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Modern dairy farming faces the dual challenge of meeting global food demands while mitigating its environmental impact, particularly greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such as methane (CH₄), a potent contributor to climate change. This review explores the role of Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) technologies in monitoring and reducing CH₄ emissions from dairy cattle. We evaluate state-of-the-art methods, including direct monitoring (e.g. respiratory chambers, GreenFeed systems) and indirect approaches (e.g. infrared milk spectroscopy, AI-driven analytics), alongside mitigation strategies such as nutritional optimisation, genetic selection, and ruminal additives. PLF emerges as a transformative tool, integrating real-time data on animal health, feed efficiency, and environmental conditions to optimise management practices and reduce emissions per unit of milk produced. By synthesising current research, we highlight the potential of PLF to reconcile productivity with sustainability, offering scalable solutions for the dairy sector. Critical gaps in real-time CH₄ monitoring and farm-level implementation are identified, underscoring the need for further innovation. This review provides a roadmap for aligning dairy production with global climate goals while ensuring food security for the growing population.

Decision Support Systems (DSS) streamline dairy farm management by addressing challenges in productivity, animal welfare, sustainability, and economics. Yet, their precise impact on dairy cattle farm operations remains unclear. This scoping review systematically analyses DSS applications in dairy farming using studies from Scopus and Web of Science published between 2005 and June 2025, following PRISMA-ScR guidelines. From 1 112 identified records, 84 studies were included, after deduplication and screening, and classified into four mutually exclusive primary categories, namely data-, model- and knowledge-driven and other specialised DSS. The findings revealed that DSS complexity increased over time, with model-driven systems dominating (40.5%), followed by data- (38.1%) and knowledge-driven (15.5%) DSS, while other specialised systems accounted for the remaining 6.0%. Temporal multi-label analysis also highlighted trends towards integrated methodologies, with 20 DSS combining data- and model-driven approaches. DSS are mainly applied in Animal Health and Welfare (48% model- and 32% data-driven) and in Farm Business and Management (54.5% model- and 22.7% data-driven). Consequently, the top data inputs are Animal Health & Performance (28.0%), Farm & Business (22.4%), and Environmental & Spatial Data (21.3%). The most commonly applied models are Mathematical/Deterministic (22.7%) and Simulation (13.6%) models, increasingly alongside ML techniques. Key challenges include data integration, real-farm validation, model interpretability, bias reduction, and practical usability. Bridging these gaps will enhance DSS effectiveness and strengthen their potential to optimise dairy farming.

The increasing demand for natural alternatives to chemical preservatives and antibiotics has intensified interest in probiotic microorganisms with intrinsic antimicrobial properties. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, a well-characterised species within the family Lactobacillaceae, is widely recognised for its broad‑spectrum antibacterial activity and its long history of safe use in fermented foods. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of recent advances in the antimicrobial functionality of L. plantarum, covering its taxonomic classification, genomic features, and the diverse array of antimicrobial metabolites it produces, including bacteriocins, organic acids, hydrogen peroxide, lysozyme, siderophores, and short‑chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The mechanisms of action of these compounds, strain‑specific variability in antimicrobial efficacy, the role of biofilm formation, and synergistic interactions among different metabolites are discussed in detail. Key application domains, such as food preservation, medical therapy, and agricultural biocontrol, are critically evaluated. The primary objective of this review is to systematically consolidate current knowledge, identify core scientific questions and technical bottlenecks, and provide a theoretical foundation for the development of safe and effective natural antimicrobial agents based on L. plantarum. Furthermore, the review outlines strategies to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial implementation, thereby facilitating the translation of this probiotic into practical applications.

In the actual scenario of increasing demand of animal food and the need to develop sustainable production systems, rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and quail (Coturnix japonica) represent animal species of undeniable potential, profoundly linked to human’s eating habits in several parts of the World, yet not fully exploited. Given the remarkable adaptability of quail and rabbit to different farming contexts, they can be successfully farmed both in specialised and technologically advanced production systems targeting market diversification, as well as in such areas of the World where malnutrition is a severe issue and technological limitations are present. Together with the above-mentioned socio-cultural aspects, rabbit and quail possess intrinsic traits that make them meat species of interest to improve the sustainability of the livestock sector, challenge of utmost importance for present and future development strategies. Furthermore, available nutritional data indicate that quail and rabbit provide food (meat) that has the potential to improve the nutritional adequacy of any diet. It also emerged that about 130 g of rabbit and quail meat are sufficient to meet the daily dietary recommendations for essential amino acids provided by the World Health Organization. Despite the dietary quality of the meat obtained from these two animal species, the present review also unveils that, while the factors affecting meat quality have been extensively studied, little focus has been devoted on those specifically affecting the protein content and quality, thus emphasising that this is a key aspect for future researches.

This systematic review synthesises evidence from published articles investigating nutritional strategies to modulate heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). A total of 1 616 records were identified from four databases and snowballing. After screening and eligibility assessment, 25 studies comprising 29 reports published between 2004 and 2025 were included. The analysis shows that targeted interventions particularly antioxidants (vitamins C, E, and selenium), amino acids and their derivatives (methionine, betaine), and phytogenic compounds effectively downregulate HSP70 expression in a dose or tissue-dependent manner. This modulation is associated with improved growth performance, enhanced redox balance, and normalised stress hormone profiles. Key findings indicate that synergistic combinations outperform single additives in suppressing HSP70 and improving carcass yield under chronic heat stress (32–38 °C); the early-life nutrient delivery modulates HSP70 expression and influences post-hatch thermotolerance; and organic mineral or methionine hydroxy analogue are more effective than inorganic forms. However, efficacy varies by life stage, with most studies focused on Ross and Cobb genotypes, and is influenced by gut microbiota interactions. Major research gaps remain, including defining stage-specific optimal HSP70 thresholds, clarifying links between HSP70 modulation, immunity or gut health, understanding long-term effects of early-life nutritional programming, and determining the influence of administration routes on nutrient efficacy.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the dietary effect of condensed tannins (CT) from red quebracho (Schinopsis lorentzii) and broiler age on the physicochemical properties, mineral composition, and amino acid content in the meat of broilers challenged with Eimeria spp. Broilers were randomly assigned to four dietary groups: CT1 and CT2 received 10 and 20 g CT/kg, respectively; the control (C) group received a basal diet; and the R group received a basal diet with a coccidiostat. Meat quality indicators were assessed at 35 and 42 days of age. Supplementation with the higher CT level (2%) reduced carcass weight, particularly at 42 days (P < 0.05), and affected physical meat quality indicators, including cooking loss, pH, and shear force, although the relationships among individual indicators were not fully consistent. Broiler age significantly influenced most of the physical traits, with older birds showing higher cooking loss and shear force in breast meat and altered meat colour (P < 0.05). Both CT and age modified mineral composition, with significant differences in macro- and microelements depending on muscle type and fattening duration (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). CT supplementation consistently increased total essential (EAA) and non-essential amino acids (NEAA) in leg meat (P < 0.05), whereas in breast meat, a significant effect was observed only for NEAA in the CT1 group at 42 days of age. Extending fattening from 35 to 42 days did not affect total EAA or NEAA in either muscle (P > 0.05), although minor age-related differences were detected for several individual amino acids (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). Overall, dietary CT supplementation and broiler age significantly influenced meat quality, including mineral content, amino acid composition, and functional physical properties.

Bisphenols (BP) are pollutants that are globally and widely distributed and adversely affect the health of humans. However, knowledge of their presence in animals, especially farm animals such as pigs, remains limited. In this study, the incidence of bisphenol A (BPA) and its five analogues – bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol Z (BPZ) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) – was monitored in lactating sows on an actual pig farm. The urine samples of 27 sows were collected twice on the 3^rd day after parturition, and stored at –20 °C until analysis using MDGC/MS. None of the lactating sows produced bisphenol-free urine. In contrast, the urine of all sows contained at least two bisphenols (eight females), most often five (10 females) or all six bisphenols (five females). The average concentrations of bisphenols in urine were in the order of BPB > BPA and BPS > BPZ > BPAF > BPF. The most frequently detected bisphenol was BPB (96.0% of samples) followed by BPA (89.0%), BPAF (78.0%), BPS (63.0%), BPF (52.0%) and BPZ (37.0%). Additionally, the proportion of BPB in the total bisphenol concentration in urine samples was the highest (28.74 to 93.85%) while that of BPF was the lowest (2.33 to 16.70%). Estimated daily intakes of bisphenols as well as hazard quotients were much lower than risk thresholds established for the human population, indicating safe doses for the health status of lactating sows. However, these findings are limited as the mechanism of BPA analogue’ activity is still unclear, and the long-term effects of small doses of bisphenols and the potential harmful impact of BP mixtures are unknown. Knowledge of the occurrence of bisphenols in pig farming may contribute to the elimination of BPA and its analogues from this sector, which is crucial for the safety of animal products as well as the welfare of pigs.

In addition to their practical importance as a medicinal plant, animal feed and a source of materials for the textile and construction industry, industrial varieties of Cannabis sativa L. (hemp in a wider sense) provide an alternative for controlling infectious diseases in livestock. Despite the genetic divergence between two primary groups of cannabis, i.e. medicinal cannabis and technical hemp, hemp plants also produce a wide spectrum of secondary metabolites. These include the main classes of cannabinoids and terpenoids, as well as representatives of flavonoids, stilbenoids, steroids, alkaloids, spiroindans, dihydrophenanthrenes, and lignanamides. Many of them exhibit antibiotic activity which can substitute or complement the use of traditional antibiotics in animal husbandry. For example, the cannabinoid fraction exhibits activity against the Gram-positive bacteria and some fungi. While the activity against Gram-negative bacteria is not characteristic of cannabinoids, these pathogens can still be affected by hemp terpenoids and flavonoids. The synergy among the secondary metabolite fractions or between the hemp metabolites and traditional antibiotics is also a favourable factor. The search for alternatives to traditional antibiotics is further driven by the increasing prevalence of genetically determined antibiotic resistance among veterinary pathogens, which poses the additional risk of transferring resistance traits to the human pathogens. The content of antibiotically active compounds in hemp can be enhanced through selection among existing genotypes, targeted breeding, cultivation conditions, and even by specific elicitation of secondary metabolites with the natural antibiotic function in the disease resistance of the plant. The switch to hemp metabolites is also supported by their compatibility as natural components of plant-based animal feed, and by favourable economic considerations.

Feed efficiency (FE) is one of the most essential traits in dairy cattle, primarily due to the high cost of feed, which constitutes a significant portion of dairy herd expenses. Unfortunately, assessing FE in individual cows requires precise measurement of feed consumption, a labour-intensive and expensive process that is impractical for group-fed cows on production farms. Efforts have been made to predict FE or, more precisely, dry matter intake (DMI), using predictors such as a body weight (BW), milk yield (MY), and milk composition. Recently, Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopy has been proposed as a tool to enhance the accuracy of DMI prediction. This paper reviews the application of FT-MIR milk spectroscopy for deriving FE phenotype in dairy cattle. FT-MIR is a reliable and widely used method for routine analysis of milk components. In FE phenotyping, predictive equations often incorporate FT-MIR alongside other traits such as BW, MY, milk composition, herd, breed, days in milk, and pregnancy. The most commonly used mathematical approaches are partial least squares (PLS) regression and artificial neural networks (ANN). Prediction accuracy varies across studies, depending on the mathematical method and model employed. Predictions based solely on FT-MIR data have demonstrated moderate accuracy (coefficient of determination), ranging from 0.19 to 0.40. However, integrating all data sources including MY, milk composition, FT-MIR, and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIR) is crucial and results in higher accuracy, with reported values ranging from 0.03 to 0.81.

The aim of the research was to use a vision technique to assess the relations between anatomical pork carcass traits, carcass geometry and slaughter value. The measurements in the experiment were performed on 128 selected pork carcasses. The 3D image of the carcass was assessed, especially its shape. Based on the carcass curvatures the correlation coefficients for these surfaces and slaughter value traits were calculated. The possibility of using the external dimensions and geometry of pork carcass for the accurate estimation of meatiness and the share of primal cuts using the technique of acquiring carcass images in a 3D configuration was confirmed. This can be useful in improving the classification methods of the SEUROP system. In the fattener breeding process the ham size increased whereas the carcass front decreased. That was probably why the carcass width or surface size correlation with the meat content were positive on the carcass back and negative on the shoulder.

Agricultural methane emissions strongly contribute to global greenhouse gas production. Under these circumstances, meeting international climate goals, including the Global Methane Pledge or the European Green Deal, requires developing targeted mitigation strategies. However, research using advanced clustering techniques in a multilevel context remains scarce and mostly limited to CO₂ emissions. This lack of time-series studies addressing regional variability hinders efforts to develop effective mitigation strategies. This study addresses three main research questions: (i) What are the main trends in agricultural methane emissions in the EU-27 countries from 2013 to 2022? (ii) How can the EU countries be classified based on agricultural methane emissions per capita? (iii) What is the impact of selected agricultural and economic indicators, including the number of live bovine animals and land use, on the clustering of methane emissions? Combining hierarchical and k-means clustering with trend analysis, this research integrates data from Eurostat and the World Bank, thereby classifying the EU-27 countries into four clusters based on their agricultural practices and methane emissions profiles. The results highlight distinct emission patterns across the EU-27 regions, with farming systems characterised by high stocking rates and intensive production generating the highest per capita emissions. By contrast, extensive systems with lower animal density exhibit reduced methane intensities. These findings underscore the need to devise effective, region-specific, data-driven policies and strategies for mitigating methane emissions.

Raw cow’s milk is one of the most strictly controlled commodities in the food industry. Besides basic hygienic and nutritional parameters, the presence of inhibitory and contaminant substances plays a critical role in technological quality and safety. While the vast majority of inhibitory residues are represented by antibiotics originating from mastitis prevention and therapy, milk also contains a broad spectrum of naturally occurring native antimicrobial compounds. These include immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, lysozyme, lactoperoxidase, phosphatases, lipases, and proteases acting as integral elements of the innate immune system within the mammary gland. Although these substances are not legislatively regulated, they significantly influence milk processing, starter culture growth, cheese yield, and shelf-life of final dairy products. Their concentration is strongly associated with animal health status, especially mastitis, and may thus also serve as an indirect quality indicator. This review provides a comprehensive overview of native inhibitory compounds in bovine milk, their concentration ranges, biological significance, impact on dairy technology, and the analytical methods currently used for their detection.

This study examines methods for detecting illegal manipulation of raw cow’s milk aimed at artificially reducing the somatic cell count (SCC) through centrifugation. This practice, motivated by economic gain, compromises the authenticity of the raw material and masks the true health status of the mammary gland. An experimental analysis of 68 samples demonstrated that centrifugation reduces somatic cell count by an average of 45.9 ± 11.6%. The MALDI-TOF MS method was used to identify changes in the peptide profile in the 500–4 000 Da range. Although no unique peaks specific to adulterated samples were detected, Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between the intensity of specific peptides and SCC values. The strongest positive correlation was identified for peaks in the m/z 2 922 Da region (r = 0.69). Other relevant markers include fragments with m/z 1 768 Da (r = 0.51) and 901 Da (r = 0.49). The results confirm that monitoring quantitative changes in the intensity of specific peptides using mass spectrometry is a promising tool for identifying changes in the milk peptidome associated with variations in SCC, including those induced by technological manipulation.

Folic acid (FA) plays an important role as a cofactor and coenzyme in animal growth and development, and in the regulation of gene expression and methylation. However, the epigenetic mechanism by which dietary FA supplementation regulates lipid metabolism in broilers remains largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of FA on genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in broiler liver and to identify differentially methylated genes (DMGs) and pathways associated with lipid metabolism. Reduced representation bisulphite sequencing (RRBS) was performed to analyse genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in liver tissues of broilers supplemented with 0 (control, C group), 5 (M group) or 10 mg/kg (H group) FA in basal diet for 42 days. The genome-wide methylation analysis showed that the average percentage of each sample of CpG (5'-C-phosphate-G-3') methylation efficiency was 29.47%. A total of 1 402 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were detected between C and M groups, including 745 hyper-DMRs and 657 hypo-DMRs, Compared with the C group, 410 hyper-DMRs and 436 hypo-DMRs were identified in the H group. Additionally, 511 hyper-DMRs and 560 hypo-DMRs were found between the M and H group. Furthermore, a total of 134 DMGs exhibited DMRs in the promoter region across all three comparison groups, including 27 upregulated DMGs and 20 downregulated DMGs. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of DMRs revealed that the associated genes are mainly involved in H3-K4 demethylation, histone lysine demethylation, peptidyl-lysine methylation, histone demethylation, lysine N-methyltransferase activity, fat cell proliferation, cellular lipid metabolic processes, fatty-acyl-CoA binding. In addition, key Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were primarily associated with the Toll-like receptor signalling pathway, fatty acid metabolism, butanoate metabolism, retinol metabolism. Taken together, these results demonstrated that FA supplementation affects genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in the liver of broilers, suggesting an underlying epigenetic mechanism for its regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of rumen-protected gambir catechins encapsulated using calcium oxide (CaO) and palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD) on rumen fermentation profiles, microbial activity, nutrient digestibility, and methane production in vitro. A randomised block design was used, consisting of four treatments and five replicates. The treatments were assigned based on different levels of gambir catechin-CaO-PFAD encapsulate supplementation, namely 0% (A), 5% (B), 10% (C), and 15% (D) in the diet. The results indicated that the treatments significantly affected NH₃ concentration, partial VFA profiles, methane production, microbial protein synthesis, degradation, and nutrient digestibility (P < 0.05), but no significant treatment effects were detected for total VFA, pH, or microbial biomass (P > 0.05). Treatment C produced the highest concentrations of propionate, microbial protein synthesis, degradation, and nutrient digestibility, while reducing methane production and the acetate to propionate ratio. The Cao-PFAD-encapsulated gambir catechin supplementation improved rumen fermentation efficiency, as indicated by increased propionate concentration, microbial protein synthesis, nutrient digestibility, and reduced methane production. Thus, gambir catechin-CaO-PFAD encapsulates could be used as a functional feed supplement to improve nutrient utilisation and mitigate enteric methane emissions in ruminant livestock.

Modern pig feeding systems allow the collection of highly detailed feeding data for each animal. These data enable the examination of individual feeding behaviours to assess an animal's wellbeing. As such, four different treatments ‒ undisturbed control, starving (no feed for 24 h, restrictive feeding), feed change (changes in feed composition) and social stress (exchanging of animals between the pens and short-term reduction of accessible water) ‒ were designed to simulate typical short-term disturbances in a practical stable routine. Each treatment was conducted over 2 pens with 12 animals each. Zootechnical performance and feed intake behaviour measures were assessed for each animal. Treatments did not affect zootechnical performance. Results showed that short-term disturbances did not influence feed intake behaviours, such as daily feed intake, amount of intake per feeder visit, number of daily feeder visits and daily feeding action with highest feed intake. Animals developed individual feeding patterns that persisted through artificial short-term disturbances. However, data suggested that an individual animal's behavioural pattern was strongly influenced by the group (pen) due to group dynamics among animals.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including omega-3, are known to yield health benefits to mammals, including bulls and human beings. This meta-analysis was done to determine the influence of omega-3 fatty acids (OMFA) on bull semen quality. The research question formulated for this meta-analysis was centred on the Population-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome (PICO) framework. To determine the influence of omega-3 fatty acids on semen quality, a meta-analysis was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The different effects were analysed using a random effects model. The variations among the included studies were tested using heterogeneity (I²). Semen volume (MD = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.13; 0.44), sperm concentration (MD = 71.12, 95% CI: 15.97; 126.26), live sperm (MD = 11.93; 95% CI: 7.30; 16.55), sperm motility (MD = 9.24, 95% CI: 7.39; 11.09) and plasma membrane integrity (MD = 11.60, 95% CI: 6.30; 16.89) increased dramatically in the omega-3 fatty acid-supplemented group. Notably, the progressive motility (MD = 1.19, 95% CI: –3.24; 5.61) was the only sperm parameter showing a non-significant influence when omega-3 fatty acids were supplemented. It was then concluded that the omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can be used to improve most of the semen parameters in bulls.

Sows are selected for their prolificacy. Therefore, assessing difficulties that can be associated with large litters is crucial. This review aims to highlight the factors that can affect reproductive performance such as breed, parity, litter size, environment, and nutrition. Understanding these factors can help producers make informed decisions about sow management and other aspects. Higher within-litter variation is the result of  a  high number of piglets born. It has been determined that large litter sizes pose a risk to animal welfare in the pig industry. Moreover, large litters bring more piglets with low birth weight leading to high pre-weaning losses. Lighter littermates struggle to get enough colostrum due to the competition with heavy littermates, which lowers their chances of survival causing high mortality. Larger litters may cause greater stress and discomfort of the sow. Therefore, applying stress-free environment and treating the sow with anti-inflammatory compounds may enhance the sow performance and consequent survival of piglets. The litter size is positively correlated with the variation in birth weight within a litter, while the average weight at birth is negatively related to litter size. Producers should therefore focus on potential management strategies that can improve piglet performance, survival and welfare such as proper supervision and adequate colostrum intake. This review highlights the historical development of the pig industry and literature on the variation in piglet weight at birth within a litter, factors influencing weight at birth, and the potential effects on the piglet performance before weaning. Also, the difficulties amongst large litters and possible strategies for managing survival in large litters were also reviewed.

Lab-grown cells (also known as cell-based or cultured meat) are novel food innovations that face uncertain consumer acceptance. This review examines recent research (2020–2024) on consumer perceptions of lab-grown cells, focusing on three main areas: (1) public awareness and familiarity, (2) psychological and cultural aspects shaping perceptions, and (3) the impact of information on acceptance. Results show that the awareness of lab-grown cells varies widely across regions; in countries with high meat consumption, such as the USA and Australia, or where culinary delights are highly valued, such as France, respondents rated lab-grown cells lower than in those countries where meat consumption is now rising, for example, China or Mexico. The knowledge of lab-grown cells positively impacted attitude, while psychological barriers (e.g. food neophobia) and disgust emerged as key deterrents. The information provided to respondents significantly influenced their willingness to accept, buy, try, eat, and pay premium prices. Personal (mainly health-related) benefits significantly increased the acceptance of lab-grown cells, while societal benefits (e.g. benefits to the environment or animal welfare) had less prominent effects than expected. At the same time, information regarding production technology (high-tech, laboratory, artificial) resulted in lower ratings from respondents. The conclusion is that overlooking the positive attributes of meat and focusing on the unproven advantages of lab-grown cells may lead to misleading results. On the other hand, effective communication – especially messages highlighting personal benefits – can substantially improve the consumer openness.

This study investigates advancements and trends in Fleckvieh breeding research using the Web of Science Core Collection database to collate articles published since 1994. Through CiteSpace 6.4.R1, we conducted systematic analyses to visualise research trajectories, identify seminal domains, and delineate emerging patterns. Our methodology encompassed publication profiling, scientific collaboration network mapping, co-citation analysis, and keyword co-occurrence/clustering techniques. The findings reveal that the current research frontiers focus on: Genomic applications in genetic selection, Reproductive efficiency optimisation, Environmental adaptability mechanisms, Thermotolerance management strategies, Cross-disciplinary methodological integration. Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland emerged as leading contributors, with institutions including the Technical University of Munich and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, demonstrating a particular scholarly influence. Knowledge mapping effectively delineated thematic concentrations and temporal evolution patterns, providing actionable insights for future research prioritisation. The field is progressing towards holistic, interdisciplinary frameworks underpinned by robust international consortia. This work introduces novel analytical perspectives to refine breeding protocols and enhance practical implementation.

Lactoferrin (LF) is an important bioactive component of colostrum, is critical for the development of immunity in the newborns, and it is an important component of the mammary gland defence system. LF is also an important biomolecule in terms of promoting and restoring the human health. The aim of our study was to monitor the dynamics of changes in lactoferrin concentration in goat milk at varying stages of lactation and its correlation with selected components and physicochemical parameters. Colostrum (n = 24) and milk (n = 120) samples were obtained from 12 goats by hand milking. Lactoferrin was determined using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with an ion-pairing reagent equipped with a Photodiode Array Detector. The LF concentration in colostrum ranged from 206 mg/l to 1 228 mg/l, and showed a statistically significant decrease in concentration (P < 0.05) over the colostral period. Significant correlation coefficients (P < 0.001) were found between crude protein and LF (r = 0.896), lactose and LF (r = –0.754), as well as between non-fat solids and LF (r = 0.853). The LF content in milk ranged within a relatively wide range of 94 mg/l to 1 115 mg/l although the values were highly variable (vx = 57.0%). Significant correlations were found between fat content and LF in milk (r = 0.429, P < 0.001), crude protein and LF (r = 0.376), non-fat solids and LF (r = 0.361), somatic cell count (SCC) and LF (r = 0.330), as well as log SCC and LF (r = 0.348, P < 0.01).

This study investigates the impact of supplementing extruded flaxseed to the diet of yearling bulls during the indoor fattening on beef carcass quality, meat composition, and fatty acid profile. Twenty male crossbred calves (Holstein × Simmental) were divided into two groups: control group and flaxseed-supplemented group, each with 10 calves. The control group received a conventional diet, while the flaxseed group was fed the same diet enriched with 5% extruded flaxseed on a dry-matter basis. The study revealed no significant differences in growth performance, carcass weight, or yield between the two groups. However, the flaxseed-supplemented group exhibited a higher intramuscular fat content, which was likely due to the increased energy intake from the flaxseed lipid content. Additionally, flaxseed supplementation improved the fatty acid profile of beef by increasing the percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and reducing the saturated fatty acid (SFA) percentage and the n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio. Despite these improvements, the study did not reveal any significant increase in the proportion of n-3 fatty acids in the meat. These findings suggest that while flaxseed supplementation enhances the nutritional profile of beef, further research is needed to optimise the balance of energy intake to maximise the increase in n-3 fatty acids.

The domestication process has had a substantial and varied impact on animals in terms of anatomy, physiology, and behaviour. Poultry species are particularly important for humans, with the most significant being chickens, geese, and ducks. However, it is not well understood whether, or to what extent selection influences the eggshell structure compared to wild ancestors. In the present study, we compared eggshells from three species: Red junglefowl and its four domesticated forms: Green-legged partridge, Lohmann Brown, Ko-Shamo, meat type breeder (Cobb 500); Greylag goose, and two domesticated breeds: Bilgoraj goose and White Koluda goose, as well as Mallard duck and domesticated crossbred KhO-01. The analyses revealed significant differences in the eggshell structure both between species (P < 0.001) and between breeds (P < 0.001 for chickens and geese, and P = 0.039 for ducks). Domesticated forms tend to have fewer mammillary knobs per mm² (P = 0.004), which were larger (P < 0.001) and they show the smaller coverage of the mammillary knobs (P < 0.001). Analyses showed significant correlations of the body mass and egg size with eggshell characteristics (P < 0.001). Considering that domesticated forms are usually larger, it cannot be conclusively determined whether changes in structure result from the domestication process itself or are physiologically linked to body mass and egg size. The relatively high similarity between the eggs of the wild ancestor and the Ko-Shamo breed, which exhibits substantial morphological changes but has a body mass similar to that of the Red junglefowl, supports this interpretation.

Autochthonous cattle breeds represent important resources of genetic diversity. The Busha cattle breed is reared in the Balkan Peninsula and is characterised by high adaptability, resilience, longevity, small body size, and low maintenance and production requirements. During the 36-year observation period, the total population of the autochthonous Busha cattle breed in the Republic of Croatia amounted to 10 411 animals. Pedigree completeness for the total population, considering the first parental generation, was 97.1%. The average inbreeding coefficient was 2.44%, ranging from zero to 42.6%, while the average relatedness coefficient was 3.56% in the total population. The effective population size, calculated in the reference population based on the individual increase in inbreeding, was 63.3. The probabilities of gene origin in the reference population were f_e – 38.0, f_a – 33.0, and f_g – 25.4, indicating a loss of genetic variability due to genetic drift (f_g/f_e – 0.66) and a bottleneck (f_e/f_a – 1.15). In the population of the autochthonous Busha cattle breed, the effective number of ancestors (f_a) was smaller than the effective number of founders (f_e). Increased relatedness among animals was observed, which could affect the long-term conservation of the population.

Our study investigated the genetic variability of specific foot and claw disorders, namely dermatitis digitalis, sole ulcer, and three broader categories (infectious diseases, claw horn lesions, and general claw disorder) in Czech Holstein cows. We also examined their genetic relationships with clinical mastitis and key fertility traits. Using both linear and threshold animal models, we concluded that heritability estimates for foot and claw disorders were consistently higher when employing the threshold model. A significant finding was the genetic correlation between sole ulcer and dermatitis digitalis, which ranged from 0.21 (calving to 305 days in milk) to 0.53 (calving to 90 days in milk). Furthermore, we observed stronger genetic correlations between clinical mastitis and overall foot and claw disorders, claw horn lesions, and infectious diseases during early lactation (calving to 90 days in milk) compared to the entire lactation period. Within this early lactation phase, the strongest genetic correlation was identified between clinical mastitis and claw horn lesions. Interestingly, our research uncovered a unique genetic link between days open and dermatitis digitalis, suggesting that a genetic predisposition to a higher occurrence of dermatitis digitalis may coincide with shorter days open. These results underscore the importance of implementing distinct genetic selection strategies for infectious claw diseases and claw horn lesions in dairy cows. This distinction is crucial due to their differing genetic correlations with other economically important traits, ultimately contributing to a better understanding of claw health genetics and its application in breeding programs.

Environmental conditions are known to influence the dairy cow health, with most research focusing on the detrimental effects of heat stress. However, the impact of non-summer weather patterns in temperate climates on udder health carry-over between lactations is not well understood. This pilot study evaluated the effect of various weather factors (temperature, humidity, precipitation, sunshine) during 1-day to 90-day periods before dry-off on udder health in the first month post-calving (represented by somatic cell count, conductivity, lactose, and mastitis incidence) in 199 Holstein cows in Central Europe. The scope of the experiment was limited to one farm and one year of observations. Moreover, we also evaluated milk quality, milkability, and udder health parameters during the same periods before dry-off on udder health after calving. We aimed to identify viable indicators across available automatically collected data from weather stations and milking parlour analysers. We found that the long-term (30- to 90-day) exposure to colder temperatures, high humidity, and low sunshine duration before dry-off was significantly associated with worse udder health after calving. In contrast, short-term weather conditions (1- to 7-day) had no significant effect. Monitored milk quality and udder health parameters showed a significant relation to udder health after calving during the immediate periods before dry-off, while milkability parameters were insignificant. If lactose was decreased or protein content, conductivity, and somatic cell count were elevated during the 1- and 7-day period before dry-off, cows after calving showed worse udder health. These findings identify prolonged cold and damp conditions as a significant environmental risk factor for poor udder health in the subsequent lactation, expanding our understanding beyond the conventional focus on heat stress.

This study aimed to estimate heritabilities of piglet birth-weight traits and to investigate the relationships between piglet birth-weight and litter-size traits using field data from Czech Large White and Landrace sows. Data including 86 241 piglets from 5 536 litters were analysed using repeatability, genetic, and genomic models. The investigated piglet-weight traits included arithmetic mean birth weight (MBW), within-litter standard deviation (SDBW), coefficient of variation in birth weight (CVBW), and the proportion of small piglets in the litter (SMALL). Heritability rates of piglet-weight traits were low, with the highest estimates for MBW (0.06–0.10) and SMALL (0.08–0.17), depending on the model used, while the other within-litter variability traits showed heritability rates from 0.03 to 0.05. The heritability rates of litter-size traits, including the number of piglets born alive (NBA) and the number of piglets weaned (NW), were low and ranged from 0.05 to 0.07. The realised accuracies of prediction were moderate to high, ranging from 0.50 to 0.72 for piglet-weight traits and from 0.54 to 0.77 for litter-size traits, with ssGBLUP improving realised accuracy by 4–15% in comparison to BLUP. Genetic correlations estimated using BLUP and ssGBLUP indicated that litter size at birth (NBA) tended to be negatively associated with MBW and positively or weakly associated with piglet-weight variability traits (SDBW, CVBW, and SMALL), whereas NW tended to show positive correlations with MBW and negative correlations with variability traits. However, none of the correlations were statistically significant.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Moringa oleifera (MO) seed powder on the performance and gut health of broilers challenged with E. coli. A total of 720 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 72 pens across two separate rooms, following a 2 × 6 factorial design. The factors per room included (i) challenge: no or yes, and (ii) feed additive: control (none), antibiotic [oxytetracycline (OTC) at 0.5 g/kg], MO 0.1%, MO 0.2%, MO 0.4%, and MO 0.8%. At 9 days old, birds in both challenged and non-challenged rooms were inoculated with 1.5 ml of E. coli-O157:H7 inoculant (3.8 × 10⁸ CFU) and 1.5 ml of saline, respectively. Performance data showed that, throughout the study, unchallenged birds had better weight gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than challenged birds. On day 35, broilers given OTC and all MO levels showed improved WG (P < 0.001) and FCR (P < 0.003). Interactions between challenge and additives were observed on day 10 for FCR (P = 0.031); on days 24 and 35 for WG (P < 0.001); and on days 24 and 35 for FCR (P < 0.004 and P = 0.002, respectively). On day 24, challenged birds fed all MO levels exhibited higher WG and better FCR than challenged controls, while on day 35, both challenged and unchallenged MO-fed birds showed improved WG and FCR compared to control groups. E. coli significantly increased crypt depth (CD), jejunum muscle thickness, and caecal E. coli colonies. MO significantly enhanced villus height (VH), the VH : CD ratio, villous tip width, and surface area, while decreasing CD, muscle thickness, and E. coli colonies. Challenged birds had significantly lower serum total protein, albumin, and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) titres, while serum alanine aminotransferase ALT activity was higher than in non-challenged birds. Overall, Moringa at 0.4% showed comparable or better results than OTC in preventing E. coli-induced declines in broiler performance and gut health.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary administration of peppermint (Mentha piperita) alone and in combination with southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum) on performance, body and carcass composition, physicochemical characteristics, and amino acid composition of breast meat in broilers under Eimeria challenge. A total of 160 14-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four dietary groups: the control (C) group was fed a basal diet; the CC group received a grower diet containing the coccidiostat robenidine; the M group was fed the diets with the addition of 20 g peppermint/kg of diet; the MS group was fed the diets with the addition of 10 g peppermint + 10 g of southernwood/kg of diet. The addition of peppermint to the diet increased final live weight compared to the CC group (P < 0.05). The highest value of dressing percentage was found in the M group as compared to the CC group (P < 0.01) and C group (P < 0.05). Compared with the C group, a higher intramuscular fat content was found in the breast meat of broilers in both the M and MS groups (P < 0.01; P < 0.05, resp.). Concerning the colour of meat, lower values for yellowness b* and chroma C* characteristics were observed in the C group compared to the MS group (P < 0.05) and mainly to the M group (P < 0.01). In spite of the lower crude protein content (P < 0.05) in the meat of the MS group, the highest content of all essential amino acids (P < 0.05) as well as the total content of all assessed amino acids (P < 0.01) were found in the meat of the MS group, resulting in a considerable increase in the nutritional value of the breast meat proteins of these broilers.

The genomic structure of extant cattle populations can contribute to the reconstruction of the history of particular breeds or their subpopulations. Genome-wide population resequencing of extant populations of Czech Red Pied (CRP) cattle, its conserved nucleus herd, and Czech Red (CR) cattle detected a T106C polymorphism in mitochondrial DNA shared by the conserved CRP herd with a geographical belt of Anatolian, Illyrian and Eastern Alpine breeds. On the other hand, this SNP is practically absent in the historical cattle breeds associated with Northern Germany, including German Black Pied cattle, Holstein-Friesian and German Red Mountain cattle (GRM). Correspondingly, this indicator SNP was absent in CR cattle, which, like the GRM, belongs to the group of mountain red cattle breeds. It seems that the precursory cattle population in Central Europe was influenced by the germplasm from the Balkans-related group of breeds, thanks to the political and commercial influence of the Northern Italian, Austrian and Hungarian regions. In addition, the presence of this polymorphism in some European aurochs (Bos primigenius) bone remains suggests possible introgression from local aurochs populations. Alternatively, the T106C presence in yaks and in neighbouring cattle breeds in Northern India, China and Korea raises the possibility of origin of this polymorphism from yak populations. The spread of the T106C mutation in alpine regions is consistent with the known role of this mtDNA region in adaptation to the reduced oxygen pressure.