Taiwan Livestock Research Institute

In the published article, an error was identified in Sections 2.3.1 (Pregnancy rate, %) and 2.3.2 (Kidding rate, %), where the procedure was mistakenly described as "laparoscopic artificial insemination." The insemination procedure used in this study was artificial insemination, not laparoscopic artificial insemination. This sentence previously stated:Pregnancy was determined 45 days after laparoscopic AI by transrectal ultrasonography with an ultrasound scanner (Aloka SSD-500, Japan) and a transrectal linear probe (3.5 MHz). Pregnancy was diagnosed by recognition of uterine horn shapes and images of fetuses.The proportion of does conceived around 150 ± 7 days post-laparoscopic artificial insemination.The corrected sentence appears below:Pregnancy was determined 45 days after artificial insemination by transrectal ultrasonography with an ultrasound scanner (Aloka SSD-500, Japan) and a transrectal linear probe (3.5 MHz). Pregnancy was diagnosed by recognition of uterine horn shapes and images of fetuses.The proportion of does conceived around 150 ± 7 days post artificial insemination.

An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of system of rearing (pasture-fed vs. stall-fed) on the growth performance in Tellicherry crossbred goats. A six-month feeding trial was carried out in Livestock Farm Complex, Madhavaram Milk Colony, Chennai-51. Eighteen goats between the age of 6-8 months were randomly divided into two groups (pasture fed and stall fed). Pasture fed goats were allowed to graze in cultivated pasture for 7 hours per day, whereas stall fed goats fed with ad libitum hybrid Napier grass and concentrate feed fed at rate of 1.5% of body weight. Nutritive value of cultivated pasture, hybrid Napier grass and concentrate feed were analyzed. Body weight of the goats was recorded fortnightly. Feed intake and Feed conversion ratio was recorded and calculated respectively. Blood parameters at the end of the trial were analyzed. The results indicated that stall fed group goats had significantly (P<0.05) higher final body weight and weight gain when compare to pasture fed goats. Significantly (P<0.05) higher dry matter intake noticed in stall fed group. The Stall-fed group goats had significantly higher (P<0.05) RBC, HGB and PCV/HCT levels when compare to pasture fed goats. Haematological improvements link to balanced minerals in formulated feeds. Cost per kg live weight gain was higher in stall fed goats. Based on the present findings, quality pasture plays a major role in economic and sustainable goat production. Hence, pasture system of goat rearing may be recommended for Tellicherry crossbred goats.

The Lanyu pig, a genetically unique miniature breed native to Taiwan, represents a valuable yet under-characterised large-animal model in biomedical research. Here, we present a detailed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT)-based anatomical atlas of male and female Lanyu pigs at 5-6 months of age. MRI effectively visualised brain, reproductive and abdominal structures, with T1-weighted images providing sharp anatomical boundaries and T2-weighted images enhancing cerebrospinal fluid and soft-tissue contrast. CT provided high-resolution visualisation of skeletal and cardiovascular anatomy, including vascular imaging and 3D reconstructions. Quantitative MRI analyses revealed sex-specific differences in brain and cerebellar morphology, with females showing smaller brain, cerebellar and hemisphere widths but greater cerebellar length compared to males. Long bone measurements exhibited significant age × sex-dependent interactions, with females demonstrating earlier skeletal elongation and males showing a delayed growth surge. Myocardial thickness, however, displayed sex-specific patterns independent of age, with thicker left ventricular walls and interventricular septa in males. Comparative morphometric data from other miniature pig breeds highlight the distinctive developmental profile of Lanyu pigs and underscore their potential as a complementary model. The integration of surface scanning with vascular CT further extends applications to surgical planning and comparative vascular analysis. Beyond its descriptive value, this open-access dataset provides a reusable anatomical resource that supports functional anatomical interpretation, stereotactic procedures and ethical animal use under the 3Rs framework. Collectively, this atlas fills a critical gap in swine anatomy and supports the translational value of Lanyu pigs in biomedical and surgical studies.

ObjectiveThe purpose of the study was to investigate the liability heritability of incidence of angel wing (LHIAW) on growth and egg production performance.MethodsA total of 1,696 geese including 990 offspring from the heavy body weight line (selecting for 6 generations) and 775 offspring from the high egg production line (selecting for 3 generations), and 69 birds of their parent group of the two lines were observed of incidence of angel wing (IAW).ResultsIn the heavy body weight line of the White Roman geese, the IAW was 54.6%. Among 294 progenies from families, the IAW was 65.6%. The estimated LHIAW for this line was 0.39. In the high egg production line of the White Roman geese, the IAW was 42.3%. Among 124 progenies from families, the IAW was 43.5%. The estimated LHIAW for this line was 0.03. The both-side angel wing type of geese was significantly heavier on body weight than those of normal wing type and right angel wing type at 8 weeks old (4.19 vs 4.07 and 4.07 kg/bird; p = 0.0116) in the heavy body weight line. The normal wing type of geese was significantly heavier on body weight than those of left angel wing type at 14 weeks old (4.86 vs 4.69 kg/bird; p = 0.0213) in the high egg production line.ConclusionThe LHIAW in the heavy body weight line and the high egg production line were separately estimated as 0.39 and 0.03, respectively. The results imply that selection for heavy body weight may concomitantly select the gene of angel wings.

Ensuring boar sperm quality before insemination is crucial for maximizing field fertility and efficient pig production. The computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and fluorescence probes combined with flow cytometry (FC) are commonly used techniques for evaluating sperm kinematics and functions, closely related to animal fertility. However, their high cost and complex operations make it challenging to apply them in laboratories or pig breeding farms with limited resources. Here, our aim was to develop a new protocol using a resazurin redox dye to assess boar sperm quality for practical application. We first created simulated semen samples with different levels of sperm quality (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100%) at concentrations of 300 and 150 × 106 cells/mL. Subsequently, the simulated semen was used to establish an optimal standard protocol based on the results of the resazurin colorimetric assay. Finally, the condition that showed the strongest correlation between resazurin redox rate and sperm parameters was selected to perform a linear regression test. Two optimal working conditions were identified, involved incubating 10 µL of resazurin reagent with 100 µL of semen for either 20 or 40 min, depending on the sperm concentration of either 300 or 150 × 106 cells/mL. We subsequently conducted a linear regression analysis using data that included the resazurin reaction rate and measurements of sperm parameters. Finally, we obtained two sets of five equations, allowing directly convert the absorbance of the resazurin assay into values for sperm quality parameters. These parameters include total motility, progressive motility, viability, acrosome integrity, and mitochondrial activity. This new protocol is valuable for sperm evaluation because it is cost-effective, time-efficient, and labor-saving.

The success of semen cryopreservation relies on several aspects, including breed, age, season, collection method, extender composition, cooling rate, equilibration period, freezing rate, and thawing rate. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cooling and equilibration duration, as well as the addition of antioxidants to the semen extender, on the cryopreservation of swamp buffalo semen. Semen collected from swamp buffalo bulls was subjected to four different conditions: (T1) 2-h cooling and 2-h equilibration, (T2) 1.5-h cooling and 1.5-h equilibration, (T3) 1-h cooling and 1-h equilibration, and (T4) 0.5-h cooling and 0.5-h equilibration. Spermatozoa motility was evaluated using a computer-assisted semen analyzer. Moreover, this study also investigated the effect of antioxidant supplementation during cryopreservation using tris-citrate egg yolk extenders enriched with various antioxidants: Control (Con), 1 mM melatonin (ML), 0.5 mM gamma-oryzanol (GO), 10 μM canthaxanthin (CX), 1 mM melatonin + 0.5 mM gamma-oryzanol (ML + GO), and 1 mM melatonin + 10 μM canthaxanthin (ML + CX). Results showed that the (T1) 2-h cooling and 2-h equilibration and (T2) 1.5-h cooling and 1.5-h equilibration groups achieved higher progressive motility than the (T3) 1-h cooling and 1-h equilibration and (T4) 0.5-h cooling and 0.5-h equilibration groups. The ML-treated group exhibited superior progressive motility and total motility. The optimal approach for cryopreserving swamp buffalo bull semen involves a 1.5-h cooling period followed by a 1.5-h equilibration period, with the incorporation of ML into the semen extender.