Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI最新文献

{"title":"Transcriptomic Insights and the Development of Microsatellite Markers to Assess Genetic Diversity in the Broodstock Management of Litopenaeus stylirostris","authors":"Ya-Chi Yang, Pei-Yun Chu, Che-Chun Chen, Wen-Chin Yang, Te-Hua Hsu, Hong-Yi Gong, I-Chiu Liao, Chang‐Wen Huang","doi":"10.3390/ani14111685","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111685","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary The Pacific blue shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris) is essential to the global seafood market, but intensive farming has increased disease and reduced genetic diversity. This study aimed to develop microsatellite markers for broodstock management using high-throughput transcriptome sequencing from various tissues. We identified 40 robust markers, revealing significant genetic diversity crucial for sustainable shrimp farming. These markers are valuable for breeding programs and help in the conservation and improvement of shrimp populations. Abstract The Pacific blue shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris) is a premium product in the international seafood market. However, intensified farming has increased disease incidence and reduced genetic diversity. In this study, we developed a transcriptome database for L. stylirostris and mined microsatellite markers to analyze their genetic diversity. Using the Illumina HiSeq 4000 platform, we identified 53,263 unigenes from muscle, hepatopancreas, the intestine, and lymphoid tissues. Microsatellite analysis identified 36,415 markers from 18,657 unigenes, predominantly dinucleotide repeats. Functional annotation highlighted key disease resistance pathways and enriched categories. The screening and PCR testing of 42 transcriptome-based and 58 literature-based markers identified 40 with successful amplification. The genotyping of 200 broodstock samples revealed that Na, Ho, He, PIC, and FIS values were 3, 0.54 ± 0.05, 0.43 ± 0.09, 0.41 ± 0.22, and 0.17 ± 0.27, respectively, indicating moderate genetic variability and significant inbreeding. Four universal microsatellite markers (CL1472.Contig13, CL517.Contig2, Unigene5692, and Unigene7147) were identified for precise diversity analysis in Pacific blue, Pacific white (Litopenaeus vannamei), and black tiger shrimps (Penaeus monodon). The transcriptome database supports the development of markers and functional gene analysis for selective breeding programs. Our findings underscore the need for an appropriate genetic management system to mitigate inbreeding depression, reduce disease susceptibility, and preserve genetic diversity in farmed shrimp populations.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"57 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141391334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Calcium Requirement of Yunnan Semi-fine Wool Rams (Ovis aries) Based on Growth Performance, Calcium Utilization, and Selected Serum Biochemical Indexes","authors":"Xiaojun Ni, Xiaoqi Zhao, Baiji Danzeng, Yinjiang Li, Allai Larbi, Hongyuan Yang, Yuanchong Zhao, Zhengrong You, Bai Xue, Guobo Quan","doi":"10.3390/ani14111681","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111681","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Yunnan Semi-fine wool sheep is a recently developed breed of sheep in China for meat and wool production. However, the nutrient requirements of this breed are scarcely studied, especially regarding minerals. This study aims to evaluate the effects of dietary calcium levels on the growth performance, calcium utilization, and serum biochemical indexes of Yunnan semi-fine wool rams as well as to estimate their calcium requirement. Diets with calcium levels ranging from 0.73% to 0.89% can improve the growth performance and calcium utilization efficiency of rams, which could serve as baseline when formulating diets for Yunnan semi-fine wool rams. Abstract Calcium (Ca) is required for the growth and development of sheep, but the requirement of Yunnan semi-fine wool (YSW) rams remains uncovered. The current study aims to estimate the Ca requirement of growing YSW rams based on their growth performance, Ca utilization, and serum biochemical indexes. Forty-five YSW rams (10-month-olds) were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments with varying Ca levels of 0.50% (D1), 0.68% (D2), 0.73% (D3), 0.89% (D4), and 0.98% (D5). A higher value for average daily gain and a lower value for the feed conversion ratio were observed in the D3 group compared to the D5 group (p < 0.05). The dry matter intake amount changed quadratically with the increased Ca levels (p < 0.05). The levels of Ca intake, fecal Ca, and excreted Ca were significantly higher in the D5 group than those in the D1 group (p < 0.05). The apparent Ca digestibility rate and the Ca retention rate were significantly higher in the D4 group than in the D1 group (p < 0.05). The serum Ca concentration increased linearly with the incremental levels of dietary Ca (p < 0.05). The activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in the D1 group than in the D2 group (p < 0.05). The serum levels of hydroxyproline, osteocalcin, and calcitonin decreased from the D1 group to the D2 group, and then significantly ascended (p < 0.05) with the dietary Ca levels from the D3 group to the D5 group. The serum parathyroid hormone content was elevated from the D1 group to the D3 group and then decreased from the D4 group to the D5 group. After calculation, the daily net Ca requirement for the maintenance of YSW rams was 0.073 g/kg of BW0.75, and the daily total Ca requirement was 0.676 g/kg of BW0.75. To optimize the growth performance and the Ca utilization of YSW rams, the recommended dietary Ca level ranges from 0.73% to 0.89% based on this study.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"23 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141411021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Oligo-Fucoidan, Fucoxanthin, and L-Carnitine on Chronic Kidney Disease in Dogs: A Retrospective Study","authors":"Naeun Hong, Ju-Hyun An, Sung-Soo Kim, Su-Min Park, Ga-Hyun Lim, Ye-In Oh, Kyoung-Won Seo, H. Youn","doi":"10.3390/ani14111696","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111696","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in old dogs and cats. Patients with CKD have impaired renal structures and decreased renal function. Because renal degeneration is generally irreversible, treatment of CKD is focused mainly on conserving the remaining renal function. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the effects of oligo-fucoidan, fucoxanthin, and L-carnitine in canine CKD patients. The supplements were supplied for 6 months and showed a reno-protective effect, consistent with previous animal model studies. Based on our results, the combination of oligo-fucoidan, fucoxanthin, and L-carnitine has the potential to delay the progression of canine CKD and be used as an adjuvant therapy. Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) commonly occurs in old dogs and cats. Oligo-fucoidan, fucoxanthin, and L-carnitine (OFL) compounds have a variety of reno-protective properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-fibrotic effects. Because their effects have not been investigated in naturally occurring canine CKD, we examined their reno-protective activities in dog patients with CKD. A total of 50 patients (OFL, n = 28; control, n = 22) were included in the analysis. A significant difference was identified in serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations between the control and OFL groups at 6 months. No significant difference in electrolytes was found between the groups. A significant difference was identified in serum creatinine concentration between the control and OFL groups in azotemic (CKD IRIS stage 2–4) at 6 months. The OFL compounds showed a reno-protective effect, consistent with previous animal studies. The OFL combination can potentially delay the progression of canine CKD and be used as an adjuvant therapy.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141416371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Augmenting Aquaculture Efficiency through Involutional Neural Networks and Self-Attention for Oplegnathus Punctatus Feeding Intensity Classification from Log Mel Spectrograms","authors":"Usama Iqbal, Daoliang Li, Zhuangzhuang Du, Muhammad Akhter, Zohaib Mushtaq, Muhammad Farrukh Qureshi, Hafiz Abbad Ur Rehman","doi":"10.3390/ani14111690","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111690","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Managing fish feeding well is important for both making fish farming better and keeping aquatic environments healthy. By looking at the sounds fish make, this study suggests a new way to learn about how they eat. We turn these sounds into pictures and use advanced computer methods to figure out the different ways people eat. Our method uses a strong deep learning model that can correctly group the eating habits of a certain type of fish, which helps us figure out how much and how often they eat. With a 97% success rate, this method shows a lot of promise for better running fish farms and protecting marine ecosystems. In the future, researchers might be able to add more types of data to this method, which could give us even more information about how to farm fish sustainably and manage ecosystems. Abstract Understanding the feeding dynamics of aquatic animals is crucial for aquaculture optimization and ecosystem management. This paper proposes a novel framework for analyzing fish feeding behavior based on a fusion of spectrogram-extracted features and deep learning architecture. Raw audio waveforms are first transformed into Log Mel Spectrograms, and a fusion of features such as the Discrete Wavelet Transform, the Gabor filter, the Local Binary Pattern, and the Laplacian High Pass Filter, followed by a well-adapted deep model, is proposed to capture crucial spectral and spectral information that can help distinguish between the various forms of fish feeding behavior. The Involutional Neural Network (INN)-based deep learning model is used for classification, achieving an accuracy of up to 97% across various temporal segments. The proposed methodology is shown to be effective in accurately classifying the feeding intensities of Oplegnathus punctatus, enabling insights pertinent to aquaculture enhancement and ecosystem management. Future work may include additional feature extraction modalities and multi-modal data integration to further our understanding and contribute towards the sustainable management of marine resources.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"4 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141406329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of BMP7 in the Proliferation of Hu Sheep Dermal Papilla Cells Is Influenced by DNA Methylation","authors":"Xiaoyang Lv, M. He, Shan Wang, Wenxin Zheng, Hanlin Zhou, J. Mwacharo, Wei Sun","doi":"10.3390/ani14111699","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111699","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) play a key role in the growth and development of hair follicles, and their number can regulate the shape and size of hair. Previous studies found that the BMP7 gene is differentially expressed in Hu sheep lamb skin of different pattern types and plays a key role in the proliferation of Hu sheep DPCs. However, the molecular mechanism of the differential expression of the BMP7 gene remains unclear. Here, we aim to investigate the cause of the BMP7 gene differentially expressed in Hu sheep lamb skin of different pattern types. Our findings demonstrate that DNA methylation modification can affect the expression of the BMP7 gene and can regulate the proliferation and cell cycle of Hu sheep DPCs. Abstract Previous studies have shown that the BMP7 gene is differentially expressed in Hu sheep lamb skin of different pattern types, and its expression level is significantly correlated with hair follicle indices of different pattern types, but the molecular mechanism of the differential expression of the BMP7 gene remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of DNA methylation on the transcriptional expression of BMP7. Firstly, we found that the mRNA expression of the BMP7 gene and the activity of the core promoter of the BMP7 gene were upregulated after 5-Aza-Deoxycytidine-induced demethylation treatment using qRT-PCR and double luciferase reporter assay. Then, we found that the proliferation of Hu sheep DPCs in vitro was promoted after 5-Aza-Deoxycytidine-induced demethylation treatment through qRT-PCR, CCK-8, and EdU assay, and that the overexpression of DNMT1 in DPCs induced the opposite effect. In addition, the results of the cell cycle assay reveal that the percentage of cells in the S phase was increased after 5-Aza-Deoxycytidine-induced demethylation treatment, and that the percentage of cells in the S phase was decreased after overexpression of DNMT1 in DPCs. This study indicated that the differential expression of the BMP7 gene in different patterns of Hu sheep lamb skin may be regulated by DNA methylation modification. In addition, DNA methylation can regulate the proliferation and cell cycle of DPCs in Hu sheep.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"15 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141400096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultrasound Morphology of Presumed Normal Anal Sacs in Dogs and Cats","authors":"Ivana Nývltová-Pírková, Pavel Proks, Hana Moserová","doi":"10.3390/ani14111684","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111684","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Simple Summary: Anal sacs are paired skin invaginations present in most carnivores near the lateral margins of the anus and contain combined secretions of glands located in the anal sac wall. Anal sac disease is commonly seen in small animal practices, with a higher prevalence in dogs than in cats. The diagnosis of anal sac disease is usually based on the presentation of clinical signs and physical and rectal examination. However, the clinical signs are often non-specific and may be even absent, particularly in neoplastic cases. Ultrasonographic evaluation of anal sacs in dogs and cats is a practical, readily available, non-invasive, and low-cost modality and may enable the detection of anal sac disease at an early stage, even in asymptomatic patients. This study describes a presumed normal ultrasound morphology of anal sacs in dogs and cats, as well as the feasibility, advantages, and disadvantages of ultrasound screening of anal sacs in these companion animals. Abstract Ultrasonographic evaluation of canine and feline anal sacs is a practical promising modality to identify anal sac disease. However, limited data are available about normal ultrasound morphology of the anal sacs. This study describes the ultrasound morphology of presumed normal anal sacs in a larger sample of client-owned dogs and cats. A single-institutional prospective cross-sectional descriptive study was performed, and 137 dogs and 131 cats were included. The most common ultrasound features of the evaluated anal sacs in the dorsal plane were oval shape (99.3% of dogs and 98.5% of cats) and bilaterally similar content (94.2% of dogs and 95.4% of cats), mostly hypoechoic with diffusely hyperechoic points or unformed echogenic material (42.6% of dogs and 44% of cats). Gas in the lumen of the anal sac was detected in two dogs and mineralization in one dog. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between body weight and the size of anal sacs in dogs ≤15 kg and cats and a correlation between age and the size of anal sacs in cats. This simple method provides additional clinically significant information in detecting abnormal findings in asymptomatic patients and could contribute to the early detection of anal sac disease.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"236 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141412781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS) Evaluation of Canine Prostatic Hyperplasia before and after Osaterone Acetate Therapy: Preliminary Results","authors":"Giorgia Pettina, R. Bucci, Antonio Mazzetti, M. Quartuccio, Domenico Robbe, Maria Carmela Pisu","doi":"10.3390/ani14111683","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111683","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary The contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) allows the evaluation of the vascularization of an organ, using contrast agents composed of gas microbubbles, such as sulfur hexafluoride. Prostate perfusion is increased in dogs with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), due to the stimulation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In the present study, CEUS is applied for monitoring dogs with BPH, receiving osaterone acetate (OSA). Fifteen intact adult dogs are referred for BPH. A CPSE assay and B-mode ultrasound confirm the diagnosis. CEUS is performed before OSA treatment (D0) and highlights the rapid diffusion times of the contrast agent (length of the wash-in and wash-out phases). Prostatic cysts and parenchymal alteration are also detected. After treatment (D1), the CPSE and prostate volume are significantly reduced, while CEUS detects a significant increase in wash-in and wash-out times and a reduction in parenchymal abnormalities. These findings confirm the decrease in prostatic perfusion after OSA treatment and, although preliminary, are promising for the broader use of CEUS for the diagnosis and monitoring of dogs with BPH. Abstract The prostate is the only sexual gland of the male dog, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) regulates its growth. In intact dogs, constant DHT stimulation results in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that can be treated with osaterone acetate (OSA). This study describes the effects of OSA treatment, detected by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), highlighting prostatic vascularization with a contrast agent composed of gas microbubbles. Fifteen dogs (2–8 years) of different sizes and breeds (4–30 kg) diagnosed with BPH are involved in the study. Before treatment (D0), CPSE is measured (294.05 ± 115.97 ng/mL), and a B-mode ultrasound is performed (Vratio = 2.80 ± 1.85), confirming BPH. CEUS highlights the length of the wash-in (11.93 ± 2.08 s) and wash-out (42.20 ± 6.99 s) phases of the contrast agent in the prostate and the presence of cysts and parenchymal alteration. Dogs are treated with OSA (0.5 mg/kg for 7 days) and reassessed after 21 days (D1): CPSE and prostate volume are significantly (p < 0.001) reduced. The length of the wash-in (14.73 ± 2.54 s) and wash-out (51.13 ± 6.03 s) phases are significantly (p < 0.001) increased. The results confirm the effectiveness of the treatment, particularly the reduction in prostatic perfusion, confirmed by the increase in diffusion times of the contrast. Although preliminary, these findings are promising for the use of CEUS in monitoring dogs with BPH.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"11 17","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141392339","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Observation of Agonistic Behavior in Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and Transcriptome Analysis","authors":"Bo Wu, Chenxi Zhao, Xiafei Zheng, Zhi-Bang Peng, Minhai Liu","doi":"10.3390/ani14111691","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111691","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Agonistic behavior plays a crucial role in managing intraspecific competition among crustaceans. To explore the characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of agonistic behavior in L. vannamei, we quantified this behavior using a behavioral observation system and employed RNA-seq methods to characterize differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between aggressive and non-aggressive groups. The results revealed that L. vannamei exhibits nine correlated behavior patterns and the fighting process followed a specific process. Energy metabolism and signal transduction pathways may be key factors influencing agonistic behavior in shrimp. Additionally, the eyestalk may play a crucial role in initiating agonistic behavior. Abstract Agonistic behavior has been identified as a limiting factor in the development of intensive L. vannamei aquaculture. However, the characteristics and molecular mechanisms underlying agonistic behavior in L. vannamei remain unclear. In this study, we quantified agonistic behavior through a behavioral observation system and generated a comprehensive database of eyestalk and brain ganglion tissues obtained from both aggressive and nonaggressive L. vannamei employing transcriptome analysis. The results showed that there were nine behavior patterns in L. vannamei which were correlated, and the fighting followed a specific process. Transcriptome analysis revealed 5083 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in eyestalk and 1239 DEGs in brain ganglion between aggressive and nonaggressive L. vannamei. Moreover, these DEGs were primarily enriched in the pathways related to the energy metabolism process and signal transduction. Specifically, the phototransduction (dme04745) signaling pathway emerges as a potential key pathway for the adjustment of the L. vannamei agonistic behavior. The G protein-coupled receptor kinase 1-like (LOC113809193) was screened out as a significant candidate gene within the phototransduction pathway. Therefore, these findings contribute to an enhanced comprehension of crustacean agonistic behavior and provide a theoretical basis for the selection and breeding of L. vannamei varieties suitable for high-density aquaculture environments.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"72 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141411907","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Copra Meal: A Review of Its Production, Properties, and Prospects","authors":"Jan Kathleen M. Punzalan, K. Rosentrater","doi":"10.3390/ani14111689","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111689","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary There has been a growing focus on the utilization of copra meal, the byproduct of coconut oil production, as an alternative feed ingredient to supplement the growing demands of the ruminant livestock, poultry, and aquaculture industries. It provides a locally available and inexpensive source of protein, which is essential in tropical and subtropical regions, where coconut production is robust while conventional feed ingredients are scarce and prices are often unstable. This paper presents up-to-date information on the advancements in using copra meal as an animal feed ingredient and the various methods employed to enhance its nutritional and feeding value. It also offers a comprehensive overview of the physical and chemical properties of copra meal, emphasizing the need for further research to fully exploit its potential due to the limited understanding of its physical properties and the variability in quality resulting from different processing operations. This review paper also focuses on other potential applications for copra meal, which is crucial given the substantial global production volume with limited value addition. This could play a significant role in boosting the profitability of the coconut sector, reducing agricultural waste, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Abstract Copra meal, the byproduct of coconut oil production, has been widely available at low cost but has been underutilized, with huge portions still becoming waste. Extensive research on different species have been performed to improve its use as an alternative feed ingredient, aiming to reduce the impact of fluctuating feed prices in some parts of the world where coconut is a major commodity. As for any biological product, the physical and chemical properties of copra meal play a crucial role in its use and limitations. In the case of copra meal, studies have found that additional treatments are needed to improve its nutritional composition and make it readily and efficiently available for ruminant and monogastric animals, poultry, and aquaculture applications. This paper presents a summary of up-to-date information on the physical and chemical characteristics of the product, as well as discussions on the various methods employed to improve and optimize its biological value as animal feed. There have been limited studies that have explored other effective and economical means of utilizing copra meal outside the livestock and feed industry. Hence, this paper also aims to provide a lens on future prospects and diverse applications involving copra meal, as well as to present the gaps and challenges that have to be addressed to maximize its product value and biological potential.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"174 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141413919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disparities in Body Color Adaptability and Ambient Light Color Preference between Wild and Hatchery-Reared Marbled Rockfish (Sebastiscus marmoratus)","authors":"Yulu Qi, Chenhui Liu, Guozi Yuan, Haoyu Guo, J. Näslund, Yucheng Wang, Jiangfeng Ru, Yingying Ou, Xuejun Chai, Xiumei Zhang","doi":"10.3390/ani14111701","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111701","url":null,"abstract":"Simple Summary Our findings highlight significant distinctions in body coloration between wild and hatchery-reared individuals, and a ten-day rearing period under colored ambient light can notably change the coloration of hatchery-reared marbled rockfish. Additionally, our research reveals a preference among juvenile marbled rockfish for a red-light environment, alongside a consistent negative phototactic response to yellow and blue light colors. These results emphasize the substantial influence of hatchery rearing conditions on fish body color and morphological color-changing abilities, and elucidate ambient light color preferences. Our study emphasizes the importance of considering modifications to the hatchery environment, particularly in regulating ambient light color, within stock enhancement programs. Abstract Hatchery rearing significantly influences the phenotypic development of fish, with potential adverse effects for the post-release performance of hatchery-reared individuals in natural environments, especially when targeted for stock enhancement. To assess the suitability of releasing hatchery-reared fish, a comprehensive understanding of the phenotypic effects of captive rearing, through comparisons with their wild conspecifics, is essential. In this study, we investigated the divergence in body coloration between wild and hatchery-reared marbled rockfish Sebastiscus marmoratus. We examined the selection preferences for different light colors and assessed the impact of different ambient light colors on the morphological color-changing ability of juvenile marbled rockfish. Our findings revealed significant differences in body color between wild and hatchery-reared marbled rockfish. The hue and saturation values of wild marbled rockfish were significantly higher than those of their hatchery-reared counterparts, indicative of deeper and more vibrant body coloration in the wild population. Following a ten-day rearing period under various light color environments, the color of wild marbled rockfish remained relatively unchanged. In contrast, hatchery-reared marbled rockfish tended to change their color, albeit not reaching wild-like coloration. Light color preference tests demonstrated that wild juvenile marbled rockfish exhibited a preference for a red-light environment, while hatchery-reared individuals showed a similar but weaker response. Both wild and hatchery-reared marbled rockfish displayed notable negative phototaxis in the presence of yellow and blue ambient light. These results highlight the impact of hatchery rearing conditions on the body color and morphological color-changing ability, and provide insight into light color selection preferences of marbled rockfish. To mitigate the divergence in phenotypic development and produce more wild-like fish for stocking purposes, modifications to the hatchery environment, such as the regulation of ambient light color, should be considered.","PeriodicalId":519482,"journal":{"name":"Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141398988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}