Invited review: Improving neonatal survival in small ruminants: science into practice

Impact of compensatory growth on survival in newborn kittens

In the feline species, the mortality of live-born kittens over the first 2 months of life is around 10%. Although some losses are inevitable, progress in veterinary medicine and improved knowledge of feline neonatalogy should make it possible to reduce them to a lower level. The objectives of this study were: (i) to describe early growth in kittens, and (ii) to assess whether low birth weight kittens develop compensatory growth during the first week of life and if so, whether compensatory growth is associated with increased chances of survival. Using data collected from 5,504 kittens born in 193 different French catteries, five growth rates were calculated to reflect the growth of kittens during the first week after birth. Low birth weight kittens had higher growth rates than normal birth weight kittens. In addition, low birth weight kittens whose early growth was in the lowest 25% had a significantly higher 0-2 months mortality rate than all the other groups. Weight loss (or lack of weight gain) between birth and Day 2 was identified as a risk factor for 0-2 months mortality whatever the birth weight category. Finally, critical early growth thresholds were determined separately for low and normal birth weight kittens. These figures could help caregivers to validate the adequacy or inadequacy of kitten early growth. They will be able to quickly identify and provide appropriate care for the kittens whose growth is deemed insufficient in order to improve their chances of survival.

Do newborn lambs with black and white hair-coats in an equatorial semi-arid environment maintain homeothermy?

We assessed newborn lambs from two hair-coat sheep breeds, the black Santa Ines (n = 29) and white Dorper (n = 26), to determine how they behaviourally and physiologically respond to the prevailing thermal conditions in an equatorial semi-arid environment. Measurements of hair-coat surface temperature, rectal temperature and the lambs' exposure to sun were recorded across the first 24 h of life every hour, after the lambs had received colostrum. Lambs and ewes were kept in a lambing pen and could freely move between a shaded area or be exposed to sun. During the study period, the air temperature ranged between 20 ºC and 34 ºC. When exposed to sun, lambs and ewes could experience as much as 1200 W m-2 of solar irradiance. Santa Ines lambs exhibited higher (highest density interval at 95%, HDI) hair-coat surface temperatures than did Dorper lambs. Overall, both Santa Ines and Dorper lambs sustained homeothermy, with a mean rectal temperature ranging from 38.7 ºC to 39.1 ºC between night and daytime phase, and a mean amplitude of ~ 0.8 ºC. Nevertheless, from 10:00 to 15:00, some lambs were found to be moderately hyperthermic. Five Santa Ines and three Dorper lambs had rectal temperatures above 40 ºC, and one Santa Ines lamb, while exposed to sun, had a rectal temperature of 41.3 ºC. Over this time period, lambs were more likely to move to shade (HDI at 95%). From 00:00 to 06:00, despite the air temperature being lower than the hair-coat surface, favouring high rates of sensible heat loss to the environment, no lamb exhibited signs of hypothermia (rectal temperature < 37.5 ºC). In conclusion, haired newborn lambs coped well with high levels of radiant heat during the daytime and lower temperatures at night. However, providing access to shade during the daytime is important to improve the welfare of newborn lambs delivered in equatorial semi-arid regions.

Unveiling genetic signatures associated with resilience to neonatal diarrhea in lambs through two GWAS approaches

Neonatal diarrhea presents a significant global challenge due to its multifactorial etiology, resulting in high morbidity and mortality rates, and substantial economic losses. While molecular-level studies on genetic resilience/susceptibility to neonatal diarrhea in farm animals are scarce, prior observations indicate promising research directions. Thus, the present study utilizes two genome-wide association approaches, pKWmEB and MLM, to explore potential links between genetic variations in innate immunity and neonatal diarrhea in Karacabey Merino lambs. Analyzing 707 lambs, including 180 cases and 527 controls, revealed an overall prevalence rate of 25.5%. The pKWmEB analysis identified 13 significant SNPs exceeding the threshold of ≥ LOD 3. Moreover, MLM detected one SNP (s61781.1) in the SLC22A8 gene (p-value, 1.85eE-7), which was co-detected by both methods. A McNemar's test was conducted as the final assessment to identify whether there are any major effective markers among the detected SNPs. Results indicate that four markers-oar3_OAR1_122352257, OAR17_77709936.1, oar3_OAR18_17278638, and s61781.1-have a substantial impact on neonatal diarrhea prevalence (odds ratio: 2.03 to 3.10; statistical power: 0.88 to 0.99). Therefore, we propose the annotated genes harboring three of the associated markers, TIAM1, YDJC, and SLC22A8, as candidate major genes for selective breeding against neonatal diarrhea.

The curse of the firstborn: Effects of dam primiparity on developmental programming in ruminant offspring

The first parity, or first pregnancy, of ruminant females has negative effects on offspring during fetal, perinatal, and pre-weaning periods which ultimately lead to diminished pre-weaning productivity. Offspring born to primiparous ruminant females can have decreased fetal and pre-weaning growth, resulting in lower body weights at birth and weaning in cattle, sheep, and goats. Moreover, mortality is greater during both neonatal and pre-weaning periods. Insults during these critical developmental windows likely also have long-term consequences on first-parity offspring through developmental programming, but less research has been done to investigate effects in the post-weaning period. Many potential physiological, metabolic, and behavioral mechanisms exist for the outcomes of dam primiparity. Although competition for nutrient partitioning between maternal and fetal growth or lactation is often cited as a major contributor, we hypothesize that the most important mechanism causing most first-parity outcomes is the relative physiological inexperience of reproductive tissues such as the uterus and mammary gland during the first pregnancy and lactation, or a "first use theory" of tissues. More research is necessary to explore these areas, as well as if primiparous dams respond differently to stressors than multiparous dams, and if stress during the first parity affects subsequent parities.

Risk Categorization in On-Farm Welfare in Different-Sized Dairy Sheep Flocks

The objective of the present work was to categorize the risks in the on-farm welfare of dairy sheep in semi-extensive systems in order to highlight if risks in welfare vary according to the farm size. To the best of our knowledge, this study constitutes one of the few categorizations of the risks in the welfare of dairy sheep reared semi-extensively. The survey was conducted on 12 semi-extensive dairy sheep farms in Tuscany (Central Italy), which were classified according to flock size: <500, from 500 to 1000, and >1000. The results showed an adequate rating for all the farms included in the study. The most critical issues concerned the ratio between the number of stockpersons and the number of animals within the farms, the small decubitus areas, the lack of udder cleaning procedures during milking operations, and, in terms of biosecurity, the lack of prevention, control, and eradication plans for the most important infectious ovine diseases. The results show that different items in the five areas evaluated, including the assessments of management of the flock, the number of daily inspections, and the hygiene of the water supplies are associated with the farm size. In large farms, the assessment of management of the flock was better, but the number of daily inspections and the hygiene of the water supplies were worse.

Hydrogen-rich water supplementation improves metabolic profile during peripartum period in Gurcu goats and enhances the health and survival of kids

In this study, the effect of intaking hydrogen-rich water (HRW) on the metabolic profile of Gurcu goats during the peripartum period and the survival/growth performance of kids were evaluated. Twenty-three pregnant goats were divided into two groups 21-23 days before the due date. Group 1 (G1, n = 10) was given HRW from day 21 before delivery until day 21 after delivery. Group 2 (G2, n = 13) served as the control. Blood samples were weekly taken from 21 days before delivery until 21 days after delivery. Hydrogen-rich water increased serum glucose concentration on the delivery day more than in G2 (P = 0.016). Hydrogen-rich water decreased serum total cholesterol (P = 0.02) and creatinine (P = 0.05) concentration at delivery. Group effect and time effect were significant in triglyceride (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, respectively) and albumin (P < 0.001, P = 0.002, respectively) concentration. Aspartate transaminase decreased towards the delivery day in G1 (P < 0.05). Serum non-esterified fatty acids concentration was lower in G1 than in G2, but there was no significant differences (P > 0.05). Beta-hydroxybutyric acid concentration an increased in both groups during the prepartum period, although there was no significance (P > 0.05). Hydrogen-rich water did not affect the birth weight and growth performance of the kids (P > 0.05), but it increased their survival rates and overall health, although there was no significance (P > 0.05). In conclusion, HRW may have an impact on the metabolic profiles during the peripartum period and have a positive effect on lipid profiles. Additionally, intaking HRW to goats during the peripartum period may improve the health and survival of kids and reduce their mortality.

Development of a Parturition Detection System for Korean Native Black Goats

Korean Native Black Goats deliver mainly during the cold season. However, in winter, there is a high risk of stunted growth and mortality for their newborns. Therefore, we conducted this study to develop a KNBG parturition detection system that detects and provides managers with early notification of the signs of parturition. The KNBG parturition detection system consists of triaxial accelerometers, gateways, a server, and parturition detection alarm terminals. Then, two different data, the labor and non-labor data, were acquired and a Decision Tree algorithm was used to classify them. After classifying the labor and non-labor states, the sum of the labor status data was multiplied by the activity count value to enhance the classification accuracy. Finally, the Labor Pain Index (LPI) was derived. Based on the LPI, the optimal processing time window was determined to be 10 min, and the threshold value for labor classification was determined to be 14 240.92. The parturition detection rate was 82.4%, with 14 out of 17 parturitions successfully detected, and the average parturition detection time was 90.6 min before the actual parturition time of the first kid. The KNBG parturition detection system is expected to reduce the risk of stunted growth and mortality due to hypothermia in KNBG kids by detecting parturition 90.6 min before the parturition of the first kid, with a success rate of 82.4%, enabling parturition nursing.

Successful transfer of passive immunity: the natural alternative to antibiotics for boosting the survival of intensively reared dairy goat kids

In dairy operations, antibiotics have traditionally been used to treat, prevent, and control diseases. However, given the mounting global crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), farmers are urged to re-assess and reduce their reliance on antibiotics. Thus, this randomized, double-blinded cohort study aimed to estimate the prevalence of failed and successful transfer of passive immunity (FTPI and STPI) in dairy goat kids reared under commercial conditions, and the effects of antibiotic metaphylaxis on the pre-weaning (≤42 d old) mortality in FTPI and STPI kids. Plasma concentration of immunoglobulin G at 1d old (pIgG-24 h) was measured in 747 male Saanen kids for the determination of FTPI and STPI (pIgG-24 h < 12 and ≥12 g/L, respectively). Kids were then randomly divided into two groups: those receiving a single penicillin injection at 1 d old (PEN), and those receiving no treatment (CTR). The mean (±SD) pIgG-24 h and initial BW (IBW) were 17 ± 9.8 g/L and 4.1 ± 0.64 kg. The prevalence of FTPI was 29% (220/747 kids). Gastrointestinal complications were the primary cause of death (41%), followed by septicemia (22%) and arthritis (17%). A single penicillin injection reduced preweaning mortality by 55% (10 vs 22%, PEN vs CTR). However, results suggest that such a decline was mainly driven by the improved survival rates among FTPI kids, which increased by 19% (from 62% in CTR-FTPI to 82% in PEN-FTPI), as opposed to an 8% increase among STPI kids (from 85% in CTR-STPI to 93% in PEN-STPI). Additionally, the odds of mortality ≤ 42 d old were threefold higher in the CTR-FTPI group when compared to both the CTR-STPI and PEN-FTPI groups, suggesting a potential parity between STPI and PEN for mortality rate reduction. Taken together, the results indicate that although metaphylactic antibiotics can halve preweaning mortality, similar improvements are likely to be achieved via increased STPI rates. Furthermore, by targeting metaphylactic interventions to high-risk groups (i.e., those displaying signs of inadequate colostrum intake and/or low birth BW), farmers could reduce treatment costs and mitigate AMR risks. While these findings carry considerable weight for commercial dairy goat practices, their applicability to other systems (i.e., extensive, semi-intensive, mohair, meat systems) warrants further investigation.

Application of PCR-RFLP for quick identification of MSTN mutants in MSTN mutant pig breeding

Knockout of the MSTN gene is linked to the enlarged tongue, and it causes suckling difficulty in animals. The suckling difficulty has a severe effect on animal mortality. Thus, special care was required to ensure their survivability. Here, it is critical to promptly ascertain the genotype of all pigs after birth. The main objective of the present study was to develop the restriction enzyme-mediated PCR-RFLP assay for MSTN mutant pig genotyping. To accomplish this, conserved oligonucleotide primer and restriction site were deduced according to the mutated sequence of the MSTN mutant pigs. PCR amplification yielded a 176 bp band for all homozygous MSTN mutant (MSTN-/-), heterozygous MSTN mutant (MSTN+/-) and wild-type (WT) pigs. However, MSTN+/- samples produced two fragments with 176 and 87 bp, and WT samples produced one fragment with 87 bp after being digested by BstNI. MSTN-/- samples were not digested by BstNI and yielded a 176 bp band. Thus, we were able to determine the genotype of all pigs using BstNI restriction enzyme-mediated PCR-RFLP method. Overall, the present study reported a simple and fast PCR-RFLP genotyping method for MSTN mutant pig breeding. The present study may contribute to the establishment of commercial breeding systems and the production of double muscle pigs.

The survival analysis of some environmental factors associated with lamb mortality in Awassi sheep

Most of the economic losses in the Turkish sheep industry are due to lamb deaths between birth and weaning period. Survival analysis is an essential step in the understanding of the lamb's survival function and the hazards that have an impact on mortality. The lamb records were accessed from 2013 to 2019, with the information of 11,523 lambs from birth to weaning at 90 days of age. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for the estimation of the survival function of the lambs. The Cox proportional hazards survival analysis was performed to evaluate the factors influencing Awassi lamb mortality in the central Anatolian region of Türkiye. A multivariable Cox regression was fitted to the data after checking the assumptions of the regression. Year of birth, lambing season, lamb sex, method of birth, and birth weight groups were used as explanatory variables. The overall survival of the lambs to weaning was 75.7%, and the Kaplan-Meier estimate of the average survival time to weaning was 62.25 days. Cox proportional hazards modeling showed that the hazard rate of death before weaning was higher in male lambs (1.205 and 95% CI, 1.119-1.300) compared to female lambs. It was also noted that the hazard rate of death (HR = 0.956 and 95% CI, 0.937-0.974) had significant years. The single-born lambs had a lower risk of death among the lambs. The summer and autumn seasons had a very highly advanced effect on the survival rate of the lambs. The hazard rate for the categorical birth weight group was 0.703 (95% CI, 0.667-0.741). This indicates that the risk of pre-weaning mortality decreased with increasing birth weight > 3.5 kg. The results of this study showed that lamb survival can be increased by paying more attention to winter born lambs, male sex, twin births, and lambs about birth weight (< 3.5 kg).

Parity and housing effects on the behavioural and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses of pregnant ewes

It is common in many countries for sheep to be housed during winter from mid-gestation until lambing to protect ewes and lambs from adverse conditions and improve late gestation nutritional management. Keeping ewes indoors, however, has its own challenges as the animals may be mixed with unfamiliar conspecifics, have limited floor and feeding space, experience changes to their diet and increased handling by humans. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of variation in housing management (space allowance and social stability) on the behaviour and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses of pregnant ewes from mid-to-late gestation (weeks 11-18 of pregnancy). Seventy-seven ewes (41 primiparous, 36 multiparous) were divided into two groups: 'Control' and 'Restricted space and mixed' (RS-Mix), where RS-Mix ewes were allocated half the amount of space (1.27 vs 2.5 m2 for RS-Mix and Control, respectively) and feedface (concentrate feeder space) allowance (36 vs 71 cm per ewe) given to the Control group and were also subjected to two social mixing events. Aggressive behaviour at the feedface and time spent standing, lying, walking, feeding and ruminating were recorded and faecal samples were collected for assessment of faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations. Higher aggression was observed in RS-Mix ewes during the first week of observation (P = 0.044), which gradually declined to the same level as Control ewes by the end of the study (P = 0.045). RS-Mix ewes were significantly less likely to be able to freely join the feedface compared to Controls (P = 0.022). No other significant treatment effects on aggressive behaviour or FGM during gestation were found. RS-Mix ewes displayed significantly higher ruminating behaviour at week 18 of gestation compared to Control ewes (P < 0.001), but no other effects were seen on general pen behaviour. However, the effect of indoor housing had a significant impact on primiparous ewes, who had lower weight gain (P = 0.015) and higher FGM concentrations (P = 0.014) compared to multiparous ewes regardless of treatment group. The data suggest that, although no sustained effects on behaviour or HPA axis responses were seen with the differences in space and feeder allowance or social stability at the levels used in this study, inexperienced (primiparous) ewes may find indoor housing more stressful; and are less able to adapt compared to multiparous ewes. These effects may influence the behaviour of the ewe at lambing time, and her offspring.

Evaluation of plasma immunoglobulin G and BW thresholds for predicting preweaning mortality in commercially raised dairy goat kids

The high preweaning mortality rate is a concerning issue for the commercial dairy industry. In this context, early identification of at-risk individuals can be instrumental. To address this, we conducted a prospective cohort study with the objective of evaluating plasma immunoglobulin G concentration (pIgG-24 h) and initial BW (IBW) measured at 1d old in 363 male dairy kids (Saanen) for predicting preweaning mortality under commercial conditions. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine critical thresholds for pIgG-24 h and IBW. Subsequently, areas under the curve (AUC), sensitivity (Se), and specificity (Sp) were examined to assess the accuracy of these thresholds. Multivariable regressions were used to model odds ratios (OR) for mortality, controlling for confounding effects between IBW and pIgG-24 h. The mean (±SD) pIgG-24 h and IBW were 16.4 ± 9.37 g/L and 4.0 ± 0.61 kg. Overall mortality ≤ 14d and ≤42d old was 12% and 21%, respectively. Critical pIgG-24 h thresholds predicting mortality ≤ 14 d and ≤42 d old were < 10.1 g/L (AUC = 0.74, Se = 59%, and Sp = 82%) and <11.4 g/L (AUC 0.70, Se = 53%, and Sp = 77%), respectively. Kids with pIgG-24 h < 10.1 g/L were six times more likely to die ≤ 14 d old [OR; 95% CI (6; 3-12)], and kids with pIgG-24 h < 11.4 g/L were four times more likely to die ≤ 42 d old (4; 2-6). The IBW threshold most linked to mortality ≤ 14 d was <3.95 kg (AUC 0.60, Se = 59%, and Sp = 61%). However, this association became inconclusive after adjusting for pIgG-24 h differences. Conversely, an IBW of <3.0 kg was associated with notably higher mortality odds within both 14 and 42 d, irrespective of pIgG-24 h levels (10; 3-37, and 4; 1-20, respectively), suggesting that kids with an IBW < 3.0 kg face an increased likelihood of dying before 42 d, irrespectively of their IgG levels. While our findings suggest pIgG-24 h < 11.4 g/L and IBW < 3.0 kg as strong indicators of early mortality risks in male dairy kids, these results require further validation for other systems.

Defining optimal thresholds for digital Brix refractometry to determine IgG concentration in ewe colostrum and lamb serum in Scottish lowland sheep flocks

This research aimed to define thresholds for ewe colostrum and lamb serum Brix refractometer measurements in lowland Scottish sheep. This would facilitate the use of this convenient, sheep-side test, enabling quick and accurate identification of poor quality colostrum and prevention of failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in lambs. Secondary aims were to identify risk factors for poor colostrum quality and FTPI in lambs. Serum samples (n = 233) were collected from lambs between 24 and 48hrs after birth, from four lowland Scottish meat sheep farms. Pre-suckle colostrum samples (n = 112) were also collected from ewes on two of these farms. Farmers provided information on litter size, ewe body condition score, ewe breed and dystocia. Duplicate digital Brix refractometer measurements were compared with immunoglobulin G (IgG) radial immunodiffusion (RID) testing for all colostrum and serum samples. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to redefine thresholds for Brix testing in colostrum and serum. Linear regression models were constructed with colostrum and serum IgG concentration as the outcomes of interest. Colostrum and serum IgG concentrations were highly variable. The prevalence of inadequate colostrum quality (using <50 g/L IgG on RID) was 4.5% (95% CI = 1.5 - 10.1) and the prevalence of FTPI (using <15 g/L IgG in serum on RID) was 7.73% (95% CI = 4.64-11.93). A ewe's colostrum IgG concentration was significantly and positively associated with the serum IgG concentration of her lamb(s) (p = 0.02). ROC analysis defined a Brix threshold for adequate colostrum quality of > 22.10% (sensitivity 80% (95%CI=28.4-99.5), specificity 90% (95%CI=82.3-94.8)). ROC analysis defined a Brix threshold for serum of > 8.65% for adequate passive transfer of immunity in Scottish lambs (sensitivity 94% (95%CI=72.7-99.8), specificity 82% (95%CI=76.6-87.2)). To optimise passive transfer of immunity in lambs, we suggest that ewe colostrum Brix measurements be defined as 'poor' (<22%); 'fair' (22-26%) and 'good' (>26%); and lamb serum as 'poor' (<8%); 'fair' (8-9%) and 'good' (>9%). It is recommended that these tests are used as for flock screening, using samples from multiple animals.

Strategies and Mechanisms of Thermal Compensation in Newborn Water Buffaloes

Hypothermia is one of the principal causes of perinatal mortality in water buffaloes and can range from 3% to 17.9%. In ruminants, factors affecting hypothermia in newborns may be of intrinsic (e.g., level of neurodevelopment, birth weight, vitality score, amount of brown fat, skin features) or extrinsic origin (e.g., maternal care, environmental conditions, colostrum consumption). When newborn buffaloes are exposed to cold stress, thermoregulatory mechanisms such as peripheral vasoconstriction and shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis are activated to prevent hypothermia. Due to the properties of infrared thermography (IRT), as a technique that detects vasomotor changes triggered by a reduction in body temperature, evaluating the central and peripheral regions in newborn buffaloes is possible. This review aims to analyze behavioral, physiological, and morphological strategies and colostrum consumption as thermal compensation mechanisms in newborn water buffalo to cope with environmental changes affecting thermoneutrality. In addition, the importance of monitoring by IRT to identify hypothermia states will be highlighted. Going deeper into these topics related to the water buffalo is essential because, in recent years, this species has become more popular and is being bred in more geographic areas.

Whole-genome sequencing and genomic analysis of Norduz goat (Capra hircus)

Artificial and natural selective breeding of goats has resulted in many different goat breeds all around the world. Norduz goat is one of these breeds, and it is a local goat breed of Turkey. The goats are favorable due to pre-weaning viability and reproduction values compared to the regional breeds. Development in sequencing technologies has let to understand huge genomic structures and complex phenotypes. Until now, such a comprehensive study has not been carried out to understand the genomic structure of the Norduz goats, yet. In the study, the next-generation sequencing was carried out to understand the genomic structure of Norduz goat. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate prominent CNVs in the Norduz goat individuals. Whole genome of the goat was constructed with an average of 33.1X coverage level. In the stringent filtering condition, 9,757,980 SNPs, 1,536,715 InDels, and 290 CNVs were detected in the Norduz goat genome. Functional analysis of high-impact SNP variations showed that the classical complement activation biological process was affected significantly in the goat. CNVs in the goat genome were found in genes related to defense against viruses, immune response, and cell membrane transporters. It was shown that GBP2, GBP5, and mammalian ortholog GBP1, which are INF-stimulated GTPases, were found to be high copy numbers in the goats. To conclude, genetic variations mainly in immunological response processes suggest that Norduz goat is an immunologically improved goat breed and natural selection could take an important role in the genetical improvements of the goats.

Role of maternal variables on the development of neonatal hypoglycaemia and influence of neonatal hypoglycaemia on performance of goat kids

The study evaluated the influence of maternal variables (age, body weight and body mass index; BMI) during mating on the development of hypoglycaemia and investigated whether hypoglycaemia at birth impairs thermoregulation, metabolism, body weight gain and immunoglobulin concentration in neonatal goat kids. Post-kidding, the kids born with hypoglycaemia (n = 19) and normoglycaemia (n = 19) were immediately identified and postnatal blood samples, body weight and cardinal physiological variables were determined. Results revealed no significant (P < 0.05) difference in pre-mating maternal variables between dams that kidded hypoglycaemic and normoglycaemic kids. Kids born with hypoglycaemia had lower (P <0.05) blood glucose concentration from birth, until Day 2, when values became comparable between the two groups. Afternoon respiratory and pulse rates were markedly (P < 0.05) unstable in kids born with hypoglycaemia and the early postnatal rise (P < 0.05) in morning rectal temperature in both groups was accompanied by a decrease (P < 0.05) on day 20 in kids born with hypoglycaemia. Blood cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were lower (P < 0.05) in hypoglycaemic kids and the normoglycaemic kids showed marked increase (P < 0.05) in circulating immunoglobulin concentration 24 h after birth, while age had no (P > 0.05) effect in hypoglycaemic kids. A more pronounced decrease (P < 0.05) in weekly weight gain was observed in hypoglycaemic kids. It was concluded that neonatal goat kids born with hypoglycaemia may have compromised thermoregulation, metabolism and body weight gain, and the cause of hypoglycaemia in kids may not be related to pre-mating maternal variables.

Relation between the Dam's Weight on Superficial Temperature of Her Puppies at Different Stages of the Post-Partum

The thermal stability of newborns is an essential parameter that can be recorded to evaluate neonatal care. Knowing the thermal windows to evaluate and maintain a constant temperature helps significantly reduce neonatal mortality. This study aimed to assess the superficial temperature alterations in the distinct thermal windows of puppies with mothers of diverse weights and their repercussions. We evaluated the superficial temperature using infrared thermography at eight thermal windows and seven different times: when wet due to the fetal fluid immediately after birth until 24 h of life in newborn puppies from bitches divided into four bodyweight groups. The results revealed a positive correlation between the dam's weight and the ability to achieve thermostability in the newborn puppies in all the evaluated thermal windows. The time effect showed the lowest temperatures when the puppies were still wet, a gradual increase, and the highest temperature at 24 h after birth. The thermal windows with the highest temperatures were abdominal, thoracic, nasal, and upper left palpebral, and those with the lowest were the thoracic limb brachial biceps, thoracic limb elbow, metacarpal, and femoral pelvic limb. A significant increase in the temperatures in the thermal windows of the abdominal, thoracic, and upper left palpebral immediately after ingesting colostrum was observed. The weight of the dams is an important factor that positively intervenes in the thermoregulatory capacity of the puppies, especially when newborns are dry and have been passed 24 h after birth.

Breeding Ewe Lambs: An Australasian Perspective

A number of potential advantages have been identified for breeding ewe lambs at 7 to 9 months of age, including increased lifetime productivity and profitability. However, breeding at this young age in extensive pastoral systems, such as in Australasia, can be associated with a number of disadvantages resulting in uptake of this management procedure being relatively low. This review highlights the known differences between ewe lamb and mature ewe reproductive performance, thus differing in their management. The review then summaries the scientific literature of factors that affect ewe lamb reproductive success, with a focus on recent studies conducted under extensive pasture-based conditions in Australasia. In particular, this review outlines the importance of ewe lamb live weight and body condition score on their productivity. The potential long-term consequences of breeding a ewe lamb at a young age in terms of her future success and that of her offspring to weaning are briefly outlined. In addition, the potential impacts of selecting progeny born to ewe lambs as future replacement ewes are discussed. Throughout this review, optimal management guidelines from prior to breeding the ewe lambs until rebreeding at 2 years of age are provided. Lastly, areas requiring future research are identified and discussed.

Dairy Buffalo Behavior: Calving, Imprinting and Allosuckling

Maternal behavior, in water buffalo and other ruminants, is a set of patterns of a determined species, including calving, imprinting, and suckling. This behavior is mainly triggered by hormone concentration changes and their interactions with their respective receptors in the brain, particularly oxytocin. These chemical signals also influence mother-young bonding, a critical process for neonatal survival that develops during the first postpartum hours. Currently, dairy buffalo behavior during parturition has rarely been studied. For this reason, this review aims to analyze the existing scientific evidence regarding maternal behavior in water buffalo during calving. It will address the mechanisms of imprinting, maternal care, and allosuckling strategies that may influence the survival and health of calves.

Maternal, Postnatal, and Management-Related Factors Involved in Daily Weight Gain and Survivability of Suckling Zaraibi Goat Kids in Egypt

During the early period of an animal's life, rapid growth and higher survival rates can provide more profits to producers by minimizing the rearing and replacement costs. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of some maternal, postnatal, and management-related factors (sex, the litter size [LS], the kid's birth weight [KBW], the daily milk yield [DMY], and the parity order), as well as the kidding year and season on both the average daily weight gain (ADG) and survivability of suckling Zaraibi goat kids during the postnatal period. A total of 3005 kidding events were available from the herd of Zaraibi goats raised at El-Serw Experimental Station from 2008 to 2014, which belongs to the Animal Production Research Institute. Data revealed that the overall ADG was 131.14 ± 2.34, 94.22 ± 2.21, and 85.63 ± 2.33 g/day, whereas the survival rates were 94.68%, 91.81%, and 90.62% during the periods from birth to 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively. During all periods considered, the aforementioned maternal, postnatal, and management-related factors significantly affected the ADG. In males, the ADG increased compared with females. Singletons had a higher ADG compared with kids born to a litter of two or more. A higher KBW and DMY were associated with an increase in the ADG. Additionally, increasing the parity order was associated with an increased ADG. The kidding season did not have a significant effect on the ADG, whereas the kidding year showed a significant effect on the ADG. During the pre-weaning period, the hazard of death increased by 23.1% (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.231; 95% CI = 0.972-2.057) in males compared with females in terms of survival rates. A higher LS was associated with an increase in the incidence of mortality, increasing by 51.6% (HR = 1.516; 95% CI = 1.363-1.719) with each unit increase in the LS. Additionally, the KBW was an extremely important determinant of survivability, as the risk of death decreased by 62.8% (HR = 0.372; 95% CI = 0.229-0.504) with the increase in the KBW. Likewise, survival rates increased steadily along with an increase in both the DMY and parity number. The risk of death decreased by 52.7% (HR = 0.473; 95% CI = 0.376-0.808) and 38.2% (HR = 0.618; 95% CI = 0.512-1.724) with the increase in the DMY and parity number, respectively. The kidding season did not significantly affect the kid's survivability, but with each passing year, there was a decrease of 2.8% (HR = 0.972; 95% CI = 0.952-0.991) in the probability of mortality. In conclusion, better growth and survival rates can be achieved by controlling the maternal, postnatal, and management-related factors, as well as upgrading management plans.

Mortality rate of Boer, Central Highland goat and their crosses in Ethiopia: Nonparametric survival analysis and piecewise exponential model

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Strategies for Hypothermia Compensation in Altricial and Precocial Newborn Mammals and Their Monitoring by Infrared Thermography

Thermoregulation in newborn mammals is an essential species-specific mechanism of the nervous system that contributes to their survival during the first hours and days of their life. When exposed to cold weather, which is a risk factor associated with mortality in neonates, pathways such as the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA) are activated to achieve temperature control, increasing the circulating levels of catecholamine and cortisol. Consequently, alterations in blood circulation and mechanisms to produce or to retain heat (e.g., vasoconstriction, piloerection, shivering, brown adipocyte tissue activation, and huddling) begin to prevent hypothermia. This study aimed to discuss the mechanisms of thermoregulation in newborn domestic mammals, highlighting the differences between altricial and precocial species. The processes that employ brown adipocyte tissue, shivering, thermoregulatory behaviors, and dermal vasomotor control will be analyzed to understand the physiology and the importance of implementing techniques to promote thermoregulation and survival in the critical post-birth period of mammals. Also, infrared thermography as a helpful method to perform thermal measurements without animal interactions does not affect these parameters.

Improving maternal welfare during gestation has positive outcomes on neonatal survival and modulates offspring immune response in pigs

Improving the housing of pregnant sows by giving them more space and access to deep straw had positive effects on their welfare, influenced their maternal behavior and improved the survival of their offspring. The present study aimed at determining whether these effects were actually due to environmental enrichment and whether the provision of straw pellets and wood can partly mimic the effects of straw bedding during gestation. Three graded levels of enrichment were used, that were, collective conventional pens on slatted floor (C, n = 26), the same pens with manipulable wood materials and distribution of straw pellets after the meals (CE, n = 30), and larger pens on deep straw litter (E, n = 27). Sows were then housed in identical farrowing crates from 105 days of gestation until weaning. Decreased stereotypies, blood neutrophils, and salivary cortisol, and increased behavioral investigation indicated that health and welfare of sows during gestation were improved in the E environment compared with the C environment. The CE sows responded as C or E sows depending on the trait. Piglet mortality rate in the first 12 h after birth was lower in E and CE litters than in C litters, but enrichment level during gestation had only small effects on lactating sow behavior and milk composition postpartum. On days 2 and 3 of lactation, E sows interrupted less often their nursing sequences than C and CE sows. On day 2, milk from both E and CE sows contained more minerals than that from C sows. In one-day-old piglets, the expression levels of genes encoding toll-like receptors (TLR2, TLR4) and cytokines (interleukin-1, -6 and -10) in whole blood after 20-h culture, were greater in E piglets than in CE or C piglets. In conclusion, housing sows in an enriched environment during gestation improved early neonatal survival, probably via moderate and cumulative positive effects on sow behavior, milk composition, and offspring innate immune response. The gradation in the effects observed in C, CE and E housing environment reinforced the hypothesis of a causal relationship between maternal environmental enrichment, sow welfare and postnatal piglet traits.

Long-Term Consequences of Adaptive Fetal Programming in Ruminant Livestock

Environmental perturbations during gestation can alter fetal development and postnatal animal performance. In humans, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) resulting from adaptive fetal programming is known as a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and predisposes offspring to metabolic disease, however, the prevalence and impact in livestock is not characterized as well. Multiple animal models have been developed as a proxy to determine mechanistic changes that underlie the postnatal phenotype resulting from these programming events in humans but have not been utilized as robustly in livestock. While the overall consequences are similar between models, the severity of the conditions appear to be dependent on type, timing, and duration of insult, indicating that some environmental insults are of more relevance to livestock production than others. Thus far, maternofetal stress during gestation has been shown to cause increased death loss, low birth weight, inefficient growth, and aberrant metabolism. A breadth of this data comes from the fetal ruminant collected near term or shortly thereafter, with fewer studies following these animals past weaning. Consequently, even less is known about how adaptive fetal programming impacts subsequent progeny. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the postnatal phenotype of livestock resulting from different models of fetal programming, with a focus on growth, metabolism, and reproductive efficiency. We further describe what is currently known about generational impacts of fetal programming in production systems, along with gaps and future directions to consider.

Extensive Sheep and Goat Production: The Role of Novel Technologies towards Sustainability and Animal Welfare

Simple Summary

New technologies have been recognized as valuable in controlling, monitoring, and managing farm animal activities. It makes it possible to deepen the knowledge of animal behavior and improve animal welfare and health, which has positive implications for the sustainability of animal production. In recent years, successful technological developments have been applied in intensive farming systems; however, due to challenging conditions that extensive pasture-based systems show, technology has been more limited. Nevertheless, awareness of the available technological solutions for extensive conditions can increase the implementation of their adoption among farmers and researchers. In this context, this review addresses the role of different technologies applied to sheep and goat production in extensive systems. Examples related to precision livestock farming, omics, thermal stress, colostrum intake, passive immunity, and newborn survival are presented; biomarkers of metabolic diseases and parasite resistance breeding are discussed.

Abstract

Sheep and goat extensive production systems are very important in the context of global food security and the use of rangelands that have no alternative agricultural use. In such systems, there are enormous challenges to address. These include, for instance, classical production issues, such as nutrition or reproduction, as well as carbon-efficient systems within the climate-change context. An adequate response to these issues is determinant to economic and environmental sustainability. The answers to such problems need to combine efficiently not only the classical production aspects, but also the increasingly important health, welfare, and environmental aspects in an integrated fashion. The purpose of the study was to review the application of technological developments, in addition to remote-sensing in tandem with other state-of-the-art techniques that could be used within the framework of extensive production systems of sheep and goats and their impact on nutrition, production, and ultimately, the welfare of these species. In addition to precision livestock farming (PLF), these include other relevant technologies, namely omics and other areas of relevance in small-ruminant extensive production: heat stress, colostrum intake, passive immunity, newborn survival, biomarkers of metabolic disease diagnosis, and parasite resistance breeding. This work shows the substantial, dynamic nature of the scientific community to contribute to solutions that make extensive production systems of sheep and goats more sustainable, efficient, and aligned with current concerns with the environment and welfare.

Factors Associated with Mortality of Lambs Born to Ewe Hoggets

Simple Summary

Pre-weaning lamb deaths limit the production performance from ewes that are bred as hoggets (at 6–9 months of age). The present study aimed to investigate factors that are associated with increased likelihood of lamb death and the cause of that death, in lambs and in ewe hoggets over the lambing period. This was also compared to rates in mature-age ewes and their lambs. Lambs with low birthweights or that were born as twins were more likely to die, as were lambs whose dams had greater live weight changes during pregnancy. Ewes deaths during the lambing period accounted for approximately 11% of lamb deaths. The most common cause of hogget lamb deaths was stillbirth (lamb born dead) but this was an uncommon cause of death in lambs born to mature-age ewes. Management tools to increase lamb birthweights, and supervision of ewe hoggets at lambing time, are recommended.

Abstract

The reproductive performance of ewe hoggets is poorer than that of mature-age ewes due to production of fewer lambs with poorer survival. Scant data are available on the risk factors for, and causes of, the mortality for lambs born to ewe hoggets, the impact of ewe deaths on lamb loss, and the causes of death for lambs born to ewe hoggets vs. mature-age ewes lambing in the same circumstances. In this study, 297 lambs born to 1142 ewe hoggets were necropsied along with 273 lambs born to 1050 mature-age ewes. Low lamb birthweight, multiple litter size, and increasing ewe hogget average daily gain from breeding to late pregnancy were risk factors for lamb mortality. The most common cause of mortality for lambs born to ewe hoggets was stillbirth and the risk factors for stillbirth were similar to those for lamb mortality generally. Approximately 11% of ewe hoggets’ lamb deaths were due to the death of the dam. Causes of mortality differed between lambs born to ewe hoggets vs. those born to mature-age ewes. Management practices to increase ewe hogget lambs’ birthweights (particularly those from multiple litters) and supervision of ewe hoggets at lambing time are recommended.

Supplementing Mannan Oligosaccharide Reduces the Passive Transfer of Immunoglobulin G and Improves Antioxidative Capacity, Immunity, and Intestinal Microbiota in Neonatal Goats

Successful establishment of passive immunity (PIT) and regulation of intestinal microbiota are crucial for ruminants to maintain body health and reduce the risk of disease during the neonatal period. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) supplementation on passive transfer of immunoglobulin G (IgG), serum inflammatory cytokines and antioxidant levels as well as bacteria composition in the ileal digesta. A total of 14 healthy neonatal Ganxi black goats with similar birth weight (BW: 2.35 ± 0.55 kg) were selected and allocated into two groups, only fed colostrum and milk replacer (CON, n = 7) and supplemented MOS (0.06% of birth BW) in the colostrum and milk replacer (MOS, n = 7). The results indicated that MOS supplementation significantly reduced (p < 0.05) serum IgG level at 3 and 6 h after colostrum feeding. Serum GLP-1 level of goats in the MOS group was significantly lower (p = 0.001) than that in the CON group. Goats in the MOS group had higher serum CAT and lower MDA level than those in the CON group (p < 0.05). Serum anti-inflammatory cytokine level of interleukin 4 (IL-4) was increased (p < 0.05), while pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 level was reduced (p < 0.05) in the MOS group when compared with the CON group. In addition, MOS supplementation remarkably increased (p < 0.05) the level of secretory IgA (sIgA) in the ileal digesta. Principal coordinate analysis of 16S rRNA sequence based on Brinary jaccard, Bray curtis, and weighted UniFrac distance of ileal microbiota showed a distinct microbial differentiation between the CON and MOS groups (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Firmicutes in the MOS group was higher than that in the CON group, while the abundance of Verrucomicrobia was lower in the MOS group than that in the CON group at the phylum level (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Proteobacteria tended to decrease (p = 0.078) in the MOS group at the phylum level. The results of LEfSe analysis showed that MOS group was characterized by a higher relative abundance of Lactobacillus, while the CON group was represented by a higher relative abundance of Akkermansia and Ruminiclostridium_5. Our findings demonstrated that MOS supplementation during the neonatal period increases antioxidant capacity and reduces the inflammatory response, and promotes IgA secretion and Lactobacillus colonization in the ileum. Thus, MOS induced positive effects are more pronounced in neonatal goats that might be an effective approach to maintain intestinal health and improve the surviving rate of neonatal ruminants.

Ewe wastage in commercial sheep flocks: A review of current knowledge

Ewe wastage encompasses ewes that do not reach the end of their potential productive lives and is the combination of premature culling and on-farm mortality. Increased ewe wastage results in reduced flock productivity and profitability, primarily driven by the need for increased replacement ewe lambs to maintain flock numbers and the costs associated with these additional replacements (e.g., reduced sale lambs, reduced flock age resulting in lower lamb production, and reduced ability to utilise terminal sires). Annual ewe mortality rates are reported to range from 2.8-40.2% in New Zealand commercial flocks, while wastage over a ewes' productive lifespan (i.e., mortality and premature culling combined to 6-7 years-of-age) is reported to be up to 90%. To date, ewe wastage has received relatively little attention in the published literature.This article reviews published studies describing wastage in non-dairy ewes, focusing on New Zealand commercial flocks, although overseas pasture-based data is also considered. The relevance of, and challenges associated with, investigating ewe wastage are discussed. Ewe culling and mortality data is outlined, and causes are described. Known key risk factors for wastage, namely, reproductive performance, udder health, dental health, body condition score and breeding of ewe lambs, are reviewed. Finally, current knowledge gaps and future areas of research are identified and evaluated.

A Nonsense Variant in CCDC65 Gene Causes Respiratory Failure Associated with Increased Lamb Mortality in French Lacaune Dairy Sheep

We recently demonstrated that the Lacaune deficient homozygous haplotype 6 (LDHH6) potentially hosts a recessive perinatal lethal mutation in Lacaune dairy sheep mapped on OAR3. In the present study, we have analyzed the whole-genome sequences of two Lacaune ram heterozygous carriers of LDHH6. After variant calling and filtering against the variants of 86 non-carrier rams, we have identified a single nucleotide variant (SNV) in the two LDHH6 carriers whose variant allele induced a premature stop codon (p.Glu111*) in the Coiled-Coil Domain Containing 65 (CCDC65) gene. CCDC65 is involved in the assembly of the nexin-dynein regulatory complex for the formation of microtubules in ciliated cells. In order to identify the phenotype in homozygous sheep, we generated at-risk matings (n = 17) between rams and ewes heterozygous for the candidate variant in CCDC65. A total of 16 lambs were born alive with five genotyped as homozygous carriers. The homozygous lambs suffered from respiratory problems, and four of them died within the first month of life. At necropsy, we observed a broad hepatization of lung lobes possibly induced by infectious pneumonia. The management of this lethal recessive allele (frequency of 0.06) through reasoned mating in the Lacaune sheep selection schemes could reduce lamb mortality by 2%.

A Survey of Farm Management Practices Relating to the Risk Factors, Prevalence, and Causes of Lamb Mortality in Ireland

Lamb mortality is a key factor influencing ewe productivity and profitability. The current study investigated risk factors associated with and management practices implemented on sheep farms to reduce lamb mortality. A survey consisting of 13 multiple-part questions (57 separate questions) was administered to all sheep farmers participating in the Teagasc National Farm Survey, representative of the Irish national population of sheep farms. A total of 60% of respondents identify mating or lambing date, and this practice tended to be associated with reduced lamb mortality (1.2%, p = 0.08). Individual lambing pens were used by 88% of farmers, but 26% did not clean or disinfect them. A total of 79% and 9.5% of farmers applied iodine to all lambs' navels and administered antibiotics to all lambs to treat and/or prevent diseases, respectively. Most farmers vaccinated their ewes (86%) and lambs (79%) against clostridial diseases and/or pasteurellosis; 13% vaccinated against abortion agents. Lamb mortality tended to be lower (Kruskal-Wallis (KW) = 2.749; p = 0.09) on farms that used stomach tubing, heat box, iodine, hospital, and individual pens compared with farms that do not implement all those practices. Predators, lamb birth weight, and diseases were perceived by respondents to be the three main causes of live-born lamb mortality. The gross margin is significantly higher on lowland farms by €37 per ewe compared with hill farms (Kruskal-Wallis (KW) = 4.056; p < 0.001). The combination of full-time farming and the use of hospital and individual pens improved gross margin (€18/ewe, p = 0.028). It is concluded that on-farm management practices affect both lamb mortality and flock gross margin.

Going Up Inflame: Reviewing the Underexplored Role of Inflammatory Programming in Stress-Induced Intrauterine Growth Restricted Livestock

The impact of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on health in humans is well-recognized. It is the second leading cause of perinatal mortality worldwide, and it is associated with deficits in metabolism and muscle growth that increase lifelong risk for hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. Comparatively, the barrier that IUGR imposes on livestock production is less recognized by the industry. Meat animals born with low birthweight due to IUGR are beset with greater early death loss, inefficient growth, and reduced carcass merit. These animals exhibit poor feed-to-gain ratios, less lean mass, and greater fat deposition, which increase production costs and decrease value. Ultimately, this reduces the amount of meat produced by each animal and threatens the economic sustainability of livestock industries. Intrauterine growth restriction is most commonly the result of fetal programming responses to placental insufficiency, but the exact mechanisms by which this occurs are not well-understood. In uncompromised pregnancies, inflammatory cytokines are produced at modest rates by placental and fetal tissues and play an important role in fetal development. However, unfavorable intrauterine conditions can cause cytokine activity to be excessive during critical windows of fetal development. Our recent evidence indicates that this impacts developmental programming of muscle growth and metabolism and contributes to the IUGR phenotype. In this review, we outline the role of inflammatory cytokine activity in the development of normal and IUGR phenotypes. We also highlight the contributions of sheep and other animal models in identifying mechanisms for IUGR pathologies.

Influence of maternal and additive genetic effects on lamb survival in Harnali sheep

Lamb survival is a critical aspect in the sheep industry as it increases the chances of economic gain in the flock. The objective of the current study was to assess the incidence of lamb mortality in Harnali sheep and to estimate maternal and additive genetic effects of lamb survival using the data of 2057 lambs born to 134 sires and 623 dams for the period of 20 years (2001-2020). The genetic evaluation was carried out using threshold animal models comprising direct and maternal effects using THRGIBBS1F90 and POSTGIBBSF90 programs. Cumulative mortality (95% CI (confidence interval)) for the S1 (lambs which died up to weaning age), S2 (lambs which died from birth to 6 months of age) and S3 (lambs which died from birth to 12 months of birth) groups was 8.41 (7.21-9.61), 14.10 (12.59-15.60) and 17.70 (16.05-19.34) %, respectively. The logistic regression analysis revealed significant (p < 0.05) influences of non-genetic factors and indicated that the female lambs, heavier dam and higher birth weight of lamb were associated with better survival as compared to their counterparts. The estimates of direct additive heritability for S1, S2 and S3 were 0.04 ± 0.01, 0.07 ± 0.03 and 0.11 ± 0.04, respectively. In addition to this, significant influences of the maternal permanent environmental effects were observed for lamb survival up to weaning as well as six months of age. Thus, the present findings suggest that lamb survival could be improved through better management practices but consideration of maternal permanent environmental effects is important for initial survival of the lamb.

Perinatal complications and maximising lamb survival in an adolescent paradigm characterised by premature delivery and low birthweight

The competition for nutrients in overnourished and still-growing adolescent sheep negatively impacts gestation length, colostrum supply and lamb birthweight, all of which may affect neonatal morbidity and survival to weaning. Herein perinatal complications and the requirement for supplementary feeding were analysed in relation to gestational-intake, and the degree of premature delivery and prenatal growth-restriction exhibited. Pregnancies were established by embryo transfer and the mean/standard deviation (SD) gestation length and birthweight of the optimally-fed control group (n = 100) was used to define early delivery and reduced birthweight categories (1.5 and 3.0 SDs below the control mean for each aspect). Control lambs were largely delivered at term (94%), and had a normal birthweight (92%), while very preterm (≤139days, 18.5%) and preterm delivery (140-142days, 54.8%), extremely low birthweight (ELBW; females ≤2838g and males ≤3216g, 21.1%) and low birthweight (LBW; females 2839 to ≤4001g and males 3217 to ≤4372g, 32.2%), were common in the overnourished group (n = 270, P<0.001). Accordingly, overnourished dams were more likely to lamb without assistance while the incidence of major dystocia was greater in controls. Initial lamb vigour at birth was independent of gestational-intake, delivery or birthweight category but both ELBW and very premature lambs required more assistance with feeding in the first 24h postnatal, primarily reflecting low colostrum availability. Indeed, relative to normal, ELBW lambs had a greater risk of experiencing mismothering, and enhanced likelihood of requiring supplementary feeding throughout the neonatal period (P<0.001). ELBW lambs also had a greater possibility of respiratory issues at birth (P<0.01) and renal complications (P<0.001), while very preterm delivery was associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal tract problems (P<0.01). In spite of these complications, all-cause mortality was low (5.4%) suggesting that our proactive neonatal care regime can overcome many of the issues associated with extreme prematurity and low birthweight.

Management of Low Birth Weight in Canine and Feline Species: Breeder Profiling

Simple Summary

Mortality rate in puppies and kittens over the first two months of age is high, estimated at around 20%. Low birth weight has been identified as a major risk factor for neonatal mortality in these species. Using an online questionnaire, we explored perceptions and management practices of breeders regarding newborns at low birth weight. Three different profiles were identified among 649 breeders. The first one included mainly dog and cat breeders who weighed newborns and monitored their suckling by the dam (controlled suckling) but did not warm them. The second group consisted of breeders of both species who did not weigh puppies or kittens to identify low birth weight or to monitor their weight afterwards. The third and final group included mostly cat breeders who routinely weighed neonates as in the first group, but who used artificial feeding rather than controlled suckling. This better knowledge of the management of puppies and kittens at high risk of neonatal mortality in the field provides the basis to establish guidelines to increase their chances of survival.

Abstract

Low birth weight (LBW) has been identified as a major risk factor for neonatal mortality in many species. The aim of this survey was to determine the profiles of canine and feline breeders concerning their perceptions of, and management practices relating to, LBW individuals. An anonymous online survey was addressed to French cat and dog breeders in September 2019 via social networks. Multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical clustering were used to explore breeders’ profiles. Three clusters were identified among the 649 breeders included in this analysis. Cluster 1 (49%) included dog and cat breeders who weighed newborns (and thus identified LBW) and controlled nursing by the dam (controlled suckling) but did not warm them up. Cluster 2 breeders (21%) of both species did not weigh puppies or kittens to identify LBW or to monitor the evolution of their weight afterwards. Cluster 3 (30%) including mostly cat breeders who weighed neonates routinely as in Cluster 1, but they practiced artificial feeding rather than controlled suckling. This survey provides a basis for better understanding of perceptions and practices regarding LBW puppies and kittens. It will be useful to provide guidelines for neonatal management to increase their chances of survival.

Maternal caffeine administration to ewes does not affect perinatal lamb survival

Perinatal mortality of lambs is the major source of reproductive loss in extensive sheep production systems. Treatment with caffeine has reduced intra-partum mortality and/or improved metabolic indicators in other species following hypoxia. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of caffeine for improving perinatal lamb survival. Experiment 1 comprised group-fed Merino ewes grazing pasture and offered 1.8 g/day (estimated 20 mg/kg live weight) caffeine throughout a 4-week lambing period, and a control without caffeine. The survival of lambs to marking (vaccinated, tail docked, males castrated) age in the caffeine treatment group (0.81) did not differ (P =  0.199) from that of control lambs (0.73; total born n = 877). Experiment 2 comprised Merino ewes lambing from three successive weekly joining groups. Treated ewes were drenched with an aqueous caffeine solution at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg live weight from the day before anticipated lambing, until the individual lambed. Control ewes were drenched with water. The proportion of lambs born dead (0.07) and the survival of lambs to marking age (caffeine 0.61; control 0.62) were similar between treatment groups (total born n = 1158). In both experiments, ewe mortality and the weight of lambs at marking were not altered by caffeine treatments. The results from this large-scale field study indicate caffeine is not an effective therapeutic agent to increase either intra-partum or perinatal survival, or lamb growth rates.

Supplementing lycopene combined with corn improves circulating IgG concentration in pregnant ewes and their lambs

Lycopene (C₄₀H₅₆, a non-provitamin A carotenoid) is a lipid-soluble pigment and a natural antioxidant with immunomodulatory activities. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of lycopene with or without corn supplementation on circulating hormones, white blood cells, immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations, quality of colostrum in pregnant ewes, and IgG concentrations in newborn lambs. Forty multiparous single-bearing ewes (68 ± 8.4 kg body weight, mean ± SD) were fed in four groups of CONTROL (fed a basal diet (BD)), CORN (BD + 300 g/day corn), LYCOP(BD + 100 mg/day lycopene), and LYCORN (BD + 300 g/day corn + 100 mg/day lycopene). The quantity and chemical composition of colostrum were determined. Blood samples were taken from ewes right after lambing and from lambs at 3 and 24 h of age. Results showed that corn supplementation increased (P < 0.05) udder volume, the quantity of colostrum, as well as percentage of lactose, and protein in colostrum. Corn-supplemented ewes had higher circulating glucose, prolactin, and estradiol but lower urea and progesterone than control ewes. The ratio of progesterone to estradiol (P₄/E₂) in the blood of pregnant ewes decreased (P < 0.05) after corn supplementation. Lycopene, irrespective of corn, increased the percentage of lymphocyte cells in pregnant ewes. Both corn and lycopene increased circulating IgG concentrations and subsequently increased the total IgG in colostrum at 6 h post-partum. Lycopene significantly elevated the circulating IgG at 24 h of age in lambs. In conclusion, lycopene along with corn supplementation additively increased concentrations of IgG in the blood of ewes and in the colostrum, which resulted in an enhancement of passive immune transfer to the newborn lambs.