Animal Science News
19th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Fennel and Anise Oils as Sedatives in Common Carp
Researchers find fennel oil to be a safe and effective anesthetic for common carp, offering a balance between quick induction and recovery without adverse effects on fish tissue.
19th April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Ginger Essential Oil as Anesthesia for Transporting Fish
Researchers find ginger essential oil effective as a sedative for fish transport, improving welfare and reducing stress in juvenile pacu during relocation.
18th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Aflatoxins in Cattle Feed and Risk to Milk Safety
Studies reveal that 78% of cattle feed in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is contaminated with dangerous molds, risking both animal health and human safety through milk.
17th April, 2024
| Greg Howard
Evolving Claw Shapes in Scavenging Mites
Discoveries at Oxford reveal how tiny mites' mouthparts have evolved, reflecting their diverse diets and offering insights into their ecological roles.
17th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Best Ways Bugs Split Colonies for Success
Discoveries at the University of Würzburg reveal that for bees, forming large swarms is key to successfully starting new colonies, challenging the notion that bigger colonies are always better.
17th April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Impact of No Antibiotics on Piglet Gut Health Post-Weaning
Research shows piglet gut health and resilience to post-weaning diarrhoea can be enhanced with better dietary strategies, reducing reliance on antibiotics and heavy metals.
17th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Tooth Renewal in Early Herbivorous Dinosaurs and Its Evolution
Discoveries on the Jeholosaurus, an early herbivorous dinosaur, reveal unique, slow tooth replacement, hinting at diverse dietary strategies among ancient dinosaurs.
16th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
How Fluconazole Affects Chicken Embryo Development
Researchers at the University of Okara investigate the safety of the antifungal drug fluconazole on chick embryos to understand its effects during early development and pregnancy.
16th April, 2024
| Greg Howard
Ginkgo Biloba Reduces Harmful Effects of Parasite Treatment in Mice
Researchers find that Ginkgo biloba may reduce harmful effects of sleeping sickness and its treatment, improving survival and protecting brain and organ health.
16th April, 2024
| Greg Howard
Evolution Link Between Bat Size and Sonar Abilities
Researchers find that larger bats use lower frequency echolocation calls, with variations between species that emit calls through their noses versus their mouths, shedding light on bat evolution.
13th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
How Frogs Adapt to the Cold at High Altitudes
Scientists uncover the genetic strategies that enable the plateau brown frog to survive the extreme cold of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, with potential applications in agriculture and medicine.
13th April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Stress Affects the Colors of Poison Frogs
Discovering the genetic secrets behind the vivid warning colors of South America's Ranitomeya poison frogs, researchers reveal how these hues are a survival strategy.
12th April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
City Lights Dim Firefly Courtship and Hunting Signals
Urban light pollution is dimming the mating signals of neotropical fireflies, threatening their survival by interfering with their ability to find partners and prey.
12th April, 2024
| Greg Howard
Ginger Extract's Impact on Growth and Health in Young Cows
A study shows that adding ginger extract to the diets of young dairy calves can lead to better growth, early weaning, and may boost their immune system and defense against stress.
11th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Egg-Laying vs Broody Behaviors: Gene Insights in Chickens
Unraveling the egg production mystery, scientists investigate the genetics of `broodiness` in black-bone chickens, potentially aiding poultry industry innovation.
9th April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Exploring How Milk Production Affects Cow Health Through Genetics
Researchers show high milk yield in dairy cows does indeed cause health issues, marking a critical step for advancing balanced cattle breeding strategies.
8th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Why Ticks Prefer Certain Spots on Cattle
A study in Ghana reveals cattle carry an average of 5.6 ticks, with older cattle more infested. Understanding tick attachment patterns aids in developing better disease control strategies.
8th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
High-Quality Spider Mite Genome Mapped Out
Researchers have decoded the genome of the Tetranychus piercei mite, a major threat to banana crops, revealing insights into its heat resilience and pesticide resistance.
7th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Exploring Gene Activity in Growing Cow Eggs at the Single-Cell Level
Researchers at University College Dublin reveal insights into egg cell development, which could improve fertility treatments by studying gene expression changes in cattle oocytes.
6th April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Probiotic Treatment's Effects on Gut Health in Calves With Diarrhea
A study shows that a probiotic can restore gut health in calves with rotavirus, offering a sustainable alternative to antibiotics for diarrhea treatment.
3rd April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Assessing How Tannin and Oil Mixes Impact Cow Digestion
Researchers find plant-based supplements Q-2 and C-10 as effective as commercial products in reducing methane and ammonia emissions from livestock, offering a sustainable alternative for farming.
3rd April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Cost-Benefit of Using Banana Peels in Rabbit Food
Researchers in Brazil show feeding rabbits with 100% banana peel and sweet potato vine diet is 57% cheaper, improving farmers' gains without affecting animal health.
2nd April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Butylphthalide's Impact on Preventing Brain Swelling at High Altitudes
A study reveals that a compound found in celery seed may reduce brain swelling and protect against damage in high altitude sickness, offering hope for effective treatment.
2nd April, 2024
| Jim Crocker
How White-Tailed Deer Choose Homes While Moving Through Landscapes
Discover why animals pick certain habitats. Twitchy about change, creatures show 'habit burnout', but new methods hint at why they might shuffle digs.
2nd April, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Domestic Chickens Inherit Genes from Wild Junglefowl
New research reveals that domestic chickens have a more complex ancestry than thought, with significant genetic contributions from the grey junglefowl, impacting traits and diversity.
31st March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Heat and Humidity Impact Dairy Cow Fertility and Milk Output
Researchers at Université Paris-Saclay have identified genetic traits that could help dairy cows maintain fertility in hotter, more humid climates, offering hope for sustainable dairy farming.
26th March, 2024
| Greg Howard
Exploring the Full DNA Code of a Slug Moth Species and Its Evolution
Scientists decode the entire mitochondrial DNA of the Chibiraga houshuaii moth, revealing genetic-blueprints that could help in controlling agricultural pests.
25th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
How Soil Affects Growth and Egg-Laying in Mosquitoes
Soil type affects mosquito development and where they lay eggs, with clay loam soil leading to better survival and growth, impacting disease control strategies.
24th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Boosting Chicken Health with Oregano Oil and Probiotics
Natural feed additives like oregano oil and probiotic Bacillus subtilis show promise in boosting chicken growth and immunity, presenting a healthier alternative to antibiotics in poultry farming.
24th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
How Oil Drops in Fish Embryos Impact Their Survival
Discover how scientists from the Instituto Español de Oceanografía are revealing the vital role of egg buoyancy in the survival of European hake, impacting fisheries sustainability.
22nd March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How a Bird Flu Virus Promotes Bacterial Infection in Reproductive Tracts
Discoveries from Northwest A&F University show how the H9N2 bird flu makes chickens more prone to severe bacterial infections, pointing to new prevention strategies.
22nd March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Improving Chicken Health with Grape Waste and Aloe Vera Gel
The study suggests adding Aloe vera gel to drinking water and red grape pomace powder to food improves health and growth in densely stocked broiler chickens, enhancing sustainability in poultry farming.
21st March, 2024
| Greg Howard
Selenium-Boosted Algae Diet Enhances Fish Health and Immunity
Studies show selenium nanoparticles, especially green-synthesized, boost immune response and improve gut health in Nile tilapia, promising sustainable aquaculture benefits.
21st March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Uncovering How Ethiopian Local Chickens Adapt Naturally
Researchers are studying Ethiopian chickens to understand their adaptation to climate change, helping design breeding programs for resilience and productivity.
18th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Link Between Energy Levels and Breeding Timing in Arctic Hoofed Animals
As climate change affects biological events, a study reveals that reindeer conception doesn't strongly link to their energy reserves, suggesting a more complex adaptation process.
18th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Testing AI Against Traditional Models for Predicting Cattle Feed Efficiency
Researchers found machine learning to outperform traditional genetic prediction in selecting cattle for feed efficiency, promising both economic and environmental benefits.
18th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Preventing and Treating Chicken Parasite Infections with Rosemary Extract
Researchers show that rosemary extract and chitosan nanoparticles in chicken feed may prevent and treat the damaging poultry disease coccidiosis, offering an alternative to traditional treatments.
16th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Gut Bacteria in Catfish and Carp: Healthy vs. Sick
Discovering the diverse gut microbiome in fish, researchers find that it changes with health and growth, influencing disease resistance - crucial for sustainable aquaculture.
14th March, 2024
| Greg Howard
Identifying Worm Species in Cows by Their DNA
Researchers highlight the importance of livestock in battling schistosomiasis, a disease caused by parasitic worms, by studying cattle in Côte d'Ivoire to improve control strategies.
12th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Variations in Ear Bones of Garfish from the Central Mediterranean Sea
Delving into the ear bones of garfish, scientists uncover how these microstructures reflect a fish's life, showing growth and environmental adaptation.
12th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Great Tits Unaffected by Tough Environments in Social Learning
Generalist foraging birds, like the great tit, may not rely more on social learning in harsh environments, challenging the assumption that tougher conditions always lead to stronger social learning skills.
11th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Unraveling the Link Between Milk Production and Cow Health
Recent agricultural research reveals links between cow genetics and both milk yield and their health, paving the way for better dairy breeding strategies.
10th March, 2024
| Greg Howard
Local Healing Plants Used by Indigenous People in Dugda
Researchers at Addis Ababa University have documented traditional plant-based remedies used for livestock care by Ethiopia's Dugda District, preserving vital indigenous veterinary knowledge.
9th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Boosting Cow Digestion with Plant Nutrient Pellets and Lemongrass
Researchers have created a natural feed additive from tropical plants that reduces methane emissions and improves digestion in livestock, offering a sustainable farming solution.
8th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Discovering How a New Bat Virus Affects Mice
Researchers at Seoul National University have discovered a new strain of MRV in a bat, which can infect humans and other mammals, emphasizing the need for constant monitoring.
7th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Comparing Growth and Lifespan of Fish in Upper Yellow River
Chinese researchers find stark differences in growth, lifespan, and fishing pressure effects on Gobio huanghensis, a fish species native to the Yellow River, signaling the need for nuanced conservation efforts.
7th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Parasitic Infections in Wild Americas' Mammals: An Overview
Researchers highlight gaps in understanding of Hepatozoon parasites in America's wild mammals, pointing out limited data and the need for more advanced diagnostic methods.
6th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
First Case of Intestinal Worm in Popular Aquarium Fish
Researchers in South India discovered a parasitic worm in flowerhorn cichlids, which can cause serious disease in both fish and humans, urging caution in the pet trade.
6th March, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Exploring Four Pig-Related Bacteria Strains for Probiotic Use
Exploring four pig-derived lactic acid bacteria, scientists reveal their unique capabilities to promote gut health and boost immunity in livestock, promising improvements in farming productivity.
5th March, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
Turning Animal Waste into Fish Food: A Study on Two Fish Species
Exploring sustainable fish feed, scientists used a fermented whey-protein blend to replace fishmeal, finding specific levels that support fish growth and nutrition.
3rd March, 2024
| Greg Howard
How Bold and Friendly Fish Judge Group Sizes
Freshwater fish with bolder personalities—more proactive in their environment—excel at choosing right-sized groups for survival, unlike shyer or highly social peers.
2nd March, 2024
| Greg Howard
How Plant-Based Diets Affect Growth in Giant Freshwater Prawns
Exploring sustainable aquaculture, a study finds giant freshwater prawns can grow efficiently on a soy-based diet, with some converting food into body protein better than others, influenced by genetic and metabolic factors.
1st March, 2024
| Greg Howard
Ginseng Blend Slows Aging in Blood Vessels by Protecting Key Cells
Explore the rejuvenating power of traditional Chinese medicine on blood vessels—a study uncovers Ginseng-Sanqi-Chuanxiong extract's potential to delay vascular aging and improve heart health.
28th February, 2024
| Greg Howard
Enhanced Shelf-Life of Fish Fillets with Optimized Antioxidant Mixture
Brazilian scientists crafted a natural preservative from lemongrass and oregano oils, prolonging the freshness of rainbow trout fillets without synthetic additives.
27th February, 2024
| Jim Crocker
CBD Oil May Reduce Stress in Dogs
A study found CBD reduces stress in dogs during car travel, with significant behavioral and physiological improvements observed compared to a control group. The implications may be far reaching in terms of expanding CBD treatment beyond humans.
26th February, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Carp Cells Adapt to Saltwater Changes Seen Under a Microscope
Exploring new research, telocytes - long, thin 'messenger' cells within our tissues - help adapt to salt stress by changing shape and boosting their activity, suggesting their role in tissue repair and health.
23rd February, 2024
| Greg Howard
Best Ways for Species to Spread Across Two Habitats for Stability
Discover how species' survival is influenced by movement between habitat 'islands.' Researchers reveal that strategic dispersal can bolster populations, aiding in effective conservation.
21st February, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Spotting Sick Cows by Analyzing Their Health Data Patterns
Danish researchers use novel mathematical models to predict mastitis in cows by analyzing somatic cell counts from a decade of milk data, paving the way for farmers to preemptively tackle cow health issues for better milk quality.
17th February, 2024
| Jenn Hoskins
How Primates Deal With Stress: Behavior, Body, and Genes
Life for animals is filled with stress, but like humans, they have their own coping mechanisms. Researchers studied macaques, noting behavioral and genetic factors influencing their responses to stress, including a gene associated with nonaggressive behavior, revealing the complexity of their survival strategies.
11th February, 2024
| Greg Howard
How certain tree smells boost male bird testosterone levels
Birds, especially songbirds, use plant-emitted chemical SOS signals to locate food, but a study found male great tits had increased testosterone when exposed to such signals, potentially affecting their breeding readiness, unlike females who showed no change in egg production.
8th February, 2024
| David Palenski
How Nettle Extract Shields Brain Damage from a Common Food Additive
Potassium bromate, widely used in consumer products, has been linked to cancer through the creation of harmful free radicals. However, the plant Urtica dioica could counter these effects. A study with albino rats showed degenerative changes in the brains treated with potassium bromate, but ones also given Urtica dioica exhibited remarkable resilience, suggesting a powerful neuroprotective property of the plant.
30th January, 2024
| Jim Crocker
Exploring the Immune-Boosting Effects of Cyrtocarpa Edulis Fruit on Fish
Cyrtocarpa edulis, a lesser-known tree, may boost fish immune systems with its fruit packed with carbohydrates, phytosterols, and potent antioxidants like phenols, flavonoids, and tannins, offering a sustainable solution for aquaculture health.
