Neuropeptide B/W receptor-2 (NPBWR2) is a G protein-coupled receptor which is related to the regulation of feeding behavior, energy homeostasis, neuroendocrine function, and inflammatory pain. In addition, it plays a potential role in the regulation of stress, emotion, anxiety and fear responses. Interestingly, previous genomic analyses revealed variable levels of Bos javanicus introgression into Chinese indicine cattle, including a key adaptive region encompassing the NPBWR2 gene. By integrating introgression analysis with the Bovine Genome Variation Database, a banteng introgressed missense mutation (NC_083880.1: c.14C > G,Thr5Ser) of NPBWR2 was identified. The current study explored the allele frequency of this mutation in 1648 individuals representing 63 Chinese cattle breeds/populations using polymerase chain reaction amplification and whole genome resequencing methods. Here, we explored the prevalence of this variant in native Chinese cattle to instigate the introgression influence of B. javanicus on Chinese cattle.

Astragalus stems and leaves (ASL) represent a promising feed additive to improve cattle health and production efficiency. They are rich in nutrients and active substances, such as polysaccharides, flavonoids, alkaloids, exhibit antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and other biological functions. With the advantages of high yield and low price, ASL are excellent potential feedstuff resources that could alleviate the shortage of conventional feed and reduce feeding costs. This review highlights the botanical characteristics, phytochemical components, nutritional and pharmacological effects of ASL, as well as their applications in cattle production, which could be beneficial for animal nutrition regulation and forage development.

Xizang sheep are vital economic livestock in plateau regions. Traditional surgical castration often induces stress and infection. Although immunization presents an alternative method, the physiological mechanisms underlying its effects in Xizang sheep remain unclear. Therefore, this study integrated serum immune-antioxidant indicators with hypothalamus-pituitary transcriptomics to investigate molecular mechanisms of GnRH immunization. Results indicated that serum IgA, IgG, IgM, SOD, and GSH in the immunization (IM) group were significantly higher than in control (CON) and surgical castration (SN) groups, while IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). RNA-seq analysis revealed that hypothalamic CYTB, ATP6, COX, ABLIM1, and ABI3 were significantly upregulated in IM group, whereas SHISA7 and PTPRO were significantly downregulated, with notable enrichment in prion disease, oxidative phosphorylation, and thermogenesis pathways. Pituitary RPL15 was upregulated while RPL10A, CACNA1D, ANK1, DDX3X, and KCNMA1 were significantly downregulated, showing enrichment in myofibril, contractile fiber, sarcomere, and cytosolic ribosome pathways. Association analysis revealed significant positive correlations between IgG and pituitary ATP6, CYTB, TNNI2, as well as hypothalamic COX1, COX, and ND4. In summary, GnRH immunization outperforms surgical castration by modulating hypothalamic-pituitary genes and enhancing immunity and antioxidants in plateau Xizang sheep, achieving integrated neuroendocrine-immune regulation for healthy husbandry of plateau Xizang sheep.

Managing fat accumulation is a critical goal in the poultry industry, with the liver being the primary site for lipid metabolism in chickens. This study used non-targeted metabolomics to investigate dynamic changes in metabolite composition in chicken liver across five physiological stages. A total of 1121 metabolites were identified, with 749 and 372 detected in positive- and negative-ion modes, respectively. The regulation of hepatic lipolysis involves numerous metabolic pathways, making it a complex process. We performed trend analysis of lipid, carbohydrate and amino acid-related metabolites. Age exerted major effects on hepatic metabolism, significantly enriching pathways including alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Transcriptomic analysis identified 12 lipid-metabolism-related genes, showing a tendency of continuously increase. Potential functional genes influencing lipid metabolism-related pathways were identified through a comprehensive analysis of differential lipid-related metabolites and genes, including fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2), acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 2 (ACAT2), apovitellenin 1 (APOV1), vitellogenin 1 (VTG1), membrane-bound O-acyltransferase domain-containing protein 2 (MBOAT2) and ELOVL fatty acid elongase 1 (ELOVL1). These findings could help improve understanding of hepatic metabolism during different physiological stages and identify valuable biomarkers for specific metabolite accumulation.

This study provides a detailed genomic and evolutionary analysis of the heat shock protein (HSP) gene family in the chicken (Gallus gallus), identifying 64 HSP genes. The HSP40 (DNAJ) subfamily was the largest, with 39 members, followed by HSP70, HSP90, and smaller subfamilies. Phylogenetic and structural analyses indicated intricate evolutionary dynamics, encompassing both ancient and recent duplication events. The Ka/Ks ratio suggests that purifying selection is the dominant force, although significant segmental duplications (e.g. DNAJC28/DNAJC30) exhibit evidence of positive selection. Analysis of the protein-protein interaction network identified HSPA8, HSPA9, and HSP90B1 as central hubs. Functional enrichment revealed significant clusters associated with chaperone-mediated protein folding, protein complex assembly, and a novel cluster related to toxin transport. Expression profiling by RT-qPCR revealed notable tissue-specificity, with HSP90 and HSP40 exhibiting the highest upregulation (fold change > 3) in leg muscle relative to liver, highlighting their involvement in musculoskeletal stress adaptation. The findings establish a foundational resource for understanding the molecular mechanisms of stress resilience in poultry, highlighting specific gene families and functional modules as potential targets for enhancing thermotolerance and productivity.

The pig industry is an important component of Chinese agriculture. Chinese indigenous and Western commercial pig breeds provide valuable genetic resources for sustainable development of the pig industry, and selective signal analysis can advance our understanding of artificial and natural selective processes. In this study, we used whole genome re-sequencing data to analyze selection signatures in 43 Danish Large White [LW] pigs and 60 Chinese indigenous pigs (24 Anqing six-end white [AQ], 6 Asian wild [SS] pigs, 15 Diqing Tibetan [DQZ], and 15 Diannan small-ear [DN] pigs). We employed two calculation methods (FST and π ratio) to identify the selection signals of LW and Chinese indigenous pigs (top 1%). Among the selective sweep regions, 15 and 117 candidate genes were identified in Chinese indigenous pigs and LW pigs, respectively. The PIK3IP1, TUG1, and SELENOM genes were related to environmental adaptation in Chinese indigenous pigs; ALDH1A2, APC2, PTBP1, APQ9, and FGF7 were related to reproductive performance in LW pigs. Our findings provide insights into the genetic basis of economic traits of LW and Chinese indigenous pigs and offer a useful reference for future pig breeding and production.

Body weight and withers height are critical indicators of growth in animals, influencing husbandry practices. In this study, we measured the body weight and withers height of Gannan yaks at different ages (0, 6, 18, 30, 42, 54, 66, and 78 months). Four nonlinear growth models (Logistic, Gompertz, von Bertalanffy, and Brody) were evaluated. The Brody model was identified as the best fit for both body weight and withers height. Females exhibited lower A values and higher K values than males, suggesting earlier onset of puberty. The absolute growth rate (AGR) for males ranged from 16.979 to 0.809 kg/month, while for females, it ranged from 7.202 to 0.588 kg/month. The relative growth rate (RGR) ranged from 74.00 to 0.18% for males and 27.12 to 0.25% for females. Regarding withers height, the AGR and RGR for males ranged from 3.749 to 0.0409 cm/month and 6.69 to 0.034%, respectively. For females, these values ranged from 3.765 to 0.0294 cm/month and 7.02 to 0.026%. Females exhibited fasterGA from birth to 78-months, while males had higher GA in withers height until 17 months, after which females surpassed malesA. Overall, males can achieve larger mature sizes, but females exhibited faster early GA.

Cold ambient temperatures decrease semen quality. However, the effects of dietary energy sources on semen quality under cold stress conditions remain unclear. In the present study, purebred Yorkshire boars (572 days old) were fed diets supplemented with either fat (FAT), amino acid complex (AA), or dietary fiber beet pulp (BP) during the winter. The experiment was conducted for 84 days. Results showed that BP supplementation increased semen volume, sperm count, plasma immunoglobulin M level and the relative abundance of fecal norank_f_Erysipelotrichaceae (positively correlated with sperm viability), while decreasing the levels of interleukin-1β and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (p < 0.05). AA supplementation increased sperm density, progressive motility, and sperm velocity during weeks 7-12 (p < 0.05), while no significant effect was observed during weeks 1-6. The relative abundance of fecal Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006 (positively correlated with sperm velocity) also was increased in the AA group. FAT supplementation had a minor effect on sperm progressive motility and average curvilinear velocity, which may be related to the increased relative abundance of fecal T2WK15B57 (negatively correlated with semen quality). In summary, daily supplementation with BP and AA improves sperm quality under cold stress conditions, likely through improvements in inflammation, immunity and intestinal microflora.

This study was designed to assess the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of five sheep breeds in Shanxi Province, China, and to infer the heterosis potential based on their genetic relationships using 20 genome-wide microsatellite markers. Our analysis focused on the local Guangling Large Tail Sheep (GLLTS) breed and four introduced breeds: Hu Sheep (HS), Oula Tibetan Sheep (OLTS), Texel Sheep (TS), and Small Tail Han Sheep (STHLS). The results demonstrated that all microsatellite loci exhibited high levels of polymorphism, making them suitable for evaluating genetic diversity. The genetic parameters indicating that the five populations possess substantial genetic diversity. The genetic variation index (Fst) results among the five populations showed that moderate differentiation between populations. The genetic structure analysis results and the UPGMA clustering diagram were largely consistent. TS exhibited a distant genetic relationship with the other breeds, while HS and GLLTS shared the closest genetic relationship. Based on these genetic evidences, crossing GLLTS with TS or STHLS could potentially achieve a greater degree of heterosis. These research findings provide a molecular genetic foundation for analyzing the genetic diversity of sheep in Shanxi Province and offer guidance for hybrid breeding programs aimed at optimizing breed performance and resource conservation.

Kalmyk cattle are an important meat breed in Kazakhstan, valued for their strong physique, genetic stability, and adaptability. In this study, we investigated the mRNA expression of ELOVL fatty acid elongase 6 (ELOVL6) and CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 2 (CRTC2) across multiple tissues, and further examined their genetic variations and associations with growth and carcass traits in 200 Kalmyk cattle. Expression analysis showed that CRTC2 was most highly expressed in the heart and liver, whereas ELOVL6 was predominantly expressed in the spleen and large intestine, highlighting their tissue-specific expression patterns. In addition, we identified a polymorphic SNP (g.16511290A > G) in the 3'UTR of ELOVL6, with three genotypes (AA, AG, GG) and the G allele being dominant (0.520). Polymorphism information content (PIC) analysis indicated high genetic diversity at this locus. Importantly, this SNP was significantly associated with live weight and body oblique length (p < 0.05), and individuals carrying heterozygous AG genotype showed higher body weight and length. Collectively, these findings suggest that g.16511290A > G within ELOVL6 may serve as useful molecular markers for body measurements and meat traits, providing valuable resources for marker-assisted selection in beef cattle breeding programs.

Mastitis, an inflammation of the bovine mammary gland, reduces dairy productivity and poses significant health risks to Ethiopian dairy cattle. This study aimed to identify genomic regions associated with milk somatic cell score (SCS) and estimate its genetic parameters. The dataset included 1647 phenotypic cows, 6964 genotyped animals, and 39,976 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A single-step genome-wide association study (ssGWAS) was conducted, accounting for fixed effects of parity, genomic breed composition, altitude, and lactation stage, and random effects of herd-year-calving-season and permanent environment. Genetic variance using 20 adjacent SNPs sliding windows explaining ≥1% of the total genetic variance were used for candidate genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL) identifications. The estimated heritability of SCS was 0.11 ± 0.06. Genomic regions on BTA 15, 19, and 26 were identified associated with SCS, encompassing 116 genes, including MPP7, MPP8, MMP13, BIRC2, BIRC3, BTRC, SRSF1, and MPO, which are involved in immunity, inflammation, apoptosis, antimicrobial defense, and tissue remodeling. Gene enrichment analysis revealed that the genes are involved collagen catabolic process and IL-17 signaling pathway. These findings provide insights into genomic regions that could be targeted in genomic selection to improve mastitis resistance in Ethiopian dairy cattle.

This study explored the effects of dietary supplementation with a probiotic blend of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Bacillus velezensis on the performance and health of growing rabbits. Ninety-six rabbits were allocated into three groups and fed for eight weeks on diets containing either no probiotic (control), a low-dose probiotic (1 ml/kg of each probiotic strain), or a high-dose probiotic (2 ml/kg of each probiotic strain). Probiotic inclusion, particularly at the higher level, significantly enhanced final body weight, feed conversion ratio, and overall performance. Improvements were also noted in carcass characteristics, with greater yields in both forequarters and hindquarters. Blood biochemical analysis revealed elevated antioxidant enzyme activity and immunoglobulin levels, alongside reductions in lipid fractions and better liver and kidney function indicators. Meat quality also benefited, as shown by lower pH, reduced water holding capacity and cooking loss, and more favorable color metrics. Microbial analysis of cecal and feed samples indicated a notable increase in beneficial bacteria and a decline in pathogenic species in the probiotic-treated groups. These findings suggest that combined probiotic supplementation is a promising strategy for enhancing growth performance, meat quality, and gut health in rabbit production systems to produce a good final meat product.

The gastrointestinal microbiome is pivotal to nutrient utilization and productivity in dairy cattle. This study compared the ruminal and fecal microbiomes of Holstein, Jersey, and Jeju Black cattle using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and three taxonomic classification databases to identify microbial differences across breeds. A total of 25 samples were analysed to evaluate microbial composition, diversity, functional phenotypes, and interactions. Jeju Black cattle exhibited significantly higher ruminal diversity (p < 0.001), whereas Holstein and Jersey cows had more diverse fecal microbiomes. Prevotella, Ruminococcus and Succinivibrio dominated the rumen of commercial breeds, while Methanobrevibacter and Desulfovibrio were enriched in Jeju Black cattle. Amino acid prototrophs were abundant in Holstein and Jersey feces, while sulfur-metabolizing microbial phenotypes predominated in the Jeju Black rumen, with implications for nitrogen metabolism and methane production. Microbial network analysis revealed Mogibacterium as a high-centrality genus in Holstein and Jersey cows, and Anaerovibrio in Jersey cows, potentially linked to propionate production. Jeju Black cattle displayed distinct microbial interactions involving sulphur-reducing and methanogenic bacteria. These results might be showing breed-related microbiome variability, potentially influencing feed efficiency, fermentation, and emissions. However, future work should standardize diets, feeding conditions, sampling methods, and include performance metrics to clarify breed-specificity of microbiome-function relationships.