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The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of papaya peel addition on the quality and in vitro ruminal digestion of napier grass silage. Fresh napier grass was mixed with papaya peel at 0% (control), 15%, 30%, and 45% of fresh weight and ensiled under anaerobic conditions. After fermentation, silages were analysed for pH, organic acids, ammonia-N, and nutrient composition. In vitro ruminal fermentation was conducted using the rumen fluid collected from buffaloes to assess gas production, volatile fatty acid profiles, and hydrogen release. The results showed that papaya peel addition significantly affected silage fermentation and nutrient composition. The inclusion at 15% lowered pH and increased lactic acid concentration compared with the control (P < 0.05). Higher inclusion levels (30% and 45%) reduced neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre content, increased total digestible nutrients and relative feed value (P < 0.05). In vitro ruminal fermentation showed that, compared with the control, hydrogen production was significantly reduced in the 15% treatment, and the acetate-to-propionate ratio was highest in the 45% treatment as a result of decreased propionate acid concentration (P < 0.05). Our results suggested that co-ensiling napier grass with papaya peel improved fermentation quality and feed value, with 15% addition yielding the most desirable balance of fermentation characteristics and ruminal fermentation outcomes. This approach provides a practical strategy for enhancing the forage preservation and utilising fruit-processing by-products in tropical livestock systems.

The aim of this study was to identify and quantify the relationships between the nutrient content and the DM (dry matter) content of various maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) in the dynamics of vegetative maturity and various soil-climatic growing conditions. Over the course of 7 growing seasons (years), a set of 1 972 samples of whole silage maize plants consisting of 206 different hybrids grown in two contrasting regions (lowland and foothill areas) was analysed. The focus was on DM content and the content of key energy nutrients (WSC – water soluble carbohydrates, starch, NDF – neutral detergent fibre) and their interactions. Results show that the transformation of WSC into starch has four key points: (i) it begins at a DM content of 150 g/kg; (ii) it peaks at a DM content of approximately 235 g/kg; (iii) it begins to decrease significantly from a DM content of 300 g/kg; and (iv) it practically stops rapidly after exceeding a DM content of 350 g/kg. In the dynamics of vegetative development of maize plants, the DM content is very closely related to the WSC content (R² = 0.728) and the starch content (R² = 0.873). With the gradual increase in vegetative maturity and DM content in maize plants, the transformation of WSC into starch dynamically increases. These characteristics, with small deviations, were also confirmed at different levels of evaluation (all analyses, regions, seasons and individual hybrids). These results show that a DM content of 300 g/kg to 350 g/kg can be considered the optimal harvesting window for maize ensiling and the optimal phase of silage maturity for whole maize plants, because once the DM content exceeds 350 g/kg; the transformation of WSC into starch stops and the drying phase of plants begins.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary yeast culture (YC) supplementation on lamb growth performance and meat quality. After 14 days of acclimation, 20 three-month-old lambs (30.46 ± 1.77 kg) were randomly assigned to the control (CON, basal diet) or YC-supplemented group (0.625 g/kg DM) for 50 days. While YC induced no significant improvements in growth parameters (average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed to gain ratio; P > 0.05), it enhanced the longissimus thoracis (LT) meat quality by elevating the L* (lightness) and a* (redness) values (P < 0.05), reducing shear force (P < 0.05), increasing intramuscular fat (EE, P < 0.05), and decreasing crude protein (P < 0.05). YC modified fatty acid profiles by reducing atherogenic saturated fatty acids (P < 0.05) and elevating C16:1 (P < 0.05). Transcriptional analysis revealed the depot-specific regulation: YC suppressed subcutaneous adipogenesis via downregulation of PPARγ/SREBP-1/HSL and upregulation of LPL and promoted intramuscular fat deposition in LT through the coordinated activation of PPARγ/SREBP-1/FAS/ACC and inhibition of LPL (P < 0.05). These findings demonstrate the capacity of YC to optimise meat sensory attributes and lipid healthfulness through tissue-specific metabolic modulation, supporting its application as a functional feed additive in precision lamb production.

The aim of the study was to verify whether differences in intramuscular fat quality, evaluation based on fatty acid profile and ratios, occur between cattle genotypes – the combined performance cattle breed Czech Fleckvieh and the beef breed Aberdeen Angus – under identical rearing conditions (same pasture location and nutritional management) with extensive grazing. The results of observation show the difference in the quality of intramuscular fat of bulls with combined performance and bulls with meat performance in extensive pastoral farming. Breed differences were reflected by a statistically significantly higher mean intramuscular fat (P ≤ 0.05) in the beef cattle breed (149 ± 60.1 g/kg dry matter) compared to the combined performance breed (120 ± 51.8 g/kg dry matter). A higher saturated fatty acid (SFA) value of 53.4 ± 22.2 g/kg dry matter was observed in the beef cattle breed compared to SFA 40.8 ± 18.9 g/kg dry matter (P ≤ 0.05) in the combined performance cattle breed; a higher monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) value of 43.8 ± 26.3 g/kg dry matter compared to a MUFA value of 42.3 ± 20.8 g/kg dry matter (P > 0.05); and a higher value of polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 (PUFA n-3) 0.76 ± 0.33 g/kg dry matter (P ≤ 0.05) compared to PUFA n-3 0.48 ± 0.21 g/kg dry matter in combined performance cattle breed. A higher value of polyunsaturated fatty acids n-6 (PUFA n-6) 3.66 ± 1.39 g/kg dry matter was found in the combined performance cattle breed compared to the meat cattle breed with PUFA n-6 3.54 ± 0.96 g/kg dry matter (P > 0.05). A more favourable n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was observed in the Aberdeen Angus (P ≤ 0.05). The results suggest that the different genotypes of the bull breeds studied, reared on extensively used pasture, may influence the amount of intramuscular fat and its quality.

Equine obesity currently represents a significant welfare concern, with its development influenced by seasonal changes in the nutritional value of pasture, which substantially affect the animals’ energy balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the seasonal dynamics of pasture nutritional composition, assess the balance between energy requirements and actual intake of horses during the grazing season, and determine the impact of these factors on body weight and body condition. Pasture was analysed across three seasonal periods: T1 (May), T2 (July), and T3 (September). The highest concentration of digestible energy in pasture was recorded in T1 (10.81 MJ/kg DM), while the lowest was observed in T2 (9.67 MJ/kg DM). In T1, digestible energy intake (DE_i; 98.02 MJ/day) was markedly higher than the energy requirement (61.94 MJ/day), resulting in a positive energy balance (36.08 MJ/day). This surplus was accompanied by a significant increase in body weight from 444.6 kg to 534.7 kg (P = 0.006 1) and an increase in body condition score (BCS) from 5.1 to 6.7 (P = 0.000 1). In the subsequent periods (T2 and T3), when the energy balance was close to equilibrium (–0.02 and 0.14 MJ/day), no further significant changes were observed in body weight (534.7 vs 535.0 kg; P > 0.05) or BCS (6.7 vs 6.6; P > 0.05). Changes in BCS showed a strong positive relationship with the difference between DE intake and requirement (r = 0.696 1; P = 0.000 7). The results confirm that seasonal energy surplus, particularly at the beginning of the grazing season, represents a significant risk factor for body fat accumulation in adult horses maintained on ad libitum pasture.

In this study, different strains were used to ferment single/mixed cottonseed meal (cottonseed meal, corn flour, bran ratio of 7 : 2 : 1) substrates, and their feeding value was evaluated by an in vitro fermentation trial, to select suitable fermentation strains for cottonseed meal. For this purpose, two experiments (Exp.) were conducted. Exp. 1: Evaluation of the effect of fermentation of single cottonseed meal by different strains, which consisted of ten treatment groups: control (CON), Saccharomyces No. 1 (T1), Saccharomyces Fubon (T2), Saccharomyces Lallemand (T3), Lactobacillus (T4), Bacillus licheniformis (T5), Bacillus subtilis 10071 (T6), Bacillus subtilis 10089 (T7), Aspergillus niger (T8), and Monascus purpureus Went (T9). Exp. 2: Evaluation of the effect of fermentation of mixed cottonseed meal by different strains. The treatment groups were the same as in Exp. 1, numbered CON, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M8, and M9. The results showed that in both the single cottonseed meal group and the mixed cottonseed meal group free gossypol (FG) and methane (CH₄) were significantly reduced and the gas production, total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), and in vitro digestibility of nutrients (P < 0.05) significantly increased, with Saccharomyces No. 1 showing the optimal effect. This study provides a theoretical basis for screening the suitable strains for fermenting cottonseed meal.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of drinking water temperature on growth performance and gastrointestinal microbiota in growing calves. Forty-five weaned male calves were randomly divided into three treatment groups (n = 15 per group). The groups were provided with drinking water at different temperatures: 5–10 °C (FC), 20–25 °C (FM), or 35–40 °C (FW). The experiment lasted for 30 days, during which all calves were housed in individual hutches. Body weight and jugular blood samples were collected on days 0, 15, and 30; body measurements were taken on days 0 and 30. On day 30, rumen fluid and faecal samples were collected for 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V3–V4 regions. Calves in the FW group showed significantly higher water intake and diarrhoea frequency, along with significantly lower average daily gain (ADG), compared to the other groups. During the first 15 days, the ADG for the FM and FW groups was significantly lower than that of the FC group. Additionally, the FM and FW group maintained higher faecal scores throughout the experimental period. Rumen microbial analysis revealed a higher abundance of the potentially pathogenic genus Pseudoscardovia in the FW group compared to the FC group. In a cold winter environment, providing drinking water at 35–40 °C reduced growth performance, elevated faecal scores, and increased the abundance of harmful microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract of growing calves.

Arginine (Arg) is an essential amino acid that can improve the reproductive capacity, intestinal development, and growth performance of pigs. N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) and N-acetylglutamate (NAG) can activate carbamyl phosphate synthetase I and the Δ1 pyrrolin 5 carboxylate synthetase in mitochondria, promoting the synthesis of citrulline from glutamine and proline, citrulline is the main precursors for the synthesis of Arg, and subsequently increasing the endogenous synthesis of Arg to produce nitric oxide (NO) and polyamines. Compared with Arg, NCG has a longer half-life and does not inhibit the absorption of basic amino acids such as histidine or lysine; thus, it has been developed as a feed additive. This paper reviews the application of NCG as a feed additive in pig production and its possible theoretical mechanism.

In vitro embryo production (IVP) is a valuable technique for advancing cattle breeding and reproductive biotechnology. Nevertheless, embryos produced in vitro often display reduced developmental competence and cryotolerance compared with their in vivo counterparts. Vitamin D is known to regulate many cellular functions, including growth and antioxidant defence. This study evaluated the impact of vitamin D supplementation during in vitro culture on bovine embryo development and post-thaw recovery. Oocytes were matured and fertilised in vitro and presumptive zygotes were cultured with 0 (control), 25, or 50 ng/ml of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃. Supplementation of 25 ng/ml vitamin D did not significantly alter cleavage or blastocyst rates; however, it increased the expression of IGF2R and SOD2. In contrast, 50 ng/ml impaired embryonic development. the VD/VD group showed higher blastocyst hatching rates, lower mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, increased IGF2R expression and reduced BAX expression and BAX/BCL2L1 ratio (P < 0.05). Overall, these findings suggest that the low-dose vitamin D supplementation may support embryonic recovery from cryo-induced stress, potentially through the modulation of the oxidative balance and growth-related pathways, rather than by enhancing the pre-freezing developmental competence.

This study is focused on the comparison of production efficiency (growth, survival, and development) and economic evaluation of large-scale larvae culture in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) using Artemia (Group A) compared to using rotifers and the subsequent combination of rotifers and Artemia (Group R) as a first exogenous feed following weaning and intensive culture of juveniles. Both experimental groups were stocked with the same initial density (100 pcs per litre) of larvae at 4 days post hatching (DPH). Each group was cultured in triplicate until 65 DPH. Assessed parameters included FBW (final body weight), FTL (final total length), SGR (specific growth rate), SR (survival rate), CR (cannibalism rate), SBI (swim bladder inflation rate), and TDR (total deformity rate). Production costs were confronted with total number of all produced and high-quality juveniles to determine the cost per one juvenile. Juveniles in Group A displayed more rapid growth (significantly higher FBW, FTL and SGR). On the other hand, parameters concerning quality of the fish (SBI, SR, Share of high quality juveniles and TDR) were significantly higher in Group R. Statistical difference in CR also benefits Group R. Production of bigger share of high-quality juveniles in Group R decreased overall production cost per one high-quality juvenile by 59.7%, from 0.72 EUR in Group A to 0.29 EUR in Group R. Use of established feeding protocols confirmed significant production and economic improvements in pikeperch larvae culture and production of high-quality juveniles. Even though the price of rotifer cultivation significantly exceeded the price of Artemia purchase and cultivation, the production cost of high-quality pikeperch juveniles significantly decreased.

Decision support systems (DSSs) enable dairy farmers to make informed and timely decisions on herd health management. However, the lack of a disease scoring system by category and severity limits the application of this approach. In this study, we developed an innovative approach to dairy herd health management by establishing a novel scoring system for dairy herd health management aimed at providing a more nuanced understanding of disease impact. For this purpose, we retrieved 5-year data from 2 558 disease diary records of 798 primiparous and multiparous cows housed on a Czech farm and classified 125 production diseases into six categories, namely lameness, mastitis, postpartum diseases, digestive system, reproductive diseases and other diseases. Based on this metric, we developed a data-driven DSS for farm management. Using this DSS, we identified markers of disease categories for efficient veterinary monitoring on dairy farms. This DSS highlighted a decreasing trend of average monthly disease scores, yet the prevalence of postpartum and other diseases increased during the same period, due to changes in reproduction management within the herd. These findings underscore the need for data-driven targeted interventions for promoting the herd health. Therefore, our scoring model not only provides a comprehensive framework for dairy herd health monitoring and improvement but also advances dairy farming by providing a decision support system easily applicable to dairy farms based on available data recorded in disease diaries.

This study evaluated test-day records of clinical mastitis (CM), somatic cell count, and nine udder conformation traits. Somatic cell count was log-transformed into somatic cell score (SCS) in 10 periods, each 30 days long and overall, for the first lactation. CM is a complex disease closely connected with somatic cell count. The optimum udder conformation traits significantly affect dairy cattle health. The CM binary trait was monitored in seven periods throughout lactation, each 50 days long, and for the whole lactation. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the risk of CM. The model included a fixed effect of herd-year-season, age at first calving, and a fixed effect of the linear type traits of the random effect of the animal. The phenotypic correlations for udder conformation traits, CM, and SCS ranged from –0.13 to 0.69 and standard errors were 0.01–0.99. The highest CM incidence and SCS were observed for the medial ligament scores 1–2: convex base of the udder. According to the logistic regression assessment, the medial ligament scores 1–2: convex base of the udder and the CM incidence to 50 days in milk reported a 3.79 times higher probability of the CM incidence at the reference level (extremely deep medial ligament) at the same stage of the lactation. CM incidence and SCS significantly decreased with decreasing udder depth. Udder depth below the hock was associated with the highest risk of CM. For udder depth and the whole lactation, the CM ODDS ratio was 1.00–2.56, CM least squares means were 0.18–0.44, and SCS least squares means were 3.20–4.10. Our study confirmed that the start of lactation is critical for the onset of CM, and somatic cell count is manifested throughout lactation. The effect of the udder conformation is then observable in somatic cell count and CM during the whole lactation.

The aim of the study was to examine the rabbit consumption habits and opinions of people living in countries that regularly consume rabbit meat. Snowball sampling of data collection was used, a total of 1 860 error-free questionnaires were evaluated. Most of the completed questionnaires came from Hungary, Italy, Spain, China, Poland, France and Mexico. It is to note that 21.3% of respondents have not yet consumed rabbit meat: China (32.1%), Hungary (24.7%), Poland (22.4%), and France (4.8%). The main reasons for not consuming rabbit meat were emotional reasons (22.3%), it does not fit their dietary habits (15.7%). There are 28.7% of respondents who consume rabbit meat once or twice a year, 18.6% less often and 21.9% monthly. It was most often (weekly and monthly) consumed in Spain (25.3% and 36.8%), in Italy (15.3% and 36.2%), in France (1.6% and 38.7%, respectively). Men, aged 40 to 59, secondary school graduates, and those having a higher income eat rabbit meat more often than other groups. The highest scores (near to 4.5 on a 1-5 scale) were given for the health aspects of rabbit meat, such as high protein, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins, and low fat and cholesterol contents. In order to encourage the consumption of rabbit meat, different marketing campaigns should be carried out in each country, depending on the standard of living, production intensity (large-scale or small-scale) and place of purchase (supermarket or local market). It is paramount to make the younger generation aware of the excellent and health-protective properties of rabbit meat.

We applied the Interbull validation methodology, a widely accepted method in animal breeding, to assess novel weighted and nonweighted repeatability models for the prediction of breeding values for longevity in Czech Holstein cattle. The population included in the estimation also contained 58 704 animals with genotypes. Performance records from 1 055 814 cows in the full dataset and from 831 995 cows in the trimmed dataset were used for evaluation. Both linear models included effects of herd-year-period, animal, permanent environment, and correction for milk production of individual cows in relation to herd average lactation curve, differing only in the use of weighs. The average reliability of the validation bulls increased in the full dataset from 0.85 without weight to 0.91 in the model with weight. This increase was also apparent in the trimmed dataset (from 0.42 to 0.50). Both models showed considerable inflation of genomic breeding values (GEBVs) by Interbull validation and did not manifest distinct benefits supporting their use in the routine evaluation of Czech Holstein cattle in the Czech Republic.

Growth traits belong to the most important economic traits in livestock. One of the genes involved in vertebrate growth and development is insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1). Therefore, in our study we hypothesised that within the sequence of rabbit IGF1 gene it is possible to identify a polymorphism that may influence growth, carcass or meat traits in rabbits. We identified 6 polymorphisms (g.89259430T>C; g.89259338C>G; g.89259328T>C; 89210029A>G; 89210349C>G and g.89194199C>T) within introns of the IGF1 gene. One polymorphism, g.89194199C>T, was analysed using polymerase chain reaction high-resolution melting (PCR-HRM). We performed the association analysis on 370 animals (males to females 1 : 1) of different breeds: New Zealand White × Flemish Giant crossbreds (NZW × FG), Termond White (TW) and Flemish Giant (FG). Results showed that for growth and slaughter traits in TW populations a significant association (P = 0.003) was found for slaughter weight (SW) when CT genotypes showed significantly higher values compared to CC genotypes (2 878.0 g ± 107.0 and 2 678.0 g ± 34.0, respectively). For TW rabbits we found a significant association (P = 0.009) for dissected bone weight in hind leg (HB) when CT genotypes (127.0 g ± 5.8) had significantly higher values compared to CC genotypes (112.0 g ± 2.4). For carcass traits and physical characteristics of meat we found for musculus longissimus lumborum in TW rabbits that the b* parameter value 45 min after slaughter was significantly higher (P = 0.001) for CT genotypes (1.88 ± 0.05) compared to CC genotypes (0.05 ± 0.02). We conclude that the use of identified SNP in breeding may be limited to some breeds.

Some herbs can be used as phytogenic additives as they naturally contain specific bioactive phytochemicals that are effective in controlling coccidiosis and some other poultry diseases due to their immunostimulatory effects and they can be also nutritious. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of Artemisia absinthium (WW) meal inclusion to a diet on the production performance, oocyst output and minerals content of meat in broilers infested by Eimeria oocysts. Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to four dietary groups. Broilers in the control group were fed basal diets without coccidiostat or WW. Broilers of the R group were fed starter and grower diets supplemented with coccidiostat robenidine. Broilers in the W3 and W6 groups were fed diets containing 3 and 6% of WW in feed, resp. At the age of 16 days, all broilers were infested by oocysts of Eimeria spp. to induce a mild coccidiosis infection. The WW meal had no effect on the production performance and carcass traits of broilers (P > 0.05). However, the used levels of administered WW meal were not effective in reducing the number of oocysts faecal output in infested broilers. Administration of coccidiostat robenidine prevented the development of Eimeria oocysts in the intestine as long as 4 days after the cessation of feeding the medicated diet to broilers (P < 0.05). As for minerals of breast meat, broilers of the W3 group displayed a higher Ca level compared to those in the R group (P < 0.05). On the contrary, the R group showed the highest Cu level compared to all other dietary groups assessed (P < 0.01). It can be concluded that for the coccidiosis control in poultry production, it is advisable to monitor the content of specific bioactive substances with proven anticoccidial activity when using WW products.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of laying hybrid lines of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus f. domestica) and their age on ejaculate parameters in roosters. Parameters assessed included ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count (TSC), percentage of normal spermatozoa, and sperm motility. Additionally, morphological defects were observed: defects of the acrosome, head, neck, tail, and immature spermatozoa. The study included 120 roosters of the Barred Plymouth Rock, Sussex Light, Rhode Island Red, and Rhode Island White laying lines. Ejaculate was repeatedly evaluated at the ages of 34, 43, and 52 weeks. The average ejaculate volume was 0.52 ml, sperm concentration 2.53 × 10⁹ cm^–3, motility 81.1%, and defect occurrence rates were as follows: acrosome defects 0.7%, head defects 3.0%, neck defects 2.4%, and tail defects 2.9%. A statistically significant effect (P < 0.01) of the line was observed for all parameters except tail defects. Statistically significant differences between age categories were confirmed for volume, sperm concentration, TSC, immature spermatozoa, and normal spermatozoa (P < 0.01), as well as for ejaculate volume, neck, and tail defects (P < 0.05). The volume, concentration and TSC reached significantly higher values at 43 weeks of age. The incidence of normal spermatozoa and immature spermatozoa was significantly lower at 34 weeks of age. The interaction of age and line was significant (P < 0.01) for sperm concentration, TSC, motility, head, tail, and normal spermatozoa. The highest values of volume, concentration, and TSC were observed in the BPR line, which also exhibited the lowest occurrence of head defects and immature spermatozoa. The RIR line showed a higher occurrence of sperm defects. Younger roosters (34 and 43 weeks of age) had higher ejaculate parameter values and a higher occurrence of sperm defects compared to the older ones.

The aim of this study was to analyse the conformation traits and body dimensions of Haflinger mares registered in the Czech Republic studbook. The study focused on the effects of age at studbook entry, year of birth, proportion of Arabian genes, and country of origin on various parameters. Data were collected from 825 mares, including scores obtained during the studbook entry evaluation and body measurements such as withers height measured with a stick (WHS), withers height measured with a tape (WHT), chest girth (CG), and cannon bone circumference (CBC). Based on these data, the bone index (BI) and body massiveness index (MI) were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using multifactor analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe’s post-hoc testing method. The results showed that the age at studbook entry significantly affected conformation scores, chest girth, cannon bone circumference, and both indices (MI, BI). Mares aged 3–4 years had significantly higher conformation scores compared to mares aged 5–6 years (P = 0.001) and mares aged 7 years and older (P = 0.000). Mares aged 5–6 years and those aged 7 years and older showed higher CG values (P = 0.002, P = 0.000) and CBC values (P = 0.010, P = 0.001). Furthermore, the year of birth had a highly significant impact on all variables studied. The withers height of mares born between 2011 and 2020 was, on average, 3.49 cm higher (144.84 cm) than that of mares born between 1987 and 2000 (141.35 cm) (P < 0.000). Regarding CG, a statistically significant increase was observed in mares born in 1987–2000 and 2001–2010, with chest girth increasing from 180.45 cm to 183.76 cm (P = 0.016). However, a subsequent decrease to 179.91 cm was noted in mares born between 2011 and 2020 (P = 0.002). The influence of the proportion of Arabian genes was significant for WHS, where mares with a higher proportion of Arabian genes (>1.56%) showed lower WHS (141.74 cm) compared to mares with a lower proportion (143.86 cm) or no Arabian genes (143.01 cm). While ANOVA demonstrated a significant effect of Arabian genes on CBC, Scheffe’s post-hoc test did not confirm this finding. No statistically significant differences were observed in other body dimensions based on the proportion of Arabian genes. The influence of the country of origin was statistically significant for all variables except WHS and WHT. Regarding the conformation scores, mares from the Czech Republic scored lower (6.98) than Austrian mares (7.22, P = 0.000). Additionally, CG was significantly lower in Austrian mares (178.58 cm) compared to Czech mares (182.54 cm, P = 0.000). Austrian mares also had significantly lower MI (P = 0.000) and BI (P = 0.040), with Austrian indices at 124.71/13.31 and Czech indices at 127.77/13.41. Based on this empirical evaluation of the current and original population of Haflingers in the Czech Republic, the connections and influence of individual factors during breeding are revealed. The results of our analysis have built an objective scientific basis and they allow the breeding organisation to determine the further breeding process.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plays a role in the reconstruction of hair follicles and in the formation and growth of cashmere fibres. One cashmere growth-associated lncRNA was successfully screened out at the early stage in the laboratory, which was named LncRNA MTC. In this study, the binding of galectin 3 (LGALS3) to LncRNA MTC was examined through RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) in skin fibroblasts of Liaoning Cashmere goats. The pLenti-LGALS3-His-IRES-EGFP lentiviral overexpression vector was built, and the result of CCK8 indicated that the overexpression of LGALS3 significantly enhanced the viability of skin fibroblasts (P < 0.05). A total of 15 proteins interacting with LGALS3 were identified through co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) combined mass spectrometry, which were primarily rich in ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, PI3K-AKT, and other signalling pathways. Moreover, PIEZO1 refers to a mechanically sensitive ion channel protein that is capable of regulating the cell proliferation. As revealed by qPCR results, overexpression of LGALS3 significantly upregulated the expression of PIEZO1, which was effectively interfered by siRNA. The result of CCK8 indicated that siPIEZO1 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, whereas overexpression of LGALS3 protected cells from the suppression of siPIEZO1 (P < 0.01). This study revealed that LGALS3 is capable of stimulating the proliferation of skin fibroblasts by regulating PIEZO1. The effect of LGALS3 on the proliferation of skin fibroblasts from the protein interaction was explored, and this study is expected to lay a certain scientific basis for the research on the hair follicle development mechanism of Liaoning Cashmere goats.

Assessments of routine ejaculated samples were used to evaluate the conventional semen variables (sperm motility, semen volume, sperm concentration) as initial decision-making criteria to freeze or not to freeze. However, the association of these attributes to the cryotolerance of ram sperm has not been adequately studied yet. The aim of this study was therefore to analyse if the semen volume, sperm motility and concentration can be used to predict post-thaw ram sperm motility. Additionally, in the present study we tested if the order of ejaculate sampling (first versus second, within a single collection session) and the breed of rams influenced cryopreservation outcomes.

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of low-protein diet supplemented with exogenous protease on performance and intestinal health of broilers. A total of 560 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly divided into 5 treatments with 8 replicates (12 birds per replicate) in a completely randomised design. The treatments were as follows: (1) maize-soybean meal basal diet (CON); (2) negative control with crude protein being 1% lower than in CON (NCON); (3) NCON + 12 000 U/kg coated alkaline protease (NCAP); (4) NCON + 16 000 U/kg alkaline protease (NAP); (5) NCON + 16 000 U/kg keratinase (NKA). The remaining 80 birds (10 replicates, 8 birds per replicate) were randomly assigned to endogenous indicator measurements. The results indicated that the NCON diet resulted in a higher feed-to-gain ratio and reduced protein digestibility, ileal amino acid digestibility, and intestinal morphological parameters (P < 0.05). Supplementation of different exogenous proteases significantly improved the apparent and true ileal digestibility of specific amino acids, enhanced jejunal chymotrypsin activity, and promoted intestinal morphological development, including increased villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio (P < 0.05). Our findings suggested that the addition of exogenous protease improved the intestinal morphology of broilers.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of different particle sizes of hens diets on blood biochemical parameters, ileal digesta viscosity and nitrogen retention. In the experimental part, the effects of different physical structure were investigated on two groups of laying hens of the Bovans Brown hybrid from 76 to 80 weeks of age. A finely ground mash diet [geometric mean diameter (GMD), 632 µm] and a coarsely ground mash diet (GMD, 1 258 µm) with the equal nutritional content were used. In the experiment, the particle sizes of the feed mixtures were analysed and compared with the particle size of unaccepted feed residues using a feed separator. Furthermore, feed consumption, live weight of laying hens, blood biochemical parameters, digestive viscosity and nitrogen retention coefficient were assessed. The study revealed that the particle sizes of hens’ diets significantly influenced the nitrogen retention coefficient, with higher values observed in the finely ground diet as compared to the coarsely ground diet (30.3 vs 24.0%; P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in feed intake, live weight, blood biochemical parameters, or digesta viscosity between the dietary groups (P > 0.05). This finding highlights the potential of diet structure optimisation to improve nutrient utilisation efficiency, which is particularly relevant for reducing nitrogen excretion and its environmental impact. These novel insights provide a foundation for further research on the effects of feed structure on productivity and organ health.

Since 2020, the National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) has conserved a Creole sheep flock at INIA Las Brujas. This study genetically characterised this population and compared it with six others: San Miguel National Park Creoles, commercial farms Creoles, Brazilian Creoles, Corriedale, Merilin and Soay sheep. The analysis included 628 individuals and 31 392 autosomal SNPs. Soay and San Miguel National Park Creoles exhibited the lowest genetic diversity (Ho = 0.266 and 0.279) and highest inbreeding (F_HOM: 0.283 and 0.249; F_ROH: 0.199 and 0.202). Merilin and Corriedale showed the highest genetic diversity (Ho = 0.351 and 0.364), while Brazilian Creoles had the highest Ho (0.327) among Creoles. Short runs of homozygosity (ROH) segments (≤4 Mb) predominated, with San Miguel National Park and INIA Las Brujas Creoles exhibiting the highest numbers of ROH (22 773 and 16 762, respectively). Fixation index (Fst) and Reynolds distances highlighted INIA Las Brujas Creoles and Soay as the most distinct (0.318 and 0.321, respectively). INIA Las Brujas Creoles also showed notable differentiation from San Miguel National Park Creoles (Fst = 0.269; Reynolds = 0.272). Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed clear clustering, with Corriedale and Merilin closely related (Fst = 0.060; Reynolds = 0.068). Admixture analysis indicated distinct ancestries for Soay, Corriedale and San Miguel National Park Creoles, while commercial and Brazilian Creoles showed significant admixture. INIA Las Brujas Creoles exhibited a distinct ancestry with traces of Corriedale. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the divergence between Creole and Corriedale/Merilin populations. Results suggest the historical genetic exchange among INIA Las Brujas Creoles, Corriedale, and commercial farms Creoles, while high differentiation of San Miguel National Park Creoles reflects their closed status since 1929.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) extract on in vitro rumen fermentation, fatty acid profile, and microbial population. Rumen fluid was obtained from three female dairy goats fed a similar diet of 60% Napier grass and 40% commercial pellets. The substrate used for the fermentation was a Napier grass and commercial pellet mixture (60 : 40 in dry matter) and the treatment diets were: CON (substrate without OPEFB extract), OPEFB-5 (substrate with 5% of OPEFB extract), OPEFB-10 (substrate with 10% of OPEFB extract). The characteristics of rumen fermentation including pH, fermentation kinetics, total gas production, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, fatty acid (FA) production, and microbial populations were examined. Results showed that OPEFB supplementation decreased rumen acetate concentration, increased isoacid concentrations as well as palmitic acid concentration. Meanwhile, the population of total bacteria, protozoa, and B. fibrisolvens decreased with the OPEFB supplementation. OPEFB-5 resulted in a moderate amount of acetate, isobutyrate, isovalerate concentration, insoluble fraction of gas production (but degradable), estimated potential gas production as well as B. fibrisolvens population when compared with the control and OPEFB-10 diet. Therefore it is suggested that the supplementation of OPEFB extract at 5% is suitable and practical to be used in ruminant feed without causing an imperative effect on rumen fermentation.

This research explores the addition of mangrove (Sonneratia alba) fruit to reduce the production of methane and the total population of protozoa. The dosage for adding mangrove fruit is 0% (without addition), 1.5%, 3%, and 4.5% in sugarcane tops-based feed. Results include ruminal product fermentation, gas and methane emissions, total protozoa, microbial protein production, microbial biomass, and nutrient digestibility. The research findings showed that an additional 1.5% to 4.5% dose can reduce methane gas emissions and the total number of protozoa. The total number of protozoa at 4.5% (T3) reached 9.89 × 10⁴ cells/ml and methane gas was 56.1 ml/g DM (dry matter); 8.41 ml/g OM (organic matter). This effect is attributed to the tannin content in mangrove fruit, which exhibits antimicrobial properties. However, increasing doses also reduced nutrient digestibility. The findings suggest that incorporating 1.5–4.5% mangrove (Sonnetaria alba) fruit as a source of tannins causes a positive impact which reduces protozoa populations and methane production without changing the ruminal fermentation product. However, the addition of mangrove fruit in this study caused also reduced nutrient digestibility.

This study evaluated the potential of spent coffee grounds extract (CGE) as an antioxidant supplement in the diet of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four experimental diets with varying CGE levels were formulated: 0% (CGE0, control), 2% (CGE2), 4% (CGE4), and 6% (CGE6). Nile tilapia (initial mean body weight = 38.65 ± 0.85 g) were cultured in fiberglass tanks at a stocking density of 20 fish/m² under continuous aeration. The fish were fed three times daily at 5% of their total body weight. After an 8-week experimental period, the fish fed CGE-supplemented diets exhibited significantly higher growth rate compared to the control group, with CGE4 showing the most pronounced improvement in final body weight (P = 0.027) and weight gain (P = 0.050). However, no significant differences were observed in average daily growth (P = 0.054), specific growth rate (P = 0.256), survival rate (P = 0.487), and feed conversion ratio (P = 0.105) between the dietary treatments. Fish on the CGE6 diet exhibited the highest total plasma protein (P = 0.001) and immunoglobulin levels (P = 0.000). Moreover, CGE supplementation enhanced superoxide dismutase (P = 0.000) and glutathione peroxidase (P = 0.016) activities relative to the control group. The histopathological analysis showed significantly longer intestinal villi in fish fed CGE-supplemented diets, with the longest villi observed in the CGE6 group (P = 0.000). Fish fillets from the CGE6 group exhibited the highest springiness, while hardness was comparable between CGE6 and CGE4 but significantly higher than in CGE2 and CGE0. Additionally, CGE supplementation significantly influenced the colour expression, increasing lightness (L*) while decreasing redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) values. These findings indicate that 4% CGE supplementation is the most effective concentration, as it significantly promotes growth as evidenced by the highest weight gain, while also enhancing blood biochemical parameters, flesh quality, and antioxidative responses in Nile tilapia.

Cattle identification systems are advancing to meet the growing demands of precision livestock management, traceability, and ethical animal treatment. This study investigates three methods: body texture recognition, QR code collars, and numerical labelling, implemented using the YOLOv8 convolutional neural network. Each method was evaluated in terms of accuracy, scalability, adaptability to dynamic herd changes, and operational efficiency under various environmental conditions. Body texture recognition, while leveraging unique natural patterns and achieving a mean Average Precision (mAP50–95) of 0.78 proved limited by its reliance on frequent dataset retraining to accommodate changes in herd composition and susceptibility to misidentification in larger herds. QR code collars demonstrated adaptability in dynamic herds by enabling pre-trained convolutional neural networks to assign reserved codes to new animals without retraining, while removing animals involves simply deleting their codes from the system. This approach also achieved an mAP50–95 of 0.71, which was lower than the body texture-based approach, but offered greater flexibility in herd management. Despite this adaptability, this method demonstrated significant challenges in real-world environments. Occlusion caused by feeders, barriers, or animal movements, along with low-resolution imaging and poor lighting conditions, can compromise detection accuracy, particularly in larger herds with obstructive barn layouts. The numerical labelling method emerged as the most effective solution to dynamic cattle identification, achieving the highest mAP50–95 of 0.84. It provided a scalable and highly accurate approach that integrates seamlessly with automated systems. Unlike traditional body marking techniques such as ear notching and branding, numerical labelling is less invasive, painless, and highly scalable, aligning with ethical livestock management practices while maintaining consistent accuracy across diverse environmental conditions.

This study evaluated the effects of feeding European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) that developed from the fingerling to juvenile stage a diet supplemented with a blend of Padina sp. and GroBiotic^®-A over a 12-week period. A total of 480 fish (initial weight: 2.08 ± 0.06 g) were randomly allocated to four groups, each comprising three replicates. The fish were fed to satiation with diets containing varying proportions of Padina sp. and GroBiotic^®-A: 0% Padina sp. and 0% GroBiotic^®-A (0P0G), 1% Padina sp. and 1% GroBiotic^®-A (1P1G), 2% Padina sp. and 1% GroBiotic^®-A (2P1G), and 4% Padina sp. and 1% GroBiotic^®-A (4P1G). The 4P1G group demonstrated significant improvements in growth performance parameters, including final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in other parameters including feed conversion ratio, visceral somatic index, and survival rate (P > 0.05). Histological analysis of liver and intestinal tissues showed no pathological alterations (P > 0.05); more likely, only adaptive and non-pathological morphological changes such as moderate lipid vacuolisation and preserved mucosal structure were noted. Furthermore, dietary supplementation of the Padina sp. and GroBiotic^®-A blend significantly upregulated the expression of growth-related genes, specifically growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the combination of Padina sp. and GroBiotic^®-A has a synergistic potential to enhance the growth performance without inducing digestive disturbances. Nevertheless, further studies are recommended to assess its effects on fish grown to market size before commercial application.

Mastitis is a complex, common and economically problematic issue in dairy cattle production. In this study, breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1) genes were taken as candidate genes for mastitis resistance. This study investigated whether BRCA1 and TLR1 genes were associated with milk production traits (daily milk yield, fat, and protein content) and somatic cell score (SCS). A total of 105 cows (25 Holstein, 48 Simmental, and 32 crossbred Holstein) were genotyped using the PCR-RFLP method. Cows with the BRCA1 c.46126G>T GG genotype had significantly lower SCS than the other genotypes. The TLR1 g.60438363C>T SNP influenced the protein content in all cows, with genotype CC having a higher content than TC. The same SNP in the Simmental breed showed that cows with the CC genotype had significantly higher SCS than the heterozygote. Cows with the GG genotype of TLR1 g.60437324A>G had significantly lower SCS and higher fat and protein content than the heterozygote. The results of this study indicate that BRCA1 c.46126G>T and TLR1 g.60437324A>G SNPs could be useful for improving mastitis resistance in dairy cattle through marker-assisted selection.

The experiment was done on 180 (2 × 90) Cherry Valley ducks that were fattened until 42 days of age with parity of females and males in the group. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of substituting dehulled lupin seed meal, Zulika variety, for soybean meal and its impact on the fatty acid content of breast and thigh muscle fat. Feeding lupin diets resulted in a significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in Cherry Valley ducks, as well as significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 (PUFA n-3) in breast and thigh muscle fat. There was no effect of the tested diets on PUFA n-6 content in muscle fat. The results confirm that lupin meal in the diet enhances the dietary value of Cherry Valley duck muscle due to the higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, with respect to the use of duck meat for human consumption.