Vet Sci
August 2025
This study evaluated the effects of dietary cannabidiol (CBD) supplementation on behavior, blood parameters, oxidative status, metabolomic profile, and the fatty acid composition of meat and liver in rabbits. A total of 42 New Zealand White × California rabbits (60 days old; 1:1 sex ratio; average weight 1621.3 ± 46.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Canine obesity is a common disorder accompanied by a low-grade chronic inflammation and is considered a risk factor for liver and heart diseases. The present study aimed to investigate whether an olive oil-derivative enriched in N-acylethanolamines (Olaliamid, OLA) may protect dogs against obesity-induced comorbidities.
Results: Twenty-seven dogs of mixed breed and size with a body condition score ≥ 7/9 were included in the trial, once provided they were otherwise healthy.
The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of two dietary regimens, characterized by different forage-to-concentrate ratios, on feed intake, milk yield and composition, as well as economic and environmental sustainability in lactating buffalo cows. Group H was fed a high-forage diet, while Group L was fed a diet with a lower forage-to-concentrate ratio. Despite a lower energy value (Unit for Feed Lactation: UFL 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObesity is a condition of chronic low-grade inflammation affecting peripheral organs of the body, as well as the central nervous system. The adipose tissue dysfunction occurring under conditions of obesity is a key factor in the onset and progression of a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. Mitochondria, key organelles in the production of cellular energy, play an important role in this tissue dysfunction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) is an annual plant belonging to the family of Apiaceae, widely used in Mediterranean areas for its aromatic and medical properties, especially for carminative, digestive and galactagogue effects. In this trial, 20 multiparous goats homogeneous for body weight (BW: 50.0 ± 2 kg), parity (3rd) and milk yield (1940 ± 120 g/head/day), were randomly allocated into two groups (C: control; F: fennel) fed on a permanent pasture (9:00 am to 4:00 pm).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBotanical and herbal supplements contain diverse compounds that support health and prevent disease by influencing biological pathways. In ruminant nutrition, such supplements are rarely used as most integrations focus on production improvements using synthetic additives. This review explores the potential of Mediterranean herbs, namely, garlic, oregano, and rosemary, in dairy ruminant diets, emphasizing their effects on milk production, antioxidant activity, weaning management, in vitro studies, and economic impacts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnimals (Basel)
January 2025
Hemp ( L.) is a versatile and multipurpose crop with a wide range of industrial, commercial, environmental and medicinal applications. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hemp hay on the oxidative and inflammatory status of grazing goats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwenty-one adult crossbreed dogs with chronic pain due to severe osteoarthrosis were enrolled in the study (placebo vs. treatment groups). The dogs in the experimental group received the dietary supplement (Pain Relief, Giantec, Isernia, Italy) for 30 days to evaluate its effects on metabolism and pain relief.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of the trial was to evaluate the influence of diet supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae on nutrient digestibility and milk and mozzarella cheese yield in buffalo cows during the transition period. Twenty buffalo cows in the last month of pregnancy were equally divided into two groups (control, C, and treated, T) homogeneous for parity and milk yield at the previous lactation. The diet of group T was supplemented with 100 g/head/day of a product containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc 47- CNCM I-4407) for 4 weeks before and after calving.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present research aimed to evaluate the effects of the continuative dietary administration of a hemp oil extract containing cannabinoids (cannabidiol, CBD) on the macroscopic morphology, morphometry, and enzymatic activity of different intestinal tracts as well as on the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the cecum of growing rabbits. The research was performed on 16 rabbits randomly selected from 2 experimental groups (8 per group). In detail, 42 sixty-day-old New Zealand White × California rabbits (sex ratio 1:1, average weight 1621.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHemp ( L.) is a cosmopolitan annual herbaceous plant used in the past as a source of textile fiber. Currently, hemp is receiving great interest as animal feed due to its chemical and nutritional properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of the present trial was to evaluate the growth performance of buffalo calves fed on diets characterized by different forage/concentrate ratios, with or without supplementation (CBS 493.94, Yea-Sacc). Twenty-four male buffalo calves (mean age of 145.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe study aimed to explore how limited human socialization affects the socio-cognitive abilities and interactions with unfamiliar individuals of a selected group of domesticated dogs and goats. These animals were raised and kept under conditions characterized by limited human socialization, and their behavior was assessed using the "impossible task" paradigm. The study found that dogs, with a history of cooperative interactions and human companionship, exhibited more frequent social engagement with human experimenters in the experimental setting than goats, traditionally domesticated for utilitarian purposes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDetermination of digestibility represents the first step for the evaluation of the net energy content of feed for livestock animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo digestibility and in vitro degradability of five diets characterized by different forage/concentrate ratios (F:C) in horses. The in vitro degradability was determined by the Gas Production Technique (GPT), using as an inoculum source the feces of the same subjects used for the in vivo test.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this review, the composition, characteristics, and management of dairy buffalo calves were examined and compared with bovines. The neonatal period is critical for buffalo calves and is characterized by a high mortality rate (more than 40%). The early intake of high-quality colostrum (IgG > 50 mg/mL) is the one way to improve the immune system of calves (serum IgG > 10 mg/mL after 12 h), thus increasing their chances of survival.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnimals (Basel)
February 2023
In this study, we explored the correlations between circulating levels of oxytocin, cortisol, and different social behaviors toward humans in 26 Italian Red Pied calves (all females, with an average age of 174 ± 24 days) using the impossible task paradigm. This paradigm has proved fruitful in highlighting the effect of socialization on the willingness to interact with humans in several domesticated species. The test consists of the violation of an expectation (recovering food from an experimental apparatus) while a caregiver and a stranger are present.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince the dietary characteristics of hays can be very variable, it is of great importance for nutritionists to know their chemical composition in order to formulate adequate rations for the animals. Laboratory analyses are time-consuming and expensive while the Near Infrared Spectroscopy offers several advantages, including obtaining information on feeds nutritional characteristics very quickly and in situ at the farm, thanks to portable NIRS. In this trial, over 400 hay samples collected in the Campania region (Italy) were analyzed with portable NIRS device.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMyxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is a very frequently acquired cardiac disease in dog breeds and is responsible for congestive heart failure (CHF). The involvement of the immune system and pro-inflammatory cytokines in dogs with CHF due to mitral valve disease has not yet been extensively investigated. Here, we investigate the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the dysfunction of the immune system in dogs with different stages of severity through the blood assessment of CD4FoxP3regulatory T cells (Treg) cells, leptin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 pro-inflammatory cytokines, and immunological and echocardiographic parameters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of linseed supplementation on milk yield and quality, serum biochemistry and, in particular, to evaluate its possible effects on the production of odd- and branched-chain fatty acids (OBCFA) in the milk of Cilentana grazing goats. Twelve pregnant Cilentana dairy goats were divided into two groups (CTR, control, and LIN, linseed supplementation group). After kidding, the goats had free access to the pasture and both groups received a supplement of 400 g/head of concentrate, but the one administered to the LIN group was characterized by the addition of linseed (in a ratio of 20% as fed) to the ingredients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to investigate the efficacy of DìRelax, a nutraceutical formulated to reduce anxiety in dogs, using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. The C-BARQ questionnaire, some clinical investigations, and the impossible task test were performed in dogs before and after treatment. The C-BARQ questionnaire is particularly useful for assessing the frequency and severity of problematic behaviors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl)
October 2021
A nutritional supplement (Ecotrofin™, by Vetoquinol Italia S.r.l) recommended in ruminants feeding to strengthen the physiological condition and improve digestive performance was tested in 20 pluriparae grazing goats divided in two groups (control and treated) to assess its possible effects on milk yield and quality and to assess eventual adverse effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe use of seaweeds as additives in animal nutrition may be a valid option to traditional feed as they represent a rich source of minerals, carbohydrates and antioxidants. The aim of this study was to analyze the chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant capacity of two tropical eucheumatoids, and , in Malaysian wild offshore waters. The chemical analysis was performed via inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy for evaluating the concentration of toxic (Cd, Pb, Hg, As) and essential elements (Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, Se); NMR spectroscopy was used for carrageenans investigation.
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