Pigs and poultry in the United Kingdom have undeniably been exposed to the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent. They consumed the same ruminant protein that gave rise to the BSE epidemic in cattle, but there has been no evidence of an epidemic in these species. Experimental investigations have shown pigs to be susceptible to infection by multiple parenteral challenge, but resistant to ...

After artificial insemination and multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), in vitro production of embryos (IVP) represents the third generation of techniques aimed at a better control of animal reproduction. This technique involves four major steps (Figure 1): oocyte collection, oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in vitro development of the resulting embryo...

Although the protein requirement of domestic ruminants may be calculated from a simple one-compartment model, this approach ignores factors such as microbial fermentation in the rumen and the non-equality of feed proteins. By examining digestion in each of the functional compartments of the digestive tract of the ruminant, a model may be constructed of the complete process. In this review, we p...

The gap created by the mismatch between high domestic demand and low supply of halal meat has been filled ruminant sourced from international markets. However, exporting countries are still limited due to stringent requirements. This study examined competitive advantage trading partners in exportation meat. Moreover, this also identified factors underlying import determined comparative local pr...

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) are widespread amongst domesticated goats and sheep worldwide, but have not been clearly identified in wild small ruminants, where they might constitute an animal health risk through contamination from local domesticates. SRLV proviruses from three ibexes from the French Alps are described and sequences from their gag gene and long terminal repeats (LTRs) were...

A total of 10,818 domestic ruminants (3913 cattle, 2722 sheep, 3779 goats, 404 dromedaries) slaughtered in various abattoirs in Tunisia between 2003 and 2010 were examined for the presence of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cysts. The prevalence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) was 16.42% in sheep, 8.56% in cattle, 5.94% in dromedaries and 2.88% in goats. CE prevalence increased with age according...

Two novel porcine gammaherpesviruses, porcine lymphotropic herpesviruses 1 and 2 (PLHV-1 and -2), have been detected by amplification of short DNA polymerase (DPOL) sequences from blood and spleen of domestic pigs while searching for unknown herpesviruses in pigs as possible risk factors in xenotransplantation. In the present study, the DPOL genes of the two viruses and the open reading frames ...