Because of the relevance of Salmonella spp. in poultry, in 2016, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply updated its regulation for the control and monitoring of Salmonella in the poultry meat production chain. We herein present the results of the official monitoring of sampling cycles of carcasses performed by the Brazilian official veterinary inspection service (SIF) and the Center for Epidemiology, Statistics, and Public Health of the Veterinary School of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Samples were collected in March–September 2017, during which 140 slaughterhouses slaughtered over three billion chickens. The establishments were classified according to the number of animals slaughtered per day, and cycles varied according to the size of the establishment. Sample weights were defined to increase the external validity of the data. Chicken carcasses were randomly sampled after chilling and dripping. A total of 1434 samples were analyzed in official laboratories using Vidas SLM and SPT systems, for positive samples were used the ISO 6579:2014. The estimated prevalence of Salmonella spp. in chicken carcasses was 17.88% (95% CI 14.34–22.05). Considering the representativeness of Brazilian chicken meat in the global market, constant evaluation and review of the program is necessary to reduce the prevalence of Salmonella.

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply conducted a microbiological baseline study to determine the national prevalence of Salmonella in pig carcasses, and characterize the contamination risk according to the abattoir size under federal inspection in 2014–2015. All establishments were size-classified according to their slaughtering capacity per day. Sample weights were defined to increase the external validity of data. Samples were collected after the random selection of two half-carcasses from 76 slaughterhouses, one at the pre-chilling stage and the other at least 12 h after chilling. A total of 1544 samples were analyzed in official laboratories using Vidas SLM and SPT systems; for positive samples, we used the ISO 6579:2014. The results revealed that 10.00% (CI 7.50–13.22) of the pre-chilling carcasses tested positive for Salmonella spp. The medium-sized establishments exhibited the highest prevalence (18.51%). National and international market establishments had prevalences of 17.43%, and 9.05%, respectively. For carcass samples collected after chilling, the estimated prevalence was 4.58% (CI 3.13–6.65), with the highest prevalence recorded in the medium-sized establishments (7%), and values of 12.25% and 3.5% in the NM and IM, respectively. The information and knowledge thus acquired may support the further investigation and evaluation of surveillance programs, improving food safety.

In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, including breeds without known genetic predisposition, fed diets containing a high proportion of legumes or potatoes, many labeled grain-free. Despite concerns, grain-free diets remain increasingly popular. This narrative review focuses on the peer-reviewed literature and summarizes recent studies evaluating the effects of grain-free diets on canine cardiac health, with emphasis on taurine deficiency, metabolic alterations, and emerging hypotheses extending beyond nutritional inadequacy. These findings suggest a strong link between diet and DCM, particularly regarding legumes. Dogs of various breeds showed larger left ventricular diameters, reduced systolic function, and increased premature ventricular complexes when fed non-traditional, grain-free, legume-rich diets compared to those on traditional, low-legume diets. Many affected dogs improved clinically and functionally with dietary changes and treatment, suggesting nutritional DCM could be reversible. Though mechanisms remain unclear, the research highlights the potential roles of legumes, particularly peas, in the gut microbiota and fiber-related bile acid metabolism. This review also distinguishes taurine-deficiency-related DCM as a separate form, with certain breeds, notably Golden Retrievers, being more susceptible. Overall, further studies are required to better understand the role of nutrition in canine cardiac health.

In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported cases of dilated cardiomyo-pathy (DCM) in dogs, including breeds without known genetic predisposition, fed diets containing a high proportion of legumes or potatoes, many labelled grain-free. Despite concerns, grain-free diets remain increasingly popular. This review summarizes recent studies on the effects of grain-free diets on cardiac health in dogs, exploring taurine deficiency, metabolic data, and emerging hypotheses beyond nutritional deficiency. These findings suggest a strong link between diet and DCM, particularly regarding legumes. Dogs of various breeds, show larger left ventricular diameters, reduced systolic function, and increased premature ventricular complexes when fed non-traditional, grain-free, legume-rich diets compared to those on traditional, low-legume diets. Many affected dogs improve clinically and functionally with dietary changes and treatment, suggesting nutritional DCM may be reversible. Though mechanisms remain unclear, research results highlight the role of legumes, especially peas, gut microbiota, and fiber-related bile acid metabolism. The review also distinguishes taurine-deficiency-related DCM as a separate form, with certain breeds, notably Golden Retrievers, being more susceptible. Overall, the analysis underscores the vital role of nutrition in canine cardiac health and calls for further studies.

The Moon is at the centre of many popular beliefs, including the notion that the number of parturitions increases during Full Moon days, a belief widely held among breeders to anticipate calving periods. However, this association has been rarely explored in dairy cattle farming. This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the association between the lunar cycles and calving distribution, with particular focus on a potential increase during full-moon nights. Data from 383,926 calvings of Montbéliard breed, recorded between March 2022 and January 2025, mostly in Franche-Comté (98.2%), France, were analyzed using a Generalized Linear Model (GLM). Results revealed a significant association between the lunar cycle and calving distribution. Model-adjusted means were significantly higher than the overall mean during the New Moon and the Last Quarter phases (+2.6%, p < 0.05), and significantly lower during the Full Moon phase (−3.1%, p < 0.01). At the synodic day level, days 21 and 29 presented the highest model-adjusted means (+23.2% and +23.4% above the overall mean, respectively; p < 0.001), while days 4 and 15 presented the lowest (−35.2% and −31.1%, respectively; p < 0.001). Across all seasons, a consistent trend toward increased calving frequency was observed during the New Moon phase, reaching statistical significance only in Spring (+5.7%, p < 0.05). These findings may offer potential implications for veterinarians and breeders, particularly when considering approaches to ensure adequate colostrum intake, which may contribute to improving management of parturition periods.

The Moon is at the centre of many popular beliefs including that the number of births increases during Full Moon days, followed by many breeders to anticipate calving periods. However, it has been rarely explored in dairy cattle farming. This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the association of lunar cycles on calving distribution, with particular focus on a potential increase during full-moon nights. Data from 383,926 calvings of Montbéliard breed that occurred between March 2022, and January 2025, mostly in Franche-Comté (98.2%), France were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM). Results revealed significant association of the lunar cycle on calving distribution, it was observed a higher calving probability than the average (p < 0.001, +15%) during the New Moon, and a lower calving probability than the average during the First Quarter and Full Moon phases (p < 0.001 for both and -1.5% and -11%, respectively) in all groups, primiparous, multiparous, male and female. The observed patterns may have practical implications for veterinarians and breeders, particularly in ensuring adequate colostrum intake, thereby supporting improved management of parturition periods.