The rising cost and environmental impact of conventional protein sources in poultry feed necessitate exploration of sustainable alternatives. Azolla pinnata (AP), a nutrient-rich aquatic fern, has emerged as a promising candidate. Our objective was to evaluate the potential of AP as a sustainable feed ingredient for broilers, focusing on its impact on growth, feed efficiency, gut health, and profitability. To obtain AP, we harvested green Azolla from river banks using plastic sieves, sun-dried it, and pulverized it. Three-hundred-day-old Cobb chicks were individually weighed and randomly assigned to four dietary groups, namely: Group A (the control, 0g APM/kg feed), Group B (1g APM/kg feed), Group C (2g APM/kg feed), and Group D (3g APM/kg feed). The study used a completely randomized design with four treatments, each having three replicates of 15 broilers. Broiler weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), villus height, villus-crypt ratio, and economic returns were assessed. The results showed that broilers fed with 3g APM/kg feed had significantly improved weight gain, optimal feed intake, and the lowest FCR compared to other groups. This group also exhibited increased villus height and villus-crypt ratio, suggesting enhanced nutrient absorption. Notably, the 3g APM/kg feed group showed a 22% increase in net returns compared to the control. This study provides compelling evidence for the potential of APM as a sustainable and cost-effective protein source in broiler diets. It offers economic benefits to farmers while promoting gut health and improved broiler performance. Further research can explore the long-term effects and optimal APM inclusion levels for large-scale adoption in the poultry industry.

This study aimed to identify key morphometric predictors of body weight in local ducks and assess their genetic diversity to inform breeding programs in southeastern Nigeria. A total of 200 ducks (100 from each of the states of Abia and Imo) were measured for 10 morphometric traits to evaluate their relationship with body weight. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed five distinct clusters within the duck population, with Cluster 1 showing the lowest and Cluster 5 the highest average body weights. Hierarchical clustering corroborated these groupings. Correlation analysis identified body circumference (BDC) as the most reliable predictor of body weight (r=0.76). Gender-specific trends were also observed: shank length (SHL) had a positive correlation with females (r=0.65), while neck length (NKL) was more strongly correlated with males (r=0.72). The strongest overall correlation was between body weight and body circumference, modelled by the equation BDW = 2401.41 + 122.04 × BDC (R²=0.84, r=0.91). For genetic diversity assessment, 40 blood samples (20 from each state) were collected from randomly selected, unrelated ducks. DNA was extracted, amplified using PCR, and sequenced, revealing two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): C→A and A→G substitutions. This led to the identification of two homozygous (CC, AA) and two heterozygous (CA, AG) genotypes, along with four haplotypes and 133 polymorphic sites. The haplotype diversity was 1.000, and nucleotide diversity averaged 0.606%. These findings demonstrate that integrating morphometric and molecular analyses provides a robust framework for characterizing local duck populations. This dual approach supports the development of informed breeding strategies to enhance productivity, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Programmable genome editing enables heritable genetic modifications for livestock production, disease resistance, and animal welfare. However, its translational maturity across species and traits has not been systematically benchmarked against breeding-program standards. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The Web of Science Core Collection (SCI-Expanded) was searched for peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2026 using terms spanning ZFN, TALEN, CRISPR–Cas systems, base editors, prime editors, livestock, animal breeding, and biosafety. A total of 1,326 records were identified; 526 underwent full-text assessment, and 133 met eligibility criteria for qualitative synthesis. A quantitative subset of 28 primary experimental studies reporting editing efficiency, mosaicism, or multigenerational transmission was subjected to structured cross-study comparison. CRISPR–Cas9 was used in 24 of the 28 quantitative studies; notably, no primary livestock study reported founder-level quantitative data for base or prime editing. Across embryo-stage knockout studies, the median on-target efficiency was 84% (range: 45–100%). While SCNT-derived founders were uniformly non-mosaic by clonal design, mosaicism in zygote-edited animals ranged from 20 to 100%. Off-target analysis was reported in 43% of studies, but only 11% employed whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Multigenerational validation beyond founders was documented in 25% of studies, with three reaching the F2 generation or equivalent. Species-level maturity was highest for porcine CD163 editing, which demonstrated multigenerational, production-relevant validation for PRRSV resistance. No primary study identified in this review reported replicated parent–offspring trio-based WGS in directly zygote-edited livestock under contemporary methodological standards. For somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)-derived founders, variant analysis was typically performed relative to the unedited donor cell line, and genome-wide assessments in this context have reported low off-target variant burdens relative to donor baselines, although cross-study comparability remains limited by heterogeneity in sequencing depth, variant-calling pipelines, and reporting thresholds. Finally, unintended on-target structural alterations, including plasmid backbone integration, were documented in SCNT-derived cattle. A robust proof-of-concept has been achieved for monogenic trait editing in pigs and cattle, yet the evidence base for breeding-scale deployment remains limited. Critical gaps include the absence of trio-based off-target baselines, a lack of cross-platform structural variant comparisons, and the unvalidated integration of computational tools within livestock editing pipelines. Responsible translation requires molecular validation depth proportional to dissemination intent as well as multi-generational, multi-environment performance data prior to commercialization. Graphical Abstract The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious transboundary viral disease affecting livestock, causing significant economic losses. This sero-epidemiological study investigated FMD distribution and associated risk factors in cattle and buffaloes along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. A total of 800 serum samples were collected from cattle (n = 610) and buffaloes (n = 190) and tested for antibodies against FMD viral structural proteins (SP) and non-structural proteins (NSP) using ELISA. Overall, 35.25% (282/800) of samples were NSP-positive, indicating natural infection. Serotype-specific analysis showed serotype O as the most prevalent (66.1%), followed by serotype A (50%) and Asia-1 (32%). Cattle exhibited higher FMD prevalence (37%; 95% CI: 33–40) than buffaloes (30%; 95% CI: 23–37). Significant spatial variations in SP and NSP Seroprevalence were observed across different areas. Risk factor analysis identified male sex, young age (1–2 years), crossbred and exotic breeds, summer season, large herd size, smallholders subsistence production systems, poor body condition, and animal movement as factors associated with significantly higher (p < 0.05) FMD circulation. These findings indicate that FMD is highly endemic in the border region and highlight the critical need for government-led mass vaccination campaigns, targeted risk-based surveillance, and stringent movement control to mitigate disease spread. Implementation of such control strategies is essential to safeguard livestock health and protect the regional economy from substantial losses.

This study explored Azolla pinnata meal as a sustainable alternative in broiler diets, using 300-day-old broilers. The four treatment groups (A, B, C, D) received 0g/kg, 1g/kg, 2g/kg, and 3g/kg of Azolla meal, respectively. Nutrient digestibility and nutritional analysis ensured a balanced diet. Results showed significant growth improvement, with the 3g/kg Azolla group achieving the most favorable feed conversion ratio (FCR) at 1.66, aligning with sustainability goals. A notable finding was the progressive increase in FCR over five weeks with week three displaying the highest FCR. Moreover, the observation of increasing FCR throughout the five-week experimental period, higher Azolla supplementation correlated with increased ileal villus height, indicating improved nutrient absorption. Consistent crypt depth emphasized Azolla’s specific impact on villus height. One of the distinctive aspects of this study lies in its emphasis on histopathological analysis, a facet that sets it apart from existing research in the domain. These results provide insights into Azolla pinnata meal’s sustainable use in broiler nutrition, promoting growth, feed efficiency, and gut health. In conclusion, 3g/kg Azolla supplementation positively impacted broiler performance, emphasizing its potential in sustainable poultry production.