MiR-2284b regulation of α-s1 casein synthesis in mammary epithelial cells of dairy goats.

The lactation character of dairy goats is the most important characteristic, and milk protein is an important index to evaluate milk quality. Casein accounts for more than 80% of the total milk protein in goat milk and is the main component of milk protein. Using GMECs (goat mammary epithelial cells) as the research object, the CHECK2 vector of the CSN1S1 gene and the overexpression vector of pcDNA 3.1 were constructed, and the mimics of miR-2284b and the interfering RNA of CSN1S1 were synthesized. Using PCR, RT-qPCR, a dual luciferase activity detection system, EdU, CCK8, cell apoptosis detection and ELISA detection, we explored the regulatory mechanism and molecular mechanism of miR-2284b regulation of αs1-casein synthesis in GMECs. miR-2284b negatively regulates proliferation and apoptosis of GMECs and αs1-casein synthesis. Two new gene sequences of CSN1S1 were discovered. CSN1S1-1/-2 promoted the proliferation of GMECs and inhibited cell apoptosis. However, it had no effect on αs1-casein synthesis. MiR-2284b negatively regulates αs1-casein synthesis in GMECs by inhibiting the CSN1S1 gene. These results all indicated that miR-2284b could regulate αs1-casein synthesis, thus playing a theoretical guiding role in the future breeding process of dairy goats and accelerating the development of dairy goat breeding.

Decoding the influence of semen collection processes on goat sperm quality from a perspective of seminal plasma proteomics.

This study aims to assess the impact of semen collection methods on goat semen quality and seminal plasma (SP) proteomes. Semen was collected by artificial vagina (AV) or electro-ejaculator (EE) and semen parameters were evaluated. Tandem mass tag coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to screen SP differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) between EE and AV. PRM was used to confirm the reliability of the data. In contrast to EE, a lower volume, higher progressive motility and concentration were observed in AV. No differences were found in total motility, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, and ROS production between EE and AV. In total, 1692 proteins were identified in SP, including 210 DAPs. Among them, 120 and 90 proteins were down-regulated and up-regulated in AV compared to EE, respectively. The GO annotation showed that DAPs are mainly localized in the membrane, involved in deference responses to bacterium, RNA processing, and related to oxidoreductase activity. KEGG demonstrated tight associations of DAPs with specific amino acids, carbon metabolism, citrate cycle, and propanoate metabolism. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the effects of semen collection on goat semen quality and explores the potential action mechanism based on the modification of SP proteomes. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY: The quality of fresh semen directly influences the results of artificial insemination and semen cryopreservation in livestock. This study represents the first attempt to evaluate the impact of semen collection methods including electroejaculation and artificial vagina on sperm quality and seminal plasma proteomes in goat. The results of this study demonstrated that semen collection methods directly impacted the quality of goat semen. Then, the proteomic strategy was used to explore the potential action mechanism of semen collection methods on sperm. Some differentially abundant proteins that potentially influence semen quality were identified. Furthermore, this study suggests the possibility of utilizing specific proteins as predictive markers for goat semen quality.

Effect of short-term exposure to high-altitude hypoxic climate on feed-intake, blood glucose level and physiological responses of native and non-native goat.

The exposure to high altitude and cold stress poses challenges in maintaining normal physiological standards and body homeostasis in non-native animals. To enhance our understanding of the physiology of native and non-native goats in high-altitude environments, we conducted a comparative study to examine the impact of natural hypoxic and cold stress conditions on their feed intake (FIT) and associated changes in physiological responses, including plasma glucose concentration (PGC). The study took place at an altitude of 3505.2 m above mean sea level and involved twenty-two healthy females from two different breeds of goats. This study was conducted over a period of 56 days after the arrival of non-native Black Bengal goats (BBN) and compared with native Changthangi (CHAN) goats. Both groups were extensively reared in a natural high-altitude and cold-stress environment in Leh, India, and were subjected to defined housing and management practices. The parameters evaluated included FIT, PGC, respiration rate, heart rate, pulse rate, and rectal temperature. High altitudes had a significant (p < 0.05) impact on FIT, PGC, respiration rate, heart rate, pulse rate, and rectal temperature in BBN, whereas these parameters remained stable in CHAN throughout the study period. Additionally, the detrimental effects of high-altitude stress were more pronounced in non-native goats compared to native goats. These findings suggest that physiological responses in non-native goats tend to stabilize after an initial period of adverse effects in high-altitude environments. Based on the physiological responses and glucose concentration, it is recommended to pay special attention to the nutrition of non-native goats for up to the third week (21 days) after their arrival in high-altitude areas.

A novel regulatory sex-skewing method that inhibits testicular DPY30 expression to increase female rate of dairy goat offspring.

The demand for goat milk products has increased exponentially with the growth of the global population. The shortage of dairy products will be addressed extraordinarily by manipulating the female rate of goat offspring to expand the goat population and goat milk yield. No studies have reported bioinformatic analyses of X- and Y-bearing sperm of dairy goats, although this will contribute to exploring novel and applied sex-skewing technologies. Regulatory subunit of the histone methyltransferase complex (DPY30) was determined to be the key differentially expressed protein (DEP) among 15 DEPs identified in the present study. The spatiotemporal expression of DPY30 strongly suggested a functional involvement of the protein in spermatogenesis. DPY30 promoted meiosis via upregulating SYCP3, which played a crucial role in mediating sex ratio skewing in goats. Although DPY30 suppressed the self-renewal of spermatogonia stem cells through AKT/PLZF, DPY30 inhibition in the testis did not induce testicular dysgenesis. Based on the biosafety assessment in mice testes, lentivirus-mediated DPY30 knockdown in bucks' testes increased X-bearing sperm proportion and female kids' rate (22.8 percentage points) without affecting sperm quality, pregnancy rate, and kidding rate. This study provides the first evidence of the DEGs in the sexed sperm of dairy goats. DPY30 inhibition in the testes of bucks increased the female kids' rate without influencing reproductive performance. The present study provides evidence for expanding the female dairy goat population to address the concern of dairy product shortage.

Goat milk has high digestibility, high nutritional quality, low allergenicity, and potential nutraceutical properties so the valorization of goat milk into value-added products is becoming increasingly important. However, the goat's milk production was less than 20% of cow's milk. To increase production, we investigated the differentially expressed proteins in the X- and Y-bearing sperm of dairy goat to explore the new sex-skewing method. The results showed that inhibiting the expression of DPY30 in the testes of male goats significantly increased the female kids' rate (22.8 percentage points). As such, no adverse effects on sperm quality, pregnancy rate or kidding rate were observed. The DPY30 silence mediated sex-skewing was achieved by disrupting meiosis via targeting SYCP3. Our results provide new insights into the preliminary mechanisms of sex-skewing in dairy goats, which could also form the basis for the development of novel sex-skewing strategies in livestock.

Seeking temporal refugia to heat stress: increasing nocturnal activity despite predation risk.

Flexibility in activity timing may enable organisms to quickly adapt to environmental changes. Under global warming, diurnally adapted endotherms may achieve a better energy balance by shifting their activity towards cooler nocturnal hours. However, this shift may expose animals to new or increased environmental challenges (e.g. increased predation risk, reduced foraging efficiency). We analysed a large dataset of activity data from 47 ibex (Capra ibex) in two protected areas, characterized by varying levels of predation risk (presence versus absence of the wolf-Canis lupus). We found that ibex increased nocturnal activity following warmer days and during brighter nights. Despite the considerable sexual dimorphism typical of this species and the consequent different predation-risk perception, males and females demonstrated consistent responses to heat in both predator-present and predator-absent areas. This supports the hypothesis that shifting activity towards nighttime may be a common strategy adopted by diurnal endotherms in response to global warming. As nowadays different pressures are pushing mammals towards nocturnality, our findings emphasize the urgent need to integrate knowledge of temporal behavioural modifications into management and conservation planning.

Hair from sexually active bucks strongly activates olfactory sensory inputs but fails to trigger early first ovulation in prepubescent does.

Early exposure of does to sexually active bucks triggers early puberty onset correlating with neuroendocrine changes. However, the sensory pathways that are stimulated by the male are still unknown. Here, we assessed whether responses to olfactory stimuli are modulated by social experience (exposure to males or not) and/or endocrine status (prepubescent or pubescent). We used a calcium imaging approach on goat sensory cells from the main olfactory epithelium (MOE) and the vomeronasal organ (VNO). For both cell types, we observed robust responses to active male hair in females under three physiological conditions: prepubescent females isolated from males (ISOL PrePub), pubescent females exposed to males (INT Pub) and isolated females (ISOL Pub). Response analysis showed overall greater proportion of responses to buck hair in ISOL PrePub. We hypothesized that females would be more responsive to active buck hair during the prepubertal period, with numerous responses perhaps originating from immature neurons. We also observed a greater proportion of mature olfactory neurons in the MOE and VNO of INT Pub females suggesting that male exposure can induce plastic changes on olfactory cell function and organization. To determine whether stimulation by male odor can advance puberty, we exposed prepubescent does to active buck hair (ODOR). In both ODOR and females isolated from males (ISOL) groups, puberty was reached one month after females exposed to intact bucks (INT), suggesting that olfactory stimulation is not sufficient to trigger puberty.

Multi-omics analyses reveal rumen microbes and secondary metabolites that are unique to livestock species.

Ruminant livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats, and camels, possess a distinctive digestive system with complex microbiota communities critical for feed conversion and secondary metabolite production, including greenhouse gases. Yet, there is limited knowledge regarding the diversity of rumen microbes and metabolites benefiting livestock physiology, productivity, climate impact, and defense mechanisms across ruminant species. In this study, we utilized metataxonomics and metabolomics data from four evolutionarily distinct livestock species, which had fed on diverse plant materials like grass, shrubs, and acacia trees, to uncover the unique signature microbes and secondary metabolites. We established the presence of a distinctive anaerobic fungus called Oontomyces in camels, while cattle exhibited a higher prevalence of unique microbes like Psychrobacter, Anaeromyces, Cyllamyces, and Orpinomyces. Goats hosted Cleistothelebolus, and Liebetanzomyces was unique to sheep. Furthermore, we identified a set of conserved core microbes, including Prevotella, Rickenellaceae, Cladosporium, and Pecoramyces, present in all the ruminants, irrespective of host genetics and dietary composition. This underscores their indispensable role in maintaining crucial physiological functions. Regarding secondary metabolites, camel's rumen is rich in organic acids, goat's rumen is rich in alcohols and hydrocarbons, sheep's rumen is rich in indoles, and cattle's rumen is rich in sesquiterpenes. Additionally, linalool propionate and terpinolene were uniquely found in sheep rumen, while valencene was exclusive to cattle. This may suggest the existence of species-specific microbes and metabolites that require host rumen-microbes' environment balance. These results have implications for manipulating the rumen environment to target specific microbes and secondary metabolite networks, thereby enhancing livestock productivity, resilience, reducing susceptibility to vectors, and environmentally preferred livestock husbandry.IMPORTANCERumen fermentation, which depends on feed components and rumen microbes, plays a crucial role in feed conversion and the production of various metabolites important for the physiological functions, health, and environmental smartness of ruminant livestock, in addition to providing food for humans. However, given the complexity and variation of the rumen ecosystem and feed of these various livestock species, combined with inter-individual differences between gut microbial communities, how they influence the rumen secondary metabolites remains elusive. Using metagenomics and metabolomics approaches, we show that each livestock species has a signature microbe(s) and secondary metabolites. These findings may contribute toward understanding the rumen ecosystem, microbiome and metabolite networks, which may provide a gateway to manipulating rumen ecosystem pathways toward making livestock production efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

Anethole supplementation during in vitro maturation increases in vitro goat embryo production in a concentration-dependent manner.

During in vitro maturation (IVM) cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) are exposed to conditions that can trigger oxidative stress, thus, reducing oocyte maturation and viability. Aiming to mitigate these detrimental conditions, the effects of IVM medium supplementation with anethole have been tested. Anethole, also known as trans-anethole (1-methoxy-4 [1-propenyl]-benzene), is a naturally occurring phenylpropanoid with various pharmacological properties, including antioxidant effects. However, no study has examined anethole effect on goat COCs during IVM. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different anethole concentrations on oocyte maturation, oxidative stress, and in vitro development of caprine embryos after parthenogenetic activation. Goat COCs were selected and randomly distributed into the following treatments: TCM-199+ medium (control), or TCM-199+ medium supplemented with 30 µg/mL (AN30); 300 µg/mL (AN300) or 2000 µg/mL (AN2000) of anethole. After IVM, part of the COCs was chosen for oocyte viability and chromatin configuration, intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential assessment. Another part of COCs was parthenogenetically activated, and presumptive zygotes were cultured for 7 days. Results demonstrated that anethole at 30 µg/mL increased oocyte maturation and cleavage rates when compared to the other treatments (P < 0.05), as well as oocyte viability and in vitro embryo production when compared to the control treatment (P < 0.05). Additionally, treatment with anethole at 2000 µg/mL decreased oocyte nuclear maturation and cleavage rates when compared to other treatments (P < 0.05) and embryo production if compared to control and AN30 treatments (P < 0.05). Moreover, anethole at 2000 µg/mL increased mitochondrial membrane potential when compared to the other treatments (P < 0.05). In conclusion, anethole exerts a concentration-dependent effect during goat COCs IVM. For a more desirable outcome of oocyte viability and maturation, and in vitro embryo production, the use of anethole at 30 µg/mL is recommended.

Maintenance of permanent sexual activity throughout the year in seasonal bucks using short photoperiodic cycles in open barns.

Seasonality of reproductive activity in rams and bucks is the major constraint in temperate and subtropical zones. Rapid alternation between 1 month of short days and 1 month of long days (LD) over three years in lightproof buildings eliminates this seasonality. We examined if this would also work in open barns, using only supplementary light. Over two years, one group of bucks (n = 7) was subjected to alternate 1 month of LD and 1 month of permanent light (LD-LL) and another group (n = 7) to alternate 1 month of LD and 1 month of natural light (LD-NL). A simultaneous control group, used for both experiments (CG1, n = 6; CG2, n = 6), remained under natural photoperiod. BW, testis weight (TW), plasma testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) were evaluated in all bucks. CG1 and CG2 bucks showed identical dramatic seasonal variations in BW (stable or decreasing in summer), TW (from 85 ± 12 g in February to 127 ± 7 g in July) and T (from 2.7 ± 1.2 ng/mL in January-April to 24.3 ± 3.2 ng/mL in June-October). By contrast, BW of LD-LL and LD-NL bucks increased regularly during the experiment. From 5 and 9 months after the experiment onset, LD-LL and LD-NL bucks, respectively, maintained constant TW of 115 ± 5 g until the experiment end. After the first 3 months <5 ng/mL, T of LD-LL bucks remained constant (5-10 ng/mL) until the experiment end. By contrast, T of LD-NL bucks showed four periods of low (<5 ng/mL) and two periods of high concentrations (18.1 ± 2.6 and 11.9 ± 3.4 ng/mL). Plasma C remained low (5-8 ng/mL) and did not change with group or light treatment. These results show for the first time in any seasonal photoperiodic species that it is possible to maintain the sexual activity of males all year round in open buildings using alternating periods of LD and LL. By contrast, return to NL instead of LL every other month does not prevent seasonality in T concentration. These results raise interesting questions about the photoperiodic control of neuroendocrine regulation of seasonal sexual activity and suggest that these treatments can be used to manage males in open barns in farms and in artificial insemination centres. (Spanish and French versions of the full text are available as Supplementary Materials S1 and S2).

Ageratina adenophora damages the rumen epithelium via inducing the expression of inflammatory factors in goats.

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of Ageratina adenophora on the expression of epithelium tight junction proteins and inflammatory factors in the rumen of goats. Twelve goats were randomly divided into three groups. The first group was the blank control group (n = 3, C) which was fed normal diet. The second group was fistulas control group (n = 3, RFC), which was fitted with rumen fistulas, and fed normal diet. The third group was the A. adenophora test group (n = 6, AA), which was fitted with rumen fistulas and fed a mixture of 60% of normal diet and 40% of A. adenophora grass powder. The feeding experiment lasted for 90 d, after which all goats were sacrificed and samples were collected from the rumen dorsal sac and ventral sac. The relative expression of mRNA of inflammatory factors in the rumen epithelium (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], interferon gamma [IFN-γ], interleukin 1 beta [IL-1ß], IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10) and tight junction protein genes (occludin, claudin-1, and ZO-1) was measured by quantitative real-time fluorescence PCR. Expression of tight junction proteins in the rumen epithelium was measured by Western blot. A correlation was established between the expression of inflammatory factors and tight junction protein genes using Graph Pad Prism. The results showed that A. adenophora caused a significant increase in the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 in the rumen epithelial (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The expression of tight junction proteins at both gene and protein levels was significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Furthermore, the correlation analysis revealed that the changes in tight junction protein expression in the test group were closely related to the upregulation of the expression of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IFN-γ in rumen epithelial cells. In conclusion, the expression of inflammatory factors was increased and the expression of tight junction proteins was decreased in goats after feeding on A. adenophora, which caused some damage to the rumen epithelium.

The article aims to investigate the toxic effects of Ageratina adenophora, an invasive plant on the integrity of the rumen epithelium by measuring the changes in the expression of inflammatory factors and tight junction proteins after the consumption of A. adenophora in goats. The results showed that A. adenophora causes damage to the rumen epithelium by increasing the expression of pro-inflammatory markers like TNF-α and IFN-γ and reducing the expression of tight junction proteins such as occludin and claudin-1 in goats.

Analysis of reproduction success, growth and milk trajectories and response to nutritional challenge in two Alpine goat lines selected on divergent longevity.

This study aims to investigate whether the variation in reproduction success, growth, and milk trajectories is associated with different adaptive strategies in the short term (response to an acute nutritional challenge), using two Alpine goat lines. A total of 382 Alpine goats (179 low longevity (low_LGV) and 203 high longevity (high_LGV)), selected for divergent functional longevity from a commercial population, were monitored for 4 years and recorded for BW, reproduction and milking performance. Every year, an average of fifty primiparous goats were exposed to a 2-d nutritional challenge in early lactation. A polynomial model was used to analyse the lifetime trajectory of lactation and BW. A piecewise model was used to analyse the individual milk yield and responses of milk components to the nutritional challenges. The statistical analysis revealed that the two lines had a similar performance for total milk yield in the first lactation, BW at birth and at first kidding, litter size and weight, kidding interval and interval from the first insemination to conception. BW trajectories revealed that low_LGV goats had a greater BW in pregnancy but then lost more weight in early lactation compared to high_LGV goats, which showed a greater BW after kidding. Milk trajectories showed that the high_LGV goats had a higher initial milk yield, an earlier but less marked lactation peak and more persistency in milk production in late lactation than low_LGV goats. Except for milk protein content, quite similar response and recovery profiles of milk yield and milk fat content were observed during the challenge for both lines. The response to the challenge was positively correlated to the initial level of milk production in early lactation but negatively correlated with milk production decline after the peak. This finding suggests that the low_LGV goats were more adapted to allocate resources to meet an expected physiological change such as gestation and lactation. However, high_LGV goats allocate more than low_LGV goats for structural mass and may better cope with an unexpected environmental change such as nutritional deficit.

Digestibility and nitrogen balance of goats on high and low protein rations supplemented with a commercial tannin feed-additive.

Despite the increasing importance of goat production in response to high demand for their products and their relative robustness to environmental stressors, and in contrast to other ruminant species, little data is available on how tannin extract feeding affects their feed intake, nutrient digestion and nitrogen (N) metabolism. Therefore, a trial in Oman investigated the respective variables by using a commercial tannin feed additive. In a 4 (treatments) x 3 (periods) x 2 (animals) Youden square, two weaned Batinah bucks each were fed a high or low protein diet of Rhodes grass hay and crushed barley grain, with or without the addition of a chestnut and quebracho tannin extract at 2 g/kg metabolic weight. Feed offered, feed refused and faeces and urine excreted were quantified to determine diet digestibility, total N excretion, N retention and rumen microbial protein synthesis (MPS). Due to their young age and low live weight, feed intake of goats was relatively low. Crude protein level and tannin addition had no statistically significant effect on dry matter (DM) and N intake, DM digestibility, N excretion in faeces and urine, as well as MPS. In consequence, no benefit of tannin feeding could be confirmed for the goats' N retention, irrespective of diet composition. These results indicate, on one hand, an effective neutralisation of the tested tannin extract along the gastrointestinal tract of goats, but on the other hand, that stimulation of MPS or N retention by tannins cannot be evidenced when diet components are present that simultaneously release energy and protein, as is the case with barley.

Multi-attribute decision-making: Use of scoring methods to choose the best form of dietary fat supplement in pregnant Saanen goats.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional manipulation with functional nutrients like polyunsaturated fatty acids can boost milk production efficiency in dairy farming. It is important to consider the animal's physiological periods, especially the second half of the first pregnancy for mammary gland development. OBJECTIVES: By considering multiple factors and comparing them, multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) can be utilized to conduct further assessments and select the best diet for the animals. METHODS: Forty primiparous Saanen does, from the last 2 months of pregnancy up to 4 months of lactation, have been assigned to four iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets. Four dietary groups included: no external sources of fat (negative control, CT), saturated palm oil (positive control), roasted soybeans (omega-6, SB) and extruded flaxseed (omega-3, FS). Twenty-two performance criteria such as feed intake, milk yield and composition, body weight, blood metabolites and hormones, the milk fatty acid profile, as well as morphological and histological measurements of the mammary gland, in the form of least-square means, were considered. RESULTS: A decision-making tool was used to select the best form of fat supplements in late pregnancy and early lactation diets, to improve lactation performance in Saanen goats. For this purpose, a MADM method was applied to determine the order of preference similarity to the ideal solution. According to the score of this method, the FS group had the highest coefficients (0.689), and the CT group had the lowest coefficients (0.281). CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating flaxseed into the diets of Saanen goats during late pregnancy and early lactation is a valuable strategy for enhancing milk performance. This supplement is recommended as a source of fat. Additionally, the implementation of decision-making tools, such as the MADM method in animal science, can significantly improve management decision-making processes by reducing both time and cost. This presents a new avenue for making well-informed decisions.

Productive, thermoregulatory, and hormonal responses of dairy goats supplemented with selenium-enriched yeast in the Brazilian semi-arid region.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding selenium-enriched yeast (SE) in the diet of dairy goats during 60 days of lactation and its effect on productive, thermoregulatory, and hormonal responses of animals managed in a semi-arid region. Sixteen Saanen × Toggenburg crossbred goats were used in a completely randomized design. Goats were weighed, and their milk yield was monitored weekly. Before the animals entered the treatments and at every 20-day milk producing, blood samples were collected to determine the SE levels. At 20, 40, and days of the lactation cycle, individual milk samples were collected to determine composition, casein, urea nitrogen, and selenium content. Measurements of respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), coat surface temperature (CST), and epidermal temperature (ET) were performed weekly during the experimental period in two shifts, one in the morning (9 am) and the other in the afternoon (3 pm). No difference (P > 0.05) was detected for body weight, milk yield, composition, selenium concentration, and urea nitrogen. Lower RR and ET (P < 0.05) were observed for animals that received SE supplementation. Thyroid hormone concentrations were similar between treatments (P > 0.05). The positive results of the SE supplementation were concentrated in thermoregulatory responses, and there was no effect on productive, hormonal responses, and plasmatic concentration of selenium in the milk. The SE supplementation for dairy goats managed in a Brazilian semi-arid region was able to promote reduction of RR and coat temperatures.

Comparative evaluation of native top feeds of western Himalayas for utilization as goat's ration in mash and block form.

The current research was undertaken to scrutinize the effect of leaf meal mixture as concentrate mixture in the ration of goats. Leaf meal mixture (LMM) was prepared using equal quantities of ten top-foliages namely Acacia nilotica, Celtis australis, Ficus palmata, Ficus religiosa, Grewia optiva, Melia azadarach, Morus alba, Quercus incana, Salix alba and Zizyphus jujube obtained from district Poonch of Jammu region in western Himalayas. The LMM prepared was substituted for 15% in the concentrate mixture being fed to the goats. The study constituted of two trials. Concentrate mixture offered to the animals was in mash and multi-nutrient block in first and second trial respectively. A total of twelve non-descript, adult male goats were selected for each trial. Goats of 0-14 months age (27.71 ± 2.96 kg live body weight) of for first trial while goats of 12-16 months age (27.02 ± 2.93 kg live weight) for second trial were divided into control and treatment groups as per randomized block design and fed ad-lib wheat straw and concentrate mixture @ (20 g/kgW0.75). No significant variation was observed (p > 0.05) in body weight, feed and DM intake among all groups in both trials. Comparable intake as well as digestibility of various nutrients like DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NFE, NDF, ADF and TDN were found between the two groups during individual trials. There was a positive nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus balance among all experimental animals in both the trials. Serum enzymes ALT, AST and haemato-biochemical parameters like total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin: globulin and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) showed no significant differences during both trials in all groups, being within normal physiological levels. However, haemoglobin concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in treatment group with respect to the control group in first trial. On the basis of current results, it can be established that leaf meal mixture can successfully be used to replace concentrate mixture up to 15% in the ration of goats without expecting any adverse impacts on their growth and overall health.

Drinking water intake, milk production, and grazing behaviour of alpine dairy goats in response to daytime water restriction on temperate pastures.

Certain local breeds of goats have adapted to severe water restriction in arid and semi-arid regions, but little is known about the adaptability of high-producing dairy goats to water restriction while grazing under temperate conditions. The aim of this study was to assess effects of water restriction of lactating Alpine goats during the daytime at pasture (8 h/d) on herd-level drinking water intake and individual milk production and grazing time. Goats remained in the barn between evening and morning milkings, where each animal was offered 600 g of concentrate and 400 g of hay each day, with free access to water. Twenty four goats were used in a crossover design, for two consecutive 14-d periods. The study was conducted in early summer, with a daily mean ambient temperature of 18.2 ± 3.5 °C (range of 13-27 °C over all the study days), a mean temperature-humidity index of 64 ± 4.9 (range of 56-76). Goats had access to a high-quality multispecies pasture with a mean of 216 ± 44 g DM/kg fresh matter. Total drinking water intake averaged 5.57 L/d and did not differ significantly between treatments. Goats with water access at pasture drank a mean of 1.88 L of water per day during the grazing period, but drank 2.24 L less per day in the barn than goats without water access at pasture. Drinking water intake increased by 0.57 L per day for each °C increase in daily mean ambient temperature. Daily milk production, milk composition, body weight, and daily grazing time did not differ between treatments. Only the duration of the first morning meal at pasture differed significantly between treatments. Thus, water restriction for 8 h per day during grazing periods does not seem to influence the variables measured for Alpine dairy goats under temperate conditions.

Differences in serum metabolome profile explain individual variation in growth performance of young goats.

High growth rates and body weight are important traits of young dairy goats that can shorten generation intervals, improve animal performance, and increase economic benefits. In the present study, ninety-nine, 6-month-old, female goats were fed with the same diet and kept under the same management condition. The ten goats with highest average daily gain (ADG, HADG, 135.27 ± 4.59 g/d) and ten goats with lowest ADG (LADG, 87.74 ± 3.13 g/d) were selected to identify the key serum metabolites associated with ADG, and to investigate the relationships of serum metabolome profiles with digestive tract microbiota. The results showed that a total of 125 serum metabolites were significantly different between HADG and LADG. Of these, 43 serum metabolites were significantly higher levels in HADG, including D-ornithine, l-glutamine, L-histidine, carnosine, LysoPC (16:1(9Z)/0:0), DCTP and hydroxylysine, while, 82 serum metabolites were significantly higher levels in LADG, including P-salicylic acid and deoxycholic acid 3-glucuronide. Pathway analysis indicated that these different metabolites were mainly involved in amino acid and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed that these differential serum metabolites were correlated with ADG and ADG-related bacteria. Notably, serum hydroxylysine and L-histidine could be used as biomarkers for distinguishing HADG and LADG goats, with an accuracy of >92.0%. SIGNIFICANCE: Our study confirms that individual microbiota and metabolic differences contribute to the variations of growth rate in young goats. Some serum metabolites may be useful in improving the growth performance of young goats, which provides directions for developing further nutritional regulation in the goat industry to achieve healthy feeding and efficiency enhancement.

Coat color affects the resilience against heat stress impacts on testicular hemodynamics, reproductive hormones, and semen quality in Baladi goats.

Drastic climatic changes threaten animal productivity and prolificacy, whose adaptability is governed by its pheno- and genotypic traits. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of coat color on the adaptability of goat bucks under heat stress conditions from the perspectives of testicular blood flow (TBF) and biometry, reproductive hormones, and semen quality. Twenty bucks (Capra hircus) bearing different coat colors were selected from a large flock and divided into four equal groups (n = 5 each) as follows: black coat (BC; 100% black), brown coat (BrC; 100% dark brown), white coat (WC; 100% white), white-black coat (WBC; 50-60% white). Bucks were examined for TBF [Doppler ultrasonography and serum nitric oxide (NO)], testosterone (T) and luteinizing hormone (LH), seminal plasma oxidative biomarkers [catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA)], and sperm traits percentages [progressive motility (PM), viability (SV), normal morphology (NM), and sperm concentration (SC) once a week for seven consecutive weeks (W1-W7) in the summer season (temperature humidity index = 88.4-92.2). Specifically, at W3-W7, darker bucks (BC and BrC) testicular volume, testicular colored area, T, NO, CAT, TAC, PM, SV, NM, and SC (W7 only) differed significantly (P < 0.05) by decrease than the lighter ones (WC and WBC). Both Doppler indices and serum MDA concentrations were elevated (P < 0.05) at W3-W7 in the BC and BrC bucks compared to WC and WBC groups. In conclusion, bucks with lighter coats were more resistant to the negative effects of HS on TBF, seminal oxidative biomarkers, and semen quality.

Assessment of the adaptation of Nguni goats to water stress.

The recurring drought and limited rainfall patterns occasioned primarily by climate change in sub-Saharan African countries threaten sustainable animal agriculture. The irreversibility of this natural phenomenon calls for an intensive and urgent selection of adaptable breeds that can cope but with minimal compromise on production indices. A water scarcity simulation study was conducted to assess the adaptation potential of Nguni goats to regulated watering by evaluating their growth performance, tolerance to heat and water stress and blood indices during the dry summer months. Eighteen growing Nguni goats (average age: 1 year; BW: 19.25 ± 1.6 kg) were assigned equally to three treatments: W0, without water restriction (WR); W70, WR of 70% ad libitum water intake (WI); and W50, WR of 50% ad libitum WI. The experimental trial lasted for 75 d following a 14-day acclimatisation to the housing condition. Data on growth performance, body thermal gradient, skin temperature (ST) and rectal temperatures, respiratory rate (RR), body condition scores (BCs), linear body indices and blood biochemical indices were taken. The results showed that the final BW was not affected (P > 0.05) by the water restriction levels. The daily gain, DM intake and total BW gain were similar (P > 0.05) in groups W70 and W50. Body thermal gradient and ST were not affected (P > 0.05). The RR and BCs decreased (P < 0.05) with increasing water restriction levels. The body and rump lengths and sternum height were similar (P > 0.05) for groups W70 and W50. There is an haemocentration (W0 < W70 < W50; P < 0.05) of sodium, Chloride, urea, creatinine, total protein, and cholesterol with water restriction levels. Generally, most physiological variables assayed were similar (P > 0.05) in the water-stressed groups (W70 and W50). Overall, Nguni goats showed an adaptive capacity to tolerate limited water intake.

Multi-omics in vitro study of the salivary modulation of the goat rumen microbiome.

Ruminants are able to produce large quantities of saliva which enter into the rumen and salivary components exert different physiological functions. Although previous research has indicated that salivary immunoglobulins can partially modulate the rumen microbial activity, the role of the salivary components other than ions on the rumen microbial ecosystem has not been thoroughly investigated in ruminants. To investigate this modulatory activity, a total of 16 semi-continuous in vitro cultures with oats hay and concentrate were used to incubate rumen fluid from four donor goats with autoclaved saliva (AUT) as negative control, saliva from the same rumen fluid donor (OWN) as positive control, and either goat (GOAT) or sheep (SHEEP) saliva as experimental interventions. Fermentation was monitored throughout 7 days of incubation and the microbiome and metabolome were analysed at the end of this incubation by Next-Generation sequencing and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, respectively. Characterisation of the proteome and metabolome of the different salivas used for the incubation showed a high inter-animal variability in terms of metabolites and proteins, including immunoglobulins. Incubation with AUT saliva promoted lower fermentative activity in terms of gas production (-9.4%) and highly divergent prokaryotic community in comparison with other treatments (OWN, GOAT and SHEEP) suggesting a modulatory effect derived from the presence of bioactive salivary components. Microbial alpha-diversity at amplicon sequence variant (ASV) level was unaffected by treatment. However, some differences were found in the microbial communities across treatments, which were mostly caused by a greater abundance of Proteobacteria and Rikenellacea in the AUT treatment and lower of Prevotellaceae. These bacteria, which are key in the rumen metabolism, had greater abundances in GOAT and SHEEP treatments. Incubation with GOAT saliva led to a lower protozoal concentration and propionate molar proportion indicating a capacity to modulate the rumen microbial ecosystem. The metabolomics analysis showed that the AUT samples were clustered apart from the rest indicating different metabolic pathways were promoted in this treatment. These results suggest that specific salivary components contribute to host-associated role in selecting the rumen commensal microbiota and its activity. These findings could open the possibility of developing new strategies to modulate the saliva composition as a way to manipulate the rumen function and activity.