Animal最新文献

{"title":"Influence of mild pain and/or sickness caused by lipopolysaccharide-induced clinical mastitis on the time budget, space use and social behaviour of dairy cows","authors":"N. Rebout,&nbsp;C. Bagnard,&nbsp;L. Ginger,&nbsp;M. Bouchon,&nbsp;D. Ledoux,&nbsp;C. Sueur,&nbsp;A. de Boyer des Roches","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101914","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101914","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cows suffering from mammary inflammation display ‘individual-centred’ pain and/or sickness behaviours; however, how they interact with their surroundings (physical environment, social context) is less documented. This study examined the effects of mild mammary pain and/or sickness on cows’ daily activity patterns, spatial organisation, and social behaviours (dyadic interactions and social network metrics). Twenty-seven dairy cows were studied using a repeated-measures design over six observation days, comprising three ‘non-challenge days’ and three ‘challenge days’. On each challenge day, a subset of cows received an intramammary infusion of 25 μg <em>E. coli</em> lipopolysaccharide (<strong>LPS</strong>) into a healthy udder quarter after morning milking, while the remaining cows served as CONTROL. Cows receiving LPS were either left untreated (LPS status, n = 14) or immediately treated with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (LPS+NSAID status, n = 13). Cows’ behaviour was continuously video-recorded between morning and evening milkings across all 6 days, which allowed to collect data on location, activity, proximity to neighbours, and social interactions. Data were analysed using mixed effects models and social network analysis. The results showed significant effects of pain and/or sickness status on behaviour (location; activity) and social dynamics. First, compared to the CONTROL status, cows in the LPS status spent less time at the self-locking barrier and more time in cubicles. They spent longer durations of time standing still and perching and less time eating, engaged in fewer social interactions and maintained greater distances from their nearest neighbours. Social network analysis found that cows in LPS status reduced their level of social engagement (i.e. lower Strength) and of social connectivity (i.e. lower betweenness). Second, comparisons between the LPS+NSAID and CONTROL conditions revealed no significant differences, whereas comparisons between the LPS+NSAID and LPS conditions showed significant contrasts. Compared to cows in LPS status, those in LPS+NSAID status spent more time in self-locking barriers, less time in cubicles, more time eating, less time perching, and were involved in a higher number of social interactions and were closer to their first neighbour. Together, these results indicate that NSAID treatment alleviated most behavioural effects associated with pain and/or sickness. These findings highlight the potential value of behavioural indicators including activities, space use and social behaviour for improving mild pain and/or sickness detection in dairy cows. This study can be seen as a first step to identify relevant behaviours, which would be followed by the development or refinement of practical tools in on-field applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"20 9","pages":"Article 101914"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148842044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 carbohydrate, protein and lipid modulation shape growth, nutritional profile and antimicrobial peptide gene expression in edible yellow mealworm larvae","authors":"S.S.K. Daluwatta,&nbsp;Z. Loiotine,&nbsp;S. Bellezza Oddon,&nbsp;V. Candian,&nbsp;I. Biasato,&nbsp;R. Tedeschi,&nbsp;L. Gasco","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101915","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101915","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Insects are highly nutritious and efficient producers of antimicrobial peptides (<strong>AMPs</strong>), and they can convert low-value organic side streams into high-quality biomass. This study investigated the effects of rearing substrates on growth, nutritional composition and AMP gene expression in the yellow mealworm larvae, <em>Tenebrio molitor</em> (<strong>TM</strong>). Four diets based on low-cost agricultural and bakery by-products were formulated with varying protein: non-structural carbohydrate (<strong>P:C</strong>) ratios and lipid levels: D1 (1:3, 7.5%), D2 (1:3, 9.5%), D3 (1:2, 7.5%), and D4 (1:2, 9.5%), adjusting the inclusions of raw material. Four-week-old TM larvae were reared under control conditions (10 000 larvae/replicate, five replicates/diet) and fed on 2.6 kg of diet per replicate. Dietary P:C ratio and lipid level significantly affected the growth performance of TM larvae in a stage-dependent manner. While low lipid levels primarily influenced early growth, 1:2 P:C ratio had a greater impact during later development. Survival, protein yield, feed conversion and nutritional composition were also affected by dietary modulations. The highest expression levels for the genes encoding the AMPs Coleoptericin-1 (6.62-fold change) and Cecropin-2 (8.92-fold change) suggested that 1:2 P:C combined with higher lipid content (9.5%) significantly enhances the expression of key AMPs. These findings highlight the importance of optimising dietary nutrient balance to improve mealworm production and nutritional quality supported by insect production using low-cost by-products.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"20 9","pages":"Article 101915"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148833632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"AI-powered acoustic surveillance for early detection of calf respiratory disease.","authors":"N Mach, I Nou-Plana, M Corbin, T Peyret, G Derolez, M Monie-Ibanes, M Ducatez, G Meyer, R M Alsina-Pagès, A Velarde","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101928","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2026.101928","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Effective management of Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRDC) requires timely, non-invasive diagnostic tools to protect calf health and welfare. Among early clinical signs, coughing stands out as both frequent and informative. To explore its potential for early BRDC detection, we deployed an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven acoustic monitoring system that recorded over 2 730 h of audio during a 30-day period. Four experimental pens, each housing seven calves and stratified by infection status and antibiotic treatment, were equipped with a dedicated microphone to enable targeted acoustic surveillance. This configuration enabled pen-specific detection of cough events, which were subsequently classified using an AI lightweight Hidden-Unit BERT (HuBERT)-based model trained on 1 045 labelled clips. The classifier achieved 92% accuracy. Temporal patterns in cough frequency aligned with infection dynamics, treatment responses, and circadian patterns. Notably, AI-detected coughs consistently preceded clinical scores by 1-2 days, confirming the system's sensitivity to early respiratory disorders. These findings support the use of acoustic surveillance as a valid, scalable, and autonomous tool for continuous monitoring and early warning of respiratory diseases in calves.</p>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"20 10","pages":"101928"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148898283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Personality modifies the welfare effects of shelter screens in farmed blue foxes","authors":"E. Vihtakari,&nbsp;A. Valros,&nbsp;T. Koistinen,&nbsp;J. Mononen","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101898","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101898","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Consistent differences in individual behaviour, commonly referred to as animal personality, can influence welfare through their interaction with management practices. This study investigated whether farmed blue fox females exhibit personality traits along a shyness-boldness axis and how these traits relate to adrenocortical activity under different housing conditions. Test–retest consistency and intra‑ and inter‑assessor repeatability were first confirmed for the behavioural tests (Stick test, Approach test, Titbit test), which were repeated monthly over six test sessions. Reliability analyses (Cohen’s kappa, Prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa, and intraclass correlation coefficient) showed high assessor agreement and greater behavioural consistency in adults than in juveniles. Following these reliability analyses, individual‑level behavioural estimates were obtained as BLUPs from mixed‑effects models accounting for repeated measures and random effects. Because BLUP estimates from the three tests were correlated, principal component analysis was applied to the Z‑standardised BLUPs, and the first principal component was used as a composite shyness score. Juveniles (n = 38) and adults (n = 37) were analysed separately. Shyness scores were examined in relation to faecal cortisol metabolite (<strong>FCM</strong>) levels and housing conditions in a 2 × 2 factorial design (basic vs. enriched environment; with vs. without a shelter screen). Linear models revealed that individuals with higher shyness scores also had higher FCM levels in both age groups. In juveniles, shelter screens were associated with increased shyness scores but reduced FCM levels in consistently shy individuals, indicating that visual barriers may mitigate stress by enabling these animals to avoid human contact. This effect was weaker in adults, and enrichment showed no personality-dependent effects in either age group. Overall, farmed blue fox females exhibited personality traits along a shyness–boldness axis, with shyness associated with elevated adrenocortical activity. Accounting for personality improved the interpretation of stress indicators and highlighted that housing modifications, such as shelter screens, may be particularly beneficial for shy individuals. Incorporating personality-informed approaches into welfare studies can therefore guide management strategies that better accommodate individual differences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"20 8","pages":"Article 101898"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148632041","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Title page","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1751-7311(26)00169-2","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1751-7311(26)00169-2","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101922"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148843232","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Review: Role of dietary carbohydrates in the metabolic and hormonal control of nutrient partitioning in lactating dairy sheep and dairy goats","authors":"M.F. Lunesu,&nbsp;M. Decandia,&nbsp;A. Nudda,&nbsp;A.S. Atzori,&nbsp;A. Cannas","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101908","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101908","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sheep and goats are both small ruminants but differ to some extent in their feeding behaviour and selectivity, milk production, nutrient utilisation, and metabolism. Several studies have classified goats as intermediate feeders and sheep as grass and roughage eaters. Sheep, in general, are less productive and have shorter lactation periods. They also produce milk with higher fat and protein concentrations than goats. Moreover, in sheep, high-starch diets (above 20% of starch, DM basis) promote milk production in early lactation and body fat deposition in mid-lactation. Dairy goats, however, appear to benefit from high-starch diets throughout lactation. These differences may result from species-specific hormone levels involved in energy partitioning. This review explores how dietary carbohydrates affect the metabolic and hormonal control of nutrient partitioning in lactating dairy sheep and dairy goats, and the biological reasons underlying differences in carbohydrate utilisation, focusing on starch and highly digestible fibre. Overall, it appears that specialised dairy goats have a hormonal status (high growth hormone and low insulin concentrations) that promotes energy partitioning towards milk production. In contrast, dairy sheep exhibit low growth hormone and high insulin levels. This hormonal profile promotes the partitioning of dietary energy towards body reserve accumulation, especially during mid and late lactation. The findings suggest that to support milk production, dietary starch levels should be reduced in dairy sheep during mid-lactation by incorporating highly digestible fibre sources. In dairy goats, however, it is important to maintain a high-starch diet even during mid-lactation. The metabolic evidence discussed in this review is primarily based on studies conducted on Saanen goats and Sarda sheep under Mediterranean conditions, whereas the milk production evidence is also available for East Friesian and Assaf dairy sheep and for Murciano-Granadina and Sarda dairy goats. Thus, further studies should be considered to confirm the general applicability of these findings and the mechanism suggested in different sheep and goat breeds.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101908"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148681079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Impact of preincubation on temporal hatching distribution and traits of egg structures in common pheasant","authors":"S. Wlaźlak,&nbsp;J. Biesek,&nbsp;M. Banaszak,&nbsp;M. Adamski","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101893","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101893","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The temporal distribution of hatching is an important factor affecting chick uniformity, welfare, and hatchery efficiency. Although preincubation has been successfully applied in several poultry species to improve hatchability and synchronise embryonic development, its effects on embryogenesis and hatch timing in pheasants remain poorly understood. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of pheasant egg preincubation on the temporal distribution of hatching and the course of embryogenesis, with particular emphasis on changes occurring in extraembryonic structures. The research involved 700 hatching eggs, which were divided into a control group (<strong>CON</strong>) and an experimental group (<strong>PRE</strong>), in which a preincubation protocol was applied consisting of 6 h of incubation (37.7 °C), 12 h of standard storage (17 °C ± 0.5 °C), 12 h of incubation (37.7 °C), and 6 h of standard storage (17 °C ± 0.5 °C). Eggs from the CON group were stored at 17 °C ± 0.5 °C during this time. Analyses included fresh egg quality, egg weight loss during incubation, incubation time, hatching parameters, chick quality, and the physicochemical properties of the eggshell, albumen, amniotic fluid, and yolk contents. The application of preincubation significantly shortened incubation time in the PRE group, where 87% of chicks hatched as early as 567 h of incubation. In the CON group, the hatching process was markedly prolonged and more temporally dispersed. The proportion of unhatched chicks was significantly lower in the preincubated group (<em>P</em> = 0.046). No differences were observed in egg weight loss or chick quality (<em>P</em> &gt; 0.05). Eggshell thickness and the pH of albumen, yolk, and amniotic fluid changed during incubation. Significant differences in copper and manganese content were observed between groups (<em>P</em> = 0.047; <em>P</em> = 0.029), and differences in iron, zinc, and manganese content depending on the day of incubation (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001; <em>P</em> = 0.009; <em>P</em> = 0.017). Moreover, significantly higher lysozyme activity in the amniotic fluid was recorded on day 14 of incubation in the PRE group, which indicated enhancement of the developing embryo’s natural antimicrobial barrier (<em>P</em> = 0.001). It can be concluded that preincubation is an effective method for shortening incubation time in pheasants without negatively affecting chick quality. The observed changes in extraembryonic structures and lysozyme activity suggest that preincubation may also influence physiological processes associated with embryonic development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"20 8","pages":"Article 101893"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148609769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Effect of essential oil supplementation on growth and health in preweaning dairy calves: a meta-analysis","authors":"L.W. Wang,&nbsp;X.B. Zhao,&nbsp;J. Wang,&nbsp;S. Yang,&nbsp;P.P. Wang,&nbsp;H.C. Li,&nbsp;S.B. Han,&nbsp;R.Z. Zhong,&nbsp;L.S. Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101892","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101892","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Essential oils (<strong>EOs</strong>) are widely used as phytogenic feed additives in livestock systems; however, evidence for their benefits in preweaning dairy calves remains inconsistent. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the effects of EO supplementation on growth performance, feed utilisation, rumen fermentation, and blood immune and biochemical indices in preweaning dairy calves, and to explore potential sources of heterogeneity. Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Chinese Journal Database (CQVIP), and WanFang Data were searched from inception to 8 October 2024. Twenty-nine studies (48 treatment arms; 1 048 calves) met the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias was assessed using the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation tool. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed, with prespecified subgroup analyses by supplementation route (liquid feed versus starter feed), dominant bioactive group (phenolic, cineole/terpene, aldehyde-containing, and mixed/other), supplementation duration, and estimated harmonised dose category. Leave-one-out sensitivity analyses were used to assess robustness; publication bias was evaluated using Egger’s and Begg’s tests when ≥ 10 effect sizes were available. Overall, EO supplementation was associated with higher average daily gain and several body measurements, higher DM intake, lower feed conversion ratio, improved apparent nutrient digestibility, and lower faecal score. In rumen fermentation, acetate decreased and butyrate increased, while other rumen parameters showed no consistent changes. In blood indices, EO supplementation increased immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A as well as total protein and triglycerides, and decreased albumin, total cholesterol, and blood urea nitrogen, whereas glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate were not significantly affected. Exploratory subgroup analyses suggested that the magnitude and direction of responses may vary with supplementation route, dominant bioactive group, duration, and estimated harmonised dose category; however, several strata were supported by limited numbers of studies and should be interpreted cautiously. In conclusion, EO supplementation is associated with improved growth and feed utilisation in preweaning dairy calves, with response patterns that may vary according to EO composition and feeding strategy; further well-designed trials are needed to refine practical recommendations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"20 8","pages":"Article 101892"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148622411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Genomic diversity and historical legacy of Baroque horses: a living cultural heritage","authors":"H. Vostra-Vydrova,&nbsp;N. Moravcikova,&nbsp;R. Kasarda,&nbsp;M. Shihabi,&nbsp;T. Druet,&nbsp;A. Halvonik,&nbsp;B. Hofmanova,&nbsp;P. Dovc,&nbsp;M. Zorc,&nbsp;A. Molina,&nbsp;S. Demyda-Peyrás,&nbsp;M. Valera,&nbsp;M. Kovács,&nbsp;J. Posta,&nbsp;B. Rogić,&nbsp;V. Cubric-Curik,&nbsp;L. Vostry,&nbsp;I. Curik","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101897","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101897","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Baroque horses represent a distinctive group of breeds that emerged mainly between the 16th and 18th centuries, shaped by the demands of European royalty and their courts. Although recognised as separate breeds, they share common ancestry, breeding goals, and historical gene flow. This study aimed to evaluate their genomic diversity, population structure, and admixture patterns. We analysed 1 160 individuals from eight breeds - Lipizzan, Old Kladruby Horse, Pura Raza Española, Lusitano, Friesian, Criollo, Peruvian Paso, and Puerto Rican Paso Fino - using 34 026 single-nucleotide polymorphisms, with the Croatian Arab horse included as an outgroup. The Lipizzan was further divided into national subpopulations, the two Old Kladruby subpopulations defined by colour (black and grey), and within the Pura Raza Española, the Carthusian strain was treated as a distinct subpopulation. Observed genetic diversity, measured by heterozygosity and haplotype richness, was broadly comparable across breeds, although clear differences were observed between breeds with the lowest values (Friesian) and those with the highest values (Lusitano and Criollo). Genomic inbreeding coefficients, estimated using runs of homozygosity (F_ROH&gt;2Mb) and homozygosity-by-descent segments (F_HBD), ranged from ∼0.06 to ∼0.29 and ∼0.14 to ∼0.27, respectively. These values indicate relatively high levels of inbreeding, which may reflect the closed breeding structure of the populations and their relatively limited effective population sizes. In contrast, most individual inbreeding coefficient (F_IS) values were negative, reflecting deliberate avoidance of close-relative matings. Estimates of contemporary effective population size (<strong>N_eLD</strong>) ranged from ∼50 to ∼240 across breeds, depending on the method. Historical N_eLD trajectories revealed two distinct demographic decline patterns: one occurring around 12 generations ago and the other around 22 generations ago. Evidence of recent between-breed gene flow was detected among Iberian breeds and between Croatian Arab and Lusitano, whereas shared historical ancestry among Baroque breeds was evident across populations. These results provide new insights into the genomic architecture of Baroque horses and offer valuable guidance for managing their genetic diversity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"20 8","pages":"Article 101897"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148631980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Review: Colostrum production and intake- functional roles in piglet survival, future reproduction, and the challenge of genetic selection","authors":"T. Feyera,&nbsp;J.C. Johannsen,&nbsp;P. Langendijk,&nbsp;D. Vodolazska","doi":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101773","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.animal.2026.101773","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This review explores the vital role of colostrum in neonatal piglet survival, growth, and development, emphasising the physiological, nutritional, and immunological functions of colostrum. It highlights the challenges posed by genetic selection for larger litters, which often outpace the sow’s capacity to produce and deliver adequate colostrum to each piglet. Drawing on extensive experimental data and recent literature, the review examines factors influencing colostrum production and intake, the impact of maternal nutrition on colostrum production, and the long-term effects of colostrum intake on piglet health and reproductive performance. It appears that dietary interventions during late gestation and the transition period have limited impact on a sow’s ability to produce colostrum, although targeted nutritional strategies show promise in enhancing piglets’ intake of colostrum and colostrum compositions such as fat, amino acids, and immunoglobulins. Future research should integrate genome, transcriptome, metabolome, and microbiome data to develop machine learning models that predict piglet performance based on early colostrum intake, thereby enabling timely interventions to improve their growth and survival during lactation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50789,"journal":{"name":"Animal","volume":"20 ","pages":"Article 101773"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146220521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}