Breeding Males Research Articles

Performance Of Etawa Crossbreed (PE) in The Colony

The research was carried out in Selopanggung Village, Semen District, Kediri Regency by taking the research site at the PE goat farm owned by Refangga and Samsuri. The livestock observed were male Peranakan Etawah (PE) goats. This study used a survey method, t test and the parameters used were birth weight, body weight, weaning weight and qualitative traits of male etawah breed. And the conclusion of this study is that at Refangga farms the average birth weight of males was 8.33 ± 2.25, and the average body weight was 14.44 ± 1.83, the average weaning weight was 11.37 ± 2.19. Meanwhile in Samsuri, the average male birth weight was 4.82 ± 0.33, the average body weight was 7.12 ± 1.76. Weaning weight 10.07 ± 1.47.

Melatonin alleviates heat stress-induced spermatogenesis dysfunction in male dairy goats by regulating arachidonic acid metabolism mediated by remodeling the gut microbiota.

Heat stress (HS) commonly occurring in summer has gradually become a factor threatening the reproductive performance of male dairy goats by reducing their fecundity. Despite the melatonin is applied to relieve HS, it is still unclear whether melatonin protects against reproductive damage induced by HS in dairy goats and how it works. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the role of melatonin in alleviating HS-induced spermatogenesis dysfunction in male dairy goats and further explore its mechanism. HS impaired spermatogenesis, sperm formation in the testes, and sperm maturation in the epididymis of dairy goats, resulting in decreased sperm quality. Melatonin rescued the decrease of sperm quality induced by HS via decreasing inflammatory and oxidative stress levels in testicular tissue and enhancing intercellular barrier function within the testes. Amplicon-based microbiota analysis revealed that despite gut microbiota differences between melatonin-treated dairy goats and NC dairy goats to some extent, melatonin administration tends to return the gut microbiota of male dairy goats under HS to the levels of natural control dairy goats. To explore whether the protective role of melatonin in sperm quality is mediated by regulating gut microbiota, fecal microbiota of HS dairy goats with or without melatonin treatment were transferred to HS mice, respectively. We found HS mice that had received fecal bacteria of HS dairy goats experienced serious testicular injury and dyszoospermia, while this phenomenon was ameliorated in HS mice that had received fecal bacteria of dairy goats treated with melatonin, indicating melatonin alleviates HS-induced spermatogenic damage in a microbiota dependent manner. We further found that the testicular tissue of both HS dairy goats and mice transplanted with HS dairy goat feces produced large amounts of arachidonic acid (AA)-related metabolites, which were closely associated with semen quality. Consistently, supplementation with AA has been shown to elevate the levels of inflammation and oxidative stress in the testicular tissue of mice, disrupting intercellular connections and ultimately leading to spermatogenic disorders. This study has revealed that melatonin can effectively alleviate spermatogenic disorders in dairy goats caused by HS. This beneficial effect was primarily achieved through the modulation of gut microbiota, which subsequently inhibited the excessive synthesis of AA in testicular tissue. These discoveries are of great significance for preventing or improving the decline in male livestock reproductive performance caused by HS, enhancing the reproductive efficiency of elite male breeds, and ultimately improving the production efficiency of animal husbandry. Video Abstract.

Estimating Demographic Parameters for Bearded Seals, Erignathus barbatus, in Alaska Using Close-Kin Mark-Recapture Methods.

Reliable estimates of population abundance and demographics are essential for managing harvested species. Ice-associated phocids, "ice seals," are a vital resource for subsistence-dependent coastal Native communities in western and northern Alaska, USA. In 2012, the Beringia distinct population segment of the bearded seal, Erignathus barbatus nauticus, was listed as "threatened" under the US Endangered Species Act requiring greater scrutiny for management assessments. We sought to estimate requisite population parameters from harvested seals by using close-kin mark-recapture (CKMR) methods, the first such application for marine mammals. Samples from 1758 bearded seals harvested by Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Sea communities during 1998-2020 were genotyped, genetically sexed, and aged by tooth annuli. After rigorous quality control, kin relationships were established for 1484 seals including two parent-offspring pairs (POPs) and 25 potential second-order kin pairs. Most of the second-order kin were half-sibling pairs (HSPs), but four were potential grandparent-grandchild pairs (GGPs). There were no full sibling pairs, suggesting a lack of mate fidelity. Mitochondrial DNA analysis identified 17 potential HSPs as paternally related, providing substantial evidence of persistent heterogeneity in reproductive success among adult males. The statistical CKMR model incorporates probabilities associated with POPs, HSPs, and GGPs and assumes known ages and a stable population. Our top model accommodates heterogeneity in adult male breeding success and yields an abundance estimate of ~409,000 with a coefficient of variation (CV) = 0.35, which is substantially greater than the "non-heterogeneity" model estimate of ~232,000 (CV = 0.21), an important difference for managing a harvested species. Using CKMR methods with harvested species provides estimates of abundance with the added opportunity to acquire information about adult survival, fecundity, and breeding success that could be applied to other species of concern, marine and terrestrial.

Location and timing of infection drives a sex-bias in Haemoproteus prevalence in a hole-nesting bird.

Sex biases in prevalence of disease are often attributed to intrinsic factors, such as physiological differences while a proximate role of extrinsic factors such as behavioural or ecological differences may be more difficult to establish. We combined large-scale screening for the presence and lineage identity of avian malaria (haemosporidian) parasites, in 1234 collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) with life-history information from each bird to establish the location and timing of infection. We found an overall infection rate of 36.2% ± 0.03 (95% CI) with 25 distinct malaria lineages. Interestingly, first-year breeding males and females had similar infection prevalence while females accrued a significantly higher infection rate than males later in life. The sex difference in infection rate was driven by the most abundant Haemoproteus, lineage, hPHSIB1, while the infection rate of Plasmodium lineages was similar in males and females. Furthermore, when infections were assigned to an apparent transmission location, we found that the sex difference in infection rate trend was driven by lineages transmitted in Europe, more specifically by one lineage (the hPHSIB1), while no similar pattern was found in African lineages. We deduce that the observed infection patterns are likely to be caused by differences in breeding behaviour, with incubating females (and nestling individuals of both sexes) being easy targets for the biting insects that are the vectors of avian malaria parasites. Overall, our results are most consistent with ecological factors rather than intrinsic factors underlying the observed sex-biased infection rate of avian malaria in collared flycatchers.

Effect of climatic factors on sexual maturity Labeo rohita fish

<p>This study examined the varying levels of thyroxine hormone impact (at doses of 2, 10, and 50 µg g-1 BW) as an environmentally responsive hormone on the fatty acid and sexual steroid profiles in male Labeo rohita fish. Each treatment group comprised six male fish with an average weight of 5.4 ± 0.58 kg. Blood samples were collected from male rohu fish pre-and post-injection, as well as following sperm retrieval from the caudal peduncle. Biotechnical parameters were evaluated post-fertilization. Among male breeders, the pituitary treatment and the 50 µg g-1 BW thyroxine treatment exhibited the highest levels of estradiol, testosterone, 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone, cortisol, LH, as well as testicular protein and fat content. Whereas the lowest levels were observed in the LHRH recipient and control groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, the saturated fatty acids C16:0 and C18:0, monounsaturated fatty acids C18:1n9c and C24:1n9, along with polyunsaturated fatty acids C20:3n6 and C22:6n3 in male breeders, were found to be the predominant fatty acids in the testes under hormonal treatment. The pituitary treatment and the 50 µg g-1 BW thyroxine treatment demonstrated a greater total percentage of testicular fatty acids compared to other interventions (p < 0.05). These findings emphasize the heightened efficacy of pituitary hormone and subsequent thyroxine hormone administration at a dose of 50 µg g-1 BW, relative to lower thyroxine doses and LHRH. The aforementioned treatment can increase the levels of sex hormones that are important for sexual responsiveness, emphasizing their pivotal role in facilitating successful artificial reproduction in male Rohu breeders.</p>

Evaluation of Female Recipient Infertility and Donor Spermatogonial Purification for Germ Cell Transplantation in Paralichthys olivaceus.

Since the advent of germ cell transplantation (GCT), it has been widely used in shortening the fish breeding cycle, sex-controlled breeding and the protection of rare and endangered fish. In this study, the effectiveness of female sterile recipient preparation and donor stem cell isolation and purification were comprehensively evaluated for spermatogonial stem cell transplantation (SSCT) in Paralichthys olivaceus. The best way to prepare sterile recipients was found to be giving three-year-old fish four intraovarian injections of busulfan (20 mg/kg body weight) combined with exposure to a high temperature (28 °C) after the spawning season compared with the two other ways, which induced apoptosis of most of the endogenous germ cells, resulting in shrinkage of the spawning plate and enlargement of the ovarian lumen. Further analysis showed that both the gonadosomatic index and germ-cell-specific vasa expression were significantly lower than those of the natural-temperature group before treatment (p < 0.05). A high percentage (>60.00%) of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) were obtained after isolation and purification and were transplanted into the prepared recipients. After three weeks of SSCT, the numbers of PKH26-labeled SSCs were increased in the ovaries of the recipients. These findings provide a basis for the establishment of an ideal SSCT technique using P. olivaceus females as the recipients, ultimately contributing to the efficient conservation of male germplasm resources and effective breeding.

Male humpback whales switch to singing in the presence of seismic air guns

Ocean noise produced by seismic exploration has been implicated in causing changes in baleen whale hearing, physiology, feeding, breeding, and migratory behaviours. Here, we observed changes in the mating tactics of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) during a one-hour exposure to nearby seismic air guns. Males employ a conditional mating strategy where they switch between singing and non-singing tactics. Singing is presumably an advertisement signal, while non-singing behaviours include seeking out and joining with females as well as forming competitive groups. During periods of active air guns, the number of male singing whales increased, and singers were more likely to be observed joining females. Conversely, non-singing males were less likely to engage in joining interactions suggesting that active air guns caused a switch in male breeding tactics. Though we cannot translate these effects into changes in breeding success, this indicates that seismic exploration has the potential to alter breeding behaviours in baleen whales.

A review of antioxidant strategies to improve reproduction in aging male broiler breeders.

As only 10% of the broiler breeder flock is roosters, their fertility is very important. The rooster sperm plasma membrane has high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are sensitive to oxidative stress. Lipid peroxidation can change membrane structure, permeability, and fluidity, adversely affecting the acrosome reaction and fertility. Aging roosters have decreases in sexual behavior, serum androgen concentrations, sperm quantity and quality, and fertility. Low fertility in aging roosters is attributed to an imbalanced testicular oxidant-antioxidant system, with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) damaging spermatogenic epithelium. However, antioxidant components can enhance antioxidant defenses in aging broiler breeder roosters. Protection against oxidative damage, particularly in the testes, improves reproductive hormone concentrations, testicular histology, sperm membrane function, and mitochondrial activity and thereby improves semen volume, sperm concentration, viability, motility, and sperm polyunsaturated fatty acid content, sperm-egg penetration, fertility, and reproductive performance. This review summarizes antioxidants that could improve fertility and reproductive performance and delay or prevent age-related declines in broiler breeder roosters, with benefits for poultry production.

Comparative study of Tris Turmeric, Tris Turmeric Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Tris Turmeric Ethylene glycol extenders on the cryosurvivability, sperm resistance, in- vivo fertility and antioxidant status in buffalo bull semen

The freeze-thaw process leads to structural and functional damage due to excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The addition of exogenous antioxidants to sperm diluents is of great importance to overcome oxidative damage during freezing. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of three diluents Tris Turmeric, Tris Turmeric Dimethyl Sulfoxide and Tris Turmeric Ethylene glycol on the cold survival ability of buffalo sperm. Semen was collected from five local adult male buffalo breeds. A base diluent of Tris-citric acid-fructose (TCF) was prepared, adding 20% whole egg yolk (TCFY). The Tris extender without turmeric, without DMSO, and without EG was kept as a control. Other extenders are Tris containing turmeric TT (100 ml/5 ml Tris), Tris containing turmeric dimethyl sulfoxide TTD (100 ml/5 ml Tris + 1.5% DMSO) and Tris containing turmeric and ethylene glycol TTE EG (100 ml/5 ml Tris + 1.5% EG). Semen samples were added and a pure sperm concentration of 60 × 106/ml was achieved. Frozen buffalo sperm after thawing showed significant improvements in all research parameters of the three breeding samples compared to the control. Tris Turmeric Ethylene was the type that best improved sperm survival under frozen conditions, followed by Tris Turmeric and Tris Turmeric Dimethyl Sulfoxide compared to the control. A significant decrease in sperm motility after thawing was evident as usage time increased in all expanders. There was a significant increase in total antioxidant content (TAC) and insignificant change in malondialdehyde (MDA) of the diluent used compared to the control. Conception rate (CR) was higher in Tris Turmeric Ethylene glycol (65.2%), followed by Tris Turmeric (60.3%) and Tris Turmeric Dimethyl Sulfoxide (55.9%) compared to the control (36, 7%). It can be concluded that Tris Turmeric Ethylene Glycol is considered the best agent for improving cold survival and sperm fertility, followed by Tris Turmeric and Tris Turmeric Dimethyl Sulfoxide.

Biostimulation methods based on chemical communication improve semen quality in male breeder rabbits

Biostimulation aims to optimize reproductive parameters as part of animal management practices by modulating animal sensory systems. Chemical signals, mostly known as pheromones, have a great potential in this regard. This study was conducted to determine the influence of short-term male rabbit exposure to different biological secretions, potentially pheromone-mediated, on reproductive parameters of males. Four groups of 18 males each were exposed to A) doe urine, B) 2-phenoxyethanol, C) doe vaginal swab, and D) distilled water (control), three times over a 2.5h exposure window, just before semen collection. Semen volume, sperm concentration and motility, as well as subpopulation analysis of the spermatozoa were assessed for each condition. Additionally, testosterone levels in blood samples were monitored at five time points over the 2.5 h exposure window. We found a higher percentage of motile, progressive, fast progressive and mid-progressive spermatozoa in any of the three experimental groups compared to the control group. In contrast, the semen volume and the percentage of immotile and non-progressive spermatozoa was generally higher in the control group. We then identified a higher proportion of a subpopulation of fast and progressive spermatozoa in groups A, B, and C compared to group D. Our data indicates that sperm motility increases when animals are exposed to specific biological fluids potentially containing pheromones, and that an increase in sperm volume does not correlate with an increase in spermatozoa concentration, progressiveness, and speed. Finally, no differences in testosterone levels were found among comparisons, although males of groups A and C (exposed to natural female biological fluids) showed a tendency towards higher testosterone levels. In conclusion, our results indicate that rabbit sperm quality increases upon exposure to the biological secretions proposed, thereby supporting further investigation into their molecular identity. This exploration could eventually pave the way for implementing the use of pheromones in rabbit husbandry to enhance reproductive and productive parameters in farmed rabbits.

Incidence and Characteristics of Dermatophytosis Lesions in Cats (Felis catus) at Go Pet Care Animal Clinic (2020-2022)

Dermatophytosis, a dermatological condition caused by dermatophyte fungi, affects the superficial keratinized structures of the skin. The primary etiological agents include the genera Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton. This study examines the incidence and characteristics of dermatophytosis lesions in domestic cats (Felis catus) at Go Pet Care Animal Clinic from 2020 to 2022. The research utilized secondary data from the clinic's medical records, which is a significant reference institution in Kabupaten Bandung Barat, to assess the prevalence and features of dermatophytosis within this population. The findings revealed a prevalence of 7.5% in 2020, 11.3% in 2021, and 3.7% in 2022. The incidence was highest in cats under 1 year of age, with a notable frequency in Persian breed cats and males. Common lesions identified included localized alopecia primarily in the ear region, alopecia in the back region, and crust formation also in the back area. This study provides critical insights into the epidemiology and clinical presentation of dermatophytosis in domestic cats, offering guidance for improved diagnosis and management of the condition.

Agonistic song rate positively correlates with male breeding success and avian malaria infection in Acrocephalus paludicola (Aquatic Warbler), a promiscuous songbird with female-only parental care

Abstract The link between male song and reproductive success has been explored at length in socially monogamous birds, but results were inconsistent and under-represented socially non-monogamous species with uniparental care. Here, we evaluated whether metrics of male song in Acrocephalus paludicola (Aquatic Warbler), a promiscuous songbird with female-only care and large repertoires, are associated with fitness- and quality-related traits. We showed that the number of 9-day-old nestlings fathered and probability of avian malaria infection increased with the rate of agonistic song, produced in male–male interactions, and that male-scaled mass index (proxy for energy reserves) positively correlated with the repertoire size. The male breeding success was not explained by repertoire size and song duty cycle. None of the song variables clearly explained the male return rate or change in the tarsus length (proxy for structural body size) and scaled mass index of the fathered chicks between days 2 and 9 post-hatch. No other relationships between the song characteristics and the inbreeding coefficient, scaled mass index, wing-length and Trypanosoma infection status of the males were supported, and Plasmodium infection was unrelated to the song duty cycle and repertoire size. We conclude that in male A. paludicola the repertoire size could be a signal of early developmental stress or current body condition, and the agonistic song rate could be shaped by sexual selection and signal to females a genetic makeup that enhances survival upon infection by Plasmodium.

Abstract MP25: Buprenorphine pharmacotherapy reduces somatic signs of withdrawal in neonates but may not prevent cardiovascular risk in adult offspring with prenatal fentanyl exposure

Long-term effects on the cardiovascular system of offspring exposed to fentanyl in utero are one of the understudied aspects of the opioid crisis. Previously, we have shown that offspring exposed to opioids in utero display exacerbated somatic signs of withdrawal compared to vehicle-exposed offspring. We also showed that prenatal opioid exposure induce long lasting effects increasing blood pressure (BP) in the adult offspring. Buprenorphine (BUP) is one of the most effective FDA-approved standard-of-care therapies used to treat mothers with opioid use disorder and their newborns with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Yet, long-term effects of BUP in the pediatric population is limited. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of BUP in reducing somatic signs of withdrawal in rat neonates and the long-term effects on BP control. Female Sprague-Dawley rat breeders were implanted with a chronic jugular vein catheter and subjected to 2-hr self-administration (SA) sessions of vehicle (VEH, 0.9% NaCl, n=3) or fentanyl (FEN, 2.5 μg/kg/infusion/lever press, n=3). After rats developed dependence, they were paired during proestrus with males for breeding. SA sessions continued until delivery. There were no changes in maternal weight gain and pup weights at birth. At postnatal day 1, a subset of FEN-SA pups was treated with BUP for 5 consecutive days (1 mg/kg, sc). Video recording was performed daily to quantify somatic signs of withdrawal, including body curls, head movements, and spasms. FEN-SA increased withdrawal at postnatal days 1-3. This effect was attenuated in FEN-SA offspring treated with BUP (p&lt;0.05).14-week-old male offspring were implanted with radiotelemetry (n=4 per group). Compared to VEH-SA, FEN-SA offspring showed: 1) increased BP in response to phenylephrine (PE, 40 µg/kg ip), 2) tachycardic response to 1-hour restraint stress followed by impaired BP recovery (p&lt;0.05, respectively), 3) similar acute responses to AngII (30 µg/kg, sc), 4) exacerbated BP and delayed heart rate recovery in response to acute FEN (20 µg/kg, sc, p&lt;0.05), although plasma clearance was similar between groups. BUP treatment in FEN-SA offspring did not influence acute changes in BP or heart rate to different hypertensive stimuli. Taken together our data suggests that an opioid-based therapy effectively reduced somatic signs of withdrawal; however, it does not seem effective in attenuating the acute and chronic BP responses in prenatal fentanyl-exposed offspring.

The Post-weaning Growth of Lambs from Crossbreeding Between Garut Ewes with Dorper Rams

This study investigates the performance of post-weaning growth of Garut lambs and the results of crossing Garut ewes with Dorper rams. This research phase occurred in the post-weaning phase period of 3–7 months using 168 lambs consisting of 85 Garut lambs and 83 crossed Dorper lambs in the post-weaning phase with an average body weight of 15.15±3.23 kg. The lambs were assigned to a factorial completely randomized design (2 x 2 factorial experiment). They were then divided into two groups based on breed (Garut and Crossed Dorper) and two sex groups (male and female). Data observed included feed consumption, as fed feed consumption, dry matter (DM) consumption, DM consumption per body weight, crude protein (CP) consumption, total digestible nutrient (TDN) consumption, average daily gain (ADG), and feed conversion. Results showed that consumption of as fed, DM, CP, TDN, and ADG were higher (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.05) in crossed Dorper lambs than in Garut lambs; a total ADG of crossed Dorper, Garut, male, and female lambs were 106.92±11.68, 79.25±10.02, 102.49±17.54, and 86.79±14.48 g/day, respectively. Male lambs showed higher results (&lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;0.05) in as-fed feed consumption, DM, DM consumption per body weight, CP, TDN, and ADG than female lambs. The feed conversion of crossed Dorper lamb and male lamb was lower (P&lt;0.05) than that of Garut and female lamb. There was an interaction between male breed and sex at seven months ADG and feed conversion at 4 and 7 months. Sheep from Garut ewes crossed with Dorper rams improved the growth performance of their offspring.

Study of Plasma Biochemistry and Plasma Metabolomics Differences in Montbéliard and Holstein Backcross and Holstein Heifers.

Holstein cattle are the main breed of dairy cattle in China. However, given the high degree of purebred selection of Holstein cattle, Chinese dairy cattle are increasingly being characterized by poor disease resistance, poor quality, and declining fertility. In this study, using Montbéliard × Holstein cattle as females and Montbéliard bulls as males for backcross breeding, we sought to provide a reference for improving the quality and performance of Holstein cattle and enhancing the efficiency of dairy farming. On the basis of similar physiological status and age, we selected 24 Montbéliard and Holstein backcross heifers and 11 Holstein heifers fed the same formula for comparative analyses. Plasma samples collected for plasma biochemical index analyses revealed that the content of ALB and BUN in the Montbéliard and Holstein backcross heifers was 20.83% (31.62 g/L to 26.17 g/L) and 42.36% (6.89 mmol/L to 4.84 mmol/L) higher than in the Holsteins (p < 0.01). The ALB/GLB (0.90 to 0.60, p < 0.05) was significantly higher in Montbéliard and Holstein backcross heifers than in Holstein heifers. Similarly, the activity of CAT in the backcross heifers was 61.28% (4.29 U/mL to 2.66 U/mL) higher than that in the Holstein heifers (p < 0.05). Although the activity of GSH-Px in the backcross heifers also showed an increasing trend, the difference did not reach the level of statistical significance (p = 0.052). Compared with Holstein heifers, the concentrations of IgA, IgG, and IL-4 were elevated by 32.52% (24.90 μg/mL to 18.79 μg/mL, p < 0.01), 13.46% (234.32 μg/mL to 206.53 μg/mL, p < 0.01), and 14.59% (306.27 pg/mL to 267.28 pg/mL, p < 0.05), and the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased by 15.92% (215.71 pg/mL to 256.55 pg/mL, p < 0.01) and 32.17% (7.17 ng/mL to 10.57 ng/mL, p < 0.01) in the plasma of Montbéliard and Holstein backcross heifers. Among the experimental heifers, five animals from each of the two groups were selected for plasma metabolomic analysis based on untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A comparison of the differential metabolites between the two heifer breeds revealed an up-regulation of d-glucuronic acid, s-glutathionyl-l-cysteine, and oleic acid levels in the backcross cattle compared with those in the Holstein heifers. We speculate that changes in the levels of these metabolites may be associated with an enhancement of the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune systems in these backcross heifers. Collectively, our findings in this study indicate that compared with 12-month-old purebred Holstein heifers, Montbéliard and Holstein backcross heifers of the same age are characterized by higher antioxidant capacity and immunity.

Can milk replacer allowance affect animal performance, body development, metabolism, and skeletal muscle hypertrophy in pre-weaned dairy kids?

We aimed to evaluate performance, body development, metabolism, and expression of genes related to skeletal muscle hypertrophy in non-castrated male dairy kids fed with different levels of MR during the pre-weaning period. Sixty newborn male kids, not castrated, from Saanen and Swiss Alpine breeds, with an average body weight (BW) of 3.834 ± 0.612 kg, were distributed in a randomized block design. Breeds were the block factor in the model (random effect). Kids were allocated into 2 nutrition plans (n = 30 kids per treatment) categorized as follows: low nutritional plan (LNP; 1L MR/kid/day) or high nutritional plan (HNP; 2L MR/kid/day). All kids were harvested at 45 d of life. The majority of nitrogen balance variables were affected by the nutritional plan (P < 0.050). Morphometric measures and body condition score (2.99 - LNP vs. 3.28 - HNP) were affected by nutritional plan (P < 0.050), except hip height, thoracic depth and hip width. The nutritional plan affected the body components (P < 0.050), except esophagus and trachea. Animal performance and carcass traits were influenced by nutritional plan (P < 0.050), except carcass dressing (48.56% on average). Nutritional plan affected (P < 0.050) some blood profile variables as the total cholesterol (141.35 vs. 113.25 mg/dL), triglycerides (60.53 vs. 89.05 mg/dL), LDL (79.76 vs. 33.66 g/mL) and IGF-1 (17.77 vs. 38.55 ng/mL) for LNP and HNP respectively. Hypertrophy was greater in HNP than LNP animals (P < 0.050), being represented by the proportion of sarcoplasm (39.76 vs. 31.99%). LNP had a greater mTOR abundance than HNP (P = 0.045), but AMPK was not affected by the nutritional plan. Our findings show that a higher milk replacer allowance enhances animal performance, body development, metabolic parameters, and cellular hypertrophy in pre-weaned dairy kids.

Exploring the Risks of Copulatory Trauma in Immunocompromised NOD SCID Mice

This report documents a sudden and fatal case of copulatory breeding trauma in a 7-month old NOD SCID male breeder mouse. While similar injuries in other mouse strains typically result in recovery, the immunocompromised status of NOD SCID mice significantly impairs their healing abilities and heightens their susceptibility to infections. The mouse exhibited acute lethargy, gastrointestinal distress, and penile discharge, leading to death within a few hours. Postmortem examination revealed a significantly distended bladder with hemorrhagic spots, and urine analysis showed numerous motile sperm-like structures. The findings indicate that copulatory trauma was the primary cause of death, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring and preventive measures in breeding management, particularly for immunocompromised strains.

The comparisons of non-linear models to describe the growth performance of Lori-Bakhtiari sheep.

The study of growth traits is of interest to many animal scientists, regardless of specialization, due to the economic importance of growth rate, mature weight and other related traits. This study aimed to compare six non-linear models for describing the growth of Lori-Bakhtiari sheep. In order to collect weight data, 85 lambs (41 males and 44 females) were reared from birth to 140 days of age, and their growth patterns were recorded by measuring their body weight at 10-day intervals. Various mathematical functions, including the negative exponential, Brody, Gompertz, Logistic, Morgan-Mercer-Flodin (MMF) and Weibull, were used to model the relationship between body weight records and age. The results showed that the MMF and Gompertz models provided the best fit to the body weight data, whereas the negative exponential model exhibited the worst fit. In all models, the asymptotic weight of male lambs was higher than females. The research also revealed differences in growth patterns between male and female lambs. Overall, females had a lower absolute growth rate than males, but they reached their peak growth at an earlier period, and their growth rate declined faster. The differences in growth patterns between males and females indicate the importance of analysing male and female data separately when describing growth. As a result, Gompertz model can be recommended to Lori-Bakhtiari female and male lamb breeders to determine more accurate growth traits. In addition, it should be considered that feeding male and female lambs separately according to absolute growth rate values may increase growth performance.

Sexy fingers: Pheromones in the glands of male dendrobatid frogs.

Many animals exchange chemicals during courtship and mating. In some amphibians, sexual chemical communication is mediated by pheromones produced in male breeding glands that are transferred to the female's nostrils during mating. This has been mostly studied in salamanders, despite frogs having similar glands and courtship behaviours suggestive of chemical communication. In Neotropical poison frogs (Dendrobatidae and Aromobatidae), males of many species develop breeding glands in their fingers, causing certain fingers to visibly swell. Many also engage in cephalic amplexus, whereby the male's swollen fingers are placed in close contact with the female's nares during courtship. Here, we investigate the possible roles of swollen fingers in pheromone production using whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNAseq). We examined differential gene expression in the swollen versus non-swollen fingers and toes of two dendrobatid species, Leucostethus brachistriatus and Epipedobates anthonyi, both of which have specialised mucous glands in finger IV, the latter of which has cephalic amplexus. The overwhelming pattern of gene expression in both species was strong upregulation of sodefrin precursor-like factors (SPFs) in swollen fingers, a well-known pheromone system in salamanders. The differentially expressed SPF transcripts in each species were very high (>40), suggesting a high abundance of putative protein pheromones in both species. Overall, the high expression of SPFs in the swollen fingers in both species, combined with cephalic amplexus, supports the hypothesis that these traits, widespread across members of the subfamilies Colostethinae and Hyloxalinae (ca. 141 species), are involved in chemical signalling during courtship.

Effect of Dosing Different Levels of Nano-Curcumin on Some Histological Traits of Testicles of Broiler Breeders Cocks

This experiment was conducted in the poultry fields of the Department of Animal Production / College of Agriculture / Al-Qasim Green University from 11/1/2023 until 1/30/2024 for a period of 13 weeks. The experiment was conducted using 20 male broiler mothers and was randomly distributed into four treatments. Each treatment consisted of five replicates, one rooster for each replicate. The experimental treatments were as follows: the first treatment was control without dosing and addition, the second treatment was a dose of 20 mg/day, the third treatment was a dose of 25 mg/day, and the fourth treatment was a dose of 30 mg/day. The study aims to know the changes that occur in the testicular tissue of male broiler breeders when dosed with nano-curcumin on a daily basis. The results of this experiment showed an improvement in some components of testicular tissue for patients dosed with nano-cumin. We conclude from the results of the experiment that nano-curcumin can improve the testicular tissue characteristics of male broiler breeders Ross308.