Feeding restriction in the pre and postpartum period of hair ewes raised in the semi-arid region: implications on performance and carcass traits of the progeny

Non-invasive methods to quantify the carcass parameters of sheep: Interaction between thermal environment and residual feed intake

The thermal environment is important in unit production because the perception of thermal stress can reduce fertility, and productive performance, therefore its management is necessary. The use of non-invasive methods, such as infrared thermography and real-time ultrasonography, are widely used to evaluate indicators in animal production, without the need to slaughter the animals. Thus, we aimed to assess the effect of the thermal environment on the physiological parameters and carcass characteristics of Dorper sheep with positive and negative residual feed intake (RFI) using infrared thermography and real-time ultrasonography techniques. Twenty uncastrated male Dorper sheep (17.8 ± 2.4 kg) were confined for 40 days for RFI classification. Sheep were separated into positive RFI (n = 10) and negative RFI (n = 10). The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with 2 thermal environments (full sun or shade) and two feed efficiency groups (positive RFI or negative RFI), with 5 replications. The sheep remained in confinement for 60 days. The animals were slaughtered at the end of the experiment and the carcasses dissected for tissue separation. Rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured at two times (14:00 h and 18:00 h) for periods of 5 days. The RR was determined by indirect auscultation of heart sounds at the level of the laryngotracheal region. The RT was measured introduced a digital clinical thermometer into the animal's rectum. Surface temperature (ST) was obtained using a thermographic infrared camera, collecting the temperatures of the eyeball and skin surface in the regions of the head, ribs, rump, flank and shin. Sheep confined in full sun showed higher RR (P = 0.0001), ST ribs (P = 0.0020), ST rumb (P = 0.0055), ST flank (P = 0.0001) and heat tolerance coefficient (HTC) (P = 0.0010). For sheep confined in full sun, a strong correlation was observed between the RR and the mean ST (MST; r = 0.6826; P = 0.0236) and between the final loin eye area (LEAf) with the real LEA (LEAr) (r = 0.9263; P = 0.0001) and slaughter body weight (SBW) (r = 0.7532; P = 0.0325). For negative RFI sheep, a positive correlation was observed between the RR and the ST rump (r = 0.7343; P = 0.0025) and ST ribs (r = 0.6560; P = 0.0178) and the MST (r = 0.7435; P = 0.0001), between the MST and the LEAr (r = 0.6837; P = 0.0025) and the final LEA (r = 0.6771; P = 0.0144), and between the final LEA and LEAr (r = 0.9942; P = 0.0001), BW (r = 0.8415; P = 0.0277) and MST (r = 0.6771; P = 0.0045). Positive RFI sheep confined to shade showed a high correlation between final LEA and LEAr (r = 0.9372; P = 0.0001). The use of shading in confined Dorper sheep, regardless of the RFI classification, reduces the effects of heat stress on physiological parameters.

Exploring the potential relationship between frozen shoulder and Dupuytren's disease through bioinformatics analysis and machine learning

Background

Frozen shoulder (FS) and Dupuytren's disease (DD) are two closely related diseases, but the mechanism of their interaction is unknown. Our study sought to elucidate the molecular mechanism of these two diseases through shared gene and protein interactions.

Methods

GSE75152 and GSE140731 data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and shared genes between FS and DD were selected by using R packages. Then, we used Cytoscape software and the STRING database to produce a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Important interaction networks and hub genes were selected through MCODE and cytoHubba algorithms. To explore the potential mechanisms of the development of the two diseases, the hub genes were further enriched by GO and KEGG analyses. We predicted the transcription factors (TFs) of hub genes with Transcriptional Regulatory Relationships Unraveled by Sentence-based Text mining (TRRUST). Moreover, we identified candidate genes for FS with DD with cytoHubba and machine learning algorithms. Finally, we analyzed the role of immunocyte infiltration in FS and constructed the relationship between candidate genes and immunocytes in FS.

Results

We identified a total of 321 shared genes. The results of GO and KEGG enrichment of shared genes showed that extracellular matrix and collagen fibril tissue play a certain role in the occurrence and development of disease. According to the importance of genes, we constructed the key PPI network of shared genes and the top 15 hub genes for FS with DD. Then, we predicted that five TFs are related to the hub genes and are highly expressed in the FS group. Machine learning results show that the candidate genes POSTN and COL11A1 may be key for FS with DD. Finally, immune cell infiltration revealed the disorder of immunocytes in FS patients, and expression of candidate genes can affect immunocyte infiltration.

Conclusion

We identified a PPI network, 15 hub genes, and two immune-related candidate genes (POSTN and COL11A1) using bioinformatics analysis and machine learning algorithms. These genes have the potential to serve as diagnostic genes for FS in DD patients. Furthermore, our study reveals disorder of immunocytes in FS.

Bioeconomic analysis of total replacement of corn grain with by-product from biscuit manufacture for purebred and crossbred Morada Nova lambs in feedlot system in the Brazilian semi-arid region

The economic feasibility of replacing corn grain with by-product from biscuit manufacture (BBM) as an energy source in the diet for purebred and crossbred native lambs raised in feedlot was evaluated. Four production systems were developed based on nutritional management and genetic groups: (PS₁) purebred native lambs fed a conventional diet based on corn and soybean meal; (PS₂) purebred native lambs fed a diet with BBM replacing 100% of the corn; (PS₃) crossbred native lambs fed a conventional diet based on corn and soybean meal; and (PS₄) crossbred native lambs fed a diet with BBM replacing 100% of the corn in the diet. The extrapolation was performed for a module of 24 Morada Nova (MN) breed lambs (12 MN red (MNR) and 12 ½MNR × ½MN white lambs)) with an initial body weight of 18.8 ± 0.875 and 15.0 ± 0.838 kg for MNR and crossbred, respectively. Feed, animal acquisition, and labor present the total production costs. The greatest profits were obtained in the production systems that fed the crossbred lambs with BBM. The lesser cost of BBM contributed to greater total factor productivity regardless of genetic group (1.095 vs. 1.015 for BBM and conventional feed, respectively). Systems using BBM (SP₂ and SP₄) showed an estimated payback of 5.44 and 3.24 years, respectively, while the use of conventional feed contributed to negative economic data (PS₁ and PS₃) with payback period greater than 10 years. The use of BBM as an energy source in the diet of crossbred sheep was economically feasible and showed better economic indices when compared to the systems using a conventional diet.