Abstract:Export-oriented markets increasingly require verifiable movement histories from smallholder aggregators. A permissioned ledger pilot linked ear-tag events, transport waybills, and abattoir inspection outcomes across three cooperative clusters. Participating buyers reported faster dispute resolution on lot mixing, while farmers valued tamper-evident vaccination logs; infrastructure gaps in rural connectivity remain the primary barrier to daily data entry.
Abstract:Re-exposure of silage face to oxygen accelerates heating and mycotoxin risk in warm climates. Laboratory incubations of samples taken at zero, twelve, and twenty-four hours after partial-bag opening quantified temperature rise and yeast counts. Lactic acid bacteria inoculation at ensiling extended stable exposure time, but face management practices such as daily removal depth and sheeting proved equally influential in on-farm trials.
Abstract:Economic shocks interact with biological constraints when farmers decide which cows to retain. A discrete-choice experiment embedded in a survey of Norwegian and Lithuanian dairy producers elicited stated culling rules under hypothetical price scenarios. Loss-averse respondents delayed culling of high-yielding cows with chronic mastitis history, whereas profit-maximizing profiles aligned more closely with recommended parity-based replacement models.
Abstract:Frequent weight gain monitoring supports feed allocation and market timing but manual weighing stresses animals. A prototype platform integrating four load cells beneath a short race was validated against chute weights for steers over a ninety-day finishing period. Random-effects models show daily medians track individual growth curves with root mean square error under four kilograms when footing is kept dry and passage speed is controlled.
Abstract:Blanket intramammary dry-cow treatment is increasingly questioned under antimicrobial stewardship policies. Quarterly bulk-tank culture results and individual cow somatic cell count histories from forty-six herds were used to model predicted cure and new-infection risk. Selective protocols reduced antibiotic use by roughly one third without increasing clinical mastitis incidence during the subsequent lactation when farmer training emphasized culture interpretation.
Abstract:Declining rumination minutes often precede visible signs of heat stress when temperature-humidity index exceeds comfort thresholds. We linked collar time series with rectal temperature and respiration rate during two summer periods in a freestall herd equipped with sprinklers and fans. Machine-learning classifiers using rumination variance and drinking-bout frequency detected moderate stress episodes six to ten hours earlier than manual pen walks alone.
Abstract:Digital dermatitis remains a leading cause of lameness where slatted floors limit dry resting surfaces. Monthly lesion scores and pooled skin swabs from hind feet were analyzed with quantitative PCR for treponeme groups. M2 lesion prevalence correlated with treponeme load more strongly than with herd size, suggesting targeted topical protocols should follow lesion-stage monitoring rather than blanket treatment schedules.
Abstract:Early detection of subclinical ketosis limits milk loss and displaced abomasum risk. We compared handheld meter readings with laboratory serum concentrations in multiparous cows during the first three weeks postpartum across twelve commercial herds. Agreement within clinical decision thresholds was acceptable for herd-level screening when samples are collected before morning feeding, though repeat testing improves sensitivity for borderline animals.
Abstract:Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a widely distributed enzyme with multiple functions, including calcium-dependent protein cross-linking, signal transduction, extracellular matrix stabilization, autophagy, and immune regulation. Although TG2 has been extensively studied in human and murine models, its specific functions in camelids remain poorly elucidated. This review, driven by a hypothesis, integrates established knowledge of TG2 with the unique physiological characteristics of Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus, such as their ability to tolerate high temperatures, resist dehydration, maintain erythrocyte integrity, and adapt immunologically. The review explores potential roles for TG2 in processes including erythrocyte oxygen transport, cellular protein homeostasis, heat shock responses, and various aspects of cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, immune, and reproductive biology. Furthermore, the review considers the possibility that TG2 dysregulation may contribute to camelid health issues, particularly hepatic and renal fibrosis, parasite-associated inflammation, and metabolic disorders—conditions that bear significant similarities to bovine health problems such as liver fluke disease and heat stress. The review highlights areas where evidence is extrapolated from other mammals and outlines research priorities, including TGM2 sequence analysis, tissue expression profiling, activity-based proteomics, and validation of TG2-related biomarkers. By proposing TG2 as a potential, rather than confirmed, mediator of camelid adaptation, this review offers a careful conceptual framework for future comparative and veterinary research pertinent to both camelid and bovine health.
Abstract:Cognitive decline complicates a wide range of neurological conditions, from Alzheimer’s disease and stroke to epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. Yet, we still lack robust pharmacological options that can modify the underlying disease rather than just treat symptoms. Because these disorders share several core mechanisms—including neuroinflammation, disrupted metal homeostasis, oxidative stress, and blood-brain barrier breakdown—there is a strong translational case for drugs that can simultaneously target multiple mechanisms. Disulfiram, an aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor approved for alcohol use disorder, has recently garnered interest as a repurposing candidate due to its pharmacological effects extending beyond alcohol aversion. This review synthesizes the mechanistic and preclinical evidence supporting disulfiram as a potential neuroprotective strategy for cognitive impairment. The central premise is that disulfiram and its metabolite diethyldithiocarbamate engage several disease-relevant pathways: enhancement of ADAM10-dependent non-amyloidogenic amyloid precursor protein processing, inhibition of gasdermin D pore formation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, modulation of copper homeostasis and ferredoxin 1-associated cuproptosis signaling, and preservation of blood-brain barrier integrity. Evidence from models of Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, intracranial hemorrhage, and ethanol-related neurotoxicity indicates that disulfiram can attenuate neuropathological injury and, in selected models, improve learning, memory, or behavioral outcomes. Nonetheless, the current evidence remains predominantly preclinical, heterogeneous, and limited by uncertainty regarding brain exposure, dosing, formulation, long-term safety, and patient selection. Clinical translation will necessitate biomarker-informed trials, careful management of hepatic, neurological, psychiatric, and alcohol-related risks, and a clear distinction between neuroprotection and demonstrated cognitive benefit. Overall, disulfiram represents a timely example of mechanism-led neuropharmacological repurposing, yet its role in cognitive disorders should be considered a testable therapeutic hypothesis rather than an established intervention.