Health Management of Farm Animals: Physiological and Pathological Aspects

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 333

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinic of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Interests: porcine medicine; porcine herd health management; porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV); porcine-circovirus-associated diseases (PCVAD); porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC); reproductive diseases in sows and boars; welfare and production; heat stress; alternatives to antibiotics; vaccines; feed additives; mycotoxins; zoonoses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Health management in farm animals is the practice of ensuring optimal health and welfare in animals through diagnostics, preventive strategies, monitoring programs, and the management of diseases, which is crucial in improving both animal health and productivity. This Special Issue will focus on health management in farm animals, including physical and pathological aspects that influence animal health, disease prevention and treatment strategies, livestock production, and overall herd management. Our aim for this Special Issue is to showcase a collection of reviews or original research articles on health management in farm animals, covering all aspects of the link between the physical and pathological aspects in farm animals, such as ruminants, pigs, poultry, and rabbits. Experts in the field of the physiology and pathology of animals, veterinary medicine, veterinary microbiology/virology/parasitology, farm animal medicine, animal nutrition, and animal welfare are invited to submit manuscripts for peer review. Specifically, we welcome submissions that include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • Developments in new technology for the diagnosis of farm animal diseases;
  • The economic impact of health management in farm animals on livestock production;
  • New aspects of the pathogenesis of farm animal diseases;
  • Epidemiological studies on farm animal diseases;
  • New aspects of farm animal nutrition;
  • Links between climate change and farm animal diseases;
  • Mycotoxins and health management in farm animals;
  • Vaccinology in health management in farm animals;
  • New prevention strategies for farm animal diseases;
  • Monitoring programs for emerging and re-emerging farm animal diseases.

Prof. Dr. Vasileios Papatsiros
Guest Editor

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • cattle
  • small ruminants
  • pig
  • poultry
  • veterinary medicine
  • health
  • disease
  • welfare

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 (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 800 KiB  
Article
Flaws in Estrus Synchronization Protocols Increase Vaginal Prolapse and Hydrometra Risk in Sheep
by Nikolaos Tsekouras, Ioannis Tsakmakidis, Dimitrios Gougoulis, Mathis A. B. Christodoulopoulos, Christos Kousoulis, Georgios I. Papakonstantinou, Vasileios G. Papatsiros and Georgios Christodoulopoulos
Life 2025, 15(5), 795; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15050795 - 17 May 2025
Viewed by 163
Abstract
This study examines the reproductive outcomes of Lacaune-crossbred ewes and hoggets in intensive production systems, focusing on vaginal prolapse and hydrometra associated with flaws in estrus synchronization (E.S.) protocols. Data from multiple farms were combined for analysis due to the absence of significant [...] Read more.
This study examines the reproductive outcomes of Lacaune-crossbred ewes and hoggets in intensive production systems, focusing on vaginal prolapse and hydrometra associated with flaws in estrus synchronization (E.S.) protocols. Data from multiple farms were combined for analysis due to the absence of significant variation at the farm level. The findings revealed a strong association between vaginal prolapse, parity, and litter size, with hoggets carrying multiple fetuses facing the highest risk (p < 0.0001). This highlights the need to reconsider equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) administration in hoggets, as it increases the likelihood of multiple pregnancies and, consequently, prolapse. Additionally, a progressive rise in hydrometra prevalence was observed with repeated synchronization cycles in ewes, increasing from 0.51% after the third treatment to 12.33% after the fourth (p < 0.0001). Notably, in this study, the four synchronization cycles were applied over a relatively short period (7.22 ± 1.64 months), further supporting concerns that excessive hormonal treatments within a compressed timeframe exacerbate reproductive dysfunction. The results corroborate previous reports that prolonged progesterone exposure can impair uterine function, leading to fluid retention and hydrometra. To mitigate these risks, estrus synchronization protocols should be critically reassessed—especially by extending the interval between successive treatments—to protect reproductive health and animal welfare. These findings not only underscore the need for more welfare-conscious practices in intensive sheep farming but also encourage further research aimed at refining hormonal management strategies in dairy ewe reproduction. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop