Impact of residual antibiotics on microbial decomposition of livestock manures in Eutric Regosol: Implications for sustainable nutrient recycling and soil carbon sequestration.

The land application of livestock manure has been widely acknowledged as a beneficial approach for nutrient recycling and environmental protection. However, the impact of residual antibiotics, a common contaminant of manure, on the degradation of organic compounds and nutrient release in Eutric Regosol is not well understood. Here, we studied, how oxytetracycline (OTC) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) affect the decomposition, microbial community structure, extracellular enzyme activities and nutrient release from cattle and pig manure using litterbag incubation experiments. Results showed that OTC and CIP greatly inhibited livestock manure decomposition, causing a decreased rate of carbon (28%-87%), nitrogen (15%-44%) and phosphorus (26%-43%) release. The relative abundance of gram-negative (G-) bacteria was reduced by 4.0%-13% while fungi increased by 7.0%-71% during a 28-day incubation period. Co-occurrence network analysis showed that antibiotic exposure disrupted microbial interactions, particularly among G- bacteria, G+ bacteria, and actinomycetes. These changes in microbial community structure and function resulted in decreased activity of urease, ß-1,4-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, alkaline protease, chitinase, and catalase, causing reduced decomposition and nutrient release in cattle and pig manures. These findings advance our understanding of decomposition and nutrient recycling from manure-contaminated antibiotics, which will help facilitate sustainable agricultural production and soil carbon sequestration.

Partnerships for policy: initiating a Global Burden of Animal Diseases case study in Indonesia.

The Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) programme aims to quantify the economic and broader societal costs of animal disease, providing information to policy-makers and other stakeholders to inform investments in animal health. Within this context, GBADs'Indonesian case study brings together a multidisciplinary and multi-national team to pilot the GBADs methodology in the Asiaâ€"Pacific region. This article describes the process of building a case study and, based on that experience, summarises key learnings to inform the development of future case studies and similar projects. Recommendations focus on the steps required to build successful partnerships to deliver a complex programme of work; the authors highlight the need to consider the local context in aligning project and country priorities, the importance of early engagement with a range of stakeholders, and the need for regular and clear communication within the project team.

Le programme " Impact mondial des maladies animales " (GBADs) vise à quantifier les coûts économiques et plus largement sociétaux des maladies animales, de manière à fournir aux décideurs politiques et aux autres parties prenantes l'information nécessaire pour étayer leurs décisions sur les investissements à réaliser en santé animale. Dans ce contexte, l'étude de cas lancée par le GBADs en Indonésie a réuni une équipe multidisciplinaire et internationale qui a eu pour tâche de piloter l'application de la méthode du GBADs dans la région Asie-Pacifique. Les auteurs décrivent le processus d'élaboration d'une étude de cas ; ils résument ensuite les principaux enseignements tirés de cette expérience, qui apporteront un éclairage précieux lors de la conception de futures études de cas et de projets similaires. Les recommandations portent principalement sur les étapes nécessaires à la mise en place de partenariats réussis et capables d'obtenir des résultats à travers un programme de travail complexe ; les auteurs soulignent ainsi la nécessité de prendre en compte le contexte local afin d'adapter les projets aux priorités du pays, l'importance de nouer des liens dès le départ avec une diversité de parties prenantes et l'exigence d'une communication claire et régulière au sein de l'équipe du projet.

El programa sobre el Impacto Global de las Enfermedades Animales (GBADs) tiene como objetivo cuantificar los costos económicos y sociales de las enfermedades animales, proporcionando información a los encargados de formular políticas y a otras partes interesadas para orientar las inversiones en sanidad animal. En este contexto, el estudio de caso del GBADs en Indonesia reúne a un equipo multidisciplinario y multinacional para poner a prueba la metodología del GBADs en la región de Asia y el Pacífico. En este artículo se describe el proceso de elaboración de un estudio de caso y, a partir de dicha experiencia, se resumen las principales enseñanzas que servirán de base para el desarrollo de futuros estudios de caso y proyectos similares. Las recomendaciones se centran en los pasos necesarios para crear alianzas fructíferas que permitan llevar adelante un programa de trabajo complejo. Los autores destacan la necesidad de tener en cuenta el contexto local a la hora de alinear las prioridades del proyecto y las del país, la importancia de establecer una pronta colaboración con diversas partes interesadas y la necesidad de que haya una comunicación regular y clara dentro del equipo del proyecto.

Ontologies related to livestock for the Global Burden of Animal Diseases programme: a review.

The Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) programme aims to assess the impact of animal health on agricultural animals, livestock production systems and associated communities worldwide. As part of the objectives of GBADs'Animal Health Ontology theme, the programme reviewed conceptual frameworks, ontologies and classification systems in biomedical science. The focus was on data requirements in animal health and the connections between animal health and human and environmental health. In May 2023, the team conducted searches of recognised repositories of biomedical ontologies, including BioPortal, Open Biological and Biomedical Ontology Foundry, and Ontology Lookup Service, to identify animal and livestock ontologies and those containing relevant concepts. Sixteen ontologies were found, covering topics such as surveillance, anatomy and genetics. Notable examples include the Animal Trait Ontology for Livestock, the Animal Health Surveillance Ontology, the National Center for Biotechnology Information Taxonomy and the Uberon Multi-Species Anatomy Ontology. However, some ontologies lacked class definitions for a significant portion of their classes. The review highlights the need for domain evidence to support proposed models, critical appraisal of external ontologies before reuse, and external expert reviews along with statistical tests of agreements. The findings from this review informed the structural framework, concepts and rationales of the animal health ontology for GBADs. This animal health ontology aims to increase the interoperability and transparency of GBADs data, thereby enabling estimates of the impacts of animal diseases on agriculture, livestock production systems and associated communities globally.

Le programme " Impact mondial des maladies animales " (GBADs) vise à évaluer l'impact de la santé animale sur les animaux d'élevage, les systèmes de production animale et les communautés liées à ce secteur d'activités dans le monde. Afin de définir une ontologie de la santé animale répondant aux objectifs du GBADs, le programme a procédé à un examen des cadres conceptuels, des ontologies et des systèmes de classification actuellement appliqués en sciences biomédicales. Il s'agissait de définir les besoins en données dans le domaine de la santé animale ainsi que les connexions entre la santé animale, la santé publique et la santé environnementale. En mai 2023, l'équipe a procédé à des recherches dans des référentiels reconnus d'ontologies biomédicales, notamment BioPortal, Open Biological and Biomedical Ontology Foundry et Ontology Lookup Service, afin de recenser les ontologies relatives aux animaux et au bétail ainsi que celles contenant des concepts pertinents. Seize ontologies ont été relevées, couvrant des thèmes tels que la surveillance, l'anatomie et la génétique. Parmi les exemples notables on peut citer : Animal Trait Ontology for Livestock (ontologie dédiée aux caractères phénotypiques des animaux d'élevage), Animal Health Surveillance Ontology (ontologie dédiée à la surveillance de la santé animale), National Center for Biotechnology Information Taxonomy (la base de données Taxonomie du Centre américain pour les informations biotechnologiques), et Uberon Multi-Species Anatomy Ontology (ontologie anatomique représentant diverses espèces animales). Il a cependant été constaté que certaines ontologies ne disposent pas de définitions de classes pour une grande partie des classes qui les composent. L'examen a souligné l'importance d'étayer les modèles proposés par des données issues des spécialités en question, de procéder à une évaluation critique des ontologies externes avant de les réutiliser et de faire effectuer des examens complémentaires par des experts externes ainsi que des tests statistiques de concordance. Les résultats de cette étude ont apporté des éléments permettant de définir le cadre structurel, les concepts et les principes de l'ontologie relative à la santé animale destinée au GBADs. Cette ontologie de la santé animale vise à accroître l'interopérabilité et la transparence des données du GBADs, ce qui permet d'effectuer des estimations de l'impact des maladies animales sur l'agriculture, les systèmes de production animale et les communautés associées à ce secteur d'activités à l'échelle mondiale.

El programa sobre el impacto global de las enfermedades animales (GBADs) tiene como objetivo evaluar el impacto de la sanidad animal en los animales de granja, los sistemas de producción ganadera y las comunidades conexas en todo el mundo. Como parte de los objetivos en torno al tema de la ontología de la sanidad animal del GBADs, el programa revisó marcos conceptuales, ontologías y sistemas de clasificación en el ámbito de la ciencia biomédica. Se hizo hincapié en los requisitos de datos sobre la sanidad animal y en las conexiones entre la sanidad animal y la salud humana y ambiental. En mayo de 2023, el equipo realizó búsquedas en repositorios reconocidos de ontologías biomédicas, como BioPortal, Open Biological and Biomedical Ontology Foundry y Ontology Lookup Service, para identificar no solo ontologías animales y ganaderas, sino también aquellas que incluyeran conceptos relevantes. En este sentido, se encontraron dieciséis ontologías, que abarcan temas como vigilancia, anatomía y genética. Entre los ejemplos más destacados figuran Animal Trait Ontology for Livestock (Ontología de Características Animales para el Ganado), Animal Health Surveillance Ontology (Ontología de Vigilancia de la Sanidad Animal), National Center for Biotechnology Information Taxonomy (la base de datos Taxonomía del Centro Nacional para la Información Biotecnológica) y Uberon Multi-Species Anatomy Ontology (Ontología Anatómica de Especies Múltiples). Sin embargo, algunas ontologías carecían de definiciones para una parte significativa de sus clases. La revisión pone de relieve la necesidad de contar con datos probatorios del ámbito en cuestión que respalden los modelos propuestos, una evaluación crítica de las ontologías externas antes de su reutilización y revisiones de expertos externos junto con pruebas estadísticas de los acuerdos. Los resultados de esta revisión han servido de base para el marco estructural, los conceptos y los fundamentos de la ontología de la sanidad animal para el GBADs. Esta ontología pretende aumentar la interoperabilidad y la transparencia de los datos del GBADs, permitiendo así estimar el impacto de las enfermedades animales en la agricultura, los sistemas de producción ganadera y las comunidades conexas en todo el mundo.

A multidisciplinary analysis of over 53,000 fascioliasis patients along the 1995-2019 countrywide spread in Vietnam defines a new epidemiological baseline for One Health approaches.

Fascioliasis, only foodborne trematodiasis of worldwide distribution, is caused by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica, liver flukes transmitted by freshwater snails. Southern and southeastern Asia is an emerging hot spot of F. gigantica, despite its hitherto less involvement in human infection. In Vietnam, increasing cases have been reported since 1995, whereas only sixteen throughout 1800-1994. A database was created to include epidemiological data of fascioliasis patients from the 63 Vietnam provinces throughout 1995-2019. Case profiles were based on serology, symptoms, eosinophilia, imaging techniques, stool egg finding, and post-specific-treatment recovery. Radio broadcasting about symptoms and costless diagnosis/treatment led patients to hospitals after symptom onset. Yearly case numbers were modelled and spatio-temporally analyzed. Missing data and confounders were assessed. The countrywide spread has no precedent. It started in the central coast, including 53,109 patients, mostly adults and females. Seasonality, linked to vegetable consumption, peaks in June, although the intensity of this peak differs according to relief/climatic zones. Incidence data and logistic regression curves are obtained for the first time in human fascioliasis. Fasciolid hybrids accompanying the spreading F. gigantica flukes, and climate change assessed by risk index correlations, are both ruled out as outbreak causes. Human-guided movements of livestock from an original area prove to be the way used by fasciolids and lymnaeid vectors to expand geographically. Radix viridis, a highly efficient transmitting and colonizing vector, played a decisive role in the spread. The use of irrigated crop fields, widely inhabited by R. viridis, for livestock grazing facilitated the transmission and spread of the disease. General physician awareness and diagnostic capacity improvement proved the successful impact of such knowledge transfer in facilitating and increasing patient infection detection. Information, education and communication to the public by radio broadcasting demonstrated to be very helpful. Fasciola gigantica is able to cause epidemic and endemic situations similar to F. hepatica. The magnitude of the human outbreak in Vietnam is a health wake-up call for southern and southeastern countries of Asia which present the highest human population densities with increasing food demands, uncontrolled livestock inter-country exchange, foreign import practices, and monsoon's increasing climate change impact.

Methods and data needs to estimate the economic market value of livestock at different spatial scales.

Assessing the economic value of livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens and fish can offer information about their financial performance and economic importance at farm, national and global scale. Such information is needed for decision-making surrounding livestock finance, investment and strategic development. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the key livestock valuation methods and associated data requirements. The study was conducted using a literature review. Five key livestock valuation methods were identified and described: historical costs, net current market value, replacement costs, net present value and cost of production. The findings of this study may be of interest to livestock scientists, veterinarians, policy-makers and other stakeholders who aim to assess the economic value of livestock herds. The Global Burden of Animal Diseases programme relied on the outcomes of this study to identify methods for the estimation of the economic value of livestock at the global scale and for its Ethiopia and Indonesia case studies.

L'estimation de la valeur économique des animaux d'élevage (bovins, caprins, ovins, porcins, poulets et poissons d'élevage) peut apporter un éclairage sur leurs performances financières et leur intérêt économique à l'échelle d'une exploitation, d'un pays ou du monde. Ces informations sont indispensables pour étayer les décisions de financement, d'investissement et de développement stratégique des élevages. L'étude présentée par l'autrice vise à donner une vue d'ensemble des principales méthodes d'estimation de la valeur des animaux d'élevage et des exigences qui leur sont associées en termes de données. L'étude repose sur un examen de la littérature sur le sujet. Cinq méthodes principales d'estimation de la valeur des animaux d'élevage y sont répertoriées et décrites : coûts historiques, valeur marchande courante nette, coûts de remplacement, valeur actuelle nette et coûts de production. Les résultats de cette étude pourraient intéresser les spécialistes de l'élevage, les vétérinaires, les décideurs politiques et d'autres parties prenantes qui cherchent à évaluer la valeur économique des cheptels. Le programme " Impact mondial des maladies animales " s'est appuyé sur les résultats de cette étude pour retenir les méthodes d'estimation de la valeur économique des animaux d'élevage appliquées à l'échelle mondiale ainsi que dans les études de cas conduites en Ethiopie et en Indonésie.

Evaluar el valor económico del ganado, como vacas, cabras, ovejas, cerdos, pollos y peces, puede ofrecer información sobre su desempeño financiero y su importancia económica tanto a nivel de la explotación como a escala nacional y mundial. Esta información es necesaria para la toma de decisiones en materia de financiación, inversión y desarrollo estratégico de la ganadería. El objetivo de este estudio era ofrecer una visión general de los principales métodos de valoración del ganado y de las necesidades de datos conexas. Para ello, se llevó a cabo una revisión bibliográfica y se distinguieron y describieron cinco métodos fundamentales de valoración de la ganadería: costes históricos, valor actual de mercado neto, costes de reposición, valor actual neto y costes de producción. Las conclusiones de este estudio pueden ser de interés para científicos que trabajan en el ámbito de la ganadería, veterinarios, responsables de la toma de decisiones y otras partes interesadas en la evaluación del valor económico del ganado. El programa sobre el Impacto Global de las Enfermedades Animales se basó en los resultados de este estudio para definir métodos de estimación del valor económico del ganado a escala mundial y para sus estudios de caso de Etiopía e Indonesia.

Comparative study of non-suppurative meningoencephalitis in cattle in Southern Brazil.

Viral neurologic diseases are common in cattle, although most non-suppurative meningoencephalitis (NSM) remains etiologically unknown. We compared the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological data among 79 cases of rabies, 12 cases of NSM of unknown etiology (NSM-UE), and 8 cases of herpetic meningoencephalitis previously diagnosed in cattle in Southern Brazil. Neurological clinical signs were similar among rabies and NSM-UE and different in cattle with herpetic meningoencephalitis. Only two herpetic meningoencephalitis cases had gross lesions in the central nervous system, characterized by malacia and hemorrhage. Histologically, all three groups had mild to severe multifocal infiltrates of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages/microglial cells in the Virchow-Robin space, neuropil, and leptomeninges, and gliosis. Other findings included malacia and eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion in rabies, and malacia and intranuclear amphophilic inclusion in herpetic meningoencephalitis. By immunohistochemistry, the predominant inflammatory cells in all cases were T lymphocytes, followed by macrophages/microglial cells, B lymphocytes, and astrocytes. The T lymphocyte count showed statistically significant differences between the diseases. Our results revealed few differences between the groups. Although the etiological agent involved has not been identified in cases of NSM-UE, the characteristics observed in this study showed similarity with viral diseases.

Residues of veterinary drugs and heavy metal contamination in livestock and poultry meat from Hunan Province, China.

Livestock and poultry meat consumption play an important role in the dietary structure of Chinese residents. However, the extent of residues of veterinary drugs and heavy metal contamination in livestock and poultry meat and their by-products within Hunan province is not extensively studied. This survey aimed to fill this gap by assessing the presence of 76 veterinary drug residues in Hunan province. Additionally, heavy metals in pork and pig liver were also assessed. The obtained findings suggest that residues of veterinary drugs are still present in livestock and poultry meat, as well as their by-products, within Hunan province. However, the contamination of heavy metals remained within the food safety limits. These results underscore the significance of establishing more refined criteria for assessing human exposure, taking into account factors such as consumption patterns, product varieties and chemical compounds of interest.

Beyond the hype: using AI, big data, wearable devices, and the internet of things for high-throughput livestock phenotyping.

Phenotyping of animals is a routine task in agriculture which can provide large datasets for the functional annotation of genomes. Using the livestock farming sector to study complex traits enables genetics researchers to fully benefit from the digital transformation of society as economies of scale substantially reduces the cost of phenotyping animals on farms. In the agricultural sector genomics has transitioned towards a model of 'Genomics without the genes' as a large proportion of the genetic variation in animals can be modelled using the infinitesimal model for genomic breeding valuations. Combined with third generation sequencing creating pan-genomes for livestock the digital infrastructure for trait collection and precision farming provides a unique opportunity for high-throughput phenotyping and the study of complex traits in a controlled environment. The emphasis on cost efficient data collection mean that mobile phones and computers have become ubiquitous for cost-efficient large-scale data collection but that the majority of the recorded traits can still be recorded manually with limited training or tools. This is especially valuable in low- and middle income countries and in settings where indigenous breeds are kept at farms preserving more traditional farming methods. Digitalization is therefore an important enabler for high-throughput phenotyping for smaller livestock herds with limited technology investments as well as large-scale commercial operations. It is demanding and challenging for individual researchers to keep up with the opportunities created by the rapid advances in digitalization for livestock farming and how it can be used by researchers with or without a specialization in livestock. This review provides an overview of the current status of key enabling technologies for precision livestock farming applicable for the functional annotation of genomes.

Reduction of organic matter containing benzimidazole and toxicity in real livestock wastewater through advanced oxidation processes.

Livestock wastewater (LWW) has a complex characteristic of high organic matter content, metals, nutrients, and pharmaceutical compounds. Advanced oxidation processes (AOP) are a potential option for treating this wastewater. This study evaluated real LWW and the performance of UV/H2O2 and UV/peroxymonosulfate (UV/PMS) for its treatment. The experiments were conducted in a UV photoreactor (16 mW/m2, λ = 254 nm). The oxidant agents (Ox) tested were H2O2 and PMS, each at low, medium, and high TOC/Ox molar ratios. A pretreatment based on chemical precipitation was implemented. Annually, the LWW showed total organic carbon (TOC) values of 859 ± 13.37 mg/L, 168.85 ± 1.62 mg/L of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and toxicity of 96% v/v. In the dry season, albendazole (ABZ) (95.3 ± 35.16 mg/L), Cu (4.3 ± 0.23 mg/L), Fe (3.8 ± 0.38 mg/L), and suspended solids (SS) (1015 ± 586.9 mg/L) were identified, so pretreatment was implemented. The UV/PMS process with the lowest molar ratio [TOC/Ox 1:0.75] removed significantly lower TOC concentrations (p < 0.05), but toxicity decreased entirely. The study of mineralization and toxicity provided insight into the changes in LWW during treatment with AOP. Furthermore, it contributed to establishing the technical basis for implementing efficient treatment processes.

Eco-conscious potentiometric sensing: a multiwalled carbon nanotube-based platform for tulathromycin monitoring in livestock products.

Tulathromycin (TUL) is a widely used veterinary antibiotic for treating bovine and porcine respiratory infections. Consuming animal-derived food contaminated with this medication may jeopardize human health. This work adopted the first portable potentiometric platform for direct TUL sensing in pharmaceutical and food products. The sensor employed a plasticized PVC membrane on a glassy carbon electrode doped with calix[6]arene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in a single solid contact layer for selective binding and signal stability. Characterization via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the material's integrity. The MWCNT-based sensor produced a stable Nernstian response (1.0 × 10-7 to 1.0 × 10-3 M) and a limit of detection (LOD) of 9.76 × 10-8 M with instantaneous response (8 ± 2 s). IUPAC validation revealed high selectivity for TUL against interfering ions, minimal drift (0.6 mV/h), and functionality over a broad pH range (2.0-7.0), allowing direct application to dosage form, spiked milk, and liver samples. Eco-Scale, AGREE, and Whiteness assessment proved the method's ecological sustainability, economic viability, and practical feasibility, surpassing traditional approaches.

Ultrasound probe enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis for rapid separation of ß2-adrenergic agonists from animal urine and livestock wastewater: Applicability to biomonitoring investigation.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of ß2-adrenergic agonists are illicitly used for growth promoting and lean meat increasing in animal husbandry in recent years, but the development of analytical methods has lagged behind these emerging drugs. RESULTS: Here, we designed and developed an ultrasound probe enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis reactor for quick separation and simultaneously quantification of 22 ß2-adrenergic agonists in animal urine and livestock wastewater. Owing to the enhancement of the conventional enzymatic digestion through the ultrasound acoustic probe power, only 2 min was required for the comprehensively separation of ß2-adrenergic agonists from the sample matrices, making it a much more desirable alternative tool for high-throughput investigation. The swine, bovine and sheep urines (n = 287), and livestock wastewater (n = 15) samples, collected from both the north and south China, were examined to demonstrate the feasibility and capability of the proposed approach. Six kinds of ß2-adrenergic agonists (clenbuterol, salbutamol, ractopamine, terbutaline, clorprenaline and cimaterol) were found in animal urines, with concentrations ranged between 0.056 µg/L (terbutaline) and 5.79 µg/L (clenbuterol). Up to nine ß2-adrenergic agonists were detected in wastewater samples, of which four were found in swine farms and nine in cattle/sheep farms, with concentration levels from 0.069 µg/L (tulobuterol) to 2470 µg/L (clenbuterol). SIGNIFICANCE: Interestingly, since ß2-adrenergic agonists are usually considered to be abused mainly in the pig farms, our data indicate that both the detection frequencies and concentrations of these agonists in the ruminant farms were higher than the pig farms. Furthermore, the findings of this work indicated that there is a widespread occurrence of ß2-adrenergic agonists in livestock farms, especially for clenbuterol and salbutamol, which may pose both food safety and potential ecological risks. We recommend that stricter controls should be adopted to prevent the illegally usage of these ß2-adrenergic agonists in agricultural animals, especially ruminants, and they should also be removed before discharging to the environment.

Editing microbes to mitigate enteric methane emissions in livestock.

Livestock production significantly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions particularly methane (CH4) emissions thereby influencing climate change. To address this issue further, it is crucial to establish strategies that simultaneously increase ruminant productivity while minimizing GHG emissions, particularly from cattle, sheep, and goats. Recent advancements have revealed the potential for modulating the rumen microbial ecosystem through genetic selection to reduce methane (CH4) production, and by microbial genome editing including CRISPR/Cas9, TALENs (Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases), ZFNs (Zinc Finger Nucleases), RNA interference (RNAi), Pime editing, Base editing and double-stranded break-free (DSB-free). These technologies enable precise genetic modifications, offering opportunities to enhance traits that reduce environmental impact and optimize metabolic pathways. Additionally, various nutrition-related measures have shown promise in mitigating methane emissions to varying extents. This review aims to present a future-oriented viewpoint on reducing methane emissions from ruminants by leveraging CRISPR/Cas9 technology to engineer the microbial consortia within the rumen. The ultimate objective is to develop sustainable livestock production methods that effectively decrease methane emissions, while maintaining animal health and productivity.

Pollinator response to livestock grazing: implications for rangeland conservation in sagebrush ecosystems.

World food supplies rely on pollination, making this plant-animal relationship a highly valued ecosystem service. Bees pollinate flowering plants in rangelands that constitute up to half of global terrestrial vegetation. Livestock grazing is the most widespread rangeland use and can affect insect pollinators through herbivory. We examined management effects on bee abundance and other insect pollinators on grazed and idle sagebrush rangelands in central Montana, USA. From 2016 to 2018, we sampled pollinators on lands enrolled in rest-rotation grazing, unenrolled grazing lands, and geographically separate idle lands without grazing for over a decade. Bare ground covered twice as much area (15% vs. 7) with half the litter (12% vs. 24) on grazed than idle regardless of enrollment. Bee pollinators were 2-3 times more prevalent in grazed than idle in 2016-2017. In 2018, bees were similar among grazed and idled during an unseasonably wet and cool summer that depressed pollinator catches; captures of secondary pollinators was similar among treatments 2 of 3 study years. Ground-nesting bees (94.6% of total bee abundance) were driven by periodic grazing that maintained bare ground and kept litter accumulations in check. In contrast, idle provided fewer nesting opportunities for bees that were mostly solitary, ground-nesting genera requiring unvegetated spaces for reproduction. Managed lands supported higher bee abundance that evolved with bison grazing on the eastern edge of the sagebrush ecosystem. Our findings suggest that periodic disturbance may enhance pollinator habitat, and that rangelands may benefit from periodic grazing by livestock.

Inferring resource use from functional area presence in a small, single-flock of chickens in a mobile barn.

In poultry behavior research, the reliance on presence data to estimate actual resource usage has substantially increased with the advent of tracking technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID) and image-based systems. Although such widely used technologies are fundamentally designed for presence tracking, many studies claim to use them to investigate actual resource usage. This study investigates whether the duration of chickens' presence near key resources accurately reflects their actual usage. To this end, we analyzed 210 ten-min video sequences from 5 days of recordings of 21 chickens, focusing on their proximity to and use of 6 key resources in a mobile poultry barn. Human observers manually assessed the durations of proximity-presence in defined functional areas of interest-and resource use for each individual in the video sequences. Significant correlations (Spearman's coefficient 0.83-1) were found for most resources, except the pophole (Rho = -0.30). Usage-to-presence ratios varied: perches exceeded 87%, feeder and enrichments around 66%, drinker 50%, and pophole 10%. Our findings highlight that mere proximity to resources does not always guarantee their effective use. We emphasize the need for careful interpretation of data from tracking technologies, acknowledging the distinction between mere proximity and actual resource use. Future studies should include larger sample sizes and varied conditions to ensure broader applicability.

Validating statistical properties of resilience indicators derived from simulated longitudinal performance measures of farmed animals.

Resilience is commonly defined as the ability of an individual to be minimally affected or to quickly recover from a challenge. Improvement of animals' resilience is a vital component of sustainable livestock production but has so far been hampered by the lack of established quantitative resilience measures. Several studies proposed that summary statistics of the deviations of an animal's observed performance from its target performance trajectory (i.e., performance in the absence of challenge) may constitute suitable quantitative resilience indicators. However, these statistical indicators require further validation. The aim of this study was to obtain a better understanding of these resilience indicators in their ability to discriminate between different response types and their dependence on different response characteristics of animals, and data recording features. To this purpose, milk-yield trajectories of individual dairy cattle differing in resilience, without and when exposed to a short-term challenge, were simulated. Individuals were categorised into three broad response types (with individual variation within each type): Fully Resilient animals, which experience no systematic perturbation in milk yield after challenge, Non-Resilient animals whose milk yield permanently deviates from the target trajectory after challenge and Partially Resilient animals that experience temporary perturbations but recover. The following statistical resilience indicators previously suggested in the literature were validated with respect to their ability to discriminate between response types and their sensitivity to various response features and data characteristics: logarithm of mean of squares (LMS), logarithm of variance (LV), skewness (S), lag-1 autocorrelation (AC1), and area under the curve (AUC) of deviations. Furthermore, different methods for estimating unknown target trajectories were evaluated. All of the considered resilience indicators could distinguish between the Fully Resilient response type and either of the other two types when target trajectories were known or estimated using a parametric method. When the comparison was between Partially Resilient and Non-Resilient, only LMS, LV, and AUC could correctly rank the response types, provided that the observation period was at least twice as long as the perturbation period. Skewness was in general the least reliable indicator, although all indicators showed correct dependency on the amplitude and duration of the perturbations. In addition, all resilience indicators except for AC1 were robust to lower frequency of measurements. In general, parametric methods (quantile or repeated regression) combined with three resilience indicators (LMS, LV and AUC) were found the most reliable techniques for ranking animals in terms of their resilience.

Excluding livestock access to farm dams reduces methane emissions and boosts water quality.

Farm dams, also known as 'agricultural ponds', are ubiquitous features of agricultural landscapes globally. Those accessed by livestock have high methane (CH4) emissions per unit area relative to other freshwater systems. Fencing dams and installing water troughs to prevent livestock from entering the dams are promising strategies to improve water quality and substantially reduce their carbon footprints. However, previous studies only measured the effects of fencing on methane diffusive emissions without considering ebullitive fluxes (i.e., methane bubbles), which is often the dominant emission pathway in smaller water bodies. Also, data is lacking on how the benefits of fencing farm dams vary across seasons. Using Australia as a test case, this study investigates the benefit of fencing off farm dams by monitoring total CH4 (diffusion + ebullition) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in summer and winter. Fenced dams had 72 % lower CH4 emissions in summer and 92 % lower in winter than unfenced dams. Similarly, CO2-equivalent (CO2 + CH4) fluxes were lower in fenced dams by 59 % in summer and 73 % in winter. Fenced dams had higher water quality, with 51 % less total dissolved nitrogen, 57 % less phosphorous, and 23-49 % more dissolved oxygen. Average daily air temperature was a key predictor of CH4 emissions from farm dams, underscoring the importance of considering temporal dynamics for estimating yearly farm dam emissions. We confirmed that excluding livestock from entering farm dams using fences significantly mitigates CH4 emissions and enhances water quality, and these benefits are maintained seasonally.

Molecular and serological investigations of Batai virus in cattle and goats in the border area of Yunnan, China (2021-2022).

Introduction: Batai virus (BATV), a zoonotic pathogen transmitted by mosquitoes, infects vertebrates, including livestock, birds, and humans. Although BATV has been detected and isolated in mosquitoes in Yunnan Province, China, there have been no reports of livestock infection. Thus, we conducted a molecular and serological investigation of BATV in cattle and goat sera collected in spring and autumn from 2021 to 2022 in Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, on the China-Vietnam border. Methods: We used indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and reverse transcription real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) to test 929 cattle and 973 goat serum samples. Results: BATV antibodies were detected in 262/929 (28.2%) cattle and 263/973 (27.0%) goat serum samples. RT-qPCR did not detect BATV RNA. Discussion: The positive rate of BATV serum antibodies in cattle and goats in Luxi County was higher compared with other areas, and it was also higher in autumn compared with spring, which may be related to climate, temperature, and mosquito density. Although our findings indicated the presence of BATV infection in livestock in the region, RT-qPCR did not detect BATV RNA. Therefore, BATV monitoring in cattle and goats should be heightened in autumn, and the scope of host monitoring should be expanded to clarify the hosts and vectors of BATV infection.

Fate of micropollutants in struvite production from swine wastewater with sacrificial magnesium anode.

Struvite recovery shows significant potential for simultaneously recovering nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from swine wastewater but is challenged by the occurrence and transformation of antibiotic residuals. Electrochemically mediated struvite precipitation with sacrificial magnesium anode (EMSP-Mg) is promising due to its automation and chemical-free merits. However, the fate of antibiotics remains underexplored. We investigated the behavior of sulfadiazine (SD), an antibiotic frequently detected but less studied than others within the EMSP-Mg system. Significantly less SD (≤ 5%) was co-precipitated with recovered struvite in EMSP-Mg than conventional chemical struvite precipitation (CSP) processes (15.0 to 50.0%). The reduced SD accumulation in struvite recovered via EMSP was associated with increased pH and electric potential differences, which likely enhanced the electrostatic repulsion between SD and struvite. In contrast, the typical strategies used in enhancing P removal in the EMSP-Mg system, including increasing the Mg/P ratio or the Mg-release rates, have shown negligible effects on SD adsorption. Furthermore, typical coexisting ions (Ca2+, Cl-, and HCO3-) inhibited SD adsorption onto recovered products. These results provide new insights into the interactions between antibiotics and struvite within the EMSP-Mg system, enhancing our understanding of antibiotic migration pathways and aiding the development of novel EMSP processes for cleaner struvite recovery.

Using EPIWATCH® open-source surveillance to describe the epidemiology of lumpy skin disease outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia (2022-2023).

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) poses a significant threat to animal welfare and leads to economic losses in affected countries. LSD outbreaks may also impact trade and regional relationships. South and Southeast Asia, with its dense livestock population and intricate trade networks, are susceptible to LSD outbreaks. Indonesia confirmed its first LSD cases in March 2022, leading to substantial livestock losses by August 2023. Australia, an important player in the global beef industry, faced trade disruptions due to LSD concerns raised by Indonesia and Malaysia, claims that were refuted by Australian authorities. The dispute highlights the need for good surveillance. EPIWATCH®, employing artificial intelligence, provides real-time outbreak signals, and spatial analysis can identify LSD hotspots, leading to timely interventions. This study uses data collected by the EPIWATCH® open-source disease surveillance system at the University of New South Wales in 2022 and 2023 and compares it for timeliness and completeness with data available on the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS). We found more timely reports of LSD outbreaks in EPIWATCH® compared to WAHIS. In conclusion, open-source surveillance tools like EPIWATCH® can provide timely alerts of disease emergence, such as LSD outbreaks in South and Southeast Asia, which can supplement formal reporting systems.

Technical Note: Assessing GPS Sensor Accuracy Using Real-Time Kinematic Device for Livestock Tracking.

The technical aspects of GPS sensors have been improved substantially over the years, making them valuable and popular tools for livestock tracking. Using GPS sensors allows producers and researchers to locate grazing livestock, monitor their behavior and distribution, and gather referencing information about the health status of the animals and pastures. However, interpreting the behavior of grazing livestock, such as cattle, from GPS data can be difficult due to positioning inaccuracies. Without knowing the positioning accuracy range of GPS sensors, achieving high-level confidence in determining grazing densities and identifying abnormal livestock movement patterns is challenging. In this study, the positioning accuracy of three different types of commercial GPS sensors was assessed using a survey-grade real-time kinematics (RTK) device. We outlined the procedures, essential equations and compared the recorded locations from the GPS sensors with reference locations collected from the RTK device. The results demonstrated statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in positioning accuracy between different types of GPS sensors. The circular error probable (CEP) at 95% probability levels (CEP95) of the three sensors ranged from 2.46 m to 11.06 m. This accuracy varied among individual sensors within the same brand and across different brands, which underscores the importance of evaluating positioning accuracy of GPS sensors in livestock tracking. This study provides significant insights for animal scientists, ecologists, and livestock producers engaged in GPS sensor-related research and practices.