Special nature reserves are created in Europe to replicate its prehistoric past, i.e. to rewild the area, by populating it with the kinds of animals (e.g. tarpans) that lived there many thousands of years ago. The Polish Konik is the only primitive horse breed originating directly from wild tarpans. Researchers have aimed at understanding the biology of Polish Konik horses for years. Our study showed that different factors such as season, habitat, and time of the day affect their mobility.

This study investigated the coding sequence (CDS) of the GnRH gene in the ovary of Duolang sheep and the expression of GnRH mRNA in different tissues at the onset of puberty and analyzed the effect of GnRH agonists on ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) of Duolang sheep. The role of GnRH in sheep ovaries at the onset of puberty was elucidated.

Weaning is a stressful event and is a critical period that affects probably the reproductive development of lambs. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of the weaning method on sexual behavior and semen quality of 3-month-old lambs. It was found that the lambs that were completely separated from their mothers presented lower levels of stress and developed better, but they were not better in terms of sexual behavior and seminal quality.

We report one set of the identified molecular markers linked to antler quality in red deer. These markers can be used in the selection procedure to increase the frequency of stags that develop high-quality antlers with elevated probability. Another set of markers has also been introduced that is capable of effective paternity testing.

To investigate the effects of miR-499-5p on muscle metabolism in broiler chickens, we assigned 16 broiler chicks to the control group and treatment group and then monitored the effects using metabolomics. A total of 76 differential metabolites were identified, and these metabolites were primarily involved with the regulation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.

HinfI polymorphisms of Pit-1 and CSN3 genes were identified in DNA isolated from blood samples of 100 Holstein calves used in the study, using the PCR-RFLP method. According to the Hardy–Weinberg genetic equilibrium test, it was observed that the distribution of genotype frequencies of HinfI polymorphisms of Pit-1 genes in the studied population was in equilibrium, but not in equilibrium in terms of CSN3 gene location.

This report provides valuable information about an interesting candidate gene underlying new genetic markers, which may be used for marker-assisted selection to improve quantity and quality of wool produced from Egyptian sheep. A part of the KAP22-1 gene was amplified, sequenced and genotyped in an Egyptian sheep population with important wool traits available for the animals for further association analysis.

The study was conducted on Holstein calves to find the association between MOGAT1, MOGAT3/g.A229G, and MOGAT3/g.G1627A and growth traits. Association analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the MOGAT1 and body weight, body length, and chest circumference, MOGAT3/g.A229G with ADG and withers height, and MOGAT3/g.G1627A with body weight and body length (p < 0.05). The results confirmed that the MOGAT1, MOGAT3/g.A229G, and MOGAT3/g.G1627A locus are strong candidate genes.

Different studies have reported controversial results regarding the effects of c.963A>G polymorphism in the BMP15 gene on litter size in goats. We conducted a meta-analysis by using data of all published relevant studies to address this contradiction and found a significant association between c.963A>G polymorphism and litter size at birth under dominant and additive genetic models. The meta-analysis results revealed that the AA genotype could be positively connected with litter size in goats.

Good reproductive rates presented by the sheep show satisfactory reproductive activity during the two seasons, characterizing good adaptation to the region. The dry season seems to be a season that requires provision of an alternative feed in this critical period, which is characterized by the scarcity of rain and thus the dryness of the pastures.

Serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive protein (CRP), and some energy substrates were evaluated in 40 healthy dairy cows. Along lactation, SAA and CRP tended to increase, peaking at 240–300 d, and decrease thereafter. Along gestation, they increased in the first 4 months and then decreased. SAA and CRP were very variable and positively correlated with each other in both phases and with glucose during pregnancy, suggesting that they may play a role in physiological and non-pathological processes.

This article investigated the lamb meat physical, chemical, instrumental, and sensory quality characteristics of 60 meat samples from five indigenous sheep breeds. As meat quality is vital in healthy and balanced nutrition, the presented results will benefit consumers, nutritionists, and those working in this field.

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between increases in luteinizing hormone (LH) profiles induced by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the serum and vaginal mucus of Japanese Black beef cows. A peak serum LH concentration was identified at 2.5 h post-GnRH administration, with serum concentrations returning to near-pre-GnRH-administration values after 6.5 h, whereas the peak LH concentration of vaginal mucus was identified 4.5 h after GnRH administration.