Prevalence and Novel Genotypes Identification of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Dairy Cattle in Yunnan Province, China

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a fungus-like protist parasite that can cause diarrhea and enteric diseases. The infection of E. bieneusi has been reported in many host species, including cattle and humans. However, information on prevalence and genotype distribution of E. bieneusi in dairy cattle in Yunnan province in China is still absent. In this study, 490 Holstein Cows and 351 dairy buffalo fecal samples were collected from three regions in Yunnan province, China. By using nest-PCR that targets the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), we found that the prevalence of E. bieneusi was 0.59% (5/841). DNA sequence analysis showed that five E. bieneusi genotypes were identified in this study, including two novel genotypes, YNDCEB-90 and YNDCEB-174, and three known genotypes (I, J, BEB4). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that two novel genotypes, YNDCEB-90 and YNDCEB-174, were clustered into Group 1, representing the zoonotic potential. The remaining genotypes I, J, and BEB4, which are the most frequent genotypes of E. bieneusi infection in cattle and lead to E. bieneusi infection in humans, belonged to Group 2. Although the lower prevalence of E. bieneusi was detected in dairy cattle in Yunnan province, it indicates that dairy cattle should be considered to be one of the potential hosts for transmitting E. bieneusi to humans. These findings are important for the development of effective prevention strategies for microsporidiosis.

Dairy Buffalo Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Affected by a Management Choice: The Production of Wheat Crop

Life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed in dairy buffalo farms representative of Southern Italian farming systems, similar due to several characteristics, with the exception of wheat production. This work evaluated the impacts derived from this management choice, comparing farms with wheat crop (WWC) or not (NWC). In agreement with the literature, economic allocation was chosen as a useful strategy to attribute equivalents to by-products, i.e., culled animals; the same criterion was also adopted to assign pollutants to wheat grain, limited to WWC farms. Environmental impacts in terms of Global Warming Potential (GWP, kg CO2 eq), Acidification Potential (AC, g SO2 eq), Eutrophication Potential (EU, g PO43-eq), Agricultural Land Occupation (ALO, m2y) and Water Depletion (WD, m3) were estimated. The production of wheat crop significantly affected (p < 0.05) the Agricultural Land Occupation (ALO) category as WWC farms need adequate land. WWC farms could allow a significant reduction in eutrophication (EU) compared to NWC farms (p < 0.05).

Dairy Buffalo Production and Management Systems in Haor Areas of Sylhet in Bangladesh

The aim of the study was to describe the scenario of the present condition of production and management system of dairy buffalo at Haor areas of Sylhet in Bangladesh. Data were collected between February 2019 and January 2020. Sixty dairy farmers and thirty indigenous dairy buffaloes were selected for the study purpose. All respondent farmers were male and 65% were in between 40 to 50 years of age. Parity number had a significant relation in response of body weight. Quality analysis of milk showed that buffaloes which were reared at Haor areas have more fat content on an average 7.88% than buffaloes which were reared conventional dairy farm containing 7.34%. Price of buffalo’s milk and meat were varied with the seasonal changes, lower in winter season. All farmers fed the buffaloes only with green grass in winter. Four major diseases of buffaloes were found in Haor areas where the percentage of foot and mouth diseases was 15.59% followed by black quarter (11.01%), anthrax (7.34%) and hemorrhagic septicemia (6.42%). The buffaloes were not dewormed so parasitic infestations dramatically increased and easily transferred from one to another. The farmers had not enough knowledge about regular vaccination. But in contrast with profitability, total benefit cost ratio from buffalo rearing was 1:1.56 annually.

Advances and Perspectives in Research on Buffalo Milk Production and Mozzarella Cheese

Objective: To conduct a bibliographic review of the inventory and distribution of the buffalo herd, leading dairy buffalo breeds, and to map the main research topics for dairy buffaloes, emphasizing feeding methods and their effects on milk and mozzarella cheese quality.Design/Methodology/Approach: Analysis of the main research topics on dairy buffalo, through a wide review of specialized journals.Results: The production and processing of buffalo milk has gained relevance in recent years along different latitudes thanks to its nutritional qualities and the international regard for products such as mozzarella cheese. The main studies are carried out in Asia, Italy, and Brazil, emphasizing that diets are a determining factor in yield and quality of milk and its derivatives, but that genetics, environment, and animal managementare what in the end model these characteristics.Study Limitations/Implications: To conduct further research on dairy buffalo, especially in Mexico, where it has important development opportunities.Findings/Conclusions: The bibliographic body of work presents practical restrictions, advances are recognized, and also the need to further research topics such as reproduction and animal welfare, management and valuation of buffalo milk and its derivatives, with the opportunity to explore organic production.

Rigor development and meat quality of Murrah buffalo from different production systems

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rigor mortis development and its effects on striploins quality of Murrah buffalos from meat (males) and dairy (females) productions. The rigor was monitored during carcass chilling (up to 22 h postmortem) and the meat physicochemical traits was accessed after 72 h postmortem. Glycolytic rate, measured by decreasing pH and glycogen content, was higher (p < 0.05) in female than in male buffalo, leading to a different onset rigor time (5-6 h and 9-10 h, respectively). Male meat had (p < 0.05) lower fat (1.41 vs 3.58%) and insoluble collagen (1.18 vs 1.58 mg g-1) contents, but higher soluble collagen content (5.16 vs 20.38%), sarcomere length (1.65 vs 1.84 µm), myofibrillar fragmentation (334 vs 295) and shear force (39.38 vs 25.92 N) than females. These results suggest that dairy buffalo meat is more tender and can be used on the market as high-quality meat such as from buffalo raised to meat production.