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.

The growing global demand for animal-derived food products is placing unprecedented pressure on livestock production systems to improve efficiency while also assuring animal welfare, environmental sustainability and economic viability. Precision livestock farming (PLF) has emerged as a transformative paradigm that integrates advanced sensing technologies, computer vision, internet of things infrastructures and artificial intelligence (AI) to enable continuous, automated and individualized animal monitoring. This paper explores the evolution of livestock management from conventional observationbased practices to sophisticated, data-driven architecture. It also synthesizes recent advancements in PLF emphasizing its system architecture, key applications in cattle production, cross-sector expansion and emerging challenges. The core architecture of PLF is structured into three functional layers: (i) data acquisition through multi-modal sensors, with a primary emphasis in this review on visual and environmental monitoring system; (ii) data analytics employing machine learning and deep learning techniques to establish behavioral and physiological baselines; and (iii) decision-support mechanisms that translate analytics into actionable farm management interventions. Major applications, including individual animal identification, body condition score estimation, lameness detection, calving time prediction and AI-powered health monitoring, are critically discussed. The extension of PLF principles to aquaculture and other livestock sectors is also discussed. By shifting from herd-level to individual-animal management, PLF provides a scalable, noninvasive approach for early disease detection, optimized resource utilization, improved welfare standards and long-term economic sustainability. The current limitations, including high capital investment, data interoperability challenges and model generalizability constraints, have been analyzed and future research directions emphasizing explainable AI and welfare-oriented system design have been proposed. Overall, PLF represents a systemic transformation of animal agriculture, allowing for data-driven, sustainable and welfarecentered production systems.

Exercise under desert heat disrupts camel respiratory and metabolic balance. Unlike the Henderson-Hasselbalch model, limited to bicarbonate and carbon dioxide, Stewart's physicochemical approach clarifies regulation through strong-ion and weak-acid effects. This experiment investigated post-exercise acid-base recovery dynamics in exercise-unacclimatized dromedary camels under hot conditions using Stewart's approach. Five healthy bulls completed a standardized 90-min field exercise at ~14 km·h⁻¹ during midday heat, with recovery monitored at baseline (2h pre-exercise) and at 0,3,6,24 and 48h. Sixteen variables spanning respiratory, strong-ion, and weak-acid domains were measured or derived, together with biometeorological indices and ventilatory responses. Visualization tools were used to resolve temporal dynamics and inter-individual variability. Ambient temperature and relative humidity fluctuated markedly, with the highest heat load at PRE/0 and again at 24-48h, and a transiently cooler but more humid interval at 3-6h. A triphasic recovery pattern was observed. Immediately post-exercise (0h), respiratory rate rose sharply and pH showed mild alkalinization with decreases in pCO₂, bicarbonate, and base excess, accompanied by marked reductions in oxygenation indices and early strong-ion shifts. During early recovery (3-6h), respiratory rate declined toward baseline, while sodium excursions, hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia (P<0.05), widened SIDa, contracted SIDe, and a positive strong-ion gap persisted. By late recovery (24-48h), respiratory variables largely normalized, whereas sodium instability, sustained potassium and phosphate depression (P<0.05), and renewed SIG elevation indicated incomplete restoration. Stewart analysis showed prolonged disruption driven by persistent strong-ion and weak-acid disequilibria rather than respiratory adjustment alone. In this small cohort of exercise-unacclimatized dromedary camels studied under a single standardized field-exercise protocol, environmental cooling did not ensure systemic normalization, and recovery was constrained by intrinsic physiological inertia. Clinically, recovery after exertional heat exposure cannot be assumed complete within 24h, underscoring monitoring of strong-ion and protein-phosphate domains alongside conventional blood gases. Such an experiment provides a time-resolved, mechanistic, hypothesis-generating reference framework.

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is central to immune defense. This study represents the first assessment of MHC-B haplotype diversity in Indonesian native chickens. Six Indonesian native chicken populations were selected as study populations: Merawang (MRG), Pelung (PLG), Black Kedu (KJM), Sentul (STL), Nunukan (NNK), and Gaga (GAG); 24, 17, 30, 16, 14, and 20 birds from each population, respectively. Samples were genotyped using the MHC-B SNP panel. To explore haplotype diversity, the results were analyzed using PHASE 2.1 software. Genotyping of six Indonesian native chicken populations revealed high haplotype diversity, with a total of 126 distinct haplotypes: 38, 25, 19, 21, 11, and 12 from the MRG, PLG, KJM, STL, NNK, and GAG populations, respectively. Three haplotypes were shared: BSNP-IND14, shared by the KJM and STL populations; BSNP-IND26, shared by the KJM, NNK, and MRG populations; and BSNP-IND31, shared by the KJM and MRG populations. Accordingly, all the haplotypes obtained from the GAG and PLG populations were unique. Phylogenetic analysis of the results did not reveal a distinct pattern for each population; however, three subclades were identified, with all six populations represented in each clade. Comparison of MHC-B haplotypes in Indonesian native chickens with MHC-B standard haplotypes shows no distinct clades; however, three possible subclades were also identified. Nevertheless, no Indonesian MHC-B haplotypes matched 100% with the reported standard haplotypes, indicating that all Indonesian haplotypes identified in this study are novel. Furthermore, the comparison of Indonesian MHC-B haplotypes with those from other Asian regions reveals that the majority of Indonesian haplotypes cluster with those from Bangladesh, suggesting a shared evolutionary background among south and Southeast Asian chickens. This study identified unique MHC-B haplotypes in Indonesian native chickens, suggesting that the observed populations are diverse in the MHC-B region and potentially have variation in immune responses.

We investigated the effect of reducing dietary crude protein (CP) and rumen degradable protein (RDP) while increasing rumen undegradable protein (RUP) on milk yield and composition, nitrogen (N) metabolism, and rumen and blood parameters in Holstein lactating cows. Holstein cows (n = 13) were stratified by days in milk (91.75 ± 32.39), parity (2.58 ± 1.44), and milk yield (42.86 kg ± 6.6), and randomly assigned to one of two dietary groups (soybean meal (SBM) or heat-treated fermented soybean meal (HFSBM) group) in a completely randomized design. There were no differences in dry matter intake, milk production, milk composition (fat, protein, lactose, somatic cell count, β-hydroxybutyrate, and milk urea nitrogen). Ruminal ammonia concentrations were lower in the HFSBM group than in the SBM group. Ruminal total volatile fatty acid concentrations, acetate and propionate proportions, and blood urea nitrogen concentrations, did not differ. Calcium levels in the blood were lower both before feeding (0 h) and 3 h post-feeding in the HFSBM group compared to the SBM group. Total protein levels in blood were higher in the HFSBM group. There were no differences in digestibility of dry matter (DM) or CP, NDF. N outputs from feces and urine did not differ. Nitrogen efficiency tended to be higher in the HFSBM group. Replacing SBM with HFSBM did not affect milk production but reduced ruminal ammonia concentrations, indicating that reducing dietary CP by increasing RUP levels can be implemented in dairy production without negatively impacting cow performance.

This study aimed to investigate the potential of the ASAP1 gene as a genetic biomarker for brucellosis resistance/susceptibility in goats. This study collected samples from female Shaanbei white cashmere (SBWC) goats to investigate the association between the ASAP1 gene and brucellosis susceptibility. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from goats of different haplotypes and Brucella status, and the association was evaluated via PCR, qRT-PCR, and LPS stimulation assays. The results demonstrated that the expression level of the ASAP1 gene was highest in the spleen, significantly higher than that in other tissues such as the kidney and heart (p<0.05). In the SBWC goats population, three genotypes Insertion/Insertion (II), Insertion/Deletion (ID), and Deletion/Deletion (DD) were identified at the P2, P5, and P7 sites of goat ASAP1 gene. Association analysis showed that P2 and P7 sites were associated with host resistance to Brucella infection (p<0.05). Specifically, significant associations between brucellosis risk and genotypes at the P2 and P7 lociwere identified by logistic regression analysis with the II genotype used as reference (p<0.05; p<0.01). These associations were maintained after multiple testing correction. Significantly lower expression of the ASAP1 gene was observed in testicular tissues of Brucella infected adult SBWC goats compared to healthy controls (p<0.01). Through haplotype analysis, Hap3 and Hap5 were identified as being associated with brucellosis resistance when compared to Hap1 (p<0.05). PBMCs were isolated from goats carrying Hap1, Hap3, and Hap5. Following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, significantly reduced ASAP1 expression was detected in the susceptible haplotype Hap1 compared to the resistant haplotypes by quantitative PCR (qPCR). The highest expression level was exhibited by the most resistant haplotype Hap5. Furthermore, more rapid activation of key inflammatory pathways and pro-inflammatory cytokines (NF-κB, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ) was demonstrated in resistant haplotypes compared to susceptible Hap1, and accelerated resolution of the inflammatory response was observed, particularly in the most resistant haplotype Hap5. In summary, this study demonstrates that ASAP1 gene InDel variants influence brucellosis resistance in SBWC goats, providing a theoretical basis for breeding resistant populations.

This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of dietary crude glycerol (CG) supplementation on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood biochemical parameters in broiler chickens. A systematic search of peer-reviewed studies in Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. Twenty-five eligible studies were included. Effect sizes were calculated as standardized mean differences (SMDs) using a random-effects model in OpenMEE software. Subgroup analyses were performed according to strain, sex, rearing phase, and inclusion level. CG supplementation significantly increased body weight gain (p < 0.05) and improved feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05), while feed intake was unaffected. Among carcass traits, breast yield significantly increased (p < 0.05), whereas carcass yield and thigh yield were not affected. CG inclusion also reduced meat ash content and ultimate pH, while drip loss increased, indicating potential negative effects on water-holding capacity. Blood biochemical indices, including reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP), indicated adaptive physiological responses without evidence of toxicity. Subgroup analyses revealed that strain, sex, and inclusion level significantly moderated growth outcomes (p < 0.05). Crude glycerol can be incorporated into broiler diets as an alternative energy source to enhance growth performance without compromising carcass yield. However, its influence on meat quality highlights the need to optimize inclusion levels and consider variability among glycerol by-products before large-scale application.

The present experiment aimed to determine standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) and digestible energy (DE) in 4 bakery byproducts fed to nursery pigs and to develop prediction equations for estimating SID of AA and DE in bakery byproducts. Five barrows with an initial body weight of 16.6 kg (standard deviation = 1.7) were fitted with a T-cannula at the distal ileum and individually housed in pens. A 5×5 Latin square design was used with 5 treatments, 5 pigs, and 5 periods. Four sources of bakery byproducts containing 9.1% to 38.4% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were used. Three experimental diets contained each bakery byproduct at 96.6% as the sole source of nitrogen and energy. The fourth experimental diet consisted of a source of bakery byproduct (38.4% NDF) at 70.0% as the sole source of nitrogen. A nitrogen-free diet was prepared to determine the basal endogenous AA losses. Each period consisted of 6 d of adaptation, 1 d of fecal collection, and 3 d of ileal collection. The SID of most AA and DE differed (p<0.05) among 4 bakery byproducts. The NDF concentration was negatively correlated (p<0.05) with the SID of indispensable AA except Lys and DE in bakery byproducts. Prediction equations were developed for estimating SID of AA and DE: SID of Met (%) = 86.7-0.54×NDF (r2 = 0.74 and p<0.001); SID of Thr (%) = 73.4-1.00×NDF (r2 = 0.57 and p<0.001); and DE (kcal/kg as-is) = 4,819-81.96×NDF (r2 = 0.93 and p<0.001), where NDF is expressed as % as-is. Amino acid digestibility and DE differed among various bakery byproducts fed to nursery pigs. Neutral detergent fiber can be used to estimate SID of AA and DE in bakery byproducts for nursery pigs.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of age on eggshell color, Haugh unit and underlying mechanism in Hyline Brown laying hens. A total of 192 Hyline Brown laying hens at 165 (D165 group), 307 (D307 group) or 475 (D475 group) day of age were divided into 3 groups with 8 replicates of 8 birds each, and fed the same diet for 3 weeks. Compared with the D165 group, the D307 and D475 group had higher (P < 0.05) eggshell L* value and yolk ratio but lower (P < 0.05) albumin ratio; the D475 group had higher (P < 0.05) eggshell b* value but lower (P < 0.05) albumin height, Haugh unit and eggshell a* value. The D165 group had higher (P < 0.05) eggshell protoporphyrin IX content and ovomucin content in eggs than the D307 and D475 group. The D165 group had higher (P < 0.05) total superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content in eggshell gland than the D307 group. The malondialdehyde contents in serum, eggshell gland and magnum were higher in the D475 group than in the D165 group (P < 0.05). The D307 and D475 group had lower (P < 0.05) mRNA levels of genes related to pigment synthesis and transport (coproporphyrinogen oxidase, aminolevulinic acid synthase-1 and ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2) than the D165 group. The D475 group had lower (P < 0.05) mRNA levels of genes related to albumin synthesis (α-ovomucin and lysozyme) than the D165 and D307 group. As hens aged, the deterioration of eggshell color and Haugh unit of eggs resulted from decreased gene expression and secretion of protoporphyrin IX and ovomucin, which might be due to increased lipid peroxidation in eggshell gland and magnum.

The black pigmentation trait in Taihe silky fowls results from melanin deposition produced by widely distributed melanocytes within their bodies. The degree of melanin deposition, termed melanization, not only determines their external characteristics but also critically influences their nutritional properties and medicinal value. Nutritionally, Taihe silky fowls with high melanization are rich in trace elements such as iron and zinc, along with various vitamins, conferring high nutritional value. Medicinally, according to traditional Chinese medicine theory, highly melanized Taihe silky fowls possess therapeutic effects including nourishing the liver and kidney, replenishing Qi, and enriching the blood. Specifically, they improve liver and kidney health, promote blood production and circulation, and enhance immune capacity. This paper comprehensively reviews the molecular mechanisms of melanin biosynthesis and deposition. It specifically analyzes how particular nutrients, including amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, regulate melanin deposition in Taihe silky fowls at the level of cellular pathways, while also discussing their appropriate dietary supplementation levels in production practices. The aim of this review is to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms underlying melanin trait formation in Taihe silky fowls and to provide theoretical support for the scientific optimization of their dietary nutritional formulations.