Search Results (9)

Background: Vaccination is the main control measure to prevent Lumpy skin disease (LSD), and Neethling-based homologous vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective against infection with classical clade 1.2 strains. In 2017, recombinant clade 2 LSDV strains originating from a badly produced and insufficiently controlled vaccine were first detected in Russia. A clade 2.5 recombinant strain spread from Russia throughout Southeast Asia and caused a massive epidemic. In this study, the efficacy of three different Neethling strain-based vaccines against the recombinant clade 2.5 LSDV strain was evaluated. Methods: For each vaccine, seven bulls were vaccinated and followed for three weeks to evaluate vaccine safety. Thereafter, vaccinated animals and non-vaccinated controls were challenged with a virulent clade 2.5 strain and followed for three more weeks to evaluate vaccine efficacy. Results: Only limited adverse effects were observed after vaccination, and all vaccinated animals seroconverted and showed an LSDV-specific cellular immune response after vaccination. After the challenge, the vaccinated animals developed almost no clinical signs, and no viremia or nasal excretion was detected. This was in sharp contrast with the non-vaccinated controls, where 8 out of 13 animals developed clinical disease with clear nodules. Most of these animals also had a prolonged period of fever, a clear viremia and excreted virus. Conclusions: Neethling-based LSDV vaccines can thus be considered safe and are effective not only against clade 1.2 LSDV strains, as was proven earlier, but also against a clade 2.5 recombinant strain. Full article

The present study focused on evaluating the effects of beef marination on quality traits and consumer acceptability. In this context, m. longissimus thoracis et lumborum and m. semimembranosus samples (n = 192) were obtained from Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, Charolais, and Limousine bulls and were marinated with milk (pasteurized, 100%), garlic and olive oil (2.35 g/500 mL), and lemon (citrus) juice (31% orange juice, 31% lemon juice, 38% distilled water) for 12, 24, and 72 h. Marinade components were selected based on traditional culinary practices and their scientifically proven effects on meat quality. Beef samples on day 0 and non-marinated samples were used as control groups. Beef color, water holding capacity, pH, cooking loss, and Warner–Bratzler shear force were measured three times for each sample. A taste panel assessment was performed to determine the sensory characteristics. Statistical analysis was performed using general linear model (GLM) procedures followed by Tukey’s post-hoc comparison. Results revealed that marination time, as well as its two- and three-way interactions, significantly influenced beef quality parameters. These results indicate that the cattle breed is an important factor in evaluating the effectiveness of beef marination applications. The olive oil−garlic marinade was the most preferred by the panel across both types of muscle, as indicated by sensory evaluation results. The findings will not only enrich the scientific literature but also have practical implications for the beef industry. Full article

In this study, we evaluated the progeny quality of proven bulls of the Aberdeen Angus breed in different selections. Reliable information about the productive qualities of the daughters and cows of proven bulls is limited in Kazakhstan’s scientific literature. We aimed to identify bull-improvers by comparatively evaluating cows of different genotypes in terms of productive qualities. The study was conducted in the period of 2021–2023, during which four groups of cows were formed based on origin. In conclusion, the high influence of inheritance of breeding features from bull-improvers should be highlighted: 78.6% to the daughters of cows of group I (Estonian selection from Kolos-firma LLP: EE 14465116 ABAJA PORTOS 95283, DK 1989501341 FREDERIK 95220, and EE 16966079 ABAJA PATRICK 95305) and 74.5% to the daughters of cows of group III (Canadian selection from Vishnevskoe LLP: BH BRUIN 54X 1644270 and JL DISTRICT 0311 1594050). There was less influence from proven bulls of deteriorators of the Kazakh selection: 21.4% to the daughters of cows of group II from Kolos-firma LLP (KZP156547191) and 25.5% to the daughters of cows of group IV from Vishnevskoe LLP (Henri KZT157789649 and Argus KZT155778964). Therefore, it is recommended that valuable genotypes of imported selection are used in breeding work in the Kostanay and North Kazakhstan regions for the improvement of Aberdeen Angus cattle. Full article

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of incorporating genomic data using the single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) method compared to the best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) method on the reliability of breeding values for age at first calving, calving interval, and productive longevity at 78 months in Charolais cattle. The study included 48,590 purebred Charolais individuals classified into four subgroups based on genotyping and performance records. The results showed that considering genotypes significantly improved genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) reliability across all categories except nongenotyped individuals. For young genotyped individuals, the increase in reliability was up to 27% for both sexes. The highest average reliability was achieved for genotyped proven bulls and cows with performance records, and the inclusion of genomic data further improved the reliability by up to 22% and 21% for cows and bulls, respectively. The gain in reliability was observed mainly during the first three calvings, and then the differences decreased. The imported individuals showed lower estimated breeding values (EBV) and GEBV reliabilities than the domestic population, probably due to the weak genetic connection with the domestic population. However, when the progeny of imported heifers were sired by domestic bulls, the reliability increased by up to 24%. For nongenotyped individuals, only a slight increase in reliability was observed; however, the number of genotyped individuals in the population was still relatively small. Full article

With the development of quantitative finance, machine learning methods used in the financial fields have been given significant attention among researchers, investors, and traders. However, in the field of stock index spot–futures arbitrage, relevant work is still rare. Furthermore, existing work is mostly retrospective, rather than anticipatory of arbitrage opportunities. To close the gap, this study uses machine learning approaches based on historical high-frequency data to forecast spot–futures arbitrage opportunities for the China Security Index (CSI) 300. Firstly, the possibility of spot–futures arbitrage opportunities is identified through econometric models. Then, Exchange-Traded-Fund (ETF)-based portfolios are built to fit the movements of CSI 300 with the least tracking errors. A strategy consisting of non-arbitrage intervals and unwinding timing indicators is derived and proven profitable in a back-test. In forecasting, four machine learning methods are adopted to predict the indicator we acquired, namely Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN), and Long Short-Term Memory neural network (LSTM). The performance of each algorithm is compared from two perspectives. One is an error perspective based on the Root-Mean-Squared Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), and goodness of fit (R²). Another is a return perspective based on the trade yield and the number of arbitrage opportunities captured. Finally, a performance heterogeneity analysis is conducted based on the separation of bull and bear markets. The results show that LSTM outperforms all other algorithms over the entire time period, with an RMSE of 0.00813, MAPE of 0.70 percent, R² of 92.09 percent, and an arbitrage return of 58.18 percent. Meanwhile, in certain market conditions, namely both the bull market and bear market separately with a shorter period, LASSO can outperform. Full article

The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of proAKAP4 and other indicators of cryopotential of spermatozoa cryopreserved in extender with Holothuroidea extract addition. Nine Holstein Friesian bulls, 3.5 years old, of known health status, were used for the study. The animals were kept and fed equally. Semen was collected once a week using an artificial vagina. The commercially available Holothuroidea extract was used as a supplement to the commercial extender (0, 2, 4 and 6 µL/mL) before the freezing/thawing process. The viability, motility, motion parameters, and acrosome integrity of the sperm were analyzed with (test) or without (control) extract samples. Furthermore, the concentration of the proAKAP4 biomarker in frozen sperm was assessed. It was shown that the addition of 4 and 6 µL of the extract may have a positive effect on the quality parameters of the sperm after thawing. The results indicate that extender supplementation with the above extract modulates (increases) the concentration of proAKAP4 in sperm at all tested levels. Additionally, this indicator has become helpful in identifying sperm of poor biological quality. Moreover, it has been proven that the proAKAP4 biomarker can be successfully used to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of various extenders for semen cryopreservation. Full article

Hanwoo, an indigenous Korean cattle breed, has been genetically improved by selecting superior sires called Korean-proven bulls. However, cows still contribute half of the genetic stock of their offspring, and allelic-specific expressed genes have potential, as selective targets of cows, to enhance genetic gain. The aim of this study is to identify genes that have MAEs based on both the genome and transcriptome and to estimate their effects on breeding values (BVs) for economically important traits in Hanwoo. We generated resequencing data for the parents and RNA-sequencing data for the muscle, fat, and brain tissues of the offspring. A total of 3801 heterozygous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in offspring were identified and they were located in 1569 genes. Only 14 genes showed MAE (seven expressing maternal alleles and seven expressing paternal alleles). Tissue-specific MAE was observed, and LANCL1 showed maternal allele expression across all tissues. MAE genes were enriched for the biological process of cell death and angiogenesis, which included ACKR3 and PDCL3 genes, whose SNPs were significantly associated with BVs of lean meat production-related traits, such as weight at 12 months of age, carcass weight, and loin eye area. In the current study, monoallelically expressed genes were identified in various adult tissues and these genes were associated with genetic capacity in Hanwoo. Full article

One critical point of dairy farm management is calving and neonatal first care. Timely calving assistance is associated with the reduction of calf mortality and postpartum uterine disease, and with improved fertility in dairy cattle. This study aimed to evaluate the performance and profitability of an intravaginal sensor for the prediction of stage II of labor in dairy farms, thus allowing proper calving assistance. Seventy-three late-gestating Italian Holstein cows were submitted to the insertion of an intravaginal device, equipped with light and temperature sensors, connected with a Central Unit for the commutation of a radio-signal into a cell phone alert. The remote calving alarm correctly identified the beginning of the expulsive phase of labor in 86.3% of the monitored cows. The mean interval from alarm to complete expulsion of the fetus was 71.56 ± 52.98 min, with a greater range in cows with dystocia (p = 0.012). The sensor worked correctly in both cold and warm weather conditions, and during day- or night-time. The intravaginal probe was well tolerated, as any cow showed lesions to the vaginal mucosa after calving. Using sex-sorted semen in heifers and beef bull semen in cows at their last lactation, the economic estimation performed through PrecisionTree™ software led to an income improvement of 119 € and 123 €/monitored delivery in primiparous and pluriparous cows, respectively. Remote calving alarm devices are key components of “precision farming” management and proven to improve animal welfare, to reduce calf losses and to increase farm incomes. Full article

The objective of the present study was to establish conditions for using technology that can potentially enhance the efficiency of bovine embryos derived from in vitro fertilization (IVF) with frozen semen. Frozen semen from selected bulls can be stored indefinitely in liquid nitrogen as genetic resources; however, these resources are considered consumable because they cannot be regenerated. Therefore, to optimize the utilization of frozen semen, as many oocytes as possible should be fertilized with one straw. However, a sufficient number of prepared oocytes might not be available for one experiment, which can limit the use of the total spermatozoa population. Thus, an economical method for producing embryos needs to be established by optimizing technology for transplantable embryos. In this study, the utilization of frozen semen was increased by dividing the straw with an ultrasonic cutter. The post-thaw survival rate of uncut straws from Korean Proven Bulls did not differ from that of half cuttings. When ultrasonic cutting was applied to frozen semen, spermatozoa could be prepared for IVF trials at least four times, and blastocysts were produced. Therefore, cutting frozen semen with an ultrasonic cutter represents a potentially useful tool to expand genetic resources from excellent breeding stocks. This approach could also be valuable in the field of IVF of endangered species or rare breeds for their preservation, as well as in ovum pick-up (OPU) techniques. Full article