1,356 results match your criteria: "Institute of Animal Breeding[Affiliation]"

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of thermography in assessing the impact of regular physical effort on changes in the body surface temperature of the upper body parts of young racehorses. The study involved monitoring 33 racehorses aged 3 years in 3 imaging sessions over a period of 3 months. Temperature measurements of the neck and upper part of the forelimbs and hindlimbs from both sides were taken just before and after training.

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Reproduction traits are important factors determining the efficiency of any sheep production system. This study evaluates the age at first lambing (AFL), lambing interval (LI), litter weight at birth (LBWT), litter weight at weaning (LWWT), birth weight of ewe (EBWT) and weaning weight of ewes (EWWT) in a crossbreeding program between the Red Maasai (RRRR) and Dorper sheep and their crosses, 75% Dorper and 50% Dorper (DDRR) breeds. All the traits significantly (P < 0.

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Sperm-Borne Mitochondrial Activity Influenced by Season and Age of Holstein Bulls.

Int J Mol Sci

December 2024

Molecular Genetics Group, Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany.

Sperm mitochondria are vital organelles for energy production and pre- and post-fertilization sperm functions. The potential influence of the age of the bull and season on the sperm-borne mitochondrial copy number and the transcription activity has not yet been investigated. Therefore, the expression patterns of all protein-coding mitochondrial genes were identified throughout the year along with mitochondrial copy numbers in young and old bulls' spermatozoa.

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The transcription factors STAT3, STAT5A, and STAT5B steer hematopoiesis and immunity, but their enhanced expression and activation promote acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or natural killer/T cell lymphoma (NKCL). Current therapeutic strategies focus on blocking upstream tyrosine kinases to inhibit STAT3/5, but these kinase blockers are not selective against STAT3/5 activation and frequent resistance causes relapse, emphasizing the need for targeted drugs. We evaluated the efficacy of JPX-0700 and JPX-0750 as dual STAT3/5 binding inhibitors promoting protein degradation.

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Factors influencing calving difficulty and gestation length in dairy cows inseminated with beef sires.

Animal

December 2024

Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Hermann-Rodewald-Straße 6, 24118 Kiel, Germany.

Producing calves with higher economic value by utilising semen from beef breeds in dairy herds (Beef-on-Dairy, BoD) has become more common in recent times. Such crossbreed calves promise better carcass conformation and higher consumer acceptance due to the better flavour, but the widespread adaptation of BoD requires careful consideration of the sire breed to maximise the benefits. In this regard, two major traits of interest are calving difficulty and gestation length due to associated costs.

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In this study, gastroscopy was performed twice in 31 two-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses in training. Salivary cortisol (SC) and fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentrations were determined to measure the stress impact. One gastroscopy was performed at the beginning and one six months later at the end of the horses' first training season.

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In the present study, we analysed fertility and longevity traits of 22 sheep breeds from Germany with a suitable quantity of data in the national database OviCap. The data comprised merino, meat, country and milk sheep breeds with 62,198 ewes and about 173,000 lambing records, until the fifth lambing. Across-breed means of heritabilities reached estimates of 0.

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Introduction: Radiotherapy is an effective method of treating cancer and affects 50% of patients. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is a modernized method of classical radiation used in the treatment of laryngeal cancer. Treatment with intent to preserve the larynx is not always safe or complication-free.

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Providing pigs with organic enrichment material is important for satisfying pigs' natural explorative behavior to prevent injurious tail biting and thus increase animal welfare in general. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of automatically supplied enrichment material of three different types (alfalfa pellets, oat bran pellets, or a mixture of both) and different enrichment frequencies (2, 4, or 6 supplies/day) on the behavior, the occurrence of tail biting, and daily weight gains of weaner pigs. The results showed significant effects and interactions of enrichment material, frequency and the time of day on the exploratory behavior, the occurrence of tail biting, and daily weight gains.

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Background: Prostate cancer ranks as the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in men worldwide. Recent research highlights the crucial roles IL6ST-mediated signaling pathways play in the development and progression of various cancers, particularly through hyperactivated STAT3 signaling. However, the molecular programs mediated by IL6ST/STAT3 in prostate cancer are poorly understood.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Maternal diseases such as mastitis (MAST) and claw disorders (CD) during gestation were linked to increased rates of DIAR and PNEU in the calves, with significant statistical differences observed (up to 3.61%) between calves from healthy and diseased mothers.
  • * Despite these findings regarding disease prevalence, the study found no significant effects of maternal health on the offspring's milk production traits after 305 days,
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Abomasal ulcers are a challenge in animal farming, affecting health, welfare, and productivity. Omeprazole's (OPZ) efficacy in treating these ulcers is known, but data on its pharmacokinetics (PK) in adult goats and sheep are lacking. The purpose of this research was to investigate and contrast OPZ's PK in these animals following a single intravenous (IV, 1 mg/kg) and subcutaneous (SC, 2 mg/kg) doses.

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Natural compounds are important source of desired biological activity which helps to improve nutritional status and brings many health benefits. St. Hill.

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Prickly pear ( L.) could be used in rabbit nutrition in compliance with circular economy principles, global warming issues, and reduction of production costs. This study aims to evaluate the effects of dietary incorporation of prickly pear seed cake (PPSC) on growth, physiological, and histometric parameters in rabbits.

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Positive human-animal interactions (HAIs) can be intrinsically rewarding and facilitate positive human-animal relationships. However, HAI paradigms vary across studies, and the influence of different interaction paradigms on the animal's response has been overlooked. We compared the behavioural responses of pigs (n = 28) individually tested with two types of gentle tactile interactions with a familiar human: 'free form (FF)' where the pig could voluntarily approach and interact as they normally would, and 'imposed contact (IC)' where the human imposed tactile contact on the pig according to a standardised protocol.

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The objectives of the present study were to analyze the influence of the stallions employed in the Dülmen wild horses on the genetic diversity and population substructure using Bayesian cluster analysis. The Dülmen wild horse is maintained as a unique horse population exposed to the natural conditions all year round in the Merfelder Bruch near Dülmen in Westphalia, Germany. Stallions selected for breeding have to prove their abilities to survive under this harsh environment.

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Article Synopsis
  • Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NFE2L2) is a key protein involved in the cellular response to stress, and genetic variations (specifically in the GCC microsatellite) can affect its function in sperm cells.
  • A study investigated the relationship between this genetic variation and sperm quality in young and old Holstein bulls across different seasons, using sequencing and mRNA analysis.
  • Results indicated that certain GCC repeat variations were linked to different mRNA levels of antioxidant genes, with older bulls displaying higher expression of NFE2L2, especially during seasons with lower sperm quality.
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With the threat of extinction looming over many species, the development of assisted reproduction techniques for use in conservation programmes is imperative. This work explores the feasibility and efficacy of artificial insemination in the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), a species in critical danger of extinction. Nine young, male birds were used as sperm donors for five young females.

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  • Microalgae, particularly Chlorella vulgaris, are being studied as health-boosting feed additives in aquaculture, specifically for Atlantic salmon, due to their ability to enhance immune function and manage stress responses.
  • In the study, salmon were fed diets with varying levels of C. vulgaris and showed improved feed conversion and protein retention, with notable changes in gut microbial diversity and composition after feeding on higher amounts of the algae.
  • Exposure to a stressor (peracetic acid) revealed that fish on higher algae diets exhibited less transcriptional stress response and increased antioxidant protein levels, suggesting that C. vulgaris may help mitigate stress effects in aquatic species.
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Article Synopsis
  • - The study focused on identifying genetic regions and candidate genes related to copper (Cu) tolerance in sheep, comparing Cu-susceptible and Cu-tolerant breeds through their genomic data.
  • - Researchers analyzed data from 229 sheep and identified 54 candidate genes linked to Cu accretion on specific chromosomes, using multiple statistical methods to confirm these genes.
  • - Key genes found, such as TP53 and TNFSF13, are associated with processes like Cu homeostasis and inflammation, emphasizing their potential role in sheep health and welfare related to copper levels.
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Imipramine in dogs: A pharmacokinetic study following oral administration under fasted and fed conditions.

Vet J

December 2024

Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale delle Piagge, 2, Pisa 56124, Italy; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna, 2, Sassari 07100, Italy. Electronic address:

This study investigates the pharmacokinetics (PK) of imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant used in human psychiatric disorders and increasingly considered in veterinary medicine. Despite its longstanding use in canines, prior research on imipramine's PK in dogs is lacking. This study aimed to determine the PK of imipramine in dogs in regards to feeding conditions, and to ascertain whether desipramine (active metabolite) is formed or not.

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Towards automatic farrowing monitoring-A Noisy Student approach for improving detection performance of newborn piglets.

PLoS One

October 2024

Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Faculty of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.

Nowadays, video monitoring of farrowing and automatic video evaluation using Deep Learning have become increasingly important in farm animal science research and open up new possibilities for addressing specific research questions like the determination of husbandry relevant indicators. A robust detection performance of newborn piglets is essential for reliably monitoring the farrowing process and to access important information about the welfare status of the sow and piglets. Although object detection algorithms are increasingly being used in various scenarios in the field of livestock farming, their usability for detecting newborn piglets has so far been limited.

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The prenatal assimilation of minerals and metals in nestlings of a small passerine bird.

Sci Total Environ

December 2024

Department of Limnology and Fishery, Institute of Animal Breeding, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 38C, 51-630 Wrocław, Poland.

Although certain metals can reach their highest concentrations in tissues of newly hatched nestlings, their sources have yet to be fully elucidated. Evidence for the differentiation of body reserves, including some chemical elements, during avian embryonic life and early post-hatching period is limited mostly to studies on poultry. Here, we present novel findings on the bioaccumulation and egg-to-nestling transfer of 10 minerals and metals, including non-essential potentially toxic chemical elements (Cu, Ni Cd, Pb, Zn, Ag, Mg, Fe, Co and Ca) in the tissues of the gastrointestinal tract (GT), whole body (WB) and carcass (CA) of nestlings of a small passerine bird, the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, breeding in an intensively fertilized fishpond habitat.

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  • The study explores the impact of helminth infections and co-infections on milk production in dairy cows, noting that previous research primarily focused on single helminth infections.
  • Data were collected from 1583 cows across 27 herds, analyzing fecal samples for various helminths to classify cows as non-infected, mono-infected, or co-infected, using linear mixed models for analysis.
  • Results showed a high prevalence of co-infections, especially between different helminth types, and indicated significant effects of co-infections on milk yield and composition compared to mono-infections.
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  • Reproductive performance is crucial for animal welfare and profitability in dairy cattle, and there's a recognized negative correlation between reproductive success and overall performance.
  • The study analyzed 14 calving and fertility traits to understand genetic influences, finding varying heritability and identifying over 2700 significant SNPs linked to 13 reproduction traits.
  • Results aligned with previous research, revealing new candidate genes—especially on the X chromosome—that could enhance breeding programs and further our understanding of dairy cattle reproduction.
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