Spanish Goats Research Articles

PSIII-29 Evaluating the efficacy of bioelectrical impedance analysis using machine learning models for the classification of parasitized goats

Abstract Rapid identification and evaluation of animal health condition is one of the most important concerns when it comes to livestock productivity, particularly for small ruminants susceptible to infection from blood-feeding gastrointestinal nematodes, like Haemonchus contortus. The present study was designed to optimize the process of differentiating parasite infected goats from healthy goats. This study used male intact Spanish goats (n = 65), aiming to establish a proof of concept for the efficacy of bioelectrical impedance, specifically through the metrics of Resistance, and Reactance, in identifying the health status of goats. The research involved the development and comparative analysis of seven machine learning (ML) models, divided into four classification-based models and three regression models, to assess their capabilities in accurately classifying goats based on bioelectrical properties. The data for this study were gathered from live animals using CQR 3.0 (Sea food analytics), with measurements taken from both ear and tail ends to ensure comprehensive and reliable bioelectrical readings. Among the classification models evaluated, the Random Forest Classification model emerged as the most effective, demonstrating a validation accuracy of 71.8% and a testing accuracy of 77.1%. This was closely followed by the K-NN Classification model, which showed a promising testing accuracy of 86.7%. Conversely, the Support Vector Machines and Boosting Classification models displayed decreased accuracies, indicating variability in the performance of classification models in this context. The regression models, evaluated through metrics such as Mean Squared Error (MSE) and R-square, revealed the K-NN Regression model as the most proficient, with the least Test MSE of 0.13 and an R-square of 0.482. This suggests a moderate correlation and predictive capability in determining the health status of goats based on bioelectrical impedance measurements. The Decision Tree Regression and Support Vector Regressor models showed varying degrees of effectiveness, with the latter indicating a minimal R-square value, highlighting the challenges in applying regression models to this domain. The conducted proof of concept research not only underscores the potential of bioelectrical impedance analysis in veterinary diagnostics, but also opens avenues for further refinement of ML algorithms in classifying and predicting the health status of farm animals. The outcomes of this study could significantly influence management strategies for small ruminants, offering a non-invasive, rapid, and potentially cost-effective tool for early detection of parasitism, thereby enhancing animal welfare and productivity in the agricultural sector.

206 Effects of breed type and days on trial on feeding behavior in growing goats fed a total mixed diets using GrowSafe feeding technology

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of breed and days on trial (DOT) on feeding behavior traits in two breeds of growing goats. Nineteen female goats [n = 10 Alpine; n = 9 Spanish, with average initial ages of 360 d and 352 d, and body weight (BW) of 38.8 ± 2.8 kg and 35.5 ± 3.1 kg, respectively], were randomly assigned within the breed to one of two non-adjacent pens (5 goats/pen), each equipped with GrowSafe feed bunks. A pelletized total mixed ration (TMR) was fed twice per day and goats had ad libitum access to feed, water, and mineral block throughout the 84-d trial. Feeding behavior traits, including feed intake, bunk visit frequency (BVF), head-down duration (HDD), and dry matter intake (DMI) were collected daily using the GrowSafe feeding system. A 14-d interval was used to derive feed behavior traits of individual goats at 42, 56, 70, and 84 DOT. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures model with a fixed effect of breed, DOT as a repeated measure, and breed x DOT interaction with pen as a random effect. Alpine goats had greater (P < 0.05) initial and final BW (37.6 kg and 51.7 kg, respectively) than Spanish goats (34.7 kg and 46.5 kg, respectively) although DMI (P = 0.10; 1.73 ± 0.31 and 1.39 ± 0.18 kg/d) did not differ. There was not a significant difference (P > 0.05) between breeds for frequency of bunk visits (21.1 vs. 18.6) and bunk duration (P > 0.05). Similarly, the effect of breed on DMI (27.1g/min vs. 22.8 g/min) was non-significant (P > 0.05). Furthermore, breed did not significantly (P > 0.05) affect HDD (31.3 min/d vs 31.9 min/d). However, there was a significant interaction (P < 0.05) between breed and DOT for HDD. In addition, significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed due to the length of DOT for BVD, bunk visit duration, HDD, and eating rate (g/min). Our results suggest that Spanish goats tended to visit feed bunks more frequently per day and tended to consume less feed per visit than their counterpart Alpine goats, and the feeding behaviors of goats change with age. However, further research is warranted to determine changes in the feeding behavior of goats in different production cycles.

Effect of feeding a blackseed meal-sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellet on gastrointestinal nematode and coccidia infection and animal performance in young goats

Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection poses the most significant obstacle to the sustainable development of small ruminant (sheep and goat) farming globally. Resistance of GINs to synthetic anthelmintic drugs has led to rising interest in exploring alternative methods for parasite control, such as the utilization of bioactive plants with anti-parasitic properties. In this investigation, black seed (Nigella sativa), a shrub high in secondary antioxidant compounds, and sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), a perennial legume high in tannins with anti-parasitic properties were combined to determine if two bioactive plants containing different types of secondary compounds can provide a stronger anti-parasitic effect than sericea lespedeza alone. In a 49-day trial, naturally parasitized 6–7-month-old intact male Spanish goats (n = 15/treatment) were fed pelletized feeds encompassing sericea lespedeza leaf meal (SL), a combination of black seed meal (BS) and sericea lespedeza leaf meal (BS-SL - 75 % SL, 25 % BS), or alfalfa (Medicago sativa, control parasitized; CONP), with an additional group of dewormed kids given the alfalfa pellets (Control treated; CONT). Weekly measurements of animal weights and samples of blood and feces were collected to determine the packed cell volume (PCV), GIN fecal egg counts (FEC), and coccidia fecal oocyte counts (FOC), respectively. All animals were processed at the end of the trial (60 total), with adult Haemonchus contortus worms recovered from the abomasum of each goat for counting and sex determination. Carcass weights were recorded after processing. Goats given the SL and BS-SL treatments had lower FEC (P<0.05) than the parasitized alfalfa (CONP) goats. At the end of the study, the SL and BS-SL groups' FOC values were lower (P < 0.05) than the CONT and CONP groups. A rise in PCV values was seen over time for all groups; SL, BS-SL, and CONT animals exhibited higher PCV values (P < 0.05) in comparison to the CONP goats. The parasitized goats fed SL-only pellets showed greater feed intake and animal body weights (P < 0.05) compared to goats fed BS-SL or alfalfa pellets. However, the treatments had no effect on the weight of the goats' carcasses. Although the H. contortus adult worm counts in the CONT goats (alfalfa-dewormed) were lower (P < 0.05) than in the CONP goats (alfalfa-parasitized), they did not differ from the SL or BS-SL animals. This study indicates that sericea lespedeza leaf meal pellet diet, either by itself or in combination with black seed meal, showed promising results as an anthelmintic and may prove to be an effective alternative to exclusive use of conventional deworming drugs. The addition of black seed did not appear to enhance the effectiveness of sericea lespedeza in this study.

Influence of epinephrine reactivity to stress on meat quality in goats.

The magnitude of physiological responses to a stressor can vary among individual goats within a herd; however, whether these differences can differentially affect meat quality is not known. This study was conducted to determine the influence of the magnitude of epinephrine response (ER) to acute stress on muscle metabolome and meat quality in goats. Male Spanish goats (6 mo old) were transported for 180min. (N = 75 goats; 25 goats/d) to impose stress. Blood samples were obtained after transport for analysis of physiological responses. Goats were slaughtered using humane procedures and samples were collected for muscle metabolomics and meat quality analyses. The data obtained from blood and muscle/meat analysis were then categorized based on epinephrine concentrations into low (LE), medium (ME), and high (HE) ER groups (n = 12/ER group). The physiological and meat quality variables were analyzed as a Completely Randomized Design in SAS, and metabolomics data were analyzed using R software. Plasma glucose concentrations were significantly high in the HE group, low in the LE group, and intermediate in the ME group (P < 0.05). However, leukocyte counts and cortisol, norepinephrine, blood urea nitrogen, and creatine concentrations were not different among the ER groups. Muscle (Longissimus dorsi) glycogen concentrations (15min postmortem) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the ME and LE groups than in the HE group. However, postmortem Longissimus muscle pH and temperature (15min and 24h), 24h calpastatin and desmin levels, and rib chop color (L*, a*, and b*), cooking loss, and Warner-Bratzler shear force values were unaffected by ER. Targeted metabolomics analysis of Longissimus muscle (15min) revealed that diacyl phosphatidylcholines (C38:0; 40:6) and sphingomyelin (C20:2) were significantly different (P < 0.05) among the ER groups, with the concentrations of these metabolites being consistently high in the LE group. These differential muscle metabolite concentrations suggest that ER can influence biochemical pathways associated with cell membrane integrity and signaling. ER had a significant effect on dopamine concentrations, with the levels increasing with increasing levels of ER. The results indicate that differences in epinephrine reactivity can influence selected physiological responses and muscle metabolites; however, it does not significantly influence meat quality attributes.

Using Metabolomics to Understand Selective Breeding of Goats that Enables Tolerance of Plant Secondary Compounds

The objective of this study was to determine aspects of liver function in goats with a divergent propensity to consume juniper ( Juniperus spp.), a terpene -containing woody plant. Goats represent a significant contribution to sustainable food production and local economies worldwide. Climate change in arid and semiarid regions has led to a transition of grasslands to woodlands. Goats ( Capra hircus) are adapted to utilize woody plants as a food source; however, herbivory can be limited by plant secondary compounds (e.g., monoterpenes). Estimated breeding values (EBV) have been determined for domestic goats based on their propensity to consume above (H: EBV = 13.1 ± 0.2) or below (L: EBV = −14.8 ± 0.5) the herd average for proportion of juniper in the diet of free-ranging animals. To investigate the physiological and metabolic mechanisms enabling increased intake and tolerance of juniper, H and L adult male Spanish goats within young (2-yr-old) and old (3-5-yr-old) groups that spent their life grazing pastures containing juniper were randomly selected from our research herd. Twenty goats (n = 5 of each age and juniper consumption combination) were weighed and harvested. Serum samples and multiple organs (i.e., liver, kidney, heart, spleen, adrenal, testis) were collected, weighed, and preserved for analyses. With an initial focus on the liver, samples (200 mg) were submitted to Metabolon, Inc. (Morrisville, NC) to identify metabolites by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem high resolution/accurate mass spectrometry chromatography methods. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Goat body weight (BW), relative organ weight (g/kg BW), and serum constituents were analyzed using a model that included age (O, Y), treatment (H, L), and the age x treatment interaction. Animals were the experimental unit and error degrees of freedom = 16. Statistical significance was determined at P ≤ 0.05. Multiple differences in metabolites of the lipid and protein pathways were identified. For example, the relative intensity of 19 monoacylglycerol metabolites was greater (P &lt; 0.05) in H than L goats. This report, however, focuses on the gamma-glutamyl amino acid (GGAA) pathway due to its role in diagnosis of liver dysfunction. Relative liver weight (g/kg BW) was numerically greater (P = 0.15) in H (15.80 ± 0.75) than L (14.58 ± 0.39) goats. Serum gamma glutamyl transferase (U/L) was within the clinically normal range but was greater (P &lt; 0.0001) in H (59.2 ± 2.1) versus L (44.3 ± 2.2), and in Y (55.3 ± 2.9) versus O (48.2 ± 3.2) goats. Of the 18 GGAAs identified from the GGAA super- and sub-pathways, the relative intensities of 11 metabolites were greater (P &lt; 0.05) in liver from H than L; 8 were greater in HY versus LY, and only 2 were greater in OH versus OL goats. The increased expression of serum and liver components of the GGAA pathway for the goats with a positive estimated breeding value for juniper consumption may be indicative of metabolic mechanisms and biomarkers associated with increased tolerance of plant secondary compounds. Texas A&amp;M AgriLife Research. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Risk Factor Analysis and Genetic Parameter Estimation for Pre-Weaning Mortality Traits in Boer, Spanish, and Crossbred Goat Kids.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate fixed risk factors associated with PWM and to estimate genetic parameters for PWM. A total of 927 birth records from a mixed population of purebred and crossbred Boer and Spanish goats born between 2016 and 2023 at the International Goat Research Center (IGRC) were used for this study. Four binary traits were studied: D0-3 (death within 3 days after birth), D4-60 (death between 4 and 60 days), D61-90 (death between 61 and 90 days), and D0-90 (death within 90 days). Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the risk factors associated with PWM traits. Bayesian threshold models and Gibbs sampling were used to estimate the genetic parameters. Birth weight, season, litter size, sex, dam age, breed, and heterosis were found to be significantly associated with at least one of the PWM traits. Heritability estimates were 0.263, 0.124, 0.080, and 0.207, for D0-3, D4-60, D61-90, and D0-90, respectively. The genetic correlations between the studied traits ranged from 0.892 (D0-3 and D0-90) to 0.999 (D0-3 and D61-90). These results suggest that PWM in goats is influenced by both non-genetic and genetic factors and can be reduced by management, genetic selection, and crossbreeding approaches.

75 AI-Enhanced Hematocrit Analysis: Revolutionizing rapid anemia detection in small ruminants

Abstract In recent times, there has been a growing focus on the well-being and healthcare of small ruminants, particularly in relation to the issue of anemia due to infection with blood-feeding gastrointestinal nematodes, such as Haemonchus contortus. The objective of this study was to assess the hematocrit levels in blood samples obtained from small ruminants, specifically goats. Additionally, the study is an attempt to design and create a quick sensor for identifying anemia, which could be conveniently used on farms. A total of 75 mature, intact male Spanish goats were subjected to hematocrit analysis to ascertain their spectrum of hematocrit values and association with anemic conditions. Simultaneously, a unique sensor with user-friendly features was developed to promptly provide farmers with feedback on the anemic status of animals using AI-based machine learning algorithms, enabling timely intervention. The sensor utilized a semi-invasive approach with minimal blood sample requirement. 30 µL of blood was dropped on glycerol soaked Whatman filter paper No. 1, and images were taken at 90 sec, 150 sec, and 270 sec to capture the blood pattern on filter paper soaked in glycerol using a cell phone. These images were correlated with actual hematocrit value obtained from conventional hematocrit analysis. A RMSprop with adjusted learning rate convolution neural network (RMSprop-CNN) based images classification model was developed for the classification of different patterns at different levels of hematocrit. The model was trained on a total of 1,000 images with a training and testing split of 80:20 ratio. For the optimization process, the Adam optimizer with a learning rate of 0.001 is employed. The model is compiled with a categorical cross-entropy loss function, aiming to improve its accuracy metric over training iterations. The initial studies demonstrated a detection accuracy level of 70.31 % at 10 epochs in identifying different hematocrit levels (Level 1; healthy, to Level 5; severely anemic) but improved significantly up to 94.89 % by 100 epochs, resulting in a notable reduction in the time and level of knowledge previously necessary for conducting such evaluations. The present study not only provides valuable insights into the hematological characteristics of small ruminants, but also establishes a foundation for the development of a straightforward and efficient method for detecting anemia. Consequently, this advancement has the potential to enhance the overall care and well-being of animals within agricultural environments.

Veterinary Pathology Diseases and Disorders in Domestic and Wild Animals

Veterinary pathology plays a crucial role in understanding and managing diseases and disorders in both domestic and wild animals. This field encompasses the study of various pathologies, from infectious diseases like the Spanish Goat Encephalitis Virus, which causes severe neurological symptoms and high mortality in goats, to toxicological conditions such as oleander poisoning in horses, characterized by renal and cardiac lesions. It also includes the investigation of neoplastic conditions, as seen in canine apocrine gland adenocarcinoma of the anal sac and various tumors in African pygmy hedgehogs. The integration of clinical and histopathological findings is essential for accurate diagnosis, treatment, and management of these diverse conditions, highlighting the importance of veterinary pathology in animal health and welfare. Veterinary pathology, a vital branch of veterinary medicine, is instrumental in diagnosing, understanding, and managing a wide array of diseases and disorders in both domestic and wild animals. It encompasses the study of various pathologies, including infectious diseases, toxicological conditions, and neoplastic diseases. For instance, research into the Spanish Goat Encephalitis Virus sheds light on its neurological impact and high mortality rates in goats, while studies on oleander poisoning in horses focus on its renal and cardiac implications. Additionally, the field addresses neoplastic conditions such as canine apocrine gland adenocarcinoma of the anal sac and various tumors in African pygmy hedgehogs. This discipline is not only pivotal in diagnosing and treating these conditions but also plays a significant role in advancing our understanding of animal health and welfare, emphasizing the need for continuous research and collaboration between veterinary clinicians and pathologists.

Genetic background of juniper (Juniperus spp.) consumption predicted by fecal near-infrared spectroscopy in divergently selected goats raised in harsh rangeland environments

BackgroundJunipers (Juniperus spp.) are woody native, invasive plants that have caused encroachment problems in the U.S. western rangelands, decreasing forage productivity and biodiversity. A potential solution to this issue is using goats in targeted grazing programs. However, junipers, which grow in dry and harsh environmental conditions, use chemical defense mechanisms to deter herbivores. Therefore, genetically selecting goats for increased juniper consumption is of great interest for regenerative rangeland management. In this context, the primary objectives of this study were to: 1) estimate variance components and genetic parameters for predicted juniper consumption in divergently selected Angora (ANG) and composite Boer x Spanish (BS) goat populations grazing on Western U.S. rangelands; and 2) to identify genomic regions, candidate genes, and biological pathways associated with juniper consumption in these goat populations.ResultsThe average juniper consumption was 22.4% (± 18.7%) and 7.01% (± 12.1%) in the BS and ANG populations, respectively. The heritability estimates (realized heritability within parenthesis) for juniper consumption were 0.43 ± 0.02 (0.34 ± 0.06) and 0.19 ± 0.03 (0.13 ± 0.03) in BS and ANG, respectively, indicating that juniper consumption can be increased through genetic selection. The repeatability values of predicted juniper consumption were 0.45 for BS and 0.28 for ANG. A total of 571 significant SNP located within or close to 231 genes in BS, and 116 SNP related to 183 genes in ANG were identified based on the genome-wide association analyses. These genes are primarily associated with biological pathways and gene ontology terms related to olfactory receptors, intestinal absorption, and immunity response.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that juniper consumption is a heritable trait of polygenic inheritance influenced by multiple genes of small effects. The genetic parameters calculated indicate that juniper consumption can be genetically improved in both goat populations.

Designing Selection Indices for the Florida Dairy Goat Breeding Program

The aim of this study was to compare selection indices for important traits in intensive Spanish goat breeds in four economic scenarios, using the Florida as most representative breed of this production system in Spain. For this analysis, we considered the following traits: milk yield (MY), fat plus protein yields (FPY), casein yield (CY), somatic cell score (SCS), reproductive efficiency (RE), litter size (LS), mammary system (MS), final score (FS), body capacity index (BCI), and length of productive life (LPL). We estimated the genetic parameters and EBVs of most of these traits with REML methodology, while LPL was modeled through survival analysis. Four scenarios were proposed, depending on the overall objective for improvement: (1) milk production, (2) milk production and cheese extract, (3) cheese extract, and (4) milk production, cheese extract and sale of animals. Then, within each scenario, three different types of indices were designed using the different primary and secondary objectives/criteria considered suitable to improve the overall objective. The results indicated that selecting only for primary traits yielded the highest genetic response for all the scenarios. Including secondary traits led to positive correlated responses in those traits, but a decrease in the responses in the primary criteria.

377 Evaluation of Feed Intake, Feed Efficiency and Days on Trial in Growing Goats Fed a Total Mixed Diets Using Growsafe Feeding Technology

Abstract The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of breed and days on trial (DOT) on feed intake, growth rate, and feed efficiency of growing goats. Nineteen female goats (10 Alpine and 9 Spanish) with an initial BW of 38.8 ± 2.8 and 35.5 ±3.1 kg, respectively, were randomly assigned within breed to one of two pens (5 goats/pen), each equipped with GrowSafe feed bunks. A pelletized total mixed diet (TMD) was fed twice per day and goats had ad libitum access to feed and water throughout the 84-d trial. Daily feed intake (DMI) was collected with GrowSafe automated feeding system, and BW was measured biweekly. Linear regression of 14-d BW on DOT was used to derive ADG, mid-test metabolic BW (MBW) and expected DMI of individual goats at 42, 56, 70, and 84 DOT. Expected DMI was predicted by linear regression of DMI on MBW and ADG, with RFI calculated as a difference between actual and expected DMI for each DOT. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures model with a fixed effect of breed, DOT as a repeated measure, and breed x DOT interaction with a pen as a random effect. The interaction was not significant for either of the response variables. Alpine goats had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) initial and final BW (37.6 kg and 51.7 kg, respectively) than Spanish goats (34.7 kg and 46.5 kg, respectively) although ADG (0.233 kg/d vs 0.191 kg/d) did not differ. DMI (P = 0.10) and RFI (P = 0.09) tended to be greater in Alpine than in Spanish goats (0.57 kg vs -0.64 kg). However, G:F was not affected (P &amp;gt; 0.70) by breed. As DOT increased from 42 to 84, MBW increased, while ADG, DMI, and G:F decreased. Further research is warranted to determine changes in phenotypic variances of ADG and DMI to determine the minimal DOT needed to accurately measure feed efficiency in growing goats. Our results suggest that Spanish goats tended to consume less feed and tended to be more efficient (negative RFI) than their counterpart Alpine goats. Further research is needed to compare the life-cycle efficiency of Alpine and Spanish goats.

375 Effects of Breed Type and Gender on Performance, Feeding Behavior, and Feed Efficiency in Growing goats

Abstract The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of gender and breed type on performance, feed efficiency, and feeding behavior traits in growing goats. The trial was conducted with 36 intact male (n = 16) and female (n = 20) goats of 4 breed types;12 purebred Spanish, 12 F1 Spanish x Boer (dam-sire), 8 F1 Boer x Spanish, and 4 purebred Boer. Goats with initial BW of 30.9 ± 6.0 kg and 38.8 ± 7.4 kg for females and males, respectively, were fed a concentrate diet in pens equipped with electronic feed bunks (GrowSafe System). Individual dry matter intake (DMI) and feeding behavior traits were collected daily for 44 d and BW measured weekly. Residual feed intake (RFI) was calculated as the residual from the regression of DMI on ADG and mid-test BW0.75. Feeding behavior traits evaluated were frequency and duration of bunk visit (BV) events, head-down (HD) duration, BV eating rate (BVER), and day-to-day variation of these traits, defined as the root mean squared error (RMSE) from linear regression of each trait on the day of trial. A mixed model (JMP) with fixed effects of gender, breed type, and gender x breed type interaction with pen as a random effect was used. Gender x breed type interactions were not significant for any traits. Male goats had heavier (P &amp;lt; 0.01) initial and final BW, but similar ADG during the trial. Male goats consumed more (P &amp;lt; 0.05) DMI, but had similar F:G and RFI compared with female goats. Gender did not affect feeding behavior traits, but male goats had greater BVER and more (P &amp;lt; 0.05) day-to-day variation in DMI than female goats. Purebred Boer goats had heavier (P &amp;lt; 0.05) initial and final BW and greater ADG than purebred Spanish and both F1 crosses. However, DMI and RFI were not affected by breed type. G:F was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in Boer and Boer x Spanish goats (0.183, 0.153) than Spanish goats (0.115), with Spanish x Boer (0.132) goats being intermediate. Breed type did not affect feeding behavior traits in this trial. Minimal effects of gender and breed type on feed efficiency were detected in growing goats in this trial. Further research is warranted to examine effects of breed type on life-cycle feed efficiency including growing goats and female goats during pregnancy and lactation.

PSII-6 Changes in Galectin Gene Expression and Secretion in Response to Gum Arabica Drench in Goats

Abstract Acacia senegal is part of the natural diet of goats. Gum Arabica (GA) is a water-soluble complex polysaccharide antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory prebiotic, derived from Acacia Senegal. Its mechanism of action has not been defined. Galectins are secreted sugar-binding animal proteins involved in the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity. They function in microbe recognition and as regulators of inflammation. This study evaluated the effect of GA on Galectin transcription. Clinically healthy Boer X Spanish goats (n = 20) were randomly assigned to two groups of 10. Goats in the treatment group received 10 mL of GA in water daily for six weeks, controls received sterile water. Blood was collected weekly from the jugular vein using acid citrate dextrose as an anticoagulant. Subsequently, the blood was centrifuged to isolate the cells and plasma. Total RNA isolation was isolated from the cell pellet using Trizol (Sigma-Aldrich). The RNA concentration (ng/μL) and purity was assessed using a Nanodrop Spectrophotometer (Thermo Scientific Inc). Galectin-1, -3 and -9 transcription was conducted using goat specific primers and housekeeping genes for real-time PCR. Fold changes were calculated using the Livak method. The Log2FC values for Galectin 1, 3, and 9 expressions were 12.47, 0.29, and 2.22 respectively. Thus, GA had varying effects on structurally distinct galectins. Galectin 1 gene (Lgals1) is an important modulator of the immune response and was highly induced. Changes in Galectin transcription can impact microbial recognition and immune activation for goat health. Further analyses are needed to evaluate the functional effects of GA for application as a prebiotic and immune modulator lain goat health.

PSV-25 Effect of Garlic on Galectin 3 in Goats

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effect of garlic extracts on expression of Galectin 3 in goats. Inflammatory diseases such as mastitis and gastrointestinal parasitic diseases cause significant problems for goat production. Galectins (Gal) are a family of highly conserved mammalian carbohydrate-binding proteins that can regulate inflammation. Galectin-3 is the only member of the lectin family with a chimeric structure. It is a potential therapeutic target to regulate the activity of inflammatory cells. Garlic extracts are natural anti-inflammatory agents that are being evaluated for use in goat management. Twelve adult female clinically healthy Boer X Spanish goats were divided into 2 groups. The treatment group (n = 6) was drenched with a 10 mL garlic (Garlic barrier) and the control group (n = 6) was given sterile water for 30 days. Blood was collected weekly from the jugular vein using acid citrate dextrose as an anticoagulant. Blood was centrifuged to separate cells and plasma. Galectin 3 secretion in plasma was determined using goat specific commercial ELISA kits (My-BioSource). Total RNA was isolated from the cell pellet using Trizol and it was then converted into cDNA. Primers specific for goat Gal 3 specific and the housekeeping genes RPLP0 and UCHL5 (Eurofins Genomics) were used in Real-time PCR to evaluate the gene expression. Fold change was calculated using the Livak method. All variables were assessed using SAS Statistical analysis software version 9.4 (SAS Institute) at P &amp;lt; 0.05. Treatment had an effect over time and a significant increase (P &amp;lt; 0.0141) was observed in the GAL- 3 concentrations. Gal-3 was expressed in greater amounts in treatment group animals compared with the control group with a fold change of 1.15. Garlic may be used to modulate Gal 3 expression and secretion in goat blood. It is important to consider the impact of garlic on Gal 3 modulation. Studies needed to define possible impacts on immune function and goat health.

PSXIII-29 Nutraceutical Effects of Fertilized and Unfertilized Sericea Lespedeza Hay on Gastrointestinal Parasitism and Whole-Plasma Metabolome of Naturally Infected Goats

Abstract The objective of this study was assessing the effect of the dietary inclusion of unfertilized (AS) and fertilized (AR) Sericea lespedeza hay on the parasitic burden, packed cellular volume (PCV), and whole-plasma metabolome of naturally infected goats. Thirty-six naturally parasite-infected (&amp;gt;5,000 eggs/gram) Spanish goats (23.9 ± 0.15 kg) were randomly allocated (12 goats per treatment) into three dietary treatments: a) Control (Bermudagrass hay), AS (Unfertilized lespedeza), and AR (fertilized lespedeza) for 60 days. All treatments were supplemented with a commercial concentrate following a 70:30 forage: concentrate ratio. Feed samples, blood samples, and fecal samples were collected and recorded weekly to estimate chemical composition, fecal egg counts, and PCV. Additionally, whole-plasma metabolomic analysis was performed using chemical isotope labelling/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based technique. Pathway enrichment analysis and analysis of the differentially abundant metabolites were performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 software. Data were analyzed with the GLIMMIX procedure (repeated measures) of SAS with the fixed effect of treatment, week, and the random effect of animals. Total condensed tannins and precipitable phenolics were greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in AS compared with AR (13.9 vs. 6.5% DM; 95.3 vs.9.5 mg/g). However, both AS and AR reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.01) fecal egg counts compared with the control (1,100, 1,450 vs. 3,500 eggs/gram). Conversely, PCV was greater in AR compared with the control (23.6 vs. 20.6%), but no differences between AR and AS (23.6 vs. 22.5%) were observed. Compared with the control, relative distribution of glutamine and beta-leucine were increased in AS and AR. The pathway enrichment analysis revealed that dietary AS and AR increased glycine, serine, and purine metabolism compared with the control. Collectively, results from this study suggest that dietary AS and AR reduced fecal egg counts by improving anti-oxidative metabolism, muscle regeneration capacity, and immune response in naturally infected goats.

PSV-28 Effects of the Dietary Concentrate Level and Harvest Weight on Growth Performance of Spanish Goat Wethers and Doelings

Abstract Thirty-six Spanish goat wethers and 36 doelings with initial mean age of 4.3 ± 0.03 months and body weight (BW) of 20.6 and 18.6 kg, respectively (SEM = 0.41), were used in 2 phases to determine effects of dietary concentrate level and harvest weight on growth performance. Three animals of each type were allocated to 12 pens for a total of 6 per pen. The diet in the first phase, 13 weeks in length, had 20% concentrate and 80% forage (20C) with crude protein and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations of 13 and 50%, respectively. At the end of Phase 1, animals in 2 pens were harvested. In phase 2 that lasted 9 to 11 weeks, two pens per dietary treatment and animal type continued to be fed diets with different levels of concentrate (20C, 40C, 50C, 60C, and 70C) with the same crude protein concentration of 13% and NDF level of 50, 35, 33, 33, and 31%, respectively. Animals were harvested from treatments of 50C and 70C, 40C and 60C, and 20C after 9, 10, and 11 weeks, respectively. Dry matter intake in Phase 1 was 733 ± 18.1 g/day and 3.39 ± 0.070 % BW, with an average BW during the phase of 21.6 ± 0.26 kg. Average daily gain (ADG) in Phase 2 was not affected by diet or diet × animal type (P = 0.712) but was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for wethers than for doelings (44 and 18 g, respectively; SEM = 5.4). There was a tendency (P = 0.055) for differences in ADG among treatments (4, 44, 43, 17, and 45 g for 20C, 40C, 50C, 60C, and 70C, respectively; SEM = 8.7). Dry matter intake in g/day in Phase 2 was similar among treatments (644, 750, 680, 597, and 621 g/day; SEM = 36.9) but in % BW was greatest among diets (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for 40C (2.73, 3.25, 2.84, 2.62, and 2.63 for 20C, 40C, 50C, 60C, and 70C, respectively; SEM = 0.062). Also, there was a tendency (P = 0.057) for ADG during the entire experiment to differ among treatments (46, 17, 27, 30, 20, and 30 for 20C (phase 1 only) 20C, 40C, 50C, 60C, and 70C (phase 1 and phase 2), respectively; SEM = 5.0). These results suggest that a low concentrate diet followed by diets higher in concentrate containing similar CP and NDF content of 31 to 35% may not influence growth performance of Spanish goat wethers and doelings, but continuous feeding of a low concentrate diet with 50% NDF limits growth rate.

PSIV-10 Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Fertilized and Unfertilized Sericea Lespedeza Hay on Performance and Plasma Metabolome of Naturally Infected Goats

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the dietary inclusion of unfertilized (AS) and fertilized (AR) sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) hay on body weight (BW), average daily gain, and plasma metabolome of goats. Thirty-six naturally parasite-infected (&amp;gt;5000 eggs/gram) 9-month-old intact male Spanish goats (23.9 ± 0.15 kg) were randomly allocated (12 goats per treatment) into three dietary treatments: a) Control (bermudagrass hay), b) AS (unfertilized lespedeza), and c) AR (fertilized lespedeza) for a 60-day pen feeding trial. All treatments were supplemented with a commercial concentrate following a 70:30 forage:concentrate ratio. Feed samples, blood samples, and BW were collected and recorded weekly to estimate chemical composition, initial and final BW, and average daily gain (ADG). Metabolome analysis of the plasma samples was performed using a chemical isotope labelling/liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based technique. Pathway enrichment analysis and analysis of the differentially abundant metabolites were performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 software. All other data were analyzed following the GLIMMIX procedure (repeated measures) of SAS, with the fixed effect of treatment, week, and the random effect of animals. Chemical composition revealed greater (P ≤ 0.05) CP (15.6 vs. 12%) and NDF (50 vs. 40.8%) in AR hay compared with AS hay. Compared with the control, dietary AR increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) final BW (30.1 vs. 27.3 kg) and ADG (130.2 vs. 84.5 g/d) in parasite-infected goats. Compared with the control, nitrogen metabolism was enriched (P ≤ 0.05) in AR and AS goats. Compared with AR, the lysine degradation pathway was enriched in AS (P = 7.51 x 10-6) animals. Moreover, the relative concentration of β-leucine was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in goats on the AR diet compared with the control. Results from this research suggest that both AS and AR sericea lespedeza increased nitrogen metabolism in parasite-infected goats. However, dietary AR hay reduced lysine degradation or increased plasma β-leucine concentration compared with AS and the control, respectively. In conclusion, dietary AR lespedeza hay improved the growth performance of parasite-infected meat goats by preventing amino acid degradation and increasing leucine availability, which may help promote muscle regeneration.

PSV-19 Supplementation of a Multi-Strain Probiotic Increases the Expression of Biomarkers of Immunity in Savannah X Spanish Goat Blood

Abstract Probiotics are considered a safe, non-chemical alternative to antibiotics and have been shown to boost the host immune response of livestock. The present study investigated the effect of Gut Candy (GC), a multi-strain probiotic supplementation, on immune gene expression in Spanish X Savannah goats. Seven adult female Spanish X Savannah goats (n = 7) received a daily dose (28 g) of a GC (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis, Propioni bacterium freudenreichii, and Aspergillus oryza) for 60 days. The control group received no probiotics (n = 7). Blood (10 mL) was collected aseptically from the jugular vein on days 0 and 60. Total RNA was extracted from whole blood, reverse transcribed to cDNA, and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR) was performed using specific primers for TLR2, TLR4, TNF-α, IL1B, IL10, and MPO. The fold changes (FC) in relative gene abundance were analyzed using Livak's method. β-actin and GAPDH were used as internal controls and for normalization. Fold changes (FC) were considered significant at -2 ≥ FC ≥ 2. After 60 days of GC supplementation, there was an increase in fold change in relative gene abundance in IL10 (FC = 3.66), TNF-α (FC = 11.7), IL1β (FC = 19.59), TLR4 (FC = 5.09), and MPO (FC = 2.05). GC also tended to increase the FC of TLR 2(FC = 1.86). The results from the study demonstrate that probiotic supplementation modulates the expression of immune genes in goats. Incorporating probiotics supplementation into the feed regimen of livestock could be beneficial to the animals' health and overall performance.

122 Response of Ruminant Neutrophils on Fresh Filtered Garlic Preparation

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of fresh filtered garlic preparation on ruminant neutrophils in-vitro. Blood was collected from the jugular vein of clinically healthy female St Croix sheep (n = 3) and Boer x Spanish goats (n = 3) at NC A&amp;T State University Farm. Neutrophils were isolated from 10 mL whole blood sample of each animal. Fresh filtered garlic were prepared to stimulate the neutrophils. Before treating the neutrophils, the total cell count was measured, and 1 million cells were taken for treatment. Total protein concentration at different dilution levels of fresh filtered garlic were analyzed using BCA assay for the volumetric determination of garlic to be used at 10 ug/mL concentration. Before and after treatment the total protein concentration in the neutrophil supernatant were also measured. RNA was extracted from treated and untreated neutrophils pellet using TRIZOL RNA Isolation Protocol. The pooled RNA of goat and sheep samples were used for cDNA synthesis followed by qPCR analysis of galectin (Galectin-1, -3, -9) gene modulation in relation to indicators of animal health and production. Due to treatment, the total protein concentrations were increased. The magnitude of galectin gene expression was also observed in both sheep and goat neutrophils treated with fresh filtered garlic preparation. Galectin-3 and -9 expression increased manifolds in both sheep and goat neutrophils as compared with the control (untreated neutrophils) whereas galectin-1 increased in goat but decreased in sheep neutrophils. These results indicate that garlic had no adverse effect and differentially modulated galectin secretion in vitro. Galectins regulate biologic functions, immunity and disease pathogenesis and can serve as biomarkers. Further studies are warranted to determine the health and production benefits of the observed galectin modulation using garlic in small &amp; large ruminants.

Habituation to Livestock Trailer and Its Influence on Stress Responses during Transportation in Goats

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of habituation to livestock trailers on stress responses in goats transported for long periods. Intact male Spanish goats (12-month old; BW = 31.6 ± 0.34 kg; N = 168) were separated into two treatment (TRT) groups and maintained on two different paddocks. Concentrate supplement was fed to one group inside two livestock trailers (5.0 × 2.3 m each; habituated group, H), while the other group received the concentrate supplement, but not inside the trailers (non-habituated, NH). After 4 weeks of habituation period, goats were subjected to a 10-h transportation stress in four replicates (n = 21 goats/replicate/TRT). Blood samples were collected by a trained individual by jugular venipuncture into vacutainer tubes before loading (Preload), 20 min after loading (0 h), and at 2-h intervals thereafter (Time) for analysis of stress responses. There was a tendency for a TRT effect (p < 0.1) on tyramine and metanephrine concentrations. Phenylethylamine and 5-methoxytryptamine concentrations were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the H group compared to the NH group. Both dopamine and 5-methoxytryptamine concentrations decreased (p < 0.05) with transportation time; however, TRT × Time interaction effects were not significant. Habituation to trailers may be beneficial in mood and energy stabilization in goats during long-distance transportation.