Effects of antioxidant‑rich Lactiplantibacillus plantarum inoculated alfalfa silage on rumen fermentation, antioxidant and immunity status, and mammary gland gene expression in dairy goats

Background Milk synthesis in lactating animals demands high energy metabolism,which results in an increased production of reactive oxygen metabolites(ROM)causing an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants thereby inducing oxidative stress(OS)on the animals.To mitigate OS and postpartum disorders in dairy goats and gain insight into the impact of dietary choices on redox status during lactation,a feeding trial was conducted using alfalfa silage inoculated with a high-antioxidant strain of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum.Methods Twenty-four Guanzhong dairy goats(38.1±1.20 kg)were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments:one containing silage inoculated with L.plantarum MTD/1(RSMTD-1),and the other containing silage inoculated with high antioxidant activity L.plantarum 24-7(ES24-7).Results ES24-7-inoculated silage exhibited better fermentation quality and antioxidant activity compared to RSMTD-1.The ES24-7 diet elevated the total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC),superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxi-dase(GSH-Px),and catalase(CAT)activities in milk,serum,and feces of lactating goats(with the exception of T-AOC in milk).Additionally,the diet containing ES24-7 inoculated silage enhanced casein yield,milk free fatty acid(FFA)content,and vitamin A level in the goats’milk.Furthermore,an increase of immunoglobulin(Ig)A,IgG,IgM,inter-leukin(IL)-4,and IL-10 concentrations were observed,coupled with a reduction in IL-1β,IL-2,IL-6,interferon(IFN)-γ,and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-αconcentrations in the serum of lactating goats fed ES24-7.Higher concentrations of total volatile fatty acid(VFA),acetate,and propionate were observed in the rumen fluid of dairy goats fed ES24-7 inoculated silage.Moreover,the diet containing ES24-7 inoculated silage significantly upregulated the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2(NFE2L2),beta-carotene oxygenase 1(BCO1),SOD1,SOD2,SOD3,GPX2,CAT,glu-tathione-disulfide reductase(GSR),and heme oxygenase 1(HMOX1)genes in the mammary gland,while decreased the levels of NADPH oxidase 4(NOX4),TNF,and interferon gamma(IFNG).Conclusions These findings indicated that feeding L.plantarum 24-7 inoculated alfalfa silage not only improved rumen fermentation and milk quality in lactating dairy goats but also boosted their immunity and antioxidant status by modulating the expression of several genes related to antioxidant and inflammation in the mammary gland.

Effects of dietary Clostridium butyricum and rumen protected fat on meat quality,oxidative stability,and chemical composition of finishing goats

Background Clostridium butyricum(CB)is a probiotic that can regulate intestinal microbial composition and improve meat quality.Rumen protected fat(RPF)has been shown to increase the dietary energy density and provide essential fatty acids.However,it is still unknown whether dietary supplementation with CB and RPF exerts beneficial effects on growth performance and nutritional value of goat meat.This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary CB and RPF supplementation on growth performance,meat quality,oxidative stability,and meat nutritional value of finishing goats.Thirty-two goats(initial body weight,20.5±0.82 kg)were used in a completely randomized block design with a 2 RPF supplementation(0 vs.30 g/d)×2 CB supplementation(0 vs.1.0 g/d)factorial treatment arrangement.The experiment included a 14-d adaptation and 70-d data and sample collection period.The goats were fed a diet consisted of 400 g/kg peanut seedling and 600 g/kg corn-based concentrate(dry matter basis).Result Interaction between CB and RPF was rarely observed on the variables measured,except that shear force was reduced(P<0.05)by adding CB or RPF alone or their combination;the increased intramuscular fat(IMF)content with adding RPF was more pronounced(P<0.05)with CB than without CB addition.The pH24h(P=0.009),a*values(P=0.007),total antioxidant capacity(P=0.050),glutathione peroxidase activities(P=0.006),concentrations of 18:3(P<0.001),20:5(P=0.003)and total polyunsaturated fatty acids(P=0.048)were increased,whereas the L*values(P<0.001),shear force(P=0.050)and malondialdehyde content(P=0.044)were decreased by adding CB.Furthermore,CB supplementation increased essential amino acid(P=0.027),flavor amino acid(P=0.010)and total amino acid contents(P=0.024)as well as upregulated the expression of lipoprotein lipase(P=0.034)and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPARγ)(P=0.012),and downregulated the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase(SCD)(P=0.034).The RPF supplementation increased dry matter intake(P=0.005),averaged daily gain(trend,P=0.058),hot carcass weight(P=0.046),backfat thickness(P=0.006),concentrations of 16:0(P<0.001)and c9-18:1(P=0.002),and decreased the shear force(P<0.001),isoleucine(P=0.049)and lysine content(P=0.003)of meat.In addition,the expressions of acetyl-CoA carboxylase(P=0.003),fatty acid synthase(P=0.038),SCD(P<0.001)and PPARγ(P=0.022)were upregulated due to RPF supplementation,resulting in higher(P<0.001)content of IMF.Conclusions CB and RPF could be fed to goats for improving the growth performance,carcass traits and meat quality,and promote fat deposition by upregulating the expression of lipogenic genes of Longissimus thoracis muscle.

Enhancing milk quality and modulating rectal microbiota of dairy goats in starch‑rich diet:the role of bile acid supplementation

Background Diets rich in starch have been shown to increase a risk of reducing milk fat content in dairy goats.While bile acids(BAs)have been used as a lipid emulsifier in monogastric and aquatic animals,their effect on ruminants is not well understood.This study aimed to investigate the impact of BAs supplementation on various aspects of dairy goat physiology,including milk composition,rumen fermentation,gut microbiota,and BA metabolism.Results We randomly divided eighteen healthy primiparity lactating dairy goats(days in milk=100±6 d)into two groups and supplemented them with 0 or 4 g/d of BAs undergoing 5 weeks of feeding on a starch-rich diet.The results showed that BAs supplementation positively influenced milk yield and improved the quality of fatty acids in goat milk.BAs supplementation led to a reduction in saturated fatty acids(C16:0)and an increase in monounsaturated fatty acids(cis-9 C18:1),resulting in a healthier milk fatty acid profile.We observed a significant increase in plasma total bile acid concentration while the proportion of rumen short-chain fatty acids was not affected.Furthermore,BAs supplementation induced significant changes in the composition of the gut microbiota,favoring the enrichment of specific bacterial groups and altering the balance of microbial populations.Correlation analysis revealed associations between specific bacterial groups(Bacillus and Christensenellaceae R-7 group)and BA types,suggesting a role for the gut microbiota in BA metabolism.Functional prediction analysis revealed notable changes in pathways associated with lipid metabolism,suggesting that BAs supplementation has the potential to modulate lipid-related processes.Conclusion These findings highlight the potential benefits of BAs supplementation in enhancing milk production,improving milk quality,and influencing metabolic pathways in dairy goats.Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and explore the broader implications of these findings.

Pharmacokinetic Characterization of Xylazine in Goats with Simultaneous Anesthesia Studies

The aim was to study the pharmacokinetics of xylazine as a stable anesthetic in goats.In this study,goats were injected with xylazine at the rate of 0.3 mL·kg-1 intramusculally,and blood samples were collected at 1,3,5,10,20,30,45,60,90,120,180,and 240 min after administration,respectively.Xylazine was extracted by liquid-liquid extraction and separation method,and blood concentration was determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The pharmacokinetic characteristics of xylazine in healthy goats were analyzed by pharmacokinetic software.The results showed that the chromatographic peak time of xylazine chromatography was 9-11 min.The specificity of the method was good.The linear correlation coefficient R2 of the standard curve was 0.9982 when the concentration of xylazine was in the range of 10-1×1000 ng.The pharmacokinetic model of xylazine in goats was a one-chamber model with first-order rate absorption,distribution half-life t1/2Ka was(0.49±0.041)min,elimination half-life t1/2Ke was(23.3±2.5)min,and the peak time(Tp)of the highest concentration was(2.8±0.2)min.The total drug clearance CL/F was(0.00016±0.000016)mg·kg-1·min-1(ng·mL-1),and the minimum effective blood concentration was 56.6 ng·mL-1,which was consistent with the clinical anesthetic effect.The results showed that xylazine had the characteristics of rapid absorption,wide distribution,short peak time,slow clearance rate,and long anesthetic time in goats,which could be used as the basic drug for the development of goat complex anesthetic preparation.

Slaughter Performance, Muscle Quality and Nutritional Composition of Duoluo Goats in Sichuan Province

[Objectives] This study was conducted to understand the biological characteristics of Duoluo goats. [Methods] With male and female Duoluo goats as the research object, related performance indexes were determined and analyzed after slaughter. [Results] The weights of one-year-old male and female Duoluo goats before slaughter were (25.68±2.37) and (24.51±1.97) kg, respectively;the dressing percentages were (43.55±3.24) % and (43.84±3.42) %, respectively;and the net meat percentages were (33.02±2.32) % and (34.19±2.46) %, respectively. (2) The cooked meat rates of male and female Duoluo goats were (65.49±1.42) % and (65.36±1.55) %, respectively;the shearing force was (5.48±1.24) and (5.65±1.02) N, respectively;and the loin-eye muscle areas were (8.95±1.72) and (8.82±1.15) cm 2, respectively. (3) The protein contents of male and female Duoluo goats were (20.07±0.42) and (19.47±1.22) g/100 g, respectively;and the fat contents were (1.30±0.80) % and (2.92±0.55) %, respectively;and the cholesterol contents were (71.76±11.47) and (74.83±2.68) mg/100 g, respectively;(4) The Ca contents of male and female Duoluo goats were (69.53±10.89) and (63.00±4.56) mg/kg, respectively;the Fe contents were (16.73±1.83) and (14.77±0.58) mg/kg, respectively;and the Zn contents were (38.47±3.68) and (31.83±2.22) mg/kg, respectively. (5) In the muscles of male and female Duoluo goats, the contents of essential amino acids were (7.44±0.24) and (7.26±0.41) g/100 g , respectively;the contents of non-essential amino acids were (11.81±0.33) and (11.42±0.67) g/100 g, respectively;and the contents of flavor amino acids were (8.79±0.27) and (8.42±0.57) g/100 g, respectively. [Conclusions] This study lays a foundation for the excavation and utilization of the resource, Duoluo goats.

Gait analysis in swine,sheep,and goats after neurologic injury:a literature review

Medical research on neurologic ailments requires representative animal models to validate treatments before they are translated to human clinical trials.Rodents are the predominant animal model used in neurological research despite limited anatomic and physiologic similarities to humans.As a result,functional testing designed to assess locomotor recovery after neurologic impairment is well established in rodent models.Comparatively,large r,more clinically relevant models have not been as well studied.To achieve similar locomotor testing standardization in larger animals,the models must be accessible to a wide array of researchers.Non-human primates are the most relevant animal model fo r translational research,however ethical and financial barriers limit their accessibility.This review focuses on swine,sheep,and goats as large animal alternatives for transitional studies between rodents and non-human primates.The objective of this review is to compare motor testing and data collection methods used in swine,sheep,and goats to encourage testing standardization in these larger animal models.The PubMed database was analyzed by searching combinations of swine,sheep,and goats,neurologic injuries,and functional assessments.Findings were categorized by animal model,data collection method,and assessment design.Swine and sheep were used in the majority of the studies,while only two studies were found using goats.The functional assessments included open pen analysis,treadmill walking,and guided free walking.Data collection methods included subjective behavioral rating scales and objective tools such as pressure-sensitive mats and image-based analysis software.Overall,swine and sheep were well-suited for a variety of assessment designs,with treadmill walking and guided free walking offering the most consistency across multiple trials.Data collection methods varied,but image-based gait analysis software provided the most robust analysis.Future studies should be conducted to standardize functional testing methods after neurologic impairment in large animals.

A 1.1 Mb duplication CNV on chromosome 17 contributes to skeletal muscle development in Boer goats

The Boer goat is one of the top meat breeds in modern animal husbandry and has attracted widespread attention for its unique growth performance.However,the genetic basis of muscle development in the Boer goat remains obscure.In this study,we identified specific structural variants in the Boer goat based on genome-wide selection signals and analyzed the basis of the molecular heredity of related candidate genes in muscle development.A total of9 959 autosomal copy number variations(CNVs) were identified through selection signal analysis in 127 goat genomes.Specifically,we confirmed that the highest signal CNV(HSV) was a chromosomal arrangement containing an approximately 1.11 Mb(CHIR17:60062304-61171840 bp) duplicated fragment inserted in reverse orientation and a 5 362 bp deleted region(CHIR17:60145940-60151302 bp) with overlapping genes(e.g.,ARHGAP10,NR3C2,EDNRA,PRMT9,and TMEM184C).The homozygous duplicated HSV genotype(+/+) was found in 96% of Boer goats but was not detected in Eurasian goats and was only detected in 4% of indigenous African goats.The expression network of three candidate genes(ARHGAP10,NR3C2,and EDNRA)regulating dose transcription was constructed by RNA sequencing.Results indicated that these genes were involved in the proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle satellite cells(SMSCs) and their overexpression significantly increased the expression of SAA3.The HSV of the Boer goat contributed to superior skeletal muscle growth via the dose effects of overlapping genes.

Whole-genome methylation analysis reveals epigenetic variation between wild-type and nontransgenic cloned,ASMT transgenic cloned dairy goats generated by the somatic cell nuclear transfer

Background:SCNT(somatic cell nuclear transfer)is of great significance to biological research and also to the livestock breeding.However,the survival rate of the SCNT cloned animals is relatively low compared to other transgenic methods.This indicates the potential epigenetic variations between them.DNA methylation is a key marker of mammalian epigenetics and its alterations will lead to phenotypic differences.In this study,ASMT(acetylserotonin-Omethyltransferase)ovarian overexpression transgenic goat was produced by using SCNT.To investigate whether there are epigenetic differences between cloned and WT(wild type)goats,WGBS(whole-genome bisulfite sequencing)was used to measure the whole-genome methylation of these animals.Results:It is observed that the different m Cp G sites are mainly present in the intergenic and intronic regions between cloned and WT animals,and their CG-type methylation sites are strongly correlated.DMR(differentially methylated region)lengths are located around 1000 bp,mainly distributed in the exonic,intergenic and intronic functional domains.A total of 56 and 36 DMGs(differentially methylated genes)were identified by GO and KEGG databases,respectively.Functional annotation showed that DMGs were enriched in biological-process,cellularcomponent,molecular-function and other signaling pathways.A total of 10 identical genes related to growth and development were identified in GO and KEGG databases.Conclusion:The differences in methylation genes among the tested animals have been identified.A total of 10 DMGs associated with growth and development were identified between cloned and WT animals.The results indicate that the differential patterns of DNA methylation between the cloned and WT goats are probably caused by the SCNT.These novel observations will help us to further identify the unveiled mechanisms of somatic cell cloning technology,particularly in goats.

Genomic analysis of indigenous goats in Southwest Asia reveals evidence of ancient adaptive introgression related to desert climate

Understanding how evolutionary pressures related to climate change have shaped the current genetic background of domestic animals is a fundamental pursuit of biology. Here, we generated wholegenome sequencing data from native goat populations in Iraq and Pakistan. Combined with previously published data on modern, ancient(Late Neolithic to Medieval periods), and wild Capra species worldwide, we explored the genetic population structure, ancestry components, and signatures of natural positive selection in native goat populations in Southwest Asia(SWA). Results revealed that the genetic structure of SWA goats was deeply influenced by gene flow from the eastern Mediterranean during the Chalcolithic period, which may reflect adaptation to gradual warming and aridity in the region. Furthermore, comparative genomic analysis revealed adaptive introgression of the KITLG locus from the Nubian ibex(C. nubiana) into African and SWA goats. The frequency of the selected allele at this locus was significantly higher among goat populations located near northeastern Africa. These results provide new insights into the genetic composition and history of goat populations in the SWA region.

Effects of restrictions on maternal feed intake on the immune indexes of umbilical cord blood and liver Toll-like receptor signaling pathways in fetal goats during pregnancy

Background: Liver has important immune function during fetal development and after birth.However,the effect of maternal malnutrition on immune function of the fetal liver is rarely reported.In this study,twelve pregnant goats(Xiangdong black goat,at d 45 of gestation) were assigned to the control group(fed 100% of nutritional requirements) and the restriction group(fed 60% of the intake of the control group) during gestation from d 55 to100.Fetal goats were harvested at d 100 of gestation and immune indexes and amino acid profiles of the umbilical cord blood and liver Toll-like receptors(TLRs) signaling pathways were measured.Results: Maternal body weight in the restriction group was lower than the control group(P < 0.05).Maternal feed intake restriction decreased(P < 0.05) heart weight,heart index,alkaline phosphatase and serum amyloid protein A in the umbilical cord blood(UCB).Moreover,only histidine was decreased in the restricted group(P = 0.084),and there were no differences in other amino acids contents in the UCB between the two groups(P > 0.05).The TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA expression in the fetal liver in the restriction group was greater(P < 0.05) than that in the control group.Furthermore,the mRNA expression levels of myeloid differentiation primary response 88(MyD88),TNF receptor associated factor 6,nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1,NFKB inhibitor alpha,IFN-β,TGF-β,TNF-α and IL-1β in the restricted group were upregulated(P < 0.05),and the expression of TLR3(P = 0.099) tended to be higher in the restricted group.However,protein levels of TLR2,TLR4,IκBα,phosphorylated IκBα,phosphorylated IκBα/total IκBα,TRIF and MyD88 were not affected(P > 0.05) by maternal intake restriction.Conclusions: These results revealed that the restriction of maternal feed intake influenced the development of heart and hepatic protein synthesis at the acute phase of fetal goats and upregulated the mRNA expression of genes involved in MyD88-dependent signaling pathways and of target cytokines.

Reducing Dietary Cation-Anion Difference on Acid-Base Balance, Plasma Minerals Level and Anti-Oxidative Stress of Female Goats

Reducing dietary cation-anion difference （DCAD） has been proved an effective way to prevent milk fever in dairy cows. Based on the similar physiological gastro-intestinal tract anatomy and metabolic process between female goats and dairy cows, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying DCAD on fluid acid-base status, plasma minerals concentration and anti-oxidative stress capacity of female goats. Urinary pH, plasma Ca, P and Mg; and anti-oxidative stress indices of total superoxide dismutase （T-SOD）, hydrogen peroxide （HzO2）, glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） and malondialdehyde （MDA） were determined to evaluate the effect. Forty-eight Guizhou black female goats （（15±1.9） mon of old, （22.3±3.75） kg of BW） were randomly allocated to 4 blocks of 12 goats each and were fed 1 of 4 diets differed in DCAD level （calculated as Na＋K-C1-S, mEq kg-1 DM）. Levels of DCAD were preliminarily designed to be control （＋ 150 mEq kg^-1 DM, CON）, high DCAD （＋300 mEq kg^-1 DM, HD）, low DCAD （0 mEq kg^-1 DM, LD） and negative DCAD （-150 mEq kg^-1 DM, ND）, respectively. A commercial anionic salts （Animate） and sodium bicarbonate （NaHCO3） were supplemented to reduce and increase DCAD level, respectively. There was no difference in dry matter intake for 4 groups of goats. Urine pH was aggressively decreased （P〈0.0001） with reduced DCAD and there was a strong association between DCAD and urine pH （R2=0.793, P〈0.0001）. Compared with CON and HD feeding of LD and ND resulted in greater （P〈0.05） plasma Ca concentration. Plasma P level was increased （P〈0.05） when anionic salts were supplemented. The DCAD alteration did not affected （P〉0.05） plasma Mg level. There was no significant （P〉0.05） difference in plasma GSH-Px activity and H202, but anionic salts supplementation in LD and ND significantly increased （P〈0.05） plasma T-SOD activity and tended to reduce MDA （P〈0.1） over HD and CON. Results from this study indicated that reducing DCAD could decrease urine pH and increase plasma Ca concentration of female goats. Additionally, reducing DCAD was helpful to enhance anti-oxidative stress capability of female goats.

The effects of tannins-containing ground pine bark diet upon nutrient digestion,nitrogen balance,and mineral retention in meat goats

Background： Pine bark is a rich source of phytochemical compounds including tannins, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, and fatty acids. These phytochemicals have potential to significantly impact on animal health and animal production. The goal of this work is to measure the effects of tannins in ground pine bark as a partial feed replacement on feed intake, dietary apparent digestibility, nitrogen balance, and mineral retention in meat goats. Results： Eighteen Kiko cross goats （initial BW = 31.8 ± 1.49 kg） were randomly assigned to three treatment groups （n = 6）. Dietary treatments were tested： control （0 % pine bark powder （PB） and 30 % wheat straw （WS））; ] 5 % PB and 15 % WS, and 30 % PB and 0 % WS. Although dry matter （DM） intake and digestibility were not affected （P〉 0.10） by feeding PB, neutral detergent fiber （linear; P= 0.01）, acid detergent fiber （linear; P= 0.001） and lignin digestibility （linear; P= 0.01） decreased, and crude protein （CP） digestibility tended to decrease （P=0.09） as PB increased in the diet, apparent retention of Ca （P= 0.09）, P （P=0.03）, Mg （P= 0.01）, Mn （P= 0.01）, Zn （P= 0.01） and Fe （P= 0.09） also increased linearly. Nitrogen intake and fecal N excretion were not affected （P〉 0.05） by addition of PB in the diet, but N balance in the body was quadratically increased （P〈 0.01） in the 15 % PB diet compared to other diets. This may be due to more rumen escape protein and less excreted N in the urine with the 15 % PB diet. The study showed that a moderate level of tannin-containing pine bark supplementation could improve gastrointestinal nitrogen balance with the aim of improving animal performance. Conclusion： These results suggest that tannin-containing PB has negative impact on fiber, lignin, and protein digestibility, but positively impacted on N-balance.

Model Selection in Estimation of Covariance Functions for Growth of Angora Goats

Covariance functions have been proposed as an alternative to model longitudinal data in animal breeding because of their various merits in comparison to the classical analytical methods.In practical estimation,different models and polynomial orders fitted can influence the estimates of covariance functions and thus genetic parameters.The objective of this study was to select model for estimation of covariance functions for body weights of Angora goats at 7 time points.Covariance functions were estimated by fitting 6 random regression models with birth year,birth month,sex,age of dam,birth type,and relative birth date as fixed effects.Random effects involved were direct and maternal additive genetic,and animal and maternal permanent environmental effects with different orders of fit.Selection of model and orders of fit were carried out by likelihood ratio test and 4 types of information criteria.The results showed that model with 6 orders of polynomial fit for direct additive genetic and animal permanent environmental effects and 4 and 5 orders for maternal genetic and permanent environmental effects,respectively,were preferable for estimation of covariance functions.Models with and without maternal effects influenced the estimates of covariance functions greatly.Maternal permanent environmental effect does not explain the variation of all permanent environments,well suggesting different sources of permanent environmental effects also has large influence on covariance function estimates.

The Effects of Graded Abomasal Glucose Infusion on Milk Yield and Composition in Lactating Goats

Four non-pregnant multiparous lactating goats were used in a 4 × 4 latin square experiment in the present study. The four treatments were abomasal infusion of 0, 50, 100, and 150 g d^-1 glucose. The results showed that graded glucose infusion increased milk yield （P 〈 0.01）. The highest milk yield was observed when 50 g d^-1 glucose was infused. An infusion of glucose at 100 or 150 g d^-1 failed to increase milk yield further and milk yield of the 100 g d ^-1 glucose infusion treatment was even significantly lower than that of the 50 g d^-1 treatment （P 〈 0.01）. Though milk fat content was gradually decreased by graded glucose infusions and milk fat yield of the 100 and 150 g d 1 treatments were lower than that of the control （P 〈 0.01）; milk fat yield of the 50 g d i treatment was not depressed and was higher than that of the control （P 〈 0.01）. Graded glucose infusion did not change the contents of milk protein and non-fatty solids. Yields of milk protein （P 〈 0.05）, lactose （P 〈 0.01）, non-fat solids （P 〈 0.01）, and lactose content （P 〈 0.01） of the 50 g d^-1 treatment were higher than those of the control but had no difference among the other three treatments. Contents of those de novo synthesized fatty acids in milk fat remained unchanged or increased and those preformed fatty acids remained unchanged or decreased by graded glucose infusion. Glucose infusion decreased the total yields of C16 ＋ C16：1 and 〉 C16 fatty acids and had no influence on the yield of C4-C14：1 fatty acids （P 〈 0.05）. Results of the present study implied that increased glucose supply had positive effects on the production of milk, milk protein, milk fat, and lactose only when glucose was a limiting factor for milk synthesis. Excessive glucose supply had no further beneficial effects and might depress milk fat synthesis.

circRNA landscape of non-pregnant endometrium during the estrus cycle in dairy goats

Endometrial development is a complicated process involving numerous regulatory factors.Circular RNAs(circRNAs)have been known as a member of the naturally occurring non-coding RNA family,and are reportedly crucial for a variety of physiological processes.This study investigated the circRNA landscape of non-pregnant endometrium of dairy goats during estrus.Non-pregnant endometrial samples of goats at estrus day 5(Ed5)and estrus day 15(Ed15)were used to methodically analyze the circRNA landscape using strand-specific Ribo-Zero RNA-Seq.A total of 2331 differentially expressed(P<0.05)circRNAs(DEciRs)between Ed5 and Ed15 were discovered in the goat endometrium.It was found that Nipped-B-like(NIPBL)and calcium responsive transcription factor(CARF)may participate in the development of the endometrium by decreasing(P<0.05)the levels of their circRNA-transcript forms.Furthermore,Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)analyses of DEciR host genes(hgDEciRs)revealed that tight junctions and GTPases may be involved in endometrial development during the estrus cycle.A total of 2331 DEciRs were discovered in the endometrium at Ed5 and Ed15.Based on GO and KEGG enrichment analyses,it could be inferred that tight junctions and GTPases are likely to play an important role in the development of goat endometrium during the estrus cycle.This circRNA study greatly enhances our knowledge of global trends in the development of non-pregnant endometrium during the estrus cycle in goats;these results help us to better understand the molecular regulation of endometrial development in dairy goats.

Preslaughter diet management in sheep and goats:effects on physiological responses and microbial loads on skin and carcass

Sixteen crossbred buck goats （Kiko x Spanish; BW = 32.8 kg） and wether sheep （Dorset x Suffolk; BW = 39.9 kg） were used to determine the effect of preslaughter diet and feed deprivation time （FDT） on physiological responses and microbial loads on skin and carcasses. Experimental animals were fed either a concentrate （CD） or a hay diet （HD） for 4 d and then deprived of feed for either 12-h or 24-h before slaughter. Blood samples were collected for plasma cortisol and blood metabolite analyses. Longisimus muscle （LM） pH was measured. Skin and carcass swabs were obtained to assess microbial loads. Plasma creatine kinase activity （863.9 and 571.7 ± 95.21 IU） and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations （1,056.1 and 589.8 _＋ 105.01 mEq/L） were different （P 〈 0.05） between sheep and goats. Species and diet treatments had significant effects on the ultimate pH of LM. Pre-holding total coliform （TCC） and aerobic plate counts （APC） of skin were significantly different between species. Goats had lower （P 〈 0.05） TCC （2.1 vs. 3.0 IogTo CFU/cm2） and APC （8.2 vs. 8.5 Iog10 CFU/cm2） counts in the skin compared to sheep. Preslaughter skin E. coil counts and TCC were different （P 〈 0.05） between species. Goats had lower （P 〈 0.05） counts of E. coil （2.2 vs. 2.9 log10 CFU/cm2） and TCC （2.3 vs. 3.0 log10 CFU/cm2） in the skin compared with those in sheep. Diet, species, and FDT had no effect （P 〉 0.05） on E. coli and TCC in carcass swab samples. The APC of carcass swab samples were only affected （P 〈 0.05） by the FDT. The results indicated that preslaughter dietary management had no significant changes on hormone and blood metabolite concentrations and sheep might be more prone for fecal contamination than goats in the holding pens at abattoir.

First survey of hard ticks(Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle, sheep and goats in Boeen Zahra and Takistan counties, Iran

Objective:To carry out the distribution survey of hard ticks of livestock in Boeen Zahra and Takistan counties of Qazvin province from April 2010 to September 2010.Methods:Nearly about 2638 sheep, 461 goats and 318 cattle of 38 herds in different geographical areas were searched for tick infestation.Results:The species compositions collected from the livestock of Boeen Zahra and Takistan wereHaemaphysalis concinna(0.63%),Haemaphysalis sulcata(12.66%),Hyalomma anatolicum(3.80%),Hyalomma asiaticum(3.16%),Hyalomma detritum(5.70%),Hyalomma dromedarii(28.48%),Hyalomma marginatum(13.29%),Hyalomma schulzei(1.89%),Rhipicephalus bursa(3.16%) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus(3.16%), and for Takistan's livestock were Hyalomma dromedarii(9.86%),Hyalomma marginatum(13.29%),Hyalomma schulzei(1.89%) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus(3.16%), respectively. Hard ticks compositions in different topographic areas were different.Hyalommaspecies had the most prevalence in the areas.Conclusions:The veterinary and public health investigation of the above species should be taken.

Molecular and Phenotypical Characterization of <i>Mannheimia haemolytica</i>Isolated from Goats in Baghdad Province

Mannheimia haemolytica (M. haemolytica) is a gram negative bacterium which can infect humans and animals. It’s commensal as a normal flora of the nasopharynx and tonsils in cattle, sheep and goats, pneumonic pasteurellosis is one of the most economically important infectious disease in goats worldwide prevalence. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of M. haemolytica by bacteriological and molecular characterization in goats. One hundred nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from apparently healthy field goats, seven lung tissue specimens and five nasal mucus swabs from slaughtered goats in Baghdad. All samples were cultured on Blood and MacConky agars. Biochemical tests and EPI20E kit were used for identification of the suspected colonies. 5 (4.46%) isolates of M. haemolytica were identified phenotypicaly and confirmed diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique using two primers 16s rRNA and 12s rRNA genes .The results of this study concluded that identification of M. haemolytica by PCR was in accordance with those of phenotypic tests and it providing the basis for effective preventative strategies through epidemiological studies performance.

Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins as a potential marker for diagnosis of earlypregnancy in goats: A scoping reviewing

Early diagnosis of pregnancy plays an important role to minimize reproductive losses in farm animals.There are several methods for pregnancy diagnosis like profiling of reproductive hormones(such as progesterone and estrone sulfate),but sometimes they provide false-positive results.Embryo specific pregnancy markers,which delineate the presence and viability of the embryo,are considered as perfect for pregnancy determination.Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins are distinguished as the best indicator for the determination of early pregnancy,fetal number,and birth weight of kids.Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins are structurally correlated to aspartic proteinase and are communicated in the external epithelial cell layer of the placenta.They have been found to share about half amino acid sequence identity with pepsinogen,pepsin,cathepsin D and E.Dislike different individuals from aspartic proteinase family,numerous pregnancy-associated glycoproteins appear to be latent compound as a result of amino acid substitutions in and around the catalytic site.This review is to discuss the scope and prospects of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins as a pregnancy marker in farm animals,more specifically in goats.

Anthelminthic Activity of <i>Moringa oleifera</i>Leaf Extracts Evaluated <i>in Vitro</i>on Four Developmental Stages of <i>Haemonchus contortus</i>from Goats

Haemonchus contortus is a blood-sucking abomasal helminth of small ruminants responsible for major economic losses to small farmers worldwide. Widespread resistance to synthetic anthelminthics has stimulated a need for alternative strategies of parasite control, among which is the use of medicinal plants with natural anthelminthic properties. This study assessed in vitro the efficacy of infused and macerated aqueous extract as well ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera against fresh eggs, embryonated eggs, L1 and L2 larvae of H. contortus. For this purpose, five different concentrations (0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 3.75 and 5 mg/ml) were prepared from dry extracts via serial dilutions with distilled water. Fresh eggs obtained from artificially infected goat feces were exposed to these different concentrations for 48 hours, while embryonated eggs and larvae were exposed for 6 and 24 hours respectively. Distilled water and 1.5% DMSO were used as negative control. The results were expressed in terms of mean inhibition percentage of egg embryonation, mean inhibition percentage of egg hatch and mean percentage of larval mortality. An overview of results revealed that ethanolic leaf extract of M. oleifera was most efficient on eggs by inhibiting 60.3% ± 8.2% and 92.8% ± 6.2% eggs embryonation at 3.75 and 5 mg/ml respectively with a significant difference (P 0.05), which contributed to obtaining the lowest LC50 value of 0.985 mg/ml. This extract also inhibited 99% ± 2% egg hatching of H. contortus at 5 mg/ml with an LC50 value of 1.7 mg/ml. Concerning activity on larvae, the ethanolic extract was also most potent against them by inducing 98.8% ± 2.5% and 100% ± 0% mortality of L1 and L2 larvae at 5 mg/ml respectively. Infused aqueous extract was more efficient on eggs than on larvae with an IC50 value less than 2 mg/ml and an LC50 value more than 3.5 mg/ml. Macerated aqueous extract showed good activity against the four developmental stages with LC50 values ranging from 2.08 mg/ml for L2 larvae to 2.92 mg/ml for L1 larvae and 2.37 to 2.52 mg/ml for embryonated and fresh eggs respectively. The current study showed that all three extracts of M. oleifera tested possessed potential ovicidal and larvicidal activities against H. contortus. However, further in vivo studies are necessary to validate the anthelminthic property of this plant.