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Advancing Reproductive Efficiency in Ruminants through New and Emerging Strategies to Manage Disease and Metabolic Health

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A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 February 2024) | Viewed by 9418

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Campanile

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Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Interests: veterinary; biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Angela Salzano

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Guest Editor

Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137 Naples, Italy
Interests: buffaloes; breeding techniques; functional molecules
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Michael John D'Occhio

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Guest Editor

School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
Interests: cows; meat; metabolomics; feed; food security; food loss

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The present Special Issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN: 2306-7381, Impact Factor: 2.518) looks at ways to enhance reproductive efficiency in ruminants through new and emerging strategies to manage disease and metabolic health. New strategies to manage diseases that impact reproduction include targeted surveillance and reporting of the causes of reproductive failure, improved diagnostics for reproductive diseases, and new vaccines against organisms that impact reproduction. An exciting area is the identification of novel genes for disease resistance and the application of CRISPR-Cas9 for germline transmission of disease-resistant genes. Metabolic health includes specific nutrients that target reproduction, a supportive ruminal microbiome, and a systemic metabolome that optimizes molecular and cellular reproductive processes.

The scientific community is invited to participate in this Special Issue, which will draw on a broad contemporary literature to synthesize knowledge on ways to manage disease and metabolic health for optimal reproductive fitness in ruminants. This body of work will be of equal relevance to researchers, instructors, and practitioners. Optimal reproductive efficiency is the foundation for the responsible use of natural resources, sustainability, and profitability in all ruminant production systems.

The Special Issue is fundamentally about science with application. Research articles and reviews are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Giuseppe Campanile
Dr. Angela Salzano
Prof. Dr. Michael John D'Occhio
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

optimizing reproductive efficiency in ruminants
diseases and reproduction
reproductive disease resistance genes
reproductive disease surveilance and reporting
reproductive disease vaccines
CRISPR-Cas9 germline introgression of disease resistance genes
meatbolic health and reproduction
high-producing animals and metabolic health
nutrients and reproduction
microbiome and reproduction
metabolome and reproduction

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 2953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of the Linear Fc-Binding Site on the Bovine IgG1 Fc Receptor (boFcγRIII) Using Synthetic Peptides

by Ruining Wang, Junqing Guo, Ge Li, Xun Wang, Jifei Yang, Qingmei Li and Gaiping Zhang

Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11010024 - 08 Jan 2024

Viewed by 2365

Abstract

The bovine IgG1 Fc receptor (boFcγRIII) is a homologue to human FcγRIII (CD16) that binds bovine IgGI with medium–low affinity. In order to identify the Fc-binding site on the bovine IgG1 Fc receptor (boFcγRIII), peptides derived from the second extracellular domain (EC2) of boFcγRIII were synthesized and conjugated with the carrier protein. With a Dot-blot assay, the ability of the peptides to bind bovine IgG1 was determined, and the IgG1-binding peptide was also identified via truncation and mutation. The minimal peptide AQRVVN corresponding to the sequence 98–103 of boFcγRIII bound bovine IgG1 in Dot-blot, suggesting that it represents a linear ligand-binding site located in the putative A–B loop of the boFcγRIII EC2 domain. Mutation analysis of the peptide showed that the residues of Ala⁹⁸, Gln⁹⁹, Val¹⁰¹, Val¹⁰² and Asn¹⁰³ within the Fc-binding site are critical for IgG1 binding on boFcγRIII. The functional peptide identified in this paper is of great value to the IgG–Fc interaction study and FcR-targeting drug development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Reproductive Efficiency in Ruminants through New and Emerging Strategies to Manage Disease and Metabolic Health)

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13 pages, 1785 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pregnancies following Protocols for Repetitive Synchronization of Ovulation in Primiparous Buffaloes in Different Seasons

by Giorgio A. Presicce, Domenico Vistocco, Massimo Capuano, Luigi Navas, Angela Salzano, Giovanna Bifulco, Giuseppe Campanile and Gianluca Neglia

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(11), 616; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9110616 - 07 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1622

Abstract

Primiparous buffaloes were tested in two periods of the year characterized, by either low or high reproductive efficiency. They were subjected to two protocols for synchronization of ovulation: (i) Ovsynch (OV) and (ii) progesterone based (P₄) treatment. After calving, the animals underwent a series of four cycles of re-synchronization protocols. The season did not affect pregnancy rates when the results of the two treatments were pooled together with regard to the first synchronization protocol, followed by AI. Pregnancy rates were similar during the low breeding season (50.3% vs. 57.4% in OV and P₄, respectively), but different during the high breeding season (50.4% vs. 67.7% in OV and P₄, respectively; p = 0.000). Logistic regression confirmed a significant effect of treatment and season interaction on pregnancy (p = 0.003). Following re-synchronization, a treatment by season interaction was detected during the low breeding season (odds ratio = 2.233), in favor of P₄. Finally, a survival analysis showed a better response of animals subjected to P₄ treatment from the second AI onward. In conclusion, the pooled data of pregnancy rates from both treatments between seasons are not different following AIs. Better results, though, were obtained from the implementation of P₄ treatment, and are recorded in a season-fashioned mode when the comparison is made following first or cumulative AIs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Reproductive Efficiency in Ruminants through New and Emerging Strategies to Manage Disease and Metabolic Health)

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Review

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14 pages, 604 KiB

Open AccessReview

The History of Bovine Genital Campylobacteriosis in the Face of Political Turmoil and Structural Change in Cattle Farming in Germany

by Hosny El-Adawy, Helmut Hotzel, Herbert Tomaso and Heinrich Neubauer

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(12), 665; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10120665 - 23 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1609

Abstract

Contagious bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC), also known as bovine venereal campylobacteriosis, is a disease relevant to international trade listed by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). It is caused by Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv), one of three subspecies of Campylobacter fetus. Bulls are the reservoir but BGC may also be spread by artificial insemination (AI). BGC is characterized by severe reproductive losses such as infertility, early embryonic death and abortion with considerable economic losses. This significant economic impact has prompted several countries to adopt stringent eradication and surveillance measures to contain the disease. While there are commercial and autologous vaccines available, scientific evidence for the effectiveness of vaccination is still lacking. In Germany, BCG was already found to be endemic in the 1920s, shortly after the agent and the disease had been described for the first time. It can be assumed that BCG had already circulated uncontrolled for a long time in the predecessor states of Germany, influenced only by the political situation and trading networks of the time. After WW II, BCG was eradicated in the German Democratic Republic due to industrialized cattle production based on AI but it was still endemic at low levels in the Federal Republic of Germany with its diverse cattle production. There has been a steady decline in BGC incidence in re-unified Germany over the past 28 years. A single genetic Cfv lineage was identified which probably emerged in the 19th century and diversified over time. Interestingly, no recurrent cross-border introduction became evident. This review gives insight into the history of bovine genital campylobacteriosis considering the structural change in cattle farming in Germany and reflecting on the political background of the time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Reproductive Efficiency in Ruminants through New and Emerging Strategies to Manage Disease and Metabolic Health)

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16 pages, 1233 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nutritional Strategies to Promote Bovine Oocyte Quality for In Vitro Embryo Production: Do They Really Work?

by Miguel A. Velazquez

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(10), 604; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10100604 - 04 Oct 2023

Viewed by 2556

Abstract

The ability of bovine oocytes to reach the blastocyst stage (i.e., embryo with around 150 cells in cattle) in vitro can be affected by technical (e.g., culture medium used) and physiological factors in oocyte donors (e.g., age, breed). As such, the nutritional status of oocyte donors plays a significant role in the efficiency of in vitro embryo production (IVEP), and several nutritional strategies have been investigated in cattle subjected to ovum pick-up (OPU). However, there is no clear consensus on the reliability of nutritional schemes to improve IVEP in cattle. Available evidence suggests that a moderate body condition score (i.e., 3 in a 1–5 scale) in cattle is compatible with a metabolic microenvironment in ovarian follicles that will promote embryo formation in vitro. The usefulness of fatty acid and micronutrient supplementation to improve IVEP in cattle is debatable with the current information available. Overall, the supply of maintenance nutritional requirements according to developmental and productive stage seems to be enough to provide bovine oocyte donors with a good chance of producing embryos in vitro. Future nutrition research in cattle using OPU-IVEP models needs to consider animal well-being aspects (i.e., stress caused by handling and sampling), which could affect the results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Reproductive Efficiency in Ruminants through New and Emerging Strategies to Manage Disease and Metabolic Health)

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