Factors of domestic behavior variation in farm animals species

Fear response and domestic behavior of sheep, cattle, horses, and pigs were studied using four different variants of experimental stress conditions. As standard aversive stimulus, the factor of human presence during the feeding time was used under the following conditions: animals were starved for 12-14 or 2 h before the exposure and fed individually or in a group. In the animal species studied, these conditions were found to reveal phenotypic and genotypic differences in fear response to humans, which is correlated with feeding behavior by regulatory mechanisms. A comparative qualitative and quantitative study of the discrete variation of the associated passive-defensive responses and feeding behavior (as related to domestic behavior) was conducted with regard to the effect of the breed and individual genotypes and the feeding and zoosocial deprivation. A classification scheme of the individual diversity of this behavior in farm animal species is proposed, in which ontogenetic and evolutionary relationships earlier found in sheep were taken into consideration. It is suggested that the progressive ecological and zootechnical specialization alters adaptive reaction norms of stress response in breeds and leads to the formation of the homologous variation in a set of coadapted traits, i.e., constitutional types of animals genetically marked by their behavior. A conclusion is made that heritable polymorphism of domestic behavior represents a new source of adaptive variation for improving the total fitness, welfare, and productivity of farm animals by breeding.     

MicroRNAs in farm animals

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of ∼22 nucleotide-long small noncoding RNAs that target mRNAs for translational repression or degradation. miRNAs target mRNAs by base-pairing with the 3′-untranslated regions (3′-UTRs) of mRNAs. miRNAs are present in various species, from animals to plants. In this review, we summarize the identification, expression, and function of miRNAs in four important farm animal species: cattle, chicken, pig and sheep. In each of these species, hundreds of miRNAs have been identified through homology search, small RNA cloning and next generation sequencing. Real-time RT-PCR and microarray experiments reveal that many miRNAs are expressed in a tissue-specific or spatiotemporal-specific manner in farm animals. Limited functional studies suggest that miRNAs have important roles in muscle development and hypertrophy, adipose tissue growth, oocyte maturation and early embryonic development in farm animals. Increasing evidence suggests that single-nucleotide polymorphisms in miRNA target sites or miRNA gene promoters may contribute to variation in production or health traits in farm animals.     

Giardia infection in farm animals

Giardia infection is prevalent in farm animals from an early age. Despite the wide occurrence of the infection and recent understanding of its epidemiology, many aspects of giardiasis of farm animals remain unclear. In this article, Lihua Xiao discusses the prevalence, patterns, sources and clinical importance of Giardia infection in a variety of farm animals.     

Control of ovulation in farm animals

Examination of hormonal changes occurring in farm species at the onset of puberty, during the follicular phase of the oestrous cycle, and at those times when ovarian activity is re-established after periods of seasonal or lactational anoestrus, provides circumstantial evidence that the final phases of follicular development are dependent on a pattern of tonic (episodic) LH secretion. A suppression of episodic LH secretion is associated with periods of anovulation. Stimulation of tonic LH secretion by repeated injections of small doses of synthetic Gn-RH or purified LH restores normal reproductive function in all but deeply anoestrous animals. Continuous infusion of Gn-RH is as effective as repeated injections. It is suggested that an additional inadequacy, possibly endocrine, contributes to the anovulatory state in deep anoestrus.     

Lice of farm animals in Libya

Abstract. This first report on the lice of farm animals in Libya lists a total of fifteen species, as follows: Haematopinus quadripertusus and Linognathus vituli from cattle, Bovicola ovis, Linognathus pedalis, L.afrlcanus and L.ovillus from sheep, L.stenopsis, L.africanus and Bovicola caprae from goats. Poultry harboured Lipeurus caponis, L.heterographus, Menacanthus stramineus, Menopon gallinae, Goniocotes gallinae, Goniodes gigas and G.dissimilis.     

Comparative mapping in farm animals.

This paper summarises the current status of comparative mapping in farm animals. For most of the major farm animal species, a wide range of genomic tools are now available to create high-resolution genetic and physical maps of the genome. For many farm animals, the use of radiation hybrid panels and sequence data from expressed sequence tag (EST) projects has accelerated the development of high-resolution comparative maps, with human--the model species for farm animals. These tools and comparative maps are being used to map and identify the genes at the loci for simple and complex traits. The development of detailed physical maps in farm animals based on radiation hybrid panels and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) contigs provides a direct link between the 'information-poor' maps of farm animals and the 'information-rich' genomes of human and other model organisms.     

Survey of aflatoxicosis in farm animals.

Over a 22-month period, 278 submissions of farm animals were made to the North Carolina Diagnostic Laboratory for suspected aflatoxicosis, and 94 cases were confirmed on the basis of finding aflatoxin in the feed and the occurrence of bile ductule proliferation. There was an annual variation in the incidence of aflatoxicosis, as well as a seasonal variation: the peak incidence occurred in the winter, and the minimum incidence occurred during the summer. The annual increase coincided with the corn harvest. All confirmed cases occurred on farms that raised and stored their own corn, and 88% were in swine. The cases were geographically localized in the eastern section of North Carolina (94% of the total cases) where 82% of the swine and 79% of the corn are produced. Mean concentration of aflatoxin in feed samples from the confirmed cases was 3,890 mug/kg, and the mean value for corn used in making the feed was 5,180 mug/kg. Only aflatoxin B1 was found in the samples. These data were interpreted to mean that the incidence and severity of aflatoxicosis is greater than previously suspected, that poor on-farm storage of corn is a primary contributing factor, that aflatoxin formation continues during and after the milling process, and that mycotoxicoses other than aflatoxicosis may cause equal or greater problems.     

Clostridium difficile in young farm animals and slaughter animals in Belgium

Faecal carriage of Clostridium difficile in healthy animals has been reported recently, especially in piglets and calves. However there is limited data about carriage in animals just prior to slaughter in Europe. The main objective of this study was to determine the presence of C. difficile in pigs and cattle at the slaughterhouse. C. difficile was isolated in 6.9% of the cattle at the slaughterhouse. None of the pig slaughter samples were positive for C. difficile after an enrichment time of 72 h. For complementary data, a short study was conducted in piglets and calves at farms. C. difficile was more prevalent in piglets (78.3%) than in calves (22.2%) on the farms. Regarding the piglet samples, 27.8% of the positive samples were detected without enrichment of stools. The PCR ribotype 078 was predominant in farm animals. Samples isolated from slaughter cattle presented the widest range in PCR-ribotype variety, and the most prevalent PCR ribotype was 118a UCL. The results of this study confirm that C. difficile is present in slaughter animals in Belgium with a large percentage of toxigenic strains also commonly found in humans.     

A review of historically significant publications from German speaking countries concerning the behaviour of domestic farm animals

German language publications that were concerned with the behaviour of domestic farm animals are reviewed. Those publications up to 1955 that had either a strong practical aspect or that outlined basic principles, were taken into consideration. Some early reports identified ethological phenomena which have now become more fully understood.     

Manipulation of fertility in domestic animals

For many years artificial insemination has been widely used for the manipulation of fertility in farm animals and more recently methods for the synchronization of oestrous cycles, superovulation and embryo transplantation have been increasingly applied. These techniques now provide new opportunities for the manipulation of gametes and embryos which might further enhance reproductive potential through the production of embryos in vitro, their preservation by deep freezing, cloning from embryonic cells or genetic manipulation to increase fecundity.