Today, in the modern consumer era, we are facing a significant change in terms of preferences and behaviour. This tendency is not only a basic desire, but rather a significant social and cultural movement that exerts a tremendous influence on the food industry and correlated sectors. In this direction, food authorities and experts have thoroughly evaluated the practicality of employing natural preservation methods to enhance the quality and safety of foodstuffs, while preserving their nutritional and sensory attributes. Given this context, the development of meat products enhanced with Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil (CZEO) poses promising avenues, such as extended shelf-life due to its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. CZEO also has many health benefits, rendering it as a promising ingredient in functional meat product formulations. Conversely, challenges such as higher associated costs, sensory interactions, and variability arise. Hence, the aim of this review is to offer a novel critical perspective on CZEO’s potential application as a functional ingredient in meat products formulations and to address the inherent associated challenges, based on the last five years of scholarly publications.

This review explores sexual aggression in broiler breeder males, aiming to synthesize existing scientific evidence regarding its causes, behavioral manifestations, and consequences, while addressing the genetic, neuroendocrine, and environmental mechanisms involved. Through an extensive analysis of scientific literature, the paper highlights that intensive genetic selection aimed at enhancing growth and productivity has resulted in unintended behavioral dysfunctions. These include the reduction or absence of courtship behavior, the occurrence of forced copulations, and a notable increase in injury rates among hens. Reproductive challenges observed in meat-type breeder flocks, in contrast to those in layer lines, appear to stem from selection practices that have overlooked traits related to mating behavior. Environmental and managerial conditions, including photoperiod manipulation, stocking density, nutritional imbalances, and the use of mixed-sex rearing systems, are also identified as contributing factors to the expression of sexual aggression. Furthermore, recent genetic findings indicate a potential link between inherited neurobehavioral factors and aggressive behavior, with the SORCS2 gene emerging as a relevant candidate. Based on these insights, the review emphasizes the importance of considering behavioral parameters in breeding programs in order to reconcile productivity objectives with animal welfare standards. Future research may benefit from a more integrative approach that combines behavioral, physiological, and genomic data to better understand and address the multifactorial nature of sexual aggression in poultry systems.

This paper reports on the development and implementation of a digital pathology platform aimed at improving veterinary students’ learning experiences. Traditional pathology labs limit individual access to physical slides, restricting independent study and detailed examination. The platform provides on-demand access to a comprehensive library of high-resolution digital slides, enabling flexible and personalized learning. Using a mixed-method approach, including surveys and usage analytics, we evaluated its impact on student outcomes. Results showed a significant increase in student engagement and satisfaction, with median usefulness ratings of 5 on a 5-point scale. Usage data indicated enhanced study habits, including increased incidence of students reviewing digital slides independently compared to traditional methods. Qualitative feedback highlighted the platform’s high-resolution imaging and zoom functionality as key features improving students’ understanding of histopathological details. Minor challenges during digitization were addressed to optimize accessibility and interactivity. Overall, this digital platform supports the development of essential diagnostic skills and aligns with contemporary veterinary education skills. The findings demonstrate that integrating digital pathology resources can effectively complement conventional teaching, fostering deeper learning and greater flexibility in study practices.

In broiler breeder flocks, mating may cause traumatic skin lesions in hens, yet their biological significance remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate associations between mating-related lesions and physical and physiological status in broiler breeder hens, focusing on lesion severity and anatomical location. At 40 weeks, 39 hens were examined, including 29 with mating-related lesions and 10 lesion-free controls. Birds underwent clinical examination, body weight and plumage assessment, serum corticosterone measurement, and ultrasonographic evaluation of ovarian activity. Affected hens had lower body weight than controls, and 58.6% showed ovarian inactivity. Within affected hens, body weight was positively associated with plumage score and ovarian activity. Gross lesion severity was not consistently associated with body weight, plumage condition, or ovarian activity, whereas lesion location provided additional information on these indicators. Hens with cephalic lesions had lower body weight, poorer plumage condition, and lower ovarian activity than hens with trunk lesions, despite less severe lesions macroscopically. Serum corticosterone concentrations did not differ between groups or vary with lesion severity or location. These findings suggest that mating-related lesions may reflect more than superficial injury and that lesion location, particularly cephalic involvement, may provide useful information on the biological status of affected hens.

The global shift toward digital pathology necessitates accessible and cost-effective training tools, posing a significant challenge for resource-constrained veterinary faculties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the academic impact of a cost-effective, in-house-developed digital pathology platform implemented at a Romanian Veterinary Faculty during the 2024–2025 academic year. Grade data from six academic years (2018–2025) were used as historical controls. Statistical analysis, including independent-samples t-tests, ANOVA, and multivariable regression, was performed on individual student grade data to assess changes in academic performance and grade distribution. Results demonstrate a statistically significant increase in mean grades and a higher proportion of top-performing students following platform adoption. The 2024–2025 cohort outperformed four of five prior cohorts, showing a marked shift toward higher grades and fewer low grades. We conclude that this low-cost digital pathology platform may significantly enhance student academic outcomes in veterinary pathology education. These findings validate a scalable and sustainable model for improving pedagogical delivery in resource-conscious institutions worldwide. Further longitudinal research is essential to track the long-term sustainability of these academic gains and confirm the platform’s impact across multiple graduating cohorts.