Search Results (8,974)

In intensive commercial pig production systems, the spatial distribution of elimination and lying behaviors plays a crucial role in pen hygiene, management efficiency, and animal welfare. Pen partition design and the provision of hiding facilities are key structural factors that may influence pigs’ spatial preferences; however, systematic evaluations of their combined effects remain limited. A total of 108 growing–finishing pigs were used in a 3 × 2 factorial design to assess the effects of different partition types and hiding facility configurations, as well as their interaction, on the spatial distribution of elimination and lying behaviors. Behavioral data were analyzed using non-parametric statistical methods. The results showed that partition type and hiding facilities significantly influenced the spatial patterns of elimination and lying behaviors (p < 0.05), whereas no significant effects were observed on total daily elimination duration, elimination frequency, or lying posture distribution (p > 0.05). Elimination behavior was predominantly concentrated in the slatted floor area. The combination of a front-closed partition with a hiding facility significantly increased the proportion of disturbed elimination events (16.2 ± 14.3%), which was higher than that observed in the open partition combined with a hiding facility (7.9 ± 7.6%, p < 0.05). In contrast, the rear-closed partition design was associated with atypical elimination occurring on the solid floor area. Overall, pigs showed a clear preference for lying on the solid floor. The front-closed partition combined with a hiding facility significantly reduced the proportion of lying on the solid floor (64.6 ± 8.5%), whereas the open partition combined with a hiding facility resulted in a higher-than-average proportion of solid-floor lying behavior (80.6 ± 8.9%). These findings indicate that an open partition design combined with a hiding facility is more effective in maintaining functional separation between elimination and resting areas while reducing disturbed elimination events. This study provides experimental evidence to support structural optimization of growing–finishing pig housing, contributing to improved pen hygiene and enhanced animal welfare. Full article

Background/Objectives: For centuries, humans have employed animal models to progress biomedical science, to understand pathological and biological processes, and to develop and test drugs, vaccines, and surgical techniques. In the field of urology, Sampaio and his colleagues from Brazil were the pioneers in proposing that the porcine model is the most accurate representation of the human kidney. We aim to describe the relevant urinary anatomy of female Landrace pigs based on endoscopy and computed tomography (CT) scans and compare differences between the urinary anatomy of pigs and humans. Methods: Four white Landrace female pigs were used for the study: two for CT imaging and two for endoscopic assessment. CT-urograms were performed using a 64-channel tomography machine with 0.625 mm thick slices. For the endoscopic procedure, the intravaginal urethral meatus was cannulated using a cystoscope, followed by complete urethrocystoscopy. The ureteric orifices were then cannulated, and a retrograde pyelogram was performed, followed by ureterorenoscopy. The analyses were performed using SPSS (Version 28), and simulated data was created using R (version 3.5.0), with the significance set at p ≤ 0.05. The data obtained from two pigs was used to simulate an empirical data with 500 observations, using the mean and standard deviations from our n = 2 to produce a random normal distribution. Results: CT and endoscopic findings showed two multirenculate multipapillate kidneys, each receiving blood supply from a single renal artery that is further divided into cranial and caudal branches. The delayed phase of the urogram showed distal ureters passing posterior to the bladder and emptying into the bladder at the base. Urethroscopy revealed an intravaginal urethral meatus ventral to the anus, positioned midway between the mucocutaneous junction of the vulva and the cervix. Endoscopic view of the bladder neck showing patulous ureteric orifices at the bladder neck with no distinct interureteric ridge or trigone. Retrograde pyelogram showed a Group B drainage pattern in both pigs. Conclusions: While there are numerous similarities between the urinary systems of humans and pigs, there are important subtle differences that urologists and researchers need to be mindful of before using the porcine model for urological research and training. Full article

This study presents new phytolith data that reconstruct the vegetation patterns and environmental context of medieval sites in northeastern Romania, integrated with previously published archaeozoological evidence. Sediment samples from cultural layers at Târgu Neamț–La Damian and Neamț Fortress were analysed following standard extraction protocols and classified according to the International Code for Phytolith Nomenclature (ICPN 2.0). The newly obtained phytolith assemblages are dominated by morphotypes from the Poaceae family, with diagnostic cereal forms, indicating intensive cereal use. The presence of arboreal and non-grass phytoliths further suggests a mosaic landscape combining grass-dominated open areas, pastures, and nearby woodland. When compared with existing faunal data, characterized by a predominance of domestic species such as cattle, sheep/goat, and pig, the results support the reconstruction of a diversified agro-pastoral economy adapted to local geomorphological and climatic conditions. The integration of new phytolith and existing archaeozoological data highlights the complementary role of plant microremains in reconstructing medieval environments, providing valuable insight into agro-pastoral resources, vegetation dynamics, and human–landscape interactions in the eastern Carpathian region. This approach enhances our understanding of the ecological basis of medieval Moldavian communities and contributes to the reconstruction of Late Holocene anthropogenic landscape dynamics within a Quaternary environmental framework. Full article

Crossbreeding with indigenous breeds is an important approach for improving pork quality. In this study, untargeted metabolomics and targeted lipidomics were applied to comprehensively characterize meat quality, metabolites, and lipids in Duroc × Guangdong small-ear spotted (DG) and commercial Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) (DLY) pigs. Multivariate statistical analysis was used for differential comparison, compound screening, and breed discrimination. DG pigs presented better tenderness than DLY pigs, although their meat color and marbling scores were lower. Protein, amino acid, and fatty acid contents did not differ significantly between breeds (p > 0.05), but their metabolomic and lipidomic profiles showed marked differences. Metabolomics identified 13 differential metabolites, such as L-norleucine and L-phenylalanine. Lipidomics revealed 77 lipids with differential abundance between the two breeds, predominantly triglycerides and ceramides, with 76 being more abundant in DG pigs. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that amino acid metabolism was the main pathway enriched by the differential metabolites, whereas the differential lipids were primarily involved in glycerolipid metabolism and other related pathways. Correlation analysis indicated that breed influenced relationships among meat quality traits, metabolites, and lipids. These findings offer molecular insights into the meat quality characteristics of indigenous crossbred pigs. Full article

The intensification of pig production and the restructuring of pork supply-demand patterns have profoundly reshaped greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the pork supply chain. Understanding the environmental consequences of these food system transitions is essential for developing effective mitigation strategies. Focusing on technological and spatial transformations between 2002 and 2022, this study employed linear programming and life cycle assessment (LCA) to systematically quantify GHG emissions from China’s pork supply system, applied the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index to decompose the key drivers of emission changes, and conducted scenario analysis to assess mitigation potential by 2030. The results show that geographic shifts in pork production and consumption increased interprovincial food miles and associated transport emissions. With the intensification of pig production, carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions surpassed methane (CH₄) to become the second-largest GHG source, driven primarily by greater reliance on commercial feed, synthetic fertilizers, and fossil energy inputs. Although the transition from smallholder to intensive production systems exerted a mitigation effect, this was outweighed by a substantially larger increase in emission intensities across all production systems. Between 2002 and 2022, total emissions rose by 110.1%, reaching 164.05 Mt CO₂eq. A full-chain optimization strategy integrating low-opportunity-cost feed substitution, enhanced manure recycling, biogas production, and green transportation could reduce emissions by 49.1% by 2030 while enabling an 8.2% increase in pork output. This work not only reveals the evolving emission structure of China’s pork supply system but also identifies critical pathways for the low-carbon transformation of livestock systems globally. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol alone or in combination with vitamin D₃ (VD₃) on growth performance, vitamin D status, immune parameters, bone integrity, and antioxidant capacity in nursery pigs. Sixty weanling piglets (5.63 ± 0.98 kg initial body weight) were assigned to three treatments for a 28 d feeding trial. The treatments were a basal diet supplemented with 2000 IU/kg VD₃, a combination of 1000 IU/kg VD₃ and 1000 IU/kg 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OHD₃), and 2000 IU/kg 25-OHD₃. Pigs fed diets containing 25-OHD₃ tended to have greater feed intake during d 14–28 (p = 0.06). Plasma 25-OHD₃ concentrations were greater in pigs fed diets containing 25-OHD₃ than in those fed VD₃ alone on d 14 and 28 (p < 0.05), with greater values observed in pigs fed 2000 IU/kg 25-OHD₃ than in those fed a combination of 1000 IU/kg VD₃ and 1000 IU/kg 25-OHD₃ on d 14 (p < 0.05). Pigs fed diets supplemented with 25-OHD₃ had lower plasma malondialdehyde concentrations at d 28 (p < 0.05), while immune parameters and bone mineralization indicators were unaffected. In the broken-line analysis, the estimated plasma 25-OHD₃ concentration for plasma malondialdehyde concentrations to reach the minimum level was 32.5 ng/mL (p < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementing 25-OHD₃ in nursery diets improved blood vitamin D status and could help reduce oxidative stress during the late nursery period. Full article

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a severe and highly contagious enteric disease of pigs caused by porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). The spike (S) protein of PEDV is the main driving force for viral entry into host cells, influencing the pathogenicity and virulence of the virus subgroup. Currently, the S gene of PEDV exhibits a wide array of variations, with numerous mutations reported. Consequently, recent studies on the phylogenetic classification of PEDV have categorized these variants into clusters or lineages. In this study, 161 PEDV subgroups, including 58 Korean isolates and 103 global PEDV reference subgroups, were classified into two groups, G1 and G2, with nine subgroups (G1a, G1b, G1c, G1d, G2a, G2b, G2c, G2d, and G2e) based on the complete S gene. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the subgroups isolated in Korea between 2021 and 2022, which were previously reported as G2b subgroups, were G2e subgroups, derived as potential recombinants from the G2a and G1d subgroups. These results indicate that PEDV subgroups isolated from Korea may require reclassification based on recently reported subgroups. Full article

The hypothesis that the values obtained for the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy and digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) in pistachio shell powder are not different from the values obtained for soybean hulls when fed to growing pigs. A basal diet containing corn, a diet containing corn and 20% pistachio shell powder, and a diet containing corn and 20% soybean hulls were formulated. Twenty-four growing pigs (initial body weight: 32.0 ± 1.7 kg) were allotted to the three diets in a randomized complete block design with eight pigs per diet. After a 7-d adaptation period, feces and urine were quantitatively collected for 4 days. The diets and feces were analyzed for dry matter, and all samples were analyzed for gross energy (GE). The results indicated that the ATTD of GE was greater (p < 0.05) for soybean hulls than for pistachio shell powder, but less (p < 0.05) than for corn. Pistachio shell powder provided less (p < 0.05) DE than corn (i.e., 1778 kcal/kg vs. 3787 kcal/kg; dry matter basis), but the DE in pistachio shell powder was not different from that in soybean hulls (i.e., 2010 kcal/kg; dry matter basis). In conclusion, pistachio shell powder can be used as an alternative ingredient in diets for growing pigs and provides 1778 kcal/kg of DE on a dry matter basis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a highly contagious enteric disease caused by porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and is associated with severe clinical signs and high mortality in neonatal piglets. Vaccination is an important strategy for PED control through the induction of humoral immunity. This study aimed to compare immune responses induced by inactivated and live-attenuated PEDV vaccines and to evaluate a heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategy in PEDV-naïve replacement gilts. Methods: Twenty-four PEDV-naïve replacement gilts were randomly assigned to four groups: unvaccinated control, inactivated vaccine administered twice (K/K), live-attenuated vaccine administered twice (L/L), and live-attenuated priming followed by an inactivated booster (L/K). Pigs received two intramuscular vaccinations at 16 weeks of age and two weeks later. Serum samples collected up to 42 days post-vaccination were analyzed for PEDV-specific IgG and IgA antibodies by ELISA, and serum-neutralizing antibody titers were determined using a serum neutralization test. Results: The L/K regimen induced the highest PEDV-specific IgG responses, with peak levels at day 28 post-vaccination that were significantly higher than those in the K/K and control groups. Serum-neutralizing antibody titers were significantly higher in the L/K and L/L groups than in the K/K and control groups. Serum IgA responses were low and transient across all vaccination groups. Conclusions: A heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategy using a live-attenuated PEDV vaccine followed by an inactivated booster induces strong systemic humoral immune responses in replacement gilts and represents a promising approach for PEDV vaccination programs. Full article

Classical swine fever virus (CSFV) remains a significant threat to the global swine industry, causing a highly contagious and often fatal disease in pigs. This review comprehensively examines the molecular biology of CSFV and the intricate mechanisms it employs to establish infection. We detail the structure and functions of viral proteins, highlighting their roles in virus entry, replication, and immune evasion. A major focus is placed on the virus–host interaction, specifically how CSFV subverts host innate immune responses and hijacks critical cellular processes, including metabolism and cell death pathways. The virus strategically manipulates host cell death programs (apoptosis, mitophagy, necroptosis) and exploits intracellular transport systems to promote its propagation. Furthermore, we summarize recent advances in understanding the cellular receptors involved in CSFV entry and the role of exosomes in viral spread. This synthesis of current knowledge aims to provide a deeper insight into the pathogenesis of CSFV and identify potential vulnerabilities that could be targeted for the development of novel antiviral strategies. Full article

Accurate prediction of the indoor temperature in pig housing facilities is vital for the optimization of environmental control and to ensure animal welfare. However, existing models struggle to capture the complex temporal data patterns in pig farm buildings. To overcome this challenge, a novel type of hybrid model is proposed, which combines the strengths of the Prophet, Transformer, and XGBoost models. The proposed framework integrates an adaptive time-delay attention block into the Transformer encoder that automatically extracts and assigns the optimal weight to the lag features. The Prophet component makes use of multiplicative seasonal decomposition in order to capture trend, seasonal, and cyclical patterns. The XGBoost component is the final predictor which makes use of its gradient boosting capabilities to train the nonlinear feature interactions. The performance of the proposed hybrid model is compared to another six machine learning models to assess its effectiveness. Experimental validation on a real-world dataset demonstrates its superior performance, achieving the R² value of 0.97, a mean absolute error of 0.584, and a root mean squared error of 0.797. It can effectively guide the process of maximizing energy efficiency of modern livestock farms and contributes to cleaner and sustainable pig production systems. Full article

The regulatory mechanisms of collagen formation and cell adhesion pathways during African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) infection remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate whether ASFV manipulates these pathways by targeting host transcriptional regulators. Through weighted Kendall correlation analysis of transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the lung tissue of ASFV-recovered pigs, we identified SP2 and KLF6 as key transcription factors (TFs) associated with collagen synthesis and cell adhesion, respectively. Domain–domain interaction prediction, followed by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) assays, confirmed that the ASFV proteins R238L and R298L directly bind to the zf-C2H2 domains of SP2 and KLF6. Furthermore, overexpression of R238L and R298L in HeLa and 3D4/21 cells significantly downregulated SP2 and KLF6 target genes involved in these pathways. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which ASFV proteins R238L and R298L interfere with host transcription factors SP2 and KLF6, potentially disrupting collagen matrix integrity and cell adhesion to facilitate viral pathogenesis. Full article

Background: The Xinjiang Black pig is an excellent breed developed by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in the 1990s; however, it has been endangered by the impact of commercial breeds. Methods: Whole genomes of 224 individuals from the Xinjiang Black pig conservation population were resequenced. Results: Genetic structure and diversity analyses revealed that Xinjiang Black pigs underwent severe inbreeding and were genetically closely linked to Landrace pigs. The genetic diversity of the F₂ generation was well preserved in the existing breeding scheme. A total of 686 significant selection regions and 406 candidate genes were identified using F_ST and θπ complementary methods, with Xinjiang Black pigs, Min pigs, and Laiwu pigs as ancestral populations, and F₂. Based on Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and quantitative trait loci annotations, potential germplasm candidate genes were identified. Among these, SOX5, HMG20A, and NEDD4 are associated with fat deposition; SPRY1, MNS1, DMXL2, and ALB are closely associated with male reproductive ability; ARPP19 and TLN2 are strongly associated with oestrous cycle regulation and oocyte maturation; and SLC4A4 and SLC12A1 are extremely important for osmotic regulation and foetal survival. Conclusions: These findings deepen our understanding of the genetic mechanisms of artificial selection in Xinjiang Black pigs and provide a theoretical basis for subsequent breeding and genetic research on this breed. Full article

Background: Pigs are one of the most important livestock species for providing meat products in the world. Deciphering the genetic architecture of feed efficiency-related traits is beneficial to improve the genetic progress of these traits and save the total cost of pork production. However, the genetic architecture of feed efficiency-related traits remains unclear. Methods: To address this problem, we collected 1301 genotyped Yorkshire pigs with three feed efficiency-related traits, including days at 100 kg (DAYS_100), backfat thickness at 100 kg (BFT_100), and feed conversion ratio from 30 to 100 kg (FCR_30_100), to explore the genetic parameters and genetic basis of these traits. Results: The heritability of DAYS_100, BFT_100, and FCR_30_100 was 0.25 ± 0.04, 0.40 ± 0.05, and 0.23 ± 0.04, respectively. Additionally, BFT_100 and DAYS_100 had a weak negative genetic correlation (−0.01 ± 0.12), while trait FCR_30_100 showed a positive genetic correlation with DAYS_100 (0.51 ± 0.11) and BFT_100 (0.28 ± 0.12). A genome-wide association study identified 7, 5, and 4 SNPs independently associated with BFT_100, DAYS_100, and FCR_30_100, respectively. Further analysis found that the candidate gene ETV4 was significantly associated with DAYS_100 and the candidate gene ENSSSCG00000045751 was associated with FCR_30_100. The functional annotation of candidate genes was enriched in the bile acid metabolic process and protein ubiquitination terms. Conclusions: This study discovered 16 quantitative trait loci associated with feed efficiency-related traits, providing a comprehensive insight for understanding the genetic basis of feed efficiency-related traits in pigs. The candidate genes, such as ETV4 gene in DAYS_100, CAMK1D gene for BFT_100, and ENSSSCG00000045751 gene for FCR_30_100, could be used for further investigation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Burn wounds are complex injuries associated with extensive inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) damage, and a high risk of impaired tissue remodeling and scarring. Modern wound dressings are expected not only to protect the wound bed but also to actively support the healing process. Biodegradable polymer-based nonwoven dressings incorporating natural bioactive compounds, such as propolis, may favorably influence wound repair. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of propolis-containing biodegradable, nonwoven poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) dressings on the dynamics of dermatan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate content during burn-wound healing. Methods: The present study investigated temporal alterations in sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), including dermatan and chondroitin sulfates, during the healing of experimentally induced burn wounds in white domestic pigs treated with biodegradable, nonwoven poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) dressings containing 5 wt% or 10 wt% of propolis. Control tissue samples were obtained from wounds treated with physiological saline or nonwoven PLGA dressings without propolis. Quantitative analysis of GAG content was performed on days 0, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 21 of the healing process using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical differences between groups were assessed by one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Results: Propolis-containing biodegradable nonwoven PLGA dressings significantly increased dermatan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate content in the burn wound bed compared to control treatments. The effect was observed at multiple time points and was more pronounced for dressings containing 10 wt% of propolis than for those containing 5 wt%. Conclusions: Biodegradable nonwoven PLGA dressings incorporating propolis modulate glycosaminoglycan dynamics during burn-wound healing, indicating enhanced extracellular matrix remodeling and supporting their potential use as bioactive burn wound dressings. Full article