Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an infectious disease affecting large ruminants, caused by the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV). It is characterized by symptoms such as hyperthermia, emaciation, lymphadenopathy, and skin nodules. Pregnant animals affected by LSD often experience abortions and may develop infertility syndrome, while affected males can become sterile. A live attenuated goat pox virus vaccine (GTPV) was administered to various groups of crossbred buffaloes. After vaccination, blood samples were collected from each group to analyze post-vaccination antibody titers. Additionally, vaccinated calves and buffaloes were monitored for growth, body temperature, blood profile, milk production and quality, and reproductive parameters. The study revealed an increase in antibody titer in the weeks following vaccination, with sustained levels for over 150 days before declining by 300 days. During the 7-day observational phase, the vaccinated calves and replacement heifers exhibited significant growth. There were no notable changes in body temperature or milk production in lactating buffaloes within 7 days post-vaccination. However, the buffalo category affected all blood profile indicators significantly (P < 0.05) except for MCHC (P > 0.05) after LSD vaccination. An interaction (P < 0.05) was observed between buffalo categories and days post-exposure for RBCs, HGB, HCT, and MCV values in vaccinated buffaloes. Reproductive parameters, including ovarian resumption, uterine involution rates, and synchronization rate, remained similar in both vaccinated and unvaccinated buffaloes. Overall, the use of the attenuated GTPV vaccine induces a considerable antibody titer without influencing general health or productive parameters, making it a safe and economical method for preventing LSD in buffaloes.

The present study investigated the role of dietary capsaicin (CPS) supplementation on milk yield (liters/head) and milk composition (total solids, lactose, albumin, protein, fat, milk urea nitrogen (MUN), somatic cell count (SCC) and somatic cell score (SCS), serum metabolites (lipoprotein esterase (LPL) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)), and reproductive physiology (follicular development, estrus response, ovulation and pregnancy) following synchronization during the low breeding season. One hundred (n = 100) crossbred buffaloes were randomly assigned to four dietary groups consisting of CPS supplementation dosages (0, 2, 4 or 6 mg/kg of total mixed ration; TMR) as CPS-0 (n = 26), CPS-2 (n = 22), CPS-4 (n = 25) and CPS-6 (n = 27), respectively, in a 30-day feed trial. The results revealed that the CPS-4 group of buffaloes had a better estrus rate (72%) along with improved (p < 0.05) ovulatory follicle diameter (13.8 mm), ovulation rate (68%) and pregnancy rate (48%) compared to other treatment groups. Milk yield improved (p < 0.05) in CPS-4 supplemented buffaloes after day 20 of the trial, comparatively. There was a significant effect (p < 0.05) of milk sampling day (day 30) on total milk solids, lactose, milk protein and MUN levels, whereas lactose, MUN, SCC and SCS were influenced by supplementation dosage (CPS-4). Glucose levels were affected in buffaloes by sampling time (artificial insemination (AI) and 50-day post-AI) and CPS-dose (CPS-4 and CPS-6), respectively. LPL level changed in CPS-2 and CPS-4 groups at AI time and 50 days after AI. In addition, the AST level was different in CPS-4 at AI time and 50 days after AI. Therefore, our data suggest that a medium dose (~4 mg/kg of TMR) of CPS provided a better response in the form of milk yield, milk composition, serum metabolites and reproductive performance in crossbred buffaloes during the low breeding season.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a contagious animal disease caused by the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV). LSD can be transmitted through direct, indirect and insect vectors, severely impacting global cattle production. To evaluate difference in immune response and gut microbiota of 30 healthy 16–18 months old Angus cattle, treated with live attenuated or inactivated goatpox vaccine virus strains. The cattle were randomly divided into three groups (10 animals per group): Group A—goatpox live attenuated vaccine; Group B—goatpox inactivated vaccine; Group C—control (saline). Blood samples were collected on days 14, 28, 42, and 56 post-vaccination to assess hematological parameters, serum biochemical indices, and antibody levels; rectal feces were collected on day 28 for 16S rRNA analysis of gut microbiota. Results showed that, on day 28, both Group A and Group B reached their peak antibody levels (the log₁₀ value of Group A was 2.6, and that of Group B was 2.7), with about 90% of the cattle in each vaccinated group testing antibody-positive. On day 42, Group B retained 90% seropositivity, whereas Group A declined to 80%. Significantly altered in vaccinated Groups (A and B) compared to controls on days 14 and 28 (p < 0.05). Hematological parameters (PLT, NEUT, and LYM) and serum biochemical indices (AST, TP, and GGT) were elevated early after vaccination but returned to baseline by days 42 and 56.Which returned to control levels by days 42 and 56. On day 28 post-vaccination, Vaccinated cattle showed significantly higher gut microbiome richness and diversity than unvaccinated controls (p < 0.05). At the phylum level, the dominance was observed in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes: the relative abundances were 62.90% and 29.65% in Group A, 60.84% and 30.13% in Group B, and 49.99% and 39.73% in Group C, respectively. These findings indicate that the inactivated goatpox vaccine elicits a more durable and stable antibody response, maintaining higher specific antibody titers, and induces more pronounced shifts in the gut microbiota community structure at the phylum level compared with the live attenuated vaccine.