8); full dose of CLO (0.5 mg; n = 8); or positive control (PC) consisting of 4 doses of 0.5 mg of CLO at 24-h intervals starting at d 0 (n = 5). Data collection was performed at d 0 (before and 1 h after treatment) and 2, 4, 6, and 8 d following treatment, to determine luteal volume (LV), LBF, and circulating concentrations of P4. Both NC and PC were efficient in mimicking physiological scenarios that occur during normal luteal development and luteolysis. Heifers that received PC had complete LBF disappearance of both D4 and D10 CL between d 2 and 4 after the first of 4 CLO treatments given 24 h apart (average 4.0 ± 0.0 and 3.2 ± 0.7 d, respectively). Complete LBF disappearance was used as a luteolysis marker. Treatment with different doses of CLO did not impair luteal development of the D4 CL. However, concurrent complete LBF disappearance for D10 CL in heifers treated with half (5/8 heifers) and full doses of CLO (8/8 heifers) resulted in less LBF in the half dose, and less LV and LBF in the full-dose treatment, in D4 CL at d 8 post-treatment, compared with NC. Treatment with various doses of CLO induced an acute increase in LBF 1 h after treatment, regardless of dose in D10 but not in D4 CL. We found a lack of dose response in LV reduction of D4 and D10 CL. Interestingly, LV of the D10 CL decreased in untreated NC between d 0 and 8 after treatment (d 10–18 of luteal development). Assessment with color Doppler ultrasound was sensitive enough to identify dose-response patterns in Holstein heifers (absence, partial, or complete luteolysis) following various doses of CLO. Variability in time to complete LBF disappearance of mature D10 CL following a full dose of CLO limits the use of Doppler ultrasonography to detect luteolysis at a single time point following treatment.

Our objective was to measure whey protein removal percentage from separated sweet whey using spiral-wound (SW) polymeric microfiltration (MF) membranes using a 3-stage, 3× process at 50°C and to compare the performance of polymeric membranes with ceramic membranes. Pasteurized, separated Cheddar cheese whey (1,080 kg) was microfiltered using a polymeric 0.3-μm polyvinylidene (PVDF) fluoride SW membrane and a 3×, 3-stage MF process. Cheese making and whey processing were replicated 3 times. There was no detectable level of lactoferrin and no intact α- or β-casein detected in the MF permeate from the 0.3-μm SW PVDF membranes used in this study. We found BSA and IgG in both the retentate and permeate. The β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) and α-lactalbumin (α-LA) partitioned between retentate and permeate, but β-LG passage through the membrane was retarded more than α-LA because the ratio of β-LG to α-LA was higher in the MF retentate than either in the sweet whey feed or the MF permeate. About 69% of the crude protein present in the pasteurized separated sweet whey was removed using a 3×, 3-stage, 0.3-μm SW PVDF MF process at 50°C compared with 0.1-μm ceramic graded permeability MF that removed about 85% of crude protein from sweet whey. The polymeric SW membranes used in this study achieve approximately 20% lower yield of whey protein isolate (WPI) and a 50% higher yield of whey protein phospholipid concentrate (WPPC) under the same MF processing conditions as ceramic MF membranes used in the comparison study. Total gross revenue from the sale of WPI plus WPPC produced with polymeric versus ceramic membranes is influenced by both the absolute market price for each product and the ratio of market price of these 2 products. The combination of the market price of WPPC versus WPI and the influence of difference in yield of WPPC and WPI produced with polymeric versus ceramic membranes yielded a price ratio of WPPC versus WPI of 0.556 as the cross over point that determined which membrane type achieves higher total gross revenue return from production of these 2 products from separated sweet whey. A complete economic engineering study comparison of the WPI and WPPC manufacturing costs for polymeric versus ceramic MF membranes is needed to determine the effect of membrane material selection on long-term processing costs, which will affect net revenue and profit when the same quantity of sweet whey is processed under various market price conditions.

Yak milk is an essential and predominant food resource for Tibetan people for subsistence purposes and to combat altitude-induced challenges. Due to its unique qualities, yak milk has recently been gaining broader attention from consumers across China as well in other parts of the world. One of the key characteristics of yak milk is the protein content, which is about 40 to 60% higher than that of native bovine milk. In this work, a sensitive and reproducible high-throughput analytical method was developed employing both ultra high-performance liquid chromatography Orbitrap (Thermo Fisher Scientific) high-resolution accurate mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-HRAM-MS) and UHPLC coupled with triple quadrupole tandem MS (UHPLC-QqQ-MS) to simultaneously analyze 8 milk proteins. A total of 15 Maiwa yak milk samples and 15 bovine milk samples were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using targeted proteomics and compared for α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, αS1-casein, αS2-casein, β-casein, κ-casein, lactoferrin, and osteopontin. Peptides of β-lactoglobulin were used to specifically distinguish yak and bovine milk. The results showed that this novel detection method could quantitatively detect these major and minor milk proteins with >0.99 linear correlation coefficient and a recovery rate between 90 and 120%, with relative standard deviations typically less than 10%. The data revealed that yak milk not only had higher overall milk protein content than bovine milk but higher lactoferrin and osteopontin contents as well. The lactoferrin content of yak milk was about 30% higher than that of bovine milk, and the osteopontin content of yak milk was nearly twice that of bovine milk. The application of this method demonstrates that UHPLC-HRAM-MS and UHPLC-QqQ-MS are suitable for high-throughput qualitative and quantitative analysis of major and minor proteins of yak and bovine milk.

The main objectives of this study was to identify the effects of a relationship of hyper-concentration of Gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GTP) in follicle fluid (FF) on the levels of glutathione (GSH)/reactive oxygen species (ROS) in oocytes and subsequent embryo development in cattle with abnormal livers. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of supplementing in vitro maturation medium with glutathione ethyl ester (GSH-OEt) on the subsequent developmental potential of oocytes from such cattle. We used a control group of cattle (with normal livers) and a liver disorder (LD) group, in which the liver was diagnosed as being abnormal. In experiment 1, the LD group was divided to two subgroups according to the concentration of γ-GTP in FF: a low group (≤50 IU/L; the low LD group), and a high group (>50 IU/L: the high LD group). Cumulus oocyte-complexes (COCs) were matured and fertilized in vitro and then cultured to the blastocyst stage. The levels of GSH and ROS in the matured oocytes after IVM were then assessed in each group. On day 7 after fertilization, embryo cleavage and development were assessed. We found that the rate of development to the blastocyst stage was significantly lower in the high LD group than in the control group and the low LD group. The levels of GSH in matured oocytes were significantly lower in the high LD group than in the control group and low LD group. The levels of ROS in matured oocytes was significantly higher in the high LD group than in the control group and the low LD group. In experiment 2, COCs from cattle in the high LD group were matured in m-199 supplemented with 5 mM GSH-OEt, then IVF and IVC was performed for 7 days. The GSH levels were determined in some COCs after IVM. The supplementation of media with GSH-OEt during IVM increased the levels of GSH in mature oocytes and improved the rate of blastocyst development compared with the control group. In conclusion, GSH-OEt supplementation to media during IVM can improve the developmental potential of oocytes in liver-diseased cattle with high γ-GTP concentrations in the FF by increasing intracellular GSH synthesis and scavenging ROS.

Effective testing tools for Escherichia coli O157:H7 can prevent outbreaks of foodborne illness. In this paper, a smartphone-based colorimetric aptasensor was developed using functionalized gold nanoparticles (GNP) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) for monitoring E. coli O157:H7 in milk. The maximum absorption peak of GNP bonded with aptamer (Apt) generated evident transformation from 518 to 524 nm. The excess GNP-Apt was removed by functionalized MWCNT magnetized with carbonyl iron powder (CIP) and hybridized with a DNA probe, whereas the GNP-Apt immobilized on E. coli O157:H7 remained in the system. In the presence of a high-salt solution, the GNP-Apt that captured E. coli O157:H7 remained red, but the free GNP-Apt aggregated and appeared blue. The chromogenic results were analyzed by a smartphone-based colorimetric device that was fabricated using acrylic plates, a light-emitting diode, and a mobile power pack. To our knowledge, this was the first attempt to use a smartphone-based colorimetric aptasensor employing the capture of GNP-Apt coupled with separation of MWCNT@CIP probe to detect E. coli O157:H7. The aptasensor exhibited good reproducibility and no cross-reaction for other bacteria. A concentration of 8.43 × 103 cfu/mL of E. coli O157:H7 could be tested in pure culture, and 5.24 × 102 cfu/mL of E. coli O157:H7 could be detected in artificially contaminated milk after 1 h of incubation. Therefore, the smartphone-based colorimetric aptasensor was an efficient tool for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 in milk.

Predicting dry matter intake (DMI) and feed efficiency by leveraging the use of data streams available on farm could aid efforts to improve the feed efficiency of dairy cattle. Residual feed intake (RFI) is the difference between predicted and observed feed intake after accounting for body size, body weight change, and milk production, making it a valuable metric for feed efficiency research. Our objective was to develop and evaluate DMI and RFI prediction models using multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least squares regression, artificial neural networks, and stacked ensembles using different combinations of cow descriptive, performance, sensor-derived behavioral (SMARTBOW; Zoetis), and blood metabolite data. Data were collected from mid-lactation Holstein cows (n = 124; 102 multiparous, 22 primiparous) split equally between 2 replicates of 45-d duration with ad libitum access to feed. Within each predictive approach, 4 data streams were added in sequence: dataset M (week of lactation, parity, milk yield, and milk components), dataset MB (dataset M plus body condition score and metabolic body weight), dataset MBS (dataset MB plus sensor-derived behavioral variables), and dataset MBSP (dataset MBS plus physiological blood metabolites). The combination of 4 datasets and 4 analytical approaches resulted in 16 analyses of DMI and RFI, using variables averaged within cow across the study period. Additional models using weekly averaged data within cow and study were built using all predictive approaches for datasets M, MB, and MBS. Model performance was assessed using the coefficient of determination, concordance correlation coefficient, and root mean square error of prediction. Predictive models of DMI performed similarly across all approaches, and models using dataset MBS had the greatest model performance. The best approach–dataset combination was MLR–dataset MBS, although several models performed similarly. Weekly DMI models had the greatest performance with MLR and partial least squares regression approaches. Dataset MBS models had incrementally better performance than datasets MB and M. Within each approach–dataset combination, models with DMI averaged over the study period had slightly greater model performance than DMI averaged weekly. Predictive performance of all RFI models was poor, but slight improvements when using MLR applied to dataset MBS suggest that rumination and activity behaviors may explain some of the variation in RFI. Overall, similar performance of MLR, compared with machine learning techniques, indicates MLR may be sufficient to predict DMI. The improvement in model performance with each additional data stream supports the idea of integrating data streams to improve model predictions and farm management decisions.

In high-latitude regions, the cold hardiness of buds and canes of grapevine is important for budburst time and yield in the next season. The freezing resistance of buds and canes sampled from six wine grapes currently cultivated in Hokkaido, Japan, all of them grown from autumn to winter, was investigated. A significant difference between the cultivars in their freezing resistance was detected in the buds harvested in winter. In addition, outstanding differences in the lower temperature exotherms (LTE) related to the supercooling ability of tissue cells happened in the winter buds, and there is a close relationship between freezing resistance and LTE detected in the winter buds. This suggests that the supercooling ability of tissue cells in winter buds is strongly related to the freezing resistance. However, detailed electron microscopy exposed that the differences in freezing resistance among cultivars appeared in freezing behavior of leaf primordium rather than apical meristem. This indicated that as the water mobility from the bud apical meristem to the spaces around the cane phloem progressed, the slightly dehydrated cells improved the supercooling ability and increased the freezing resistance.

The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) has great importance as an ornamental aquarium fish as well as laboratory model species. Due to its rapid development, a cooling-embryo protocol could provide some advantages in their transportation, embryonic synchronization, and optimization of hatcheries. In this context, this work aimed to develop a protocol to storage B. splendens embryos at two temperatures (5 and 14 °C), testing three cryoprotective solutions (S1: 0.5 M sucrose, 1.5 M methanol; S2: 0.25 M sucrose, 0.75 M methanol; and S3: 0.125 M sucrose, 0.375 M methanol) and evaluating the quality of the larvae obtained. Moreover, a method to isolate the embryos from the bubble nest constructed by the male and to incubate them without parental care was applied in this study. The cooling assays were done using embryos of 24-h-post-fertilization at 26 °C and the results demonstrated that it is possible to store these embryos deprived of cryoprotectants at 5 °C for at least 6-h without negative effects. Meanwhile, S2 and S3 were the most suitable solutions for its storage for 9-h at 5 °C or 24-h at 14 °C, obtaining 77% hatching and 52% normal larvae in the first case or 88% hatching and 81% larvae with mild abnormalities in the second one. Indeed, type and frequency of larval abnormalities were evaluated and, remarkably, a partial recovery was described on malformed larvae from embryo cooled at 14 °C. Finally, this work is the first report about the cooling of B. splendens embryos and establishes the conditions for further studies on this field with this species.

Selecting for lower methane (CH4) emitting animals is one of the best approaches to reduce CH4 given that genetic progress is permanent and cumulative over generations. As genetic selection requires a large number of animals with records and few countries actively record CH4, combining data from different countries could help to expedite accurate genetic parameters for CH4 traits and build a future genomic reference population. Additionally, if we want to include CH4 in the breeding goal, it is important to know the genetic correlations of CH4 traits with other economically important traits. Therefore, the aim of this study was first to estimate genetic parameters of 7 suggested methane traits, as well as genetic correlations between methane traits and production, maintenance, and efficiency traits using a multicountry database. The second aim was to estimate genetic correlations within parities and stages of lactation for CH4. The third aim was to evaluate the expected response of economically important traits by including CH4 traits in the breeding goal. A total of 15,320 methane production (MeP, g/d) records from 2,990 cows belonging to 4 countries (Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and Denmark) were analyzed. Records on dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW), body condition score, and milk yield (MY) were also available. Additional traits such as methane yield (MeY; g/kg DMI), methane intensity (MeI; g/kg energy-corrected milk), a genetic standardized methane production, and 3 definitions of residual methane production (g/d), residual feed intake, metabolic BW (MBW), BW change, and energy-corrected milk were calculated. The estimated heritability of MeP was 0.21, whereas heritability estimates for MeY and MeI were 0.30 and 0.38, and for the residual methane traits heritability ranged from 0.13 to 0.16. Genetic correlations between different methane traits were moderate to high (0.41 to 0.97). Genetic correlations between MeP and economically important traits ranged from 0.29 (MY) to 0.65 (BW and MBW), being 0.41 for DMI. Selection index calculations showed that residual methane had the most potential for inclusion in the breeding goal when compared with MeP, MeY, and MeI, as residual methane allows for selection of low methane emitting animals without compromising other economically important traits. Inclusion of residual feed intake in the breeding goal could further reduce methane, as the correlation with residual methane is moderate and elicits a favorable correlated response. Adding a negative economic value for methane could facilitate a substantial reduction in methane emissions while maintaining an increase in milk production.

Objective: This study explored the mechanism of the Kelch-like erythroid cell-derived protein with CNC homology-associated protein 1 (Keap1)–nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway under conditions of zearalenone (ZEA)-induced oxidative stress in the duodenum of post-weaning gilts. Methods: Forty post-weaning gilts were randomly allocated to four groups and fed diets supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mg/kg ZEA. Results: The results showed significant reductions in the activity of the antioxidant enzymes total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and increases the malondialdehyde content with increasing concentrations of dietary ZEA. Immunohistochemical analysis supported these findings by showing a significantly increased expression of Nrf2 and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) with increasing concentrations of ZEA. The relative mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2, GPX1 increased linearly (p

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of replacing cassava chips with broken rice in a fermented total mixed ration diet on silage quality, feed intake, ruminal fermentation, growth performance, and carcass characteristics in the final phase of fattening beef cattle. Methods: Eighteen Charolais-Thai native crossbred steers (average initial body weight: 609.4±46 kg; average age 31.6 mo) were subjected to three ad libitum dietary regimes and were maintained in individual pens for 90 d before slaughter. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design by initial age and body weight with six replicates. The dietary regimens used different proportions of broken rice (0%, 16%, and 32% [w/w] of dry matter [DM]) instead of cassava chips in a fermented total mixed ration. All dietary treatments were evaluated for in vitro gas production and tested in in vivo feeding trials. Results: The in vitro experiments indicated that organic matter from broken rice was significantly more digestible than that from a cassava-based diet (p0.05). However, the marbling score increased, and the carcass characteristics improved with broken rice. Conclusion: Substitution of cassava chips with broken rice in beef cattle diets may improve fattened beef carcass quality because broken rice increases rumen fermentation, fatty acid biosynthesis, and metabolic energy supply.

Background Many researches about in ovo feeding (IOF) of vitamin C (VC) are gradually carried out to explore physiological development in chicken, but little studies focus on VC synthesis capacity of the embryo itself, the selection of injection site and the effectiveness of IOF of VC. This study aims to explore the above problems. Results Kidney and yolk sac were the main organs for VC synthesis and L-gulonolactone oxidase (GLO) expression was lower during pre-hatch development than that during post-hatch development. Sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 1 (SVCT1) expression was increased continuously in yolk sac from embryonic age 19 (E19) to post-hatch day 1 (D1) and in intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) from E17 to D1. Plasma VC content was higher at D1 than that at D21 and D42. IOF of VC significantly reduced GLO expression in liver, kidney and yolk sac as well as SVCT1 expression in duodenum, jejunum and ileum, but increased the VC content in plasma, brain, kidney and liver. In addition, IOF of VC obviously reduced the embryonic morality and increased the hatchability under heat stress. Conclusions This study suggested that IOF of VC at E11 in yolk was effective for embryonic VC supplementation. These findings provide a theoretical reference about the method of embryonic VC supplementation and effective methodology on embryonic VC nutrition in broiler chickens.

The objective of the study was to develop a static empirical model for the estimation of net energy content of compound feeds in a dynamic feeding system using net energy for lactation at 20 kg of dry matter intake/d (NEL20) values calculated by the Nordic Feed Evaluation System (NorFor) model. In the NorFor system, NEL20 is a standardized value used to describe net energy content of feeds. The static model would allow prediction of the net energy value of compound feeds without access to the input data needed for the dynamic models. Our hypothesis was that NEL20 values of compound feeds can be predicted using organic matter digestibility (in vitro) and chemical components of the compound feeds as input variables. For this, 75 compound feeds and their 108 associated ingredients were collected across Scandinavia for model development. The proposed best model for prediction of compound feed NEL20 included crude fat, neutral detergent fiber, digestible organic matter measured in vitro, and crude protein (urea corrected) as independent variables. Lack of additivity of chemical components between values analyzed directly in the compound feed and values calculated by the weighted sum of ingredients was detected as the main source of error in the model, emphasizing the importance of accurate chemical analysis and sampling practices. Results from practical use of the model show that it may be a valuable tool that could be used by several actors in the feeding sector using the NorFor system. Feed manufacturers could use it to monitor the net energy content in their final product, and farmers could use it to check the net energy content of the purchased compound feed. However, validation of this model against an independent set of samples is lacking in this study and its prediction performance should be further evaluated. The model will need recalibration if the feed parameters used in the dynamic model for the estimation of reference values change, as this would not be reflected in the predicted values of the created model.

Management of fractures in the field starts with successful assessment and stabilization of the patient by the practitioner on the front lines. A careful examination is vital to succesful patient management. This includes identifying the fracture location and severity, evaluating skin integrity and potential contamination of the fracture, and treating any ongoing hemorrhage, hypovolemia or stress. Appropriate application of splints in the field will minimize ongoing tissue damage and improve patient comfort. This ultimately aids further assessment, facilitates referral, and improves opportunities for successful fracture repair.

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of including a molasses-based liquid feed on sorting of a mixed diet of starter and hay, and to compare the nutrient composition of the ration consumed by calves offered hay and starter according to different feed presentations. Holstein bull and heifer calves were exposed for the first 8 wk of life to 1 of 3 feed presentation treatments: (1) starter and hay provided in separate buckets (n = 15), (2) a mixed diet of 80% starter and 20% hay (n = 16), or (3) a mixed diet containing the same ratio of starter and hay, with inclusion of 10% (as-is basis) liquid molasses (n = 14). Calves received 8 L/d of pasteurized waste milk and were weaned over a 10-d period beginning at 42 d of age. Intake was recorded daily and calves were weighed weekly. Fresh and refused feed were sampled on 3 consecutive days during wk 4 and 6 of the preweaning period and wk 8 immediately postweaning. Sorting was assessed through nutrient analysis of the feed samples, with additional sorting indices reflective of sorting for starter and hay components calculated based on weighted averages of individual nutrient intakes as a percent of predicated intakes. Dry matter intake and average daily gain did not differ among treatments. During the preweaning period, addition of molasses to the mixed diet did not affect the extent of feed sorting, with calves provided both mixed diets sorting, on average, in favor of starter and against hay. Postweaning, addition of molasses tended to reduce the extent of feed sorting, although calves on both treatments persisted in sorting for starter and against hay. Across treatments, there was an association between the pre- and postweaning extent of feed sorting, suggesting a degree of individual consistency in sorting behavior. Calves provided starter and hay separately consumed a diet consisting of approximately 18 to 19% hay preweaning and 14% hay postweaning, and generally had greater fiber intake and lower intake of nonfiber carbohydrates compared with calves provided a mixed diet. These results indicate that addition of molasses slightly reduced sorting during the postweaning period only. On average, calves provided both mixed diets sorted their feed in favor of starter and against hay, which mirrored dietary selection exhibited by calves offered hay and starter separately.

In batch spawning fish, secondary growth oocytes (SGO) are recruited and spawned in successive cohorts, and multiple cohorts co-occur in spawning-capable females. So far, histological features such as the prevalence of cortical alveoli or yolk granules are conservatively used to distinguish oocytes in different developmental stages which do not necessarily correspond to different cohorts. In this way, valuable information about spawning dynamics remains unseen and consequently misleading conclusions might be drawn, especially for species with high spawning rates and increased overlapping among oocyte cohorts. We introduce a new method for grouping oocytes into different cohorts based on the application of the K-means clustering algorithm on the characteristics of cytoplasmic structures, such as the varying size and intensity of cortical alveoli and yolk granules in oocytes of different development. The method allowed the grouping of oocytes without the need of using oocyte diameter, and thus, a crucial histological bias dealing with the cutting angle and the orientation of reference points (e.g. nucleus) has been overcome. Using sardine, Sardina pilchardus, as a case study, the separation of cohorts provided new insight into the ovarian dynamics, indentifying successive recruitment of up to five oocyte cohorts between SGO recruitment and spawning. These results verified previous histological indications of the number of cohorts in sardine. Altogether, this method represents an improved tool to study species with complex ovarian dynamics.