Modern beef cattle reproductive management faces increasing challenges due to the growing global demand for beef. Reproductive efficiency is a critical factor determining the productivity and profitability of beef cattle operations. Optimal reproductive performance in a beef cattle herd is achieved when each cow produces one calf per year, maintaining a calving interval of 365 days. However, this goal is difficult to achieve, as the gestation period in beef cows lasts approximately 280 days, leaving only 80–85 days for successful conception. Traditional methods, such as visual estrus detection, are becoming increasingly unreliable due to expanding herd sizes and the subjectivity of visual observation. Additionally, silent estrus—where ovulation occurs without noticeable behavioral changes—further complicates the accurate estrous-based identification of the optimal insemination period. To enhance reproductive efficiency, advanced technologies are increasingly being integrated into cattle management. Sensor-based monitoring systems, including accelerometers, pedometers, and ruminoreticular boluses, enable the precise tracking of activity changes associated with the estrous cycle. Furthermore, infrared thermography offers a non-invasive method for detecting body temperature fluctuations, allowing for more accurate estrus identification and optimized timing of insemination. The use of these innovative technologies has the potential to significantly improve reproductive efficiency in beef cattle herds and contribute to overall farm productivity and sustainability. The objective of this review is to examine advancements in smart technologies applied to beef cattle reproductive management, presenting commercially available technologies and recent scientific studies on innovative systems. The focus is on sensor-based monitoring systems and infrared thermography for optimizing reproduction. Additionally, the challenges associated with these technologies and their potential to enhance reproductive efficiency and sustainability in the beef cattle industry are discussed. Despite the benefits of advanced technologies, their implementation in cattle farms is hindered by financial and technical challenges. High initial investment costs and the complexity of data analysis may limit their adoption, particularly in small and medium-sized farms. However, the continuous development of these technologies and their adaptation to farmers’ needs may significantly contribute to more efficient and sustainable reproductive management in beef cattle production.

The bovine uterus, once considered sterile, is now recognized as a dynamic microbial ecosystem that undergoes substantial changes during the postpartum period and plays a critical role in reproductive health. This study investigated the composition and temporal dynamics of the uterine bacterial and fungal microbiota in postpartum Angus cows and showed that dietary grape pomace bolus supplementation was associated with temporal shifts in microbial community composition, including changes in selected bacterial taxa and increased fungal community stability. A total of 19 cows were allocated to control (n = 10) or treatment groups (n = 9), with treated animals receiving slow-release grape pomace boluses administered every three weeks from 21 days prepartum until 60–70 days postpartum. Uterine lavage samples were collected during the first (days 4–12) and ninth (days 63–70) postpartum weeks and analyzed using amplicon-based sequencing targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA (V3–V4) region and the fungal ITS2 region. The uterine microbiota exhibited pronounced temporal changes, with Firmicutes predominating in the early postpartum period and an increased abundance of potentially pathogenic Fusobacteria and Bacteroidetes observed by week nine postpartum, particularly in control cows. Grape pomace supplementation was associated with a more favorable bacterial profile, including a reduced relative abundance of key uterine pathogens such as Fusobacterium necrophorum and Trueperella pyogenes. The uterine mycobiome was dominated by Ascomycota across all groups; however, supplemented cows showed greater fungal community stability and a lower prevalence of opportunistic genera, including Candida spp. In conclusion, dietary grape pomace supplementation may beneficially modulate both bacterial and fungal uterine microbiota during the postpartum period, suggesting its potential as a natural strategy to support uterine microbial homeostasis and reproductive health in beef cows.

The equine reproductive microbiota has emerged as an important factor influencing reproductive health and fertility in both mares and stallions. Traditionally, the equine uterus was considered sterile, and microbial presence was interpreted primarily in the context of infection. However, sequencing-based studies have demonstrated that the reproductive tract, including the uterus and semen, contains detectable microbial communities or microbial DNA signatures, challenging this traditional paradigm. In mares, the vaginal microbiota is consistently dominated by Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria, whereas the uterine environment represents a low-biomass niche in which interpretation is complicated by contamination risk and the inability of sequencing-based methods to distinguish viable from nonviable microorganisms. Culture-based studies consistently identify opportunistic pathogens such as Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in association with endometritis and persistent breeding-induced endometritis, while sequencing-based studies suggest broader community-level dysbiosis rather than simple pathogen presence. In stallions, semen is not sterile and commonly contains taxa such as Porphyromonas, Corynebacterium, Peptoniphilus, and other opportunistic bacteria that may influence sperm quality and microbial transmission to mares during breeding. However, most reported associations remain correlative, and direct longitudinal evidence for persistent stallion-to-mare microbial transmission is limited. This review synthesizes current evidence on microbial composition, hormonal influences, dysbiosis, and reproductive implications of the equine reproductive microbiota, integrating culture-based and sequencing-based findings while emphasizing methodological limitations associated with low-biomass samples. Improved understanding of these microbial ecosystems may support more evidence-based reproductive diagnostics and microbiome-informed fertility management in horses.

The postpartum period in beef cows is characterized by complex physiological and reproductive changes that may influence the postpartum reproductive changes and estrus expression. This exploratory pilot study evaluated postpartum reproductive responses in Angus cows receiving grape extract supplementation while investigating associations among thermographic, behavioral, hormonal, and reticulorumen temperature indicators associated with estrus expression. Nineteen Angus cows were assigned to a control group (C; n = 10) or a treatment group receiving slow-release grape extract boluses (T; n = 9). From calving until artificial insemination, ocular and vulvar thermographic images, blood samples, and physiological measurements were obtained weekly between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Reticulorumen temperature and activity data were continuously recorded using intraruminal sensors. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis demonstrated an earlier onset of postpartum estrus in supplemented cows compared with controls (p = 0.010). Mean time to first estrus was 23.88 ± 1.86 days in the T group and 39.82 ± 5.05 days in the C group. No significant differences were observed between groups for most individual physiological or hormonal variables. Exploratory correlation analysis revealed moderate associations among vulvar temperature, ocular temperature, activity, estrus index, and reticulorumen temperature indicators. However, because diagnostic accuracy was not evaluated, these findings should not be interpreted as validation of estrus detection performance. The results suggest that multimodal physiological monitoring may provide complementary information related to postpartum estrus expression in beef cows, while grape extract supplementation may be associated with earlier postpartum reproductive recovery. Due to the exploratory study design and limited sample size, further studies are required to validate these preliminary observations.