Search Results (133)

Pasture ecosystems are a key component of livestock production in arid and semi-arid regions, where forage availability and nutritive value are often associated with animal performance under grazing conditions. This study aimed to provide an exploratory assessment of pasture productivity, forage nutritive value, and beef cattle productivity across contrasting natural–climatic settings in Kazakhstan. The study was conducted under commercial production conditions on five farms representing different grazing environments during the 2024–2025 grazing seasons. Because each zone was represented by a single farm, the study should be interpreted as an observational assessment of farm-level patterns rather than as a fully replicated experimental comparison. Pasture productivity and forage chemical composition, including crude protein, fiber, and dry matter content, varied among farms and seasons. Average daily gain ranged from 316.7 to 900 g day⁻¹ depending on the study site and year of observation. Exploratory statistical analyses indicated variability among the studied systems; however, pairwise comparisons did not reveal statistically significant differences in animal productivity among farms (p > 0.05). Correlation analyses revealed moderate positive associations between average daily gain, crude protein content, and pasture yield, although these relationships were not statistically significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. Similarly, linear models incorporating forage nutritive value indicators and study site did not identify statistically significant predictors of animal productivity within the current dataset. Overall, the results describe patterns of variation in pasture characteristics and animal productivity observed under extensive grazing conditions in continental environments. Given the observational design and limited replication at the farm level, the findings should be interpreted cautiously and regarded as preliminary. The study provides baseline information for future investigations of pasture–livestock interactions in arid and semi-arid grazing environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Probiotic feed additives are increasingly used in livestock production as antimicrobial-sparing tools, yet viable microbial products should not introduce clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) into the intestinal resistome. This study evaluated farm-animal probiotic products using an integrated phenotypic, metagenomic and mobilome-aware safety framework. Methods: Seven commercially available products intended for poultry, pigs, cattle or horses were assessed using product metadata, culture-based recovery, broth microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) profiling and Illumina short-read sequencing as a screening-level resistome approach. Reads were quality controlled, assembled, screened using the Comprehensive Antibiotic Research Database (CARD)/Resistance Gene Identifier (RGI) workflow and interrogated for plasmid-, phage- and insertion sequence/mobile genetic element-associated genomic context. Results: MIC profiles were generated for viable bacterial isolates representing Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Bacillus subtilis. One labelled Lactobacillus plantarum component was not recovered as viable culture, and one labelled P. acidilactici component was recorded as P. pentosaceus. Sequencing-based resistome screening identified 30 antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-associated CARD antibiotic-resistant organism (ARO) hits belonging to 13 determinants across six ARG-positive coded products, while one coded product had no retained CARD/RGI hit. Profiles were dominated by recurrent Enterococcus-associated background determinants, including aac(6′)-Ii, msrC and eatAv. Plasmid prediction was positive for five hits, whereas no iMGE- or phage-associated ARG context was detected. No vanA/vanB, mcr, optrA, poxtA, cfr, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) or carbapenemase gene was detected. Conclusions: The investigated products did not show evidence of high-priority mobile ARG carriage. Nevertheless, AMR-associated determinants and occasional predicted mobile contexts support routine integrated MIC-sequencing-based resistome–mobilome assessment of veterinary probiotic products. Because short-read assemblies do not fully resolve plasmid architecture or transferability, mobile-context predictions should be considered screening-level indicators requiring confirmatory long-read or functional testing for higher-priority findings. Full article

Genetic screening of monogenic traits is important for improving genetic health and increasing favorable milk protein in dairy cattle. This study developed and applied an amplification refractory mutation system PCR (ARMS-PCR) assay to simultaneously screen 21 causal variants underlying 18 monogenic traits in Holstein cattle, including 13 recessive genetic defects, 2 milk protein loci, and 3 morphological loci. The assay was designed as a unified multiplex PCR-capillary electrophoresis workflow, enabling clear detection of allele-specific products distinguished by fragment size and fluorescent color. Sanger sequencing validation of newly incorporated loci supported the accuracy of the assay. A total of 1656 cows from 12 commercial farms were genotyped using the multiplex ARMS-PCR panel, and amplicons were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis. Carriers were detected for all genetic defects except DUMPS, with carrier frequencies ranging from 0.12% to 6.64%. The highest frequencies were observed for HH5 (6.64%) and MWS (6.58%), whereas HH3, HH1, and HCD showed intermediate frequencies of 1.81% to 3.08%; all the remaining defects were below 1%. Overall, 22.10% of sampled cows carried at least 1 defect allele, including 20.47% carrying 1 defect, 1.51% carrying 2, and 0.12% carrying 3. For milk protein loci, the desirable β-casein A2A2 and κ-casein BB genotypes occurred at frequencies of 45.83% and 14.13%, respectively, and the favorable A2A2/BB combination was present in 6.22% of sampled cows. Dominant red, recessive red, and polled alleles were rare. These results indicate that multiplex fluorescent ARMS-PCR can serve as a practical targeted screening tool for the simultaneous management of known deleterious alleles and selection of favorable monogenic variants in dairy cattle breeding. Full article

Background/Objectives: Combination of antiparasitic drugs with different mechanisms of action has been suggested as an effective strategy to delay the development of parasite resistance. Considering the need to understand the pharmacological basis of drug combinations, the current study evaluated the potential pharmacokinetic (PK) interactions and the clinical efficacy (pharmacodynamic response) occurring after the subcutaneous administration of ivermectin (IVM) and levamisole (LEV), administered either as single treatments or concurrently to different groups of parasitized calves on three commercial farms (A, B and C). Methods: Forty-five (45) male calves naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 15): IVM, treated with IVM by subcutaneous injection (0.2 mg/kg); LEV, treated subcutaneously with LEV (8 mg/kg); IVM + LEV, simultaneously treated with IVM and LEV (two subcutaneous injections at the same dose rates). Seven animals from each treated group (farm C) were randomly selected to perform the PK study. Drug concentrations were measured by HPLC. The therapeutic response (efficacy) was determined at 14 days after treatment by the fecal egg reduction test. Results: The mean area under the concentration vs time curve (AUC) for IVM obtained after administration of IVM alone (274 ± 65.1 ng.d/mL) was similar to that obtained when IVM was co-administered with LEV (295 ± 111 ng.d/mL). Likewise, mean LEV AUC values were similar after LEV administration alone (8.90 ± 2.69 µg.h/mL) or combined with IVM (9.11 ± 1.82 µg.h/mL). No adverse PK interactions were observed after the combined treatment, with similar PK parameters (p > 0.05) obtained between the single-drug and the combination-based strategies. On farm A, the overall fecal egg reductions were 38% (IVM), 99% (LEV) and 100% (IVM + LEV). While Cooperia spp. and Haemonchus spp. showed reduced susceptibility to IVM treatment, LEV demonstrated high efficacy against both genera, with only a minimal proportion of Haemonchus spp. remaining after treatment. Similarly, total fecal egg reductions were 42% (IVM), 99% (LEV) and 100% (IVM + LEV) on farm B, and 54% (IVM), 99% (LEV) and 100% (IVM + LEV) on farm C. On those farms, IVM was ineffective against Cooperia spp. and/or Haemonchus spp., while LEV failed to control Ostertagia spp. Remarkably, the combination of both molecules was the only treatment that achieved 100% efficacy against all nematode genera (Cooperia, Ostertagia, Haemonchus and Oesophagostomum spp.). Conclusions: Based on the described PK and pharmacodynamic (PD) assessments, the IVM + LEV combination appears to be a promising pharmacological option for controlling resistant gastrointestinal nematodes in cattle, with the additional potential to delay the progression of nematode anthelmintic resistance. Overall, the study provides original and robust pharmacokinetic and efficacy data that contribute to the optimization of parasite control strategies in cattle. This drug combination strategy may enhance treatment efficacy and contribute to improved parasite control in cattle production systems. Full article

Livestock farming represents a key economic activity in the Tataouine Governorate of southern Tunisia, where cattle and dromedary camels coexist. Varicellovirus bovinealpha1 (BoAHV-1), the etiological agent of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), primarily affects cattle, while its circulation in camelids remains poorly understood. Following recent European Union regulations requiring BoAHV-1 surveillance in multiple animal species, this short communication reports serological findings from dairy cattle and dromedary herds in southern Tunisia. In March 2024, serum samples were collected from four non-vaccinated farms, including two intensive Friesian dairy cattle herds and two extensive dromedary herds (50 animals each). Serum samples from all animals were tested for BoAHV-1 antibodies using competitive commercial gB- and gE-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (c-ELISA) and confirmed by virus neutralization test (VNT). Antibodies against BoAHV-1 were detected in cattle from both dairy farms, with low seroprevalence and neutralizing antibody titers, indicating past or ongoing exposure. In contrast, all dromedary samples tested seronegative by both c-ELISA and VNT. These findings confirm BoAHV-1 circulation in cattle in the Tataouine region and its absence in dromedaries at sampling. Further studies involving larger sample sizes and molecular investigations are required to clarify the potential role of camelids in BoAHV-1 epidemiology in southern Tunisia. Full article

A robust analysis of water use in major food production systems is crucial for improving their productivity and sustainability in water-scarce arid and semi-arid regions like Punjab (India) facing the depletion of groundwater resources. This study aimed to assess blue water use and blue water productivity in dairy farming systems across different farm sizes in Punjab. Comprehensive monitoring and assessment of water use over a full year (from July 2022 to June 2023) was conducted on 24 dairy farm sheds in Punjab, revealing significant variability in their blue water use (measured in L per adult animal per day) and blue water productivity quantified as kg of fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) produced per m³ of the blue water consumed. The variability was influenced by factors such as livestock species, farm size (medium with 15–25 livestock, large with 25–100 livestock, and commercial with >100 livestock), bathing and servicing routines, and energy use patterns. The average dairy livestock total blue water consumption varied from 112 ± 14 to 131 ± 19 L per adult animal per day, with 20–40% higher livestock drinking water and about six times higher livestock bathing and serving water used during the summer months. Interestingly, a large share (45%) of the average total blue water consumption is contributed by indirect water consumption via the use of energy (electricity and diesel) in dairy farm sheds. Dairy milk blue water productivity was quantified higher, ranging from 154 ± 11 to 225 ± 59 kg FPCM per m³ in buffalo- and crossbred cattle-based dairy farm sheds. However, indigenous cattle showed a lower blue water productivity ranging from 56 to 97 kg FPCM per m³, reflecting their lower milk yields and limited use of intensified management practices. The state-level water scarcity footprint (WSF) of Punjab dairy farm sheds was quantified at 4870 million m³ world-eq, which showed a significant spatial variation among Punjab districts. However, the results of this study offer novel seasonally and spatially disaggregated benchmarks of blue water consumption, blue water productivity, and the water scarcity footprint of Punjab’s dairy farming sheds. This new information is crucial for the development of locally calibrated and validated models for improving the water productivity and sustainability of dairy farming across Punjab and other similar arid and semi-arid regions in Southeast Asian countries. Full article

Respiration rate (RR) is a key physiological indicator of health, stress, and thermoregulatory load in dairy cattle, yet continuous RR monitoring under commercial farm conditions remains challenging. In this Technical Note, we present a non-invasive clip-on nose ring device for continuous respiration monitoring based on acoustic recording directly at the nostril. The device integrates a MEMS microphone, embedded electronics, battery, and removable storage in a sealed, mechanically robust housing suitable for real-world barn environments. The system was deployed on five dairy cows under commercial farm conditions, enabling repeated multi-day recordings over several weeks. The respiration rate was extracted offline from raw audio using a deterministic signal-processing pipeline based on multiscale periodicity detection. Algorithm-derived RR estimates were evaluated against manually annotated breath events. Using 10-min rolling median values, the algorithm achieved a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.47 breaths per minute (bpm), a root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.92 bpm, and a high correlation with reference values (r = 0.98, R² = 0.96). In addition to short-term accuracy, the system enabled stable multi-day monitoring. Group-level analysis across all five animals revealed a clear diurnal respiration pattern over multiple consecutive days, with lower RR during nighttime and higher RR during daytime summer conditions, without signs of a baseline drift. These results demonstrate the feasibility of continuous, long-term respiration monitoring in dairy cattle using an audio-based clip-on nose ring device and provide a practical foundation for longitudinal (multi-day, within-animal) RR assessment under commercial farm conditions, with potential for future extensions towards advanced respiratory health monitoring. While the system demonstrated stable performance under summer farm conditions, validation under extreme heat-stress environments and larger animal cohorts is required for comprehensive population-level assessment. Full article

The coexistence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), particularly those conferring resistance to last-resort antibiotics, is increasingly present in lesser-studied bacterial species. Tigecycline is currently one of the last important barriers in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections, whose resistance gene, tet(X), is prevalent across multiple bacterial genera, but the coexistence of tet(X3) and tet(X4) in Acinetobacter sp. is rarely observed. Here, we report a strain co-harboring the chromosomal tet(X3) and plasmid-borne tet(X4) isolated from a commercial beef cattle farm in Henan province, China. The strain exhibited resistance to ampicillin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, doxycycline, tigecycline, and omadacycline. Based on whole-genome sequencing (WGS), the strain was identified as A. indicus using Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH). Chromosomal tet(X3) was identified in the genetic context, ISVsa3-XerD-tet(X3)-res-ISVsa3. The plasmid-located tet(X4) with the genetic context, ISVsa3-abh-tet(X4)-ISVsa3, and 14 additional resistance genes were located in multiple pdif modules. Two different typing methods, the Rep-based strategy (designed for A. baumanii) and MOB-typer, identified the tet(X4)-positive plasmid as GR31 and rep_cluster_1656, respectively. Conjugation assay failed to observe the transfer of the tet(X4)-positive plasmid into recipients, E. coli J53 and Salmonella LGJ2. The co-occurrence of tet(X3) and tet(X4) in Acinetobacter may suggest a risk of rapid dissemination of tigecycline resistance and the hidden presence of numerous undetected bacteria co-carrying high-risk ARGs in the agroecological system, both of which should cause particular concern. Full article

Technological advancements have significantly improved cattle farming, particularly in sensor-based activity monitoring for health management, estrus detection, and overall herd supervision. However, such a sensor-based monitoring framework often illustrates several issues, such as high cost, animal discomfort, and susceptibility to false measurement. This study introduces a vision-based cattle activity monitoring approach deployed in a commercial Nestlé dairy farm, specifically one that is estrus-focused, where overhead cameras capture unconstrained herd behavior under variable lighting, occlusions, and crowding. A custom dataset of 2956 Images are collected and then annotated into four fine-grained behaviors—standing, lying, grazing, and estrus—enabling detailed analysis beyond coarse activity categories commonly used in prior livestock monitoring studies. Furthermore, computer vision-based deep learning algorithms are deployed on this dataset to classify the aforementioned classes. A comparative analysis of YOLOv8 and YOLOv9 is provided, which clearly illustrates that YOLOv8-L achieved a mAP of 91.11%, whereas YOLOv9-E achieved a mAP of 90.23%. Full article

The objective of this study was to determine if the use of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and ketoprofen would affect the pregnancy percentages of dairy cows following timed artificial insemination (TAI). This experiment was conducted on a commercial dairy farm in China involving 799 healthy Holstein cows (2–4 parities) between October and December 2024. Cows were randomly assigned to three groups: hCG-3 = treated with (0 d: GnRH, 100 μg; 7–8 d: PGF_2α, 0.4 mg; 52 h: GnRH, 100 μg; 14–16 h: TAI) + hCG 3 vials (300 µg)/cow on day 7 of TAI; hCG-2 group = TAI + 2 vials (200 µg) hCG/cow on day 7; and hCG+ketoprofen = TAI + 300 µg hCG/cow + ketoprofen 10 mL/cow on days 15 and 16 of TAI. Metabolomic profiling (untargeted and targeted) of 22 pregnant cows was conducted on serum collected on days 17 and 21 post-TAI. Results indicated greater pregnancy percentages in the cows of the hCG+ketoprofen-treated group compared to those in the other two groups (60.1% compared with 49.6% and 41.9%). The cows treated with hCG+ketoprofen had less oxidative stress markers, downregulation of arachidonic acid metabolism and upregulation of glycerophospholipid metabolism on day 17 after TAI, indicating that there was upregulation of tryptophan and serotonergic pathways, increased amino acid metabolism and continued anti-inflammatory effects on day 21 after TAI. These findings were confirmed by evaluation data collected by conducting the targeted metabolomic procedures, as indicated by the greater progesterone and melatonin and lesser 17-estradiol and 21-deoxycortisol concentrations. These findings indicate that combined hCG+ketoprofen administrations following the TAI treatment regimen improve pregnancy percentages in dairy cattle as a result of metabolic and endocrine milieu modulations. Full article

With the large-scale and intensive development of cattle farming, traditional health monitoring is incompetent for both dairy and beef cattle in commercial and research settings due to high labor costs and poor real-time performance, making intelligent technologies a core solution. This review innovatively integrates three core dimensions—behavioral detection, physiological parameter monitoring, and in vitro substance analysis—filling the gap of single-dimensional summaries and systematically combining technical performance with key deployment considerations (cost, durability, environmental adaptability). Studies show that the detection accuracy of key health indicators generally exceeds 85%, but most technologies face common challenges including animal stress, environmental interference, and complex calibration. Future research should prioritize multimodal data fusion, low-cost sensor development, and anti-interference algorithm optimization. This review provides comprehensive technical references for smart livestock farming, facilitating efficient and sustainable cattle health management. Full article

Cattle tick fever (CTF), caused by Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina, remains a sanitary and economic challenge for cattle farming in Brazil. Thus, this study evaluated the prevalence, regional distribution, co-infection patterns, and risk factors associated with CTF causative agents in cattle the semi-arid region of Paraíba, the semi-arid region of Ceará, and the Tropical Humid region of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 336 cattle, from 60 farms, and analyzed by means of conventional PCR and nested-PCR, while epidemiological data were obtained through questionnaires applied to producers. The overall infection prevalence by at least one pathogen was 82.7% (278/336), with higher rates in the tropical humid region of Paraíba at 94.8% (109/115), followed by the semi-arid region of Ceará, with 88.1% (89/101) and the semi-arid region of Paraíba with 66.6% (80/120). Co-infections were frequent, especially the association between A. marginale and B. bigemina, detected in 23.2% (78/336) of the animals, while triple infections occurred in 15.8% (53/336) and were most frequent in the semi-arid region of Ceará at 21.8% (22/101). The semi-arid region of Paraíba had the fewest entirely positive properties (7/20) and the highest number of entirely negative properties (2/20). The tropical humid region of Paraíba had the highest number of entirely positive properties (17/21), with no properties entirely free of CTF agents. Multivariate analysis identified the presence of horn fly (OR = 7.23; CI 3.05–18.86; 95% CI), needle reuse (OR = 5.8; CI: 2.62–13.90; 95% CI), animal purchase and introduction without quarantine (OR = 5.4; CI: 2.17–14.93; 95% CI), and pasture sharing (OR = 3.21; CI: 1.08–11.25; 95% CI) as risk factors, while beef herds showed lower susceptibility (OR = 0.28; CI: 0.15–0.52; 95% CI). These findings demonstrate that infections by CTF causative agents are endemic but exhibit region-specific epidemiological patterns, reflecting the combined effects of climate and management practices, and localized transmission foci that may be intensified by commercial cattle movement. Full article

Tick-borne viruses (TBVs) pose significant public health and economic threats. Pakistan has endemic Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), but evidence suggests broader TBV circulation. This study assessed the seroprevalence of thirteen TBVs (seven are members of the genus Orthonairovirus and six are members of the genus Bandavirus) in humans, livestock, and rats in Punjab, Pakistan. Serum samples (n = 794: 321 livestock, 253 human, and 220 rat) were collected from the Narowal, Lahore, and Faisalabad districts. Antibodies to viral NPs were detected using the luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS). The overall seroprevalence was 19.14% (152/794); it was highest in livestock (27.10%), then humans (20.55%), and then rats (5.91%). The highest seroprevalence rates were 3.12% for CCHFV in livestock, 3.56% for Yezo virus (YEZV) in humans, and 0.91% for Tamdy virus (TAMV) and Tacheng tick virus 1 (TcTV-1) in rats. Neutralizing antibodies were detected against CCHFV (1 cattle, 4 humans), Bhanja virus (BHAV) (3 livestock, 1 rat), TAMV (1 cattle), Guertu virus (GTV) (1 cattle), and Dabie bandavirus (2 cattle). Sixteen samples showed antibodies to both orthonairoviruses and bandaviruses, indicating co-exposure. Further analysis showed that seropositivity was not randomly distributed. Livestock kept in commercial farming systems and people working mainly outdoors had distinctly higher exposure to TBVs than subsistence livestock and indoor workers. The results supported the circulation of TBVs among hosts within the close socio-economic/ecological integration area of Pakistan. These findings confirm the circulation of CCHFV, SFTSV, GTV, and TAMV; provide the first serologic evidence of BHAV in Pakistan; and underscore the need for further investigation into the potential circulation of additional TBVs. All results demonstrated that multiple TBVs have been circulating among humans, livestock, and rodents in Pakistan. Full article

Kongshan cattle is an indigenous breed from Sichuan Province, China, characterized by their excellent meat quality, high fertility, strong disease resistance, and remarkable environmental adaptability. However, their genomic diversity has not been systematically studied. In this work, we performed whole-genome sequencing of 30 Kongshan cattle from a breeding farm and integrated these data with 113 representative commercial and indigenous cattle breeds worldwide to investigate their population structure and genetic diversity. We further analyzed the ancestral contributions to the development of the breed. The population structure revealed that Kongshan cattle possess four types of ancestral components: East Asian indicine (0.5974), East Asian taurine (0.3464), European taurine (0.0483), and Indian indicine (0.0079). The population also exhibits high nucleotide diversity, second only to pure East Asian indicine cattle. We inferred the ancestry of each variable site in the genome and, in combination with integrated haplotype score analysis, identified candidate genes related to meat quality (ME1, ENPP2, GPD2, PDZRN4, and TMTC2), immunity (MCM6, MAP3K6, PIP4K2A, CDC6, CDC25B, PTAFR, ZC3H10, and NEK6), and environmental adaptability (KCNJ15, BECN1, AOC2, DUSP5, and ST3GAL4). These findings provide valuable insights into the evolutionary history and ancestral origins of Kongshan cattle and contribute to the broader understanding, conservation, and sustainable utilization of indigenous Chinese cattle genetic resources. Full article

This study characterizes a compost-bedded pack barn of a dairy cattle farm in terms of CO₂ emissions approximately 20 min after tilling under stable atmospheric conditions. Emission fluxes were calculated with the bLS model WindTrax, assessing modeled CO₂ concentrations at two altitudes (5.0 m and 10.0 m ABGL) by comparing them with those measured by a UAV-based system at the same two altitudes. The UAV-based system was equipped with a low-cost self-engineered MSP (multi-sensor platform) containing an NDIR sensor for measuring concentrations and detecting environmental conditions, which were measured both by MSPs and commercial sensors. The input data were provided by the same sensors positioned on the ground (1.5 m ABGL), upwind and downwind with respect to the emission source. A sensitivity analysis of atmospheric stability in the bLS model yielded differences between median calculated emission fluxes for stable and unstable conditions from −0.020 to 0.034 g ∙ m⁻² ∙ s⁻¹. Mean percentage errors gave overestimates of 8–39% and 13–21% 5.0 m and 10.0 m ABGL. The RMSE also indicated overestimates ranging from 44 to 275 ppm. This is the first study to validate concentrations calculated by a bLS model at two altitudes by using a UAV-based system on a compost-bedded pack barn. Full article