The dairy industry contributes significantly to anthropogenic methane emissions, which have an impact on global warming. This study aimed to investigate the effects of a dietary inclusion of brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum on enteric methane emissions (EMEs), hematological and blood biochemical profiles, and milk composition in dairy cows. Eighteen Holstein cows were divided into three groups: CON (non-supplemented cows), BS₅₀ (50 mL of 10% A. nodosum), and BS₁₀₀ (100 mL of 10% A. nodosum). In each cow, measurements of EME, dry matter intake (DMI), and milk yield (MY), as well as blood and milk sampling with respective analyzes, were performed before supplementation (P1), after 15 (P2) days, and after 30 (P3) days of supplementation. A. nodosum reduced (p < 0.05) methane production, methane yield, and methane intensity in both BS₅₀ and BS₁₀₀, and raised DMI (p < 0.05) only in BS₅₀. Total bilirubin (p < 0.05) was higher in BS₅₀ compared to CON cows in P2, and triacylglycerols were lower (p < 0.05) in BS₅₀ than in CON cows in P3. Higher milk fat content was found in BS₅₀ than in CON cows in P3. C16:0 proportions were higher (p < 0.05) in BS₅₀ and BS₁₀₀ than in CON cows, while C18:3n-3 was higher (p < 0.05) in BS₁₀₀ than in BS₅₀ and CON cows in P3. Dietary treatment with A. nodosum reduced EMEs and showed the potential to increase DMI and to improve energy status as well as milk composition in peak-lactating dairy cows.

Dietary tannin supplementation represents a potential strategy to modulate rumen fermentation and enhance lactation performance in dairy cows, though responses remain inconsistent. A 21-day feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of chestnut tannin (CNT) extract on the enteric methane emissions (EME), blood metabolites, and milk production traits in mid-lactation dairy cows. Thirty-six Holstein cows were allocated to three homogeneous treatment groups: control (CNT₀, 0 g/d CNT), CNT₄₀ (40 g/d CNT), and CNT₈₀ (80 g/d CNT). Measurements of EME, dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield (MY), and blood and milk parameters were carried out pre- and post-21-day supplementation period. Compared with the no-additive group, the CNT extract reduced methane production, methane yield, and methane intensity in CNT₄₀ and CNT₈₀ (p < 0.001). CNT₄₀ and CNT₈₀ cows exhibited lower blood urea nitrogen (p = 0.019 and p = 0.002) and elevated serum insulin (p = 0.003 and p < 0.001) and growth hormone concentrations (p = 0.046 and p = 0.034), coinciding with reduced aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.016 and p = 0.045), and lactate dehydrogenase (p = 0.011 and p = 0.008) activities compared to control. However, CNT₈₀ had higher circulating NEFA and BHBA than CNT₀ (p = 0.003 and p = 0.004) and CNT₄₀ (p = 0.035 and p = 0.019). The blood glucose, albumin, and total bilirubin concentrations were not affected. MY and fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM), MY/DMI, and FPCM/DMI were higher in both CNT₄₀ (p = 0.004, p = 0.003, p = 0.014, p = 0.010) and CNT₈₀ (p = 0.002, p = 0.003, p = 0.008, p = 0.013) cows compared with controls. Feeding CNT₈₀ resulted in higher protein content (p = 0.015) but lower fat percentage in milk (p = 0.004) compared to CNT₀. Milk urea nitrogen and somatic cell counts were significantly lower in both CNT₄₀ (p < 0.001, p = 0.009) and CNT₈₀ (p < 0.001 for both) compared to CNT₀, while milk lactose did not differ between treatments. These findings demonstrate that chestnut tannin extract effectively mitigates EME while enhancing lactation performance in mid-lactation dairy cows.

In recent years, there have been numerous research activities related to the use of different herbal agents, especially those originating from chestnuts and garlic, as alternatives to synthetic growth promoters like antibiotics. Garlic and its active ingredients have been studied for their potential benefits, such as improving feed intake, production performance, rumen fermentation, and udder health. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of garlic polysulfides, including diallyl polysulfide and dipropyl polysulfide, on hematological and biochemical parameters in dairy cows, as well as their possible effect on subclinical mastitis therapy. Eighteen late lactation Holstein cows were divided into three numerically equal groups (n=6): CON (non-supplemented cows), ALL (supplemented with 1000 mg/day of diallyl polysulfide), and PRP (supplemented with 1000 mg/day of dipropyl polysulfide). Blood sampling for hematological and biochemical analyses as well as the California mastitis test (CMT) test were performed before and after the 15-day study. The results showed that garlic supplementation significantly increased blood leukocyte count and blood glucose concentration (p<0.05, respectively), and significantly decreased blood urea concentration (p<0.05) after the 15-day trial in both ALL and PRP groups compared with the day 0. In the supplemented groups, the CMT score was significantly lower (p<0.05, respectively) after the 15-day treatment compared with the CON group. The use of different mixtures of biologically active garlic polysulfides in the diet could improve immune and metabolic status, as well as support mastitis treatments in dairy cows.

Very intensive expansion of breeding capacities, early weaning of piglets from inadequate microclimatic conditions, and inadequate nutrition in different production categories caused the appearance of production-related technological diseases. Diseases of the digestive organs are a significant part of pig pathology. Of the enteric diseases, great importance belongs to dysentery. It is characterized by long-term germination and a large number of vectors. Two diseases that were previously considered to be atypical forms of dysentery, resulting from a shortened period of medication and resistance of the causative agent to an exemplary antibiotic, today appear as separate entities. The first is so-called proliferative enteropathy, and the second is spirochetal colitis. Both of these diseases are present in pig herds with different management, often in pig herds with high health status, after the elimination of the causative agent of dysentery. Coli infections are present mainly in weaned piglets and appear in the second week after weaning. In our conditions, the disease is diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms, rarely on the basis of pathomorphological changes. On controlled farms (5 commercial farms and 10 extensive breeding farms), a clinical examination of the herd of pigs was performed. Rectal swabs were taken. We separated the sick animals into special boxes and monitored their health. The number of weaned piglets in the weaned category was variable. The number of dead pigs in the fattening category is particularly surprising. The aim of this review is to provide information on bacterial diseases of the digestive organs of weaned piglets in two housing systems and to provide a solution.

In contemporary industrial pig production, there is a tendency to disregard the animals' biological needs, which has deleterious consequences for their health and significantly impacts production efficiency. The health of suckling piglets is a prerequisite for profitable pig production and is contingent on the conditions of their keeping, care, nutrition, and health control. The control of diseases of infectious etiology on farms can be achieved through the implementation of prophylactic and therapeutic measures, in addition to heightened oversight of professional services. Viral diseases of the digestive organs represent a constant threat to pig production. It is a fact that one of the most prevalent health concerns is the incidence of diarrhea. Diarrhea has been identified as a significant economic and health concern within pig populations. In the majority of cases, therapy is symptomatic and frequently yields unsatisfactory outcomes. Vaccination is not a viable option in most cases, and prevention and disease control are limited to implementing animal hygiene measures. Following the implementation of standard animal hygiene measures on farms, the subsequent step is to introduce internal and external biosecurity measures. This involves the monitoring of biosecurity indicators. In the context of our research project, we undertook the monitoring of diseases affecting the digestive organs of pigs from controlled farms. The objective of the present study was to provide a comprehensive overview of diseases of the digestive organs of viral etiology.