Animals最新文献

{"title":"Translating Ethical Principles into Law, Regulations and Workable Animal Welfare Practices.","authors":"David J Mellor, D Mette Uldahl","doi":"10.3390/ani15060821","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15060821","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The ethical theories considered in this commentary include Anthropocentrism, Dominionism, Utilitarianism, Reverence for Life, Animal Rights, Biocentrism, Ecocentrism and Care Ethics. It is apparent that Utilitarianism provides a motivating rationale for devising legal instruments to manage animal welfare in many countries. The emphasis of different laws spanning many decades paralleled the trajectory of changing attitudes to animals. Initial laws focussed on serious abuse, and were enacted to deal with relative indifference to animal suffering. Anticruelty laws followed; they dealt with a wider range of noxious acts that also cause suffering. Animal Protection laws accommodated a growing acceptance that much less severe, yet still very unpleasant experiences, are of significant welfare concern. These laws and their amendments, plus the associated instruments (e.g., Codes of Welfare/Practice), were increasingly couched using animal welfare terminology. Finally, contemporary laws that focus directly to animal welfare, increasingly refer to a 'duty of care' towards animals, entailing responsibilities to minimise negative experiences and to promote positive ones. Outlined here is an example of an ethically-based legal structure for providing guidance and outlining requirements for animal welfare management nationally. It has four interacting levels: Level 1-Law; Level 2-Codes of Welfare/Practice; Level 3-Regulations; and Level 4-Cooperation at a National Level. It is noted that although the framing of this legal structure is based on ethical principles, the expression of those principles is more implicit than explicit. However, expression of the ethical principles can be made much more explicit when putting into effect legal requirements to assess the acceptability of different practices in animal welfare terms. There are four interacting steps in this process: Step 1-the Primary Assumption: Animals have intrinsic value and an interest in having good lives. Step 2-Distribution of Responsibility: Humans usually control human-animal interactions and have an overarching responsibility to operate two principles: (1) If in doubt err on the side of the animal; (2) If there are justified concerns, a lack of evidence can never in itself justify a practice. Step 3-Assessment of Impact on the Animals: Use a structured framework to assess the impact of human-initiated activities. The Five Domains Model is suggested as a suitable device for this. Step 4-Rigorous Evaluation: the aim, to choose the least noxious intervention as required by the Principle of Proportionality which, once chosen, supports a justification to proceed. This commentary provides examples of how ethical reasoning, and its operational consequences, can be made visible at every stage of developing, introducing and operating infrastructures for managing animal welfare nationally.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143727620","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":"Effect of Inhibin Immunization on Reproductive Hormones and Testicular Morphology of Dezhou Donkeys During the Non-Breeding Season.","authors":"Muhammad Faheem Akhtar, Muhammad Umar, Wenqiong Chai, Liangliang Li, Ejaz Ahmad, Changfa Wang","doi":"10.3390/ani15060813","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15060813","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The present study was designed to investigate the potential role of inhibin immunization on plasma hormone concentration and testicular histoarchitecture of Dezhou donkeys in the nonbreeding season (November-February). For this purpose, adult Dezhou donkeys (<i>n</i> = 30) were equally divided into groups A, B, and C. Group A was actively immunized with 3 mg inhibin, group B with (1.5 mg), and group C was immunized with Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and served as a control. All animals in groups A and B were given a primary dose of inhibin (INH) antigen, i.e., 3 mg and 1.5 mg on day 1, followed by a booster dose on the 23rd day of the experiment. Blood samples were collected on the 21st, 28th, 34th, and 40th days of the experiment. Primary and booster INH immunization (3 mg and 1.5 mg) slightly elevated the plasma hormone concentrations of FSH, LH, AMH, and Activin A. The number of spermatogonia was significantly higher in group A as compared to group C on the 28th day of the experiment. Inhibin immunization also caused apoptosis in testicular histoarchitecture. In conclusion, Inhibin immunization can potentially improve the reproductive efficiency of Dezhou donkeys in a nonbreeding season by elevating plasma hormone concentrations of FSH, LH, AMH, and Activin A.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143727134","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":"Leveraging Whole-Genome Resequencing to Uncover Genetic Diversity and Promote Conservation Strategies for Ruminants in Asia.","authors":"Qinqian Wang, Ying Lu, Mengfei Li, Zhendong Gao, Dongfang Li, Yuyang Gao, Weidong Deng, Jiao Wu","doi":"10.3390/ani15060831","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15060831","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Whole-genome resequencing (WGRS) is a critical branch of whole-genome sequencing (WGS), primarily targeting species with existing reference genomes. By aligning sequencing data to the reference genome, WGRS enables precise detection of genetic variations in individuals or populations. As a core technology in genomic research, WGS holds profound significance in ruminant studies. It not only reveals the intricate structure of ruminant genomes but also provides essential data for deciphering gene function, variation patterns, and evolutionary processes, thereby advancing the exploration of ruminant genetic mechanisms. However, WGS still faces several challenges, such as incomplete and inaccurate genome assembly, as well as the incomplete annotation of numerous unknown genes or gene functions. Although WGS can identify a vast number of genomic variations, the specific relationships between these variations and phenotypes often remain unclear, which limits its potential in functional studies and breeding applications. By performing WGRS on multiple samples, these assembly challenges can be effectively addressed, particularly in regions with high repeat content or complex structural variations. WGRS can accurately identify subtle variations among different individuals or populations and further elucidate their associations with specific traits, thereby overcoming the limitations of WGS and providing more precise genetic information for functional research and breeding applications. This review systematically summarizes the latest applications of WGRS in the analysis of ruminant genetic structures, genetic diversity, economic traits, and adaptive traits, while also discussing the challenges faced by this technology. It aims to provide a scientific foundation for the improvement and conservation of ruminant genetic resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143727422","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":"Aspirin Eugenol Ester Modulates the Hypothalamus Transcriptome in Broilers Under High Stocking Density.","authors":"Xiaodie Zhao, Yi Zhang, Dongying Bai, Wenrui Zhen, Caifang Guo, Ziwei Wang, Penghui Ma, Xiqiang Ma, Xiaolin Xie, Koichi Ito, Bingkun Zhang, Yajun Yang, Jianyong Li, Yanbo Ma","doi":"10.3390/ani15060823","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15060823","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Broilers grown in a high-density (HD) stocking environment may experience intense competition that may adversely affect their growth relative to animals reared at a normal density (ND). The growth performance of HD broilers is increased by aspirin eugenol ester (AEE), although the mechanism by which this compound modulates hypothalamus-regulated feeding behavior is unclear. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of including AEE in the basal diet on the hypothalamic transcriptome and to examine in parallel the impact of these modifications on broiler production performance in HD conditions. Three hundred sixty one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into four groups: an ND group (14 broilers/m²), HD group (22 broilers/m²), ND-AEE group, and HD-AEE group. Each treatment group had 10 replicates, with 7 broilers per replicate in the ND and ND-AEE groups and 11 broilers per replicate in the HD and HD-AEE groups. Broiler growth performance was monitored, and hypothalamus samples were collected for transcriptome analysis on day 28. The HD group exhibited a reduced body weight (<i>p</i> < 0.01) at this timepoint compared to the ND group. However, the addition of AEE significantly improved average daily feed intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio in the HD group from days 22 to 28 compared to the HD group without AEE (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The transcriptome results showed that 20 signaling pathways were commonly enriched among the groups (ND vs. HD, HD vs. HD-AEE). Several potential candidate genes were identified as involved in chicken central nervous system development and regulation of feed intake. Thus, the current study provides new insights into hypothalamic transcription patterns that are associated with the ameliorative effects of AEE in HD broilers.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143727413","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":"Whole Cottonseed as an Effective Strategy to Mitigate Enteric Methane Emissions in Cattle Fed Low-Quality Forages.","authors":"Olegario Hernández, Agustín López, Maria Esperanza Ceron-Cucchi, Cham Donald AdégbéÏga Alabi, Cecilia Loza, Ana Veronica Juárez Sequeira, Héctor Miguel Fissolo, Elisa Mariana García, José Ignacio Gere","doi":"10.3390/ani15060819","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15060819","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluated enteric methane (CH₄) emissions, dry matter intake (DMI), and performance in rearing beef heifers fed either a Guinea-grass-only diet (0WCS) or Guinea grass supplemented with whole cottonseed (WCS) at 0.5% of body weight (BW). Twenty-four Braford heifers were randomly allocated into four pens (three animals per pen) per treatment over two experimental periods. Methane emissions were measured using the SF₆ tracer technique. Heifers receiving WCS supplementation produced 29% less CH₄ (120.64 vs. 169.54 g/day for 0.5WCS and 0WCS, respectively; <i>p</i> = 0.02) and showed a 22% reduction in CH₄ yield (7.30% vs. 9.41% of gross energy intake; <i>p</i> = 0.02). Methane intensity was 33% lower in supplemented heifers (0.37 vs. 0.55 g CH₄/kg BW; <i>p</i> = 0.01). However, WCS supplementation significantly reduced total DMI and forage DMI (<i>p</i> = 0.01 and <i>p</i> < 0.01, respectively). In terms of performance, heifers in the 0.5WCS group gained 0.28 kg/day, while those in the 0WCS group lost 0.10 kg/day. These results indicate that WCS supplementation mitigates CH₄ emissions while improving weight gain in beef heifers fed low-quality forage diets, making it a promising strategy for enhancing the sustainability of beef cattle production systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143727051","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":"Analysis of Cattle Foot Lesions Recorded at Trimming in the Southwest of England.","authors":"Nick Britten, Nicola Blackie, Jon Reader, Richard E Booth, Sophie Anne Mahendran","doi":"10.3390/ani15060829","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15060829","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The UK has a high incidence of lameness in cattle, which is costly in terms of economics and welfare. Most causes of bovine lameness originate in the foot but there are several different conditions causing lameness. Quantifying the relative prevalence of different lameness causing lesions allows for the focus of preventative measures and research on the most common conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study analysed trimming records from 23 professional foot trimmers working in the Southwest of England. A total of 97,944 recorded lesions over a 5-year period were analysed for lesion identity, lesion severity, repeat presentation, foot affected, claw affected and whether they were from dairy or beef cattle.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The most frequently recorded lesions were digital dermatitis (32%), white line disease (21%), sole ulcer (19%) and sole haemorrhage (13%). White line disease had the highest percentage of lesions requiring veterinary attention and most frequently re-presented. Most lesions were in hind feet and there was a small but significantly greater number recorded in right feet. Beef cattle had a higher percentage of digital dermatitis and lower percentage of sole ulcer compared with dairy cattle.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Digital dermatitis was the most common foot lesion of all cattle types. Most feet with lesions only appeared in the data set once, suggesting broadly that foot trimming was largely effective at resolving new foot lesions. More white line lesions were re-presented, along with having more severe grades compared with other lesions. Therapeutic trimming of chronic lesions appeared to be less successful, with re-presentations, on average, every 93 days, compromising welfare for extended periods, and requiring consideration of different veterinary treatment options.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143727423","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":"Analysis of the Microbial Community Structure of <i>Ixodes persulcatus</i> at Each Developmental Stage.","authors":"Yonghong Liu, Xiaonan Dong, Lianyang Sun, Hao Cui, Jiamei Kang, Nan Bu, Yishuai Zhang, Zehao Qi, Zixuan Li, Zilong Zhang, Li Zhao","doi":"10.3390/ani15060830","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15060830","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ticks are the second most significant vector of pathogens worldwide. <i>Ixodes persulcatus</i> is one of the dominant tick species in Inner Mongolia that can carry and transmit various pathogenic microorganisms. However, only one specific pathogen has been detected in a particular developmental stage of <i>I. persulcatus</i>, moreover metagenomic analysis has been conducted only in the adult tick stage. In this study, we used <i>I. persulcatus</i> at different developmental stages (first-generation female adult ticks, eggs, larval ticks, engorged larval ticks, nymphal ticks, engorged nymphal ticks, and second-generation adult ticks) from Inner Mongolia as materials for nucleic acid extraction. Subsequently, we constructed Illumina PE250 and Illumina PE150 libraries and sequenced them on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. Finally, we used molecular biology software and sequence analysis platform to analyze microbial community structures. Illumina PE250 sequencing revealed that the seven developmental stages of <i>I. persulcatus</i> were annotated to 21 phyla, 43 classes, 104 orders, 188 families, 391 genera, and 556 species of bacteria. Among them, 4 phyla and 14 genera were present at all developmental stages, with Proteobacteria being the dominant phylum and <i>Rickettsia</i> spp. being the dominant genus. In addition, <i>Rickettsia</i> had the highest relative abundance in the seven developmental stages. All developmental stages were annotated to a certain abundance of <i>Brucella</i> spp. Illumina PE150 sequencing revealed that the three samples (X-I-YDCP: first-generation adult ticks; X-I-MIX: mixed samples of eggs, larval ticks, and nymphal ticks; X-I-EDCP: second-generation adult ticks) of <i>I. persulcatus</i> were annotated to six orders, 28 families, 72 genera, and 158 species of viruses, of which 46 genera and 80 species were found in all three sample species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that comprehensively analyzed the microbial community composition of <i>I. persulcatus</i> at different developmental stages. Based on the study outcomes, certain abundance of <i>Rickettsia japonica</i>, bovine viral diarrhea virus, and African swine fever virus were annotated to <i>I. persulcatus</i>.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143727439","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":"Come out of Your Shell-A Comparative Pilot Study for Teaching the Central Plastrotomy in Chelonians Using a 3D-Printed Simulator and a Virtual 3D Simulation.","authors":"Marie-Therese Knoll, Andrea Tipold, Michael Pees, Sandra Wissing, Johannes Hetterich","doi":"10.3390/ani15060824","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15060824","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A pilot study was conducted with 5th-8th semester students comparing a 3D-printed simulator and a virtual 3D simulation. This study's aim was the comparison of these two resources in three different settings. Assessment of the resources' suitability as teaching devices for performing a central plastrotomy in chelonians took place. One group used the simulator, while the other group used the simulation to practice this method in a preparation course. Afterwards, the practical skills of 28 students were validated in an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). The students evaluated their respective resources (simulator and simulation). Additionally, 10 practicing veterinarians evaluated the simulator and rated its fidelity as suitable for practicing a plastrotomy. Furthermore, the self-efficacy of the two student groups was compared with each other. An increase in subjective self-assessment of skills in both groups was identified. Students trained on the simulator achieved better results in the OSCE and self-assessment of skills than those trained with the simulation. However, the differences between the groups regarding these aspects were mostly not significant. This study indicates that a 3D-printed chelonian simulator serves as an appropriate teaching device for veterinary students and is a useful addition to established teaching methods, like using cadavers.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143727537","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":"Effects of Low-Protein Diet Without Soybean Meal on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Plasma Free Amino Acids, and Meat Quality of Finishing Pigs.","authors":"Bobo Deng, Litong Wang, Xiaomei Jiang, Tianyong Zhang, Mingfei Zhu, Guoshui Wang, Yizhen Wang, Yuanzhi Cheng","doi":"10.3390/ani15060828","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15060828","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This study investigated the effects of a low-protein diet without soybean meal on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, plasma-free amino acids, and meat quality of finishing pigs. A total of 81 barrows and 81 gilts ([Yorkshire × Landrace] × Duroc) of 150 days old with similar body weights (103.64 ± 3.65 kg) were selected and randomly allocated into three groups with three replicates in each group and 18 finishing pigs in each pen (4.5 m × 8.5 m). Three dietary formulations were established in this experiment: (1) 14% crude protein, and 14% soybean meal for the control group diet (CON); (2) 13% crude protein, and 7% soybean meal for half soybean meal group diet (HSB); (3) 12% crude protein, and 0% soybean meal for soybean meal free group diet (SBF). Three groups of diets were equal to standard ileal digestible amino acids and swine net energy. Results showed that (1) there was no significant difference in final body weight, average daily feed intake, and average daily gain in CON, HSB, and SBF groups (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &gt; 0.05). However, the feed conversion rate was higher in the SBF but the differences were not significant (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.08). (2) Compared with the CON group, the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and calcium in the SBF group was significantly increased by 6.42%, 4.78%, and 9.82%, respectively (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05). However, ether extract and phosphorus did not differ significantly between the three groups (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &gt; 0.05). All groups had no significant differences in serum biochemical indexes (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &gt; 0.05). (3) Compared with the CON group, the plasma-free contents of glycine and glutamate in the HSB and SBF groups were significantly decreased by 42.90% and 37.06%, respectively (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the contents of plasma-free histidine and valine in the SBF group were significantly decreased by 16.72% and 16.21%, respectively (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference compared with the HSB group (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &gt; 0.05). Compared with the CON group, plasma-free isoleucine content in the HSB group was significantly decreased by 50.39% (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference compared with the SBF group (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &gt; 0.05). (4) Backfat thickness in the SBF group was significantly increased by 3.53% compared with that in the CON group (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05), but there was no significant difference compared with the HSB group (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &gt; 0.05). Compared with the CON group, lean meat percentage in the HSB and SBF groups showed a tendency to increase and decrease, respectively (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.09). (5) The urine ammonia-nitrogen content of finishing pigs in the SBF group was significantly lower than that of the CON (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.05), at a rate of 28.80%. H&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;S content in the urine of the SBF group tended to decrease (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.06). This study demonstrates that a low-protein diet without soybean meal can be applied as a dietary strategy for finishing pigs wi","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143727644","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":"Changes in Core Temperature of Cyan-Shank Partridge Chickens Exposed to Continuously Increased Ambient Temperature at Different Relative Humidity Levels.","authors":"Chen Wang, Ketian Chen, Haocong Xu, Le Liu, Longshen Liu, Chunmei Li, Yansen Li","doi":"10.3390/ani15060820","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15060820","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>(1) Background: This study aimed to investigate the changes in core temperature of Cyan-shank partridge chickens with continuously increased ambient temperature at different relative humidity (RH) levels. (2) Methods: Thirty birds were selected at the age of 35 days and randomly divided and housed in three artificial climate chambers. Each chamber was set at one of three different RH levels (50%, 65%, and 80%), and the ambient temperature was increased by 1.0 °C per 0.5 h from 24.0 to 34.0 °C. The core temperature was tested at 1.0 h intervals, and the ambient temperature in the chambers was recorded using mini temperature data loggers. Data were collected continuously for three days at the ages of 35, 42, and 49 days. The broken-line model (BLM) was used to calculate the inflection point temperature (IPT) and basal core temperature (constant). (3) Results: Both RH and age had no significant influence on the IPT. With increasing ambient temperature, the average IPT values of birds measured at the three ages were 26.52, 27.02, and 26.71 °C at the RH levels of 50%, 65%, and 80%, respectively. A significant downward trend in basal core temperature was observed as the birds aged from 35 to 42 days (<i>p</i> < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: the core temperature of the chicken gradually decreased as the age increased. During the hot summer months, it is better to keep the ambient temperature less than 26.5 °C to avoid the excessive increase in core temperature in Cyan-shank partridge chicken at the ages from 35 to 49 days.</p>","PeriodicalId":7955,"journal":{"name":"Animals","volume":"15 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143727527","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}