Buffalo Species Research Articles

Identifying freemartins using qualitative and quantitative PCR of the SRY gene in cattle and water buffalo species

Abstract Freemartin is a disorder where physical and hormonal characteristics from a male fetus are transferred to a female fetus through the placental anastomosis. This causes the female twin to be mostly infertile, leading farmers to cull them due to the lack of a reliable diagnostic approach, causing economic and genetic losses. The study aims to develop an accurate diagnostic tool to identify freemartinism using comparative assessment of the SRY gene through qualitative (PCR) and quantitative (qPCR) methods and relate to their consequent fertility status. Blood samples from suspected freemartins were collected, and DNA and RNA were extracted and analyzed to verify freemartinism using the SRY gene. The results show that PCR and qPCR techniques can identify freemartinism cases using the SRY gene. Using PCR, the SRY gene was absent in fertile freemartin, and non-fertile freemartin and freemartin singleton were positive with SRY. qPCR showed that the relative content of SRY was 4.84–48% more in freemartins than in co-twin males and undetected in fertile freemartins. The small yet detectable amount of the SRY gene in the freemartin samples explains possible chimerism, contamination of male hormones, and underdevelopment of gonads and reproductive tracts, which could cause infertility in animals. Therefore, this developed method for detecting freemartinism can help farmers make informed decisions regarding breeding practices to optimize fertility and productivity in their herds.

BuffExDb: web-based tissue-specific gene expression resource for breeding and conservation programmes in Bubalus bubalis.

Amidst the global challenge of extreme poverty, the livestock sector can significantly contribute to global sustainable development goals by enhancing resilience, smallholder productivity, and market participation. The Indian livestock sector is one of the largest in the world with a total livestock population of 535.82 million, ∼10.7% of the world's livestock population. Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) holds significant importance in India and other Asian countries, notably contributing to their economies by surpassing cattle in milk production and providing various valuable products. The limited availability of genomic and transcriptomic resources for buffaloes hinders the efforts to enhance their traits for increased milk and meat production. To address this gap, this study adopted the state-of-the-art bioinformatics tools to analyse 2429 transcriptomes representing 438 BioSamples from 23 BioProjects obtained from a public domain database, representing 76 different types of tissues and cell types from all major organ systems in buffalo species (river and swamp). The outcome of this exhaustive genomic data led to the development of a relational buffalo expression database based on a three-tier architecture named as BuffExDb (http://46.202.167.198/buffex/). The user-friendliness and flexibilities in retrieval of tissue-specific genes (TSGs) and their functional annotation are the major characteristics of BuffExDb. This is the first of its kind that offers an effortlessly navigable and filterable database, enabling users to examine and visualize the expression levels of each tissue across multiple samples, simultaneously. It also provides the Tau score parameter for the identification of TSGs along with their essential roles in tissue development, maintenance, and function as observed through the enrichment test for gene ontologies. The exhaustive outcome of this work would pave the way for the biological, functional, and evolutionary studies for easy access. This prior information based on tissue-specific mechanisms can be used for future genomic research, especially in association studies in endeavour of enhanced buffalo breeding and conservation programmes. Database URL: http://46.202.167.198/buffex/.

Indigenous Stewardship of Ancestral Lands Activates Land and Culture: Will We Listen?

At Bears Ears National Monument (BENM) Indigenous wisdom-keepers have been transmitting knowledge and activating this “living landscape” and the Native cultures thriving within it across hundreds of generations. In this article we ask, “What should true collaboration look like between Tribes, federal agencies, grassroots Native communities, and the land?” In today’s dialogue around collaboration, US agencies are asserting Western ideas around “co-management,” “co-stewardship,” and “Traditional Ecological Knowledge” (TEK). Instead, this dialogue needs to begin at the community level to understand Native land ethics, “human” and “non-human” bonds, and kinship relationships that define reciprocity between Indigenous People and the land. Collaboration must begin by treating Native wisdom as proprietary, because knowledge in itself is a powerful entity. How we treat and use Native wisdom has consequences and, thus, transmission of such knowledge needs protection. Agencies should take steps to support Native communities themselves in passing this knowledge along to younger generations. Every Tribe might be at a different stage of maintaining or restoring cultural relationships to the land and each ancestral landscape will have different ecological needs. Co-management of ancestral lands by Tribes is a worthwhile step toward achieving true collaboration with federal agencies. And as Native People return to the land, they will also be seeking the return of buffalo, beaver, native plants, and many extirpated species in order to restore their own cultures and relationships to the Earth. And much like these human relationships that must be formed as collaborations are established, these ties between Native spiritual leaders, ancestral lands, and wildlife must also be restored. Finally, the first step in any collaboration is building trust. All of this will take time and must be done one ancestral landscape, one Native community, and one agency office at a time. True collaboration by federal agencies will allow Native People to practice spiritual sustenance, strengthen their languages and cultures, and keep ancestral landscapes activated and healthy while respecting Tribal sovereignty and self-determination. It should also be acknowledged that the benefits for land and people of leading with Native epistemologies, and ways of knowing and doing, extends well beyond Native communities and land and are vital to the resolution of the current biodiversity and climate crises.

A Highly Divergent Mitochondrial Genome in Extant Cape Buffalo From Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa.

The reduced cost of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has allowed researchers to generate nuclear and mitochondrial genome data to gain deeper insights into the phylogeography, evolutionary history and biology of non-model species. While the Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) has been well-studied across its range with traditional genetic markers over the last 25 years, researchers are building on this knowledge by generating whole genome, population-level data sets to improve understanding of the genetic composition and evolutionary history of the species. Using publicly available NGS data, we assembled 40 Cape buffalo mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) from four protected areas in South Africa, expanding the geographical range and almost doubling the number of mitogenomes available for this species. Coverage of the mitogenomes ranged from 154 to 1036X. Haplotype and nucleotide diversity for Kruger National Park (n = 15) and Mokala National Park (n = 5) were similar to diversity levels in southern and eastern Africa. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (n = 15) had low levels of genetic diversity, with only four haplotypes detected, reflecting its past bottleneck. Addo Elephant National Park (n = 5) had the highest nucleotide diversity of all populations across Africa, which was unexpected, as it is known to have low nuclear diversity. This diversity was driven by a highly divergent mitogenome from one sample, which was subsequently identified in another sample via Sanger sequencing of the cytochrome b gene. Using a fossil-calibrated phylogenetic analysis, we estimated that this lineage diverged from all other Cape buffalo lineages approximately 2.51 million years ago. We discuss several potential sources of this mitogenome but propose that it most likely originated through introgressive hybridisation with an extinct buffalo species, either S. acoelotus or S. antiquus. We conclude by discussing the conservation consequences of this finding for the Addo Elephant National Park population, proposing careful genetic management to prevent inbreeding depression while maintaining this highly unique diversity.

A multi-omics database of buffaloes from Yangtze valley reveals diversity of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is the fundamental livestock resource for local rural populations and holds a promising prospect of their milk and meat. Xuyi mountain (XYM) and Haizi (HZ) buffaloes from Yangtze valley comprises of species diversity of Asian water buffaloes. Current multi-omics enables identification of causal genes and elucidation of genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying complex traits in buffaloes. Here, we conducted the integrated analysis of metabolome and metagenome of rumen fluid, transcriptome and metabolome of blood, and whole genome sequence data from XYM (n = 7) and HZ (n = 10) male buffaloes. Our results revealed the apparent diversity of multi-layer omics profiles between two buffalo species. The built-up multi-omics database supports the discoveries of diversity in Asian water buffalo and potentially serves valuable resources for studying causal regulatory variants and their mechanisms.

Analysis of species adulteration in beef sausage using real-time polymerase chain reaction in Makassar, Indonesia

Background and Aim: Adulteration, or the inclusion of meats not declared on the label of processed meat products, constitutes a fraudulent practice that poses a threat to public health. Sausages, which are processed meats derived from a blend of minced meats that obscure the original muscle’s morphological features, are particularly prone to adulteration, making the visual detection of fraud more challenging. The research aimed to detect and measure the proportion of pork, chicken, buffalo, and beef DNA in commercially available processed meat packaged, labeled, and sold as “beef sausages” in Makassar, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 beef sausage samples were collected from traditional and modern markets as well as tourist attractions in Makassar. DNA was isolated and the species were identified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The findings revealed that all sausage samples contained not only beef DNA, as indicated on their labels but also undeclared DNA from chicken and buffalo. Notably, pork DNA was not detected in the samples. The frequencies of chicken and buffalo meat were 9.2% and 10%, respectively, whereas it was 0.85% for beef in the beef sausage samples. Conclusion: The discovery of chicken and buffalo species in beef sausage samples indicates adulteration, potentially posing severe quality risks. Keywords: adulteration, beef sausage, deoxyribonucleic acid, polymerase chain reaction, species.

Different Types of Milk Flow Curves and Factors Affecting Milkability in Buffalo Species

Buffaloes are characterized by longer teats and teat canals and stronger muscular resistance of the teat wall than cattle; it is necessary to have a high vacuum level to open the teat canal and begin milk ejection. In buffalo milking management, milk yield, and flow profiles are essential parameters to record and evaluate. The milking machine is a critical point, and the characteristics of the milking vacuum and the pulsation rate are closely related to milk flow observations. In Italy, the most used vacuum levels are 44-46 kPa (range 40-53 kPa). The data on the milkability traits of the Mediterranean Italian breed made it possible to classify eight different types of milk flow curves due to anatomical, physiological, and management differences. This study aims to evaluate the main factors influencing milkability in dairy buffaloes. The results suggest the detachment of the milking cluster to reduce the decreasing and blind phases with the following advantages: reduction of the total milking time and consequently of the worker's time, improvement of the farmer's profitability and milk quality through decreasing the incidence of mastitis. Milk ability is influenced by physiological, sanitary, management, and genetic factors. In Mediterranean Italian buffaloes milked with the Automatic Milking System (AMS), a considerable variation in milk ejection and, consequently, in the milk flow curve was found compared to the conventional one, with better pre-stimulation, independent milk ejection for each teat, optimal milking of all quarters. In conclusion, continuous milkability monitoring will help optimize milking practices by reducing labor time and increasing farmers’ income through better milk quality. In addition, the identification of buffaloes with desirable types of milk flow curves could be helpful for buffalo breeders’ associations to address farmer management and to define potential new breeding objectives.

Genetic Characteristics of Echinococcus granulosus from Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Samples in Human Isolates Based on the High-Resolution Melting Point Analysis in Sabzevar, Northeast Iran.

There are ten genotypes of Echinococcus granulosus with different intermediate and final hosts affecting the parasite's life cycle and its transmission to humans. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the genotype of isolated hydatid cysts using the simple and fast high-resolution melting point analysis (HRM) method. The paraffin tissue samples of patients who underwent surgery were obtained from the pathology sample bank of Vasei and Emdad Hospitals in Sabzevar, Iran during 2010-2020. The DNA content of the samples was extracted after collecting and determining the characteristics using the DNA extraction kit. PCR was performed on the samples and the presence of the hydatid cyst genome was confirmed using the special Master Kit. Mix PCR of Solis Biodyne Company and Real-Time device (Bio-Rad) were used, and the genetic identity of hydatid cysts were determined. Out of 33 paraffin samples, 21 samples contained hydatid cyst DNA, two of which were from the brain and 19 from the liver tissues; 12 samples did not contain hydatid cyst DNAs. All liver samples were from sheep species (G1), and the brain samples were from buffalo species (G3). Therefore, 9.53% of the Echinococcus species collected were buffalo (G3), and 90.47% were sheep (G1) strain. Based on previous patterns, HRM methods can be used for easy and quick identification of Echinococcus strains. The G1 strain was the dominant strain causing hydatid cyst in different human organs, including the liver and brain.

Widely Targeted Metabolomic Analysis Revealed the Diversity in Milk from Goats, Sheep, Cows, and Buffaloes and Its Association with Flavor Profiles.

The milk flavor can be attributed to the presence of numerous flavor molecules and precursors. In this study, we employed widely targeted metabolomic analysis techniques to analyze the metabolic profiles of various milk samples obtained from goats, sheep, dairy cows, and buffaloes. A total of 631 metabolites were identified in the milk samples, which were further categorized into 16 distinct classes. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that the metabolite profiles of samples from the same species exhibit clustering, while separated patterns of metabolite profiles are observed across goat, sheep, cow, and buffalo species. The differential metabolites between the groups of each species were screened based on fold change and variable importance in projection (VIP) values. Five core differential metabolites were subsequently identified, including 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropanoic acid, inosine 5'-triphosphate, methylcysteine, N-cinnamylglycine, and small peptide (L-tyrosine-L-aspartate). Through multiple comparisons, we also screened biomarkers of each type of milk. Our metabolomic data showed significant inter-species differences in the composition and concentration of some compounds, such as organic acids, amino acids, sugars, nucleotides, and their derivatives, which may affect the overall flavor properties of the milk sample. These findings provided insights into the molecular basis underlying inter-species variations in milk flavor.

A Retrospective Study (2015-2020) on the Risk Factors Associated with the Persistence and Spread of Brucellosis in Buffalo Farms in Caserta Province, Italy.

Bovine and bubaline brucellosis is still present in some regions of Italy. Although control and eradication measures have been implemented for several years, the brucellosis situation remains problematic in the Campania region. The infection is present in the provinces of Salerno and Caserta, with the latter experiencing a drastic increase in the prevalence and incidence of infection in buffalo species (Bubalus bubalis) in recent years. The brucellosis eradication plan in Italy is subject to the European co-financing system, and failure to achieve the objectives of the plan has resulted in economic cuts for the Campania Region for years. This study aimed to evaluate the possible risk factors associated with the spread and persistence of brucellosis infection on buffalo farms in the Province of Caserta. The results of official controls carried out from 2015 to 2020 on the buffalo farms of the Province were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed by means of the R software (version 4.1.0) on a final dataset consisting of 4583 observations. The possible association between covariates and outcome (presence/absence of infection) was evaluated (T-Fisher and Wilcoxon). A logistic regression model with mixed effects was carried out. The study shows that the risk of infection is statistically associated with the density of farms per square km and previous notifications of abortions on the same farms. Furthermore, animal movements constitute a risk factor for the permanence of infection over time (OR > 1), and herds already infected prior to 2015 were seen to have an almost three-fold higher risk of developing the disease (OR = 3.35).

Intradermal Tuberculin Test in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): Experimental use of Mycobacterial Antigens for the Diagnosis of Bovine Tuberculosis

The study aims to evaluate the potential use of mycobacterial ESAT6 and CFP10 antigens, Early Secretory Proteins (ESP) in the Skin Test used for bovine tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis in Water Buffalo.
 A pilot study was performed on 21 buffaloes from a TB outbreak and 11 buffaloes from a TB-free herd. Three concentrations of ESAT6-CFP10 (10, 20, and 30 mg) and two of ESP (50 and 100 µg) were inoculated in the Skin Test, along with PPDB, PPDA, and PBS as a negative control. Skin thickness was measured with calipers before the test and every 24 hours for 4 days. Then, to evaluate the specificity of the antigens, a field study was conducted, and 100 buffaloes from a TB-free herd were inoculated using the best antigens concentration derived from the pilot study.
 In the positive buffaloes, the strongest skin response was to PPDB at 24h, with some subjects becoming inconclusive at 72 and 96 h. A peak response to PPDA at 48 hours was detected, followed by a slight decrease. The response to ESP-100 µg remained high at 24 and 48 h, then decreased, remaining positive at 72 h. In the 100 TB-free buffaloes, the best specificity was observed using ESAT6-CFP10 and ESP.
 ESP yielded the best results, showing higher reactivity in infected animals and no reactivity in the healthy ones at 72 h. Therefore, ESP could be an excellent candidate for further extensive studies in the buffalo species to improve Skin Test performance.

Hyperthermia-induced changes in leukocyte survival and phagocytosis: a comparative study in bovine and buffalo leukocytes.

Heat stress negatively affects health, welfare, and livestock productivity by impairing immune function, increasing disease incidence. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in understanding the immune system of water buffalo due to the growing economic impact of this species for the high quality and nutritional value of buffalo milk. While there are common responses across bovine and buffalo species, there are also some species-specific variations in the physiological responses to heat stress, mainly attributed to differences in metabolism and heat dissipation efficiency. At cellular level, the exposure to thermal stress induces several anomalies in cell functions. However, there is limited knowledge about the differential response of bovine and buffalo leucocytes to early and late exposure to different degrees of thermal exposure. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro effect of hyperthermia on apoptosis and phagocytosis in leukocytes from bovine and buffalo species. For this, whole blood samples of six bovines and nine buffaloes were incubated at 39°C (mimicking normothermia condition) or 41°C (mimicking heat stress condition) for 1, 2, and 4 h. Two flow cytometric assays were then performed to evaluate apoptosis and determine functional capacity of phagocytic cells (neutrophils and monocytes). The results showed that the viability of bovine and buffalo leukocytes was differently affected by temperature and time of in vitro exposure. A higher percentage of apoptotic leukocytes was observed in bovines than in buffaloes at 39°C (3.19 vs. 1.51, p < 0.05) and 41°C (4.01 vs. 1.69, p < 0.05) and for all incubation time points (p < 0.05). In contrast, no difference was observed in the fraction of necrotic leukocytes between the two species. In both species, lymphocytes showed the highest sensitivity to hyperthermia, showing an increased apoptosis rates along with increased incubation time. In bovine, apoptotic lymphocytes increased from 5.79 to 12.7% at 39°C (p < 0.05), in buffalo, this population increased from 1.50 to 3.57% at 39°C and from 2.90 to 4.99% at 41°C (p < 0.05). Although no significant differences were found between the two species regarding the percentage of phagocytic neutrophils, lower phagocytosis capacity values (MFI, mean fluorescence intensity) were found in bovines compared with buffaloes at 41°C (27960.72 vs. 53676.45, p > 0.05). However, for monocytes, the differences between species were significant for both phagocytosis activity and capacity with lower percentages of bovine phagocytic monocytes after 2 h at 39°C and after 1 h at 41°C. The bovine monocytes showed lower MFI values for all temperature and time variations than buffaloes (37538.91 vs. 90445.47 at 39°C and 33752.91 vs. 70278.79 at 41°C, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the current study represents the first report on the comparative analysis of the effect of in vitro heat stress on bovine and buffalo leukocyte populations, highlighting that the leukocytes of buffalo exhibit relatively higher thermal adaptation than bovine cells.

Investigations on Escherichia coli serotypes isolated in buffalo species suspected with gastrointestinal tract disorders

The objective of the study was to investigate the serotypes of Escherichia coli isolated from the heart blood and the visceral organs of buffaloes. A total of 10 different serotypes were isolated, and most of them are responsible for diarrhoea in animals. The serotyping results revealed O98 as the most prominent serotype, followed by O135,

Identification of opportunistic bacteria in buffalo species suffered with gastrointestinal tract disorders

The present study was conducted on 38 buffalo carcasses (17 adult buffalo and 21 buffalo calves) affected by gastrointestinal tract disorders received for post-mortem examination at the Department of Veterinary Pathology, LUVAS, Hisar, during a period of August 2019 to January 2020. Bacteriological isolations were carried out aseptically from the heart blood, liver, and mesenteric lymph nodes. Identification of bacterial species through the Vitek-2 Compact system revealed that most of the bacterial species were identified in the liver, followed by mesenteric lymph nodes and heart blood. Escherichia coli were found to be the most prevalent bacterial species in mesenteric lymph nodes, followed by liver and heart blood.

Characteristics of the karyotype of Ukrainian buffalos

The article presents the results of studying the karyotype of the Ukrainian buffalo population. With the help of routine and GTG methods of analysis of metaphase plates of chromosomes, it was established that in the studied animals the diploid chromosome set was equal to fifty chromosomes (2n=50), which consisted of 5 pairs of meta- and submetacentric and 19 pairs of acrocentric autosomes and one pair (XX) or (XY) sex chromosomes. The total number of chromosome arms (FN) was 60, which correspond to animals of the water buffalo species (Bubalus bubalis), a subspecies of the river buffalo (B. b. Bubalis). Cytogenetic control revealed wide intraspecies limits of spontaneous somatic mutagenesis: absence of constitutive chromosomal disorders; the frequency of metaphases with aneuploidy, the average value (M±m) of which was equal to 10.5±0.13%, polyploidy (M±m=0.7±0.25%), asynchronous separation of the centromeric regions of chromosomes - (M±m=5.3±2.00), chromosomal breaks (M±m=0.7±0.24%), the proportion of cells with micronuclei (M±m=2.5±0.39‰), binucleated cells (M±m=2.6±0.32‰) and mitotic index (M±m=4.8±0.65‰). It has been established that Ukrainian river buffaloes are characterized by high karyotype stability.

Ethnotaxonomy of buffallo (Bubalus Bubalis) on livestock system of the Gayo Community, Aceh

This paper aims to reveal the knowledge of the Gayo community about buffalo ethnotaxonomy so as to provide a good alternative for sustainability issues in maintaining local wisdom and identity. This research was conducted in Gayo Lues Regency using a qualitative approach because the main purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge and understanding of the Gayo community based on the emic perspective of the community regarding the classification of buffalo species. The data collection techniques used participatory observation, in-depth interviews, FGDs and document studies. The results showed that the knowledge of the Gayo community regarding the genetic ethnotaxonomy of buffalo can be seen from their ability to classify livestock types based on gender, skin color and horn shape owned by buffalo. There are six types of horns identified, namely: Caweng / Gaweng, Gonok, Gampang, Durung / Cakah, Rukup, Rebah, and Gope / Gupik. As for skin color, there are four categories, namely segem, jeged, impil-impil and sawak. The shape and characteristics possessed are indicators in determining the quality of the buffalo because it is correlated with the ability to endure, have energy and the quality of the meat produced. Knowledge of this matter is very useful for parties with an interest in the world of livestock to be used as a basis for policy making.

Precision livestock farming in buffalo species: a sustainable approach for the future

The growth of the world population that will occur in the next 30 years will be responsible for an increase in animal-derived food and proteins of animal origin. The livestock sector will be obliged to face new challenges, such as the reduction of environmental impact, the improvement of animal-derived food quality and safety, the reduction of antibiotics, and the increase in efficiency. One of the strategies that could be adopted is Precision Livestock Farming (PLF), recognized as the most sustainable tool to improve farm sustainability. It can be defined as “the continuous, automated, and real-time monitoring of production, reproduction, health, and welfare through the application of advanced information and communication technologies (ICT)”. In this new farm concept, animals, environment, machinery, and processes become “information objects” to enhance data; farm management and animals are defined as CITD systems: they are Complex, Individually different, Time- variant, and Dynamic. Several PLF technologies have been recently applied to buffalo species, improving some critical points of the farm, such as milking, nutrition, reproduction, and management. This short review reports some experiences carried out in buffalo species.

Effect of Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) as a dietary supplement during transition period in dairy buffaloes

It is widely recognized that in mammals, the period just before and immediately after calving, until the peak’s lactation, is a stressful period impairing animal performance and immune response. Some studies have proposed the use of Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina), a natural immunostimulant, as a dietary supplement in cows and sheep to improve the antioxidant response. To date, no similar research has been reported on the buffalo species. Therefore, we investigated the effect of Spirulina on body condition score (BCS), yield and quality of milk, and oxidative stress response through the assessment of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs test) and the biological antioxidant potential (BAP test) of twenty-four Italian Mediterranean buffaloes. The animals were equally divided into two groups (control=C and Spirulina=S) fed with the same total mixed ration. In top dressing mode, the S group additionally received 50 g/head/d of freeze-dried Spirulina for one month before calving and 100 g/head/d for 90 d after calving. Milk production was recorded daily on the farm’s computer system, and milk composition (protein, fat, and lactose) was determined at 30, 60, and 90 d after calving using Milkoscan (Foss, Denmark). BCS was determined at group formation and 30, 60, and 90 days after calving. Colostrum was collected within 6-8 hours post-calving, and its immunoglobulin content was immediately measured by an optical refractometer (Brix degrees). d-ROMs and BAP were measured on serum blood samples taken at group formation, at calving, 15 and 90 d after calving. Data were analyzed by a two-way analysis of variance using treatment, time of sampling, and relative interaction as factors. Where appropriate, the Tukey post hoc test was used to identify significant differences between means. For all variables, the interaction was not significant. Spirulina supplementation did not influence yield, milk quality, BCS, or colostrum quality. Group S showed a significantly higher mean BAP value (U-Carr) than the control (2730.17 vs. 2511.28, p&lt;0.05) and a lower level of d-ROMs (54.15 vs. 78.45, p&lt;0.05), indicating a better antioxidant response to oxidative stress. As expected, the sampling time significantly affected both BAP and d-ROMs (p&lt;0.001), with the highest BAP value at 90 d and the lowest d-ROMs at 30 d before calving. We conclude that Spirulina supplementation during the transition period.

Building resilient cattle through better management of buffalo health

Livestock has been involved among the causes of environmental deterioration due to the felling of forests, soil degradation, the affectation of water resources, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The high proportion of damage attributed to the live-stock sector is debatable compared to other sectors inherent to human development. However, it is unquestionable that immediate action is required to address the global environmental situation. The most effective way to stop it is to reduce methane, but it is not the only way. This refers to producing food through more sustainable, friendly models, less dependent on external inputs, with low energy consumption and reduced GHG emissions, but at the same time with better yields (productive and reproductive) and high efficiency. It is necessary to implement sustainable buffalo production systems through a planning process, which includes efficient technologies that interact favorably with the environment. The execution of management programs (vegetable, animal, genetic, advanced reproduction, health, well-being, and profitability) must focus on new concepts and strategies that are friendly to the environment. In addition to sustainability and food production, there is a need to maximize the capacities of the buffalo and establish sanitary programs based on and guaranteed a healthy herd and safe production (on the postulate of “one health”). It is necessary to know in depth about the immunobiology of the buffalo and its strategies for controlling pathogens. In particular, the immune system’s effectiveness in recognizing the progression and pathogenic action of some agents, from which the buffalo is not exempt from becoming infected, but which do not thrive or induce clinical manifestations or functionality variations. On the contrary, other acute diseases (clostridial, for example) or those caused by intracellular bacteria may have a reserved prognosis, developing complex pictures. This unique set defines that the buffalo species is not resistant to these diseases But, instead, resistant to many. This condition should be under-stood as the ability to adapt efficiently and recover quickly from stress, adversity, or infection. This resilience must be strengthened through handling strategies and by implementing specific and strategic health plans built on solid foundations of diagnostic structures to promote prevention and contribute to more ethical and rational treatments, stimulating a unique association (environment - pathogen - buffalo). Therefore, interventions do not necessarily have to be done through drugs. Resilience development involves maximizing immunity, based on genetic programs and selection for individual health and product; In health management strategies that strengthen mother/child interaction from birth; In which the colostrum is guaranteed in time and form; In which anthelmintic treatments respond to a rational use on populations with parasitic pathological loads, and that have a minimum environmental impact (on dung insects, grassland ecosystems and edaphic factors), or on the dynamics of the ecosystems; Where the (restricted and cautious) use of antimicrobials prevents the continued proliferation of resistance, nor compromises human health. Build it through genetic improvement for a genotype/environment interaction favorable to the development of optimal immunity; Through the comfort and guarantee of animal welfare; Through rational grazing with low environmental impact, in polyphytic pastures, with shade and minimal use of pesticides. Strengthen the population’s health through strict controls to eradicate diseases such as Brucellosis and Tuberculosis, which will positively impact public health. In a short time, we will have multiple possibilities generated by molecular bioengineering and molecular genetics for identifying and multiplying actual resistance genes to these diseases and others of economic importance that compromise buffaloes. In conclusion, buffalo production and the tropics represent elements with extraordinary potential to generate positive synergies and promote agroecological models that lead to climate change mitigation by promoting carbon storage in the soil and reducing GHG emissions, neutralizing the adverse effects on soils and vegetation and, ultimately, contributing to the regeneration of the ecosystem. However, for it to work, it is necessary to generate a deep knowledge of the animal species, the ecosystem, and the ecological principles of grazing, Capacities that producers must develop.

Methodological aspects in gastroenteric methane evaluation trial in water buffalo

Methane (CH 4) is a potent greenhouse gas, and ruminants constitute a significant source of agricultural contributions. It has been hypothesized that the host’s genome ultimately controls rumen microbial communities, but numerous samples are needed to achieve robust results. The ease and representativeness of the sampling method and the cost-efficiency of large-scale sequencing will, therefore, be major factors in ensuring the feasibility of a research project. The rationale of this work was to verify if non-invasive samples could be a proxy for ruminal digesta and to validate the concentration registered by a laser methane detector (LMD) at the nostrils by measuring the actual concentration of CH4 at the rumen cannula immediately after opening. The LMD is a remote CH4 monitoring system for air used in other ruminants, but studies on buffalo are scarce. The laser beam is pointed toward the source to acquire the data. The trial aimed to compare an easy sampling (1’ during a milking session), with a longer and labor-intensive one (5’ animals captured in a crash). In five (n=5) cannulated buffalo cows, various matrices (whole rumen content, feces, and buccal swabs) were tested for DNA recovery. Two different Buccal swabs were tested. Frozen solid and liquid rumen fractions, feces as-is, pelleted, or in preserving glycerol solution at room temperature were tested. Different protocols for DNA extraction (WUR protocol; Kit Maxwell® Promega; Kit Quick Extract™ Lucigen) and various sampling methods were compared. Saliva was a difficult matrix to process and did not yield satisfactory DNA, so it is unsuitable as a proxy. Feces showed no difference in preservation methods, and DNA recovery was like the rumen. Nevertheless, metagenomic analysis must be carried out to verify whether the species composition is comparable. All DNA extraction methods were satisfying: Quick Extract was the easiest to perform, WUR resulted in the highest amount of DNA, and Kit Maxwell was the one that gave the overall best performance. As for the CH4 measure, there was a significant correlation between the rumen’s highest pick value of emission at the cannula and the intensity and duration of breath emission, calculated as breath + eructation. Moreover, we found a highly significant difference in emissions patterns when animals were subjected to distress (confinement, manipulation). LMD showed different emission trends under different sampling conditions, which seems suitable for CH4 measurement in the buffalo species.