Comparative assessment of climate resilient potential in four poultry genotypes reared in hot-humid tropical environment: a preliminary evaluation.

The general objective of this study is to comparatively assess the climate-resilient potential of four different poultry genotypes-Giriraja (n = 8), Country chicken (n = 8), Naked neck (n = 8), and Kadaknath (n = 8)-reared in a hot-humid tropical environment. Birds from all genotypes had ad libitum access to feed and water and were exposed to identical environmental temperatures in the experimental shed. Diurnal meteorological data were recorded inside and outside the shed daily. Blood biochemical, hormonal, and endocrine variables were monitored monthly until the birds reached 12 weeks of age. Significant variations (P < 0.01) were observed at different intervals in variables, including total protein, albumin, globulin, triglycerides, and cholesterol. Genotype-specific differences were noted in triglycerides (P < 0.01), albumin (P < 0.01), total protein (P < 0.05), and cholesterol (P < 0.05). Inter-genotype variations (P < 0.05) were also observed in serum cortisol, T3, and T4 levels. Distinct variations (P < 0.05) were also observed during specific intervals, particularly in cortisol and T3 levels. The study of hepatic mRNA expression of HSPs and HSF-1 revealed a significant breed difference (P < 0.05) in the expression pattern of HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and HSP110, while no difference was observed between genotypes for HSP40 and HSF-1. The study highlights the Naked Neck breed as an exemplar of resilience, showcasing its distinctive ability to maintain homeostasis under heat stress compared to other genotypes. The genetic and physiological insights gained from this investigation offer prospective pathways for aligning sustainable poultry farming with environmental exigencies.

Selection signatures for high altitude adaptation in livestock: A review.

High altitude adapted livestock species (cattle, yak, goat, sheep, and horse) has critical role in the human socioeconomic sphere and acts as good source of animal source products including milk, meat, and leather, among other things. These species sustain production and reproduction even in harsh environments on account of adaptation resulting from continued evolution of beneficial traits. Selection pressure leads to various adaptive strategies in livestock whose footprints are evident at the different genomic sites as the "Selection Signature". Scrutiny of these signatures provides us crucial insight into the evolutionary process and domestication of livestock adapted to diverse climatic conditions. These signatures have the potential to change the sphere of animal breeding and further usher the selection programmes in right direction. Technological revolution and recent strides made in genomic studies has opened the routes for the identification of selection signatures. Numerous statistical approaches and bioinformatics tools have been developed to detect the selection signature. Consequently, studies across years have identified candidate genes under selection region found associated with numerous traits which have a say in adaptation to high-altitude environment. This makes it pertinent to have a better understanding about the selection signature, the ways to identify and how to utilize them for betterment of livestock populations as well as farmers. This review takes a closer look into the general concept, various methodologies, and bioinformatics tools commonly employed in selection signature studies and summarize the results of recent selection signature studies related to high-altitude adaptation in various livestock species. This review will serve as an informative and useful insight for researchers and students in the field of animal breeding and evolutionary biology.

Deciphering the immune responses in late gestation Sahiwal cows under different microclimate and its carryover effect on progenies.

The current investigation aimed to comprehend the inflammatory and related immune responses in intrauterine calves subjected to heat stress (HS) during late gestation. For this purpose, 48 Sahiwal cows in late gestation were chosen and categorized into four equal groups: naturally heat stressed (NHS), cooling-treated (CLT), spring, and winter, and likewise their neonate calves born in summer (IUHS - intrauterine heat stressed and IUCL - intrauterine cooled), spring, and winter seasons. Environmental parameters were recorded, and the temperature-humidity index (THI) was calculated daily throughout the study period. The average THI values ranged between 84.18 (summer-NHS), 73.88 (summer-CLT), 78.92 (spring), and 64.91 (winter). NHS and spring groups exhibited thermal stress based on THI (> 76.00). Various treatments significantly (P < 0.01) impacted parameters like rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), pulse rate (PR), and skin temperature (ST) in Sahiwal cows and their calves during the study, except for heart rate (HR). Blood samples collected during different seasons and from cows housed in a climatic chamber were used to extract plasma. Plasma cortisol, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were notably higher (P < 0.05) in the NHS compared to the CLT group. Conversely, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were higher (P < 0.05) in the CLT and winter groups. IUHS calves exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) lower overall mean plasma TAC and IgG levels but higher inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers, such as IL-6, TNF-α, and TBARS. Additionally, significant impacts on body weight were observed for factors such as interval (P < 0.01) and the interaction between treatment and interval (P < 0.05), exhibiting consistently lower body weight in IUHS calves throughout the study period. These findings suggest that late gestation heat stress may lead to physiological alterations in future calves. Strategies aimed at mitigating heat stress during late gestation should be considered not only for the productivity and well-being of the pregnant dam but also for the development and future performance of the calf.

Comparative assessment of growth performance, heat resistance and carcass traits in four poultry genotypes reared in hot-humid tropical environment.

This study investigated the impact of heat stress on growth and carcass traits in four poultry genotypes-Giriraja, Country chicken, Naked Neck and Kadaknath reared in a hot and humid tropical environment. Birds from all genotypes had ad libitum access to feed and water while being challenged with consistently high environmental temperatures in the experimental shed. Daily diurnal meteorological data were recorded inside and outside the shed. The study specifically examined growth variables and carcass characteristics. Significant differences (p < 0.01) were observed in body weight and average daily gain at various intervals. Notably, feed intake showed significant differences (p < 0.01) across weeks, indicating interactions between genotypes and time intervals. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) varied significantly (p < 0.01), with the highest FCR recorded in the Kadaknath breed. Livability percentages were similar across groups, except for Giriraja, which had significantly lower livability (p < 0.01). Carcass traits, including dressing, wings, feathers and giblet percentages, showed significant differences among genotypes (p < 0.01). Hepatic mRNA expression of growth-related genes revealed numerical variations, with Naked Neck displaying the highest (p < 0.05) fold change in IGF-1 expression compared to other genotypes. The study recognized in the Naked Neck genotype to possess higher resilience in maintaining homoeostasis and uncompromised growth under heat stress, providing valuable insights for sustainable poultry farming in challenging environmental conditions.

In vitro effects of uncarboxylated osteocalcin on buffalo Leydig cell steroidogenesis.

Uncarboxylated osteocalcin (UcOCN), a bone derived circulating protein, has been demonstrated to influence steroidogenesis in testicular Leydig cells of murine and human species. However, the role of UcOCN in testosterone biosynthesis remains unexplored in domestic animals. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of UcOCN on the expressions of steroidogenic genes (HSD3ß1, HSD3ß6, CYP17A1, CYP11A1), testosterone production and GPRC6A receptor localization in buffalo Leydig cells. Leydig cells from the testes of adult Murrah buffalo were isolated, with an average cell count and viability after digestion and Percoll enrichment of 1.43 × 106 cells/g of testes and 78.5%, respectively. Immunophenotyping of Percoll-enriched cell suspension by flow cytometry showed populations of Leydig cells ranging between 69 and 73.9%. Immunostaining confirmed the presence of GPRC6A receptors and CYP11A1 positive Leydig cells. When these cells were cultured and incubated with varying levels of UcOCN (6, 12, 24, and 48 ng/ml) and LH, there was a significant (P < 0.01) increase in testosterone production and up-regulation (P < 0.05) of CYP11A1, CYP17A1, HSD3ß1 and HSD3ß6 gene expression. In summary, the present study underscored the effects of UcOCN on testosterone biosynthesis, expression of crucial steroidogenic genes and interaction with GPRC6A receptors in buffalo Leydig cells, emphasizing its potential implications in andrology.

Comparative assessment of growth performance of indigenous and cross-bred calves subjected to combined stressors (heat and nutritional).

This study evaluated the impact of combined stressors (heat and nutritional stresses) on the growth and adaptive capability of Sahiwal (SW) and Karan Fries (KF) calves during the summer season. Calves in each breed were randomly divided into four groups. In SW breed the groupings were as follows: SWC (n = 4; Sahiwal Control); SWHS (n = 4; Sahiwal Heat Stress); SWNS (n = 4; Sahiwal Nutritional Stress) and SWCS (n = 4; Sahiwal Combined Stresses). Likewise, in the KF breed, KFC (n = 4; Karan Fries Control); KFHS (n = 4; Karan Fries Heat Stress); KFNS (n = 4; Karan Fries Nutritional Stress), and KFCS (n = 4; Karan Fries Combined Stresses). Control (C) and Heat Stress (HS) calves were fed ad libitum while Nutritional Stress (NS) and Combined Stresses (CS) calves were fed restricted feed (50% of C calves of respective breed) to induce nutritional stress in both the breeds. SWHS, SWCS, KFHS, and KFCS were exposed to summer heat stress from 1000 to 1600 h. All growth and adaptation variables were recorded at fortnightly intervals. Respiration rate, pulse rate, and rectal temperature during the afternoon were significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the CS group in both breeds. Further, CS had significantly (P < 0.05) higher plasma growth hormone and cortisol levels. Insulin-like growth factor-1, Triiodothyronine, and Thyroxine levels significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the CS group in both breeds. Interestingly, heat stress didn't affect SWHS and KFHS bodyweight, however, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in body weight of SWCS and KFCS was observed when compared with C. Hepatic mRNA expression of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, and growth hormone receptor significantly (P < 0.05) varied when compared between C and CS groups in both the breeds. The overall magnitude of stress was more pronounced in KF compared to the SW breed. This study concludes that when two stressors occur concurrently, they may have a greater influence on the adaptive capability of calves. Further, SW had better tolerance levels than KF, confirming the indigenous breed's superiority over cross-bred.

Time dependent impact of reactive oxidants on seminal attributes, mitochondrial membrane potential, lipid peroxidation and capacitation-like changes of Karan-Fries bulls during cryopreservation.

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation of semen is a valuable technique; however, it is also known to be detrimental to the structure of spermatozoa and fertility due to cryo-injury and subsequent generation of reactive oxidants. OBJECTIVE: To determine the time-dependent impact of reactive oxidants on seminal attributes, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), lipid peroxidation status (LPO) and early capacitation like changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen samples were collected by artificial vagina technique from six Karan-Fries (KF) bulls and subsequently examined at 0 h (before cryopreservation) and at 24 hours, 15 days and 2-months of storage for various seminal attributes, MMP, and early capacitation-like changes. Simultaneously, LPO (TBARS) was determined in fresh and post-thaw seminal plasma. RESULTS: A sharp decrease (P < 0.01) in semen quality was observed only after 24 h of cryopreservation except for viability and acrosomal integrity. Sperm viability and acrosome integrity reduced significantly up to 2 months of cryopreservation. The lipid peroxidation status was found to be lower in fresh seminal plasma (2.6 ±0.2 vs. 3.5 ± 0.3 units/mL) as compared to post-thaw. Furthermore, the active MMP of fresh semen showed a significant (P < 0.01) decrease after 24 hours (77.9 ± 0.4 vs. 54.5 ±0.3%) of cryopreservation, while there was a non-significant decrease in active MMP after 15 d and 2-months (53.7 ± 0.1 and 52.8 ± 0.2%). Moreover, significant (P. < 0.01) early capacitation-like changes were found in post-thaw spermatozoa (25.7 ± 0.1 vs. 9.1 ± 0.2%) as compared to fresh ejaculate. CONCLUSION: Spermatozoa incur the majority of damages during the early phase of cryopreservation, however the damage associated by different stressors cannot be neglected. doi.org/10.54680/fr22410110212.