Animal Research and One Health最新文献

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a lipid messenger, propagates its signals by interacting with its intracellular targets or is transported to autocrine/paracrine to activate its cell surface receptors. In the female reproductive system, the homeostasis of S1P plays an important role in ovarian follicular development. Our recent studies show that S1P emerges as a functional mediator of LH-EGFR signaling from cumulus cells to oocytes: elevating calcium levels in cumulus cells to induce oocyte meiotic maturation, and activating Akt/mTOR cascade reaction to promote oocyte developmental competence. Thus, S1P might be applied to promote oocyte maturation in animals and humans.

High stocking density and suboptimal conditions limit animal behaviors in modern livestock farming. This is particularly evident in captive animals, in which the motivation for foraging behavior is often thwarted. Oral stereotypic behaviors are common in farm animals. Ruminants (e.g., cattle and sheep) show oral stereotypic behaviors such as tongue-rolling, self-sucking, and inter-sucking. Captive pigs exhibit oral stereotypic behaviors such as bar-biting, sham-chewing, and ear-biting. Chickens peck at drinkers, feeders, and pens. Stereotypic behavior in livestock can be reduced by selecting a specific diet composition that prolongs their eating time and increases their satiety. Furthermore, reducing stocking density and enriching the farming environment encourage livestock to explore and reduce stereotypic behavior. It is important to note that stereotypic behavior is also influenced by organismal physiology. Stereotypic behavior was considered an indicator of poor animal welfare. However, recent research has revealed that animals engage in stereotypic behavior as a response to external stimuli, aiming to alleviate the negative impact of these stimuli on their well-being. Animals that frequently show stereotypic behavior may have higher levels of stress. Certain stress indicators also affect the expression of stereotypic behavior, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine and dopamine. Consequently, further investigation is necessary to understand how stereotypic behaviors affect the physiological state and metabolic processes of animals. This paper discusses the research progress on the oral stereotypic behaviors of farm animals. The objective is to establish a foundation for enhancing livestock feeding conditions and optimizing feeding practices, ultimately reducing stereotypic behaviors.

In intensive poultry production, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria, addressing the issues of agricultural waste and feed costs for farmers is crucial. This study explores a solution by incorporating cassava waste into broiler chicken diets. The research examines its effects on economic factors, growth performance, carcass yield, and agricultural waste utilization over 8 weeks. Three hundred broiler chickens were divided into three groups: a control group without cassava waste and two treatment groups with 10% and 15% cassava waste inclusion. Results showed that a 10% inclusion improved key performance indicators such as weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and carcass weight, while a 15% inclusion was less efficient than the control. Economically, diets with 10% and 15% cassava tuber waste were more cost-effective than the control, emphasizing the economic benefits of cassava-based diets for broiler chickens, and offering a sustainable, cost-efficient feeding option for poultry farmers.

China has a rich cultural heritage spanning thousands of years, and the significance of animal welfare and sustainability are reflected in China's diverse traditional philosophies, beliefs, and literature. These concepts have shaped Chinese people's perception of nature and treatment of animals throughout history. In this article, we will explore how animal welfare and sustainability are reflected in traditional Chinese culture, and discuss their significance and implication in modern Chinese society.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of tannic acid (TA) derived from gallnut supplementation on growth performance and health status of weaned piglets. A total of 432 weanling piglets (7.05 ± 1.05 kg) were randomly allocated into 4 treatment groups with 6 replicates of 18 pigs/pen. Piglets were fed either a basal diet (CON), or basal diets supplemented with 1.5 kg/t TA, 3.0 kg/t TA, or 1.8 kg/t zinc oxide (ZnO) for 21 days. The results showed that, compared to the CON, dietary TA supplementation did not affect (p > 0.05) growth performance and serum biochemistry of weaned piglets. However, 3.0 kg/t TA had higher SOD, GPX, and CAT activities and a lower MDA concentration in the jejunum than those of the CON or the ZnO group. Meanwhile, 3.0 kg/t TA increased (p < 0.05) villus height and villus height/crypt depth, and decreased (p < 0.05) crypt depth in the small intestine. Dietary TA also downregulated (p < 0.05) IL-1β and TNF-α expression in jejunum. Furthermore, 3.0 kg/t TA reduced (p < 0.05) the abundance of Candidatus Brocadia and Escherichia-Shigella in cecal digesta. Notably, both Candidatus Brocadia and Escherichia-Shigella had a negative correlation with antioxidant enzymes activities (R < −0.60, p < 0.01), but Escherichia-Shigella was positively correlated with MDA concentrations (R = 0.44, p < 0.05) in the jejunum. In conclusion, compared to the CON, 3.0 kg/t TA supplementation improved the gut health status of weaned piglets, potentially by regulating redox homeostasis and gut microbiota.

Fish health assessment is essential for maintaining sustainable aquatic ecosystems and ensuring the well-being of wild and farmed fish populations. Hematological parameters are crucial indicators of fish health, with poikilocytosis emerging as a fundamental marker with significant diagnostic value. Poikilocytosis refers to abnormally shaped erythrocytes in bloodstream, reflecting underlying physiological and pathological conditions. Poikilocytosis can occur in various fish species and can be influenced by environmental stressors, infectious agents, nutritional deficiencies, and exposure to pollutants. Morphological alterations in erythrocytes, such as acanthocytes, echinocytes, dacrocytes, schistocytes, spherocytes, and codocytes are common poikilocytes in fish. Understanding the relationship between poikilocytosis and fish health has important implications for disease diagnosis, monitoring, surveillance, and management. By quantifying poikilocytic changes, researchers and veterinarians can differentiate normal variations from pathological conditions, facilitating targeted interventions and treatment strategies. While most studies have focused on heavy metal toxicity, stressors, nutritional deficiencies, pollutants, and therapeutics, the etiological induction of poikilocytosis in fish health has been overlooked. Nonetheless, poikilocytosis remains a valuable biomarker for assessing fish health and their environment. This review highlights piscine poikilocytosis as a significant fish hematological biomarker and its importance in understanding their health and culture conditions.

Protecting crude protein in the rumen may reduce extensive protein degradation and ammonia emission and increase available bypass protein in ruminants. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of two Bioprotect (15 and 30 mL/kg dry matter (DM)) and two tannin extract (TE) (20 and 40 g/kg DM) inclusion rates on protein protection and in vitro fermentation characteristics of canola and soybean meals incubated for 24 h using an ANKOM in vitro gas production system. The treated canola and soybean meals produced lower soluble protein (fraction ‘a’) and larger slowly degradable protein (fraction ‘b’) than its untreated counterparts, p < 0.01. However, the 20 g/kg DM TE inclusion showed lowest effect on the amount of protein fractions ‘a’ and ‘b’ in both meals compared to their other treated counterparts. The increasing concentration of additives reduced the total volatile fatty acids (VFA), p < 0.001. The effects of additives differed between the treatments as 15 mL/kg DM Bioprotect and 20 g/kg DM TE did not affect the acetic to propionic acid ratio (A:P) and the time before gas production began. The increase in fraction ‘b’ and reduction in protein fraction ‘a’ confirm successful protein protection in this experiment. However, the extensive reduction in ammonia-N and in vitro degradable protein after using 30 mL/kg DM Bioprotect suggests possible toxicity to the microbes responsible for protein digestion in higher doses. Therefore, 15 mL/kg DM Bioprotect and 40 g/kg DM TE could be promising protein protection doses for in vitro experiments.

Mouse modeling could offer a powerful in vivo investigation tool for validating the functional role of candidate genes and genomic variants detected in animal and livestock species via multi-omic analyses. In this Commentary, the authors discuss the potential of transgenic and genome-edited mice as significant models for validating the outcomes of livestock genomic and multi-omic analyses.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in various sectors has led to significant advancements, with the animal industry being no exception. This review aims to investigate the benefits, limitations, and future prospects of AI technology in improving animal welfare. First, it examines the role of AI in understanding animal behaviors and emotions, providing deeper insights into their well-being and sources of stress. Next, the paper explores how AI can revolutionize animal nutrition through innovative algorithms and data analytics. The health aspect emphasizes the ability of AI to identify and manage illnesses through intelligent systems. This review also highlights the application of AI in improving animal living conditions, with a focus on environmental management and automated cleaning and disinfection systems. In conclusion, the review emphasizes AI-driven techniques for early prediction, close monitoring, and accurate diagnosis of animal diseases, ensuring healthier and more sustainable livestock management. By leveraging its advantages, addressing limitations, and exploring future directions, AI has the potential to significantly enhance animal welfare, sustainable agriculture, and veterinary practices.

The oceans, teeming with life, have long been a crucial source of sustenance. Abundant in fish and salt and easily accessible by boat, the ocean has not only facilitated trade and communication but also served as a reliable source of food for human beings. As terrestrial agriculture grapples with challenges such as land degradation, water scarcity, and ecological damage, attention is increasingly turning to the ocean. As the Earth's largest ecosystem, the ocean hosts a wealth of resources, particularly in terms of biodiversity. China, an exploiting pioneer of marine resources, has emerged as the world's leading provider of aquaculture products, with two-thirds of its seafood coming from aquaculture. China's shift from traditional fishing to systematic marine agriculture offers a new model for the global community. Central to this strategic shift is the concept of “Marine Ranching,” which views the ocean as a vast, ecologically managed farm. Successfully implementing this concept is crucial for ensuring food security, protecting ecological equilibrium, and driving economic progress. It also presents some innovative opportunities to explore the “Greater Food” approach, utilizing new spaces, methods, and technologies.

However, “Marine Ranching” goes beyond simply transferring terrestrial farming practices to marine environments. It represents the innovative development of aquatic production models based on a comprehensive understanding and protection of the marine ecology. This encompasses systems for breeding high-quality species, implementing sustainable farming practices, disease prevention and control, as well as advancements in pre and postproduction processing and quality management. The continuous, open, and intricate nature of marine ecosystems presents challenges in their management and monitoring. Ensuring the reasonable scale, ecological capacity, balance, and biological health of “Marine Ranching” across vast ocean areas demands extensive technological development and exploratory practice. Furthermore, the development of “Marine Ranching” is a multidisciplinary and multifaceted challenge, requiring interdisciplinary collaboration in aquatic biology, ecology, environmental science, biotechnology, engineering equipment, and information technology. Additionally, we must promote open integration, sharing, and application of data throughout the entire fishery industry chain, with the goal of achieving a harmonious balance among economy, ecological environment, and social benefits.

This special issue on “Marine Ranching” aims to serve as a platform for scholarly exchange in this field, facilitating the dissemination of the latest developments, discoveries, technological innovations, and perspectives in marine agro-pastoral research. Drawing on these academic studies, we can continuously refine related technologies and establish a scientific, efficient, and sustainable blue granary production system. Globally, nations encounter s