Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.0
3.4
Journals
Life
Special Issues
Animal Reproduction and Health
share announcement

Animal Reproduction and Health

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 3792

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rachel Moxon

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Canine Science, Guide Dogs National Centre, Banbury Road, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV33 9WF, UK
Interests: canine; dog; health; reproduction; disease; guide dog; assistance dog
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ana Faustino

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
2. Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), University of Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
3. Department of Zootechnics, School of Sciences and Technology, University of Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
Interests: veterinary medicine; experimental animal models; lifestyle; tumor angiogenesis; natural compounds; animal welfare
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to invite you to contribute to our Special Issue on “Animal Reproduction and Health”. Increased research is vital to advancing our understanding and knowledge so that we can effectively manage animals, promote optimum health and wellbeing, and maximise animal welfare.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to present the latest research in the field of animal reproduction and health, and we welcome original research articles and reviews that cover a wide range of themes, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Heritability of disease;
  • Reproduction control, especially advances in our understanding of the use of alternative methods of reproduction control for animals;
  • Reproductive disease;
  • Epidemiology of disease;
  • Management of disease in large populations of animals;
  • Reproductive performance: maximising reproductive potential, animal health and survival;
  • Fertility;
  • Advances in diagnostics and treatment;
  • Pregnancy and lactation;
  • Neonatal care;
  • Growth and development.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Rachel Moxon
Dr. Ana Faustino
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • animal
  • reproduction
  • genetics
  • heritability
  • disease
  • fertility
  • sperm
  • health
  • pregnancy
  • neonatal health and development
  • microbiome health and development

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

11 pages, 2576 KB  
Article
Histological Analysis of Multiple Unilateral Testicular Tumors in Dogs
by Mirosław Kuberka, Przemysław Prządka and Stanisław Dzimira
Life 2025, 15(11), 1772; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15111772 - 19 Nov 2025
Viewed by 784
Abstract
Testicular tumors are, after skin tumors, the most common neoplasms in male dogs. Among all animals, these tumors occur most frequently within dogs. The etiology remains unclear, although the ectopic (non-scrotal) positioning of the testicles has an influence on tumor development. The most [...] Read more.
Testicular tumors are, after skin tumors, the most common neoplasms in male dogs. Among all animals, these tumors occur most frequently within dogs. The etiology remains unclear, although the ectopic (non-scrotal) positioning of the testicles has an influence on tumor development. The most common types of testicular tumors include seminomas, Sertoli cell tumors, and interstitial (Leydig) cell tumors. The aim of this study was a retrospective evaluation of preserved material. A total of 326 cases of testicular tumors in dogs, diagnosed between 2017 and 2024, were analyzed. A histological analysis of multiple unilateral testicular tumors was conducted, and the frequency of occurrence was determined. 27 instances (8.28%) of multiple tumors within the same testicle were identified. The most recurrent combination was seminoma and interstitial cell tumors—12 cases (44.44%), followed by Sertoli cell and Leydig cell tumors—6 cases (22.22%), and seminoma and Sertoli cell tumors—6 cases (22.22%). In three cases, the presence of three tumors within a single testicle was observed (11.11%). In one case, double tumors were found within both testicles. It was observed that malignant features, as in cases of single testicular tumors, are rare. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Reproduction and Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 276 KB  
Article
Sperm Quality and Welfare of Sexually Mature Boars Supplemented with Partially Fermentable Insoluble Fiber
by Daniela Ferreira de Brito Mandu, Vivian Schwaab Sobral, Juliana Cristina Rego Ribas, Maria Fernanda de Castro Burbarelli, Cristiny Santos Braga, Rodrigo Garófallo Garcia, Ibiara Correia de Lima Almeida Paz, Claudia Marie Komiyama and Fabiana Ribeiro Caldara
Life 2025, 15(10), 1597; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15101597 - 13 Oct 2025
Viewed by 648
Abstract
Dietary fiber plays an important role in animal nutrition by influencing gut health, feed intake, and metabolism. In swine production, studies suggest that fibers may also affect reproductive traits, but findings remain inconsistent, especially in adult boars. This study evaluated the effects of [...] Read more.
Dietary fiber plays an important role in animal nutrition by influencing gut health, feed intake, and metabolism. In swine production, studies suggest that fibers may also affect reproductive traits, but findings remain inconsistent, especially in adult boars. This study evaluated the effects of partially fermentable insoluble fiber (PFIF) on semen quality, behavior, and general health of adult boars. Thirty animals were assigned to a completely randomized design with two treatments: (1) CON: no fiber supplementation, and (2) PFIF: fiber supplementation (35 g/animal/day). Fiber was provided once daily for 120 consecutive days. During the period, semen was collected weekly and analyzed macroscopically and microscopically using the Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) system. Behavior was recorded weekly, one and three hours after feeding, based on a pre-established ethogram. Feed intake, perineal, and fecal scores were also evaluated. Fiber supplementation did not affect total motility, progressive motility, sperm concentration, fecal or perineal scores, or behavior. However, improvements were observed in sperm kinematics, with higher straight-line distance (DSL), linearity (LIN), and straightness (STR), as well as a tendency for increased straight-line velocity (VSL) and wobble (WOB). Conversely, a higher incidence of proximal cytoplasmic droplets was recorded in the fiber group, indicating more sperm maturation defects. Supplemented animals also showed reduced feed intake compared with controls, suggesting a satiety effect of the fiber. In conclusion, PFIF supplementation (35 g/animal/day offered once daily) in adult boars produced mixed outcomes, with improved sperm kinematics but increased maturation defects and only minor changes in feeding behavior, indicating a limited and inconsistent physiological response. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Reproduction and Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 474 KB  
Article
Reproductive Results of Selected Cat Breeds
by Wojciech Wójcik and Marta Piechowska
Life 2025, 15(7), 1128; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15071128 - 17 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1668
Abstract
The main goal of purebred cat breeding is to produce healthy offspring while maintaining breed purity. Pedigree cat breeders are affiliated with international federations that enforce similar breeding regulations, which helps prevent the overexploitation of cats in breeding. The minimum age for allowing [...] Read more.
The main goal of purebred cat breeding is to produce healthy offspring while maintaining breed purity. Pedigree cat breeders are affiliated with international federations that enforce similar breeding regulations, which helps prevent the overexploitation of cats in breeding. The minimum age for allowing a cat to breed is at least 10 months. This study aimed to analyze the breeding performance of three cat breeds: Maine Coon (MCO), British Shorthair (BSH), and Devon Rex (DRX). These breeds are classified as late-maturing (MCO), medium-late maturing (BSH), and early-maturing (DRX). The analysis was based on pedigree data obtained from the Polish Felinological Association, which operates under the auspices of the World Cat Federation. In total, data from 1016 litters (453 MCO, 453 BSH, and 110 DRX) were analyzed. Breeds differed significantly in age at first birth (p = 0.041), mean interval between litters (p < 0.01), and mean number of kittens per litter (p < 0.01). Breed effects were also noted for the mean interval between births (p < 0.01), mean number of kittens per litter (p < 0.01), and the total number of kittens sired by the mother (p = 0.007). Within each breed, differences were found in the sex ratio of litters, with a predominance of males in DRX (p = 0.049), MCO (p = 0.003), and overall breeds (p = 0.036). In contrast, the BSH breed showed no significant difference in the sex ratio of litters (p = 0.455). In both the MCO and DRX breeds, the lowest average interval between litters was observed in females that gave birth to their first litter early compared to those that gave birth later. The total number of kittens raised by the mother was highest in the MCO breed (p ≤ 0.05), while the shortest litter spacing was found in the DRX breed (p ≤ 0.05). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Reproduction and Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop