Search Results (65)

To evaluate the response of broiler breeder hens submitted to different amino acid intakes of methionine+cystine, lysine, and threonine, and to determine the coefficients for egg output and body weight for maintenance. Three studies were performed using 160 broiler breeder hens housed individually in metabolic cages. A summit diet and a nitrogen-free diet were formulated. The levels ranged from 1.79 to 7.13, 2.49 to 8.3, and 2.04 to 6.79 g/kg of methionine+cystine, lysine, and threonine, respectively. The variables measured were feed intake, amino acid intake, rate of lay, egg weight, and egg output. The broken line model was used to evaluate the responses. It was verified that higher values of the rate of lay, egg weight, and egg output were observed for the higher concentrations of amino acids studied. A significant difference was observed for the variables rate of lay, egg weight, egg output, and body weight (p < 0.05) for the three amino acids evaluated. The amount of each amino acid required to produce one gram per egg was estimated at 12.4 mg, 14.5 mg, and 11.2 mg for methionine+cystine, lysine, and threonine, respectively. The values estimated by coefficient b that represent the amino acid for maintenance requirement were methionine+cystine, lysine, and threonine of 30.2, 32.2, and 42.4 mg/kg BW, respectively. The coefficients may be used to design additional models to study requirements nutrition in broiler breeders, allowing a better understanding of how these birds respond to different dietary amino acids. Full article

Natural mating colony cages are crucial in poultry breeding, yet breed-specific management requires further investigation. We evaluated the effects of sex ratios, stocking densities, and cohabitation age on Lohmann Pink-shell breeders’ performance. A total of 6126 birds were randomly allocated to experimental groups with varying ratios (1:8–1:13), densities (582–748 cm²/bird), and cohabitation ages (120/140 days), each containing six replicates. We monitored male mating frequencies at 50 weeks in 1:8 and 1:10 ratio groups. All 120-day-old groups showed delayed production onset and superior male weight compliance (p < 0.01), with reduced egg breakage and increased healthy chick output (p < 0.01). Lower stocking densities (748/694 cm²/bird) showed lower breakage rate and uniformity than 582 cm²/bird (p < 0.05). The 1:10 sex ratio achieved optimal egg production and fertilization rate (p < 0.05). Male mating peaked between 16:00 and 18:00. Optimal parameters were 120-day age of cohabitation, 694 cm²/bird density, and 1:10 sex ratio, providing theoretical guidance for natural mating colony cage development in layer breeding. Full article

Background: A comparative analysis was conducted between two immunisation protocols using different amounts of protein extracts from adult Haemonchus contortus worms, purified by thiol-Sepharose chromatography (625 μg/animal vs. 200 μg/animal). These protocols involved either five or two inoculations of the immunogen, respectively. Methods: To evaluate the level of immunoprotection, animals were challenged with L3 of H. contortus two weeks after the last inoculation of the immunogen and humanely sacrificed at 8 weeks post-infection. Parasitological, biopathological, and serological parameters were monitored through the experiment. Parasite burden, abomasal-specific antibody responses, and histopathological changes were determined at the end of the trial. Results: The immunisation protocols resulted in similar reductions in cumulative faecal egg counts (60.5–64.9%) and the total worm burden (47.5–50%) compared to non-immunized (control) animals. Overall, these parasitological data showed an early recovery of the haematocrit (PCV) after challenge in the immunised groups relative to control. Similarly, levels of H. contortus-specific IgG and IgA antibodies increased in both the serum and gastric mucus of immunised groups. Conclusions: These findings represent a further step towards the potential application of this type of immunogen under field conditions, as protective responses (associated with a reduction in faecal egg output) were achieved using a simplified protocol, with lower immunogen doses and fewer inoculations required to induce immunoprotection, thereby mitigating the pathological effects of the parasite and reducing its ability to spread and infect susceptible hosts. Full article

To investigate the species composition, reproductive dynamics, and hydrological drivers of fish resources in the early stage in the Guiping section of the Xunjiang River, we conducted a two-year survey (2022–2023) downstream of the Datengxia Dam. A total of 22,464 fish eggs and larvae were collected, representing 6 orders, 17 families, and 67 species, with Cyprinidae (58.2%) as the dominant family. Dominant species included Squaliobarbus curriculus, Gobiidae, Hemiculter leucisculus, and Culter, exhibiting significant interannual variation in abundance. The breeding season peaked from May to September, accounting for 94.6% of annual recruitment. Hydrological conditions strongly influenced reproductive output: the multiple flood pulse periods in 2022 (peak discharge: 29,000 m³/s) yielded 34.997 billion eggs and larvae, whereas reduced flows in 2023 (peak discharge: 12,200 m³/s) led to a 75.4% decline (8.620 billion). Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that discharge, water temperature, natural hydrological data, and dissolved oxygen were the primary environmental drivers, explaining 46.11% of variability in larval abundance (p < 0.001). Notably, the proportion of important economic fish, “four major Chinese carps”, plummeted from 4.9% (2022) to less than 0.1% (2023), indicating spawning ground function degradation. Our results demonstrate that flood pulses are essential for sustaining fish recruitment, particularly for pelagic spawning riverine fish like the four major Chinese carps. Their proportion plummeted to less than 0.1% in 2023, highlighting the urgent need for eco-hydrological management in the Xunjiang River. Full article

Limited published data areavailable on the current DLys requirements of Hy-Line Silver-Brown layers. The effects of energy (AMEn) and standardized ileal digestible lysine (DLys) concentration on the performance of Hy-Line Silver-Brown layers were studied from 20 to 35 weeks of age. The experimental design was randomized with twenty-four dietary treatments arranged as a 2 × 12 factorial with two AMEn concentrations (2750 and 2900 kcal/kg feed) and twelve levels of DLys (4.2, 4.5, 4.8, 5.1, 5.4, 5.7, 6.0, 6.6, 6.3, 6.9, 7.2, and 7.5 g/kg). Total egg weight (TEW), average egg weight, total egg number (TEN), laying rate, total feed intake, average daily feed intake (ADFI), mortality, hen body weight, hen body weight gain, eggshell thickness, eggshell breaking strength, yolk weight, albumen weight, and eggshell weight were recorded. An increase in energy content from 2750 to 2900 kcal AMEn/kg reduced ADFI (p < 0.001), egg mass output (p = 0.042), and feed conversion ratio (p = 0.018, g/g; p = 0.001, g/dozen) and increased the fat percentage in the liver (p = 0.028). An increased DLys intake from 529 to 882 mg/hen/day increased the TEN (p = 0.001), TEW (p < 0.001), and egg mass output (p < 0.001); improved the feed conversion ratio (p < 0.001); and reduced carcass (p = 0.001) and liver fat percentage (p = 0.05). Hy-Line Silver-Brown hens require no more than 780 mg (optimized egg production) and 880 mg (maximized egg weight) DLys/hen/day during pre-peak and peak production phases. Full article

Long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been the standard active chemicals in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs or firefighting foams) since the mid-1960s. Some characteristics of PFASs are environmental persistence and bioaccumulation. Non-fluorinated firefighting foams are an alternative to potentially reducing the ecological/environmental impact of PFAS-based AFFF. We used northern bobwhite (NOBO, Colinus virginianus) to test the ecotoxicity of one candidate (non-fluorinated) foam. Fomtec Enviro USP is a fluorine-free commercial AFFF used primarily for extinguishing Class B hydrocarbon fuel fires. Following a photostimulation phase to initiate egg laying, breeding pairs were exposed for 60+ days to 0.01%, 0.1%, and 0.25% Fomtec in drinking water. The endpoints of the study included survival, growth, and reproductive output. Water consumption was evaluated and used to determine the average daily intake (ADI) based on Fomtec components: sodium dodecyl sulfate or SDS (0.05, 0.15, and 0.32 mg/kg/day for the 0.01%, 0.1%, and 0.25% Fomtec exposures, respectively) and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether or DGMBE (0.49, 6.54, and 18.37 mg/kg/day for the 0.01%, 0.1%, and 0.25% Fomtec exposures, respectively). Over the 60 days, control females laid an average of 59 ± 0.8 eggs compared to 28 ± 9 (0.01% Fomtec exposure), 51 ± 4 (0.1% Fomtec exposure), and 56 ± 2 (0.25% Fomtec exposure); the number of eggs produced per hen was affected by exposure to the lowest Fomtec concentration. Hatching success was not significantly different among treatment groups, and it was within normal reproduction parameters for quail. Our findings in this avian model help to fill data gaps for non-fluorinated foam products, many of which have little toxicological information. Full article

The Peruvian grunt, Anisotremus scapularis, is a commercially valuable coastal fish in the southeastern Pacific that is facing overexploitation. To support its aquaculture development, this study evaluated the spontaneous reproductive dynamics of a captive broodstock held under natural photoperiod and temperature conditions in a flow-through system. Eleven wild adult specimens (3 females and 8 males) with an average size of 34.9 ± 5.4 cm and a weight of 986 ± 470 g were housed in a 9 m³ tank and monitored over five consecutive spawning seasons (2016–2021). Fish were fed a semi-moist, animal-protein-based diet (37% protein and 6.6% lipid) at 2% body weight/day. A total of 214 spontaneous spawning events produced over 83 million eggs. The highest reproductive output occurred in the first season (2016–2017) with 94 spawnings and 23.3 million eggs. Fertilization, hatching, and larval survival rates averaged 94.7%, 89.7%, and 75%, respectively, but declined in later years. Spawning showed marked seasonality from October to May, with a major reproductive pause in late January. The temperature (16–20 °C) and photoperiod (>12 h daylight) appeared to influence reproductive timing, alongside diet and broodstock handling. The findings reported herein are observational in nature and provide valuable baseline data for future experimental designs aimed at optimizing broodstock management in A. scapularis aquaculture. Full article

Insects face the constant challenge of balancing energy allocation between reproduction and immune responses, both of which are highly energy-demanding processes. Immune challenges frequently result in decreased fecundity, reduced egg viability, and delayed ovarian development. Conversely, heightened reproductive activity often suppresses immune functions. This trade-off has profound ecological and evolutionary consequences, shaping insects’ survival, adaptation, and population dynamics. The intricate interplay between reproduction and immunity in insects is regulated by the neuroendocrine and endocrine systems, which orchestrate resource distribution alongside other biological processes. Key hormones, such as juvenile hormone and ecdysteroids, serve as central regulators, influencing both immune responses and reproductive activities. Additionally, macromolecules like vitellogenin and lipophorin, primarily known for their functions as yolk protein precursors and lipid carriers, play crucial roles in pathogen recognition and transgenerational immune priming. Advancements in molecular and omics tools have unveiled the complexity of these regulatory mechanisms, providing new insights into how insects dynamically allocate resources to optimize their fitness. This delicate balance underscores critical evolutionary strategies and the integration of physiological systems across species. This review synthesizes insights from life history theory, oogenesis, and immunity, offering new perspectives on the trade-offs between reproductive output and immune investment. Full article

Malaria continues to be a major public health challenge in tropical and subtropical regions. Anopheles aquasalis, a key laboratory model for malaria research, plays a critical role in the study of vector–parasite interactions. Although vector life traits and environmental factors such as age and resource availability can influence the transmission potential of mosquitoes for Plasmodium parasites, the impact of different adult diets on their survival and reproductive fitness remains underexplored. This study investigates the effects of sucrose and honey diets on the longevity, fertility, and fecundity of Anopheles aquasalis under controlled laboratory conditions. Our results demonstrate that the type of diet significantly affects mosquito survival and reproductive output. Specifically, mosquitoes consuming honey exhibited a substantially longer lifespan and higher fecundity compared to those fed on sucrose. Additionally, eggs laid by honey-fed females had notably higher hatching success rates than those from sucrose-fed females. These findings underscore the profound impact of dietary choices on the reproductive fitness of Anopheles aquasalis, with important implications for laboratory studies focusing on vector–parasite interactions. This study highlights the need for a careful consideration of diet in vector research to ensure accurate assessment of vector competence and disease transmission. Full article

As a new, safe, and efficient method, Atmospheric-Pressure Room-Temperature Plasma (ARTP) mutagenesis has been widely applied in the field of microbial breeding and industrial applications, but it is rarely used in fish. In this study, ARTP mutagenesis technology was applied for the first time to a common carp strain, Songpu mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), to increase genetic variation in this species. The appropriate experimental conditions were determined to include a radio frequency output power of 160 W and the processing of fertilized eggs for 360 s. The ARTP treatment group had a lower survival rate than the control group. The CV of morphological characters in the ARTP treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and the CV of body weight was the highest (p < 0.05). In addition, the deformity rate in the ARTP treatment group was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). Individuals with high weight and no deformities were screened within the selection pressure of 1:15 of ARTP treatment group and fed in the same pool with the control group of the same age. The measurement of serum indices showed that, in the ARTP treatment group, TP, ALP, ALB, T-CHO, LDL levels were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the relative expressions of SOD, growth-related genes GH, IGF-I, protein synthesis-related genes TOR and 4EBP1 were significantly higher in the ARTP treatment group than in the control group (p < 0.05). In summary, Songpu mirror carp subjected to ARTP treatment showed a higher growth potential and antioxidant capacity. Full article

(a) Introduction: Zambia’s poultry industry comprises commercial chickens and small-scale producers of indigenous chickens (Gallus domesticus) (ICs). Large, integrated entities run the commercial chicken sector, while the indigenous chicken sector (IC sector) is predominantly run by small-scale farmers (SSFs). Increased costs and low access to formal markets for commercial chickens have motivated SSFs to enter the IC sector under the free-range system (FRS) and semi-intensive system (SIS). (b) Objective: This study aimed to highlight the price changes in poultry inputs and outputs and demonstrate that the IC sector has more potential to contribute to farm income than commercial chickens under family poultry production systems. (c) Method: We analysed the prices for inputs and outputs for Zambia’s poultry industry for the first quarter of 2016 to 2023 using data from the Poultry Association of Zambia (PAZ). We also analysed data from the 2021 Qualtrics survey to investigate the crops grown and crops used as feed and feed ingredients, the sources of feed, and the use of minerals and vitamins by SSFs for chickens. The gross profit (GP) and benefit–cost ratio (BCR) were analysed to compare the viability and profitability of ICs and broilers under SSFs. (d) Results: Our study shows that prices for day-old chicks (DOCs) and point-of-lay (POL) pullets increased by 57–125%, broiler and layer feeds increased by 67–96%, and soybean meal (SBM) and fishmeal rose by 143–229%. Prices for live ICs, commercial broilers, and ex-layers increased by 150%, 79%, and 71%, respectively. Egg prices rose by 100–124%. Farmers tried to look for local feed sources. Over 21% of the crops grown was maize, and nearly 43% was used for feed. (e) Conclusion: Our analysis and comparison between the ICs and broilers demonstrated that SSFs could achieve more farm income by producing ICs than commercial broilers. Full article

The prediction and monitoring of plant diseases and pests are key activities in agriculture. These activities enable growers to take preventive measures to reduce the spread of diseases and harmful insects. Consequently, they reduce crop loss, make pesticide and resource use more efficient, and preserve plant health, contributing to environmental sustainability. We illustrate the SMARTerra decision support system, which processes daily measured and predicted weather data, spatially interpolating them at high resolution across the entire Sardinia region. From these data, SMARTerra generates risk predictions for plant pests and diseases. Currently, models for predicting the risk of rice blast disease and the hatching of locust eggs are implemented in the infrastructure. The web interface of the SMARTerra platform allows users to visualize detailed risk maps and promptly take preventive measures. A simple notification system is also implemented to directly alert emergency responders. Model outputs by the SMARTerra infrastructure are comparable with results from in-field observations produced by the LAORE Regional Agency. The infrastructure provides a database for storing the time series and risk maps generated, which can be used by agencies and researchers to conduct further analysis. Full article

Fasciolosis, a globally re-emerging zoonotic disease, is mostly caused by the parasitic infection with Fasciola hepatica, often known as the liver fluke. This disease has a considerable impact on livestock productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the fluke burdens and faecal egg counts in goats that were administered phage clones of cathepsin L mimotopes and then infected with F. hepatica metacercariae. Additionally, the impact of vaccination on the histology of the reproductive system, specifically related to egg generation in adult parasites, was examined. A total of twenty-four goats, which were raised in sheds, were divided into four groups consisting of six animals each. These groups were randomly assigned. The goats were then subjected to two rounds of vaccination. Each vaccination involved the administration of 1 × 10¹³ phage particles containing specific mimotopes for cathepsin L2 (group 1: PPIRNGK), cathepsin L1 (group 2: DPWWLKQ), and cathepsin L1 (group 3: SGTFLFS). The immunisations were carried out on weeks 0 and 4, and the Quil A adjuvant was used in combination with the mimotopes. The control group was administered phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (group 4). At week 6, all groups were orally infected with 200 metacercariae of F. hepatica. At week 22 following the initial immunisation, the subjects were euthanised, and adult F. hepatica specimens were retrieved from the bile ducts and liver tissue, and subsequently quantified. The specimens underwent whole-mount histology for the examination of the reproductive system, including the testis, ovary, vitellaria, Mehlis’ gland, and uterus. The mean fluke burdens following the challenge were seen to decrease by 50.4%, 62.2%, and 75.3% (p < 0.05) in goats that received vaccinations containing cathepsin L2 PPIRNGK, cathepsin L1 DPWWLKQ, and cathepsin L1 SGTFLFS, respectively. Animals that received vaccination exhibited a significant reduction in the production of parasite eggs. The levels of IgG1 and IgG2 isotypes in vaccinated goats were significantly higher than in the control group, indicating that protection is associated with the induction of a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response. The administration of cathepsin L to goats exhibits a modest level of efficacy in inducing histological impairment in the reproductive organs of liver flukes, resulting in a reduction in egg output. Full article

Queen triggerfish Balistes vetula is an important reef-associated species for commercial fisheries in the U.S. Caribbean. It exhibits a relatively unique reproductive strategy as a nesting benthic spawner, investing substantial energy in territorial defense, building and maintaining nests, and caring for fertilized eggs during the reproductive season. Prior to this study, no comprehensive life history information existed in the literature for queen triggerfish. This study provides the first comprehensive documentation of age, growth, size/age at sexual maturity, reproductive seasonality, and reproductive output for a Balistes species in the Caribbean. From 2013 to 2023, we collected 2190 fish samples from fisheries-dependent and -independent sources from the waters of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Fish ranged from 67 to 477 mm fork length (FL). We documented that queen triggerfish is sexually dimorphic with males attaining larger mean sizes-at-age compared to females and the species is characterized by a moderately young age at median sexual maturity (A₅₀ = 3.3 y). The maximum age for our U.S. Caribbean samples was 23 y based on increment counts from otoliths. Spawning season encompassed the months of December to August in the region, and female spawning frequency ranged from an estimated 2 to 84 times per year; female spawning frequency increased with increasing size and age of fish. We documented that commercial fishers in the U.S. Caribbean mainly target “plate-size” individuals, defined in our study as 235–405 mm FL, which appears to act as a self-imposed slot size range limit and results in the fishery not removing individuals in the smallest and largest size groups at high rates. The percentage of immature fish from fisheries-dependent sources was close to 0 (0.8%). Commercial fishing for queen triggerfish in the region currently appears to be sustainable, but monitoring of the population should continue. Full article

We designed a common garden design to collect data on female reproductive traits from three populations of the southern grass lizard Takydromus sexlineatus, testing the hypothesis that a species-specific pattern of seasonal shifts in reproductive allocation should be shared by geographically separated populations. Of the seven examined traits, six differed among populations, with four of the six also differing among successive clutches. Females grew longer during the breeding season and produced more eggs in the first clutch than in the subsequent clutches; egg size was unchanged throughout the breeding season. After removing the influence of female size or postpartum body mass we found the following. First, postpartum body mass, clutch mass, and relative clutch mass were greater in the Wuzhishan population than in the Shaoguan and Zhaoqing populations. Second, egg size was greatest in the Wuzhishan population and smallest in the Zhaoqing population. Third, clutch size was greatest in the Wuzhishan population and smallest in the Shaoguan population. Females did not trade-off egg size against number within each population × clutch combination. Our study validates the hypothesis tested, supports the conventional view that reproductive output is highly linked to maternal body size in lizards, and follows the classic prediction that females with different amounts of resources to invest in reproduction should give priority to adjusting the total number rather than size of their offspring. Full article