Small Ruminant Research最新文献

{"title":"Feeding ground pelleted juniper did not precondition goats to subsequently eat more juniper","authors":"J.M. Diaz ,&nbsp;E.S. Campbell ,&nbsp;T.R. Whitney ,&nbsp;D.G. Quadros ,&nbsp;D.R. Tolleson","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107680","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107680","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Junipers (<em>Juniperus</em> spp.) are native chemically defended woody plants, that have encroached on U.S. rangelands causing environmental problems and decreased livestock productivity. Because of their browsing habits and tolerance to plant secondary compounds, goats have the potential to be used in targeted grazing programs. Increasing juniper consumption by goats allows for utilization of a less palatable landscape as forage, while at the same time improving biological control of juniper. This trial evaluated the inclusion of pelleted juniper (21 d) in a preconditioning diet on subsequent fresh juniper intake in pens, and in pastures post pre-conditioning. Young (∼ 2-year-old) juniper naïve Boer-Spanish cross goats (32.7 ± 0.45 kg) were stratified by body weight (BW) into groups fed a 12 % CP pelleted diet with either 20 % ground pelleted juniper (PJUN, n = 30) or 20 % cottonseed hulls (CTRL, n = 30) as roughage for 21d. Body weight, serum analytes, and fecal NIRS (fNIRS) predicted juniper intake were evaluated. Including pelleted juniper in preconditioning diets for goats did not increase subsequent juniper intake in pens or pasture (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.10). Body weights and serum analytes were comparable for PJUN and CTRL and all remained within normal clinical ranges except for SUN, which decreased (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05) after feeding fresh juniper.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 107680"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145791411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integumentary adaptations of native sheep breeds to thermoneutral and heat stress conditions","authors":"Tacila Rodrigues Arruda ,&nbsp;Dermeval Araújo Furtado ,&nbsp;José Pinheiro Lopes Neto ,&nbsp;Ricardo Romão Guerra ,&nbsp;Nágela Maria Henrique Mascarenhas ,&nbsp;Raimundo Calixto Martins Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Edijanio Galdino da Silva ,&nbsp;Ricardo de Sousa Silva ,&nbsp;Neriane Rodrigues de Lima ,&nbsp;Ivson de Sousa Barbosa ,&nbsp;Neila Lidiany Ribeiro","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107685","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107685","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Our hypothesis is that temperature variation ranging from thermal comfort to heat stress significantly influences the skin morphology and coat structure of sheep, with distinct responses across the breeds studied. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess these effects in free-ranging sheep from the native breeds <em>Morada Nova, Santa Inês, Soinga, and Sem Padrão de Raça Definida</em>, raised under controlled environmental conditions. Twenty-four uncastrated rams from the <em>Soinga, Morada Nova, Santa Inês, and Sem Padrão Racial Definido</em> breeds were used, with six individuals from each breed. The animals were kept in controlled environments with temperatures of 20, 24, 28, 32, and 36 °C, with an average age of 5 ± 0.5 months and an average body weight of 25.0 ± 3.6 kg. Temperature had a significant effect on sebaceous gland area (P = 0.0172), with animals exposed to 36 °C exhibiting a larger area compared to those maintained at 20 and 32 °C. Across breeds, <em>Morada Nova</em> sheep showed a significantly greater gland area (P = 0.0282) than <em>Soinga</em>, while <em>Santa Inês</em> and <em>Sem Padrão de Raça Definida</em> did not differ. Epidermal thickness was significantly greater at the thermal extremes of 20 and 36 °C. <em>Morada Nova</em> sheep displayed the thickest epidermis (P &lt; 0.0001), followed by <em>Santa Inês, Soinga,</em> and <em>Sem Padrão Racial Definido</em>, with no statistical difference between the latter two. The results of this study indicate that temperature variation may induce morphological changes in the integument of hair sheep, with distinct responses among the native breeds evaluated.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 107685"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145791412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Principles of sheep behaviour: An overview from a welfare perspective","authors":"Isabella Manenti ,&nbsp;Paola Toschi ,&nbsp;Silvia Miretti ,&nbsp;Genaro C. Miranda-de la Lama","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107687","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107687","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The behaviour of sheep, like that of other animals, is the result of a complex interaction between causal mechanisms, their specific function, their development throughout life and their phylogenetic prevalence in the species. Within the domain of animal welfare, behaviour is of paramount importance, as they provide key insights into how individuals cope with environmental challenges and the way these challenges impact their mental states, biological functioning, and species-typical behavioural repertoires. The aim of this review is to critically and narratively examine key aspects of sheep behaviour to enhance the understanding of their biological needs and support improvements in the welfare of sheep raised under different production systems. The review emphasises the fundamental role of sensory systems in animal behaviour and welfare, along with the motivational systems, underlying individual, social, and maternal behaviours. It’s also examines abnormal behaviours in sheep and their implications for human-animal interactions within the production context. The integration of sheep behaviour knowledge with contemporary flock management is strategic to enhance both welfare and productive efficiency. Future research should focus on improving behavioural assessments, improved handling techniques and the possible implementation of precision farming to monitoring sheep behaviour.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 107687"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Five Point Check©-based management of goat health can be self-sustainable without long-term public funding: A 5-year retrospective study of Malawi smallholdings","authors":"Paul M. Airs ,&nbsp;Jonathan H.I. Tinsley ,&nbsp;Winchester Mvula ,&nbsp;Taro Takahashi ,&nbsp;JA van Wyk ,&nbsp;Eric R. Morgan ,&nbsp;Andrews Safalaoh","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107678","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107678","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Failure to manage goat nutrition or control gastrointestinal nematode parasites (GINs) can lead to low performance and livestock losses on smallholdings. Programs to improve smallholder goat health can have an immediate positive impact but often depend on external expertise and resources such as anthelmintic interventions. As a result, programs may fail to support smallholders once external resources, such as grant funding, are removed. With this in mind, a low-resource targeted-selective treatment (TST) program based on a hands-on Five Point Check© (FPC) scoring system was undertaken from 2020 to 2021 in rural Central Malawi. Participating smallholders were educated and equipped to perform goat health scoring and provide interventions on an as needed basis. In April 2025, five years after the study began, original participants were surveyed alongside control non-participants to determine the impact, uptake, and dissemination of TST using the FPC. 97.5 % of participants remembered the FPC and 73.8–92.9 % still used FPC tests on their goats. Practicing the FPC increased farmers’ confidence and success and decreased the likelihood of being impacted by disease or ill health. As a result of the FPC, targeted beneficial plant supplementation and anthelmintic use to treat sick goats was maintained among study participants. Non-study controls were unanimously in favour of using the FPC, but gaps exist in supporting dissemination of training and materials (such as FAMACHA cards and anthelmintic) to the wider smallholder community. Overall, this study shows that education and sustainable practices can be adopted and self-sustained in low-resource areas following initial investment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 107678"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145683957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling growth for Gellapper sheep raised under arid extensive production system","authors":"Uaipo Ngorio ,&nbsp;Clarice Princes Mudzengi ,&nbsp;Tinotenda Nhovoro ,&nbsp;Soul Washaya","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107686","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107686","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The study aimed to characterize sheep growth by fitting four nonlinear models (Logistic, Gompertz, Brody and Von Bertalanffy), to Gellapper lamb growth data based on sex (M = males, F = females), birth type (S= singles, T = twins) and season (spring lambing, autumn lambing). Data was obtained from the Kalahari Research Station, Namibia, which comprised 466 wt records of lambs collected from birth to 180 days of age during 2016–2018. A Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed o summarize the multivariate phenotypic data, and identify the traits that explain most of the variation in sheep growth. Each of the growth models were fitted separately to body weight records of all lambs, with sex, birth status and season of birth as fixed factors using the NLMIXED MODEL procedures in SAS. The coefficient of determination (R&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;), root mean square error (RMSE), Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) were used to test model fitness. The PCA showed that the first two principal components dimensions (Dim1 = 74.5 %; Dim2 = 19.3 %) explained 93.8 % of the total variation. Growth curve models showed consistently high coefficients of determination (R² &gt; 0.93) across sexes, birth types, and seasons. All four nonlinear models provided good fits to the growth data (R² &gt; 0.93, p &lt; 0.001). However, model performance varied with sex, birth type, and season (P &lt; 0.001). Females and twins generally showed better fits, with higher R² and lower AIC, BIC, and RMSE values compared to males and singles. Animals born in spring were better described by the models than those from autumn. The parameter estimates differed significantly (P &lt; 0.001) across factors. Asymptotic weights (&lt;em&gt;A&lt;/em&gt;) were consistently higher in males and in animals born during spring season, while twins tended to show higher &lt;em&gt;A&lt;/em&gt; in the Logistic and Von Bertalanffy models. The growth rate constant (&lt;em&gt;k&lt;/em&gt;) was stable across models (0.02–0.04), though lower in Brody (0.01), reflecting its slower approach to maturity. Gompertz and Logistic produced biologically realistic estimates, with inflection points (IA) around 54–56 days and initial weights (IW) between 16–22 kg. The evaluation of growth models revealed that the degree of maturity (&lt;em&gt;U&lt;/em&gt;) was generally within the expected biological range (0.70–0.95), indicating that the majority of fitted models provided realistic estimates of the proportion of adult size attained at different ages. Focusing on later body weights, which contributed most strongly to Dim1, could yield the greatest genetic gains in Gellapper sheep. Overall, the Gompertz and Von Bertalanffy models were the most suitable for describing growth, providing lower error indices and parameter estimates consistent with the biology of the animals while the Brody model tended to overestimate mature weight and fit the data less accurately. These findings suggest that the preferred models support selecti","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 107686"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of sexual activity in rams stimulated with artificial light and its impact on unstimulated rams during the initial 14 days of male effect","authors":"Elena Pérez-García ,&nbsp;Jaime Nieto ,&nbsp;José Alfonso Abecia ,&nbsp;Javier Plaza ,&nbsp;Carlos Palacios","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107679","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107679","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seasonal anoestrous reduces reproductive efficiency in sheep in temperate regions. Artificial photoperiod manipulation is a non-hormonal approach that stimulates ram sexual activity and enhances the \"ram effect\" on ewes. This study evaluated the sexual behaviour of rams subjected to artificial long-day photoperiods (L group) and their effect on non-stimulated rams (C group) during the first 14 days after introduction to anoestrous ewes. Eleven rams were assigned to photostimulated (n = 6) or control (n = 5) treatments, forming four groups: L, C, L+C (stimulated rams exposed to controls), and C+L (controls exposed to stimulated rams). Continuous video recording documented 5707 behavioural events. Photostimulated rams (L) exhibited higher activity (mean = 747.7 behaviours/ram) than other groups (C+L: 519.5; L+C: 443.0; C: 365.3; p &lt; 0.01), with anogenital sniffing, approaching and chasing ewes being the most frequent behaviours. Activity peaked on days 2–5 post-introduction, mainly in the afternoon. Control rams housed with stimulated rams were more active than isolated controls, suggesting a social facilitation effect. These findings confirm that photoperiod manipulation enhances ram sexual activity and may influence non-stimulated rams through social interaction, as the different groups of animals exhibited distinct types and amounts of activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 107679"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145738698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Animal agrivoltaics facilitates the sustainable intensification of sheep production in tropical areas","authors":"Sergio da Silva Fidelis ,&nbsp;Gustavo André Bernado Moura ,&nbsp;Sheila Tavares Nascimento ,&nbsp;Alex Sandro Campos Maia ,&nbsp;Shane K. Maloney ,&nbsp;Vinicius de França Carvalho Fonsêca","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107691","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107691","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The field of animal agrivoltaics investigates the use of solar panels as a shading resource for production animals. The field integrates the production of animal protein with an abatement of heat stress, providing better sustainability in a given area. The present study investigated the impact of animal agrivoltaics on heat strain indicators and performance of feedlot sheep. Fifty-two non-castrated crossbred lambs (F₁, Santa Inês × Dorper) entered the feedlot with an initial body mass of 35 kg (SD = 0.4) and were fed for 60 days. Half of the lambs were assigned to pens that had shade provided by 20 modules of solar panels (VOLT; area of shade projected = 1.53 m² animal⁻¹), while the other half were assigned to a conventional feedlot system (CON), with no shade available. We assessed subcutaneous temperature, respiratory rate, and behavioral responses as indicators of thermal strain. Individual feed intake and sheep performance was measured using RFID electronic feeders (e.g., dry matter intake, daily weight gain (kg) and gain/feed ratio) and were compared between treatments. The heat load experienced by sheep was summarized into a single variable that integrated six meteorological variables. The lambs were exposed to 41 hot days. On those hot days, from 10:00–14:00 h, the VOLT lambs were more likely (P = 0.0001) to be in the shade projected by solar panels than in the sun, and the VOLT lambs had subcutaneous temperature that was 0.70ºC (P = 0.0001) lower, and respiratory rate that was 70 resp min⁻¹, lower than the CON lambs. The VOLT lambs spent more time lying (P = 0.0001), ruminating (P = 0.0001), and consumed less feed (P = 0.0001), than the CON lambs, which resulted in a 4 % improvement in the gain/feed ratio (P = 0.0002). During the 60 days of the trial the shading structure generated 2.3 MWh, and 13.70 MWh of electricity for the year, thereby preventing 7.2 tons of CO_2e to be emitted to the atmosphere. Our results confirm that animal agrivoltaics can enhance the sustainable intensification of sheep production in tropical areas, as it effectively relieves heat stress, improves animal performance, and has environmental benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 107691"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840976","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systemic administration of β-NGF purified from llama seminal plasma: Effects on luteal function in anestrus ewes","authors":"Sol Lafourcade ,&nbsp;Juan Pedro Bottino ,&nbsp;Marcelo Ratto ,&nbsp;Raquel Pérez-Clariget ,&nbsp;Rodolfo Ungerfeld","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107681","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107681","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>β-nerve growth factor (β-NGF) is the ovulation inducer present in llamas' seminal plasma (SP), and it is also present in rams’ SP. β-NGF exerts a luteotropic effect in llamas and cattle, promoting corpus luteum (CL) development, vascularization, progesterone (P₄) secretion, and luteinizing hormone (LH) modulation. This study aimed to determine whether β-NGF induces a luteotropic effect in sheep by increasing CL size, perfusion, and/or P₄ secretion. In Experiment 1 (n = 18), seasonally anestrus ewes received 1 mg of β-NGF i.m. 12 h after ovulation. In Experiment 2 (n = 15), postpartum anestrous ewes received two 1 mg doses of β-NGF: one at estrus detection and another 12 h later. Control ewes that did not receive β-NGF were included in both studies. Estrus was monitored every 6 h using vasectomized rams not allowed to copulate. From day 0 (ovulation) to 10, CL size and perfusion were monitored, and P4 levels were measured. No significant differences were observed between control (GCon) and β-NGF-treated (Gβ-NGF) groups in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, β-NGF tended to shorten the estrus-to-ovulation interval (P = 0.065), and the total CL area tended to be smaller in the treated group (P = 0.09). The P₄-to-area ratio tended to be higher in the treated group (P = 0.08). During the mid-luteal phase, P₄ levels were significantly higher in the Gβ-NGF group (P = 0.05), and tended to remain elevated throughout (P = 0.1). In conclusion, β-NGF may exert a luteotropic effect in sheep, depending on the physiological status and timing of administration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 107681"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145738576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gene flow in domestic camelids across different production systems in Bolivia: Insights from mitochondrial D-loop and Y-chromosome DBY gene","authors":"Pilar Román-Peña ,&nbsp;Volga Iñiguez ,&nbsp;Vladimir Saavedra-Terán ,&nbsp;Luis Gutiérrez-Ramírez ,&nbsp;Julia Barreta-Pinto","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107653","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107653","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Llama (<em>Lama glama</em>) and alpaca (<em>Vicugna pacos</em>) farming in the Bolivian highlands in mixed camelid herds can lead to crossbreeding and introgression, particularly affecting alpacas. This genetic exchange has important implications for camelid phylogeny and production traits, including fiber and meat quality. To investigate patterns of gene flow, we analyzed sex-specific markers (mitochondrial <span>D</span>-loop and Y-chromosome DBY gene) in llamas, alpacas, and hybrids from three Bolivian production systems: Catacora, Ulla Ulla, and Curahuara de Carangas. We included sequences from vicuñas and guanacos and identified 37 mitochondrial <span>D</span>-loop haplotypes, as well as three Y-chromosomal DBY haplotypes, revealing significant asymmetric introgression. Mitochondrial DNA analysis showed that 6.7 % of llamas and 53.3 % of alpacas carried introgressed haplotypes, indicating extensive maternal gene flow. In contrast, Y-chromosome introgression was lower (&lt;5 %, all from Curahuara de Carangas). Population structure analysis of the <span>D</span>-loop fragment revealedregional differences, with the highest FST (0.307) observed between llamas and alpacas in Curahuara. In contrast, no differentiation (FST = 0) was observed in Catacora. These findings highlight a female-biased introgression pattern, with gene flow predominantly from female llamas to male alpacas. The asymmetry between maternal and paternal introgression, which varies across production systems, likely reflects historical hybridization and breeding practices favoring conspecific males. Our results underscore the impact of long-term gene flow and human-mediated practices on the genetic structure of domestic camelids, offering critical insights for conservation and breeding programs aimed at preserving the genetic integrity of Andean camelid populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"254 ","pages":"Article 107653"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145519201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feed restriction has no effect on milk lipolysis, although it results in a marked reduction in milk lipoprotein lipase activity in dairy goats","authors":"L. Bernard ,&nbsp;C. Hurtaud ,&nbsp;H. Larroque ,&nbsp;P. Iommelli ,&nbsp;T. Fassier ,&nbsp;A. Rau ,&nbsp;C. Cebo","doi":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107649","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.smallrumres.2025.107649","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Climate change pressures livestock feeding systems by reducing the availability and nutritional quality of forages and pasture. Previous studies have shown that dietary restriction impacts milk lipolysis (<em>i.e.</em> the hydrolysis of milk fat by lipoprotein lipase (LPL)) in cows and ewes. However, data regarding the effects of feed restriction on milk lipolysis in goats are scarce. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the impact of feed restriction on goat milk composition, with a specific focus on lipolysis, LPL activity and milk fat characteristics. For that purpose, two groups of 12 dairy goats (121 ± 7 days in milk) balanced with regard to the α_s1-casein (<em>CSN1S1</em>) genotype (7 A/A goats, corresponding to strong <em>CSN1S1</em> genotypes and 5 O/O goats, corresponding to <em>null CSN1S1</em> genotypes) received either a control diet (100 % of the dry matter intake (DMI) ad libitum: non-restricted; NR) or the experimental diet (65 % of the DMI ad libitum: restricted; R) according to a 2 × 2 cross-over design. Dietary restriction did not significantly affect either lipolysis levels in milk or milk fat globule size, whereas a sharp decrease was observed in milk LPL activity within the short-term restriction window tested. A genotype effect was evidenced for milk lipolysis (copper soap method), milk fat content and milk fat yield. No genotype × diet effect was observed with regard to lipolysis or LPL activity under feed restriction. This work provides a solid framework for follow-up lipidomic and proteomic studies to gain a comprehensive understanding of the regulation of the lipolytic system in goats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21758,"journal":{"name":"Small Ruminant Research","volume":"254 ","pages":"Article 107649"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145570630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}