While terrestrial organisms such as livestock are consumed regularly, studies of internal distribution and bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been focused more on aquatic organisms. In this study, we have assessed the internal distribution and fate of legacy (PCDD/Fs and PCBs) and emerging POPs (HBCDs and PFASs), and TBBPA in 42 tissues of a Bos Taurus. PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs, and HBCDs were found 3, 4, and 4-fold higher in the lipid-rich organs (subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, large intestine) compared to the remaining organs and muscles, owing to their hydrophobic properties. The TBBPA concentration in the excrement was 36-fold higher compared to the average tissues, suggesting a short internal half-life of TBBPA. Among PFASs, PFUnDA displayed 98% contribution from all ionic PFASs in the tissues due to its strong binding affinity, high exposure via feed and water, and increasing emergence of PFUnDA and its precursors in the Southeast Asian countries. While our study suggests that, at the moment, there is no significant health risks to the general Korean population, the future changes in environmental exposure as well as the internal dynamics and fate of various POPs species should be kept in mind when consuming various parts of livestock.

In recent years, numerous studies paid more attention to the molecular mechanisms associated with fluoride toxicity. However, the detailed mechanisms of fluoride immunotoxicity in bovine neutrophils remain unclear. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is a novel immune mechanism of neutrophils. We hypothesized that sodium fluoride (NaF) can trigger NETs activation and release, and investigate the related molecular mechanisms during the process. We exposed peripheral blood neutrophils to 1 mM NaF for 120 min in bovine neutrophils. The results showed that NaF exposure triggered NET-like structures decorated with histones and granule proteins. Quantitative measurement of NETs content correlated positively with the concentration of NaF. Mechanistically, NaF exposure increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and phosphorylation levels of ERK, p38, whereas inhibiting the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) compared with control neutrophils. NETs formation is induced by NaF and this effect was inhibited by the inhibitors diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI), U0126 and SB202190. Our findings described the potential importance of NaF-triggered NETs related molecules, which might help to extend the current understanding of NaF immunotoxicity.

The human pathogenic bacteria (HPB) in animal feces may disseminate to agricultural soils with their land application as organic fertilizer. However, the knowledge about the impacts of different sources and rates of animal manures on the temporal changes of soil HPB remains limited, which hamper our ability to estimate the potential risks of their land application. Here, we constructed an HPB database including 565 bacterial strains. By blasting the 16 S rRNA gene sequences against the database we explored the occurrence and fate of HPB in soil microcosms treated with two rates of swine, poultry or cattle manures. A total of 30 HPB were detected in all of manure and soil samples. Poultry manure at the high level obviously improved the abundance of soil HPB. The application of swine manure could introduce concomitant HPB into the soils. Of which, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae B728a and Escherichia coli APEC O78 may deserve more attention because of their survival for a few days in manured soils and being possible hosts of diverse antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) as revealed by co-occurrence pattern. Bayesian source tracking analysis showed that the HPB derived from swine manure had a higher contribution to soil pathogenic communities than those from poultry or cattle manures in early days of incubation. Mantel test together with variation partitioning analysis suggested that bacterial community and soil physicochemical properties were the dominant factors determining the profile of HPB and contributed 64.7% of the total variations. Overall, our results provided experimental evidence that application of animal manures could facilitate the potential dissemination of HPB in soil environment, which should arouse sufficient attention in agriculture practice and management to avoid the threat to human health.

Although livestock manure, such as from swine (Sus scrofa domestica), have high capacity to introduce endocrine-disrupting free estrogens into the environment, the frequency of estrogen detections from reconnaissance studies suggest that these compounds are ubiquitous in the environment, perhaps resulting from historic manure inputs (e.g. cattle grazing residues, undocumented historic manure applications) or uncontrolled natural sources. Compared to free estrogens, conjugates of estrogens are innocuous but have greater mobility in the environment. Estrogen conjugates can also hydrolyze to re-form the potent free estrogens. The objective of this study was to identify the transport of free and conjugated estrogens to subsurface tile drains and groundwater beneath fields treated with swine manure slurry. Three field treatments were established, two receiving swine lagoon manure slurry and one with none. Manure slurry was injected into soils at a shallow depth (∼8 cm) and water samples from tile drains and shallow wells were sampled periodically for three years. Glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of 17β-estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) were the only estrogen compounds detected in the tile drains (total detects = 31; 5% detection frequency; conc. range = 3.9–23.1 ng L(−1)), indicating the important role conjugates played in the mobility of estrogens. Free estrogens and estrogen conjugates were more frequently detected in the wells compared to the tile drains (total detects = 70; 11% detection frequency; conc. range = 4.0–1.6 × 103 ng L(−1)). No correlations were found between estrogen compound detections and dissolved or colloidal organic carbon (OC) fractions or other water quality parameters. Estrogenic compounds were detected beneath both manure treated and non-treated plots; furthermore, the total potential estrogenic equivalents (i.e. estrogenicity of hydrolyzed conjugates + free estrogens) were similar between treated and non-treated plots.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In this paper, we critically review the current state of nutritional management strategies to reduce methane emissions resulting from enteric fermentation in livestock production. In this context, it highlights the novel strategy regarding the use of macroalgal- and microalgal-derived feed additives. RECENT FINDINGS: Several feed management strategies for ruminants focus on the inclusion of nutritional supplements, increasing proportion of starch, or supplementation with high-energy lipids. These strategies aim to improve animal productivity, whilst at the same time reduce methane emissions. Algae supplements are currently investigated as novel ingredients for decreasing methanogenesis, with the potential production of algal biomass also contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, utilisation of algal biomass as a feed concentrate in dietary supplementation presents a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy. This review summarises the current stage of research on dietary strategies and their influences on the metabolic processes during enteric fermentation. This information is essential for developing strategies to mitigate methane emissions in the livestock industry. We specifically present the opportunities that algae could offer as a feed additive for methanogenic reduction in cattle. The data compiled from the peer-reviewed literature revealed synergistic effects of algal biomass on methane reduction and animal productivity. However, the challenges regarding the mass cultivation of macro- and microalgae were noticed. Considering the diversity of algal species, future research should increase screening efforts to include more species and dosage evaluation, along with efforts to see if such effects are sustained over time.

Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchment management has been constrained by knowledge gaps regarding streambank erosion processes in grazing lands. To help reduce these uncertainties a remote sensing study using high-resolution imagery estimated sediment contributions from cattle traffic on streambanks of a GBR river basin. Results suggest cattle ramps and ramp trails may contribute up to 50% of the modelled streambank sediment supply. Once a suitable delivery ratio is applied, this estimated supply may contribute up to 30% of the modelled fine sediment exported from the Fitzroy River Basin. These findings may also offer a plausible explanation for the first-flush of high sediment concentration observed early in flood hydrographs. Overall, the results could help identify what proportion of currently modelled subsoil erosion is generated by riparian cattle traffic. Future studies applying similar methods could provide useful initial estimates of streambank ramp erosion from grazing land use in other GBR river basins.

Aflatoxicosis is a serious health condition resulted from aflatoxin (AF)-producing fungi. Major health threats resulted from AFs and reflect on the livestock industry with great economic losses. There are limited scientific evidences concerning the AFs in ruminant, therefore it is important to evaluate AFs health hazards in cattle. Here, we investigate biochemical, oxidative stress, and postmortem changes associated with unexpected acute bovine aflatoxicosis. Seventy-two cattle were suffered from aflatoxisocis. Depression and inappetence were predominant clinical findings of the diseased animals. Analysis of feedstuffs revealed presence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The AF-intoxicated animals showed a significant increase in alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum creatinine (SCr), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Moreover, a significant decrease in total protein (TP), magnesium (Mg), and reduced glutathione (GSH) were also seen. Hepatomegaly, enlarged gallbladder as well as congestion of the intestine and kidney were observed. This study elucidates the critical and constructive measurements needed for the prevention of the AFs hazardous effects to livestock for the future control of AF outbreaks. Conducting series of diagnostic assays reflect the marked health condition alterations in the biochemical and antioxidant status of the AF-intoxicated cattle.

Nowadays, veterinary drug application has become an integral practice in livestock farming. Veterinary antibiotics (VAs) are administered onto animals for therapeutic use; meanwhile, in some countries, they are used for growth promotion. To indicate the level of VAs use in livestock breeding in two countries, Albania and Kosovo, their presence was studied in the animal manure. In total, 38 manure samples, 22 from Kosovo and 16 samples from Albania, belonging to cattle, pig, and poultry, were collected and investigated for the presence of VAs. Seven VAs and 2 metabolites, from the groups of sulfonamides and tetracyclines, were identified by ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The detected antibiotics were sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfathiazole (STZ), sulfamethazine (SMZ), oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline (TC), chlortetracycline (TC), and doxycycline (DOY). VAs were detected in 27% and 31.2% of the manure samples, from Kosovo and Albania, respectively, and the levels ranged from 0.04 to 10.1 mg kg⁻¹. VAs were widely detected (100%) in poultry manure from Kosovo, as well as poultry manure from Albania. The contamination rate ranged from pig manure (25%) to cow manure (66.6%). Sulfonamides were the most commonly detected VAs with maximum concentration of sulfadiazine (10.1 mg kg⁻¹) in poultry manure. Tetracyclines were most widely detected in poultry manure, as well as other animal manures. When it comes to the comparison between the two countries, VAs residues are more frequent per analyzed sample and higher in concentrations in the manure samples from Albania. Therefore, an environmental impact of VAs on both countries may be expected. These results indicate that VAs may enter the local ecosystem through manure application to agriculture and potentially may bring ecological risks.

In semiarid areas producing corn in the State of Paraiba (Brazil), despite the social and economic importance of this culture associated with some types of stress mainly in semiarid regions, as well as the soils of these regions, which in many cases have a low organic matter content, generally < 1.5%, limiting the viability of the crop. The correct management of organic fertilization via fertigation is a possibility to minimize water losses by evaporation. The objective was to evaluate the vegetative growth and productive parameters of corn (Poaceae) fertigated with bovine biofertilizer under irrigation levels. The experiment was carried out under field conditions, in the locality of the agroecology sector (UEPB, Catole do Rocha, Paraiba, Brazil). The treatments were distributed in blocks at random with four replications, in a 3 × 5 split plot scheme, represented by three irrigation depths (60, 90, and 120% of ETc—crop’s evapotranspiration) that when applied daily were considered the main plots and the subplots represented by the doses of biofertilizer (0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 mL plant⁻¹) applied biweekly via fertigation, totaling to 60 experimental plants. Plants on water stress conditions inhibit their growth and production, but when associated with biofertilizer, they result in plants with greater productive potential in semiarid conditions. The blade of 120% of the ETc provided greater growth and production of corn compared with the layers of 60 and 90% of the ETc. The 50 ml plant⁻¹ biofertilizer dose provided corn growth and production compatible with conventional cultivation.

The contribution of veterinary growth promoters (VGP) to the environmental burden of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is largely unknown. At cattle feedlots, the excrement of cattle may contain VGPs, which can contaminate aquatic systems and pose reproductive health risks. The study identifies VGPs used at cattle feedlots in South Africa and confirms associated estrogenic activity in feedlot runoff water. Using a rat model, we investigate the potential reproductive health effects and thyroid function of an environmentally relevant mixture of VGPs. Collected water samples had low levels of selected VGPs, and estrogenic activity was detected in the T47D-KBluc bioassay. Rats exposed to VGP had significant adverse effects on male reproductive health, including shortened anogenital distance, lowered sperm counts, disorganized seminiferous tubules, and thyroid parameters. In conclusion, VGP can contribute to complex environmental EDC mixtures and may adversely affect the reproductive and thyroid health of both humans and wildlife. The varied topography of individual cattle feedlots will govern the rate and extent of effluent runoff, thus continuous monitoring of VGPs in aquatic systems surrounding cattle feedlots is necessary.