Current and predicted temperatures impair reproduction in the Australian sheep flock

Climate change threatens global livestock production1,2. We modelled the impact of recent temperatures and a 1°C and 3°C temperature increase over the historical baseline on risks of heat stress at key periods of the reproductive cycle and consequences for reproduction across the entire Australian sheep flock. We estimate that 2.1 million potential lambs are currently lost annually due to heat stress, increasing to 2.5 and 3.3 million as temperatures rise.

Lipid Metabolism in the Cattle in Different Stages of Reproductive Cycle

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding dairy cows in different stages of reproductive cycle on biochemical parameters and oxidative stress. To evaluate the effect of oxidative stress on lipids and lipid metabolism and to determine the impact of nutrition and energy balance on oxidative stress in peripartum period and in early lactation. Concentrations of different biochemical parameters were measured but for this paper the most important ones were indicators of oxidative stress, cholesterol and triglycerides and also albumin. Factors associated with oxidative stress were period 3 weeks before calving and related to that negative energy balance and also content of nonfiber carbohydrates in the diet in peripartum period. However, further studies will be needed to more precisely determine the specific effects of diet and energy balance on oxidative stress in cows and to establish normal ranges for these biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Reproductive Characteristics of the Selected Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Clones after Regenerated from the Somatic Embryogenesis Culture

This study was conducted to evaluate the reproductive characteristics of 4 elite cocoa clones (MCBC1, PBC230, KKM22 and KKM4) propagated via somatic embryogenesis culture. From the findings, all clones have similar reproductive characteristics with clones from conventional grafted. However, only KKM4 clone from immature zygotic embryo culture produced the shortest staminode to style distance of 1.83 mm. This consequently influenced flower stability by reducing the efficiency of pollination by insects. It was found that this clone also has the highest number of flowers drop after anthesis (5 flowers) and lowest production of cherelle (5 cherelles). Further observation revealed that floral development from first bud visible (BBCH51) to flower anthesis (BBCH68) of all clones took around 31 days. These cocoa flowers which remained receptive soon after anthesis at 10 am (day-31) until the next day (day-32) suggesting 2 days’ period of receptivity. HIGHLIGHTS It is crucial to assess the presence of off-type characteristics in the reproductive organ structure such as the distance between staminode to style, period of reproductive cycle and stigmatic receptivity of cocoa clones regenerated from somatic embryogenesis The converging and parallel type of staminode to style distances are the ideal flower spatial arrangements for the optimal pollination in cocoa plant compared to splay type Only KKM4 clone propagated from immature zygotic embryo culture showed variation in the distance between staminode to style distance and this caused pollination failure by insect which then consequently caused minimum cherelle production All regenerated cocoa clones observed with typical period of the reproductive cycle and stigmatic receptivity GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

The effects of precisely meeting estimated daily energy and lysine requirements for gestating sows over three consecutive pregnancies on sow reproductive and lactation performance

The objective of the current study was to determine effects of precisely meeting estimated daily energy and Lys requirements for gestating sows over three consecutive pregnancies on sow reproductive and lactation performance. A total of 105 sows (initial reproductive cycle 1.4±0.5) were randomly assigned to a precision (PF; n=50) or control (CON; n=55) feeding program between d 2 and 9 of gestation and housed in group-pens equipped with electronic sow feeders capable of blending two diets. The PF sows received unique daily blends of two isocaloric diets [2518 kcal/kg NE; 0.80 and 0.20% standardized ileal digestible (SID) Lys, respectively] while CON sows received a static blend throughout gestation to achieve 0.56% SID Lys. After weaning, sows were re-bred and entered the same feeding program as in the previous pregnancy for two subsequent pregnancy cycles (PF: n=36; CON: n=37; average reproductive cycle: 2.4±0.5; PF: n=25; CON: n=24; average reproductive cycle: 3.5±0.5). Sows on the PF program received 97, 105, and 118 % (average over three pregnancy cycles) of dietary energy and 67, 79, and 106 % of SID Lys intakes compared to CON between d 5 and 37, 38 and 72, and 73 and 108 of gestation, respectively. Estimated N (26.1 %) retention did not differ between gestation feeding programs in any pregnancy, but excess N excretion was less (1617 vs. 1750 ± 54 g/sow; P < 0.01) for PF versus CON sows. Regardless of pregnancy cycle, sows that received the PF program had greater ADG between d 38 and 72 (614 vs. 518 ± 63 g/d; P < 0.05) and between d 73 and 108 (719 vs. 618 ± 94 g/d; P = 0.063) of gestation, and greater loin depth gain between d 63 and 110 of gestation (0.7 vs. -1.1 ± 1.6 mm; P < 0.05), but BW (235.1 kg) and backfat (17.8 mm) and loin (70.5 mm) depths on d 110 of gestation did not differ. The number of piglets born alive, stillborn, and mummified, and litter birth weight (16.5 kg) did not differ in any pregnancy cycle, nor did piglet ADG during lactation (250 g/d) and piglet BW (6.7 kg) at weaning. Sows that received the PF program during gestation had lower ADFI during lactation (5.7 vs. 6.2 ± 0.2 kg; P < 0.01). Therefore, using feeding programs that precisely match estimated daily energy and Lys requirements for gestating sows provides the opportunity to reduce N losses to the environment and reduce lactation feed usage, without negatively affecting sow reproductive and lactation performance.

High Calorie Diet with a Combination of Intermittent Restriction Affects the Reproductive Cycle and The Weight of Mice (Mus Musculus)

Highlight:High-calorie diet influence with interval restrictions combination on the reproductive cycle and weight of the uterus in mice were analyzed.Calories balance impact for female reproductive health. Abstract :Balanced calories affected for body health and daily activities. Lose of energy can disturb the health and daily activities, while over calorie for diets also causes disorders such as metabolic. When there are excess calories in the body will be involved. It can be an obesity risk, diabetes mellitus, fertility disorder, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, in women there can be an increase in menstrual disorders and fertility disorderrisk (Silvestris et al., 2018). This study aims to analyze high-calorie diet influence with interval restrictions combination on the reproductive cycle and weight of the uterus in mice. Experimental laboratory is a mouse (mus musculus) female’s balb/c as object population. Sampling techniques using probability sampling with simple random sampling type. The study results on fisher's exact test gave a result of p > 0.05 so there was no significant difference between control group, high calorie diet group, and high calorie diet with interval restrictions group on the results of vaginal swabs /post-treatment reproductive cycle. The study outcome on robust tests between control, high calorie diet, and high calorie diet with interval restrictions groups. Obtained results (p < 0.05) that mean there are some significant discrepancies in the weight of uterine organ between groups. Calories balance in the body can impact female reproductive health.