Tropical Animal Science Journal

Variations in Semen Quality and Potential for Frozen Semen Production in Aceh Cattle

2025-01-23T00:47:26+07:00

The quality of fresh and frozen semen as well as the potential to produce frozen semen, vary considerably between individual animals and cattle breeds. This study aimed to analyze the quality of fresh and frozen semen in Aceh cattle and calculate the potential production of frozen semen in Aceh bulls over 1 year. This study used primary data on the quality of fresh and frozen semen from five Aceh cattle and obtained secondary data from artificial insemination centers in Lembang and Singosari in 2022. Semen samples were collected weekly, and the quality of fresh and frozen semen samples were evaluated. The data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance at 95% significance level, followed by Tukey’s test. The results revealed differences in semen volume and pH. Based on microscopic characteristics, the semen samples from different bulls exhibited no discernible differences in mass movement, sperm motility, viability, morphology, and plasma membrane integrity, except for sperm concentration and acrosomal integrity. Bull 211605 exhibited the highest sperm concentration. Furthermore, the frozen semen samples from Aceh cattle showed no significant differences in viability, plasma membrane integrity, morphology, and acrosomal integrity. The total sperm motility of bull 211710 was higher than that of the other bulls. The highest progressive motility was observed in bulls 211710 and 211605, and the highest intact DNA was detected in bulls 211710 and 211605. The results of this study demonstrated that the quality of fresh and frozen semen in Aceh cattle is distinct, and the potential frozen semen production of Aceh cattle is estimated to range from 3,382 ± 1810 to 11,399 ± 2658 straws/year.

Morphological and Molecular Diversity of Five Superior Napier Grass Cultivars in Indonesia

2025-01-23T00:47:25+07:00

This study aimed to evaluate the morphological and genetic diversity among five cultivars of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) grown in Indonesia: ‘Gama Umami’, ‘Pakchong’, ‘Odot’, ‘Purple’, and ‘Local’. A total of 20 plants per cultivar were planted in a completely randomized design with morphological parameters, nutrient content, biomass production, and molecular analysis assessed at a cutting age of 90 days. The morphological analysis revealed significant differences (p<0.05) in plant height, leaf length, and the number of tillers across the cultivars. Qualitative analysis revealed differences in leaf color and growth habits. ‘Gama Umami’ cultivar showed the highest biomass yield, with significantly (p<0.05) higher crude protein and dry matter content than the other cultivars. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using nine primers on the five Napier grass cultivars demonstrated diverse band patterns, resulting in a percentage of polymorphic bands (PBP) ranging from 60% to 100%. The dendrogram derived from the RAPD data clustered the cultivars into two main groups, with ‘Gama Umami’ and ‘Local’ showing a high similarity coefficient of 0.73, while ‘Purple’ and ‘Pakchong’ formed a distinct sub-cluster with a similarity coefficient of 0.66, and ‘Odot’ exhibited a similarity coefficient of 0.58 with the ‘Purple’ and ‘Pakchong’ sub-cluster. This study revealed significant genetic and morphological diversity among five Napier grass cultivars, with 'Gama Umami' demonstrating superior morphological traits, nutrient content, and biomass production. These findings highlight the potential of integrating molecular and morphological analyses to support breeding programs for improving forage quality and productivity.

Production Performance, Meat Quality, and Lipid Profile of Broiler Duck Fed Diets Containing Selenium-Rich Hermentia illucens Larval

2025-01-23T00:47:25+07:00

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of Se-enriched Hermetia illucens larvae meal (Se-BSFL) on the production performance, meat quality, and lipid profile of broiler ducks. A total of 250 one-day-old, unsexed hybrid broiler ducklings were randomly allocated into five dietary treatment groups, each with five replications of 10 ducklings, namely a control diet (T1), and control with added 5% (T2), 7.5% (T3), and 10% (T4) Se-BSFL, and a positive control diet with 10 mg/kg Se-Yeast (T5) for 42-days. Feed intake and body weight were measured on a weekly basis. At the end of the trial, one bird was selected from each replicate and sacrificed to determine carcass composition and blood serum profiles. The results indicated that dietary supplementation of 5% Se-BSFL resulted in higher final body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and lower feed conversion ratio than the Se-yeast supplemented diet. Supplementation of Se-BSFL at 5% to 10% significantly affected (p<0.05) high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol, and triglyceride compared to those of T1 and T5. Supplementation with 5% and 7.5% Se-BSFL (p<0.05) has higher levels of monounsaturated fatty acids in comparison to T1 and T5. Moreover, the supplementation of Se-BSFL did not influence the physical quality of the meat. In conclusion, feeding Se-BSF at 5% is recommended in diets as it does not negatively affect production performance and carcass traits. These findings suggest that the inclusion of Se-BSFL in broiler duck diets enhances their fatty acid and serum lipid profiles, indicating potential benefits from the use of Se-BSFL as a feed component in poultry production.

Improving Meat Quality and Reducing Breast of Myopathies in Broiler Chickens Subjected to Cyclic Heat Stress by Supplementing of Chromium-Methionine

2025-02-06T23:01:55+07:00

Chromium-methionine (CrMet) provides essential nutrients and bioactive compounds that may enhance meat quality and reduce stress-related issues in broiler chicken. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chromium-methionine on carcass yield, relative weights of the liver and fat pad, incidence and severity of myopathies, muscle color quantification, water-holding capacity, cooking loss, shear force, lipid peroxidation in breast muscle, and composition of breast meat in broiler chickens subjected to cyclic heat stress. A total of 1,000 one-day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chickens were divided into 10 replicate pens with 20 birds each, following a completely randomized design with five doses of dietary treatments (0; 0.25; 0.50; 1.0; and 2.0 mg CrMet kg-1 diet). Experimental broiler chickens were kept in thermoneutral conditions for 21 days, then subjected to cyclic heat stress (31.1 °C and 60.2% humidity) from 09:00 am to 03:00 pm until 42 days of age. Statistical analysis included Tukey’s test and regression analysis. Myopathy scores were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn’s test, all at a significant level of 5%. Inclusion of 0.50 and 1.0 mg CrMet reduced woody breast severity scores. At 15 minutes postmortem, birds fed 0.50 mg CrMet had less redness (a*) than controls and birds fed 2.0 mg CrMet; birds fed 2.0 mg CrMet had lower lightness (L*) than those fed 0.25 and 1.0 mg CrMet. Lipid peroxidation was lower in birds fed 0.50 mg CrMet at 60 days compared to control. Crude fat was lower in birds fed 1.0 mg CrMet. Chromium-methionine supplementation at 0.50 and 1.0 mg/kg diet improved meat quality and reduced woody breast in broiler chickens.

Optimizing Methane Production from Anaerobic Digestion of Dairy Cow Manure: The Potential Use of Carica (Carica pubescens) Seeds as a Co-Substrate

2025-01-23T00:47:24+07:00

A method to increase methane production in dairy cow manure (DCM) is to co-digest DCM with nutritious biomass. This study aimed to determine the methane yield during the anaerobic co-digestion of DCM and carica seeds meal (CSM). Four continuous stirred tank reactors were operated with treatments P0 (100% DCM), P1 (98% DCM and 2% CSM), P2 (96% DCM and 4% CSM), and P3 (94% DCM and 6% CSM). The results demonstrated that the presence of CSM as a co-substrate of DCM significantly increased (p<0.05) methane production. The average methane production resulting from P0, P1, P2, and P3 in units of mL/g substrate and mL/g volatile solid (VS)added were 10.05, 20.54, 32.26, and 19.29 mL/g substrate and 171.49, 278.96, 357.92 and 179.30 mL/g VSadded, respectively. Thus, the highest methane production was obtained at P2. Treatment P3 contained a substrate containing excessively high protein and organic content, negatively affecting anaerobic microorganisms’ activity. The presence of CSM as a co-substrate enhanced methane production by 91.94%–221.06% compared with the control. The presence of CSM as a co-substrate significantly increased (p<0.05) volatile fatty acid and total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentrations and the pH of digested slurries but did not affect VS reduction. The co-digestion of DCM and CSM must consider the proportion of organic material in the mixed substrate. In this study, the mixed substrate with a VS proportion of 51.68% was the best-mixed substrate.

Isolation and Characterization of the Microbiological and Physicochemical Qualities, the Protein and Amino Acid Profiles of Fermented Chicken and Duck Egg Ovalbumin

2025-01-23T00:47:23+07:00

The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize the microbiological and physicochemical qualities, and the protein and amino acid profiles of fermented chicken and duck egg ovalbumin (OVA). The OVA was fermented using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Lactobacillus paracasei M104 taken from goat milk and yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus KFA9 obtained from kefir. The OVA and fermented OVA were characterized by analyzing its electrophoresis and spectral profile on FTIR, amino acid profile, and microbiological and physicochemical properties. The findings indicated that the chicken and duck OVA showed a molecular weight between 45-55 kDa. The amount of LAB in OVA before and after fermentation was not significantly different. However, the amount of yeast decreased after fermentation. The concentrations of soluble protein, total free amino acids, and alcohol in the fermented chicken OVA were higher than those in fermented duck OVA. The OVA of chicken and duck eggs showed a comparable pattern in specific bands within the FTIR spectrum. However, there were several different bands in the FTIR spectra between OVA and fermented OVA. Specific carbohydrate-containing bands were notably absent in the fermented OVA. After fermentation, the chicken OVA indicated an increase in all types of amino acid concentrations. Conversely, the amino acid concentrations were constant before and after fermentation in duck OVA. The changes in the secondary structure of protein may affect its functional characteristics, which needs further studies. It is expected that fermented OVA produced using local starters can be used as an ingredient in functional foods.

Carcass Traits, Physicochemical Characteristics, Fatty Acid, and Protein Profile of Khiew Phalee, Pradu Hang Dam and Broiler Chicken Meat

2025-01-23T00:47:23+07:00

This study investigated the carcass traits, physicochemical characteristics, fatty acid profile and protein profile of male Khiew-Phalee native (KP), Pradu Hang Dam (PHD), and commercial broiler chickens (CBR). All samples were collected from farms in Uttaradit province and determined the carcass traits and physicochemical characteristics, including proximate composition, pH, meat color, shear force, drip loss, cooking loss, and also analyzed the fatty acid profile, purine content, and protein profile. The results showed that carcass traits such as live weight, carcass weight, and cutting percentage showed a highly significant decrease (p<0.01) in KP and PHD, except for the percentage of thigh, drumstick, and meat quality traits. There were highly significant differences in chemical composition, including moisture, protein, fat, ash and gross energy, lipid content, pH values, color values, drip loss, cooking loss, and shear force among the chicken breeds (p<0.01). The fatty acids significantly decreased in myristic acid, myristoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and erucic acid in KP and PHD. Protein profile analysis found three different protein bands based on SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS analysis between three different chicken breeds, including 70 kDa proteins (heat shock 70 kDa and albumin OS) and 110 kDa protein (pyruvate kinase PKM) in KP and PHD with higher intensity than CBR. The cholesterol, purine, and uric acid of breast chicken meat were not affected by breed. Importantly, KP and PHD Thai native chickens possess lower amounts of unhealthy fatty acids, which positively affect the consumer and are anticipated to reduce the risk of many cardiovascular diseases.

Emulsion-Type Chicken Sausage Quality with Fat Substitution by Rice Starches during Freeze-Thaw Cycles

2025-01-23T00:47:22+07:00

The potential of rice starch types was explored to mimic the fat and improve the stability of chicken sausage during multiple freeze-thaw (F-T) cycles. This study investigated the effect of partial fat replacement with non-waxy and waxy rice starch on the physical properties of chicken sausage during multiple F-T cycles. Sausages were manufactured using eight different formulas (standard fat, reduced-fat, and reduced-fat with both starches at addition levels of 3%, 6%, and 9%). Emulsion stability, cooking loss, color, and texture profile were analyzed as initial qualities. Sausages were stored at -18 oC for seven days and thawed at 4 oC for 17 h for each of three F-T cycles, then thawing loss and texture were evaluated. The result showed that the incorporation of non-waxy and waxy rice starch up to 9% increased the emulsion stability, lightness (L*), and the value of hardness, gumminess, and chewiness of chicken sausage (p<0.05). Multiple F-T cycles lead to mechanical damage and quality deterioration, including water-holding capacity loss and textural change. The thawing loss value of all treatments significantly increased during the F-T cycle. Utilization of waxy rice starch 3% in low-fat chicken sausage exhibited optimum physical properties and minimum thawing loss and texture change during multiple F-T cycles.

Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli Isolated from Ground Beef in Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo, Mexico

2025-01-23T00:47:21+07:00

The various pathotypes of Escherichia coli cause gastrointestinal infections and diarrhea in humans. Cattle have been reported as reservoirs of different strains of pathogenic E. coli, where the origin of animal-human transmission is usually based on the food chain. Therefore, the study of different food matrices plays an important role, especially in foods of high demand and consumption worldwide, such as beef and beef products. The present study determined the antimicrobial resistance profile of E. coli in ground beef marketed in the municipality of Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo, Mexico. In the present study, 10 ground beef samples were collected. The isolated strains were identified by traditional means and molecular by the 16S rRNA gene, the antibiotic sensitivity profile was identified by the Kirby-Bauer method and genotypic identification was performed for the type 1 integrase gene. All strains showed multidrug resistance to different classes of antimicrobials, and the resistance profile yielded a MAR index of 0.64. Of the 13 isolates, 6 (45.15%) were amplified in the presence of the type 1 integrase gene. This cross-sectional study showed a high prevalence of multidrug resistant E. coli recovered from ground beef. In addition, the bacterial resistance profile showed that all the isolated strains were resistant to antibiotics of the β-lactam family, while some antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones, are highly sensitive drugs for the treatment of possible E. coli infections in the area studied.

Evaluating Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccination Services through Assessment of Beef Cattle Farmers’ Satisfaction in Sleman Regency

2025-01-23T00:47:21+07:00

The study aimed to evaluate the satisfaction of beef cattle farmers towards Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination services in Sleman Regency. A survey method was employed, involving 120 farmers who participated in the FMD vaccination program. Beef cattle farmers’ satisfaction levels were assessed using the Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) method, which revealed that 82.25% of farmers were highly satisfied with various indicators of the vaccination services. To identify areas for improvement, the Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) was utilized. The IPA highlighted several attributes as top priorities for performance enhancement, including: The priority indicators for performance improvement include service procedures that are easy to understand, vaccination officers not discriminating based on farm location, the handling skills of the officers, and the application of biosecurity measures according to procedures. Beef cattle farmers’ perceptions of the benefits of the vaccination program were 83.8%, indicating a rating of ‘very good’. These insights offer a foundation for policymakers to optimize FMD vaccination services, increase beef cattle farmers’ satisfaction, and promote livestock health.

Front-matter

2025-01-23T00:47:27+07:00

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5398/tasj.2025.48.1.fm.i

Back-matter

2025-01-23T00:47:27+07:00

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5398/tasj.2025.48.1.bm.vi