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Background: Our hypothesis centred on the potential to mitigate ascites outbreaks in birds exposed to cold stress by inhibiting pulmonary artery contraction through dietary intervention. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of natural and synthetic medications on growth performance, ascites‐related parameters and the expression of ascites‐related genes in the lung tissue of broiler chickens under low ambient temperature. Methods: We randomly assigned 450 one‐day‐old male Ross 308 chicks to six dietary treatments across five replicate pens, each containing 15 chicks. The treatments included a basal diet (control), and the basal diet was supplemented with hydroalcoholic extracts of sumac (HES, 200 mg/kg), Syrian mesquite (HEM, 200 mg/kg), l‐arginine (40% above requirement), captopril (15 mg/kg) and vitamin E (100 mg/kg). Results: Diets containing HEM, l‐arginine and vitamin E resulted in increased average daily gain on days 8–14 and 0–28, whereas HES showed a similar effect only during days 8–14 compared to the control diet (p < 0.05). Additionally, feed additives decreased packed cell volume, left and right ventricle volumes and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05). Moreover, chickens fed the control and l‐arginine diets exhibited higher levels of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) mRNA in lung tissue compared to those fed HES, HEM and captopril (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, supplementation with HEM and l‐arginine increased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in lung tissue compared to other treatments (p < 0.05). Regarding Cu/Zn‐superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn‐SOD) expression, feed additives increased mRNA level in lung tissue, except for captopril (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the plant extracts may reduce the incidence of ascites syndrome not only through their antioxidant properties but also by modulating the expression of ACE, iNOS and Cu/Zn‐SOD genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copy number variations (CNVs) are large‐scale changes in the DNA sequence that can affect the genetic structure and phenotype of an organism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the existing CNVs and their associations with the shank diameter (ShD) and shank length (ShL) traits using data from an F2 crossbred chicken population. To carry out the study, 312 chickens were genotyped using the Illumina 60k SNP Beadchip. The shank traits of the birds were measured from day 1 to 12 weeks of age. penncnv and cnvruler tools were used to find copy numbers and regions with copy number changes (CNVR), respectively. The CNVRanger package was used to perform a genome‐wide association study between shank traits and CNVs. Gene ontology research in CNVRs was carried out using the david database. In this investigation, 966 CNVs and 606 regions with copy number changes were discovered. The copy number states and variations were randomly distributed along the length of the autosomal chromosomes. Weeks 1–4, 9 and 12 of growth revealed a significant association of copy number variations with shank traits, false discovery rate (FDR‐corrected p‐value < 0.01), and the majority of CNVs that were statistically significant were found on chromosomes 1–3. These CNV segments are nearby genes such as KCNJ12, FGF6 and MYF5, which are fundamental to growth and development. In addition, gene set analyses revealed terms related to muscle physiology, regulation of cellular processes and potassium channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cryopreservation process induces alterations in cellular parameters and epigenetic patterns in bull sperm, which can be prevented by adding cryoprotectants in the freezing extenders. The purpose of this study was to compare the protective effects of two extenders based on soybean lecithin (SLE) and egg yolk (EYE) on epigenetic patterns and quality parameters of sperm such as motility parameters, mitochondrial membrane integrity, DNA fragmentation, viability, and apoptotic‐like changes of bull sperm after cryopreservation. Results demonstrated that cryopreservation significantly (p <.05) reduced the level of DNA global methylation, H3K9 histone acetylation, and H3K4 histone methylation in both frozen groups compared to the fresh sperm. Also, the level of H3K9 acetylation was lower in the frozen SLE group (21.2 ± 1.86) compared to EYE group (15.2 ± 1.86). In addition, the SLE frozen group had a higher percentage of viability, progressive motility, and linearity (LIN) in SLE frozen group compared to EYE frozen group. However, no difference was observed in mitochondrial membrane integrity and DNA fragmentation between SLE and EYE frozen groups. While soybean‐lecithin‐based extender showed some initial positive impacts of epigenetics and semen parameters, further investigations can provide useful information for better freezing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: As evaluation of carcass components is costly and time consuming, models for prediction of broiler carcass components are useful. Aims: The aim was to investigate the feasibility of machine learning methods in the prediction of carcass components from measurements on live birds during the rearing period. Methods: Three machine learning methods, including regression tree, random forest and gradient-boosting trees, were applied to predict carcass yields, and benchmarked against classical linear regression. Two scenarios were defined for prediction. In the first scenario, carcass yields were predicted by live bodyweight, shank length and shank diameter features, recorded at 2, 3 and 4 weeks of age. In the second scenario, predictor features recorded at 5, 6 and 7 weeks of age were used. The two scenarios were reanalysed by including effective single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with bodyweight, shank length and shank diameter as new predictor features. Key results: The correlation coefficient between predicted and observed values for predicting weight of carcass traits ranged from 0.50 for wing to 0.59 for thigh in the first scenario, and from 0.63 for wing to 0.74 for carcass in the second scenario. These predictions for the percentage of carcass components ranged from 0.30 for wing to 0.39 for carcass and breast in the first scenario, and from 0.34 for thigh to 0.43 for carcass in the second scenario when random forest was used. Conclusions: Predictive accuracy in the first scenario was lower than in the second scenario for all prediction methods. Including single-nucleotide polymorphisms as predictor features in either scenario did not increase the accuracy of the prediction. Implications: In general, random forest had the best performance among machine learning methods, and classical linear regression in two scenarios, suggesting that it may be considered as an alternative to conventional linear models for prediction of carcass traits in broiler chickens. Evaluation of carcass component yields is costly and time consuming, thus models for the prediction of broiler carcass yields are useful. Three advanced predictive models were applied to predict carcass component yields, and benchmarked against the classical linear regression. Random forest had the best performance among machine learning methods, suggesting that it may be considered as an alternative to conventional linear models for prediction of carcass yields in broiler chickens. In all of the predictive model tested in this study, inclusion of single-nucleotide polymorphisms as predictor features lowered the predictive performance of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress is a serious problem in the poultry industry. An effective tool for improving heat tolerance can be genomic selection based on single nucleotide polymorphisms. This study was performed to identify genomic regions controlling survivability to heat stress in a population of F2 chickens that accidentally experienced acute heat stress, using Illumina 60K Chicken SNP Bead Chip. After quality control in markers, 47,730 SNPs remained for genome‐wide association study (GWAS). The GWAS results indicated that markers Gga_rs16111480 (p = 8.503e‐08), GGaluGA354375 (p = 5.99e‐07) and Gga_rs14748694 (p = 7.085e‐07) located on Z chromosome showed significant association with heat stress tolerance trait. The Gga_rs16111480 marker was located inside the CEP78 gene. The marker GGaluGA354375 was located inside the LOC101752071 gene and next to the MEF2C gene. The Gga_rs14748694 marker was adjacent to LOC101752071 and MEF2C genes. Moreover, the SNP maker of Gga_rs16111480 was located on 243 kb downstream of the VPS13A gene, and the GGaluGA354375 and Gga_rs14748694 SNPs were located on 947 kb and 888 kb downstream of the ARRDC3 gene, respectively. The results of this study suggest that apart from the gene LOC101752071, which its function was unknown, each of the two MEF2C and CEP78 genes were found to be closely related to heat stress resistance in bird. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Animal breeds are often recognized through their specific characteristics, nevertheless, the breeds' anatomical and biochemical characteristics have not considered yet in many of the researches done on one-humped camels. There are some particular differences in camel breeds due to different climate conditions and rearing necessity OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to compare differences in anatomical and plasma biochemical parameters of two Iranian one-humped camels, the Jammaz (racing) and Balouchi (dual-purpose) breeds. METHODS: Anatomical parameters were body length (BL), neck length (NL), chest girth (CG), barrel girth (BG), hump circumference (HC), fore limb length (FLL), hind limb length (HLL), height at hump (HH), fore limbs interval (FLI), hind limbs interval (HLI), fore hoof circumference (FHC), hind hoof circumference (HHC), abdominal circumference (AC), shank circumference (SC) and leg circumference (LC). Moreover, concentrations of Glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, cholesterol, total bilirubin (Bili-T), direct bilirubin (Bili- D), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were measured as plasma biochemical parameters. Data analysis was conducted through t-test statistics. RESULTS: Results revealed significant differences between body type traits of breeds, especially in organs related to running ability, while the Jammaz breed has more height and longer limbs than the Balouchi breed. Some blood parameters (glucose, LDH, BUN, cortisol and T4) are considerably higher in Jammaz breed, too. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the current study suggest some anatomical (especially fore and hind limb lengths, neck length and body height at hump) and physiological characteristics (lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, cortisol, glucose and T4) of Iranian racing and dual purpose camels as breed markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of two plant extracts as alternatives to dietary antibiotics in broiler chickens exposed to low ambient temperature. A total of 300 one-day-old male broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (5 replicate pens; 15 broiler chickens each) which consisted of starter (d 0 to 10), and grower (d 10 to 28) diets. Dietary treatments included a basal diet (negative control, NC) and three similar diets that were either supplemented with 200 mg/kg of Prosopis farcta extract (PFE), Rhus coriaria L. extract (RCE) or an antibiotic premix containing oxytetracycline (positive control, PC). In order to simulate low ambient temperature, room temperature was maintained at 32°C during the first 3 d of the trial and afterwards, the temperature was gradually reduced by approximately 1.5°C each day to 14°C on d 21. PFE and PC treatments exerted a significant effect on body weight gain at d 28. Diet PFE was effective in reducing mortality when compared with diet NC (p < 0.05). Furthermore, diet PFE caused increases in ileal digestibility of gross energy, dry matter and organic matter when compared with diet NC (p < 0.05). Diets PFE and PC decreased coliforms, total aerobic bacteria and total anaerobic bacteria loads in the caeca when compared with diet NC (p < 0.05). Moreover, the addition of PFE to the diet improved villous height in all small intestinal segments as well as villous height:crypt depth ratio in the duodenum when compared with diet NC (p < 0.05). The results indicated that PFE is not only a valid alternative to oxytetracycline under cold stress conditions, with no antibiotic resistance, but also has the potential to increase the resistance of broiler chickens against ascites syndrome. Moreover, the addition of RCE at the concentration of 200 mg/kg to the diet was not sufficient to improve the performance of broiler chickens (similar to diet PC) but maybe more effective at higher concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copy number variations (CNVs) are large-scale changes in the DNA sequence that can affect the genetic structure and phenotype of an organism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the existing CNVs and their associations with the shank diameter (ShD) and shank length (ShL) traits using data from an F 2 crossbred chicken population. To carry out the study, 312 chickens were genotyped using the Illumina 60k SNP Beadchip. The shank traits of the birds were measured from day 1 to 12 weeks of age. penncnv and cnvruler tools were used to find copy numbers and regions with copy number changes (CNVR), respectively. The CNVRanger package was used to perform a genome-wide association study between shank traits and CNVs. Gene ontology research in CNVRs was carried out using the david database. In this investigation, 966 CNVs and 606 regions with copy number changes were discovered. The copy number states and variations were randomly distributed along the length of the autosomal chromosomes. Weeks 1-4, 9 and 12 of growth revealed a significant association of copy number variations with shank traits, false discovery rate (FDR-corrected p-value < 0.01), and the majority of CNVs that were statistically significant were found on chromosomes 1-3. These CNV segments are nearby genes such as KCNJ12, FGF6 and MYF5, which are fundamental to growth and development. In addition, gene set analyses revealed terms related to muscle physiology, regulation of cellular processes and potassium channels., (© 2024 Stichting International Foundation for Animal Genetics.)

The human-animal relationship and its benefits have been a popular issue in recent decades. This study focuses on the dog as a paradigmatic example of this complex bond. The relationship between human and dog evolved over thousands of years through the domestication process. During this period, climatic, cultural, geographical and social changes have had a direct impact on this bond. Dogs have a remarkable capacity to play a variety of roles that mirror the evolution of human societies. Subsequently, questions arise regarding the important and symbolic roles that canines played in ancient cultures, religions and mythological traditions. Specifically, how have these roles changed through history? This research aimed to explore the socio-economic aspects of the human-dog relationship, spanning from ancient civilizations to modern societies. Through a systematic search methodology, this investigation seeks to provide insights into the dynamics of the complex human-dog relationship, including historical backgrounds, socio-cultural dynamics, economic implications and associated challenges. Additionally, the present study addresses the environmental concerns that emerge alongside rising stray dog populations. This research emphasizes the importance of strategies to balance the benefits of this coexistence that promote human and animal welfare., (© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.

Growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) modulates many physiological processes by binding to its ligand, as well as transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGFB2) regulates cell growth and development in animals and, therefore, are candidate genes for performance in chickens. In the current study, single nucleotide polymorphisms of GHSR C3286 > T and TGFB2 T(-640) > C were genotyped in sire and dam lines of a broiler chicken to evaluate the association with the growth and body composition traits. Least squares means analysis showed that the GHSR C3286 > T SNP was significantly (P < 0.01) associated with growth (DFI and ADG) and body composition traits (AFW and %AFW). In addition, the TGFB2 T(-640) > C SNP was associated with ADG (P < 0.05) and DFI and body composition traits (DW, LBW, BAKWT, %BMW, %HNDWT and %CW) (P < 0.01). Significant associations of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the traits reported in the present study might be the distinct usage of codons in avian, or relating to an enhancer element and modulating the expression of the gene in chicken. The data indicated that these SNPs could be valuable genetic elements for selection of chickens for better performance in the population.