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This study was designed to evaluate the reproductive performances of Awassi ewes under different breeding conditions. This experiment was carried out at three sites: a ruminant research station (F1), a sheep breeder's field, a flock from the research station (private sector) (F2), and a flock from a sheep breeder (private sector) in Bardiya, west of Baquba/Diyala Governorate (F3) between 1/7/2019 and 1/5/2020. Each flock included 25 mature pluriparous ewes. The data including lambing rate, litter size at birth, percentage of twining, litter size at weaning, and ewes' and lambs' mortality rate, as well as the sterility percentage, were recorded at each location and compared between the flocks. The results revealed that the lambing rate was the highest in F1 (96%), while it was the lowest in F2 (84%) and the difference was significant (P≤0.05). There were non-significant differences in lambing rates between F2 and F3. Litter size at lambing in F1 was significantly (P≤0.05) higher than that recorded in F2 and F3, where the litter sizes were 1.26, 1.10, and 1.15 births/ewe per flock in F1, F2, and F3 respectively. Similarly, the twining rate in F1 was significantly higher than that recorded in F2 and F3. There were non-significant differences in the twining rate between F2 and F3. The percentage of twins in the F1, F2, and F3 were 26.31%, 10.52%, and 15.78% respectively. The lambing rate in F1 was significantly (P≤0.01) higher than that recorded in F2 and F3. There were non-significant differences in the litter size at weaning between F1 and F3 (1.05, 1.00, respectively), while both had litter sizes at weaning were larger than F2 (P≤0.05, 0.89). The percentage of lambs' mortality was non-significant among the included flocks. There were significant differences (P≤0.05) in the ewes' mortality between the F and F3, with the lowest lamb mortality recorded in F3 (13.63%). It can be concluded that reproductive performance in Awassi ewes is highly dependent on flocks' breeding condition and that must be optimal to improve the reproductive performance in this breed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male and female birds have different roles in reproduction and, thereby in their reproductive investment, which in turn may increase negative effects of poorer breeding conditions caused by e.g., climate change or ecosystem regime shifts. By using a 33‐year time series of resightings of Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica individually colour‐ringed as breeders in previous years, we showed that the difference in colony attendance of male and female birds depended on the environmental conditions for raising young, proxied by the average duration of the chick period and size of the herring Clupea harengus fed to the chicks in the colony each year. The longer the chick period, the more was the sex ratio of adults sitting visibly in the colony biased in favour of males. An increase in herring size, indicating better feeding conditions for raising chicks, led to more observations of both sexes. Additionally, we found that birds were observed less with age and females more so than males. We discuss the results in relation to general life‐history theory on sexual differences in trade‐offs between individual investment in breeding and own survival. Our results suggest that females are increasingly more willing than males to invest in provisioning for the chick the more and longer the chick needs such care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Male and female birds have different roles in reproduction and, thereby in their reproductive investment, which in turn may increase negative effects of poorer breeding conditions caused by e.g., climate change or ecosystem regime shifts. By using a 33‐year time series of resightings of Atlantic puffins Fratercula arctica individually colour‐ringed as breeders in previous years, we showed that the difference in colony attendance of male and female birds depended on the environmental conditions for raising young, proxied by the average duration of the chick period and size of the herring Clupea harengus fed to the chicks in the colony each year. The longer the chick period, the more was the sex ratio of adults sitting visibly in the colony biased in favour of males. An increase in herring size, indicating better feeding conditions for raising chicks, led to more observations of both sexes. Additionally, we found that birds were observed less with age and females more so than males. We discuss the results in relation to general life‐history theory on sexual differences in trade‐offs between individual investment in breeding and own survival. Our results suggest that females are increasingly more willing than males to invest in provisioning for the chick the more and longer the chick needs such care.

Background. Life history theory predicts trade-offs between reproduction and survival in species like the northern gannet (Morus bassanus). During breeding, demanding foraging conditions lead them to expand their foraging range and diversify their diet, increasing the risk of reproductive failure. Changing partners may enhance breeding success but lead to more physiological costs. Methods. To investigate the physiological costs of reproduction upon partner changes, we measured and compared 21 biomarkers related to telomere dynamics, oxidative stress, inflammation, hematology, nutritional status, and muscle damage. We used a longitudinal approach with gannets (nD38) over three contrasting years (2017, 2018 and 2019). Results. Our results suggest that annual breeding conditions exert a greater influence on physiological changes than partnership status. Individuals that changed partner experienced greater short-term stress than retained partners. This transient increase in stress was marked by short-term increases in oxidative lipid damage, lower antioxidant capacity, signs of inflammation, and greater weight loss than individuals that retained partners. During favorable conditions, individuals that changed mates had stabilized telomere length, decreased antioxidant capacity, glucose concentration, and muscle damage, along with increased oxygen transport capacity. Conversely, unfavorable breeding conditions led to increased telomere attrition, stabilized antioxidant capacity, decreased inflammation susceptibility, diminished oxygen transport capacity, and increased muscle damage. In the cases where partners were retained, distinct physiological changes were observed depending on the year's conditions, yet the telomere dynamics remained consistent across both partnership status categories. During the favorable year, there was an increase in unsaturated fatty acids and oxygen transport capacity in the blood, coupled with a reduction in inflammation potential and protein catabolism. In contrast, during the unfavorable year in the retained mates, we observed an increase in oxidative DNA damage, antioxidant capacity, weight loss, but a decrease in inflammation susceptibility as observed in changed mates. Discussion. Our study shows that behavioral flexibility such as mate switching can help seabirds cope with the challenges of food scarcity during reproduction, but these coping strategies may have a negative impact on physiological status at the individual level. In addition, the marked reduction in telomere length observed during harsh conditions, coupled with the stabilization of telomere length in favorable conditions, highlights the long-term physiological impact of annual breeding conditions on seabirds. These findings underscore the effect on their potential survival and fitness, emphasizing that the influence of annual breeding conditions is greater than that of partnership status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. Polymorphism is the result of evolutionary processes and is inherited, associated with biodiversity and modified by natural selection and functions to preserve various forms of population. It is economically advantageous to find genes that can be used in breeding in such a way as to increase the fertility of animals in different natural geographical zones, since the adaptive abilities of organisms are complicated. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to study the genetic potential of sheep of different breeds bred in various ecological and geographical regions of the North Caucasus with pasture-pasture and pasture-stall conditions of sheep breeding.Material and Methods. Genotyping was undertaken of sheep of different breeds contained in various natural and climatic zones of the Republic of Dagestan and the most arid region of Stavropol Territory in the zone of risky agriculture where the climate is sharply continental. Genotyping in the loci of the genes of differential growth factor (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP15) was carried out by PCR-PDRF (polymorphism of the lengths of restriction fragments) by cutting DNA using endonuclease restriction and further analysis of the size of the resulting PCR fragments. The genetic structure of genes has been studied by methods of genetic and statistical analysis of the data obtained.Conclusion. The genetic structure of sheep populations of different breeds bred in the foothills of the Republic of Dagestan and the arid region of Stavropol Territory was studied for the first time. Information obtained on the role of the degree of genetic variability of sheep of different breeds provides data which can contribute to the ecological well-being of herds and the status characterising the signs of multiple birth rates is also determined. This will further improve and significantly accelerate breeding work with livestock, since an important task of further increasing the efficiency of the industry is the reproduction of the herd together with a simultaneous increase in the productivity of animals.

Aim. One of the important tasks in solving the problem of improving the efficiency of sheep breeding is the rational use of fodder lands in the North Caucasus and the South of Russia, a significant part of which is located in different natural and climatic conditions. The complexity of solutions lies in insufficient knowledge of the mechanisms of adaptation of farm animals, in particular sheep, to the ecological and geographical features of these regions. The purpose of this research was to study the genetic polymorphism of genes, the degree of genetic variability and immune status in sheep of different breeds, since genetic polymorphism is a measure of its adaptability and the hematopoietic function of blood is the basis of the life of the organism.Material and Methods. The genetic structure of the GH/Hae III, GDF9/AsplEI genes and immune status, was studied by the methods of genetic‐statistical and immune analysis in sheep of different breeds kept in different climatic zones of Dagestan and the Krasnodar Territory.Results. As a result of DNA genotyping of the studied samples of sheep of different breeds, it was found that polymorphism of GH/HaeIII, GDF9/AsplEI genes is represented by three genotype variants: homozygous GH/HaeIIIАА, GH/HaeIIIВВ; GDF9/AsplEIАА, GDF9/AsplEIGG; heterozygous GH/HaeIIIAB; GDF9/AsplEIAG and two alleles: A and B – of the GH/HaeIII gene; A and G – GDF9/AsplEI gene with different frequency of occurrence, respectively.Conclusion. For the first time, genetic variability has been studied in the context of the immune status of sheep populations of different breeds bred in the foothills of the Republic of Dagestan and Krasnodar Territory. The information obtained about the role of the degree of genetic variability and the immune status of sheep of different breeds is answered in the formation of adaptive‐compensatory mechanisms to specific conditions of the breeding environment. A deeper study of the adaptive characteristics of sheep of different breeds for their further improvement allows the use of molecular genetic and hematological methods.

The aim this work was to of relation between milk production and somatic cells count in Slovak Simmental dairy cows by different breeding conditions in the period 2010 to 2014. Data were analysed using the SAS version 9.3 (TS1M2) and linear model with fixed effects of herd, years and months controls. The results of somatic cells count during the years 2010 and 2014 were as follows: the highest number of samples was analysed during 2014 (n = 49,974), where the average count was 163.50*103.ml-1. The lowest average value of somatic cells count was in 2010 in amount 178.90*103.ml-1 (n = 42,489). The analyses by the effect on somatic cells count was the highest effect of herd-years-season of control R2 = 0.033970 than effect of herd R2 = 0.011951. These effects were high statistical significant P

Aim. The rational use of North Caucasus forage lands, a large part of which is located in the mountains, is one of the important tasks in addressing the issue of improving the efficiency of cattle breeding. This appears quite challenging, as the mechanisms of adaptation of farm animals, in particular cattle, to the environmental and climatic peculiarities of a certain region have not been sufficiently explored. Since hematopoietic function of blood is the basis of organism’s vital functions and genetic polymorphism is the measure of its adaptability, the present study is aimed at examining haematological profile and the degree of genetic variation in the Brown Caucasian cattle.Materials and Methods. Haematological, genetic and statistical methods of analysis were used to examine the haematological profile and genetic structure of genes GH, PIT‐1, PRL in Brown Caucasian dairy cattle, bred in different ecological and climatic zones of Dagestan.Conclusion. This was the first time that hematopoietic function was studied in the context of genetic variation in Brown Caucasian dairy cattle bred in the foothills (100‐200 m above sea level) and mountains (650‐1,250 m above sea level). The information obtained gives an idea of and an answer to the question about the role of haematological profile and the degree of genetic variation in the development of adaptive and compensatory mechanisms to specific environmental conditions. The use of haematological, molecular and genetic methods allows the further exploration of the adaptation traits of Brown Caucasian dairy cattle for their further improvement.

The aim this work was to of relation between milk production and somatic cells count in Slovak Simmental dairy cows by different breeding conditions in the period 2010 to 2014. Data were analysed using the SAS version 9.3 (TS1M2) and linear model with fixed effects of herd, years and months controls. The results of somatic cells count during the years 2010 and 2014 were as follows: the highest number of samples was analysed during 2014 (n = 49,974), where the average count was 163.50☆103.ml-1. The lowest average value of somatic cells count was in 2010 in amount 178.90☆103.ml-1 (n = 42,489). The analyses by the effect on somatic cells count was the highest effect of herd-years-season of control R2 = 0.033970 than effect of herd R2 = 0.011951. These effects were high statistical significant P<0.001. Correlation coefficients between milk in kg, fat, protein in % with somatic cells count were r= -0.09878, r= 0.05457and r= 0.09674. These coefficients were high statistical significant P<0.001. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female birds may adjust their offspring phenotype to the specific requirements of the environment by differential allocation of physiologically active substances into yolks, such as androgens. Yolk androgens have been shown to accelerate embryonic development, growth rate and competitive ability of nestlings, but they can also entail immunological costs. The balance between costs and benefits of androgen allocation is expected to depend on nestling environment. We tested this hypothesis in a multibrooded passerine, the spotless starling, Sturnus unicolor. We experimentally manipulated yolk androgen levels using a between-brood design and evaluated its effects on nestling development, survival and immune function. Both in first and replacement broods, the embryonic development period was shorter for androgen-treated chicks than controls, but there were no differences in second broods. In replacement broods, androgen-treated chicks were heavier and larger than those hatched from control eggs, but this effect was not observed in the other breeding attempts. Androgen exposure reduced survival with respect to controls only in second broods. Regarding immune function, we detected nonsignificant trends for androgen treatment to activate two important components of innate and adaptive immunity ( IL-6 and Ig-A levels, respectively). Similarly, androgen-treated chicks showed greater lymphocyte proliferation than controls in the first brood and an opposite trend in the second brood. Our results indicate that yolk androgen effects on nestling development and immunity depend on the environmental conditions of each breeding attempt. Variation in maternal androgen allocation to eggs could be explained as the result of context-dependent optimal strategies to maximize offspring fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six populations de carpe commune (Cyprinus carpid) ont été comparées sur la base de quatre critères : morphologie, génétique, rendement de transformation et aspect des filets. Les provenances géographiques des différents lots étudiés correspondent aux principales régions de production piscicole françaises : Dombes, Forez, Brenne, Allier, Lorraine et Poitou-Charentes. Une discrimination géographique des populations est possible mais elle repose sur une approche globale intégrant l'ensemble des paramètres. Les différences semblent essentiellement liées aux conditions environnementales et permettent de distinguer les lots issus des régions où l'élevage est plus intensif et traditionnellement centré sur la carpe (Dombes, Forez, Lorraine) et les lots correspondant à un élevage plus extensif et davantage orienté vers le marché du repeuplement (Allier, Brenne, Poitou-Charentes).

Physiological constraints on colouration have been widely reported; especially in birds, which trade-off antioxidant responses against colourful costly signals. One female extended phenotypic trait, which might also highlight important physiological trade-offs, is the pigmentation of their eggshells. In ground-nesting species, producing eggs that are visually undetectable by predators is the best camouflage strategy. However, the condition-dependence of eggshell pigmentation, and the pigments role in oxidative stress, may constrain females to trade-off between their antioxidant capacity and maximising the camouflage of their eggs when they deposit eggshell pigments. Developmental stress is one factor that influences female antioxidant capacity, and could lead to variations in eggshell pigmentation that might have crucial consequences on individual fitness if egg crypsis is compromised especially under stressful conditions. We investigated the interaction between developmental and breeding conditions with respect to eggshell pigmentation in Japanese quail. We studied 30 females that bred under both control and stressful conditions, and were exposed to pre- and/or post-natal stress, or neither. Pre- and post-natal stress independently influenced eggshell pigmentation strategies under stressful breeding conditions. Under stressful reproduction, eggshell protoporphyrin concentration and maculation were affected by pre-natal stress, whereas eggshell reflectance and biliverdin concentration were influenced by post-natal stress. These changes may reflect potential adaptive strategies shaped by developmental stress, but additional data on the benefit of egg crypsis in quail, combined with studies on the role of both pigments on chick survival, will help to clarify whether early life stress can enhance fitness through eggshell pigmentation when developmental and reproductive environments match. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public and consumer pressure for assurances that farm animals are bred humanely has led to develop a range of methods to assess compliance with welfare standards. On-farm assessment of animal welfare requires a combination of animal-based measures to assess the actual state of welfare and resource-based measures to identify risk factors by giving advantage to the non-invasive methods like monitoring of animal behavior. Changes in behavior can be good indicators of animal health status, and both are related to the animals' breading conditions. For farmers and professionals is very important to know how to distinguish normal from abnormal behavior and to recognize signs of pain and suffering in animals. Beside improvement of breeding conditions and welfare of animals, identifying of changes in cattle behavior allows prompt reaction in occurrence of certain diseases and provides conditions for safe and efficient work. In the article some of the common changes in cattle behavior caused by uncomfortable environment and associated with certain health problems are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides information on the earliest breeding of typical and arctic foxes in Russia under captive conditions. The role of behavior in the early domestication of fur animals is considered. The role of fur farming in reclaiming processed meat and fish product waste under modern conditions is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]