Search Results (97)

Background/Objectives: Contagious agalactia (CA) is a disease typically caused by Mycoplasma agalactiae, affecting small ruminants worldwide and being endemic in certain countries. CA causes severe economic losses due to mastitis, agalactia, and arthritis. As an alternative to existing immunoprophylactic measures, this study aimed to develop a recombinant subunit vaccine against M. agalactiae and evaluate its specific immune response in goats. Methods: Goats were divided into three groups: group 1 received recombinant proteins (P40 and MAG_1560), group 2 received formalin-inactivated M. agalactiae, and group 3 received Tris-buffered saline (negative control). All solutions were emulsified in Freund’s adjuvant. Animals were monitored for 181 days. IgG antibody production was assessed by ELISA, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed by real-time PCR for the expression of IL-1β, IFN-γ, IL-12, and MHC class II genes. Results: M. agalactiae-specific antibody response was observed for six months in the sera of animals from group 1. Analysis of cytokine gene expression revealed increased IL-1β mRNA levels over time in both experimental groups. In group 1, IFN-γ mRNA levels increased with P40 stimulation and decreased with MAG_1560. IL-12 mRNA expression decreased over time in group 1 with P40 stimulation, whereas group 2 showed increased IL-12 expression for both proteins. MHC-II expression was stimulated in both groups. Conclusions: The recombinant proteins induced antibody production and cytokine expression, demonstrating immunogenic potential and supporting their promise as vaccine candidates capable of eliciting both humoral and cellular immune responses against M. agalactiae. Full article

Livestock contributes to global warming through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Reducing these emissions is an ongoing challenge for the small ruminant sector. Despite its significant role in national economies, limited studies on the carbon footprint (CF) of dairy small ruminants in Mediterranean countries exist. The study aimed to achieve the following: (a) estimate the GHG emissions of eleven semi-extensive sheep and goat farms in a mountainous region of southern Greece, using the Tier 1 and Tier 2 methodologies; (b) compare the outcomes of both methods; and (c) calculate farms’ CF, as a means of their environmental impact evaluation. All on-farm activities (except machinery or medicine use) related to sheep or goat production were considered to estimate GHG emissions. The results show differences between Tier 1 and Tier 2 estimates, reflecting the simplified computational approach of Tier 1. The average CF values estimated via Tier 1 for goat and sheep farms were 2.12 and 2.87 kg CO₂-eq./kg FPCM, respectively. Using Tier 2, these values increased to 2.73 and 3.99 kg CO₂-eq./kg FPCM. To mitigate environmental impact, farms could enhance productivity by improving herd management and feeding strategies. Full article

Oxalis pes-caprae is one of the most widespread invasive plants in the Mediterranean areas, especially in central and southern Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia. It is an herbaceous species of South African origin, very common in uncultivated areas, in meadows, and at the edges of roads but also in vegetable gardens and fields, where it can become a weed. Its negative impact on the economic sector is significant due to the presence of large quantities of oxalates, which are toxic and dangerous for grazing livestock; the ingestion of high amounts of oxalates causes the accumulation of oxalate crystals, which can lead to kidney failure and anuria. This work represents a descriptive, field-based case report of epidemiological relevance, describing two cases of acute and chronic poisoning by Oxalis pes-caprae found in two different sheep farms in southern Sardinia. In February 2024, the sudden death of about 40 animals was reported in a sheep farm. On another farm, seven animals died (between March and July 2024), while others showed poisoning symptoms such as weight loss, submandibular edema, and a barrel-shaped abdomen. This manuscript aims to highlight the damage caused by poor attention in pasture management and the importance of seasonal risk management; it is necessary to pay attention to the herbaceous species present in pastures, especially in our region, where climatic temperatures no longer respect seasonality and herbaceous species that normally grow in spring are easily found also in the winter months. Full article

Some species belonging to the genus Palicourea (Rubiaceae) are known to cause poisoning in production animals on Brazilian rural properties, being responsible for negatively affecting the livestock sector of the country. In this context, the present study aimed to review reports of spontaneous and experimental poisoning in ruminants caused by Palicourea species in different regions of Brazil. The documents were retrieved from various databases, covering the period from the first report published in 1986 to April 2025. Palicourea aeneofusca, Palicourea colorata (Syn. Psychotria colorata), Palicourea grandiflora, Palicourea hoffmannseggiana (Syn. Psychotria hoffmannseggiana), Palicourea marcgravii, and Palicourea violacea (Syn. Psychotria capitata) have been identified as causes of spontaneous poisoning in the following Brazilian states: Pernambuco, Sergipe, Paraíba, Goiás, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Tocantins, Rondônia, and Distrito Federal. In general, Palicourea species cause sudden death in poisoned animals, especially P. marcgravii. Although cattle are more susceptible to poisoning by these plants, there are reports of cases in sheep, goats, and buffalo. Sodium monofluoroacetate occurs in Palicourea species and has been well reported as the main compound responsible for cases of poisoning in these animals. Despite epidemiological evidence of spontaneous poisoning cases in Brazil, the species P. colorata, P. grandiflora, P. hoffmannseggiana, and P. violacea have not yet been experimentally tested for their toxic potential, and studies of this nature are necessary. Full article

The meat industry is one of the main sources of organic waste in the food processing sector. Due to their high content of biodegradable organic matter, these wastes represent a potentially valuable resource for the development of recycling and valorization processes, particularly with regard to the circular economy and environmental sustainability. The present study aimed at assessing the potential of natural sheep casings waste (NSCW) as a source of nitrogen for promoting the growth and lipid production of Scenedesmus rubescens MDP19, a marine microalga isolated from the Mediterranean coastline of northern Morocco. For this purpose, we evaluated the effects of different NSCW concentrations (0.25–5 g L⁻¹) on the microalga growth, its ability to utilize organic waste components (proteins, amino acids, and carbohydrates) as nutrients, and its efficiency in eliminating nitrogen and phosphorus. Lipid and pigment contents were determined using colorimetric methods, and their composition was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-APCI-MS/MS). The results showed that S. rubescens MDP19 achieved the highest biomass production of 1.737 g L⁻¹ at an NSCW concentration of 5 g L⁻¹. This strain removed 33.70–47.63% of protein, 71.84–87.62% of amino acids, 41.9–92.97% of carbohydrates, 59.72–99.30% of nitrogen, and 80.74–99.10% of phosphorus. Furthermore, S. rubescens MDP19 showed a significantly enhanced lipid content (68.11%) at an NSCW concentration of 0.5 g L⁻¹. At this concentration, the lipid composition of S. rubescens MDP19 was particularly complex, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, digalactosyldiacylglycerols, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerols, phosphatidylglycerols, and acylglycerols. The pigment profile includes neoxanthin, canthaxanthin, lutein, chlorophyll a, geranylgeranyl chlorophyll a, chlorophyllide b, hydrochlorophyllide b, and pheophytin a. These results indicate that natural sheep casings waste represents a promising source of nitrogen, reducing the need for nutrient supplementation in microalgae production. This approach not only offers a sustainable and economical alternative for optimizing microalgae cultivation but also contributes to the valorization of organic waste, thus supporting more ecological and responsible practices. Full article

Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) is a significant zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus cestode parasites, affecting a variety of animals, including humans and wildlife, with serious implications for public health. In Pakistan, CE continues to pose a considerable public health challenge, impacting the livestock sector and wildlife conservation due to its economic and socio-cultural ramifications. This study aimed to examine the frequency of lesions indicative of Echinococcus cysts in livestock across several slaughterhouses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with the data collection occurring from May 2022 to February 2024. A total of 1120 animals, including 455 buffaloes, 295 cows, 200 sheep, and 170 goats, were assessed. The overall CE prevalence was found to be 5.7% (95% CI: 4.3–7.0%; 63 out of 1120), with the highest frequency in buffaloes (6.6%; 95% CI: 4.3–8.9%) and the lowest in goats (2.9%; 95% CI: 0.4–5.5%). Female animals demonstrated a higher infection rate (6.3%; 95% CI: 4.4–8.1%) compared to males (4.7%; 95% CI: 2.8–6.7%), with the liver being the most frequently affected organ (55.0%; 95% CI: 41.7–66.3%). Additionally, a survey of 200 respondents revealed that 74.5% of farmers were unaware of CE, and only 14.5% were taking preventive measures against parasites. These findings suggest a potential decline in the prevalence of this parasitic disease, likely due to advancements in veterinary services and modern farming practices. Full article

Climate change has emerged as one of the most pressing global challenges in recent decades. Agricultural activities significantly influence climate dynamics, necessitating thorough investigation of their emission patterns. Using the FAO datasets, the objectives of this study were to assess agricultural GHG emissions, identify influencing factors, and explore potential mitigation strategies. The results show that emissions related to crop production are strongly correlated with the yields of predominant crops. Maize production had the largest impact on crop emissions (0.023), followed by potato (0.021) and rice (0.007). Notably, these three crops accounted for substantial portions of total crop-related emissions, with maize contributing 11.70%, potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) 10.21%, and rice 9.25%. In the livestock sector, cattle herds generated 10.75% of emissions, with pigs and sheep contributing 9.82% and 10.03%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed the cattle/buffalo population as the dominant emission driver (0.32), followed by sheep/goat (0.21) and swine (0.10) populations. Simultaneously, emissions from livestock operations were closely associated with the populations of key livestock species. Thus, from a climate mitigation perspective, prioritizing yield-optimized agronomic approaches for maize and potato cultivation, along with strategic population management of cattle and sheep, represents a critical pathway toward achieving emission reduction targets in global agricultural systems. Full article

This article presents the first results of the zooarchaeological analysis of Chalcolithic levels of the Barrio del Castillo site (Torrejón de Ardoz), located within the Aldovea complex, which also contains evidence from other prehistoric periods. The Barrio del Castillo sector reveals an occupation pattern characterized by pit and silo fields, a common phenomenon in the Tagus Middle Valley’s Prehistory. This study focuses on the Chalcolithic phase, which exhibits two types of faunal accumulations: one linked to domestic activities (referred to as domestic assemblages), and another with a more symbolic character, involving the burial of articulated or semi-articulated animals, mainly dogs, designated as ritual deposits. The first type of accumulation is dominated by domestic species like caprines (sheep and goats) and cattle. Other domestic species, like pigs and dogs, alongside wild species, like horses and deer, appear in smaller quantities. On the other hand, ritual deposits are largely dominated by dogs in the Chalcolithic phase. This paper emphasizes the marked contrast between the two types of accumulations, domestic and ritual, and highlights the implications that these might have toward a better understanding of the world of the first metallurgical communities of the inner Iberian Peninsula. Full article

Sheep farming is a common agricultural practice in Greece, with many sheep populations belonging to Greek breeds. However, their genetic makeup remains relatively unexplored and limited information is available for their genetic variability. Here, we provide the first whole genome sequencing (WGS) data for six Greek sheep breeds, namely Chios, Kalarritiko, Karagouniko, Lesvos, Serres, and Thraki breeds. We performed variant discovery analysis on the data and identified 23,526,500 high-quality variants. The high average variant depth (148.7X ± 28.3) and low Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) density (1 variant per 111 bases) in the callset demonstrated the high quality of the data. The vast majority of the variants (97.46%) were located in non-coding regions, while a small percentage (1.32%) was positioned in exonic regions. The overall transition to transversion−Ti/Tv (2.449) and heterozygous to non-reference homozygous−Het/Hom (1.49) ratios further confirmed the callset’s high quality. This dataset comprises the first WGS data for six Greek sheep breeds, providing invaluable information to the Greek agricultural sector for the design and implementation of targeted breeding schemes, for traceability purposes, and for the overall enhancement of the sector, in terms of performance and sustainability. Full article

This study examines the use of analgesic medications among sheep farmers, highlighting both their benefits and the significant gaps in their adoption. Our findings indicate that 26.7% of sheep farmers did not utilize any analgesics, a figure that contrasts sharply with high usage rates among swine (over 80%) and cattle (over 85%) farmers. The low utilization of NSAIDs and corticosteroids in sheep farming may be attributed to inadequate education and the lack of approved indications for these medications in Greece. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between farm size and the use of NSAIDs, with larger farms using more NSAIDs, especially flunixin. Furthermore, farms with higher NSAID use—typically the larger ones—tended to have higher milk yields, suggesting that enhanced management practices may contribute to improved outcomes. The results underscore the need for targeted educational initiatives to improve the use of analgesics in sheep farming and address welfare concerns. Overall, this research highlights the importance of addressing gaps in pain management practices in the sheep farming sector to promote better animal welfare. However, further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to expand our understanding of analgesic use and its implications for sheep welfare. Full article

Mitigating human–wolf conflict is crucial, yet conventional approaches often overlook the broader socioeconomic challenges faced by farming communities. Wolves frequently become scapegoats for deeper rooted issues such as economic disadvantages, policy deficiencies, and rural depopulation. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 118 livestock farmers to examine (a) farmer profiles and wolf-related interactions, (b) professional challenges and proposed solutions, (c) reasons for perceiving wolves as a major problem, and (d) the impact of wolf presence on job dissatisfaction. Farmers reported low specialized education and job satisfaction, particularly regarding income. Many struggled to afford or find shepherds, especially sheep/goat farmers. Guardian dog poisoning incidents and dissatisfaction with the damage compensation system were prevalent. Key challenges included economic marginalization, wolf presence, climatic factors, inadequate grazing policies, infrastructure deficits, distrust in policy, rural depopulation, and a lack of services. Farmers who perceived wolves as a major problem implemented weaker preventive measures and moved herds seasonally over longer distances. Job dissatisfaction was linked to wolf presence, livestock type, and economic marginalization. Our findings emphasize that while wolves impact farmers, economic and policy-related factors play a greater role. Educational initiatives, supportive policies, effective depredation mitigation, and fair compensation systems are essential for sustainable livestock farming and coexistence with wolves. By tackling socioeconomic challenges, enhancing policies, and supporting farmers to adapt to evolving circumstances, the livestock farming sector can thrive while minimizing conflicts associated with wolves. Full article

Infection by gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) in sheep is a significant health issue that affects animal welfare and leads to economic losses in the production sector. Genetic selection for parasite resistance has shown promise in improving animal health and productivity. This study aimed to determine if incorporating genomic data into genetic prediction models currently used in Uruguay could improve the accuracy of breeding value estimations for GIN resistance in the Australian Merino breed. This study compared the accuracy of breeding value predictions using the BLUP (Best Linear Unbiased Prediction) and ssGBLUP (single-step genomic BLUP) models on partial and complete data sets, including 32,713 phenotyped and 3238 genotyped animals. The quality of predictions was evaluated using a linear regression method, focusing on 145 rams. The inclusion of genomic data increased the average individual accuracies by 4% for genotyped and phenotyped animals. For animals with genomic and non-phenotyped data, the accuracy improvement reached 8%. Of these, one group of animals that benefited from an ssGBLUP evaluation came from a facility with a strong connection to the informative nucleus and showed an average increase of 20% in their individual accuracy. Additionally, ssGBLUP slightly outperformed BLUP in terms of prediction quality. These findings demonstrate the potential of genomic information to improve the accuracy of breeding value predictions for parasite resistance in sheep. The integration of genomic data, particularly in non-phenotyped animals, offers a promising tool for enhancing genetic selection in Australian Merino sheep to improve resistance to gastrointestinal parasites. Full article

Small abandoned mining areas of Fe and Mn oxides located in the Portuguese sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (SW of Europe) have been converted into agrosilvopastoral systems with very few environmental management measures after their closure. Although at the landscape scale, no visible differences were observed between the former mining intervention areas and adjacent areas, it is essential to assess the state and environmental risk of the soil–plant system, especially in the herbaceous pastures grazed by domestic animals. This was carried out in the Ferragudo mining area, where an agrosilvopastoral system, composed of holm oak and dryland pasture, had been established after the closure of the mine at ≈45 years. The soils presented neutral pH and variable fertility degree. The pseudo-total soil concentrations of Cu, Mo, and Zn exceeded the Portuguese limit values established for agriculture use (>180 mg Cu/kg; >8.2 mg Mo/kg; 349 mg Zn/kg), but their soil available fractions were small (<8.4% of the pseudo-total concentrations). Trees and herbaceous plants showed good development, and the concentrations of the elements (except Mn) were considered normal or sufficient. For Mn, most of the plant samples exceeded phytotoxic Mn values, but no visual signs of phytotoxicity were observed. Only the concentrations of Fe and K in the shoots of some herbaceous samples exceeded the maximum tolerable levels for cattle and sheep, so the risk to animals can be considered small since other sources are present in animal feed. In general, this agrosilvopastoral system did not pose a significant environmental risk. Full article

Mayotte is a small tropical island in the Comoros archipelago. It became recently a French department and much of its food, especially meat, is imported from abroad. The development of livestock farming is therefore a necessity. To understand the problems faced by Mahoran farmers, we organised semi-directive interviews with 15 farmers who reared cattle, sheep, goats or poultry. The first difficulty of farmers was limited access to land, especially for ruminants. This led to feed shortages. Another difficulty was the limited access to water and the poor quality of the roads to reach the farms. Poultry farmers were too dependent on importations of feed and laying hen or broiler genotypes from metropolitan France. The lack of organization for independent food productions (absence of abattoirs, cooperatives or organised markets) is also an obstacle to the development of the sector. Animal health, although not considered a major problem, has been a nuisance in the past (anthrax in cattle or salmonella in poultry). Mahoran farmers trust veterinarians or their assistants to manage health, although they complain about the high cost. Surprisingly, farmers use traditional medicine for many of their ailments, mostly based on local plants, but rarely for animals. Overall, our study reveals that larger land areas, better availability of money for investment and access to water and fodder are urgently required to improve livestock production and economic viability of farmers in Mayotte. Full article

Sensory analysis is a tool for determining cheese quality by tasting during official competitions, which are useful for revitalising the local cheese sector. This work aims to acquire information about the outcomes of official cheese tastings on Gran Canaria Island (Spain) and analyse this information to improve the sampling methodology, as a possible reference for similar events held elsewhere worldwide. The results of four consecutive tasting competitions were studied over 4 years. The annual scores for odour, taste, texture and overall impression, given by 26 taste panellists (5 permanent), were analysed. This gave 2291 evaluations of 329 cheeses from 13 different varieties. A mixed model was applied with year and cheese variety as fixed effects, and taster and cheese as random effects. Agreement among the permanent tasters’ scores was considered by the intraclass correlation coefficient. The results indicated significant differences in the final scores according to the considered year and cheese variety and suggested a lack of stable patterns initially, but a movement towards homogeneity in the later years. The vegetable coagulant and sheep/goat’s milk semi-matured cheeses obtained the best scores, and the cows’ milk and pasteurised semi-mature cheeses, the worst. All the sensory variables significantly distinguished the cheese varieties, but not texture and taste in the last competition. Agreement among permanent tasters was significant in the last 2 years. Full article