Large Animal Review

Study the variation of serum protein electrophoresis in dairy cows affecting by metritis and mastitis

2025-02-14T17:43:03+01:00

The objective of this study was to evaluate the electrophoretic pattern of serum proteins in dairy cows suffering from mastitis and metritis, and to explore the influence of these inflammatory diseases on the concentrations of different serum protein fractions. 148 dairy cows were enrolled in the study, including 23 cows with clinical signs of various inflammatory diseases metritis (n=13), mastitis (n=10). The cows were of local breed and their crossbreeds at the different ages. 125 clinically healthy dairy cows were taken as the control group. The cows were blood sampled for the determination of total serum proteins and serum protein fractions. The separation of plasma proteins on an agarose gel using an alkaline buffer (pH 9.1) by electrophoresis in a semi-automatic system (HYDRASYS). The protein fractions were divided into albumin, α1-, α2-, β, and γ-globulins. Statistical analyses were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The Shapiro–Wilk test was used to check normality according to Kappes before performing parametric tests such as Student T test and Analysis of variance. One-way nonparametric analysis of variance was applied to compare groups (Kruskal–Wallis test), when the assumptions of one-way ANOVA were not met. In cows with metritis and mastitis significant changes for albumin (P < 0.01) and, (P <0 .05) for α₁, α_2,TP (Total Proteins). Significant changes were found in the level of α₁-globulins zone, similar changes were observed also in the level of α₂-globulins zone, with BCS (p value < 0,01). The low significant are found about β globulins with others factors (F value <0,5), in opposite with γ globulins, her level increased significantly with all factors (P value <0,1), especially with age (P value <0,001). The albumin to globulin ration being inversely proportional to globulin concentrations, this resulted in a lower ration in sick cattle (P value <0,01), can serve as indicator to manage the transition period. Our results suggest marked influence of mastitis and metritis diseases on the concentrations of serum protein fractions in dairy cows along with age and BCS (body condition score). The results could be useful for veterinary practitioners in the early diagnosis in reproductive disorders such as metritis and mastitis.

The Effect of Propylene Glycol on Fattening Performance, Slaughter and Carcass Characteristics of Akkaraman Lambs Depending on Dose and Fattening Duration

2025-02-14T17:43:04+01:00

This study was conducted to determine the effect of Propylene Glycol (PG) on fattening performance, slaughter and carcass characteristics of Akkaraman lambs at different fattening periods. The animal material of the study consisted of 72 Akkaraman male lambs weighing approximately 20 kg at the age of 2,5-3 months. The lambs were divided into 3 groups (Control, PG1,5 and PG3) according to PG intake and slaughter days (60^th, 90^th and 120^th days of fattening). The slaughter weights of the Control, PG1,5 and PG3 groups were 36.60, 37.89 and 38.81 kg on the 60^th day of fattening, 47.13, 48.63 and 49.38 kg on the 90^th day of fattening and 54.01, 57.66 and 60.05 kg on the 120^th day of fattening (P<0.05), respectively. While the daily feed intake on the slaughter days from the beginning of fattening to the end of fattening were similar in all groups, the concentrate feed consumed for 1 kg of live weight gain values turned into an advantage for PG groups after the 70^th day of fattening. This showed that PG intake had a positive effect on fattening performance after the 70^th day of fattening. In order to increase fattening performance in Akkaraman lambs, it was determined that PG should be used at a dose of 3% of metabolic body weight (PG3) and for at least 3 months. In the early stages of fattening (60^th day), testicular weight and ratio were higher in the PG3 group compared to the other groups (P<0.001). This indicates that the anabolic effect of PG is also short-period of fattening. Apart from this, it was determined that PG had no significant effect on slaughter and carcass characteristics. It was concluded that PG significantly affected carcass traits during the first 60 days of feeding, but this effect may have diminished in later periods due to metabolic homeostasis. Furthermore, the effect of PG on carcass traits varied for different carcass weights, probably due to the duration of metabolic exposure.

Utilizing Grape Pomace in Fattening Lamb: Impacts on Growth, Blood Chemistry and Meat Quality

2025-02-14T17:43:04+01:00

Although grape pomace has been used in ruminant feeding for a long time, further research is needed to determine the method of administration, application amounts, feeding duration, species tolerance, assimilation capacity, and its relationships with other feed ingredients. Various plant materials used in ruminant feeding are sources of phenolic compounds that can be considered natural antioxidants to preserve and improve meat quality. This study investigated the effect of adding different levels of grape pomace to lamb diets on fattening performance, blood biochemical parameters and meat quality. In the study, 20 Akkaraman male lambs with an average age of 96.4 ± 2.98 days (mean±standard error) and an average live weight of 43.3 ± 1.15 kg were divided into four groups and fed with total mixed rations (TMR) containing 0% (control), 5%, 10%, and 15% grape pomace (determined from the average feed intake during the adaptation period). The addition of grape pomace did not affect the dry matter intake of the lambs (p > 0.05), while the highest final live weight (p < 0.05) was observed in the control group. No differences were found between the groups in average daily live weight gain and feed efficiency (p > 0.05). No differences were found between the groups in blood biochemical parameters, blood fatty acid profile, carcass weights, carcass yield, pH, color, or meat quality characteristics measured at different storage (days 1, 4, 8, 12) times (p > 0.05). The addition of 15% grape pomace to the ration increased the total polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the Longissimus dorsi muscle (p < 0.05). The results indicate that 15% grape pomace can be used as a feed ingredient in lamb rations without adverse effects on fattening performance, blood parameters, and meat quality characteristics, providing a strategy to reduce production costs and utilizing by-products that have negative environmental impacts.

Estimation of Carcass Tissue Composition from Carcass Joint in Male Lambs

2025-02-14T17:43:05+01:00

This study was carried out to estimate the tissue compositions of half-carcasses of male lambs by using carcass joints. The study's live material consisted of 45 male lambs from Akkaraman, Karayaka, and Herik breeds. After weaning, the male lambs were fed with lamb concentrate feed and alfalfa. They were then transferred to slaughter when they reached 40 kg live weight. The left half-carcasses of all lambs were divided into seven joints: neck, anterior rib, rib, loin, leg, flank, and foreleg, in order to determine the tissue composition of carcass joints and half-carcasses. All carcass joints were dissected into muscle, subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat, bone tissue and other remaining tissues. The study found that the percentage of muscle was higher in the leg (61.33%), while the percentage of fat was higher in the flank (36.03%). The percentage of bone was similar in all joints except the flank. It was also found that the variation in adipose tissue was higher than the variation in other tissues in all carcass joints.High phenotypic correlation coefficients were determined between the tissue composition of carcass joints and half-carcass tissue composition. In addition, the regression coefficients determined for all carcass joints were statistically significant in the prediction of half-carcass tissue composition. The significant phenotypic correlation and regression coefficients indicate that the tissue composition of carcass joints and half-carcass are related. Although the regression coefficients calculated for the estimating of total muscle and bone weight in the half carcass were found to be statistically significant, the coefficients for joints other than the leg and foreleg were low. The regression coefficients for total fat were high except for the anterior rib. The study revealed that the tissues in the leg were more important in predicting the weight of muscle and bone in the half-carcass, and the adipose tissue in the loin was more determinant in predicting the weight of fat than the other joints. In addition, the results of this study indicate that utilizing only a single carcass joint is not effective in the estimating of carcass tissue composition.

Effect of geographic origin and grazing system on lambs’ carcass traits and meat properties

2025-02-14T17:43:05+01:00

Consumer preferences are shifting from meat quantity to its nutritional value and sensory qualities. Then, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of geographic origin and grazing system on carcass and meat quality specifically focusing on mountain “Djebel” lamb meat. For that, thirty-six lambs (6 months-old) were used: 12 from the mountainous “Djebel” areas in Northwest Tunisia, 12 from “East”, and 12 from “Centre”. The Djebel group grazed natural forests with woody species, while the other groups grazed herbaceous pasture and received concentrate (400g/head/day) and hay supplementation (500 g /head/day). The couple of coordinates (altitude in meter and distance from the sea in km) were 1000 with 37 for Djebel, 44 with 46 or East and 895 with 151 or the Centre. All lambs were slaughtered at 25.8, 26.8, and 22.6 kg for Djebel, East and Centre, respectively, to study the meat quality attributes.

The lambs’ tissular composition was affected by lamb origin (P< 0.05) except to muscle proportion, which remained consistently around 60% across all groups. The meat pH was higher for lambs from Djebel and East than Centre group. The water cooking loss was significantly higher for East and Centre groups compared to that of Djebel one. The higher values of dry matter and crude protein were recorded in meat issued from Centre groups compared to Djebel and East groups. Meat redness (a*), chroma (C*) and Hue angle (H*) were not affected by the lamb’s origin, however lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) were highly affected. The storage time has significantly affected the meat colour parameters. Lipid oxidation was lower in the Djebel group; however, it increased progressively for all groups during 9 days of storage until reaching 0.359 mg MDA/ kg meat but without exceeding the meat rancidity threshold. Lamb origin did not affect meat tenderness and juiciness; however, flavor and overall impression were higher for lambs from Djebel and Centre areas. In conclusion, lambs grazing in the natural forests of the Djebel region produced meat with a higher ultimate pH and lower cooking loss, and their meat demonstrated an extended shelf life due to increased antioxidant capacity during storage, indicating superior nutritional quality.

Field application of Lung Ultrasonography in bovine: a scoping review.

2025-02-14T17:43:04+01:00

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is considered one of the most expensive diseases in the cattle farming worldwide affecting both beef and dairy production. This disease is primarily responsible for increased veterinary costs, treatment expenses, reduced productivity, and, in severe cases, the culling of affected animals. Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management and prevention of BRD-related losses. The difficulty in diagnosis based on clinical signs of the animal determines the need to introduce new diagnostic methods. Lung ultrasonography (LUS) has emerged as a valuable, non-invasive, and quick tool offering numerous advantages. It allows for real-time, dynamic evaluation of the lung tissue, providing detailed insights into the presence of pathological changes.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the practical application of LUS in the diagnosis of BRD in cattle. LUS is performed using linear or convex probes, equipped with high or middle frequency transducers. The lung can be investigated from the 1st to the 10th intercostal space on the right and from the 2nd to the 10th on the left, with differences in size and age of the animal. Several alterations and artefacts can be observed in pathological conditions: comet-tails, B-lines, consolidation, fluid alveolograms and bronchograms. These signs provide valuable information on the extent and severity of lung lesions, which can be used to assign an ultrasonography score to the animal. The two ultrasound scoring systems proposed below allows to discriminate between healthy and diseased animals, guiding the decision-making process for both treatment and management strategies. Additionally, routine ultrasound screening and follow-up assessments offer valuable insights into the progression of the disease, enabling practitioners to monitor the effectiveness of treatments and make timely adjustments to therapy. Overall, LUS represents a promising diagnostic approach that enhances the ability to manage BRD in cattle efficiently, improving animal health and welfare, and minimizing economic losses in the livestock industry.

VALUTAZIONE DEI LIVELLI DI BIOSICUREZZA IN UN'AZIENDA FAUNISTICO VENATORIA DEL CENTRO ITALIA (REGIONE UMBRIA)/ EVALUATION OF BIOSAFETY LEVELS IN A WILDLIFE HUNTING FARM OF CENTRAL ITALY (UMBRIA REGION)

2025-02-14T17:43:04+01:00

The interface between the domestic and wild environment represents a critical point for the transmission of etiological agents from the wild to the domestic world, and consequently to humans. This hypothesis, albeit unconfirmed, was also suggested in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting how an infection of wild animals can lead to a pandemic. Livestock farms, especially extensive or faunistic-hunting ones, with significant contact between wild and domestic animals, pose a risk in this regard if appropriate interventions are not implemented. This study evaluates the infectious risk at a qualitative level of a faunistic-hunting farm in Central Italy, representative of other extensive farms, through visit of the farm and interview of the farm manager using a simplified model of questions adapted from the ClassyFarm checklist. The level of biosecurity of the farm was examined, identifying critical points and strengths. The interview, which provided explanations of the investigated biosecurity actions following each question, also served as a training opportunity. The results emphasize the need to tailor measures to the specific characteristics of the analyzed farm and assess their impact on animal health, as well as from a One Health perspective on human and environmental health, considering the proximity to cattle farms and wild animals. Effective prevention is ensured through the implementation of biosecurity measures that require multidisciplinary skills in both planning and application, actively involving professionals, including within the scope of animal husbandry. Furthermore, the evolution of animal health laws requires an expansion of competencies to address emerging needs, including the training.