Introduction: Heat stress negatively affects both animal reproductive performance and their overall wellbeing and welfare. When temperatures soar, the body responds to maintain balance, resulting in heat stress. This triggers various responses, including the buildup of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can harm sperm vitality through lipid peroxidation. Oxidative damage can result in sperm dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of environmental heat stress on canine quantitative and qualitative ejaculate parameters.Methods: Thirty-six male crossbred dogs were involved in the trial. This study was performed in 2022, precisely from May to August. Dogs were subdivided in two groups, one heat stressed (HS) and one in thermoneutrality (TN). Thermo Hygrometric Index (THI) was hourly measured and ranged from 60 to 71 in TN dogs and from 60 to 83 for HS dogs. Semen and blood samples were collected at 30-day intervals, starting from May (0 days), and then at 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days and analysis for evaluating biochemical profile, semen oxidative status, and semen quality were performed.Results: In HS dogs, serum total protein, albumin, and urea concentrations showed a significant decrease after 60 days (P < 0.01), with values lower than those observed in TN dogs (P < 0.01). Both catalase and glutathione peroxidase concentrations were reduced after 60 days in HS dogs, showing lower levels than the TN group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Antioxidant potential increased over time in HS dogs, reaching higher values at 60 days (P < 0.05) and 90 days (P < 0.01). On the other hand, ROS in the sperm of HS animals rose by day 90, surpassing the values recorded at previous time points and in TN dogs (P < 0.01). Semen concentration (P > 0.01) and total sperm count (P < 0.05) declined after 30 days in the HS group and remained lower than the TN group throughout the trial.Discussion: The study demonstrates that heat stress negatively affects the oxidative status and sperm quality of male dogs, reducing reproductive performance. However, further research is needed due to the lack of complete breed homogeneity in the study groups.

The increasing integration of sensing devices with smart technologies, deep learning algorithms, and robotics is profoundly transforming the agricultural sector in the context of Farming 4.0. These technological advancements constitute critical enablers for the development of customized, data-driven farming systems, offering potential solutions to the challenges of agricultural intensification while addressing societal concerns associated with the emerging paradigm of “farming by numbers”. The Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) systems enable the continuous, real-time, and individual sensing of livestock in order to detect subtle change in animals’ status and permit timely corrective actions. In addition, smart technology implementation within the housing environment leads the whole farming sector towards enhanced business rentability and food security as well as increased animal health and welfare conditions. Looking to the future, the collection, processing, and analysis of data with advanced statistic methods provide valuable information useful to design predictive models and foster the insight on animal welfare, environmental sustainability, farming productivity, and profitability. This review highlights the significant potential of implementing advanced sensing systems in livestock farming, examining the scientific foundations of PLF and analyzing the main technological applications driving the transition from traditional practices to more modern and efficient farming models.

• Dietary polyphenols can modulate rumen fermentation and improve cow health. • Microbial and host metabolism shape polyphenol bioavailability and transfer. • Polyphenol metabolites like equol and urolithins have been identified in bovine milk. • Milk enrichment depends on compound type, microbiota, and mammary transport. • Advanced UHPLC–MS/MS enables precise tracing of milk polyphenol metabolites.

Introduction: Dairy cows are highly susceptible to heat stress, raising concerns about animal welfare, production efficiency, and economic losses. Previous studies suggest that Holstein and Brown Swiss breeds exhibit different levels of thermal tolerance, but their short-term adaptive responses require further investigation.Methods: This study aimed to evaluate breed-specific physiological and productive responses to a 4-day natural heat wave in 40 lactating cows (20 Holstein, 20 Brown Swiss) from the same commercial dairy farm, homogeneous for days in milk, body condition score, parity, and energy-corrected milk yield. Before the heat wave, cows experienced at least 48 h in thermoneutral conditions. Physiological parameters were recorded three times daily (4:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM). Blood samples were collected before the heat wave (D1, 4:00 AM, thermoneutral conditions) and at the warmest moment of the fourth day (D4, 3:00 PM, heat stress conditions).Results and Discussion: The heat wave negatively impacted physiological parameters in both breeds. Rectal temperature increased daily from 4:00 AM to 3:00 PM (p < 0.01), with Holstein cows showing consistently higher values than Brown Swiss (p < 0.01). Respiration rate reached its lowest point at 4:00 AM each day (p < 0.01) but remained elevated at 8:00 PM, despite decreasing THI, indicating accumulated heat load. While both breeds followed a similar trend, Holsteins exhibited a greater capacity for overnight recovery compared to Brown Swiss. Regarding productivity, Brown Swiss cows maintained stable milk yield (MY) from D1 to D4, whereas Holsteins showed a progressive MY decline throughout the heat wave (p < 0.01). Most blood parameters showed no significant breed differences (p > 0.05), but heat shock protein 70, a key regulator of thermal adaptation, exhibited an increasing trend in both breeds (p < 0.01), appearing earlier than other physiological indicators of heat stress.Conclusion: This study, conducted under identical conditions, highlights distinct breed-specific responses to short-term heat stress. The findings suggest that Brown Swiss cows may be more resilient to heat stress in terms of productivity, while Holsteins show better nighttime recovery. Further research should explore additional physiological and molecular markers to better characterize breed differences and improve heat stress mitigation strategies in dairy farming.

Introduction: Heat stress negatively affects canine reproductive health by inducing oxidative stress and impairing sperm quality. This study assessed the efficacy of a polyphenolic extract from Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) lignin (PTHL), in mitigating heat stress-induced oxidative damage and preserving sperm quality in dogs.Methods: Forty clinically healthy male dogs were divided into two groups: a control (CON) group receiving a standard diet and a PTHL-supplemented group for 90 days. During summer, dogs were exposed to natural heat stress, and key parameters, including serum biochemical markers, oxidative stress indicators, antioxidant enzyme activity, and sperm quality were evaluated. Mixed-effects models analyzed group, time, and interaction effects.Results and discussion: PTHL supplementation significantly reduced plasma TBARS and seminal d-ROMs levels (P < 0.01), indicating lower lipid peroxidation and confirming its protective effects. Antioxidant capacity improved in the PTHL group, with increased activities of antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, CAT, and GSPx) and elevated plasma Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) levels (P < 0.01). Notably, the PTHL group demonstrated higher progressive motility (P < 0.01) and a greater percentage of rapid-movement sperm (P < 0.01) at 90 days, indicating improved sperm function under heat stress.Conclusion: These findings suggest that PTHL enhances antioxidant defenses, mitigating heat stress-induced reproductive impairment. This natural strategy may improve fertility in dogs facing environmental challenges. Future studies should explore different dosages and extended supplementation to optimize its benefits.