Tropical animal health and production最新文献

{"title":"Small ruminant lentiviruses in dairy goats under tropical conditions: evidence of recombinant genotypes.","authors":"Nathalie Costa da Cunha, Alana de Oliveira Campello, Leandro Dos Santos Machado, Thomas Salles Dias, Thalyta Rodrigues Silva, Arthur de Almeida Figueira, Beatriz Pinheiro Melo da Silva, Lilian Gregory, Barbara Colitti, Dayse Lima da Costa Abreu, Isadora de Fátima Braga Magalhães, Elmiro Rosendo do Nascimento, Mário Felipe Alvarez Balaro","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05069-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-05069-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) are widespread retroviruses of goats and sheep with significant economic and health impacts on small ruminant production systems. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genotype distribution of SRLVs in dairy goat flocks from Brazil. A total of 433 blood samples from eight dairy goat farms were analyzed via PCR targeting the gag gene. The overall SRLV prevalence was 32.6%, with marked variation between farms (7.1% to 90.0%). Phylogenetic analysis of 37 selected samples revealed that most sequences clustered within the B1 subtype. Notably, two sequences from farms C and G grouped with subtype A1 and showed evidence of recombination between B1 and A1 strains. These findings provide evidence of recombinant SRLV strains circulating in Brazilian goats. The findings highlight the circulation of distinct and recombinant SRLV strains in the region, reinforcing the importance of continuous molecular surveillance, improved biosecurity practices, and the development of effective control strategies to reduce viral dissemination and mitigate long-term impacts on small ruminant farming.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147864600","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":"The effect of litter size and birth weight on the pre-weaning survivability of Kalahari Red goats.","authors":"Tebogo Letsukulo Percy Thepa, Thobela Louis Tyasi, Jones Wilfred Ng'ambi","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05062-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-05062-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pre-weaning mortality is a challenge for goat production systems, especially under extensive management. The study investigated the effect of the litter size and birth weight on the pre-weaning survivability of Kalahari Red goat kids. A longitudinal dataset which comprised of the litter size, birth weight and mortality records that occurred over 15 years (2009-2024) was retrieved from the database. A two-way analysis of variance was used for analysis. The results indicated that the litter size had a significant impact (p < 0.05) on the pre-weaning survivability of kids and pre-weaning survival rates were shown to decrease with an increasing litter size, from a survival rate of 95% in singletons to one of 69% in quintuplets. The results showed that the birth weight, nor its interaction with litter size, were not significantly (p > 0.05) associated with the pre-weaning survivability of Kalahari Red kids, although a positive trend was identified where heavier kids exhibited higher survival rates with kids born under 2 kg having a pre-weaning survivability of 93% and those with a birth weight greater than 6 kg having a 100% having a pre-weaning survivability. In conclusion, this study suggests that litter sizes 1-4 make for the most viable pre-weaning survivability rates and that, although not significantly associated in the current study, higher birth weights are positively associated with better pre-weaning survivability rates. The results of the current study will inform selection efforts and guide farmers' breeding objectives to selecting for better litter size and birth weights whilst maintaining economically viable pre-weaning survivability rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843401","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":"A bibliometric review about scientific trends and advances on residual feed intake (RFI) and feed efficiency in ruminants.","authors":"Josiel Ferreira, Lucas Ferreira Gonçalves, Tiago do Prado Paim, Sarah Figueiredo Martins Bonilha, Joslaine Noely Dos Santos Goncalves Cyrillo, Maria Eugênia Zerlotti Mercadante, Renata Helena Branco Arnandes, Ricardo Lopes Dias da Costa, Concepta McManus","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05050-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-05050-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The increasing demand for sustainable livestock production systems has intensified scientific interest in feed efficiency traits, particularly residual feed intake (RFI), as a strategy to improve productivity while reducing environmental impacts. This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric assessment of global scientific production on RFI and feed efficiency in ruminants. A total of 2632 documents indexed in Scopus and Web of Science databases between 2015 and 2024 were analyzed, covering 374 scientific sources and involving 8,406 authors. Scientific output showed a strong and consistent upward trend throughout the study period, with an annual growth rate of 48.9%, particularly from 2019 onwards. Brazil, United States, Australia, Canada, and China were identified as the leading contributors to research development in this field. Authorship patterns revealed a highly collaborative research structure, with an average of 6.97 co-authors per publication, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of feed efficiency studies. Keyword co-occurrence and network analyses highlighted the close integration of RFI research with themes related to sustainability, methane emissions, genetics, nutrition, and rumen biology. Overall, the results indicate that research on RFI has evolved from a predominantly zootechnical indicator toward a consolidated and sustainability-oriented scientific domain, reinforcing its strategic importance for the development of climate-smart ruminant production systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843435","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":"Bioeconomic efficiency of pasture-based production systems in the dairy cattle chain of the Pre-Amazon region of Maranhão.","authors":"Allan Stênio da Silva Santos, Marcos Jácome Araújo, Clésio Dos Santos Costa, Francisco Naysson de Sousa Santos, Henrique Nunes Parente, Marcônio Martins Rodrigues, Hêmylle Jhec Santos Menêses, Maria Dulceyelena Calixto de Sousa, Débora Cristina Furtado da Silva, Aline Nascimento Ferreira","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05060-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-05060-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The search for greater profitability and sustainability in dairy cattle farming drives the adoption of different production strategies, especially on small farms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bioeconomic efficiency of pasture-based dairy production systems on farms of up to 70 hectares in the Pre-Amazon region of Maranhão. Data were collected from 24 dairy farms between January and December 2024 through in-person surveys administered to farmers or managers. Three systems were analyzed: traditional, medium, and high-tech, which differ in technological level, ranging from animals without dairy aptitude in traditional systems to specialized animals in more intensive systems. The farms were evaluated based on their production structure, fixed and variable costs, and economic (EOC, TOC, TC, GM, NM, P) and financial (NPV, IRR, profitability index, and profitability rate) indicators, considering a 10-year horizon and a minimum attractive rate (MAR) of 6% per year, associating productive performance with the economic return of the different systems. Only the highly technologically advanced systems were profitable, with indicators close to the MAR. Thus, the most technologically advanced dairy systems proved to be the most economically attractive, reflecting the effect of technological intensification and genetic selection on the productive performance and bioeconomic efficiency of these systems, providing support for the sustainable management of small farms in the Pre-Amazon region of Maranhão.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843379","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":"Next-generation sequencing in tick-borne apicomplexan parasites: approaches for Theileria and Babesia, a systematic review.","authors":"Daniel Mukandabvute, Noah Herbert Paul, Kgomotso Sibeko-Matjila, Valérie Pinarello, Nyasha Chin'ombe, Ephraim Chauke, Chenai Majuru, Hélène M De Nys, Leonard Madzingaidzo, Thokozani Hove","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05056-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-05056-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Tick-borne apicomplexan parasites are a threat to livestock health and human life, underscoring parasite significance within the One Health Framework. Advances in sequencing provide vital insights into parasite diversity, genetic composition, and behavior, supporting improved prevention and control strategies. This review synthesizes sequencing approaches applied to Theileria and Babesia, highlighting how evolving technologies are reshaping comprehension of parasite variation and gene function.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic analysis was conducted using five databases -Wiley Online Library, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, PubMed, and the Africa Online Journals (AJOL), and Google Scholar. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist was used for managing data bias and the PRISMA guidelines flow diagram summarized the data selection criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 127 articles (1995 to 2025) were synthesized, representing the first systematic synthesis of sequencing approaches for Theileria and Babesia. The review highlights three sampling approaches used in sequencing; infected host tissue, parasite culture and questing ticks. Emerging sequencing technologies such as Oxford Nanopore present promising opportunities for direct RNA sequencing, complementing existing platforms. Sequencing advances have revealed hypervariable genetic regions with direct implications for improved variant detection and surveillance, and vaccine target discovery. Whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing have uncovered key gene families essential for host specificity and parasite survival, paving way for potential targets for parasite control strategies in livestock and human health, while reassembly of older genomes has enhanced resolution of genetic variation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Advances in genome sequencing have enhanced our understanding of parasite biology and reshaped parasite detection, surveillance, and vaccine development.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial number: </strong>Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843436","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":"Herbage allowances during mid to late gestation affect growth performance and physiological responses of beef cow-calf pairs, and offspring skeletal muscle development.","authors":"William Luiz de Souza, Luciana Melo Sousa, Iorrano Andrade Cidrini, Germán Darío Ramírez-Zamudio, Karla Alves Oliveira, Ivanna Moraes de Oliveira, Laura Franco Prados, Gustavo Rezende Siqueira, Flávio Dutra de Resende","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05035-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-05035-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Our objectives were to determine the effects of two herbage allowance levels during mid to late gestation on growth performance, physiological responses of cow-calf pairs, and offspring skeletal muscle development through weaning. Fifty-six pregnant Nellore cows [444 ± 42 kg initial shrunk body weight (SBW) and 3.66 ± 0.28 body condition score (BCS)], each carrying a male fetus, grazed Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu pastures under either low HA (LHA; 2.80 kg dry matter (DM)/kg BW) or high HA (HHA; 7.60 kg DM/kg BW) during the final 151 days of gestation (d 140 ± 15 of gestation). As intended, differences in HA (P < 0.01) were established by manipulating stocking rate (P < 0.01; 1.70 vs. 3.40 AU/ha for HHA and LHA, respectively). LHA cows had lower body weight (BW; P < 0.001), average daily gain (ADG; P < 0.001), BCS (P < 0.001), Longissimus muscle area (LMA; P = 0.002), and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT; P = 0.02) than HHA cows during gestation. During lactation, LHA and HHA cows showed similar BW, LMA, and SFT (P ≥ 0.12); however, LHA cows had greater ADG (P < 0.001) and lower BCS (P < 0.001) than HHA cows. In late gestation, LHA cows exhibited higher plasma urea (P < 0.01) than HHA cows, but no differences were detected in milk yield or composition during lactation (P ≥ 0.20). HHA calves had greater BW at birth (P < 0.01), at 120 days of age (P < 0.01), and at weaning (P < 0.01) than LHA calves. HHA calves also had more muscle fibers at 30 (P < 0.01) and 240 (P < 0.01) days of age than LHA calves, whereas muscle-fiber cross-sectional area did not differ at either 30 or 240 days days of age (P ≥ 0.21). In conclusion, adequate herbage allowance during mid- to late gestation improves maternal performance and metabolic status, supporting fetal skeletal muscle development and enhancing offspring growth through weaning.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843361","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":"Distinct physiological and immunoendocrine responses in indigenous dairy heifers during cold-humid (THI-50) vs. hot dry (THI-76) climatic conditions.","authors":"Neha Rajawat, Ajay Kumar Dang","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05048-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-05048-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Thermal stress threatens dairy productivity in tropical climates, even for heat-adapted indigenous Sahiwal cows (Bos indicus). Temperature extremes combined with humidity impair thermoregulation, immune function, and welfare amid climate change. This study evaluated physiological and immune endocrine responses in nulliparous Sahiwal heifers (n = 6) aged 12-18 months across THI levels of 50, 59, 67, and 76. Repeated measurements on the same animals generated 12 observations per THI level. Physiological parameters (rectal temperature, respiration, and pulse rates) and plasma biomarkers (cortisol, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α, via ELISA) were measured at each THI level. Escalating THI from 50 (cold-humid) to 76 (hot-dry; dry-bulb 29.52 °C, wet-bulb 23.27 °C) elicited graded responses. Rectal temperature increased modestly (P < 0.05) to 39.47 °C at THI-76 (+ 2.3% vs. thermoneutral THI-67). Respiration rate showed the greatest sensitivity, surging + 18.7% at THI-76 and declining - 18.3% at THI-50. Pulse rate rose + 13.6% under hot-dry stress. Cortisol followed a biphasic pattern, dropping at THI-67 before rebounding 1.8-fold at THI-76 (+ 84.3% vs. THI-67), with even greater elevation (+ 127.6%) at cold-humid THI-50. Cytokines displayed stress-specific shifts: IL-6 fluctuated, anti-inflammatory IL-10 surged + 39.6% at THI-76, and TNF-α declined then mildly rose. Respiration rate and cortisol emerged as prime stress indicators. Both cold and heat disrupt Th1/Th2 balance, underscoring the need for season-specific microclimate management in tropical dairy systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843415","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":"Effects of broiler breeder age on the performance, nutrient metabolism, and intestinal histomorphometry of broiler chickens.","authors":"Helder Freitas de Oliveira, Alessandra Gimenez Mascarenhas, José Henrique Stringhini, Adriana Santana do Carmo, Marcos Barcellos Cafe, Raphael Rodrigues Dos Santos, Imar Crisógno Fernandes Filho, Deibity Alves Cordeiro, Jean Kaique Valentim, Heloisa Helena de Carvalho Mello","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05051-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-05051-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of broiler breeder age on the growth performance, nutrient metabolism, and intestinal histomorphometry of the progeny during early life. A total of 180 one-day-old Cobb 500^® chicks, with an average initial body weight of 45.82 ± 2.21 g, were assigned to a completely randomized design with three treatments, six replicates, and 10 birds per replicate. The treatments consisted of chicks derived from broiler breeders aged 39, 51, and 69 weeks. Productive performance, gastrointestinal tract histomorphometry, and nutrient metabolism were evaluated. Chicks originating from older breeders (69 weeks) presented superior growth performance, whereas those from younger breeders (39 weeks) presented greater nutrient metabolism. With respect to intestinal morphology, progeny from older breeders presented more developed intestinal structures at 1 and 21 days of age, whereas at 7 days of age, chicks from younger breeders presented more pronounced intestinal morphometric characteristics. Broiler breeder age influences the early performance, intestinal development, and nutrient metabolism of progeny. Older breeders favor early growth and intestinal maturation, whereas younger breeders enhance protein metabolism, highlighting the relevance of breeder age in early broiler management. These findings provide integrated evidence linking breeder age to growth performance, intestinal development, and nutrient metabolism during early life.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843355","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":"Milk production, principal composition and economic assessment of Holstein cows in a silvopastoral system with Mexican sunflower and yacon silage as partial concentrate replacement.","authors":"Jhon Jairo Lopera-Marín, Joaquín Angulo-Arizala, Enrique Murgueitio Restrepo, Liliana Mahecha-Ledesma","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05041-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-05041-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dairy livestock systems in the Colombian highlands are characterized by grass monoculture, high fertilization, concentrate supplementation, and predominantly Holstein cows. Limited pasture diversity and inadequate management have negatively affected soil and forage quality, increasing dependence on fertilizers and concentrates, raising production cost and reducing profitability. Intensive silvopastoral systems (ISS) represent an agroecological alternative by integrating grasses with trees and shrubs and strategic supplementation to improve production efficiency. Yacon (S. sonchifolius), a native Andean Asteraceae, produces high yields of leaves, steams and tubers, making this plant a valuable local resource for supplementation in ISS. This study evaluated milk production, principal milk composition, somatic cell count, and production cost of Holstein cows in an ISS with Mexican sunflower (T. diversifolia) and yacon silage as partial replacement for concentrated, compared to Kikuyu grass monoculture supplemented with concentrate. A Latin square crossover design (AB/BA) was used with two evaluation periods, two treatments, and two groups of four cows. Treatments were SPI (ISS + yacon) and MON (kikuyu monoculture). Response variables included total dry matter intake, milk yield, principal milk composition, somatic cells, feed efficiency, energy efficiency, and a descriptive economic analysis. Milk yield or principal composition did not differ between treatments, except for somatic cells (p < 0.05), which were lower in SPI. An economic simulation for 50 cows showed annual feed cost savings of USD 4,937.13 with SPI. Results indicate that ISS supplemented with yacon silage can reduce production costs while maintaining milk performance and reducing somatic cell count in dairy systems of the Colombian highlands.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843426","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":"Influence of vegetation and weather on livestock distribution in an arid environment.","authors":"Daniela Maldonado-Enríquez, Raúl Octavio Martínez-Rincón, Juan José Montes-Sánchez","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05065-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-026-05065-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding the movement patterns of free-foraging livestock is essential for the sustainable management of arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Therefore, this study employed a goat and a cow fitted with GPS collars, satellite images, and climatic variables to explore the daily walk distance and home range of livestock, as well as their relationships with environmental variables in a traditional production system during 2023 in sarcocaulescent scrubland with very dry and semi-warm weather, located on the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. The results revealed that a goat walked longer daily distances per month (7.7 ± 2.6 vs. 3.4 ± 2.0 km) and had larger monthly home ranges than a cow (562 ± 153.5 vs. 332 ± 96 hectares). Specifically, a goat walked the longest distances in December (9.5 km; summer wet season) and the shortest in October (6.6 km; autumn dry season), while a cow traveled the longest in July (4.6 km; dry season) and the shortest in April (2.5 km; dry season). The total area utilized annually by a goat was 1,682 hectares, and 1,180 hectares for a cow. Seasonality (measured in Julian days), plant vigor (normalized difference vegetation index), vegetation cover, and temperature non-linearly affected the walking distance of the goat and cow. Additionally, wind speed had a non-linear effect on the goat's walking distance. Finally, vegetation cover, temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity significantly influenced the goat's home range size linearly but did not have a similar effect on the cow's. These findings underscore the importance of considering species-specific behaviors and climatic influences in developing effective and sustainable livestock management practices in traditional production systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2026-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147843369","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}