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The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of dietary nutrients on oral stereotypies and redirected behaviors among horse working groups. A cross-sectional study was designed with a total of 207 horses from 7 established equestrian facilities consisting of leisure, equestrian, patrolling, and endurance working groups to determine the proportion of oral abnormal behaviors within the same horse working group. The abnormal behaviors were either categorized as stereotypic: sham chewing, licking, lip-smacking, tongue-rolling, and crib-biting, or redirected behaviors: bedding eating, and coprophagy. Information on feeding practices and feedstuffs were collected to determine the nutritional composition and the total daily dietary intake of horses from each working group. Binary logistic regression models were built to predict the likelihood of oral stereotypy and redirected behaviors based on the daily dry matter (DM) intake, macronutrient intake, and digestible energy (DE). Endurance horses demonstrated the highest number of abnormal behaviors, followed by patrolling, leisure, polo, and equestrian working groups. Sham chewing and bedding eating were the most common oral stereotypy and redirected behaviors, respectively. Although meeting their standard energy requirements, the total dietary intakes varied significantly among working groups. The total daily dietary intake of endurance and polo horses contained the highest amount of DM, crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), nitrogen-free extract, ash, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and DE compared to other horse working groups. Furthermore, CP and EE intakes were negatively associated with the likelihood of sham chewing. DM, CP, CF, EE, and DE were the significant predictors of bedding eating and coprophagy. These findings revealed that total daily dietary intake plays a vital role in the development of abnormal oral behavior in horses from different working groups.

This review focuses on associations of cortisol and the hormone ghrelin on abnormal oral behaviors, predominantly stereotypic behavior, in horses. Abnormal oral behaviors are prevalent in the stabled horse population. Feeding practice and satiety seem to play a significant role in the development of the behaviors. The effect of macronutrients on the occurrence of abnormal oral behaviors and satiety remains to be elucidated in horses. Ghrelin, known as the hunger hormone, is produced by the ghrelinergic cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Ghrelin is found to be involved in various physiological processes such as stress, eating disorders, and food selection. Feed preference in horses is chiefly controlled by their ability to distinguish macronutrients in the food, so the novel approach of the use of ghrelin to tackle the problem in the abnormal oral behaviors may provide promising findings in future research of the occurrence and management of equine stereotypies.

The high prevalence of abnormal oral behavior (AOB) in working horses has been linked to management issues and the pathophysiology of this behavior remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the blood profile, hormones, and telomere length responses between low and high levels of AOB among different horse working groups. A total of 207 healthy horses from various breeds were initially selected from four working groups (leisure riding, equestrian, endurance, and patrolling) and observed for the time spent on AOB. Then, six horses each with higher and lower AOB than the population means were randomly selected from each of the working groups and categorized as high and low AOB horses, respectively. Blood samples were collected for hematology, biochemistry, cortisol, ghrelin, leptin, and relative telomere length analyzes. High AOB horses notably had higher values of glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and creatine kinase (CK) compared to low AOB horses. High AOB horses also recorded higher plasma cortisol and ghrelin, but lower leptin concentrations. Among working groups, both endurance and patrolling horses presented the highest values in sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphate, ALT, and CK. While patrolling horses had the lowest levels of urea, ALP, and albumin levels, equestrian and leisure horses recorded the highest and lowest plasma cortisol and leptin concentrations, respectively. Finally, the telomere length of endurance and patrolling horses were significantly greater than leisure and equestrian horses. The present findings suggest that AOB horses had distinctive physiological characteristics that could be linked to improper diet and a demanding workload, while ghrelin and leptin hormones could be potential biomarkers for this behavior.

This study aims to study the effect of Yucca shidigera as a phytobiotic supplementation in enhancing the production performance of commercial broilers reared under tropical environments. A total of 300 male day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated into six treatment groups. Treatment 1 broilers were fed with commercial diets without antibiotics. Treatment 2 broilers were fed with commercial diets added with 100 mg/kg oxytetracycline antibiotic. Treatment 3, 4, 5, and 6 were fed with the same commercial diets added with 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg Y. shidigera, respectively, without antibiotic. Throughout the six weeks study period, body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly for each replicate to calculate the body weight gain and feed conversion ratio. In addition, the nutrient digestibility, gut histomorphology, cecal microflora population, carcass characteristics, and meat quality were determined. The results showed significant differences (p &lt, 0.05) in the growth performance, apparent ileal nutrient digestibility, gut histomorphology, carcass traits, and meat quality. Overall, T6 broilers supplemented with 100 mg/kg Y. shidigera demonstrated the best production performances as compared to the other treatment broilers. In summary, information from this study will be valuable for the usability of Y. schidigera, which could be developed as a feed additive to replace antibiotics in the poultry sector in the tropics.

Fast-growing broilers faced with various leg health problems are in crucial need of an adequate nutritional supply of both calcium and phosphorus. The aim of the current work was to study the effect of different level of monocalcium phosphate supplementation on the health performance, haematology, and biochemistry changes of commercial broiler chickens. A total of 108 broiler birds (Cobb 500) were randomly divided into three treatment groups with six replicates consisting of six birds per replicates. Treatment 1 (control) was fed with available commercial starter and finisher diets containing dicalcium phosphate. Treatments 2 and 3 were fed with the same commercial diets but supplemented with 0.5% and 1.0% of monocalcium phosphate respectively. Throughout the 42 days of feeding trial, broilers from each treatment group were observed and recorded daily for any abnormal signs of leg disorders. Six broilers were randomly selected on days 21 and 42 from each treatment group where blood samples were collected via the brachial vein into anticoagulant (EDTA) and plain blood tubes for haematology and biochemistry analysis. Leg weakness, lameness, recumbency, and splay legs were the main findings observed in broiler demonstrating leg problems. The total broiler culled because of leg problem was relatively highest in T3 (4 broilers), followed by T1 (2 broilers), and T2 (none). There were significant differences (P ˂ 0.05) in the WBC, total protein, albumin, globulin, and alkaline phosphatase on day 21. Only WBC and alkaline phosphatase exhibited significant differences (P ˂ 0.05) between groups on day 42. Broilers supplemented with 0.5% MCP (T2) revealed the highest significant values compared to the other treatment groups for both starter and finisher phases. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the other parameters. In summary, 0.5% monocalcium phosphate was recommended as supplementation through this study; as it improves the overall health performances of the commercial broiler chickens.

The newly discovered Trio high-fecundity allele produces multiple ovulations in cattle. This study evaluated (1) size and growth rates of follicles in Trio carriers during a synchronized follicular wave, induced by follicle aspiration; (2) follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) patterns associated with the follicular wave; (3) size of corpora lutea (CL) and circulating progesterone; and (4) intrafollicular estradiol concentrations prior to normal deviation. Trio carriers had mean dominant follicles that were significantly smaller in diameter and volume than noncarriers. Onset of diameter deviation occurred at ∼3 days after the last follicle aspiration in both genotypes despite Trio carriers having much smaller individual follicles. Follicles of Trio carriers grew at a slower rate than noncarrier follicles (∼65% in mm/day or ∼30% in mm3/day) resulting in much smaller individual dominant follicles (∼25% volume). However, total dominant follicle volume, calculated as the sum of all dominant follicles in each animal, was similar in carriers and noncarriers of Trio throughout the entire follicular wave. Circulating FSH was greater in Trio carriers during the 24 h encompassing deviation. Trio carriers had significantly more ovulations than noncarriers, and individual CL volume was smaller, although total luteal tissue volume and circulating P4 were not different. Thus, increased ovulation rate in Trio carriers relates to smaller individual follicles (one-third the volume) near the time of deviation due to slower follicle growth rate, although time of deviation is similar, with increased circulating FSH near deviation leading to selection of multiple dominant follicles in Trio carriers with similar total follicle volume.

A major gene for bovine ovulation rate has been mapped to a 1.2 Mb region of chromosome 10. Screening of coding regions of positional candidate genes within this region failed to reveal a causative polymorphism, leading to the hypothesis that the phenotype results from differences in candidate gene expression rather than alteration of gene structure. This study tested differences in expression of positional candidate genes in granulosa cells between carriers and noncarriers of the high fecundity allele, as well as characterizing differences in the transcriptomic profile between genotypes. Five carriers and five noncarriers, female descendants of "Trio," a carrier of the high fecundity allele were initially used in an RNA-seq analysis of gene expression. Four of ten samples were contaminated with theca cells, so that six samples were used in the final analysis (three of each genotype). Of 14 973 genes expressed, 143 were differentially expressed (false discovery rate P < 0.05) in carriers versus noncarriers. Among the positional candidate genes, SMAD6 was 6.6-fold overexpressed in the carriers compared to noncarriers (P < 5 × 10-5). This result was replicated in an independent group of 12 females (7 carriers and 5 noncarriers) using quantitative real-time PCR; SMAD6 was 9.3-fold overexpressed in carriers versus noncarriers (P = 1.17 × 10-6). Association of overexpression of SMAD6, an inhibitor of the BMP/SMAD signaling pathway, with high ovulation rate corresponds well with disabling mutations in ligands (BMP15 and GDF9) and a receptor (BMPR1B) of this pathway that cause increased ovulation rate in sheep.

This study was conducted to characterise differences in follicular fluid proteins between carriers and non-carriers of a bovine allele for high ovulation rate. A total of four non-carrier and five carrier females were used in an initial study with four and six additional non-carriers and carriers respectively used in a validation study. Emergence of the follicular wave was synchronised and the ovaries containing the dominant follicle(s) were extracted by ovariectomy for follicular fluid collection. A hexapeptide ligand library was used to overcome the masking effect of high-abundance proteins and to increase detection of low-abundance proteins in tandem mass spectrometry. After correcting for multiple comparisons, only two proteins, glia-derived nexin precursor (SERPINE2) and inhibin β B chain precursor (INHBB), were significantly differentially expressed (false-discovery rate

Paratuberculosis, or Johne's disease, is a chronic, granulomatous, gastrointestinal tract disease of cattle and other ruminants caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium, subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Control of Johne's disease is based on programs of testing and culling animals positive for infection with MAP while concurrently modifying management to reduce the likelihood of infection. The current study is motivated by the hypothesis that genetic variation in host susceptibility to MAP infection can be dissected and quantifiable associations with genetic markers identified. For this purpose, a case-control, genome-wide association study was conducted using US Holstein cattle phenotyped for MAP infection using a serum ELISA and/or fecal culture test. Cases included cows positive for either serum ELISA, fecal culture or both. Controls consisted of animals negative for the serum ELISA test or both serum ELISA and fecal culture when both were available. Controls were matched by herd and proximal birth date with cases. A total of 856 cows (451 cases and 405 controls) were used in initial discovery analyses, and an additional 263 cows (159 cases and 104 controls) from the same herds were used as a validation data set. Data were analyzed in a single marker analysis controlling for relatedness of individuals (GRAMMAR-GC) and also in a Bayesian analysis in which multiple marker effects were estimated simultaneously (GenSel). For the latter, effects of non-overlapping 1 Mb marker windows across the genome were estimated. Results from the two discovery analyses were generally concordant; however, discovery results were generally not well supported in analysis of the validation data set. A combined analysis of discovery and validation data sets provided strongest support for SNPs and 1 Mb windows on chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 7, 17 and 29. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (2010-65205-20442) United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (2007-35205-17884)