Ruminants

An outbreak of acute mastitis was investigated in a dairy sheep farm in Central Greece with a prevalence of 8.2%. Two animals were examined with symptoms of hyperacute inflammation in one of the two mammary glands. Affected glands presented swollen to grossly enlarged, warm and painful. In both animals, haematological examination revealed mild anaemia, increased leucocyte counts with mature neutropaenia and left shift, and marked thrombocytosis. Bacteriological examinations of mammary gland secretion yielded heavy growth of Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Escherichia coli from each of the two animals, respectively. Serological examination revealed a high percentage of positive samples for small ruminant lentivirus infection in both animals. The somatic cell count in the bulk-tank milk was 0.65 × 10⁶ cells/mL. The housing conditions were inadequate with high levels of ammonia, intense stocking and muddy bedding. This pathological condition in nulliparous ewes was attributed to the extensive oedema of mammary gland and teat, the relaxation of immunity during the peri-parturient period and the heavily contaminated environment. These findings are in general agreement with corresponding incidents in heifers. Following our instructions for improving housing conditions, no other similar incidents were recorded. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intake, digestibility, water balance and growth performance of lambs receiving diets containing cactus silage under an intermittent water supply. Thirty-six male, uncastrated Santa Inês lambs with an initial weight of 19.8 ± 2.1 kg and age of 6 months were distributed in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, with three proportions of cactus pear in the diets (0 (control diet containing Tifton hay), 21% and 42% of dry matter) and three periods of intermittent water supply (0, 24 and 48 h), with four repetitions. Lambs that received diets non-isonitrogenous with cactus silage showed higher intakes of dry matter (p < 0.001), total digestible nutrients (p < 0.001), water excretion via faeces (p < 0.001) and water balance (p < 0.001). Lambs that received diets with cactus silage showed higher digestibility of total carbohydrates, non-fibre carbohydrates (p = 0.005), water intake via food (p < 0.001), total water intake (p < 0.001), water excretion via urine (p < 0.001) and water balance (p < 0.05), when compared to the control diet. Lambs that received diets with cactus silage promoted growth performance (p = 0.001). When using 42% forage cactus silage in place of Tifton hay and water offered at 48 h intervals, intake, digestibility, and performance of feedlot lambs were improved. Full article

In general, the lying behaviour of dairy goats follows a circadian progression. As lying times might have an effect on the health, performance and welfare of dairy goats, housing conditions and management practices should follow circadian behavioural patterns. In the present study, a mixed horned herd of Bunte Deutsche Edelziege was used. Goats were housed in a commercial dairy goat farm in south Germany. During two lactation periods, 20 goats in each period were fitted with an accelerometer to detect lying behaviour. To analyse the accelerometer data, a mixed linear model was used. The highest frequencies of lying bouts (FLBs) occurred in the afternoon, and the lowest ones occurred during milking. Generally, the least square means ± SE of the FLB counts per goat ranged between 1.72 ± 0.07 (20:00–21:59 P.M.) and 2.87 ± 0.07 (12:00–13:59 P.M.). The longest lying bouts (LBD) occurred at night, and lying bouts remained relatively short in the afternoon between milking times. The maximum LBD was 52.20 ± 0.01 min/bout (at night, 02:00–03:59 A.M.), and the shortest duration was 14.31 ± 0.01 min/bout (during morning milking, 08:00–09:59 A.M.). The interactions of time and month had a significant impact on FLB and LBD (p < 0.0001), and so did the interactions of horn status and time (p < 0.05). Further research is necessary to analyse the lying behaviour of dairy goats in more detail to improve management practices. Full article

We aimed to test the associative effects among forages, and between forage and concentrates on the in vitro digestibility of dry matter and neutral detergent fibre using an artificial ruminal fermentation system. The study consisted of two assays, in which associative effects were evaluated among three forages, sugarcane, maize silage, and Tifton 85 hay under two incubation conditions (single feed or all feeds together in a jar), and the associative effects between sugarcane and soybean meal and/or ground maize. For the first assay, sugarcane digestibility increased (p < 0.02), whereas the maize silage digestibility decreased (p < 0.01) when forages were incubated together in the same jar. Tifton hay digestibility was not altered (p ≥ 0.57) by the incubation condition. In the second assay, the sugarcane digestibility was depressed (p < 0.05) when the forage was incubated along with maize grain. For both assays, the pattern of repeatability for digestibility estimates presented an influence of the incubation condition. We concluded that the incubation of different feeds together in the same jar using artificial fermenters causes associative effects among them. These effects can influence the estimates of in vitro dry matter and fibre digestibility and alter their repeatability. Full article

The overall objective of this study was to determine the dose response to four levels of cashew nut shell extract in a granulated form (CNSE, containing 59% anacardic acid and 18% cardol) on culture pH, rumen fermentation metabolites, and apparent nutrient digestibility in continuous culture fermenters. The study was conducted as a generalized randomized complete block design with four treatments and four replications per treatment. The four treatments were randomly assigned to eight fermenters for two incubation runs of 10 d. Treatments consisted of (1) Control (CO, no CNSE), (2) Control plus 100 ppm of CNSE, (3) Control plus 200 ppm of CNSE, and (4) Control plus 300 ppm of CNSE. Fermenters were fed 52 g/d (DM basis) of a total mixed ration (TMR; 17.0% crude protein (CP), 29.7% NDF, and 29.9% starch), divided between two feedings at 0800 and 2000 h. The apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were not affected by CNSE supplementation. Similarly, CNSE had no effect on culture pH, total volatile fatty acids (VFA) or individual VFA molar proportions. These results suggest that at the dosages evaluated in this study, CNSE has no impact on the rumen fermentation profile and the apparent nutrient digestibility under continuous culture conditions. Full article

The lipidome is a key determinant of structural and functional characteristics of tissues, contributing to optimal gut function and efficiency of nutrient use in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Our objective was to study lipidomic profiles in different sections of the GIT in lactating dairy cows and to link them with biological functions. We studied the lipid species in ruminal papillae and epithelium from duodenum, jejunum, and ileum harvested after slaughter from five lactating Holstein cows. Extracted lipids were identified by LC/MS/MS and analyzed via Lipidsearch, Metaboanalyst 5.0, and lipid ontology (LION). Of 1259 lipid species identified across the GIT, 387, 565, 193, and 86 were neutral lipids, phospholipids, sphingolipids, and derivatized lipids, respectively. Among the 1223 lipid species common to the GIT, a PLS-DA analysis revealed similar profiles for jejunum and ileum and discriminated them from rumen and duodenum. The content of 12 out of 28 lipid classes differed (p < 0.05) among GIT sections. The average fatty acid chain length in lipid species spanned from 9 to 37 carbons, and the average degree of unsaturation ranged from 0 to 6. The term ‘membrane component’ from LION analysis differed markedly between the rumen and the small intestine. Future studies will help better understand what factors (function or cellular component) in a given section of the GIT are related to the different lipid species. This is the first description of the lipidome profiles across sections of the GIT in lactating dairy cows. The unique lipidome profiles uncovered distinct structural and functional properties across the bovine GIT, which may impact the efficiency of nutrient use. Full article

Phosphorus (P) deficiency impairs productivity of ruminants and is the most expensive mineral used in supplements for cattle and buffalo under Brazilian grazing conditions. There is a need for the rational use of P, particularly under extensive grazing conditions, as this mineral resource is expensive and the world’s supplies are exhaustible. The diagnosis of P deficiency must start with careful and detailed history taking, followed by clinical examination of the herd and the use of ancillary tests. The latter are complementary to the diagnosis; they should be neither the first nor the most important steps when conducting a professional diagnosis. The indication of corrective or prophylactic measures necessarily involves the correct diagnosis of P deficiency (in herds), whether it be clinical or subclinical. This review discusses the main aspects related to P for cattle and buffaloes under grazing conditions in Brazil. Full article

Ketosis is a metabolic disorder associated with high production and low energy intake in dairy cows. Fat reserves are mobilized, and gluconeogenesis occurs. Traditionally, rapid tests for blood, milk or urine are used to detect increased ketone body levels in case of ketosis. Breath analysis is relatively new and relevant for the development of automatic sensor systems for early warning. This study aims to determine whether and when a postpartum rise in ketone bodies occurs in breath with elevated blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in cows at risk of ketosis. Postpartum breath, blood, urine and milk samples were taken daily until day 7, with one prepartum sample excluding milk, and ketone body concentrations were determined. Concentrations of blood BHB were 0.4–2.6 mmol/L (lab) and 0.3–3.1 mmol/L (rapid test), breath acetone was 2.3–20.0 ppm, urine acetoacetate 0–8 mmol/L and milk BHB 0–500 µmol/L. A rise in blood BHB was related to that in urine acetoacetate and milk BHB and followed by a rise in breath acetone. However, breath acetone levels of ketotic and non-ketotic cows were similar. We conclude that rising ketone bodies can be detected in blood, urine, milk and breath, but to use breath analysis as an alternative to rapid tests, longitudinal sampling is needed. Full article

Rumen fluke (RF) are trematode parasites that have increased in prevalence within European ruminant livestock since the 1990s. Morbidity and mortality can result from the development of juvenile flukes in the duodenum, however, evidence for significant impacts of adult fluke in the rumen of the final host is equivocal. The presence of rumen fluke in Scotland had not previously been quantified, so the purpose of this study was to use historical coprological data collected between 2008 and 2018 at the School of Veterinary Medicine in Glasgow to evaluate the frequency of rumen fluke infection and to compare this with the presence of liver fluke. This analysis showed evidence of adult rumen fluke in 6.6% of samples submitted, with a substantial and significant increase in positive diagnoses from 2016, following which positive rumen fluke diagnoses equaled or slightly outnumbered those of liver fluke. A prospective post-mortem examination study was also carried out to determine the presence of rumen and liver fluke in cattle and sheep, to quantify adult rumen fluke burdens and to assess any pathological changes in the reticulorumen and proximal duodenum associated with infection. The presence of rumen fluke in post-mortem cases was 26.9% (n = 18/67), the majority (66.7%, n = 12/18) with burdens of less than 100 adult rumen flukes. There was no significant difference in mean ruminal papillar density and length in animals with and without adult rumen fluke and no significant gross pathology was observed in the rumen or reticulum. Examination of animals with adult rumen fluke provided no evidence of any consistent associations with acute or chronic inflammatory changes in the duodenum. All rumen fluke collected at necropsy were identified by PCR and sequencing as Calicophoron daubneyi. Full article

The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of the dietary inclusion of flaxseed oil and ascorbic acid on the reproductive performance of South African indigenous sheep (Ovis aries). Twenty-two matured South African indigenous rams (eight BaPedi, nine Zulu, and five Namaqua Afrikaner; age of 6 years and body weight of 64.4 ± 1.6 kg) were randomly assigned into five treatment groups (NC (standard diet), PC (basal diet), FO (5% flaxseed oil), AA (4% ascorbic acid), and FO + AA (5% flaxseed oil + 4% ascorbic acid)). Semen samples were collected during the natural breeding season using an artificial vagina. Semen samples were evaluated for macroscopic (semen volume, pH, and sperm concentration) and microscopic (morphology, malondialdehyde, membrane permeability, and sperm cell motility parameters) characteristics. Eighty-one South African indigenous ewes were synchronized using controlled intravaginal drug devices impregnated with 0.3 g progesterone for 10 days and then injected with 300 IU of Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin. These ewes were then hand-mated. The data were subjected to the General Linear Model (GLM) in Minitub^® 2017. A cross-tabulated Chi-Squared (χ²) test was used to track the frequencies of the conception rate. Treatment means were separated using Student’s Least Significant Difference (LSD) and considered significantly different when the p-value was less than 0.05. No considerable breed effect was observed for semen volume, semen pH, sperm concentration, intact membrane, and non-intact membrane. FO + AA led to higher semen volume (1.05 ± 0.06 mL), intact sperm membranes (88.83 ± 1.27%), and low malondialdehyde levels (0.37 ± 0.04 nmol/mL) in comparison to other treatment groups. Total sperm motility was higher in FO + AA (95.81 ± 0.80%) compared to FO, AA, PC, and NC. The conception rate was higher in FO (94%), AA (94%), and FO + AA (100%) when compared to NC (71%) and PC (79%). The testosterone concentration did not differ among PC, FO, AA, and FO + AA. It was concluded that the inclusion of 5% flaxseed oil (FO and FO + AA) improves both the semen quality and the conception rate of South African indigenous sheep. Full article

The amine/phenol-metabolome of rumen fluid was analyzed to identify amino acid metabolism-related biomarkers associated with phenotypic selection for low or high residual feed intake (RFI) in beef cattle. Fourteen beef steers (most feed-efficient (HFE; RFI = −1.89 kg/d, n = 7) and least feed-efficient (LFE; RFI = +2.05 kg/d, n = 7)) were selected from a total of 56 crossbred growing beef steers (average BW = 261 ± 18.5 kg) after a 49-d feeding period in a dry lot equipped with two GrowSafe intake nodes. Rumen fluid samples were collected 4 h after feeding on d 56, 63, and 70 from the HFE and LFE beef steers. Metabolome analysis of the rumen fluid was performed using chemical isotope labeling/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify all metabolites containing amine/phenol chemical groups, which are mostly amino acid metabolites. A total of 493 metabolites were detected and identified in the rumen fluid. The partial least squares discriminant scores plot showed a slight separation between the two groups of steers, and a total of eight metabolites were found to be differentially abundant (FDR ≤ 0.05). Out of the eight differentially abundant metabolites, four metabolites (isomer 1 of cadaverine, baeocystin, 6-methyladenine, and N(6)-methyllysine) qualified as candidate biomarkers of divergent RFI phenotype based on area under the curve ≥ 0.70. The results of this study revealed that divergent RFI phenotype is associated with alteration in rumen amine/phenol-metabolome of beef steers. Full article

The objective of this study was to examine if diets differing in crude protein (CP) to metabolizable energy (ME) ratio (CP:ME) pre-weaning altered peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) measures of bone mass and strength in lambs. The left hind leg of lambs were available at the completion of a trial designed to examine the effect that altering the CP:ME ratio in milk replacer had on growth and body composition of pre-weaned lambs reared artificially. Treatments consisted of either normal commercial milk replacer (CMR, n = 10) containing 240 g/kg CP and 21.89 MJ/kg ME, high protein milk replacer (HPM, n = 9) containing CMR with additional milk protein concentrate to reach 478.7 g/kg CP and 19.15 MJ/kg ME or a mix of normal milk replacer and milk protein concentrate adjusted twice-weekly to match optimal CP:ME requirements (MB, n = 8) based on maintenance plus 300 g/d liveweight gain. At 22 kg live weight, lambs were euthanized and the tibia including the surrounding muscle was collected and scanned using pQCT at the mid-diaphysis. Lambs on the HPM and MB diets had a greater average daily gain (p < 0.01). There were limited differences in bone morphology and muscle mass, though notably the higher protein diets (MB and HPM) were associated with greater cortical thickness (p < 0.05) and, therefore, potentially greater peak bone mass at maturity This finding demonstrates that pre-weaning diets, and the protein content in particular, may influence the developmental potential of long bones and attainment of peak bone mass at maturity. Full article

This study was focused on identifying the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on an entire region of the let-7c miRNA gene with consideration of its ability to promote litter size in Markhoz goats. The Markhoz goat, the native breed in Iran, is important for its reproductive traits, such as litter size. DNA polymorphism of let-7c miRNA gene was revealed and considered for further studies for its effect on litter size in Markhoz goats. PCR-SSCP analysis investigated different band patterns for this miRNA; however, sequencing results have detected only an A to T substitution located five nucleotides downstream of the let-7c miRNA gene. The chi-squared test showed that the let-7c miRNA gene locus was out of the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and has significant effect (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the least-square analysis indicated that the let-7c miRNA gene does not affect prolificacy in the Markhoz goat (p > 0.05). In sum, all loci failed to have a significant effect on the litter size trait (p > 0.05). Moreover, years of kidding and parity had no significant impact on let-7c_S (p > 0.05); however, the let-7c_B affected the litter size trait significantly (p < 0.05). Additionally, binary logistic regression and chi-square analysis revealed that allele A of the detected SNP within 3′ UTR region of the let-7c gene had a non-significant effect on litter size in the studied goats (p > 0.05). Full article

The status of genetic diversity, adaptation to climate change or the identification of genes associated with traits of interest in livestock populations has been a major concern for scientists in the last decades. Biotechnology has evolved continuously, offering new tools and methodologies to analyse the genomes of livestock species. Biochemical markers or protein polymorphisms were the tools used for population studies many years ago, but over the last three decades the methodologies available to analyse livestock genomes have changed notably. The development of DNA molecular markers, especially microsatellites and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, opened new possibilities for a better understanding of livestock genomes, unthinkable until recently. However, Whole-Genome Sequencing technologies or genome editing techniques are changing the way to analyse or interact with the genomes, even before full advantage can be taken of all the possibilities open by the last group of molecular markers. The aim of this review is to summarize the opportunities available through livestock genome analysis in cattle and small ruminant populations, namely through the molecular markers most widely used over the last few years, including microsatellites and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms. Full article

Twelve 5-year-old beef steers, with an average weight of 2000 lbs., fitted with rumen canulae were used in a 4 × 4 incomplete Latin square design to examine the impact of the direct fed microbial Propionibacterium acidipropionici CP 88 (PA) on rumen fermentation characteristics, in vitro CH₄, CO₂, and N₂ production, and in vivo CH₄ and CO₂ production. All steers were housed in the same pen equipped with eight GrowSafe feeding stations to monitor individual animal feed intake and one GreenFeed System to estimate individual animal CH₄ and CO₂ production. Steers were fed a corn-silage-based diet throughout the experiment. Treatments consisted of PA administered at: (1) control (0.0); (2) 1.0 × 10⁸; (3) 1.0 × 10⁹; and (4) 1.0 × 10¹⁰ cfu∙animal⁻¹∙day (d)⁻¹. Treatments were administered directly into the rumen as a single bolus dose daily. On day 7 and 14 of each period, rumen fluid was collected from each steer 2 h post treatment administration for VFA analysis and in vitro DM digestibility determination. Following a 14 d washout period, animal treatments were switched and the experiment repeated until the 4 × 4 Latin square was complete. In vivo propionic acid molar proportions and total VFA concentrations were greater (p < 0.05) in steers receiving PA when compared with controls. All other in vivo rumen fermentation characteristics were similar across treatments. In vitro DM disappearance (p < 0.05) and total VFA (p < 0.05) were greater and CH₄ lesser (p < 0.04) in fermentation vessels incubated with rumen fluid from animals receiving PA when compared with controls. Dry matter disappearance (p < 0.03) and propionic acid molar proportions increased (p < 0.04) linearly as the dose of PA increased. In vitro total VFA tended (p < 0.08) to increase linearly and CH₄ production per unit of DM digested tended (p < 0.09) to decrease quadratically in response to PA dose. All other in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics were similar across treatments. These data indicate that PA impacts in vivo and in vitro rumen fermentation characteristics. Full article

Alkaline phosphatase is used as the main marker in the evaluation of successful milk pasteurization, although there is concern about whether this method is appropriate for non-cow milk. We systematically reviewed articles related to ALP in non-cow milk and dairy products. From a total of 183 studies retrieved, 31 articles were included in the review. Our study shows that most research is focused on goat and sheep milk, while other species are rather neglected as far as the use of ALP as a milk safety marker is concerned. More evidence on ALP kinetics is required for non-cow milk and its products and on alternative pasteurization-efficiency markers, such as other enzymes, as these issues are crucial for consumer health. Full article

This study examined the relationship between GHE5 polymorphisms and growth and carcass characteristics of meat-type sheep breeds reared in Turkey. A total of 202 lambs were tested, consisting of five breeds. By SSCP analysis and nucleotide sequencing, 14 nucleotide changes (12 substitutions and two deletions) were identified in four variants of GHE5. In the coding region of GHE5, five substitutions occur, including c.1588C>Y(C/T) (Ala160Val), c.1603A>M(A/C), c.1604G>S(G/C) (Lys165Thr), c.1606A>W(A/T) (Gln166Leu), and c.1664C>Y(C/T). P3 female and P1 male lambs had the highest rump height at weaning, whereas P3 females and P2 males had the highest chest depth (p < 0.05). At yearling, P1 variant lambs have longer body length (BL; p < 0.05), wider leg circumferences, and thinner cannon bone perimeter (CBP) (p > 0.01), in contrast to P2 variant lambs, which have a shorter BL and thicker CBP. Furthermore, P2 had a greater percentage of neck, shoulder, and leg, P1 had a greater percentage of loin, and P3 had a greater percentage of rack, but there was no significant difference between them. A marker-assisted selection approach can be used to improve sheep carcass quality traits by taking advantage of the nucleotide substitutions found on GHE5 and the detected differences between variants. Full article

Residual feed intake (RFI) is the preferred measurement for feed efficiency in beef cattle, but it is laborious to determine. Data from two experiments of growing bulls (test period durations of 56 and 63 days) were used to examine how a reduction in the number of times the animals were weighed and the shortening of the length of the observation period affect the reliability of the RFI determination. We introduce two easily understandable probability measures for assessing reliability. ‘The consistency of the pair-wise ranks’ gives the probability that the rank of any two animals compared remains the same when the amount of data is reduced. ‘The consistency of the thirds’ gives the probabilities that an individual animal will remain in the same, i.e., the lowest, middle, or highest, third of animals. The reliability of the results was not greatly affected when the weighing interval was reduced from one week to four weeks. However, shortening the test period resulted in a marked reduction in the reliability of RFI. If individual feed intake is automatically measured, the workload required for RFI measurements can most effectively be reduced by reducing the number of weighing times but keeping the duration of the test period long enough. Full article