Body Condition Research Articles

Assessment of testicular stiffness in fertile dogs with shear wave elastography techniques: a pilot study.

Ultrasound of the testes is important in the evaluation of breeding dogs, and recently advanced techniques such as Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) have been developed. This study focused on evaluation of normal testicular stiffness in healthy and fertile male dogs, employing both qualitative (2D-SWE) and quantitative (pSWE, 2D-SWE) techniques. Nineteen dogs of various medium-large breeds aged 3.39 ± 2.15 years, and with a history of successful reproduction were included after clinical, B-mode and Doppler ultrasound of testes and prostate, and semen macro and microscopic evaluations. pSWE involved square regions of interest (ROIs) placed at six different points in the testicular parenchyma, while 2D-SWE depicted stiffness with a color scale ranging from blue (soft) to red (stiff), allowing a subsequent quantification of stiffness by the application of 4 round ROIs. The results showed a mean Shear Wave Speed (SWS) of 2.15 ± 0.39 m/s using pSWE, with lower values above the mediastinum compared to below, and in the center of the testis compared to the cranial and caudal poles. 2D-SWE demonstrated a uniform blue pattern in the parenchyma, and a mean SWS of 1.65 ± 0.15 m/s. No significant differences were found between left and right testes, above and below the mediastinum, or among breeds. No correlations were observed between mean SWS and body condition score, age, testicular and prostatic volume. Weight was positively correlated with mean SWS only by 2D-SWE. By performing semen analysis and enrolling only healthy and fertile adult dogs, we ensured both structural and functional integrity of the testes. This pilot study represents a valuable baseline data for testicular stiffness by both pSWE and 2D-SWE with a Mindray US machine in medium-large sized healthy and fertile dogs, pointing out the potential role of SWE in the non-invasive fertility assessment and management of breeding dogs.

Evaluation of intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting pregnancy rate in dual-purpose cows under tropical conditions.

Embryo transfer (ET) in bovines was created with the purpose of increasing the pregnancy rate (PR) of animals with high genetic value; however, multiple factors have been found to affect the success of this reproductive biotechnology. These factors are frequently grouped in intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Thus, the objective of the present experiments was to assess the effect of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on the pregnancy rate under tropical conditions. To do this a total of 648 embryo transfer (ET) procedures were performed between January and December 2021. The intrinsic factors were size and location of the corpus luteum, body condition, genetic group, age and parity; while extrinsic factors were location of the farm, environmental comfort, season in which the ET was carried out, prevailing weather conditions, and the preservation, quality, and the development stage of embryos at the time of ET. A χi2 was used for analysis of main effects, and logistic regression analysis to calculate the probability of pregnancy and the association between intrinsic or extrinsic factors; additionally, a multivariate analysis of data clusters was used to find a linkage between the effects. While recipient female age had a negative effect (Odds ratio = 0.345-0.871) on PR (p < 0.05), being higher in younger cows, the rest of the intrinsic factors did not affect the PR. The significant (p < 0.05) extrinsic factors were THI category, season of year and type of embryo preservation, showing that the highest PR (p < 0.05) was obtained in the comfort THI category, during the winter season and using fresh embryos for transfer. The clustering analysis did not show any linkage between PR and intrinsic factors, while a linkage (p < 0.05) was found with season of the year and embryo preservation as extrinsic factors. It is concluded that age of the recipient cow and environmental conditions at the time of the embryo transfer are key factors to be considered for a successful pregnancy rate from in-vitro ET programs using dual-purpose cows under tropical conditions.

Host weight, seasonality and anthropogenic factors contribute to parasite community differences between urban and rural foxes

Pathogens often occur at different prevalence along environmental gradients. This is of particular importance for gradients of anthropogenic impact such as rural-urban transitions presenting a changing interface between humans and wildlife. The assembly of parasite communities is affected by both the external environmental conditions and individual host characteristics. Hosts with low body weight (smaller individuals or animals with poor body condition) might be more susceptible to infection. Furthermore, parasites' mode of transmission might affect their occurrence: rural environments with better availability of intermediate hosts might favour trophic transmission, while urban environments, typically with dense definitive host populations, might favour direct transmission. We here study helminth communities (141 intestinal samples) within the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), a synanthropic host, using DNA metabarcoding of multiple marker genes. We analysed the effect of urbanisation, seasonality and host-intrinsic (weight, sex) variables on helminth communities. Helminth species richness increased in foxes with lower body weight and in winter and spring. Season and urbanisation, however, had strong effects on the community composition, i.e., on the identity of the detected species. Surprisingly, transmission in two-host life cycles (trophic transmission) was more pronounced in urban Berlin than in rural Brandenburg. This disagrees with the prevailing hypothesis that trophically transmitted helminths are less prevalent in urban areas than in rural areas. Generally, co-infestations with multiple helminths and high infection intensity are associated with lighter (younger, smaller or low body condition) animals. Both host-intrinsic traits and environmental drivers together shape parasite community composition and turnover along urban-rural gradients.

Association between serum mineral levels and reproductive performance in primiparous dairy cows during the peripartum period.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, no study has previously investigated whether the concentration of minerals is related to reproductive outcomes in primiparous cows. For this reason, two objectives were set in the present study: (i) to assess serum mineral levels, macrominerals, and trace elements during the transition period (period of high nutritional requirements) in primiparous cows, considering reproductive efficiency, and (ii) to address if the serum mineral levels of primiparous cows are related to reproductive efficiency. Blood samples were taken (i) one month before calving, (ii) one week before calving, (iii) one week postpartum, and (iv) one month postpartum. At the beginning and the end of the study, a body condition score (BCS) was assigned to each lactating cow with no clinical signs of disease. The difference between one month before and one month after calving was the body condition loss (ΔBCS). Optimal prepartum concentrations of K and Cl were associated with fewer days open and a shorter interval calving. Furthermore, macrominerals in the serum decreased immediately after calving (one week) but recovered at one month postpartum. In contrast, the highest concentration of trace elements was found at one week postpartum. Primiparous cows with higher postpartum Se, Mn, Co, and Mo concentrations exhibited better reproductive efficiency, and the concentrations of trace elements in serum were correlated with interval calving and the number of inseminations. Finally, primiparous cows with a greater ΔBCS (at least one point) in period 4 exhibited both a longer calving interval and a greater number of days open. In summary, this study showed, for the first time in primiparous cows, that the concentration of some serum minerals not only plays a crucial role during the transition period but is also related to crucial reproductive parameters, such as interval calving and days open.

Dietary CP and digestion kinetics influence BW loss, litter weight gain, and reproduction by affecting postprandial amino acid metabolism in lactating sows

To avoid a high body protein mobilization in modern lean sows during lactation, an adequate dietary amino acid (AA) supply and an efficient AA utilization are crucial. This study evaluated the effects of dietary CP and in vitro protein digestion kinetics on changes in sow body condition, litter weight gain, milk composition, blood metabolites, protein utilization efficiency and subsequent reproductive performance. We hypothesized that a slower digestion of dietary protein would improve AA availability and utilization. In total, 110 multiparous sows were fed one of four lactation diets in a 2 × 2 factorial design, with two CP concentrations: 140 g/kg vs 180 g/kg, and two protein digestion kinetics, expressed as a percentage of slow protein (in vitro degradation between 30 and 240 min): 8 vs 16% of total protein. Feeding sows the high CP diets reduced sow weight loss (Δ = 7.6 kg, P < 0.01), estimated body fat loss (Δ = 2.6 kg, P = 0.02), and estimated body protein loss (Δ = 1.0 kg, P = 0.08), but only at a high percentage of slow protein. A higher percentage of slow protein increased litter weight gain throughout lactation (Δ = 2.6 kg, P = 0.04) regardless of CP concentrations, whereas a higher CP only increased litter weight gain during week 3 of lactation (Δ = 1.2 kg, P = 0.01). On Day 15 postfarrowing, serial blood samples were taken from a subsample of sows fed with the high CP diets. In these sows, a high percentage of slow protein resulted in higher plasma AA concentrations at 150 and 180 min after feeding (Δ = 0.89, P = 0.02, Δ = 0.78, P = 0.03, mmol/L, respectively) and lower increases in urea at 90 and 120 min after feeding (Δ = 0.67, P = 0.04, Δ = 0.70, P = 0.03, mmol/L, respectively). The higher dietary CP concentration increased total nitrogen loss to the environment (Δ = 604 g, P < 0.01) with a reduction of protein efficiency (Δ = 14.8%, P < 0.01). In the next farrowing, a higher percentage of slow protein increased subsequent liveborn litter size (Δ = 0.7, P < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding sows with a high dietary CP concentration alleviated maternal weight loss during lactation when the dietary protein digestion rate was slower, but lowered protein efficiency. A slower protein digestion improved litter weight gain, possibly by reducing AA oxidation and improving plasma AA availability, thus, improving protein efficiency.

Comparative study of reproductive and estrus characteristics of sexed and conventional semen in crossbred cows under field conditions

Background and Aim: Sexed semen (SS), a reproductive biotechnology tool, can alter the sex ratio of offspring in bovines. This study elucidates a comparative analysis of estrus-related parameters influencing conception rate and pregnancy losses under field conditions between conventional and SS. Materials and Methods: In the present study, artificial insemination with (SS; n = 143) and conventional semen (CS; n = 143) was performed at spontaneous estrus, i.e., 16–18 h after the onset of estrus signs, to analyze their comparative evaluation in terms of conception rates in crossbred cows under field conditions. Different parameters such as age, parity, body condition score (BCS), estrus duration, inter-estrus interval (IEI), diameter of pre-ovulatory follicle (DPOF) at estrus, and cervical mucus properties (pH and spinnbarkeit [SBK]) were recorded for each cow. Results: The first insemination conception rates for sexed and conventional semen were 55.24% and 63.63% whereas the overall conception rates were 49.14% and 57.37% on days 35 and 75 post-insemination, respectively, with no significant difference (p &gt; 0.05). Conception rates between sexed and CS inseminations were statistically significant (p &lt; 0.01), whereas factors such as age, parity, BCS, DPOF, IEI), and SBK value exhibited no substantial variance (p &gt; 0.05) for both types of semen straw. Conclusion: SS straws yielded a conception rate equivalent to CS straws, with estrus duration being the key factor affecting conception under field conditions. Keywords: conception rate, crossbred cows, estrus duration, pregnancy losses, sexed semen.

Anthropogenic and climatic factors interact to influence reproductive timing and effort.

Reproduction, although absolutely essential to a species' persistence, is in itself challenging. As anthropogenic change increasingly affects every landscape on Earth, it is critical to understand how specific pressures impact the reproductive efforts of individuals, which directly contribute to the success or failure of populations. However, organisms rarely encounter a single burden at a time, and the interactions of environmental challenges can have compounding effects. Understanding environmental and physiological pressures is difficult because they are often context-dependent and not generalizable, but long-term monitoring across variable landscapes and weather patterns can improve our understanding of these complex interactions. We tested the effects of urbanization, climate, and individual condition on the reproductive investment of wild side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana) by measuring physiological/reproductive metrics from six populations in urban and rural areas over six consecutive years of variable precipitation. We observed that reproductive stage affected body condition, corticosterone concentration, and oxidative stress. We also observed that reproductive patterns differed between urban and rural populations depending on rainfall, with rural animals increasing reproductive investment during rainier years compared to urban conspecifics, and that reproductive decisions appeared to occur early in the reproductive process. These results demonstrate the plastic nature of a generalist species optimizing lifetime fitness under varying conditions.

Factors influencing pregnancy rate and loss after laparoscopic artificial insemination with frozen-thawed semen in Lohi sheep under sub-tropical conditions.

This study evaluates factors influencing pregnancy rates per artificial insemination (P/AI) and pregnancy loss in Lohi ewes undergoing laparoscopic AI with frozen-thawed semen under sub-tropical conditions. Data from three experiments comprising ewes (n = 358) of mixed parity (nulliparous; NP and parous; P), various body condition score (BCS) and assigned to long-term (LTP, 11 days) and short-term (STP, 5 days) oestrus synchronization regimen across high breeding season (HBS) and low breeding season (LBS) were analysed. Laparoscopic insemination was conducted 54 h post-sponge removal. Pregnancy diagnosis and loss were evaluated on days 35 and 90 post-insemination via ultrasonography. Results showed parity significantly influenced P/AI, with nulliparous ewes achieving higher pregnancy ratios than parous ewes (p = .001). BCS significantly influenced P/AI (p < .05), with a quadratic relationship observed between BCS and season (BCS*BCS*Season; p = .07). Progestin treatment did not significantly influence the ratio of pregnant ewes (p = .07). Pregnancy losses were significantly higher during LBS than HBS (p < .05), irrespective of progestin treatment. In conclusion, parity and BCS significantly influenced P/AI, with BCS demonstrating a quadratic association with season. Ewes bred during LBS experienced higher pregnancy losses than HBS, irrespective of progestin treatment.

Whole dried black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae are acceptable, palatable, and do not negatively affect health when fed to healthy, adult horses at low inclusion rates

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have the potential to be incorporated into equine feed as a sustainable and nutritionally dense insect-derived source of protein and fat. This study investigated the suitability of whole dried BSFL as a novel protein source based on acceptability, palatability, and various health parameters. Seventeen horses (15.2 ± 7.0 years; 596 ± 122kg body weight (BW) (mean±SD)) and three ponies (19.7 ± 0.6 years; 364 ± 53kg) were separately fed a black soldier fly larvae supplement (TRT) and a roasted soybean supplement (CON) (0.75g crude protein (CP) per kg BW0.75) for 28-days using a cross-over study design. Feed intake was recorded throughout the feeding periods to assess the acceptability of the novel ingredient. Body weight, body condition score (BCS), plasma biochemistry, and complete blood counts were assessed at the beginning and end of each treatment period as markers of health status. After the cross-over study, two-bowl tests were used to assess the palatability of the BSFL supplement, with or without the presence of other concentrates. Minimal differences were observed between treatment groups for biochemical analytes and complete blood counts, and BW and BCS did not change throughout the study period. Both supplements were willingly consumed by the horses, though feed intake was 8% greater in the CON compared to the TRT group (P<0.05). When mixed with concentrates, horses first approached and first consumed the CON more frequently than the TRT supplement. When the supplements were offered in the absence of other concentrates, there was no difference in which bucket was approached first, but horses tended to first consume the CON rather than the TRT supplement. Overall, the data indicate that dietary consumption of BSFL for 28 days at a low-inclusion rate results in no negative health outcomes in horses; however, longer-term studies are warranted to further examine physiological effects of consuming BSFL and at higher inclusion rates. Though horses did favour the CON supplement based on palatability parameters, horses willingly consumed the BSFL supplement, indicating that BSFL at low inclusion rates may be considered a palatable ingredient in equine diets.

Body weight, body condition score, and morphometrics of donggala cattle in Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Body weight, body condition score, and morphometrics of donggala cattle in Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Nation-wide surveillance of ticks (Acari: Argasidae) on bats (Chiroptera) in Singapore

Bats and ticks are important sources of zoonotic pathogens. Therefore, understanding the diversity, distribution, and ecology of both groups is crucial for public health preparedness. Soft ticks (Argasidae) are a major group of ectoparasites commonly associated with bats. The multi-host life cycle of many argasids make them important vectors of pathogens. Over nine years (2011–2020), surveillance was undertaken to identify the ticks associated with common bats in Singapore. During this period, the bat tick Ornithodoros batuensis was detected within populations of two cave roosting bat species: Eonycteris spelaea and Penthetor lucasi. We examined the relationship between bat species, roosting behaviour, and probability of O. batuensis infestation. We also estimated the relationship between bat life history variables (body condition index, sex, and age) on the probability of infestation and tick count. This represents the first detection of O. batuensis and the genus Ornithodoros within Singapore. We also provide evidence of the continued persistence of Argas pusillus in Singapore with the second local record.

Goat-CNN: A lightweight convolutional neural network for pose-independent body condition score estimation in goats

Modern livestock farming systems face the challenge of meeting the growing demand for dairy and meat products while ensuring the well-being of animals. Body Condition Scoring serves as a vital process for assessing the body reserves in animals, impacting their health, welfare, and productivity. However, traditional body condition score (BCS) evaluation methods via observation and palpation of specific anatomical regions are labor-intensive and subjective, hindering their widespread adoption. To address this issue, Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) techniques, particularly those involving Internet of Things (IoT) devices and artificial intelligence (AI), have emerged as promising solutions. In this work, we explore the use of AI, specifically Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), to automate the assessment of BCS in goats utilizing imagery data. Our model was trained on 5000 images illustrating the dorsal view of the backside of goats achieving an overall accuracy of 97.94 % which was the highest compared to other popular deep learning architectures from literature (e.g. VGG16, ResNet34, ResNet50, DenseNet, GoogleNet). The proposed custom CNN model for goat-specific BCS estimation overcomes the limitations of manual sketching, providing automatic region identification for BCS assessment. Moreover, it is a lightweight model specifically designed for seamless integration with IoT devices, allowing for efficient on-board processing via cameras. The model's pose-independent nature and adaptability to environmental constraints make it a valuable tool for efficient and sustainable goat farming. This research advances the application of AI as a precision livestock farming tool, contributing to the reinforcement of the animal welfare and productivity, and supporting evidence-based decision-making processes to increase farms' resilience.

Effect of a blend of cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and capsicum oleoresin on methane emission and lactation performance of Nordic Red dairy cows fed grass silage-based diets

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of administering a blend of cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and capsicum oleoresin (CEC) to lactating dairy cattle for 105 days (i.e., 15 weeks) on enteric methane emission, feed intake, milk yield and composition, and body weight. The experiment utilized 40 Nordic Red lactating dairy cows (97 ± 59 days in milk at the start of the trial; mean ± SD) blocked into pairs based on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, parity, and lactation stage. Cows within block were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 dietary treatments; 1) CEC supplemented at 1.2 g/cow/d or 2) a control diet without CEC. Cows were offered ad libitum a basal diet of grass silage and concentrate fed separately in a 55:45 forage to concentrate ratio on a dry matter (DM) basis. A GreenFeed system was used to measure emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and hydrogen (H2). Supplementation with CEC decreased daily CH4 production (g/d; 3.4%) and yield (g/kg DMI; 4.2%) and daily CO2 production and yield (3.3% and 4.0%, respectively) whereas CH4 and CO2 intensities were not affected by treatment. Daily CEC supplementation tended to reduce H2 production and intensity by 21% compared with control. Additionally, feed intake, milk production, milk composition, body weight, and body condition score were not influenced by dietary CEC supplementation. These results indicate that CEC supplementation can reduce CH4 production without affecting performance of lactating dairy cows.

Safety of white adipose tissue activator cyclophilin A intracellular peptide (Pep19™) in healthy dogs

Oral consumption of Pep19™, a 10 amino acid intracellular peptide, has been associated with weight loss in rodents and humans via induction of nonshivering thermogenesis. This study aimed to test its safety and tolerance in dogs. Eight healthy adult neutered university owned beagles (4 female and 4 male) were individually housed in runs and fed an extruded kibble in a quantity historically associated with weight stability. They were administered Pep19™ (5 mg/dog/day, 2.06 – 3.14 mg/kg/day) as a once daily oral dose for 28 days. Health screening, including physical examination, body weight, body condition score (BCS), complete blood count, chemistry, total thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone, and urinalysis were collected at baseline, day 14, and day 28. Faecal score, appetite, and overall animal temperament and condition were assessed daily. At baseline, average age, weight, and BCS were 3.8 ± 0.3 years, 12.68 ± 2.11 kg, and 6.4 ± 0.7/9, respectively. There were no adverse effects and all blood and urine analyses remained normal. At study termination, average weight, and body condition score (BCS) were 12.53 ± 2.01 kg, and 5.6 ± 0.7/9, respectively. Despite no changes in diet or calorie intake, seven of the dogs lost between 0.7% and 3.8% of their body weight (p<0.01); this was associated with a reduction in body condition score (p<0.05). This initial study shows that Pep19™ is safe for dogs. Future clinical research should investigate its utility as a new approach to reduce excess body fat in dogs.

Dynamic intramedullary crosspinning technique for the treatment of distal femoral metaphyseal fracture in a free‐ranging jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi)

AbstractAn approximately 3‐month‐old female free‐ranging jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi) was admitted for evaluation of swelling near the right stifle and inability to use the right hindlimb. Radiographic examination revealed a closed, short oblique fracture of the right distal femoral metaphysis, and the bone cortex appeared thin. Because of the poor body condition, the surgical procedure was performed 6 days after admission. The fracture was stabilised using a dynamic intramedullary crosspinning technique. Two 1.5 mm diameter Kirschner (K) wires were introduced at an approximately 20° angle to the sagittal plane of the femur. Radiographic evaluation 3 months after surgery revealed an open distal physis, fracture healing in the remodelling phase and K‐wires engulfed by the bone, which made removal impossible. At the 6‐month follow‐up, a length discrepancy of 0.8 cm in the right femur compared to the left femur was noted. Despite this complication, the locomotion pattern was considered normal according to visual gait analysis.

Динамика на някои биохимични показатели при две местни породи овце в зависимост от сезона, надморската височина и наличието на паразити

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the values of some enzymes and metabolites - ALT, AST, ALP, serum iron and glucose of two herds of Bulgarian native sheep breeds raised at different altitudes, depending on the season, their body condition score (BCS) and the presence of gastrointestinal parasites. The research was conducted with 20 animals each in farms in the village of Mirkovo (715 m above sea level) with Sofia (Elinpelin) sheep breed and in the village of Gubesh (1040 m above sea level) with Central Balkan sheep breed. Body condition assessment was performed during sampling by one individual using an adapted system. Fresh faeces (total sample) were also collected for parasitological tests (coproovoscopy and coprolarvoscopy). Analysis of biochemical parameters was performed in extracted blood plasma with a BTS-350 semi-automatic biochemical analyzer. AST and glucose levels were normal, ALP and Fe were lower in both seasons, and ALT was higher than reference values limits only in summer for both breeds. There were significant differences between the two breeds in summer for BCS, ALT and glucose (p&lt;0.001, p&lt;0.05 and p&lt;0.01 respectively), in winter - only for Fe (p&lt;0.001) and in both seasons for HCT (p&lt;0.001 and p&lt;0.01 respectively), AST (p&lt;0.001 and p&lt;0.05 respectively) and ALP (p&lt;0.001 each). Regarding the activity of AST, there are no significant differences between the two seasons and in both breeds, however, there are such differences only in Central Balkan sheep for BCS and Fe (respectively p&lt;0.01 and p&lt;0.001), and in both breeds together with different degrees of freedom - for all other indicators (HCT, ALT, ALP and glucose).

Effects of prophylactic propylene glycol administration at calving on subclinical ketosis in Holstein dairy cows

Forty-four holstein dairy cows were randomly enrolled in the treatment group (group 1, n=19) or control group (group 2, n=25) at calving. Group 1 received prophylactic propylene glycol treatment (PPGT) (300 ml/cow, beginning at calving, total 3 days). The group 2 remained untreated. All animals were tested on blood and milk beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) at postpartum week 2 and 4 (PW2 and 4), body condition scores (BCS), average daily milk production (ADMP) and postpartum health disorders were monitored in 90 days in milk (90 DIM). The incidence of subclinical ketosis (SCK) was 8% and 4% in blood test (BHBA≥1.2 mmol/L) and by 12% and 24% in milk test (BHBA≥200 µmol/L) in group 2 at PW2 and PW4 respectively. SCK was not detected in group 1. The study cows lost BCS on postpartum days 30 and 60. ADMP was significantly different (P

Body condition in three Calidris species during northward and southward migration in La Laguna de Tacarigua, Venezuela

Body condition in three Calidris species during northward and southward migration in La Laguna de Tacarigua, Venezuela

Inclusion of by-products of the brewing and wine industry in dairy goats

The aim of the following work was to evaluate a diet formulated with byproducts from the brewing and wine industry for lactating goats and quantify its potential in terms of nutritional quality and quantity. Twelve multiparous Nubian x Saanen goats, 2.75 years old (+ 1,24) during an experimental period of 12 weeks: 2 weeks of habituation and 10 weeks of testing. In both diets the goats grazed 6 hours on natural grass. Diet T0 (n = 6): Commercial feed: 500 g/day/goat (16% CP and 2.6 Mcal ME/kg DM) and diet T1 (n = 6): non-traditional balanced feed: 500 g/day/goat (16% CP and 2.6 Mcal ME/kg DM). Productive performance and health parameters were evaluated in goats fed with both diets during a period of 5 weeks starting 35 days postpartum. Total dry matter intake (DMI), milk production and corrected (MY and MYC), live weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), degree of FAMACHA© and quantitative coproparasitological diagnosis (EPG and OPG) were measured. A greater DMI was observed at T0 compared to T1 (p &lt; 0.05). MY, MYC, BW, BCS, FAMACHA©, EPG and OPG did not show significant differences (p &gt; 0.05) between both diets (T0 vs T1) throughout the experimental period evaluated. Goat health parameters throughout the study were within the physiological range during the production cycle and did not interfere with dietary treatments. The formulation of the diet with barley bagasse and grape pomace in dairy goats had a productive behaviour and health parameters like those of the commercial diet evaluated, without affecting milk production.

Short-term heat waves have long-term consequences for parents and offspring in stickleback.

Extreme temperature events, such as heat waves, can have lasting effects on the behavior, physiology, and reproductive success of organisms. Here, we examine the impact of short-term exposure to a simulated heat wave on condition, parental care, and reproductive success in a population of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), a small fish with exclusive paternal care, currently experiencing regular heat waves. Males were either exposed to a simulated heat wave (23 °C) for 5 d or held at an ideal temperature (18 °C). Following this 5-d treatment, all males were transferred to 18 °C, where they completed a full parenting cycle. Offspring were raised at 18 °C. We found that while mass and body condition were unaffected in males exposed to a heat wave, cortisol responses were dampened across the nesting cycle compared to control males. In addition, heat wave males had longer latency for eggs to hatch, lower hatching success, and showed lower levels of parental care behavior compared to control males. Offspring of heat wave males had lower body condition, affecting swimming performance. Altogether, our results highlight the long-term impact that even short-term events can have on reproductive success, parental behavior, and subsequent generations, providing insight into population responses to rapid environmental change.