Search Results (5,350)

In 2023, ASF was recognized in Lombardy in wild boars, but shortly thereafter the disease was also identified in pig farms, with serious economic repercussions for the entire national pig sector. To identify factors related to the introduction of the infection into pig farms, a case–control study was conducted with the aim of gaining knowledge on the risk and protective factors involved in the introduction of the ASF virus into intensive pig farms. To this end, a questionnaire was developed on risk factors related to ASFV transmission into pig farms and on good management and biosecurity practices. The results of the study showed that measures aimed at strengthening the segregation of the farm from the external environment (external biosecurity), such as the mandatory passage through a hygiene lock upon entry, the presence of a hygiene lock for farm personnel and external visitors, the presence of special equipment and disinfection points at the entrance to the sheds, the loading of dead pigs outside the animal housing area and the ownership of non-adjacent agricultural land, were associated with a reduced risk. This information, if effectively communicated, could be of direct practical value to farmers to ensure the successful implementation of farm biosecurity. Full article

The gut microbiota significantly influences the healthy growth and development of animals. However, the alterations in the gut microbiota of Yorkshire Pigs mediated by specific trace elements, such as zinc gluconate, and their associations with growth phenotypes remain to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary zinc gluconate supplementation on the gut microecology of Yorkshire Pigs. Twenty Yorkshire Pigs were randomly divided into a control group (NC) and a treatment group (GZn, fed a diet containing 0.1% zinc gluconate) for 52 days. The diversity, composition, and potential functions of fecal microbiota were evaluated via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that dietary zinc gluconate supplementation altered the gut microbiota of Yorkshire pigs, evidenced by distinct community clustering in beta diversity and increased alpha diversity (species richness and diversity). In terms of the composition of taxonomic units, a significant beneficial succession occurred among the core bacterial genera: potential probiotic genera (such as Clostridia_UCG-014) that were significantly enriched, while genera associated with negative correlations with growth traits or potentially pathogenic (such as Streptococcus and Escherichia-Shigella) were effectively suppressed. Although Firmicutes and Bacteroidota remained the shared dominant phyla, the abundance of core genera underwent a significant succession. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that potential probiotic genera positively correlated with body weight and body length (such as Clostridia_UCG-014, Methanobrevibacter, and Oscillospira) were significantly enriched in the GZn group; conversely, genera negatively correlated with growth traits (such as Streptococcus and Escherichia-Shigella) were enriched in the NC group. Furthermore, KEGG pathway functional prediction indicated that the gut microbiota of the GZn group was predicted to be enriched in fundamental metabolic functions such as amino acid metabolism and energy metabolism. In conclusion, dietary zinc gluconate supplementation can effectively improve the growth phenotypes of Yorkshire Pigs, and this improvement is associated with shifts in the gut microecological structure and predicted microbial metabolic functions. Full article

Environmental biofilms are persistent structural components of livestock production systems and represent under-recognized drivers of pathogen persistence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This review examines the engineering, ecological, and operational factors that promote biofilm formation in dairy, poultry, and swine environments, with emphasis on drinking water distribution systems, feeding infrastructure, housing surfaces, and waste channels. Biofilms develop preferentially in low-shear zones, dead ends, and aging materials, where they enhance microbial tolerance to sanitation and facilitate horizontal gene transfer. Conventional monitoring approaches, largely based on planktonic sampling and single-time-point testing, underestimate attached biomass and fail to capture spatial heterogeneity. Although molecular and sensor-based technologies provide improved resolution, their farm-level implementation remains limited by cost, standardization challenges, and the absence of validated operational thresholds. Current EU surveillance frameworks focus primarily on antimicrobial use and resistance prevalence in animal isolates, while environmental compartments are rarely incorporated as monitored system elements. This review proposes a proportionate, risk-based approach that integrates existing farm data streams such as antimicrobial use metrics and biosecurity scoring systems with targeted environmental assessment of high-risk infrastructure. Mitigation strategies emphasize mechanical disruption, combined chemical sanitation, hydraulic optimization, material selection, and infrastructure lifecycle management. Embedding environmental biofilm control within existing engineering and stewardship frameworks supports more resilient, systems-based management of infectious and AMR risks in livestock production. Full article

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a common contaminant in crops and animal feed. However, research on the effects of ZEA on animal mammary tissue is relatively limited. Sulforaphane (SFN) is a naturally active compound mainly derived from cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli), with significant antioxidant and cytoprotective effects. The purpose of this study is the effect of SFN on ZEA-induced toxicity in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). By treating MAC-T cells with different concentrations of ZEA and SFN for 24 h, the results showed that different concentrations of ZEA (10, 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100 μM) could inhibit MAC-T cell viability. Treatment with SFN at concentrations of 1, 2.5, and 5 μM had no significant effect on cell viability. The results of combined treatment with 10 μM ZEA and 1, 2.5, or 5 μM SFN showed that SFN could significantly reverse the decrease in cell viability caused by ZEA; reduce the increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content induced by ZEA; and increase the levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and mitochondrial membrane potential that were decreased by ZEA. SFN can significantly inhibit the upregulation of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) induced by ZEA exposure and markedly reverse the increase in cell apoptosis rate caused by ZEA. Compared with the control group, the expression of genes nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) was significantly reduced in the ZEA group, while the addition of SFN effectively increased the expression levels of these genes. Corresponding protein detection results were consistent with the trends in gene expression. This study demonstrated that SFN alleviates ZEA-induced damage to MAC-T cells by activating the Nrf2 pathway, providing a theoretical basis for the subsequent application of SFN in dairy farming to prevent and control breast health risks related to mycotoxins. Full article

The agricultural sector, particularly animal production, faces numerous unprecedented challenges driven by climate change, resource depletion, and an ever-growing global demand for quality food. These challenges are further compounded by the increasing environmental impact of livestock farming, including greenhouse gas emissions, overuse of water and land resources, and the destruction of vital ecosystems. Ensuring the sustainability of animal production systems while mitigating the negative environmental impacts of these factors is essential for future global food security. As the demand for animal-derived products continues to rise, there is a pressing need for innovations that can enhance productivity without compromising environmental integrity or animal welfare. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize the animal production industry. AI-driven solutions offer promising avenues for optimizing production efficiency, enhancing animal health and welfare, and reducing the environmental footprint of livestock farming. Machine learning, sensor technologies, and advanced data analytics are being increasingly utilized to monitor and predict various aspects of animal farming, such as feed efficiency, disease prevention, and climate resilience. These technologies enable farmers to make data-driven decisions, fostering more sustainable and environmentally responsible practices. This review examines the integration of AI into animal production systems, emphasizing its applications in climate change mitigation, resource management, and advancing sustainability. The discussion addresses how AI technologies can be utilized to improve productivity while minimizing environmental impact and enhancing animal welfare. Additionally, the paper outlines future opportunities, challenges, and potential barriers to integrating AI technologies into livestock farming, thereby ensuring long-term sustainability amid global challenges. Full article

The utilization of unconventional feed resources offers a sustainable strategy to mitigate feed shortages particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where access to conventional feeds is often limited. Among these, water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is one of the world’s most aggressive aquatic weeds, which has drawn attention due to its dual role as a problematic invasive species and a potential livestock feed. This plant reduces water quality, contributes to biodiversity loss and causes economic damage in farming systems. At the same time, its high capacity for nutrient absorption makes it a viable source of protein and energy for ruminants when properly harvested and processed into forms such as hay, dried leaves, and silage. However, its utilization requires caution, as the plant can accumulate toxins and heavy metals from polluted water, which may harm animal health if unprocessed. This review focuses on the potential of water hyacinth to improve ruminant growth performance, nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation. Including water hyacinth in ruminant diet safely can possibly improve animal productivity, contribute to sustainable weed management and also provide a practical strategy to alleviate feed shortage in dry seasons, thereby encouraging resilience and sustainable ruminant production. Full article

Lameness associated with bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) continues to be an important topic of great interest to global poultry production. Caused by bacterial infection of susceptible necrotic bone tissue, the disease severely affects animal health, welfare, and productivity, leading to significant economic losses annually. In recent years, the Kazakhstan poultry industry has enjoyed significant investment and strong growth, with goals of self-sufficiency within the decade. However, there remains a significant knowledge gap in poultry research in the nation, especially regarding the topic of BCO lameness. As such, this study aims to provide a preliminary evaluation of BCO lesion prevalence in different geographical regions of the country―namely Abai, Almaty, and Akmola. In each region, about 200 broilers from local poultry farms were procured, humanely euthanized, and necropsied to evaluate prevalence of femoral and tibial lesions commonly associated with BCO lameness. On average, most broilers had no damage to femoral head (78.17%) followed by femoral head separation (FHS, 11.94%), while the tibial head saw ubiquitous degrees of damage ranging from severe (71.42%) to observable (23.06%). These findings signify potential underlying issues connected to BCO lameness that will necessitate early management and intervention measures to prevent future spread of the disease. Full article

In intensive animal production, the overuse of antibiotics has exacerbated bacterial antimicrobial resistance and environmental pollution. Together with gut microbiota dysbiosis and recurrent disease outbreaks, these challenges severely constrain the sector’s high-quality development. Quorum sensing (QS), a cell-density-dependent bacterial communication mechanism, can be modulated through agents that specifically inhibit or activate QS circuitry to regulate microbial community functions. Such QS modulators possess notable advantages, such as environmental benignity and high target specificity, and thus offer innovative strategies to decrease antibiotic reliance, enhance production efficiency, and reduce environmental emissions. This review examines QS modulators sourced from plants, microorganisms, animals, and synthetic processes, while highlighting key challenges such as environmental interference, resistance development, high costs, and the lack of standardized biosafety evaluations. Future research should focus on enhancing specificity, stability, affordability, and safety, with an emphasis on rational design, synergistic systems, improved manufacturing processes, and multi-target modulators. This review may provide a theoretical basis for translating QS-regulation technologies into farm-level applications, thereby advancing sustainable animal production and antibiotic-free husbandry. Full article

This study explicitly assesses how crop and livestock production, along with real labor productivity, affect greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture across the European Union (EU), considering both per capita and total emissions. Using annual Eurostat data for EU Member States from 2008 to 2024, the research applies multiple regression models and a multivariate General Linear Model (GLM) to evaluate structural relationships, complemented by Holt exponential smoothing and ARIMA models to analyze temporal dynamics and generate forecasts. The empirical results indicate that crop and livestock production have a statistically significant positive effect on emissions, while real labor productivity has a significant negative impact. The models explain over 92% of the variation in total emissions and over 95% of the variation in per capita emissions, confirming strong explanatory power. Forecasts show continued growth in agricultural output but a declining trend in per capita emissions, primarily driven by productivity improvements. These findings demonstrate that improvements in labor efficiency and technological progress can partially offset the environmental pressures associated with increased agricultural production. The study concludes that achieving climate-neutral agriculture in the EU is feasible through sustained productivity gains and innovation-driven transformation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Combination of antiparasitic drugs with different mechanisms of action has been suggested as an effective strategy to delay the development of parasite resistance. Considering the need to understand the pharmacological basis of drug combinations, the current study evaluated the potential pharmacokinetic (PK) interactions and the clinical efficacy (pharmacodynamic response) occurring after the subcutaneous administration of ivermectin (IVM) and levamisole (LEV), administered either as single treatments or concurrently to different groups of parasitized calves on three commercial farms (A, B and C). Methods: Forty-five (45) male calves naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes were randomly allocated into three groups (n = 15): IVM, treated with IVM by subcutaneous injection (0.2 mg/kg); LEV, treated subcutaneously with LEV (8 mg/kg); IVM + LEV, simultaneously treated with IVM and LEV (two subcutaneous injections at the same dose rates). Seven animals from each treated group (farm C) were randomly selected to perform the PK study. Drug concentrations were measured by HPLC. The therapeutic response (efficacy) was determined at 14 days after treatment by the fecal egg reduction test. Results: The mean area under the concentration vs time curve (AUC) for IVM obtained after administration of IVM alone (274 ± 65.1 ng.d/mL) was similar to that obtained when IVM was co-administered with LEV (295 ± 111 ng.d/mL). Likewise, mean LEV AUC values were similar after LEV administration alone (8.90 ± 2.69 µg.h/mL) or combined with IVM (9.11 ± 1.82 µg.h/mL). No adverse PK interactions were observed after the combined treatment, with similar PK parameters (p > 0.05) obtained between the single-drug and the combination-based strategies. On farm A, the overall fecal egg reductions were 38% (IVM), 99% (LEV) and 100% (IVM + LEV). While Cooperia spp. and Haemonchus spp. showed reduced susceptibility to IVM treatment, LEV demonstrated high efficacy against both genera, with only a minimal proportion of Haemonchus spp. remaining after treatment. Similarly, total fecal egg reductions were 42% (IVM), 99% (LEV) and 100% (IVM + LEV) on farm B, and 54% (IVM), 99% (LEV) and 100% (IVM + LEV) on farm C. On those farms, IVM was ineffective against Cooperia spp. and/or Haemonchus spp., while LEV failed to control Ostertagia spp. Remarkably, the combination of both molecules was the only treatment that achieved 100% efficacy against all nematode genera (Cooperia, Ostertagia, Haemonchus and Oesophagostomum spp.). Conclusions: Based on the described PK and pharmacodynamic (PD) assessments, the IVM + LEV combination appears to be a promising pharmacological option for controlling resistant gastrointestinal nematodes in cattle, with the additional potential to delay the progression of nematode anthelmintic resistance. Overall, the study provides original and robust pharmacokinetic and efficacy data that contribute to the optimization of parasite control strategies in cattle. This drug combination strategy may enhance treatment efficacy and contribute to improved parasite control in cattle production systems. Full article

Accurate determination of morphometric body measurements is essential for monitoring growth, evaluating production traits, and supporting selection decisions in cattle breeding. However, traditional measurement methods require direct contact with animals, which may increase labor requirements, negatively affect animal welfare, and pose safety risks for operators. This study evaluated the relationship and agreement between traditional tape measurements and smartphone-camera-based morphometric measurements in cattle. A total of 100 cattle raised in the Mediterranean region of Türkiye, including 50 Holstein and 50 Simmental animals, were included in the study. Withers height, body length, rump height, and forechest width were measured using both conventional tools and a smartphone-camera-based method. Regression analyses demonstrated strong linear relationships between methods, particularly for body length and withers height (R² = 0.564–0.961). Bland–Altman analysis revealed small but significant systematic differences between methods, with camera-based measurements generally producing slightly higher values than tape measurements. The strongest agreement was observed for body length measurements, whereas wider limits of agreement were detected for anatomically complex traits, such as rump height and forechest width. Although the findings support the potential applicability of smartphone-based morphometric measurements as a practical and contactless alternative under field conditions, measurements were obtained only from a single lateral view, which should be considered an important methodological limitation. Future studies using multi-view or three-dimensional imaging systems may further improve measurement accuracy and agreement. Full article

On-farm welfare assessment of equines is a challenge given the large diversity of management practices, especially in terms of housing and activities. In our study, we tested time budget measures as a complementary tool to more conventional welfare indicators (e.g., stereotypic behaviours, ear position while foraging, neck shape). We observed 174 horses living in eight facilities (in their home environment) for which data on management practices and welfare were available. Time budget was assessed using the scan sampling method (1 min scan sampling over 30 min; 33 scans), while welfare assessment was based on classical measures. The study was performed in two parts: The first part consisted of validating time budget as a correlate of welfare state, which was performed at the individual level and according to the context of observation. In the second part, the data were analysed at the farm level by averaging data from all horses in the same facility. The results showed that the time spent feeding, in exploratory walking and observation behaviour were correlated with indicators of positive welfare and/or good practices in contrast to the time spent standing immobile resting or in fixed attention and/or in negative social interactions. Time budget varied greatly between facilities, reflecting welfare state and management (feeding, working) practices. This study shows that, provided that observations are made at different time periods when animals are calm, three sessions of 10 min. could give a good account of the local «atmosphere». These findings bring new insights into both methodological approaches and the significance of behaviours and, in particular, the importance of precisely defining and measuring the types of attention as a window into an animal’s internal state. Full article

Organic farming can increase the sustainability of farming and support biodiversity and soil health. The aim of this work was to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of organic farming on selected soil biotic and abiotic properties in Central Europe and to quantify the possible influences of sampling characteristics, soil type and crop husbandry on these effects. Overall, we integrated data from 59 peer-reviewed studies into our analysis, including 1365 pairwise comparisons (log-response ratios; LRR) that covered carbon and nutrient contents, soil organic matter (SOM), soil microbiology and physicochemical properties. Organic farming increased the levels of microbial activity and this effect decreased with soil depth, whereas generally positive but less robust effects on microbial biomass quantity and soil pH were observed across analyses. In addition, a decrease in cation exchange capacity was observed, but this result should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of studies. The LRR for the bulk density was affected by the sampling season, while soil type influenced the LRR for the nitrogen contents (with negative values for Chernozems). Tillage modified the LRR for pH and bulk density, as did animal fertilizer for microbial biomass quantity. These differences can be attributed to the differences in pairwise comparisons in these moderators rather than to the use of different farming systems themselves. The lack of effects of organic farming for some categories (SOM, carbon, phosphorus, other macroelements and microbial biomass quality) could be attributed to opposing input–decomposition processes, high variability in site conditions across studies or large scatter in the data. Our results highlight the importance of considering soil characteristics and moderators related to crop husbandry when evaluating the effects of farming systems on soil health. Full article

Continuous and objective monitoring of livestock behavior plays a key role in precision farming, animal welfare assessment, and reproductive management. This study proposes a non-invasive framework for sheep behavior and reproductive activity monitoring that integrates wearable actigraphy, machine learning, and a cloud-based data processing architecture. Tri-axial accelerometer data were collected at 30 Hz using collar-mounted ActiGraph sensors under real farming conditions. Raw acceleration signals were processed without temporal aggregation, preserving full temporal resolution that includes axis-specific acceleration, vector magnitude, and delta magnitude features. Several supervised learning models were evaluated for behavior classification, including BLSTM, LSTM, CNN–BLSTM, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine, targeting behaviors such as standing, walking, grazing, lying, flehmen, and mating. The results indicate that both deep learning and classical machine learning approaches achieve high classification performance, with Random Forest obtaining an overall accuracy of 0.82, while deep sequential models effectively capture temporal patterns and behavioral transitions. Furthermore, a scalable cloud architecture is introduced to automate data ingestion, preprocessing, inference, storage in InfluxDB, and visualization through an interactive web application. The proposed framework supports continuous monitoring and offers practical tools for precision livestock management. Full article

This online survey aimed to elaborate on the salary, working conditions, and job satisfaction of employed veterinarians in Germany. The focus was on factors influencing salaries, violations of German laws, and comparisons between employees of owner- and corporate-managed practices. Answers of up to 1184 veterinarians were analyzed, representing 6% of employed veterinarians. The hourly salary increased by around 19% compared to a study in 2020, but remained significantly lower than in comparable professions and did not rise as much as the national average over the last five years. A multifactorial linear model showed that working experience, additional qualifications, leadership role for other veterinarians, section (pets, equines, farm animals, or non-curative), and gender significantly influenced the salary. The adjusted gender pay gap was about 7%. Employees of corporations earned significantly more than veterinarians being employed in owner-managed practices, but not when salary was adjusted for overtime. Moreover, employees of corporations had significantly lower job satisfaction. Requirements of the German Working Hours Act were regularly not complied with, as e.g., around 40% of respondents reported not being able to take their legally required break at least once per week. Results indicate that, despite improvements, there is still a need to address working conditions to retain veterinarians in the profession. Full article