This study aimed to investigate the meat quality attributes and expression patterns of meat quality-regulating genes of two Indian indigenous sheep breeds. Meat quality indicators and expression patterns of four candidate genes (CAST, CAPN, CEBPB, SCD), involved in meat tenderness, intramuscular fat (IMF) and fatty acid (FA) composition in the longissimus dorsi muscle of healthy rams of Nellore (n=4) and Deccani (n=4) sheep breeds aged between 9-12 months, were measured. The Nellore breed exhibited lower cooking loss, pH, moisture, and shear force, and higher protein. The Nellore breed exhibited higher crude protein content (p<0.05), while the Deccani breed showed higher crude fat content (p<0.05) and moisture (p<0.05). Further, fatty acid composition varied among breeds, with the Deccani breed exhibiting a healthier profile than the Nellore breed. Relative expression of the CAST, SCD and CEBPB genes was 5.51, 3.04, and 3.08-fold higher in the Deccani breed (p<0.05) compared to the Nellore breed, respectively. Significant correlations were observed between gene expression and meat quality traits. The IMF and FA composition demonstrated a strong positive correlation (p<0.05) with CEBPB and SCD expression. Moreover, in the Nellore breed, WBSF exhibited a strong negative correlation (p<0.05) with CAPN expression. This study demonstrated clear differences between the two sheep breeds evaluated under extensive feeding systems. The Deccani breed offers superior IMF and flavour potential, along with a high amount of desirable fatty acids. Conversely, the Nellore breed's balanced proteolytic activity and leaner composition made it favourable for tenderness.

In modern swine breeding, there has been a shift from maximizing productivity to improving quality to enhance overall efficiency. A key goal is achieving a balance between litter size and piglet birth weight. This study focused on Danish Large White pigs and aimed to evaluate a novel placental efficiency (PEA) index based on placental area (PA) as a biologically relevant and measurable trait for breeding programs. The study integrated genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to explore the genetic relationship and potential causal direction between the proposed PEA index and piglet birth weight (BW). The investigation was conducted using data from 113 piglets. Analysis revealed a significant positive causal effect of PEA on birth weight. Nine significant SNPs and eight candidate genes (MARVELD3, CMTR2, TLE7, CHST4, TAT, ZNF23, CALB2, PHLPP2) were identified. Functional enrichment analysis indicated these genes synergistically regulate placental function: TAT is involved in amino acid metabolism and energy homeostasis; CALB2 may influence trophoblast signaling and placental vascular function via calcium regulation; CHST4 participates in extracellular matrix modification at the maternal-fetal interface; MARVELD3 contributes to placental barrier maintenance; CMTR2 and TLE7 are involved in RNA modification and transcriptional regulation; ZNF23 may regulate cell cycle and differentiation; and PHLPP2 influences cell survival and metabolic adaptation via AKT signaling. These mechanisms collectively form a regulatory network that enhances placental endothelial activity, optimizes nutrient allocation, and positively impacts birth weight. This study clarifies, from a genetic perspective, the causal relationship between PEA and BW. The proposed PEA index is presented as a reliable tool for evaluating placental spatial utilization efficiency in polytocous animal breeding. It offers new genetic insights and a potential approach for improving litter viability.

This study aimed to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of dietary glycerol monodecanoate (GMD) supplementation on gastrointestinal inflammation and oxidative stress in Yanbian cattle fed a high-concentrate diet. Thirty Yanbian cattle were randomly divided into two groups: a control group (CON) fed a basal high-concentrate diet, and a treatment group (C10) fed the same basal diet supplemented with 60 g/cattle/day GMD. Following a 10-day adaptation period, the experiment lasted 90 days. Collected samples (serum, rumen epithelium, abomasum, ileal mucosa) were analyzed for the following: gastrointestinal morphology (rumen and ileum); inflammatory, antioxidant, and oxidative stress indices (serum, rumen, and ileum); ghrelin-related indices (serum and abomasum); and host transcriptomes (rumen and ileum). GMD supplementation significantly reduced the levels of tumor necrosis factor‑α and interleukin‑1β (IL‑1β) in serum and rumen, as well as IL‑1β in the ileum. It also alleviated oxidative stress, as indicated by reduced reactive oxygen species in serum, rumen, and ileum. Concurrently, GMD enhanced antioxidant capacity by elevating levels of reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzymes. Beneficial trends in gastrointestinal morphology were noted in the C10 group, including increased ruminal papillae height and a higher ileal villus height-to-crypt depth ratio. Furthermore, the C10 group exhibited enhanced ghrelin acylation, with increased total ghrelin, acylated ghrelin and ghrelin O‑acyltransferase activity in both serum and abomasum. Transcriptomic analysis of the C10 group compared to the CON group revealed tissue-specific protective mechanisms: in the rumen epithelium, pro‑inflammatory pathways including NF‑κB signaling were significantly suppressed, accompanied by down‑regulation of genes such as IL1B and CXCL2; the ileal mucosal response was dominated by marked up‑regulation of GSTA1. GMD supplementation can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in Yanbian cattle fed a high-concentrate diet. These effects may involve activation of the ghrelin acylation and tissue-specific modulation of transcriptional programs in the rumen and ileum.

This study investigates runs of homozygosity (ROH) in 11 Tibetan sheep populations using resequencing technology. Its aim is assess the inbreeding status and the timing of inbreeding events in Tibetan sheep. Additionally, by integrating analyses of gene flow and genetic diversity, the study seeks to deepen our understanding of the genomic diversity of Tibetan sheep. The ultimate goal is to provide a theoretical foundation for conserving of genetic diversity and the optimizing genetic breeding strategies for Tibetan sheep. High-quality sequencing data were obtained from 220 Tibetan sheep representing 11 different breeds across the provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, and the Tibet Autonomous Region. The size and distribution of genomic runs of homozygosity (ROH) fragments in these 11 Tibetan sheep populations were analyzed. Among the 11 Tibetan sheep populations, 85% of the ROH detected ranged from 0.5 Mb to 1 Mb in length. Only five populations (KC, GJ, QK, WT, and GBB) exhibited ROH segments longer than 3 Mb, although these were relatively rare. Chromosome length affects the number and length of ROH in the genome. Tibetan sheep have longer chromosomes 1, 2, and 3, which contribute to a higher occurrence of ROH. The FROH values for TS, GJ, and QK populations were relatively high, while the ZSJ population had the lowest. Although some Tibetan sheep populations harbor individuals with severe inbreeding (FROH > 0.2), overall inbreeding levels are relatively low, with most inbreeding events occurring in earlier generations. The expected heterozygosity (He) of the Tibetan sheep genome is higher than the observed heterozygosity (Ho), indirectly confirming the occurrence of inbreeding within Tibetan sheep populations. In several Tibetan sheep populations, there is evidence of gene flow, with the most extensive gene flow observed between HB and WT. In summary, the current breeding strategy for Tibetan sheep has room for improvement; therefore, breeding management and and genetic diversity conservation should be prioritized in future breeding programs.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of multilayer encapsulation of single-bulb garlic extract using a chitosan/gum arabic/polydextrose (MESG) system as a natural antioxidant to inhibit oxidative damage in beef steak stored at refrigerator temperatures. The study was designed using a completely randomized factorial design. The first factor was the concentration of MESG (MESG-0%, MESG-4%, and MESG-8%), and the second factor was the observation day (day 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15). The marinated meat samples were stored at chiller temperature (6°C) for 15 days, and then the samples were observed for antioxidants activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values, free fatty acid (FFA), pH and, fatty acids profile. Physical analysis results indicated that the MESG displayed a complex, porous structure of MESG. The addition MESG had a positive effect on the TBARS value, free fatty acids (FFA), and pH. Compared to the control (MESG-0%), MESG-4% and MESG-8% presented significantly (P<0.05) lower free fatty acid (FFA) levels and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), while maintaining the stability of arachidonic acid (C 20:2, AA) and eicosadienoic acid (C 20:4 ω6, EDA) during a 15-day storage period. The results showed a potential protective effect of the encapsulation method against lipid oxidation during refrigerated storage. This encapsulation technique represents a strategic approach for preserving natural antioxidant quality, thereby extending shelf life and maintaining the quality of meat products, while providing a viable alternative to synthetic preservatives.

To identify and functionally characterize the pig septin12 gene, including its expression pattern, subcellular localization, and interacting proteins, to explore its potential roles in male reproduction. Full-length septin12 cDNA was obtained from the Banna mini-pig inbred line (BMI) testis using RACE. qPCR and western blot were employed to assess tissue-specific expression in BMI pigs. Subcellular localization was determined by fluorescence microscopy following transfection of EGFP-tagged septin12. A yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screen using an adult BMI testis cDNA library identified candidate interacting proteins, which were validated by Co-IP and IF. GO analysis was performed to determine the functional categories of the interactors. The cloned septin12 cDNA from the BMI testis was 1289 bp in length. Septin12 mRNA and protein expression was predominant in the BMI testis, suggesting its critical role in male reproductive function. Septin12 localized to both fibrous filamentous and punctate cytoplasmic structures. Thirteen interacting proteins were identified by Y2H, including ATAD5, ATP1B3, CENPL, ENO1, and septin5, with GO analysis indicating enrichment in mitotic nuclear division, cell growth, and G2/M phase transition. Further, Co-IP and IF confirmed interactions between septin12 and ETFA as well as LDHB, supporting the results of the Y2H screen. This study identified and characterized the septin12 gene in BMI pig, highlighting its predominant expression in the testis and implicating it in male reproductive function. Protein interaction analysis uncovered partners involved in cell division and metabolism, suggesting potential mechanisms by which septin12 may influence spermatogenesis. Co-IP and IF further validated interactions with ETFA and LDHB. These findings lay the groundwork for future investigations into the role of septin12 in male fertility.

Precision livestock farming in dairy production is advancing through biosensorbased monitoring that converts frequent, longitudinal measurements into actionable information to support animal-level decision-making under commercial conditions. This review summarizes biosensors for precision dairy farming with a systems perspective that connects sensing, data transfer, analytics, and visualization. Biosensors can be categorized by sensing locus as at-animal, near-animal, and from-animal to clarify practical tradeoffs among invasiveness, scalability, maintenance burden, and diagnostic specificity. The review also describes how information should progress from raw signals to interpretable indicators and decision-support outputs, emphasizing that farm value depends on reliable interpretation and timely intervention rather than on measurement alone. Key applications are synthesized across nutrition and feeding behavior, reproduction (including estrus and calving), health monitoring (such as mastitis, lameness, and metabolic disorders), welfare assessment, and environmental sustainability, highlighting where different modalities best support screening, early warning, and confirmatory detection. Finally, the review discusses on-farm barriers, including missing data, sensor drift, attachment stability, communication failures, and alert fatigue, and proposes future directions in standardization, interoperability, and artificial intelligence-enabled decision support to strengthen end-to-end system reliability, scalability, and economic sustainability under commercial conditions.

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying blend ratios of dietary α-glycerol monolaurate (GML) and glyceryl tributyrate (TB) on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immune function in weaned piglets. A total of 120 weaned piglets (Duroc×[Landrace×Yorkshire], initial body weight 6.87±0.15 kg, 28 days old) were assigned randomly to three treatments with five replicate pens per treatment for the 28-day experiment. The treatments consisted of a basal diet supplemented with 0.1% GML/TB blend at the following ratios: 1) higher GML (HM; GML/TB = 7:3); 2) balanced ratio (BR; GML/TB = 1:1); 3) lower GML (LM; GML/TB = 3:7). Dietary BR supplementation increased apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein and gross energy (GE, p<0.05) on day 14 and ATTD of GE on day 28 compared with other groups. Compared with the LM group, piglets fed the BR diet had higher (p<0.05) concentration of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and interleukin (IL)-1β and lower (p<0.05) levels of diamine oxidase on day 14 had higher (p<0.05) concentration of IL-1β and lower (p<0.05) concentration of IL-6 on day 28 in serum. Dietary BR supplementation increased (p<0.05) the ALT content, decreased (p<0.05) the IL-6 content on day 14 and aspartate aminotransferase and IL-1β contents on day 28, decreased (p<0.05) the IL-10 contents on day 28 in serum compared with the HM group. Furthermore, dietary BR supplementation increased (p<0.05) the activities of glutathione peroxidase in the duodenum, total antioxidant capacity in the jejunum, and catalase in the ileum. Compared with the LM group, piglets fed another two diets had lower (p<0.05) level of malondialdehyde in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with a 0.1% GML/TB blend (1:1) improves nutrient digestibility, enhances intestinal antioxidant capacity, modulates inflammatory responses, and supports overall health in weaned piglets.

This paper describes how animal management was done in the past and how we evolved to continuous animal monitoring by using technology. Based upon peer-reviewed literature, we show several technologies (cameras, microphones, sensors) developed and used for monitoring and managing indoor farm animals applied to different animal species: broilers, pigs, dairy cows, and horses. The main idea in developing precision livestock farming (PLF) technology is continuous 24/7 monitoring to generate objective data for farmers, veterinarians, and other stakeholders (pharma, feed company, equipment, climate control, etc.). Development started in laboratory settings and evolved to data collection in commercial farms. This paper shows that PLF monitoring allows us to measure objective data in each term of the fundamental process equation in producing animal products: the transfer from feed energy into animal product (meat, milk, eggs, fiber, and reproduction). The accuracies obtained are impressive in several examples. Regarding where to go with PLF, we show the great importance of animal welfare in the efficiency of the production process. Improving process efficiency is key in avoiding the need for even more farm animals to be slaughtered every year to fulfill the increasing worldwide demand for animal products. Field implementation of PLF technology for continuous objective measurements on indoor farm animals, to improve the efficiency of the production process, is an important contribution to feeding the worldwide increasing demand for animal products without a high increase of the number of farm animals.

Sensor systems have increasingly been explored as tools to support precision livestock farming, particularly in monitoring cow health and improving decision-making. This systematic literature review aims to evaluate advancements in sensor systems for detecting health conditions in dairy cows especially on mastitis, fertility, locomotion, and metabolic disorders. Relevant articles published between 2014 and 2024 were identified from Scopus. Each article was categorized by health condition and assigned to one of four development levels: sensor technique (Level I), data interpretation (Level II), integration of information (Level III), and decision making (Level IV). Relevant information from the articles was systematically reviewed and discussed. We identified 132 articles published in the past 10 years, describing a total of 151 sensor systems. Most sensor systems were aimed at mastitis and reproduction, followed by locomotion and metabolic disorders. The far majority of the articles were at level II (data interpretation) presenting research on (novel) algorithms to detect disease. A large number of different statistical, machine-learning or deep-learning models were described and evaluated, among others random forests. Level II systems applied statistical analysis or machine-learning/deep-learning models (e.g., random forests, you only look once, support vector machine, or convolutional neural network). These algorithms used a wide range of sensor data. Only a few articles aimed at level III research, integration of information and decision support. The Level III sensor systems integrated information from the sensor with economic information and other information (i.e., medication dosage, cost per disease, and supplier selection) and simulated various treatment scenarios. This review highlights the need for sensor systems research to be driven by real-world requirements for on-farm decision making. To move from proof-of-concept toward practical, future research must integrate sensor outputs with herd records and financial models, validate systems across multiple farms and at higher data frequencies, and embed economic evaluation alongside sensitivity and specificity metrics. Addressing these technical, integration, and economic challenges is essential before sensor systems can fully support automated, value-driven health management on commercial dairy farms.