Tropical animal health and production最新文献

{"title":"Cactus cladode juice as a molasses replacement in urea-multi-nutrient blocks: effects on intake, milk yield, composition, and estimated enteric methane emissions in crossbred dairy cows in dryland Waghimra, Ethiopia.","authors":"Ertiban Desale, Malede Birhan, Demissie Chanie, Zelalem Atnaf, Augustine Ayantunde","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05333-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11250-026-05333-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Molasses is an important component of urea-multi-nutrient blocks (UMMBs), but its high cost and inconsistent availability can limit their use in dryland livestock systems. This study evaluated the effects of replacing cane molasses with cactus cladode juice in UMMBs on intake, milk production, milk composition, and estimated enteric methane emission intensity in lactating crossbred dairy cows. Sixteen mid-lactation local Zebu × Holstein Friesian crossbred cows were assigned to four treatments in a randomized complete block design based on initial milk yield and body weight. Treatments consisted of UMMBs with 0, 50, 75, or 100% replacement of molasses with cactus cladode juice. Following 14 days of adaptation, data were collected for 60 days. Dietary treatments affected UMMB intake, milk yield, and milk composition (P < 0.001). The 50% replacement treatment recorded the highest UMMB intake, milk yield, and UMMB utilization efficiency, whereas milk composition differed only slightly among treatments. Estimated daily enteric methane production increased with cactus inclusion, while estimated methane emission intensity per kilogram of milk decreased. These findings suggest that cactus cladode juice has potential as a locally available alternative to molasses in UMMBs under dryland conditions. However, findings are preliminary because of the small sample size and short experimental period, and direct methane measurements are required for confirmation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149026068","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":"Genome-wide association analysis reveals genetic architecture of fertility traits in Sahiwal heifers and cows.","authors":"Pritam Pal, Pradyut Das, Karan Mahar, V N Sahana, Phoebe C Lalremruati, Ubaidullah Bhat, Gopal R Gowane, Vikas Vohra, Rani Alex","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05362-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11250-026-05362-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fertility traits are pivotal to the productivity and sustainability of dairy production systems; however, their genetic improvement remains constrained due to complex polygenic control and low heritability. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) offer a powerful approach to identify genomic regions underlying reproductive traits, particularly in tropically adapted indigenous breeds like Sahiwal cattle, which exhibit resilience to environmental stress. This study aimed to elucidate the genetic basis of 8 fertility traits in 303 Sahiwal animals using 50 K SNP genotyping. Animals were genotyped with the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip, and 26,267 high-quality SNPs were retained post quality control. Fertility traits analyzed in heifers included age at first calving (HAFC), interval between first and last insemination (HIFL), and number of services per conception (HNSPC); in cows, traits included cow pregnancy rate (CPR), number of services per conception (CNSPC), interval between first and last insemination (CIFL), service period (CSP), and calving-to-first insemination interval (CICAI). Phenotypic records were pre-adjusted for non-genetic factors such as year and season of birth or calving, and population structure was corrected using principal components. A total of 31 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified as significantly associated with these fertility traits, 13 in heifers and 18 in cows. Gene annotation of associated loci revealed several biologically relevant candidates, including DMXL2, SCG3, SIX2, CELSR1, and TRNAE-UUC for heifers, and PLA2G7, ADGRF5, RSRC1, TBC1D21, SPRED1, and FAM98B for cows. Evidence of shared SNPs across various traits indicates pleiotropic genetic control of fertility, with CNSPC-associated genes (SPRED1, RASGRP1, FAM98B), implicating Ras-MAPK-ERK signaling, immune regulation, and RNA processing in conception efficiency. These genes are involved in neuroendocrine regulation, gametogenesis, lipid metabolism, and early embryonic development. These findings provide candidate genomic regions for further validation and potential incorporation into fertility-focused genomic selection programs in tropical dairy cattle.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149026070","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":"Survival, mortality and disposal patterns of Salem Black goats: a 35-year longitudinal study.","authors":"M Jeyakumar, J Saalom King, J Muralidharan, A K Thiruvenkadan, R Saravanan, N Murali","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05353-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11250-026-05353-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mortality and poor survivability remain major constraints limiting productivity and profitability in goat production systems, particularly under intensive management conditions. This study evaluated survival patterns, mortality trends, and disposal dynamics in Salem Black goats using longitudinal data collected over 35 years (1987-2022) at the Mecheri Sheep Research Station, Tamil Nadu, India. After data cleaning, records from 2,433 animals were retained for analysis. Survival time was defined as the interval from birth to death or disposal, with death considered the event of interest and sale or transfer treated as censored observations. The overall mean survival time was 584.3 ± 652.1 days, indicating considerable variation in longevity among animals. The overall mortality rate was 21.17%, whereas 77.81% of the animals were disposed of through sale, reflecting the economic orientation and planned herd management strategy of the production system. Mortality declined markedly across successive production periods, decreasing from 42.85% during 1987-1992 to 3.03% during 2018-2022, suggesting substantial improvements in herd health management, disease prevention, nutrition, and veterinary care. Enteritis (17.48%) and pneumonia (10.29%) were the leading causes of mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a gradual decline in survival probability with increasing age. Cox proportional hazards regression revealed that the production period significantly influenced mortality risk, whereas sex and season of birth had no significant effects. These findings indicate that long-term improvements in herd management and health practices can substantially enhance survival, productivity, and the sustainability of organized Salem Black goat production systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149026066","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":"Comparative effect of feeding Tifton 85 hay and Pornunça hay as roughage on the performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of feedlot lambs.","authors":"Maria Cláudia Soares Cruz Coelho, Carla Wanderley Mattos, Gherman Garcia Leal de Araújo, Kelly Cristina Dos Santos, Matheus Henrique Andrade de Silva, João Paulo Ismério Dos Santos Monnerat, Luciana Felizardo Pereira Soares, Andreia Fernandes de Souza, Maria Alyne Coutinho Santos, Dorgival Morais de Lima Júnior, Francisco Fernando Ramos de Carvalho","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05347-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11250-026-05347-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing Tifton 85 hay (TH) with Pornunça hay (PH) on intake, nutrient digestibility, performance, carcass characteristics, centesimal composition, and physicochemical parameters of the meat of feedlot lambs. We used 36 Santa Inês male lambs, with an age of 4 months and an initial body weight of 18.60 kg ± 3.80 kg, confined for 71 days, with 15 days of adaptation and 56 days of data collection. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design in four treatments. Dietary treatments consisted of replacing TH with PH at increasing levels (0%, 33%, 67%, and 100%) within the dry matter of the roughage fraction, maintaining a 40:60 roughage-to-concentrate ratio in the total mixed ration. Dry matter (DM), organic matter, and non-fibrous carbohydrates intake increased (P < 0.01) by replacing TH with PH. However, there were decreases (P < 0.01) in the crude protein and neutral detergent insoluble fiber digestibility coefficients of the diet with increasing PH levels. The final weight, daily gain, and feed conversion of the lambs were 30.96 kg, 0.26 kg/day, and 4.38 kg/kg, respectively; the increase in PH in the diet did not affect (P > 0.05) these values. Conversely, hot and cold carcass weights and yields increased (P < 0.01) with the dietary replacement of TH by PH. In contrast, TH replacement did not affect (P > 0.05) the regional carcass composition of the lambs. Furthermore, the substitution of TH with PH had no impact (P > 0.05) on meat color, water-holding capacity, tenderness, or chemical composition (i.e., ash, protein, and fat contents). We recommend completely replacing Tifton 85 hay with Pornunça hay in the diet of feedlot lambs.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13593636/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149018083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vertical transmission, infection dynamics and risk factors for the occurrence of tick fever agents in beef cattle from a tropical region.","authors":"Lidia Mendes de Aquino, Igor Maciel Lopes de Morais, Vanessa Ferreira Salvador, Luccas Lourenzzo Lima Lins Leal, Warley Vieira de Freitas Paula, Gabriel Cândido Dos Santos, Luiz Felipe Monteiro Couto, Dina Maria Beltran Zapa, Luciana Maffini Heller, Marcus Antonio Martins Buso, Evandro Davanco Ferreira de Souza, Felipe da Silva Krawczak, Lorena Lopes Ferreira, Camila Valgas Bastos, Emmanuel Arnold, Rosangela Zacarias Machado, Vando Edésio Soares, Welber Daniel Zanetti Lopes","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05341-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11250-026-05341-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigated the vertical transmission, infection dynamics, and risk factors associated with tick fever agents in beef calves raised in a tropical region over a two-year period. A total of 98 cow-calf pairs were monitored from birth until slaughter (males) or first calving (females). Blood samples were analyzed by qPCR and iELISA for Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis, and Babesia bigemina. Vertical transmission was detected only for A. marginale (6.5%). At 20 days of age, qPCR detected A. marginale DNA in 85% of calves and Babesia spp. DNA in 60-80%, indicating early exposure and active infection. Tick burden was the only variable independently associated with both blood smear positivity and bacteremia, providing observational evidence of a potential epidemiological role of R. microplus in A. marginale infection under field conditions. Low Babesia parasitemia precluded comparative analyses between sexes. Serological prevalence exceeded 75%, indicating widespread exposure within the herd. Nevertheless, clinical cases of anaplasmosis occurred in 20-day-old calves, 8-9-month-old steers, and 13-14-month-old heifers, suggesting that seropositivity alone was not sufficient to prevent clinical disease. These findings reveal significant shifts in the epidemiology of tick fever under tropical conditions, characterized by early infection, widespread pathogen exposure, and the persistence of clinical disease, emphasizing the need to reassess current control strategies for tick fever in beef herds.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13593702/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149017454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of Piau and commercial genetic groups on the performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of pigs.","authors":"Layla Cristien de Cássia Miranda Dias, Paulo Sávio Lopes, Ricardo Martin da Silva Bernardo, Caroline Pereira Abreu, Guilherme Henrique de Freitas, Mario Luiz Chizzotti, Delvan Alves da Silva, Daniele Botelho Diniz Marques, Renata Veroneze","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05335-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11250-026-05335-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Piau is a naturalized Brazilian pig breed known for its disease resilience, low maintenance and nutritional requirements, and adaptability to diverse climatic conditions. Incorporating local breeds, such as Piau, into crossbreeding programs with commercial lineages may increase the productive performance of naturalized breeds while helping preserve their genetic diversity. This study evaluated the influence of genetic groups on the performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of barrows. Thirty-nine animals from four groups: purebred Piau (PP), Large White (LL), Piau × Large White (PL), and Duroc × Large White (DL) were analyzed in a completely randomized design. Performance, carcass yield, chemical composition, and meat quality (Longissimus dorsi and Biceps femoris) were assessed. Results showed that PP had the lowest growth rates, while DL exhibited the highest productive efficiency. The PL crossbreed showed significantly higher hot carcass weight compared to PP, reaching levels near those of commercial groups while retaining the high backfat thickness characteristic of the Piau breed. Regarding meat quality, PP and PL showed superior water-holding capacity and lower drip loss compared to commercial lines. Although shear force was similar for the loin across groups, DL had the most tender ham (Biceps femoris), while PL showed lower tenderness for this cut. In conclusion, crossbreeding Piau with Large White (PL) increases performance and carcass weight in comparison to purebred Piau without compromising the distinctive moisture retention and fat attributes of the local breed. The highest productive performance was observed for the Duroc × Large White cross.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13593715/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149018074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hepatic and renal histopathological changes in lambs fed sisal mucilage silage with or without moisture-absorbing additives.","authors":"Vitor Marques de França, Manoel Francisco de Sousa, Tomás Guilherme Pereira da Silva, João Vitor Fernandes Clemente, Emanuel Felipe de Oliveira Filho, Valdemiro Amaro da Silva Júnior, Paulo Sérgio de Azevedo, Edson Mauro Santos, Francisco Fernando Ramos de Carvalho, Adriana Guim, Pierre Castro Soares","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05344-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11250-026-05344-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluated the effects of diets containing sisal mucilage silage, with or without moisture-absorbing additives, on the hepatic and renal histopathological profiles of lambs. Eighteen Soinga lambs (average initial body weight of 19 ± 1.38 kg) were allocated in a completely randomized design among three diets: sisal mucilage silage without additive (SMS); sisal mucilage silage ensiled with wheat bran (SMS-WB); and sisal mucilage silage ensiled with ground corn (SMS-GC). The experimental period lasted 60 days, after 14 days of adaptation to the diets. SMS without additives induced severe hepatic coagulative necrosis and microvesicular steatosis, alongside moderate-to-severe renal proliferative glomerulonephritis and glomerular atrophy. SMS-WB acted as a potent hepatoprotector, completely preventing macrovesicular steatosis and pericentral necrosis while down-grading microvesicular steatosis to a mild degree. In the kidneys, SMS-GC provided the most effective glomerular protection, mitigating both proliferative glomerulonephritis and glomerular atrophy to mild intensities. On the other hand, SMS-WB reduced only glomerular atrophy to a mild level, failing to contain proliferative glomerulonephritis. Renal medullary dystrophic calcification remained unaltered across all treatments (66.6%), indicating an intrinsic lesion profile of sisal mucilage ingestion. In conclusion, while sisal mucilage silage exhibits intrinsic hepatorenal toxicity in lambs, the use of moisture-absorbing additives is a viable mitigation strategy. Wheat bran serves as an effective hepatoprotector, whereas ground corn provides superior glomerular preservation. Therefore, the strategic inclusion of these additives is crucial to enable the safe use of sisal by-products in ruminant nutrition without compromising animal health.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13593729/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149018080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cross-sectional investigation of pathogenic Leptospira at the wildlife-livestock interface in a Cerrado-Atlantic Forest ecotone, Brazil.","authors":"Rafael Quirino Moreira, Pollyanna Mafra Soares, Vanessa do Nascimento Ramos, Rick Anderson Freire Mangueira, Bruno Cabral Pires, Hugo Libonati de Araújo, Ana Carolina Guimarães Fenelon, Walter Lilenbaum, Anna Monteiro Correia Lima","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05345-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11250-026-05345-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonosis affecting domestic and wild species, particularly prevalent in regions with high temperature and humidity that favor leptospiral survival in the environment. This study investigated the role of wildlife-livestock interactions in the transmission cycle of Leptospira spp. Serum samples (for Microscopic Agglutination Test - MAT, considering dilutions ≥ 1:100 with ≥ 50% agglutination as reactive) and kidney tissues (for lipL32 PCR) were collected from 28 small mammals, including 14 marsupials and 14 rodents. All samples were seronegative by MAT; however, 15/28 (53.6%) kidney samples were PCR-positive, including 9/14 (64.3%) marsupials and 6/14 (42.9%) rodents. Additionally, 66 bovine serum samples from a dairy farm in the same area were analyzed by MAT, with 60/66 (90.9%) testing seropositive revealing high antibody titers (800), predominantly against serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae (10%), followed by Sejroe (1.6%). Serogroup Pomona showed 1.6% of titers at 400. These findings suggest that small mammals might have played a significant role in the transmission and maintenance of pathogenic leptospires in the studied area, potentially acting as reservoirs and contributing to cattle infection. However, the observed infection patterns may also reflect indirect transmission routes, such as environmental persistence of leptospires in soil and water, or the involvement of additional, uninvestigated reservoir hosts within the agroecosystem. Therefore, small mammals sharing habitats with livestock should be considered important in leptospirosis epidemiology. Further studies evaluating leptospiral survival in environmental substrates, applying molecular typing to identify circulating strains, and conducting broader host surveillance are necessary to better elucidate transmission dynamics.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13585779/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148991403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dietary fiber sources affect reproductive and lactation outcomes and colostrum protein concentration in sows.","authors":"Idael Matheus Góes Lopes, Marcelo Dourado de Lima, Soraia Viana Ferreira, Ana Clara Rodrigues de Oliveira, Betânia Rodrigues de Andrade, Rafaela Jorge Sarsur de Freitas Ribeiro, Naiara Cristina Dos Santos Silveira, Artur Cavalcanti de Souza, Luisa Lopes da Rocha Dos Santos, Luíza de Almeida Ramos, Francisco Carlos de Oliveira Silva, Eloísa de Oliveira Simões Saliba, Dalton de Oliveira Fontes","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05346-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11250-026-05346-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementing different dietary fiber sources during late gestation. A total of 400 sows (parity 1-5; 215.7 ± 22.8 kg) were allocated in a randomized block design with four treatments: control (no added fiber), soybean hulls, lignocellulose, and micronized citrus pulp (n = 100 per treatment). Diets were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous, differing only in fiber source, and were provided from day 89 of gestation to weaning. Reproductive traits, piglet performance, fecal score, serum biochemical parameters, and colostrum yield and composition were evaluated. Blood metabolites were analyzed using an automatic biochemical analyzer, and glucose was measured with a portable glucometer. Statistical analyses included linear mixed-effects models, ANOVA with Tukey adjustment, Poisson and logistic regression models, and non-parametric tests when appropriate, with significance declared at P < 0.05. Fiber inclusion reduced stillbirth rates (P = 0.04), with lignocellulose showing the lowest incidence, and increased the number of weaned piglets (P = 0.01). Piglet weaning weight was higher in the micronized citrus pulp group (P = 0.04). Lactation mortality was reduced in fiber-fed sows compared to control (P < 0.01). Serum triglycerides were higher in sows fed lignocellulose (P = 0.04), while other biochemical parameters were unaffected. Colostrum protein concentration increased with micronized citrus pulp (P = 0.03), whereas fat, lactose, and colostrum yield were not influenced (P > 0.05). Dietary fiber supplementation during late gestation improved reproductive and lactation outcomes, particularly by reducing stillbirths and lactation mortality and enhancing piglet performance, while specific effects were observed on serum triglycerides and colostrum protein concentration.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13585918/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148991373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of artificial shade on the performance and water intake of feedlot beef cattle in tropical environments.","authors":"Marcos Chiquitelli Neto, Rafael de Arruda Saron, Karime Chukr Bazzo, Diogo Tiago da Silva, Sheila Tavares Nascimento","doi":"10.1007/s11250-026-05306-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11250-026-05306-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heat stress is one of the main challenges for animal production systems in tropical regions. One of the ways to mitigate the negative effects of thermal stress is to provide artificial shading structures. This work experimentally evaluates the effects of artificial shading on the productivity and water consumption of finishing beef cattle. The experiments were conducted in two locations: the Amazon Forest region (Mato Grosso State, Brazil) and the Atlantic Forest region (São Paulo State, Brazil). In both experiments, the animals were equally divided into groups with and without access to shade, totaling 997 animals. Beef cattle without access to shade drank 16.2% more water. Accumulated weight gain and finishing fat were higher in animals with access to shade (90.77 vs. 85.99 kg in the first experiment, p < 0.05; 88.85 vs. 84.75 kg in the second experiment, p < 0.05). Carcass yield was similar for both groups. In conclusion, artificial shading for feedlot beef cattle led to a reduction in water consumption (consistent with improved thermal comfort) and an increase in animal performance (greater cumulative weight gain), improving overall animal welfare within tropical feedlot systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":23329,"journal":{"name":"Tropical animal health and production","volume":"58 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13586039/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148991378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}