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Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal contaminant in agricultural soils. Phytoremediation using hyperaccumulator plants is a promising remediation strategy. This study investigated the effects of TiO2 NPs on Cd uptake and accumulation in the hyperaccumulator ramie (Boehmeria nivea L.) grown in Cd-spiked soil. The aim was to evaluate the potential application of TiO2 NPs to enhance the phytoextraction efficiency of ramie for removing Cd from contaminated soils. Ramie was cultivated in soil spiked with 5 mg/kg Cd, with or without 500 mg/kg TiO2 NPs. The results showed TiO2 NPs significantly increased Cd concentrations in roots, stems, and leaves of ramie by 35%, 75%, and 278% respectively, compared to control plants. Cd levels reached 146 mg/kg in roots and 102 mg/kg in leaves with TiO2 NPs. The bioconcentration factor rose from 21.6 to 29.2 and translocation factor from 0.3 to 0.7 with nanoparticles. This indicates TiO2 NPs increased Cd bioavailability in soil and translocation to shoots. The higher Cd accumulation, especially in leaves, demonstrates the potential of TiO2 NPs to improve ramie's phytoextraction capacity. With TiO2 NP treatment, soil Cd levels decreased by an estimated 20–30% after 8 weeks of ramie cultivation, indicating enhanced phytoextraction. This study provides evidence that the application of TiO2 NPs can enhance the efficiency of phytoremediation using hyperaccumulator plants like ramie for remediation of Cd-contaminated soils.

Eco-friendly and efficient strategies for eliminating cadmium (Cd) phytoremediation plant residues are needed. The present study investigated the feasibility of feeding Cd accumulator maize to beef cattle. In total, 20 cattle at 6 months of age were selected and randomly allocated into two groups fed with 85.82% (fresh basis) Cd accumulator maize (CAM) or normal maize (control [Con]) silage diets for 107 d. Feeding CAM did not affect the body weight (P = 0.24), while it decreased feed intake and increased feed efficiency of beef cattle (P

Xiangdong black goats, indigenous to Hunan Province, China, exhibit remarkable adaptation to challenging environments and possess distinct black coat coloration alongside exceptional meat quality attributes. Despite their significance, comprehensive genomic investigations of this breed have been notably lacking. This study involved a comprehensive examination of population structure, genomic diversity, and regions of selection in Xiangdong black goats utilizing whole-genome sequencing data from 20 samples of this breed and 139 published samples from six other Chinese goat breeds. Our genomic analysis revealed a total of 19,133,125 biallelic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the Xiangdong black goat genome, primarily located in intergenic and intronic regions. Population structure analysis indicated that, compared with Jintang, Guizhou and Chengdu goats, Xiangdong black goats exhibit a reduced level of genetic differentiation but exhibit relatively greater divergence from Jining goats. An examination of genetic diversity within Xiangdong black goats revealed a moderate level of diversity, minimal inbreeding, and a substantial effective population size, which are more reflective of random mating patterns than other Chinese goat breeds. Additionally, we applied four distinct selective sweep methods, namely, the composite likelihood ratio (CLR), fixation index (FST), θπ ratio and cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity (XP-EHH), to identify genomic regions under positive selection and genes associated with fundamental biological processes. The most prominent candidate genes identified in this study are involved in crucial aspects of goat life, including reproduction (CCSER1, PDGFRB, IFT88, LRP1B, STAG1, and SDCCAG8), immunity (DOCK8, IL1R1, and IL7), lactation and milk production (SPP1, TLL1, and ERBB4), hair growth (CHRM2, SDC1, ITCH, and FGF12), and thermoregulation (PDE10A). In summary, our research contributes valuable insights into the genomic characteristics of the Xiangdong black goat, underscoring its importance and utility in future breeding programs and conservation initiatives within the field of animal breeding and genetics.

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant, widely existing in soil, and can be absorbed and accumulated by plants. Hunan Province exhibits the worst cadmium contamination of farmland in China. Ruminants possess an abundant microbial population in the rumen, which enables them to tolerate various poisonous plants. To investigate whether the rumen microbiota could respond to Cd and mitigate the toxicity of Cd-accumulated maize to ruminants, 6-month-old cattle were fed with 85.82% (fresh basis) normal whole-plant maize silage diet (CON, n = 10) or Cd-accumulated whole-plant maize silage diet (CAM, n = 10) for 107 days. When compared to the CON cattle, CAM cattle showed significantly higher gain-to-feed ratio and an increased total bacterial population in the rumen, but a decreased total bacterial population in the colon. CAM cattle had higher relative abundance of Prevotella and Lachnospiraceae ND3007 group in the rumen, and Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group and Clostridia vadinBB60 group in the colon. Notably, microbial correlations were enhanced in all segments of CAM cattle, especially Peptostreptococcaceae in the jejunum. Transcriptome analysis revealed down-regulation of several immune-related genes in the rumen of CAM cattle, and differentially expressed genes in the rumen were mostly involved in immune regulation. These findings indicated that feeding Cd-accumulated maize diet with a Cd concentration of 6.74 mg/kg dry matter (DM) could stimulate SCFA-related bacteria in the rumen, induce hormesis to promote weight gain, and improve energy utilization of cattle.

Dairy mastitis is an inflammatory reaction caused by mechanical injury and stress within the mammary gland, during which microbial changes and abnormal lipid metabolism occur. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. The present study used a combination of 16S rDNA sequencing technology and lipidomics techniques to reveal the effects of mastitis on lactic microbiota and metabolites in the milk of dairy cows. Twenty multiparous Holstein dairy cows (2–3 parities) with an average body weight of 580 ± 30 kg were selected for this study. The dairy cows were allocated to control group (4 cells /mL)) and mastitis group (>5 × 106 cells /mL) based on the somatic cell count. The results showed that mastitis caused a decrease trend in milk production (p = 0.058). The results of the 16 s sequencing indicated a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the number of Proteobacteria, Tenericutes colonized in mastitis milk, and the number of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria communities increased significantly (p < 0.05). The lipidomics results revealed that the changes in lipid content in mastitis milk were correlated with arachidonic acid metabolism, α -linolenic acid metabolism and glycerol phospholipid metabolism. The results showed that mastitis may cause abnormal lipid metabolism in milk by regulating the diversity of milk microflora, and ultimately affect the milk quality.

Understanding the genetic diversity in Xiangxi cattle may facilitate our efforts toward further breeding programs. Here we compared 23 Xiangxi cattle with 78 published genomes of 6 worldwide representative breeds to characterize the genomic variations of Xiangxi cattle. Based on clustering models in population structure analysis, we displayed that Xiangxi cattle had a mutual genome ancestor with Chinese indicine, Indian indicine, and East Asian taurine. Population genetic diversity was analyzed by four methods (nucleotide diversity, inbreeding coefficient, linkage disequilibrium decay and runs of homozygosity), and we found that Xiangxi cattle had higher genomic diversity and weaker artificial selection than commercial breed cattle. Using four testing methods (θπ, CLR, FST, and XP-EHH), we explored positive selection regions harboring genes in Xiangxi cattle, which were related to reproduction, growth, meat quality, heat tolerance, and immune response. Our findings revealed the extent of sequence variation in Xiangxi cattle at the genome-wide level. All of our fruitful results can bring about a valuable genomic resource for genetic studies and breed protection in the future.

Cadmium (Cd) is a major heavy metal toxicant found in industrial zones. Humans and animals are exposed to it through their diet, which results in various physiological problems. In the current study, the toxic effects of Cd on the liver were investigated by whole-transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of the livers of Xiangxi heifers fed a diet with excess Cd. We randomly divided six healthy heifers into two groups. The first group received a control diet, whereas the second group received Cd-exceeding diets for 100 days. After 100 days, the livers were collected. A total of 551 differentially expressed mRNAs, 24 differentially expressed miRNAs, and 169 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified (p < 0.05, |log2FC| >1). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses. We found that under Cd exposure, DEGs were enriched in the adenosine 5'-monophosphate–activated protein kinase pathway, which is involved in autophagy regulation, and the peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor pathway, which is involved in lipid metabolism. In addition, the apolipoprotein A4 gene, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, the anti-apoptotic gene ATPase H+/K+ transporting the nongastric alpha2 subunit, and the cholesterol metabolism–associated gene endothelial lipase gene were significantly downregulated. C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 3, cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase, which are involved in the development of fatty liver, were significantly upregulated. These genes revealed the main effects of Cd on the liver of Xiangxi yellow heifers. The current study provides insightful information regarding the DEGs involved in autophagy regulation, apoptosis, lipid metabolism, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant enzyme activity. These may serve as useful biomarkers for predicting and treating Cd-related diseases in the future.

Due to the geographical, cultural and environmental variability in Xiangxi, China, distinctive indigenous cattle populations have formed. Among them, Loudi cattle and Xiangxi cattle are the local cattle in Hunan, and the environment in Loudi is relatively more enclosed and humid than that in Xiangxi. To study the genome and origin of Loudi cattle in hot and humid environments, 29 individuals were collected and sequenced by whole-genome resequencing. In addition, genomic data were obtained from public databases for 96 individuals representing different cattle breeds worldwide, including 23 Xiangxi cattle from western Hunan. Genetic analysis indicated that the genetic diversity of Loudi cattle was close to that of Chinese cattle and higher than that of other breeds. Population structure and ancestral origin analysis indicated the relationship between Loudi cattle and other breeds. Loudi has four distinctive seasons, with a stereoscopic climate and extremely rich water resources. Selective sweep analysis revealed candidate genes and pathways associated with environmental adaptation and homeostasis. Our findings provide a valuable source of information on the genetic diversity of Loudi cattle and ideas for population conservation and genome-associated breeding of local cattle in today’s extreme climate environment.

In this study, we explored the gene expression patterns of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus of Angus cows at different growth and developmental stages by deep sequencing and we identified genes that affect bovine reproductive performance to provide new ideas for improving bovine fertility in production practice. We selected three 6-month-old (weaning period), three 18-month-old (first mating period), and three 30-month-old (early postpartum) Angus cattle. The physiological status of the cows in each group was the same, and their body conformations were similar. After quality control of the sequencing, the transcriptome analyses of 18 samples yielded 129.18 GB of clean data. We detected 13,280 and 13,318 expressed genes in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, respectively, and screened 35 and 50 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for each, respectively. The differentially expressed genes in both tissues were mainly engaged in metabolism, lipid synthesis, and immune-related pathways in the 18-month-old cows as compared with the 6-month-old cows. The 30-month-old cows presented more regulated reproductive behavior, and pituitary CAMK4 was the main factor regulating the reproductive behavior during this period via the pathways for calcium signaling, longevity, oxytocin, and aldosterone synthesis and secretion. A variant calling analysis also was performed. The SNP inversions and conversions in each sample were counted according to the different base substitution methods. In all samples, most base substitutions were represented by substitutions between bases A and G, and the probability of base conversion exceeded 70%, far exceeding the transversion. Heterozygous SNP sites exceeded 37.68%.

The objective of this study was to investigate meat quality of Xiangxi yellow cattle of different ages in comparison to Aberdeen Angus. At the ages of 6, 18, and 30 months, 10 female animals for both Xiangxi yellow cattle and Aberdeen Angus cattle were randomly selected and slaughtered. The proximate composition analysis, fatty acid profiles and flavor compounds were measured on the longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle samples. One boneless loin chop was dissected and used for sensory evaluation by a 10-persoon trained taste panel. The data obtained showed that Xiangxi yellow cattle deposited similarly high level of intramuscular fat as Angus at the age of 18 month and the polyunsaturated fatty acid in muscle along with the PUFA/SFA ratio reached the highest levels at this age. Inosine 5′-monophosphate (IMP) was the predominant umami compound in beef, which concentration was significantly higher (p < 0.05) at month 18, but not different between Angus and Xiangxi yellow cattle. Multiple volatile flavor compounds were higher (p < 0.05) in concentrations in meat from Xiangxi yellow cattle at ages of 18 and 30 months when compared to Angus. Sensory analysis revealed that Xiangxi yellow cattle (18 and 30 months) and Angus (30 months) were superior in meat overall eating quality to Xiangxi yellow cattle (6 months) and Angus (6 and 18 months). This study showed that Xiangxi yellow cattle are a fine cattle breed with equal or even better meat quality attributes when compared to Angus. It is proper to slaughter Xiangxi yellow cattle at the age of 18 months for high quality beef production.

Reproductive efficiency of a heifer is directly dependent on the health of reproductive system especially ovary and uterus. Current experiment was carried out to screen candidate genes related to reproductive traits and detect molecular mechanisms of DEGs by using RNA-sequencing (RNAseq) and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to understand the environmental adaptability, molecular breeding and analyze the reproductive performance. Furthermore, Illumina II high throughput sequncing technology was utilized in the current experiment to sequence transcriptomes and analysis related to pathway of different genes between uterus and ovary in Xiangxi cattle. The total number of ovary assembled was compared to the reference genome sequence, DEGs analysis, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis and candidate gene screening were performed. Based on the transcriptome data, seven cDNA libraries were constructed by utilizing total RNA. Out of seven contracted cDNA libraries, in every sequencing library, raw reads reached >133 Mb, and >94% clean reads remained. After comparing the Xiangxi cattle ovaries with the uterus, a total of 3635 mRNAs were found, in which 1608 were significantly up-regulated expressed and 2027 were down-regulated expression mRNAs. The mRNA expression of ADCY3, ADCY4, ADCY9, FSHR, BMP15, LHCGR, INSR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1, CYP19A1, STAR and SCARB1 in ovary of Xiangxi Cattle were significant different in ovarian and uterus tissues. Through GSEA and PPI network, we found the ovarian steroidogenesis pathway played significant role in signal regulation during the development of the ovarian tissue of the Xiangxi cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of industrial and agricultural technology, especially the progress of industrial civilization, industrial production and automobile exhaust will emit a large number of heavy metal elements, resulting in serious soil heavy metal pollution. The polluted soil has a serious impact on the growth and quality of forage grass. To study the impact of heavy metal contaminated soil on forage quality is very important for the safe production of forage. In view of this problem, this paper first analyzes the experimental design and experimental steps of the impact analysis of heavy metal contaminated soil on forage quality, takes the common forage bullwhip as the research object of forage, and takes the heavy metals copper, cadmium and lead as the research object of heavy metals. It is proposed to evaluate the forage quality by measuring the growth characteristic index, mature nutrient index and heavy metal accumulation index of bullwhip, and the determination method of relevant indexes is put forward. Single factor analysis showed that the three kinds of heavy metal contaminated soil were not conducive to the growth of forage grass. With the increase of soil heavy metal pollution, the growth characteristics of forage were seriously affected, and the average plant height (PH) and average biomass (DW) gradually decreased. The average plant height decreased from 44cm to about 12cm, and the average biomass decreased from 70g to about 20g. Compared with the control group, the average plant height and average biomass of forage in the polluted soil decreased by more than 70%. With the increase of soil heavy metal pollution, the content of Forage Crude Protein (CP) decreased gradually, the proportion of CP decreased by about 50%, the content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) increased gradually, the accumulation of heavy metals in forage increased gradually, and the forage quality decreased continuously. Through experimental analysis, it can provide reference for forage safety production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of agricultural fertilizers can cause serious pollution of heavy metals in the soil. In addition, it can also lead to unsafe factors such as heavy metal residues in the forage feed produced, which affects the health of livestock in the animal husbandry industry, and ultimately affects human health. Re search on the accumulation of heavy metals in different parts of forage under heavy metal pollution is very important to the safety and environmental protection of forage feed. In order to solve this problem, in this paper, we systematically studied the accumulation characteristics of heavy metals in forages in soils with different concentrations of heavy metal cadmium, and proposed a calculation formula for the content of heavy metals in forages. Through experiments, the average concentration of metal cadmium accumulation in the whole forage in different experimental fields was obtained. The measurement results found that the cumulative cadmium concentration of the three forages in experimental field 1 (seil cadmium concentration of 1.68 mg/kg), was lower than 1.0 mg/kg, which was a low concentration. The results of the accumulation of heavy metal cadmium in different parts of the stems and leaf roots of the three forage grasses showed that the cadmium con centration in the stems and leaf roots of bonnet, sweet Borghum and hybrid elephant grass showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing with the increase of soil cadmium content. In addition, the cadmium concentration in the leaves of the forage grass is the least accumulated, followed by the roots and stems. A comprehensive comparison of the cadmium accumulation of the three commonly used for ages found that the cadmium accumulation concentration of the stems, leaves and roots of bonbon is far: lower than that of sweet sorghum and hybrid elephant grass, so its safety index is the highest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, a total of six 5 year old healthy bulls reared in heat stress zone were used and semen from these bulls was collected by artificial vagina and undergoes for semen quality analysis. Results of semen quality parameters showed that the average semen volume and sperm density of Simmental bulls were 9.3mL and 1.23 × 109mL, and sperm acrosome integrity rate were lower as compared to Xiangxi cattle bulls. The transcriptome analysis revealed a 36.8Gb clean data and the obtained clean data of each sample was reached 5.84Gb. The transcriptome analysis further revealed that the percentage of q30 base was 91.19% or above. Based on the comparison results, 4,890 new genes were found, including 2,451 functional annotations. Go analysis explored that GO annotation system included 3 main sections that were biological processes, molecular functions and cellular components, respectively. In conclusion, results showed that the average semen volume and sperm density of Simmental bulls was higher and sperm motility and sperm acrosome integrity rate was lower as compared to Xiangxi cattle bulls. This study has developed a transcriptomic profile of spermatozoa of Xiangxi cattle and Simmental cattle bulls and reported Xiangxi cattle and Simmental cattle bull’s spermatozoa change the gene expression involved in various biological process. This study could provide the experimental basis of poor fertility in Xiangxi cattle bulls and provide possible fertility biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]