Search Results (51)

Genomic improvement and sustainable breeding of Mediterranean buffalo are hampered by the lack of breed-specific genomic resources compared with bovine. To address this gap, we aimed to identify a comprehensive set of high-confidence single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Mediterranean buffalo and evaluate their informativeness across other buffalo populations. A total of 58 whole-genome sequencing samples, from three different sets, were merged through the integration of short- and long-read sequencing technologies. Variants, both unique and shared among datasets, were identified using a combination of bioinformatic tools to increase the reliability of the dataset. From these, over 11 million high-confidence biallelic SNPs were identified in the Mediterranean breed. The same SNPs were also tested in additional populations (other rivers and swamps) to evaluate their polymorphism and missingness. These results provide a robust genomic resource for Mediterranean buffalo, overcoming the limitations of bovine-derived genotyping tools available today. The identified SNPs dataset lays the basis for the development of a breed-specific SNP array, providing a dense and informative set of markers that could support cost-effective SNP chip development compared with existing arrays and sequencing technologies. This resource will facilitate more accurate genomic selection, precision breeding, and the conservation of genetic diversity in the Mediterranean buffalo population. Full article

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. Full article

Although best known as a major parasite of sheep and goats, the blood-feeding abomasal nematode Haemonchus contortus can also infect cattle and buffaloes under the mixed-grazing Mediterranean conditions prevalent in Greece. The objectives of this study were as follows: (i) to determine the prevalence of H. contortus infections in dairy and beef cattle and buffaloes in Greece through an abattoir survey, (ii) to evaluate potential host- and farm-related risk factors including age, sex, management system, cattle productive orientation, and the co-existence of cattle and buffaloes on the occurrence of haemonchosis, and (iii) to assess the likelihood of detecting homozygous benzimidazole (BZ)-resistant H. contortus in large ruminant populations in relation to these determinants. A total of 213 abomasa (115, 55, and 43 from dairy, beef cattle, and buffaloes, respectively) were examined. A structured questionnaire provided additional animal- and farm-level information. Haemonchus-like helminths were collected and molecularly identified at the species level by amplifying a 321 bp fragment of the internal transcribed spacer 2 region of nuclear DNA. An allele-specific multiplex PCR, targeting codon 200 of the β-tubulin gene, was applied to detect BZ-resistant alleles. The prevalence of H. contortus infection was 21.2% in cattle and 69.8% in buffaloes. In cattle, multivariable analysis revealed that mixed-species farming (i.e., farms where cattle were the primary species and buffaloes were kept in smaller numbers), productive orientation, and slaughter age were significant predictors of increased H. contortus infection. Controversially, none of these factors were significantly associated with infection in buffaloes. Finally, multivariable modelling suggested that resistance patterns varied by host species, being more prevalent in intensively managed, older cattle, yet less common among older buffaloes and in herds where both species coexisted. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of olive cake (OC) supplementation on buffalo performance and meat quality. Sixty Italian Mediterranean Buffalo males (thirty/group) were enrolled for 90 days before slaughter and allocated into two homogeneous groups according to body weight and age. The Innova group received concentrate with a 7% inclusion of OC, whereas the Ctrl group received no supplementation. Animal performances were recorded at the beginning and at the end of the trial to assess average daily gain (ADG), final live weight, and carcass weight. The Longissimus thoracis muscle samples were harvested and analyzed for chemical composition, fatty acid profile, and total polyphenols content. Dietary inclusion of OC improved animal performances, with greater ADG, final live weight, and carcass weight than the Ctrl group. Furthermore, the Innova meat exhibited a greater polyphenols content and a better acidic profile, represented by greater monounsaturated fatty acids and lower saturated fatty acids. Innova meat had a greater n-3/n-6 ratio, lower atherogenic (AI) and thrombogenic index (TI), and greater hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (H/H) compared with Ctrl meat. These results suggest that inclusion of OC in buffalo diet improved the meat’s fatty acid profile and nutritional value, contributing to healthier, higher-quality products while supporting circular economy principles. Full article

This study investigated the use of K-means and hierarchical clustering, to group Italian Mediterranean buffalo using routinely collected test-day records. The analysis was first conducted on a combined dataset comprising three buffalo herds and subsequently on each herd individually. The main objective was to determine whether data-driven groupings could be implemented to support improvements in general herd management strategies. Results indicated that K-means consistently outperformed hierarchical clustering across all datasets, as reflected by average silhouette scores (0.17–0.18 vs. 0.10–0.12 for K-means and hierarchical, respectively), favorable Davies–Bouldin Index (DBI; 2.05–2.16 vs. 2.11–2.5 for K-means and hierarchical, respectively) and Calinski–Harabasz Index values (CHI; 1034–3877 vs. 729–2109 for K-means and hierarchical, respectively). K-means identified two clusters in the combined dataset and in two of the three herds, while three clusters were identified in the remaining herd. Cluster composition analysis revealed that days in milk and milk yield were the main discriminating factors when two clusters were formed. When three clusters emerged, K-means also identified a subgroup of animals that differed from the others in both age and lactation stage. These findings were supported by the analysis of variance (ANOVA), which showed statistically significant differences among most of the evaluated variables. Full article

In Italy, karyotype analysis is routinely performed on all young males intended for reproduction to screen for chromosome abnormalities. This practice gained prominence following the identification of a complex chromosome abnormality in a well-known bull named Magnifico and its progeny. This procedure significantly enhances the value of the Mediterranean Italian River Buffalo breed, particularly in the context of artificial insemination both within Italy and in other countries importing semen. In the current study, 159 young Mediterranean Italian River Buffalo (MIRB) males intended for reproduction, 30 females with fertility issues, 3 young females and a male co-twin were investigated by analyzing their karyotype using both CBA- and RBA-banding. All males displayed a normal karyotype (2n = 50, XY), although one animal displayed an abnormal X-chromosome with C-band polymorphism, as it is C-band negative when this chromosome normally shows the largest C-band among all chromosomes. This result was also confirmed by the FISH-mapping technique using three bovine BAC-clones containing SAT-I, SAT-III and SAT-IV. Cytogenetic investigation showed that seven females, along with one male co-twin, were affected by freemartinism (XX/XY leukocyte chimerism) and were subsequently removed from the farm. In two of these females, clinical and necroscopic examinations showed severe damage of the internal reproductive organs. Full article

Mastitis is a significant challenge in the buffalo industry, affecting both milk production and animal health and resulting in economic losses. This study presents the first fully automated AI-driven thermal imaging system integrated with robotic milking, specifically developed for the real-time, non-invasive monitoring of udder health in Italian Mediterranean buffalo. Unlike traditional approaches, the system leverages the synchronized acquisition of thermal images during milking and compensates for environmental variables through a calibrated weather station. A transformer-based neural network (SegFormer) segments the udder area, enabling the extraction of maximum udder skin surface temperature (USST), which is significantly correlated with somatic cell count (SCC). Initial trials demonstrate the feasibility of this approach in operational farm environments, paving the way for scalable, precision diagnostics of subclinical mastitis. This work represents a critical step toward intelligent, automated systems for early detection and intervention, improving animal welfare and reducing antibiotic use. Full article

Background/Objectives: Buffalo populations exhibit distinct genetic variations influenced by domestication history, geographic distribution, and selection pressures. This study investigates the genetic structure and differentiation of 11 buffalo populations, focusing on five loci related to milk protein (CSN1S1 and CSN3) and fat metabolism (LPL, DGAT1 and SCD). The aim is to assess genetic variation between river, swamp, and wild-type buffaloes and identify key loci contributing to population differentiation. Methods: Genetic diversity was analyzed through allele frequency distribution, the Hardy−Weinberg equilibrium testing, and observed (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) calculations. Population structure was assessed using principal component analysis (PCA), F_ST statistics, and phylogenetic clustering (k-means and UPGMA tree). The silhouette score (SS) and the Davies−Bouldin index (DBI) were applied to determine optimal population clustering. Results: Significant genetic differentiation was observed between river and swamp buffaloes (p < 0.001). DGAT1 and CSN3 emerged as key markers distinguishing buffalo types. The Italian Mediterranean buffalo exhibited the highest genetic diversity (Ho = 0.464; He = 0.454), while the Indonesian, Chinese, and Vietnamese populations showed low heterozygosity, likely due to selection pressures and geographic isolation. The global F_ST (0.2143; p = 0.001) confirmed moderate differentiation, with closely related populations (e.g., Nepal and Pakistan) exhibiting minimal genetic divergence, while distant populations (e.g., Egypt and Indonesia) showed marked differences, and the Romanian population showed a unique genetic position. Conclusions: These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of buffalo genetic diversity and provide a valuable basis for exploiting the potential of this species in the light of future breeding and conservation strategies specific for each buffalo type. Full article

In Italy, the number of farmed dairy buffaloes rose up to approximately 436,000 heads in 2023 (+22% in the last 15 years), a fourfold increase compared to the 1980s, due to the growing market interest in mozzarella cheese. The increased demand for mozzarella cheese, in turn, requires higher production, which can result in increased methane emission from the sector. Therefore, it is necessary to establish mitigation and selection schemes for low-emission strategies. The current study aimed to highlight sources of variation in methane emission from lactating Italian Mediterranean buffaloes measured using a laser methane detector in order to identify practical and methodological aspects to consider when designing experiments focused on methane emission evaluation. Methane (CH₄), exhaled from 60 cows, was recorded twice a day during milking, over two weeks per month for at least three months throughout a whole lactation cycle. The animal (individual), days in milk, parity, month, operator, milking entry order, and milking session effects were significant for methane emission (p < 0.0001). Our results showed that laser methane detector may be used as a rapid tool for methane emission studies and highlighted which factors can account for individual measures. This instrument is easy to use, fast, versatile, and not too expensive. These characteristics make it suitable for large-scale herd screening and monitoring. Full article

Dairy products are an important source of protein and other nutrients in the Mediterranean diet. In these countries, the most common sources of milk for producing dairy products are cow, goat, sheep, and buffalo. Andalusia is traditionally the largest producer of goat milk in Spain. Kefir is a fermented product made from bacteria and yeasts and has health benefits beyond its nutritional properties. There is a lack of knowledge about the molecular mechanisms and metabolites that bring about these benefits. In this work, the combination of analytical techniques (GC-FID, UHPLC-MS-QToF, GC-QqQ-MS, and GC-ToF-MS) resulted in the detection of 105 metabolites in kefir produced with goat milk from two different thermal treatments (raw and pasteurized) fermented at four time points (12, 24, 36, and 48 h, using 0 h as the control). Of these, 27 metabolites differed between kefir produced with raw and pasteurized milk. These changes could possibly be caused by the effect of pasteurization on the microbial population in the starting milk. Some interesting molecules were identified, such as shikimic acid, dehydroabietic acid, GABA, and tyramine, which could be related to antibacterial properties, strengthening of the immune system, and arterial pressure. Moreover, a viability assay of the NIRS technique was performed to evaluate its use in monitoring the fermentation and classification of samples, which resulted in a 90% accuracy in comparison to correctly classified samples according to their fermentation time. This study represents the most comprehensive metabolomic analysis of goat milk kefir so far, revealing the intricate changes in metabolites during fermentation and the impact of milk treatment. Full article

This study evaluated the potential use of mid-infrared spectroscopy to predict milk coagulation traits in bulk milk from Mediterranean Italian buffaloes. A total of 1736 bulk milk samples from 55 farms in central Italy were collected during the official milk quality testing system. The prediction models were developed based on modified partial least-squares regression with 75% of the samples and validated with the remaining samples. All bulk milk samples coagulated between 7.37 and 29.45 min. Average values for milk coagulation traits in the calibration set were 17.71 min, 3.29 min, and 38.83 mm for rennet coagulation time, curd firming time, and curd firmness, respectively. The validation set included samples with similar mean and standard deviation for each trait. The prediction models showed the greatest coefficient of determination of external validation (0.57) and the ratio of prediction to deviation (1.52) for curd firmness. Similar fitting statistics of the prediction models were obtained for rennet coagulation time and curd firming time. In conclusion, the prediction models for all three coagulation traits were below the threshold to consider the prediction models adequate even for rough screening of the samples. Full article

The search for DNA polymorphisms useful for the genetic improvement of dairy farm animals has spanned more than 40 years, yielding relevant findings in cattle for milk traits, where the best combination of alleles for dairy processing has been found in casein genes and in DGAT1. Nowadays, similar results have not yet been reached in river buffaloes, despite the availability of advanced genomic technologies and accurate phenotype records. The aim of the present study was to investigate and validate the effect of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the CSN1S1, CSN3, SCD and LPL genes on seven milk traits in a larger buffalo population. These SNPs have previously been reported to be associated with, or affect, dairy traits in smaller populations often belonging to one farm. A total of 800 buffaloes were genotyped. The following traits were individually recorded, monthly, throughout each whole lactation period from 2010 to 2021: daily milk yield (dMY, kg), protein yield (dPY, kg) and fat yield (dFY, kg), fat and protein contents (dFP, % and dPP, %), somatic cell count (SCC, 10³ cell/mL) and urea (mg/dL). A total of 15,742 individual milk test day records (2496 lactations) were available for 680 buffalo cows, with 3.6 ± 1.7 parities (from 1 to 13) and an average of 6.1 ± 1.2 test day records per lactation. Three out four SNPs in the CSN1S1, CSN3 and LPL genes were associated with at least one of analyzed traits. In particular, the CSN1S1 (AJ005430:c.578C>T) gave favorable associations with all yield traits (dMY, p = 0.022; dPY, p = 0.014; dFY, p = 0.029) and somatic cell score (SCS, p = 0.032). The CSN3 (HQ677596: c.536C>T) was positively associated with SCS (p = 0.005) and milk urea (p = 0.04). Favorable effects on daily milk yield (dMY, p = 0.028), fat (dFP, p = 0.027) and protein (dPP, p = 0.050) percentages were observed for the LPL. Conversely, the SCD did not show any association with milk traits. This is the first example of a confirmation study carried out in the Mediterranean river buffalo for genes of economic interest in the dairy field, and it represents a very important indication for the preselection of young bulls destined for breeding programs aimed at more sustainable dairy production. Full article

While considered as hard milkers, both buffaloes and camels are milked with equipment destined for dairy cows based on external morphological similarities with this species. This work aimed to study similarities and differences in milkability traits between Mediterranean buffaloes and Maghrebi she-camels and to evaluate the effect of parity and lactation stage. A total of 422 milk flow curves recorded with an electronic milkmeter (Lactocorder^®) for both species were accessed. Milking characteristics including milk yield per milking, peak milk flow, average milk flow, duration of the main milking phase, duration of total milking, duration of various phases of milk flow, lag time and time to milk ejection, stripping yield, overmilking time and incidence of bimodal milk flow curves were evaluated for both species. Results showed that the values of milk yield per milking, duration of the main milking phase and duration of total milking were higher in buffaloes (3.98 ± 0.10 kg; 4.07 ± 0.11 min; 9.89 ± 0.21 min, respectively) compared to camels (3.51 ± 0.08 kg; 3.05 ± 0.09 min; 3.76 ± 0.09 min, respectively). However, camels had significantly higher peak and average milk flow (2.45 ± 0.07 kg/min and 1.16 ± 0.03 kg/min, respectively). Camels took significantly less time for milk ejection to occur. Only 15.49% of recorded curves were bimodal in buffaloes while 34.93% of bimodal curves were recorded for camels. Overmilking was significantly higher in buffaloes (3.64 ± 0.21 min vs. 0.29 ± 0.02 min). Parity and lactation stage had a significant effect on most studied milking traits suggesting the need for some particular practices with primiparous animals and animals at different levels of lactation for both species. Full article

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease of cattle and water buffalo characterized by cutaneous nodules, biphasic fever, and lymphadenitis. LSD is endemic in Africa and the Middle East but has spread to different Asian countries in recent years. The disease is well characterized in cattle while little is known about the disease in buffaloes in which no experimental studies have been conducted. Six buffaloes and two cattle were inoculated with an Albanian LSD virus (LSDV) field strain and clinically monitored for 42 days. Only two buffaloes showed fever, skin nodules, and lymphadenitis. All samples collected (blood, swabs, biopsies, and organs) were tested in real-time PCR and were negative. Between day 39 and day 42 after inoculation, anti-LSDV antibodies were detected in three buffaloes by ELISA, but all sera were negative by virus neutralization test (VNT). Cattle showed severe clinical signs, viremia, virus shedding proven by positive real-time PCR results, and seroconversion confirmed by both ELISA and VNT. Clinical findings suggest that susceptibility in buffaloes is limited compared to in cattle once experimentally infected with LSDV. Virological results support the hypothesis of buffalo resistance to LSD and its role as an accidental non-adapted host. This study highlights that the sensitivity of ELISA and VNT may differ between animal species and further studies are needed to investigate the epidemiological role of water buffalo. Full article

The objective was to characterize the pastures by grazing cycle, as well as to evaluate the performance of buffaloes in intensive rotational grazing in a silvopastoral system in the eastern Amazon supplemented with agro-industry co-products in order to characterize the grazing cycles, the composition of the fractions, and the carcass yield. Fifteen non-castrated, crossbred water buffaloes (Murrah × Mediterranean) were used. All animals used in the study were clinically healthy and weighed approximately 458 kg. The animals were grazed in a single group, and supplementation (1% of live weight—LW/day) was divided into three treatments: control (control—conventional ingredients); Cocos nucifera coconut cake (Cocos nucifera) (coconut cake—70%); and palm kernel cake (Guinean elaeis) (palm kernel cake—70% palm kernel cake). The chemical composition of the forage is different in each part of the plant, with higher protein values in the leaves (11.40%) and higher acid detergent fiber (ADF) values in the stems (50.03%). Among the ingredients of the supplement, corn has the highest percentage of indigestible protein (35.57%), most of the protein in palm kernel cake is B3 (49.11%), and in Coco, B2 (51.52%). Mombasa grass has a higher percentage of B3 and B2 proteins; the indigestible fraction is lower in the leaves (17.16%). The leaf/stem ratio also varied between grazing cycles, being better in the second cycle (2.11%) and with an overall average of 1.71. Supplement consumption varied between cycles and was higher in the control treatment, with an overall mean of 4.74. There was no difference in daily weight gain and carcass yield, with an average of 1 kg/day and 49.23%, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that including supplements based on by-products from the coconut and palm oil agro-industries promotes performance and carcass yields compatible with conventional supplements. Their use reduces production costs, optimizes the utilization of forage mass, enhances the sustainability of the production chain, and, therefore, is recommended. Full article