30 research outputs found
Gene expression profile of placentomes and clinical parameters in the cows with retained placenta
No full textBACKGROUND: Retained placenta (RP) is a prevalent disorder in cattle with many health-related and economic costs for the farm owners. Its etiology has not been clarified yet and there is no definite therapy for this disorder. In this study we conducted RNA-seq, hematologic and histologic experiments to survey the causes of RP development. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 4 RP and 3 healthy cows during periparturtion period for hematological assessments followed by placentome sampling within 30 min after parturition. Cows were grouped as RP and control in case the placenta was retained or otherwise expelled, respectively. Total RNA was extracted from placentome samples followed by RNA-sequencing. RESULTS: We showed 240 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the RP and control groups. Enrichment analyzes indicated immune system and lipid metabolism as prominent over- and under-represented pathways in RP cows, respectively. Hormonal assessments showed that estradiol-17β (E2) was lower and cortisol tended to be higher in RP cows compared to controls at the day of parturition. Furthermore, histologic experiment showed that villi-crypt junctions remain tighter in RP cows compared to controls and the crypts layer seemed thicker in the placentome of RP cows. Complete blood cell (CBC) parameters were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Overall, DEGs derived from expression profiling and these genes contributed to enrichment of immune and lipid metabolism pathways. We suggested that E2 could be involved in development of RP and the concentrations of P4 and CBC counts periparturition might not be a determining factor. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08989-5
D-Aspartate amends reproductive performance of aged roosters by changing gene expression and testicular histology
No full textMale broiler breeders (n ≤ 32) of 55 weeks of age were administered four different doses of capsulated d-Aspartate (DA; 0, 100, 200 or 300 mg kg -1 day -1 , p.o. (DA0, DA100, DA200 and DA300 respectively)) for 12 successive weeks to assess reproductive performance, blood testosterone, testicular histology and transcript levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), androgen receptor (AR), LH receptor (LHR), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3BHSD), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 1 (GRIN1) and glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 2B (GRIN2B). Blood samples and ejaculates were collected, and bodyweight was recorded weekly for 10 weeks. AI was performed weekly for the last 2 weeks to determine the number of sperm penetration holes in the perivitelline layer, fertility and hatchability. Testes histology and transcript levels were evaluated in the 12th week. Bodyweight, numbers of Leydig cells and blood vessels, testis index and levels of sperm abnormalities were not affected (P > 0.05) by the treatment. However, sperm total and forward motility, plasma membrane integrity and functionality of sperm, ejaculate volume, testosterone concentration and fertility were higher (P < 0.05) in both the DA200 and DA300 groups compared with the other groups. In the DA100 and DA200 groups, sperm concentration, number of spermatogonia, thickness of the seminiferous epithelium and the diameter of tubules were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the other DA-Treated groups. The number of penetration holes, hatchability and malondialdehyde concentration were higher in the DA200, all DA-Treated and DA300 groups respectively compared with the control and other treatment groups. Except for P450scc, AR, LHR and PCNA transcript levels in the DA300 groups, the relative expression of the genes evaluated improved significantly in the other DA-Treated groups. Based on these experimental findings, it is concluded that DA improves reproductive performance of aged roosters
A Survey Study on Management Practices Associated With Voluntary Waiting Period and Its Effects on Reproductive Performance of dairy cows in Iranian Dairy Farms
No full textABSTRACT Background Voluntary waiting period (VWP), housing systems and the presence of a veterinarian are effective factors on reproductive performance of a dairy farm. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the management practices associated with VWP and its effects on reproductive performance. Methods A total of 136,943 records of 21,756 cows that calved between 1990 and 2013 were used. A questionnaire was also conducted with the farms involved to determine if they adjust the timing of insemination based on the body condition score (BCS) of the cows, postpartum health situation (PPHS) or environmental factors such as heat stress and season. The impact of changing the VWP selectively, the presence of a veterinarian and the type of barn on reproductive outcomes like days open (DO), number of services per conception (NSPC) and days to first service (DFS) was examined using a linear mixed model. This model considered animals and herds as random factors and management practices as fixed factors in the analysis. Results Among herds that reported altering the VWP based on heat stress, DFS significantly increased (61.68 ± 0.68 vs. 58.4 ± 0.83) while DO (119.70 ± 1.86 vs. 126.9 ± 2.29) and NSPC (1.98 ± 0.04 vs. 2.48 ± 0.05) reduced compared to herds that did not alter the VWP. Our results showed that farms with a full‐time veterinarian had a better reproductive performance than those with part‐time care (p < 0.05). Housing system was significantly associated with fertility traits, so that cows in free‐stall barns were more fertile than those kept in open‐shed barns. Conclusions The obtained results from this study indicated that management decisions to selectively altering the VWP led to difference in DFS and improved reproductive performance
Effect of high dietary levels of α-tocopherol acetate on immune response of light and heavy weight male broiler breeders
No full textWorldwide researches on broiler breeders: A 25-year bibliometric review
No full textThe poultry industry plays a key role in meeting global protein needs amid changing demographics and lifestyles, and is constantly growing and evolving. Genetic selection and optimization of broiler breeder flocks have been key drivers of growth, making the maintenance of their health and performance essential both for chick production and for the long-term sustainability of the industry. Despite the high importance of broiler breeder flocks, no systematic bibliometric study has yet been conducted that specifically focuses on research in this area. To address this gap, we analyzed global research trends in broiler breeding science from 2000 to mid-2025 using bibliometric methods, based on 2,209 publications from the Scopus database. Scientific publications on broiler breeders have more than tripled over the past quarter-century compared to the previous five decades, maintaining an annual growth rate of approximately 4 %. These publications received an average of 17.06 citations per article, with approximately 21 % representing collaborative efforts between international research teams. The United States and China dominate in publications volume, although they show relatively low levels of international research collaboration. Conversely, countries such as the United Kingdom and Belgium, while contributing fewer total number of publications, show higher citation impact and broader international collaboration networks. The findings from co-word and co-citation analysis highlight several emerging research directions that emphasize interdisciplinary approaches involving nutrition, reproduction, welfare, and technological advancement. Ultimately, through this data analysis, we hope that our findings will help advance broiler breeding toward greater productivity, sustainability, and animal welfare
Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, reduces post-peak age-related regression of rooster reproductive performance
No full textImprovement of post-thawed sperm quality and fertility of Arian rooster by oral administration of d-aspartic acid
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The effect of acidifier supplementation on egg production performance and intestinal histology of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)
No full textBACKGROUND: Acidifier are substances with antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, performance and health benefits that are frequently employed in feed acidification, especially in poultry diet. Meanwhile, the most important factor for acidifier efficiency is the proportion of different acids in the final product. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of a commercial acidifier on egg production and histology of the small intestine in laying Japanese quail. METHODS: One‐hundred and sixty female quails at 15 weeks of age were divided into four groups and fed basal diet supplemented with different levels of acidifier (0, 1, 2 and 3 gr acidifier/kg of basal diet) for 8 weeks. Egg production, egg quality attributes and body weight (BW) were measured every 2 weeks. Histology of the small intestine and bacterial population of cecum as well as pH of crop, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and cecum contents were also investigated at the end of the experiment. RESULTS: Feed conversion ratio (FCR), yolk height, shell thickness, pH of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum; duodenum, villus width (VW), villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD); jejunum VH, VW and ileum VH to CD ratio (VCR) were linearly improved by the increasing levels of acidifier supplementation (P 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, as calculated, the supplementation of 1 and 2.6 g acidifier per kg of diet was associated with beneficial effects on egg production and quality, gastrointestinal tract pH and histology of the small intestine in laying quails
Trehalose and glycerol have a dose-dependent synergistic effect on the post-thawing quality of ram semen cryopreserved in a soybean lecithin-based extender
No full textP. 275-282The objective of this study was to examine the interaction of different concentrations of trehalose [0 (T0), 50 (T50) or 100 (T100) mM] and glycerol [5% (G5) or 7% (G7)] on post-thawed quality of ram semen, cryopreserved in a soybean lecithin (SL)-based extender. Twenty-eight ejaculates were collected from four rams and diluted with six trehalose/glycerol combinations: T0G5, T50G5, T100G5, T0G7, T50G7, and T100G7. Sperm motility (CASA), membrane integrity (eosin/nigrosin) and functionality (HOST), abnormal forms, capacitation status (CTC), mitochondrial activity (rhodamine 123), apoptotic features (Annexin V/propidium iodide) and lipoperoxidation (malondialdehyde production) were evaluated after thawing. Extender T100G5 yielded the highest results for total and progressive motility, sperm velocity, normal morphology, functional membranes, active mitochondria and membrane integrity, with P 0.05). The combinations T0G5, T0G7 and T100G7 yielded the lowest post-thaw quality. We could not detect significant changes in other kinematic parameters, capacitation status or lipoperoxidation. We conclude that, in our SL-based extender, a combination of 100 mM trehalose and 5% glycerol was the most adequate combination to achieving post-thawing quality in our soybean lecithin-based extender, and our results support that a synergistic effect among trehalose and glycerol exists. We suggest that other combinations could improve these results.S
