Ruminants, Volume 2, Issue 1 (March 2022) – 9 articles

Cattle farming is an ancient practice, with roots in the early Neolithic era that has retained a major status in the food industry, with global beef market revenue amounting to $385.7B (as of 2018). Hence, cattle maintenance is essential for catering to the nutritional requirements of modern civilization. This extensive review aims to provide a holistic overview of the cattle microbiome, analyzing the native microbial composition within the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive tract, and skin of cattle. The dysbiosis associated with various diseases such as bovine respiratory disease, bovine digital dermatitis, mastitis, Johne’s disease, uterine diseases (metritis and endometritis), and metabolic disorders (ruminal acidosis and ketosis) have been discussed. Moreover, various non-antibiotic microbial therapies including phage therapy, prebiotics, and probiotics have been examined as potential means to reduce disease-associated dysbiosis. In general, this review highlights the importance of the microbiome in the maintenance of health in cattle and its potential in alleviating bovine diseases, with an aim to enhance cattle health and production. Full article

With increasing global demand for animal protein, it is very important to investigate the impact of the bovine rumen microbiome on its functional traits. In order to acquire accurate and reproducible data for this type of study, it is important to understand what factors can affect the results of microbial community analysis, and where biases can occur. This study shows the impact of different DNA extraction methods on microbial community composition. Five DNA extraction methods were used on a ruminal sample. These experiments expose a high level of variability between extraction methods in relation to the microbial communities observed. As direct access to the rumen is required, we also investigated possible alternative sampling sites that could be utilised as non-invasive indicators of the bovine rumen microbiome. Therefore, oral swabs and faecal samples were taken in addition to ruminal samples, and DNA was extracted using a single method, reducing bias, and analysed. This is a small pilot study intending to reinforce the need for a universally used methodology for rumen microbiome analysis. Although alternative sampling points can indicate some of the communities present in the rumen, this must be approached cautiously, as there are limits to the depth of community analysis possible without direct rumen sampling. Full article

Growth rates associated with different artificial rearing systems have been thoroughly examined in many species. However, the effect of different rearing systems on bone morphology has not been described. The objective of this study was to examine differences in the bone mass and the relationship of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) measures of bone with muscle area of ewe-reared lambs and artificially reared lambs. Lambs were opportunistically collected from a concurrent trial examining changes in ewe mammary glands during lactation. Thirteen lambs were artificially reared while the remaining nine were left on their dam. Measures of stature were taken throughout the six-week trial period. At approximately six weeks of age, the lambs were euthanized and the tibia was collected and scanned using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Artificially reared lambs had reduced live weight gain and an altered pattern of stature growth. There was no effect of treatment on bone morphology (p > 0.05), but ewe reared lambs had a greater cortical bone content to muscle area ratio than artificially reared lambs (0.06 vs. 0.15, respectively). Differences in growth between ewe reared lambs and artificially reared lambs emphasizes the importance of adequate preweaning nutrition for livestock production systems that routinely use artificial rearing systems. Full article

This review provides insight on potential host-specific factors that increase individual susceptibility to infection and transmission of bovine digital dermatitis. Digital dermatitis is increasing in prevalence within herds worldwide and yields economic losses for producers and welfare issues for animals. A total of 34 relevant studies were reviewed based on the inclusion criteria. A decrease in susceptibility to disease was found in animals with specific genomic and hoof characteristics, thus citing the importance of sire selection when designing a breeding program. Animals with superior health status that lacked co-morbidities and mounted immune responses to infection were less likely to develop disease. Primiparous cattle and those in peak production were more likely to develop lesions, as were over-or-under-conditioned Holstein–Friesian breeds. Cattle with superior hoof conformation and gait were poor hosts for bacteria and therefore less likely to develop and spread infection. The lowest risk of transmission of digital dermatitis occurred during the dry period and post peak lactation and cattle with advanced lesions contributed to the persistence of the disease within a herd. It is hoped that this review will help producers design breeding and management programs for their herds, and help veterinarians advise clients on the subject. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feeding behaviour of indigenous goats and the selection drivers of different plant species in a Mediterranean forest rangeland. To achieve this goal, the seasonal variations in terms of forage availability and quality of ingested plant species were studied during three grazing seasons. In the same period, eight indigenous goats of Beni Arouss breed were selected to explore the seasonal changes in their browsing behaviour. Forage quality was determined by the hand-plucking technique. The results showed a wide seasonal variation in forage availability and quality, and feeding behaviour. Woody species were more selected independently of the season (p < 0.001). The crude protein content varied from 53.3 g/kg of dry mater (DM) for Erica arborea in summer to 197 g/kg DM for Calicotome villosa in autumn (p < 0.001). Despite the high condensed tannins content in selected shrubs, they were highly consumed. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) had recorded the highest contents in herbaceous during spring. Shrubs and trees contain the lowest levels of IVOMD (<500 g/kg) and ME (<7.2 MJ/kg) during autumn and summer. It is concluded that seasonal changes in forage availability and quality did not necessarily affect the indigenous goats’ preference. These findings could help goat herders to develop feeding and grazing systems while increasing the performance of goats in the Mediterranean silvopastoral system. Full article

Preventing the spread of diseases between and within farms (biosecurity) is essential for minimizing animal mortality and morbidity, as well as for reducing the risk of spread of zoonotic diseases. These effects are even greater in countries such as Iran, which have to deal with multiple ongoing epidemics of infectious disease. However, there is currently no published information about biosecurity practices on sheep and goat farms in Iran in published research. The aim of this study was to collect such information and to identify some of the factors affecting biosecurity practices. Data were gathered using a checklist and in-depth interviews with 99 nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists. Regression analysis was used to identify the relationships between the collected variables and the biosecurity scores. The results showed that neither within- nor between-farm disease prevention measures were appropriately applied on most farms (median total score of total biosecurity was 37.3/90; Q1 = 29.0 and Q3 = 44.7). Almost all the farmers reported slaughtering animals on farms and nobody properly disposed of the bodies of the dead animals. Additionally, the majority of the participants did not disinfect the umbilical cords of newborns. Of the collected variables, the annual mortality rate was associated with most within-farm biosecurity practices. The increase in annual mortality rates was associated with the regular cleaning of troughs (p = 0.03), preventing feed and water from being contaminated by urine and feces (p = 0.02), providing a clean and dry place for animals to rest (p = 0.05) and disinfecting the navel cord (p = 0.03). The results of this survey suggest that there is a clear need for extension programs to enhance Iranian and sheep and goat farmers’ perceptions and practices regarding biosecurity measures. Full article

While the COVID-19 pandemic and associated government responses have had a substantial impact on consumers and meat supply chains worldwide, the effect on beef and sheep farming has been surprisingly small, short-lived and largely offset by other global influences. However, the impact has also varied greatly between countries and regions, largely due to differences in Government measures and in industry circumstances and influences. This study aims to provide insights into the pandemic’s impacts throughout global beef and sheep supply chains, but with a focus on the farm level, particularly producer prices in 2020. At the centre of the study is an analysis of online questionnaire-based survey responses to the Global agri benchmark Beef and Sheep Network. The study also utilizes a variety of other studies and information sources to explore other potential factors that could have also driven beef and sheep sectors worldwide in 2020. It explores how these influences interacted with the effect of the pandemic. Food service sales were highly impacted by the pandemic, meat processing was temporarily disrupted in North America but global livestock prices remained high due, in large part, to the continuation of strong beef and sheep meat demand and imports in China. Full article

Increased efficiency of nutrient utilization can potentially be gained with increased starch digestion in the small intestine in ruminants. However, ruminants have quantitative limits in the extent of starch disappearance in the small intestine. The objective is to explore the nutritional and physiological constraints that contribute to limitations of carbohydrate assimilation in the ruminant small intestine. Altered digesta composition and passage rate in the small intestine, insufficient pancreatic α-amylase and/or small intestinal carbohydrase activity, and reduced glucose absorption could all be potentially limiting factors of intestinal starch assimilation. The absence of intestinal sucrase activity in ruminants may be related to quantitative limits in small intestinal starch hydrolysis. Multiple sequence alignment of the sucrase-isomaltase complex gives insight into potential molecular mechanisms that may be associated with the absence of intestinal sucrase activity, reduced capacity for intestinal starch digestion, and limitations in the efficiency of feed utilization in cattle and sheep. Future research efforts in these areas will aid in our understanding of small intestinal starch digestion and glucose absorption to optimize feeding strategies for increased meat and milk production efficiency. Full article