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Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3563
Author(s):  
Dalen Zuidema ◽  
Karl Kerns ◽  
Peter Sutovsky

Artificial insemination of livestock has been a staple technology for producers worldwide for over sixty years. This reproductive technology has allowed for the rapid improvement of livestock genetics, most notably in dairy cattle and pigs. This field has experienced continuous improvements over the last six decades. Though much work has been carried out to improve the efficiency of AI, there are still many areas which continue to experience improvement, including semen analysis procedures, sperm selection techniques, sperm sexing technologies, and semen storage methods. Additionally, the use of AI continues to grow in beef cattle, horses, and small ruminants as the technology continues to become more efficient and yield higher pregnancy rates. In this review, AI trends in the various livestock species as well as cutting edge improvements in the aforementioned areas will be discussed at length. Future work will continue to refine the protocols which are used for AI and continue to increase pregnancy rates within all livestock species.


Development ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 148 (23) ◽  

The ability to derive and maintain pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) from livestock species in defined media conditions will contribute to many new research avenues, including comparative embryology and xenotransplantation. In a new paper in Development, Masaki Kinoshita, Toshihiro Kobayashi, Hiroshi Nagashima, Ramiro Alberio, Austin Smith and colleagues describe their three-component medium, which supports long-term propagation of PSCs in the absence of feeders or serum factors. We caught up with the authors to find out more about their research and their future plans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Mohaddeseh Rahbaran ◽  
Ehsan Razeghian ◽  
Marwah Suliman Maashi ◽  
Abduladheem Turki Jalil ◽  
Gunawan Widjaja ◽  
...  

Embryo splitting is one of the newest developed methods in reproductive biotechnology. In this method, after splitting embryos in 2-, 4-, and even 8-cell stages, every single blastomere can be developed separately, but the embryos are genetically identical. Embryo splitting, as an approach in reproductive cloning, is extensively employed in reproductive medicine studies, such as investigating human diseases, treating sterility, embryo donation, and gene therapy. In the present study, cloning in mammalians and cloning approaches are briefly reviewed. In addition, embryo splitting and the methods commonly used in embryo splitting and recent achievements in this field, as well as the applications of embryo splitting into livestock species, primate animals, and humans, are outlined. Finally, a perspective of embryo splitting is provided as the conclusion.


Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 836
Author(s):  
Dino Grgic ◽  
Elisabeth Varga ◽  
Barbara Novak ◽  
Anneliese Müller ◽  
Doris Marko

Soybeans are a common ingredient of animal feed. They contain isoflavones, which are known to act as phytoestrogens in animals. Isoflavones were described to have beneficial effects on farm animals. However, there are also reports of negative outcomes after the consumption of isoflavones. This review summarizes the current knowledge of metabolization of isoflavones (including the influence of the microbiome, phase I and phase II metabolism), as well as the distribution of isoflavones and their metabolites in tissues. Furthermore, published studies on effects of isoflavones in livestock species (pigs, poultry, ruminants, fish) are reviewed. Moreover, published studies on occurrence of isoflavones in feed materials and co-occurrence with zearalenone are presented and are supplemented with our own survey data.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandrine Lagarrigue ◽  
Matthias Lorthiois ◽  
Fabien Degalez ◽  
David Gilot ◽  
Thomas Derrien

AbstractAnimal genomes are pervasively transcribed into multiple RNA molecules, of which many will not be translated into proteins. One major component of this transcribed non-coding genome is the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are defined as transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides with low coding-potential capabilities. Domestic animals constitute a unique resource for studying the genetic and epigenetic basis of phenotypic variations involving protein-coding and non-coding RNAs, such as lncRNAs. This review presents the current knowledge regarding transcriptome-based catalogues of lncRNAs in major domesticated animals (pets and livestock species), covering a broad phylogenetic scale (from dogs to chicken), and in comparison with human and mouse lncRNA catalogues. Furthermore, we describe different methods to extract known or discover novel lncRNAs and explore comparative genomics approaches to strengthen the annotation of lncRNAs. We then detail different strategies contributing to a better understanding of lncRNA functions, from genetic studies such as GWAS to molecular biology experiments and give some case examples in domestic animals. Finally, we discuss the limitations of current lncRNA annotations and suggest research directions to improve them and their functional characterisation.


BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Bilbao-Arribas ◽  
Endika Varela-Martínez ◽  
Naiara Abendaño ◽  
Damián de Andrés ◽  
Lluís Luján ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in several immune processes, including the immune response to vaccination, but most of them remain uncharacterised in livestock species. The mechanism of action of aluminium adjuvants as vaccine components is neither not fully understood. Results We built a transcriptome from sheep PBMCs RNA-seq data in order to identify unannotated lncRNAs and analysed their expression patterns along protein coding genes. We found 2284 novel lncRNAs and assessed their conservation in terms of sequence and synteny. Differential expression analysis performed between animals inoculated with commercial vaccines or aluminium adjuvant alone and the co-expression analysis revealed lncRNAs related to the immune response to vaccines and adjuvants. A group of co-expressed genes enriched in cytokine signalling and production highlighted the differences between different treatments. A number of differentially expressed lncRNAs were correlated with a divergently located protein-coding gene, such as the OSM cytokine. Other lncRNAs were predicted to act as sponges of miRNAs involved in immune response regulation. Conclusions This work enlarges the lncRNA catalogue in sheep and puts an accent on their involvement in the immune response to repetitive vaccination, providing a basis for further characterisation of the non-coding sheep transcriptome within different immune cells.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dehao Chen ◽  
Karah Mechlowitz ◽  
Xiaolong Li ◽  
Nancy Schaefer ◽  
Arie H. Havelaar ◽  
...  

Livestock production may improve nutritional outcomes of pregnant women and children by increasing household income, availability of nutrient-dense foods, and women's empowerment. Nevertheless, the relationship is complex, and the nutritional status of children may be impaired by presence of or proximity to livestock and their pathogens. In this paper, we review the benefits and risks of livestock production on child nutrition. Evidence supports the nutritional benefits of livestock farming through income, production, and women's empowerment. Increasing animal source food consumption requires a combination of efforts, including improved animal management so that herd size is adequate to meet household income needs and consumption and addressing sociocultural and gendered norms. Evidence supports the inclusion of behavior change communication strategies into livestock production interventions to facilitate the sustainability of nutritional benefits over time, particularly interventions that engage women and foster dimensions of women's empowerment. In evaluating the risks of livestock production, evidence indicates that a broad range of enteric pathogens may chronically infect the intestines of children and, in combination with dietary deficits, may cause environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), a chronic inflammation of the gut. Some of the most important pathogens associated with EED are zoonotic in nature with livestock as their main reservoir. Very few studies have aimed to understand which livestock species contribute most to colonization with these pathogens, or how to reduce transmission. Control at the point of exposure has been investigated in a few studies, but much less effort has been spent on improving animal husbandry practices, which may have additional benefits. There is an urgent need for dedicated and long-term research to understand which livestock species contribute most to exposure of young children to zoonotic enteric pathogens, to test the potential of a wide range of intervention methods, to assess their effectiveness in randomized trials, and to assure their broad adaptation and sustainability. This review highlights the benefits and risks of livestock production on child nutrition. In addition to identifying research gaps, findings support inclusion of poor gut health as an immediate determinant of child undernutrition, expanding the established UNICEF framework which includes only inadequate diet and disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 54-55
Author(s):  
Maria L Hoffman

Abstract It has been well documented that fetal programming, caused by changes to the maternal environment during pregnancy, can impact the overall health and growth of the offspring in livestock and non-livestock species alike. These effects are observed in the F1 offspring as well as across subsequent generations; however, the mechanisms by which this occurs are still poorly understood. Epigenetics is one of the many mechanisms that is hypothesized to have a role in fetal programming and may be mediating the observed effects across multiple generations. It has been demonstrated by others that DNA methylation patterns can be altered by an individuals’ diet and that the pancreas is vulnerable to the effects of fetal programming. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of poor maternal nutrition during gestation on the pancreas tissue of lambs. We have demonstrated that maternal under- or overnutrition during gestation alters the DNA methylation patterns of the offspring pancreas tissue with these effects being diet dependent and sex specific. We have also begun evaluating the effects of maternal diet in murine models using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to compare species differences and determine if there are any changes conserved across species. This will allow us to focus on a smaller number of critical factors in individuals as they age and across multiple generations in livestock species such as sheep and cattle. From these data we will be able to elucidate the role DNA methylation has in mediating the effects of maternal programming in the pancreas tissue.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Tawni N Williams ◽  
Angela R Green-Miller

Abstract Welfare status for any species is dependent upon an animal’s ability to cope with its environment. Environmental conditions, animal husbandry, and overall health are major components that contribute to managing livestock species with quality animal welfare. Previous approaches intending to create more robust animals have applied genetic selection, nutritional programming, or advancements in facilities. Engineered resilience, the approach explored here, represents: (a) the ability to identify certain physiological biomarkers, behaviors, and environmental stressors that contribute to the individual’s response to a challenge; and (b) manipulate them in a targeted way with well-timed and controlled exposure to improve outcomes of a challenge to homeostasis (i.e. improve fitness with prior conditioning). Foundational understanding of natural adaptation in response to challenge reveals that some animals emerge from a challenge with greater coping abilities and others fail to thrive. By determining which animals have natural resilience and exploring the factors that created desired outcomes, scenarios can be identified to initiate resilience in susceptible animals. Such responses can then be stimulated through the development of managerial techniques. This project was conducted by reviewing published literature with the goal of identifying more refined areas of study for future research in engineered resilience in livestock species. Potential for application of this concept includes building thermal resilience, social resilience, and disease resilience.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudy Oyarzo ◽  
Ximena Valderrama ◽  
Francisca Valenzuela ◽  
Javiera Bahamonde

Recent studies have shown promise for the development of cellular therapies with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in livestock species, specifically bovines, and cryopreservation is highly relevant for the advancement of these applications. The use of permeable and/or non-permeable cryoprotectant solutions is necessary to reduce cell damage during freezing and thawing, but these same compounds can also cause negative effects on MSCs and their therapeutic properties. Another important factor to consider is the tissue source of MSCs, since it is now known that MSCs from different tissues of the same individual do not behave the same way, so optimizing the type and concentration of cryoprotectants for each cell type is essential to achieve a large and healthy population of MSCs after cryopreservation. Furthermore, sources of MSCs that could provide great quantities, non-invasively and without ethical concerns, such as placental tissue, have great potential for the development of regenerative medicine in livestock species, and have not been thoroughly evaluated. The objective of this study was to compare the viability of bovine fetal MSCs extracted from bone marrow (BM), adipose tissue (AT), and placenta (PT), following their exposure (15 and 30 min) to several solutions of permeable (dimethyl sulfoxide and ethylene glycol) and non-permeable (trehalose) cryoprotectants. Viability assays were performed with Trypan Blue to assess post-exposure plasma membrane integrity. The apoptotic potential was estimated analyzing the mRNA abundance of BAX and BCL-2 genes using quantitative rt-PCR. Based on the results of the study, BM-MSC exhibited significantly lower viability compared to AT-MSC and PT-MSC, at both 15 and 30 min of exposure to cryoprotectant solutions. Nevertheless, viability did not differ among treatments for any of the cell types or timepoints studied. BCL-2 expression was higher in BM-MSC compared to AT-MSC, however, BAX/BCL-2 ratio did not differ. In conclusion, AT-MSC and PT-MSC were more resistant that BM-MSC, which showed higher sensitivity to experimental conditions, regardless of the exposure times, and cryoprotectant solutions used in the study.


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