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Shao Y, Xu J, Wang M, Ren Y, Wei M, Tian B, Luo J, Loor JJ, Shi H. Preliminary Results on the Effects of Soybean Isoflavones on Growth Performance and Ruminal Microbiota in Fattening Goats. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1188. [PMID: 38672337 PMCID: PMC11047704 DOI: 10.3390/ani14081188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Soybean isoflavones (SIFs), a group of secondary metabolites, have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hormone-like activities. Supplementation with SIFs in the diet was reported to promote lactation performance in ruminants. The present study was performed to further decipher the effect of various concentrations of SIFs on growth and slaughter performance, serum parameters, meat quality, and ruminal microbiota in fattening goats. After a two-week acclimation, a total of 27 5-month-old Guanzhong male goats (18.29 ± 0.44 kg) were randomly assigned to control (NC), 100 mg/d SIF (SIF1), or 200 mg/d SIF (SIF2) groups. The experimental period lasted 56 days. The weight of the large intestine was greater (p < 0.05) in the SIF1 and SIF2 groups compared with the NC group. Meat quality parameters indicated that SIF1 supplementation led to lower (p < 0.05) cooking loss and shear force (0.05 < p < 0.10). The 16S rRNA sequencing analysis demonstrated that SIF1 supplementation led to lower (p < 0.05) proportions of Papillibacter and Prevotellaceae_UCG-004 but greater (p < 0.05) CAG-352 abundance in the rumen; these responses might have contributed to the improvement in production performance. In conclusion, meat quality and ruminal microbiome could be manipulated in a positive way by oral supplementation with 100 mg/d of SIFs in fattening goats. Thus, this study provides new insights and practical evidence for the introduction of SIFs as a novel additive in goat husbandry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuexin Shao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (Y.S.); (M.W.); (Y.R.); (B.T.)
| | - Junhong Xu
- Weinan Agricultural Products Quality and Safety Inspection and Testing Center, Weinan 714000, China;
| | - Mengyu Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (Y.S.); (M.W.); (Y.R.); (B.T.)
| | - Yalun Ren
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (Y.S.); (M.W.); (Y.R.); (B.T.)
| | - Manhong Wei
- College of Animal Engineering, Yangling Vocational & Technical College, Yangling 712100, China;
| | - Bowen Tian
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (Y.S.); (M.W.); (Y.R.); (B.T.)
| | - Jun Luo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (Y.S.); (M.W.); (Y.R.); (B.T.)
| | - Juan J. Loor
- Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Huaiping Shi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China; (Y.S.); (M.W.); (Y.R.); (B.T.)
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Toinon C, Waiblinger S, Palme R, Rault JL. Long-term effects of early maternal deprivation on goat social behaviour. Animal 2023; 17:100814. [PMID: 37148625 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Early maternal deprivation has been shown to disrupt goat kids' social behaviour and stress-coping strategy, and has long-term effects in other species like cattle. We studied the long-term effects of early maternal deprivation on 18-month-old goats. Seventeen goats were raised together with their dams (DR kids) and other lactating goats and kids, while 18 goats were separated from their dams three days after birth and artificially reared together (AR kids). Kids of both treatments were weaned around two to three months of age, grouped and raised together until this study 15 months later. Affiliative, playful, and agonistic behaviour was recorded by focal sampling in the home pen, when the focal goat had rejoined the herd after being physically isolated for 3 minutes, and after the focal goat was restrained and manipulated for 3 minutes. Behavioural observations were also conducted after the goats were introduced in groups of four in a herd of 77 unknown, lactating multiparous goats. Avoidance distance tests were performed in the home pen to assess the human-animal relationship. Salivary cortisol was measured before and after physical isolation, and faecal glucocorticoid metabolites were measured before and 24 hours after introduction in the lactating herd. In the home pen, AR goats were involved in less head nudging than DR goats, but other social behaviours or their behavioural and physiological response to the various stressful situations were not affected by their rearing treatment. Upon introduction in a DR lactating herd, most of the agonistic interactions observed were initiated by multiparous goats towards the introduced AR and DR goats alike. AR goats received more threats from the multiparous goats than DR goats, but were involved in less clashing than DR goats. AR goats showed less avoidance of familiar and unfamiliar humans than DR goats. Overall, previously AR and DR goats showed only a few differences in affiliative and agonistic behaviours in their home pen or after being exposed to different stressors 15 months later. Nonetheless, after being introduced into a multiparous goat herd, AR goats were still threatened more often than DR goats, and DR goats clashed more than AR goats, suggesting some persistent differences in their social abilities observed at an early age before and after weaning. As predicted, AR goats remained less fearful of humans than DR goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Toinon
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - S Waiblinger
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - R Palme
- Institute of Physiology, Pathohysiology and Biophysics, Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Experimental Endocrinology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - J-L Rault
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
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Toinon C, Waiblinger S, Rault J. Maternal deprivation affects goat kids’ social behavior before and after weaning. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22269. [PMID: 35452535 PMCID: PMC9311730 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Maternal deprivation has been shown to disrupt the development of neonates. Nevertheless, separating the young animals from their dams soon after birth is a common practice in dairy farming. We investigated the effects of maternal deprivation on goat kids’ (Capra hircus) social behavior and social ontogeny before and after weaning. Twenty female kids were raised together with their dams (DR kids) and other lactating goats and kids, whereas 20 female kids were separated from their dams 3 days after birth and artificially reared together (AR kids). At weaning, each treatment group was split in half and moved into two new pens where they were mixed with the other treatment group. Social behaviors were recorded before and after weaning. Before weaning, AR kids were observed performing more play‐fighting, racing, stepping on each other, and standing in contact with each other than DR kids, but AR allogroomed less and spent less time resting alone than DR kids. After weaning and mixing of the treatments, DR kids initiated more and received less agonistic interactions than AR kids, but this difference reduced across the 5 weeks of observations as AR kids appeared to progressively change their social behavior after interacting with DR kids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Toinon
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health Institute of Animal Welfare Science University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Susanne Waiblinger
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health Institute of Animal Welfare Science University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Jean‐Loup Rault
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health Institute of Animal Welfare Science University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Vienna Austria
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Santymire RM, Adkin A, Bernier D, Hill B. Validating the use of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite analysis to assess the adrenocortical activity of the zoo-housed Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana). Zoo Biol 2021; 40:479-484. [PMID: 33905549 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
With limited information known about the zoo-housed Sichuan takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana), there is a need to gain more knowledge about their basic physiology to be able to better assess their well-being. Our goal was to develop noninvasive methods to evaluate stress physiology in the Sichuan takins housed under human care. The objectives were: (1) validate the use of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) analysis to monitor adrenocortical activity and (2) determine the relationship between FGM concentrations and changes in various factors including environmental conditions, reproductive hormones, and social factors. Three (one male and two females) adult Sichuan takins were included in the study from Lincoln Park Zoo. A cortisol enzyme immunoassay was used to analyze FGM from samples that were collected 2-4 times per week. FGM was biochemically validated in the laboratory and biologically validated using pregnancy and parturition. Results showed that 1 day after birth one female had a more than a six-fold increase in FGM. A positive relationship (p < .05) was observed between FGM and temperature for two of the three takins. Finally, FGM values tended to increase during times when aggression (p = .09) and reproductive (p = .08) behaviors were observed. In conclusion, environmental, reproductive, and behavioral factors could affect adrenocortical activity in zoo-housed Sichuan takins; therefore, these methods can be used to assist in the management and conservation of this threatened species both in zoos and potentially in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel M Santymire
- Conservation and Science Department, Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Angie Adkin
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - David Bernier
- Animal Care Department, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Brandy Hill
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Rault JL. Be kind to others: Prosocial behaviours and their implications for animal welfare. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2018.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Palme R. Non-invasive measurement of glucocorticoids: Advances and problems. Physiol Behav 2018; 199:229-243. [PMID: 30468744 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 313] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs; i.e. cortisol/corticosterone) are a central component of the stress response and thus their measurement is frequently used to evaluate the impact of stressful situations. Their metabolites from faeces of various animal species are more and more taken as a non-invasive aid to assess GC release and thus adrenocortical activity. The current literature review includes an extensive collection (1327 papers) and evaluation (see also Supplementary Tables) of the literature on faecal cortisol/corticosterone metabolite (FCM) analysis published to date. It aims at giving reference for researchers interested in implementing FCM analysis into their study or seeking to improve such methods by providing background knowledge on GC metabolism and excretion, conveying insights into methodological issues and stating caveats of FCM analysis and by highlighting prerequisites for and some examples of a successful application of such methods. Collecting faecal samples and analysing FCMs may appear simple and straightforward, but researchers have to select and apply methods correctly. They also need to be aware of the many pitfalls and potentially confounding factors and, last but not least, have to carefully interpret results. Applied properly, measurement of FCMs is a powerful non-invasive tool in a variety of research areas, such as (stress) biology, ethology, ecology, animal conservation and welfare, but also biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupert Palme
- Unit of Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
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Zobel G, Leslie K, Weary DM, von Keyserlingk MAG. Ketonemia in dairy goats: effect of dry period length and effect on lying behavior. J Dairy Sci 2017; 98:6128-38. [PMID: 26117354 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2014-9136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In dairy animals, a successful transition from one lactation to the next includes minimizing negative energy balance. Cows experiencing excessive negative energy balance typically develop metabolic complications following parturition (e.g., ketosis); does are also susceptible before kidding (e.g., pregnancy toxemia). It is not known to what extent the provision and the length of the dry period affect these conditions in does. Furthermore, whereas clinical symptoms of these conditions include lethargy, behavioral changes resulting from ketosis and pregnancy toxemia have not been quantified in small ruminants. The aims of this study were to (1) describe the relationship between the dry period and negative energy balance, and (2) determine if lying behavior changes are indicative of the metabolic status of dairy goats. A total of 420 does on 10 commercial dairy goat farms in southern Ontario, Canada, were enrolled in the study (mean ± SD: 42±18 does/farm). Each doe was affixed with a data logger to measure lying behavior from 12 d before to 12 d after kidding. Blood samples were collected at least once before and at least once following kidding to determine blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentration as an indicator of negative energy balance. Does were categorized as healthy (HLTH; both pre- and postkidding samples BHBA <0.9 mmol/L), PREGTOX (prekidding BHBA ≥1.7 mmol/L), or KET (postkidding BHBA ≥1.7 mmol/L). Behaviors were analyzed according to 5 periods: P-2 (d -12 to d -2 relative to kidding), P-1 (d -1 relative to kidding), P0 (d 0, kidding day), P1 (d 1 relative to kidding), and P2 (d 2 to 12 relative to kidding). Dry period length and milk production after kidding were recorded when available. Farms ranged from 0 to 15% and 0 to 50% in prekidding and postkidding ketonemia, respectively. The HLTH does had shorter dry periods compared with PREGTOX and KET does (43 vs. 55 d, SE of the differences of means=4 d). One farm kept some does milking, while drying off others; on this farm more PREGTOX and KET does (11/28) were found in the dry group versus the continuously milked group (1/16). Overall, does that had ketonemia before kidding (PREGTOX) spent more time lying down compared with healthy does (16.1 vs. 12.7 h/d, SE of the differences of means=0.9). Both PREGTOX and HLTH does had increased lying bouts in P-2 compared with the day before (P-1) kidding [(mean (95% CI): 16.8 (15.8-17.8) vs. 20.5 (19.4-21.8) bout/d]. Compared with HLTH does, animals that were ketonemic following kidding (KET) had higher mean lying times throughout the study (14.5 vs. 13.5 h/d, SE=0.4). Previous work has shown a relationship between shorter and skipped dry periods and improved energy balance in dairy cows; the current study is the first to indicate a similar relationship in dairy goats. Furthermore, goats that developed ketonemia, particularly before kidding, displayed decreased activity, including longer lying times and fewer lying bouts in the days around kidding.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Zobel
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - K Leslie
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph 2536 Stewart Building, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - D M Weary
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - M A G von Keyserlingk
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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Is rearing calves with the dam a feasible option for dairy farms?—Current and future research. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2015.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Wagner K, Seitner D, Barth K, Palme R, Futschik A, Waiblinger S. Effects of mother versus artificial rearing during the first 12 weeks of life on challenge responses of dairy cows. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2014.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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