Search Results (47)

Although the Kazakh horse is a dual-purpose breed renowned for both milk and meat production, the extent to which surgical castration alters gene expression in its muscles has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, left longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) samples were obtained from six Kazakh stallions (W group) and six Kazakh geldings (S group) to comparatively evaluate meat quality parameters, examine histological characteristics in tissue sections, and apply transcriptomic profiling to comprehensively explore the principal regulatory pathways and candidate genes through which surgical castration modulates LDM growth. The results demonstrated that surgical castration did not induce significant alterations in meat color or pH-related parameters. However, cooking loss and shear force values were markedly diminished, accompanied by a marked decrease in muscle fiber cross-sectional area. Transcriptomic analysis identified 848 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in total, comprising 415 upregulated and 433 markedly downregulated DEGs, which were predominantly enriched in key biological pathways, including actin cytoskeleton regulation. Moreover, eleven core candidate genes, including MYL2, MYL3, and TNNI1, were further screened and identified. Full article

Mare milk is rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds, and its composition changes throughout lactation. This study investigated variations in the production, nutritional composition, and bioactive components of Yili mare milk across lactation stages. Twenty-six healthy grazing Yili mares were sampled on days 1, 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 of lactation. Milk production, nutritional components, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, and immunologically active proteins were analyzed. Milk production peaked on day 30 and then declined. Colostrum contained significantly higher fat, protein, solids-not-fat, total solids, minerals, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and immunoglobulins than mature milk (p < 0.05), whereas lactose increased and stabilized after day 30. Essential amino acids peaked on day 30. As lactation progressed, saturated fatty acids decreased while polyunsaturated fatty acids increased. Vitamin profiles also varied across lactation, with ascorbic acid increasing during late lactation. β-casein content was higher during mid-lactation. In summary, colostrum is enriched in immunoactive proteins and minerals, whereas mature milk exhibits a more balanced amino acid and fatty acid profile. While these observed variations likely reflect the combined effect of lactation stage and seasonal pasture fluctuations under natural grazing, these findings provide practical insights into changes in milk composition in grazing Yili mares and may support the development of mare milk products under similar grazing systems. Full article

Milk titratable acidity is a key indicator of raw milk freshness and quality, but its variation across different dairy animal species remains incompletely characterized. Based on 16,984 raw milk samples from eight dairy animal species (Holstein cow, goat, buffalo, camel, sheep, yak, donkey, and horse) collected within a retrospective raw milk quality monitoring framework in China from 2016 to 2024, this study provides a large-scale descriptive comparison of milk titratable acidity across species. Distinct titratable acidity profiles were observed among species, with camel and yak milk showing relatively high values, sheep, Holstein, and buffalo milk exhibiting intermediate values, and donkey and horse milk presenting markedly low values. Calendar-season-associated patterns also differed among species. Correlations between titratable acidity and milk components varied by species, with relatively stronger positive associations with protein and solids-not-fat (SNF) in several ruminant milks, suggesting that milk composition may contribute to differences in titratable acidity. However, because this study was based on an unbalanced observational dataset with limited animal-level, farm-level, feeding, management, physiological, and environmental metadata, these observations should be interpreted as descriptive and exploratory patterns rather than causal biological mechanisms. This dataset provides preliminary reference information for future studies on species-associated variation in raw milk titratable acidity and for discussions on species-specific raw milk quality evaluation. Full article

This narrative review presents examples of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in horse nutrition. Fats are essential in equine nutrition, serving not only as an energy source but also as functional components influencing health. Among them, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly EPA and DHA, play a key role in modulating inflammatory and metabolic processes. This review summarizes their effects on respiratory health, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), musculoskeletal function, reproduction, and early development. Omega-3 supplementation has been shown to support airway inflammation in horses, especially when combined with low-dust management practices. In EMS, these fatty acids support insulin regulation and reduce systemic inflammation, although they are not curative. In the musculoskeletal system, omega-3s help limit inflammation and cartilage degradation. Their reproductive benefits include improved semen quality in stallions and enhanced fatty acid profiles in mare’s milk, supporting foal development. The proposed mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acids’ effect are also provided. Overall, omega-3 fatty acids are a valuable supplement in equine functional nutrition and disease management. Full article

Under grazing conditions, it is difficult for lactating Yili mares to meet their nutritional requirements and those of their suckling foals solely through the consumption of natural pasture. Furthermore, seasonal variations and rainfall significantly influence the quality and nutrient content of forage, which severely constrains the healthy breeding of Yili horses and the industrial development of mare milk resources. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of concentrate supplementation on lactation performance and milk concentrations of amino acids, fatty acids, and mineral elements in Yili horses under grazing conditions. Twenty-two healthy Yili mares in early lactation, with similar ages (3–4 years), foaling dates, and body weights (391.5 ± 13.74 kg), were randomly assigned to either a grazing group (G, n = 11) or a grazing + supplementation group (GS, n = 11). Mares in group G grazed naturally on pasture, while those in group GS received 1 kg of concentrate supplement twice daily (totaling 2 kg/day) in addition to grazing. The experimental period lasted for 100 days, including a 10-day adaptation period and a 90-day formal experimental period. The results showed that: (1) In terms of lactation performance, the GS group exhibited highly significant increases in milk yield and lactose yield (p < 0.01), as well as significant increases in milk protein and milk fat yields (p < 0.05), with an extended duration of the peak lactation period. (2) Regarding the amino acid profile, the concentrations of threonine (Thr), serine (Ser), glycine (Gly), and alanine (Ala) in the milk of the GS group were significantly higher than those in the G group (p < 0.05), whereas the proline (Pro) content was significantly lower (p < 0.01); supplementation improved the uptake of certain functional amino acids by the mammary gland. (3) Concerning the fatty acid profile, the concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and alpha-linolenic acid in the milk of the G group were significantly or highly significantly higher than those in the GS group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). (4) For mineral elements, concentrate supplementation highly significantly decreased the potassium (K) content and the K/Na ratio in horse milk (p < 0.01), highly significantly increased the levels of iron (Fe) and cobalt (Co) (p < 0.01), and significantly enhanced the chromium (Cr) content (p < 0.05). In conclusion, concentrate supplementation during grazing improved lactation performance in Yili mares, primarily by increasing milk yield and extending the peak lactation period. However, grazing alone was more favorable for maintaining higher PUFA and α-linolenic acid proportions in milk. Therefore, concentrate supplementation should be regarded as a nutritional strategy that increases milk output and modifies amino acid and mineral element composition, but may involve a trade-off with some beneficial fatty acids. Full article

H3K4me3, a well-established histone modification associated with active promoters, plays a critical role in orchestrating gene expression programs that govern mammary gland development and lactation. In this study, we present the first comprehensive epigenomic profiling of H3K4me3 modifications during mammary gland development in Yili horses using Cleavage Under Targets and Tagmentation (CUT&Tag) and RNA sequencing. Mammary gland tissues were collected from two developmental stages—early lactation and peak lactation. A total of 393 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between two groups, among which 72 DEGs (54 upregulated H3K4me3 targets and 18 downregulated targets) were directly regulated by H3K4me3. KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that these DEGs were involved in ECM–receptor interaction, focal adhesion, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and the calcium signaling pathway. In these pathways, five genes were identified as potential regulators of mammary gland development. Among these, PTGES, COL1A1, PDGFRB, and RYR1 exhibited consistent upregulation at both the transcriptomic and chromatin levels, whereas PRKAG3 showed significant downregulation. These findings offer novel insights into the epigenetic regulation of lactation in horses and lay a theoretical foundation for improving milk production traits through targeted molecular breeding strategies. Full article

Milk is a primary source of vital nutrients and bioactive components fundamental to the growth and development of both newborn animals and humans. Produced by economically significant livestock species (including cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep and camels), milk is a complex matrix rich in caseins, vitamins, fats, and proteins. Beyond its classical nutritional profile, milk serves as a pivotal vehicle for milk-derived extracellular vesicles (mEVs). These specialized food-derived EVs (fEVs) exert pleiotropic effects that resonate with the One Health paradigm, linking animal well-being and human nutrition to broader ecosystem stability. mEVs offer unique advantages, such as high biocompatibility and gastrointestinal stability, also rendering them potential therapeutic tools as drug delivery systems. However, challenges remain regarding the standardization of mEVs and the variability of their molecular cargo. This review provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of mEVs across a diverse taxonomic range, including bovines, water buffaloes, yaks, camels, goats, pigs, horses, donkeys, and humans, highlighting their distinct functional signatures. Indeed, a critical issue in mEV research is the isolation process: recommendations to minimize contamination from milk fat globules and casein micelles (which can cover EV signals) are given. Finally, current detection methods and instrumentation, with a specific focus on advancing flow cytometry (FC) approaches are discussed. Key insights include the use of conventional FC (with fluorescence triggering, the necessity of rigorous controls and calibration, and the utility of bead-based assays to overcome resolution limits) and imaging flow cytometry (IFC). In both technical approaches, the application of different EV generic fluorescent markers and the strategic selection of tetraspanins (i.e., CD9, CD63, CD81), is mandatory: we emphasize that selecting the correct antibody clones and accounting for inter-species cross-reactivity are essential steps for ensuring the accuracy and reproducibility of mEV research across mammalian species. Full article

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of dietary bamboo leaf extract (BLE) on milk parameters and intestinal microbiota in lactating Yili mares. Methods: Twenty-four Yili mares of similar age (10 ± 2 years), weight (360.62 ± 15.23 kg) and body condition were selected for this study and randomly divided into four groups of six mares each: an untreated control group (CG) and three experimental groups (EG1, EG2, EG3) were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 10, 20, or 30 g/day of BLE, respectively, for 60 days. Then, horse milk composition, antioxidant activity, and immunoglobulin levels along with the relative abundance of fecal microbiota were measured. Results: Compared with the control group, supplementation with BLE for 60 days significantly improved milk yield and composition. The protein content in the EG1 was significantly higher than that in the CG, the milk yield and fat content in the EG2 was significantly higher than that in the CG, and the lactose content in the EG3 was significantly higher than that in the CG. BLE also significantly increased the milk’s antioxidant capacity, vitamin C, IgG, IgM, and IgA levels, with the antioxidant and immune properties in the EG2 being significantly higher than those in the CG. Furthermore, BLE feeding promoted communities of beneficial intestinal microbes. Bacteria associated with energy metabolism and organic matter decomposition increased significantly in BLE-fed groups, especially the EG2, which had elevated abundance of UCG-002 and the NK4A214_group. BLE also significantly reduced the abundance of Euryarchaeota, Verrucomicrobiota, Methanobacteriaceae, and Methanobrevibacter. Conclusions: Dietary supplementation with bamboo leaf extract is a safe and inexpensive way to enhance milk yield and quality and to promote the growth of beneficial intestinal microbes in Yili horses. Full article

To investigate the geographical and species differences regarding mineral element content of camel milk, this research used camel milk from the Tacheng, Altay, and Ili regions of Xinjiang and cow milk, goat milk, and horse milk from the Tacheng region as subjects. The contents of 22 mineral elements were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The results showed that the contents of macro elements Ca, P, K, and Na in camel milk were significantly higher than those in other milk sources (p < 0.01). The contents of trace elements such as Se, Sr, and Ni were very significantly higher than those in other milk sources (p < 0.01). The content of 12 mineral elements in camel milk was very significantly higher than in other types of milk (p < 0.01). Principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis emphasized the relationship between element distribution and different milk sources, and the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) model could identify the species type of milk. Geographical analysis indicated that trace elements such as Sr, Ni, and Cr were highly significantly enriched in Tacheng camel milk (p < 0.01). The established LDA model achieved traceability of the geographical origin of Xinjiang camel milk. This research reveals the mineral nutritional advantages of camel milk and its geographical differentiation patterns, providing theoretical support for exploring the functional properties of camel milk and for identifying species and regions through minerals. It is important to promote the upgrading of the specialty dairy product industry. Full article

The Kazakh horse is a highly valuable indigenous Chinese breed known for its use in both milk and meat production. However, the mechanisms underlying color variation in the abdominal adipose tissue of this breed remain poorly understood. In this study, the sequencing of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) was conducted on abdominal adipose tissue of different colors from Kazakh horses, with the aim of investigating the molecular mechanisms responsible for this variation. A total of 205 differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (DELncRNAs) including ENSECAG00000003836, ENSECAG00000017858, and ENSECAG00000035167; 52 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) including miR-200-y and eca-miR-9a; and 559 differentially expressed circular RNAs (DEcircRNAs) including ZNF226 and ITPKC, were identified between Group W and Group Y. GO annotation and KEGG enrichment analyses of the DEGs revealed that these genes were primarily involved in biological processes such as chemical homeostasis (biological process, BP), intracellular components (cellular component, CC), and iron-sulfur cluster binding (molecular function, MF) as well as in metabolic pathways related to lipid biosynthesis and metabolism including vitamin B6 metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and glycerolipid metabolism. The sequencing accuracy was further validated using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). This study identified key DEGs and signaling pathways associated with the color variation in adipose tissue of Kazakh horses and sheds light on the regulatory genes and biological processes involved. These findings provide a theoretical basis and research foundation for future studies on color variations in the adipose tissue of equine species. Full article

Mugalzhar horses are a relatively young native breed of Kazakhstan, prized for meat and milk production and adaptation. This study was conducted to investigate genetic diversity and pinpoint genomic regions associated with selection signatures in this breed using whole-genome sequence data. Variant calling yielded a total of 21,722,393 high-quality variants, including 19,495,163 SNPs and 2,227,230 indels. Most variants were located in introns and intergenic regions, while only 1.94% were exonic. Estimates of genetic diversity were moderate, with expected and observed heterozygosity and nucleotide diversity of 0.2325, 0.2402, and 0.0021, respectively. We identified nine adaptive candidate genes (SCAPER, FHAD1, MMP15, ADGRE1, CMKLR1, MRPL15, ZNF667, CCDC66, and LOC100055310), harboring high-impact exonic variants in the homozygote state for an alternative allele. No deleterious segregating variants associated with Mendelian traits were found in this population, while seven variants linked to coat color and gaitedness were detected in a low frequency heterozygous state. Our findings suggest that there are certain genomic regions subjected to ancient selection footprints during the ancestor breed formation and adaptation. The outcome of this study serves as a foundation for future genomic-driven strategies, a broader utilization of this breed, and a reference for genomic studies on other horse breeds. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of milk from Kazakh mares kept under free-grazing conditions on natural pasture without supplementary feeding. Fifty Kazakh mares were aged 3 to 13 years, kept in herds, and categorized by age, number of foalings, and lactation stage for statistical analysis. Milk samples were collected, chilled, and analyzed on the same day using a Milkoscan FT2. The composition of fat, protein, lactose, total solids, casein, and other components was examined. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA, PCA, CDA, and Pearson correlation analysis, were performed using JMP 17 Pro to assess the effects of lactation stage, mare age, and foaling number and to identify key relationships. The results showed that milk composition was significantly influenced by these factors. Milk from the late-lactation stage contained higher protein, lactose, and total nutrients, while milk from the early-lactation stage had a higher sugar content and acidity. Older mares and those with higher foalings produced milk with higher concentrations of glucose and galactose, while younger mares and those with fewer foalings produced milk with higher fat. A key aspect of this experiment was that all mares grazed exclusively on natural pastures without supplementation, allowing for an objective assessment of their inherent productive potential. These findings deepen the understanding of mare milk composition dynamics in Kazakh breed horses under extensive management, supporting its potential for organic dairy production. Full article

Background/Objectives: Improving one’s diet for the purpose of promoting health is constrained by people’s ingrained eating habits, as the eating patterns that align with their established habits do not necessarily correspond to a healthy way of eating. In addressing the issue of improving diet while taking both health and habits into consideration, this paper focuses on three concepts of complementarity related to food combinations and presents an approach using Japanese data. Methods: This paper first organizes three concepts of complementarity related to food combinations. The three concepts of complementarity are formulated based on (i) nutrients, (ii) habits, and (iii) recipes. The definitions of measurement scales corresponding to these concepts are also discussed. Results: Using data from a specific region in Japan, we analyzed three types of complementarities related to food combinations across different gender and age groups. This approach enabled us to visualize the potential for dietary improvements and identify effective strategies tailored to each group. For instance, among females aged 50 and above in this region, it was found that recipes incorporating combinations such as (α) milk and pasta, (β) salmon and pasta, (γ) horse mackerel or sardines with carrots, and (δ) onions with taro can efficiently support dietary improvement for this demographic, building upon their established dietary habits. The differences in recommended recipes for each group are due to variations in nutrients that tend to be insufficient and differences in established eating habits. Conclusions: A combination of foods with high (i) complementarity of nutrients constitutes a healthy diet, whereas a combination of foods with low (ii) complementarity in habits reflects dietary behaviors that are not sufficiently practiced within the relevant sub-population at present. Meanwhile, combinations of foods with high (iii) complementarity in recipes can serve as tools to bridge the gap between healthy eating patterns and established dietary habits. Full article

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (SEZ) is a major problem in equine veterinary medicine. Typically, a commensal in horses, SEZ can cause severe disease including respiratory infections, septicaemia and reproductive tract infections under certain conditions. Recent evidence suggests that humans can also develop severe disease infection through direct contact with infected animals or the consumption of contaminated unpasteurised milk and milk products. This study investigates SEZ strains isolated from nasal swabs of equidae in central Italy in 2023 to describe the epidemiology and genomic characteristics of circulating strains. A sampling plan was implemented to randomly collect nasal swabs from equid farms in the Abruzzo and Molise regions. In addition, a sampling form was designed to collect information on risk factors related to the presence of the bacterium and the potential development of respiratory disease. Relative risk was used to measure the association between the presence of SEZ in the samples and various variables. The swabs were analysed by real-time PCR and isolation. To confirm the identification and characterise the strains, the isolates were fully sequenced by next-generation sequencing (NGS) using the Illumina platform. A total of 478 animals from 99 farms were sampled and 30% of the animals tested positive for SEZ (79% horses, 20% donkeys, 1% mules). Forty-five percent of the farms tested positive for SEZ. Monitoring the clonal spread of SEZ is essential to understand the ecology of this emerging zoonotic pathogen, to assess the risk, and to implement effective control measures. In addition, genomic assessments are recommended to investigate the pathogenicity of circulating strains. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the epidemiology and genomic diversity of SEZ strains isolated in central Italy. Full article

Microquantity laboratory procedures (<5 mL) are often used to analyze milk from non-bovid or less common species due to limited available samples and small sample sizes, unlike the large quantities of milk needed for macroquantity (~20 mL) assays standard in the commercial dairy industry. To better understand microquantity milk laboratory analyses, quarter horse (Equus caballus) milk from North Carolina State University (females = 4, n = 43) and California Polytechnic State University (females = 4, n = 42) equine centers was compared to investigate differences in macronutrient composition from 4 to 130 days after parturition. All mares were healthy, but consumed different diets. Major milk macronutrients were measured at the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute using a microquantity analysis of ash, crude protein (CP), dry matter (DM), crude fat, sugar, and gross energy. Of the six measured nutrients, only CP and crude fat differed (p < 0.05) by location, while sugar and crude fat had differences among individual mares. Californian mares had greater fat concentration means on a dry matter basis (DMB) than the North Carolinian mares (ANCOVA, p = 0.003). North Carolinian mares had greater CP concentration means than Californian mares. These findings indicate that dietary differences and/or environmental factors may play a role in CP and crude fat milk macronutrient composition within horse breeds. However, despite the differences noted, the microquantity analyses for nutritional means for all eight mares were within macroquantity horses ranges available in the previous literature. The results indicate that micro versus macroassays are comparable and supports clinical and scientific research on milk from species where large sample quantities are difficult to obtain. Full article