Animals

Rosemary extract (RE), rich in carnosic and rosmarinic acid, which have antibacterial/antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects, is a potential natural feed supplement for heat-stressed dairy buffaloes. This study systematically evaluated dietary RE effects on dairy buffaloes during hot weather. Twenty Mediterranean dairy buffaloes were randomly allocated into two groups for a 35-day trial: the control (CON) group receiving a basal diet, and the RE group receiving the same basal diet supplemented with 20 g/d of RE. Results showed RE tended to reduce buffalo body surface temperature; increased milk production, 4% fat-corrected milk, milk protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat; and optimized milk fatty acid profiles. In regard to blood, the RE group exhibited higher catalase activity, total antioxidant capacity, and concentrations of immunoglobulin A and M, together with lower concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α. Additionally, RE markedly elevated concentrations of total volatile fatty acid, acetate, propionate, and butyrate; improved microbial α-diversity indices (Sobs and Ace); and increased the abundances of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group and Butyrivibrio spp., as well as the enrichment of multiple genera belonging to the family Lachnospiraceae. In conclusion, supplementing the diet of heat-stressed dairy buffaloes with 20 g/d of RE improves milk production and composition-related performance by optimizing the rumen ecosystem and enhancing systemic health status, with these effects observed as short-term responses under the conditions of the present study.

The sensory quality of pork constitutes a complex phenotype that arises from the interplay between genetic factors and environmental conditions. As a local pig breed in China, Tibetan pigs (TPs) are known for their high-quality meat. However, their slow growth rate and low production efficiency limit their large-scale breeding. We have used Duroc as a hybrid sire to improve TP. Our study found that TPs have higher intramuscular fat content and higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acids. Duroc × Tibetan crossbred pigs (DZs) not only retain the paternal high productivity but also inherit the superior meat quality of the maternal parent. Transcriptome analysis identified IL6, GPX1, GPX3, AOX1, ALDH7A1, PTGS2, NFKBIA, ADIPOQ and PPARG as being involved in affecting meat quality. Metabolomic analysis found that betaine, carnosine, L-carnitine, and lysophosphatidylcholine were important components that affect meat quality. Joint analysis further reveals that the expression of ATF4, DGKB, GNMT, and ADSL genes is closely related to arachidonic acid, lysophosphatidylcholine, betaines, and hypoxanthine, ultimately affecting the quality of the meat. By comprehensively analyzing the carcass and meat qual

This study was conducted to elucidate the molecular and metabolic differences in ileal development according to birth weight in neonatal piglets. A total of 126 neonatal piglets born from Yorkshire × Landrace × Duroc crossbred sows were used, and the top 5% (H group, 1.77 ± 0.02 kg) and bottom 5% (L group, 0.72 ± 0.03 kg) of birth weights were selected for analysis. Ileal tissues were collected for transcriptomic (RNA-seq) and targeted metabolomic (GC–MS) analyses, and selected genes were validated using RT-qPCR. A total of 112 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, among which RFC3, PCNA, MCM3, MCM10, AURKA, AURKB, CCNB2, CCNA2, CCNF, and SI were significantly upregulated in the H group (p < 0.05). These genes were mainly involved in pathways related to DNA replication, cell division, and nutrient digestion and absorption. In addition, metabolomic analysis revealed that pyruvic acid concentrations were significantly higher in the H group (p < 0.05), indicating the activation of energy metabolic pathways. These results indicate that high-birth-weight piglets possess a genetic foundation for enhanced cellular proliferation and energy metabolism, and they further highlight potential molecular targets for improving growth performance and intestinal development in low-birth-weight piglets.