Tropical Animal Health and Production

Tropical Animal Health and Production is an international journal publishing the results of original research in any field of animal health, welfare, and ...

List of Papers (Total 496)

Probiotic supplementation in sustainable sheep production: impacts on health, performance, and methane mitigation

Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms conferring health benefits, are increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance animal productivity, mitigate environmental impact, and improve overall animal health. Ruminants, including sheep, are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, a key factor in climate change. Literature from 2003 to 2024 was retrieved from...

Modeling growth curves to estimate the suitable slaughter age for the ostriches (Struthio camelus)

Using an accurate growth curve to estimate the suitable age for slaughter has many benefits for ostrich farming. This study was carried out to compare eight growth curve models for estimating body weight and monthly gain of ostriches raised in tropical conditions and then suggested the suitable slaughter age for these ostriches. Two hundred eighty-two ostriches (124 males and 158...

Phenotypic and genetic analysis of milking temperament and its correlation with milk production traits in South African Holstein cattle

Milking temperament (MT) is a crucial trait in dairy production; it affects farm profitability as well as animal and human welfare. Furthermore, poor temperament may increase herd costs by compromising the state and durability of the milking system. There is, however, limited knowledge and recording of MT in South African dairy cattle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate...

Effects of using different levels of flaxseed in dairy cattle diet on production performance and milk fatty acid profile

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of using different levels of flaxseed in dairy cattle diet on performance and milk fatty acid profile. For this purpose, 9 lactating Holstein cows of the same parity and lactation stage were used. The study followed a crossover design with three periods, three treatment groups, and three cows per group. Each period lasted 21...

Interactions among factors affecting stillbirths in Egyptian buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

In buffaloes, stillbirth (SB) is a major source of reproductive and economic losses. Hence, the objectives of this study were: 1) investigating the relationship between potential risk factors (body condition score [BCS], gestation period, calving season, calf sex, and dam parity) and SB occurrence in Egyptian buffaloes; and 2) identifying blood metabolites, the redox status, and...

Socio-economic and production dynamics of Guinea fowl farming in Northern Ghana: insights into health management, challenges, and climate change impacts

Guinea fowl farming is vital to the livelihoods of rural communities in northern Ghana, yet its socio-economic and production dynamics remain underexplored, especially concerning health management and climate change. This study bridges this gap by investigating the socio-economic profiles, production practices, and health challenges of guinea fowl farmers in three towns in...

Effect of dietary heated hemp seed cake and phytase as soybean meal substitution on broiler chicken performance, carcass yield, visceral organ weight, intestinal health, and serum biochemical parameters

Hemp seed is a potential candidate to replace soybean meal dependency due to its rich protein and balanced amino acid profile content despite containing anti-nutrients. This study purposed to evaluate dietary heated hemp seed cake (HSC) and the addition of phytase as a substitution for soybean meal on broiler productive performances, carcass characteristics, visceral organ weight...

The role of Bio-C Plus in reducing the detrimental impacts of heat stress on the production and reproduction of pregnant rabbits and their young from birth to weaning

This research aimed to evaluate the detrimental impacts of heat stress and Bio-C Plus, an innovative technique to mitigate summertime heat stress, on the production and reproduction of pregnant rabbits and the growth of their offspring from birth to weaning. In two tests, a total of sixty adult, virgin New Zealand rabbits were employed in the current investigation. The first...

Insights into garlic (Allium Sativum)’s nutrigenomics-associated fly-repellent potency in cattle

Despite effective control of flies using synthetic pesticides, fly resistance and environmental contamination have led to the inadequacy of this strategy. The use of integrated pest management approaches has since been advocated in contemporary research to sustainably control fly populations. Recent studies have found garlic (Allium Sativum) and its derivative bioactive compounds...

Exploring the impact of chia seeds and matcha green tea on gene expression related to the puberty pathway in growing male New Zealand white rabbits

Abundant direct and in-direct genes are involved in regulating sexual hormones, and reproductive process under nitrite antioxidant plants in rabbit feed. However, there is not enough information about the role of chia seeds and matcha tea as anti-oxidative plants inhibit some direct and in-direct genes related to puberty of growing male rabbits. In this study New-Zealand White...

The supplementation of dietary black cumin (Nigella Sativa) seeds on performance, blood hematology, post-metabolic responses, antioxidant status, immunity, and inflammatory markers in pre-weaning calves

Pre-weaning feeding is critical for calf growth, laying the foundation for future productivity and health. Nigella sativa seeds (NS) are rich in bioactive compounds with numerous beneficial effects on health and various pharmacological properties. This study aimed to investigate the supplementation of NS powder on performance, post-metabolic attributes, immunity, antioxidant...

Implementing reduced-protein diets for broiler chickens in emerging economies: supplementation with only the first three limiting amino acids

This study evaluated the effects of reduced-protein diets supplemented with only the first three limiting amino acids (AAs); methionine, lysine, and threonine, on broiler performance, profitability, and nitrogen (N) utilization. Two hundred Cobb-500 broiler chicks were assigned to four dietary treatments in a Completely Randomized Design: a control diet and three reduced crude...

A cross-sectional study of keratoconjunctivitis among dairy cattle farms subject to Mediterranean climatic conditions

The epidemiology of bovine keratoconjunctivitis (BK) is complex and involves several conjunctival microbiota as well as host and environmental factors. Data about BK in dairy cattle are scarce, and even scarcer for dairy cattle in Mediterranean climates. We determined the BK prevalence among dairy cattle in Southern Africa’s Mediterranean climatic zone by examining 1,675 dairy...

Multivariate classification of livestock production systems in Mexico

The Mexican food production industry spans diverse agricultural and livestock products. Growing demand for animal-based products is driving significant changes in Livestock Production Systems (LPS), including shifts in location, herd sizes, and specializations. Global trade in livestock products has impacted Mexican producers’ competitiveness and natural resource demands, raising...

Creatine kinase levels, carcass, and physicochemical properties of breast meat from traditionally slaughtered village chickens

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of sex, season, and breed on creatine kinase (CK) levels, carcass, and the physicochemical properties of village chickens slaughtered using the transverse neck incision (TNI). One hundred chickens were stratified based on sex, breed, and season and were randomly assigned to different treatment groups to assess their live...

Factors affecting Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) leather quality: a systematic review

Leather from the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) is highly valued in global markets due to its durability, distinct texture, and aesthetic appeal. Despite its economic importance, the crocodile industry faces substantial challenges in maintaining the leather quality due to a variety of influencing factors. This study systematically reviews the literature that investigated...

Retinol and cholecalciferol affect buserelin-induced estrous in anestrous mares

In winter anestrous, prolonged melatonin secretion inhibits gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). However, synthetic GnRH analogues such as buserelin can stimulate follicular development. We aimed to investigate clinical relationship between retinol, cholecalciferol, and buserelin for inducing estrous in anestrous mares (Equus caballus). We used a total of twenty-one anestrous...

Evaluation of empirical and mechanistic models and sampling intervals to model the lactation curves of F1 dairy sheep

Recently Latin American countries have developed a dairy sheep industry with an increasing number of specialized dairy-sheep flocks. The objective of this study was to evaluate the goodness of fit of empirical and mechanistic models and sampling interval to model the lactation curve of F1 dairy sheep with different shape of lactation curves in an intensively managed flock of the...

Bovine Coronavirus in diarrheic pre-weaned calves in Egypt: prevalence, risk factors, and the associated biochemical alterations

Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) is a common viral enteric pathogen responsible for diarrhea in newborn calves. Despite its economic significance, there is limited research on this virus in Egypt. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of BCoV, the associated risk factors, and the biochemical changes during infection. A cross-sectional study included 196 pre-weaned diarrheic calves...

Impact of urea-molasses treated wheat straw levels in total mixed rations on growth and nutrient digestibility in Azikheli buffalo calves

This study investigates the impact of urea molasses-treated wheat straw on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in Azikheli buffalo male calves. A longitudinal experiment was conducted on sixteen calves, randomly assigned to four experimental dietary treatments (n = 4 per group). The experimental diets included a control group (U0) with untreated wheat straw and three...

Comparative analysis of Feedlot and Free-range cattle management on Botswana beef quality: a study of sustainability, post-mortem examination, and SWOT analysis

African agriculture faces triple threats of climate change, population growth and inequality, necessitating sustainability research in agriculture that comprehensively examines social, economic, environmental, and socio-political trade-offs. To examine sustainable beef production in Botswana, this study used a mixed-method approach to explore Feedlot and Free-range cattle...

Standardized body condition scoring system for tropical farm animals (large ruminants, small ruminants, and equines)

In tropical regions, subject to significant fluctuations in feedstuffs, the body condition score (BCS) is a relevant indicator for monitoring body reserves status of farm animals. However, the most used BCS grids comes from temperate conditions and still not adapted for tropical species, which limits adoption and usefulness. The current work presents for the first time an...

Evaluation of high levels of solvent extracted Camelina sativa meal in diets on performance, blood indices, cecal microorganisms, and nutrient digestibility in broilers

This study aimed to investigate the influence of utilizing high levels of solvent extracted Camelina sativa meal (Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz, Arslanbey cultivar) in broilers. A total of 270 Ross 308 male chicks were randomly distributed into five groups. Solvent extracted Camelina sativa meal was used at the levels of 0, 10, 15, 20 and 25%. The trial lasted 42 days. Significant...