00 and 25.99 months of age. Heifers that calved in autumn had the highest MY1, whereas calving in summer was related to the lowest milk production (p less then 0.001). The risk of culling within 50 days in milk in first lactation (n = 21,225) increased along with first calving age, e.g. heifers that first calved after 30 months of age were 5.52-times more likely to be culled compared to heifers that calved before 22 months of age (p less then 0.001). Calving difficulty was related to higher culling risk in early lactation (p less then 0.001). Heifers that required caesarean section were 24.01-times more likely to leave the herd within 50 days after first calving compared to heifers that needed no assistance (p less then 0.001). Conclusion Reproductive performance of replacement heifers is closely linked to longevity and milk production in dairy herds.Objective MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the most abundant small RNAs. Approximately 2000 annotated miRNAs genes have been found to be differentially expressed in ovarian follicles during the follicular development. Many miRNAs exert their regulatory effects on the apoptosis of follicular granulosa cells (FGCs) and follicular development (FD). However, accurate roles and mechanism of miRNAs regulating apoptosis of FGCs remain undetermined. Methods In this review, we summarized the regulatory role of each miRNA or miRNA cluster on FGCs apoptosis and FD on the bases of 41 academic articles retrieved from PubMed and web of science and other databases. Results Total of 30 miRNAs and 4 miRNAs clusters in 41 articles were reviewed and summarized in the present article. 29 documents indicated explicitly that 24 miRNAs and miRNAs clusters in 29 articles promoted or induced FGCs apoptosis through their distinctive target genes. The remaining 10 miRNAs and miRNAs of 12 articles inhibited FGCs apoptosis. were reported in all articles. MiRNAs exerted modulation actions by at least 77 signal pathways during FGCs apoptosis and FD. Conclusion We concluded that miRNAs or miRNAs clusters could modulate the apoptosis of GCs (including follicular GCs, mural GCs and cumulus cells) by targeting their specific genes. A great majority of miRNAs show promoting role on apoptosis of FGCs in mammals. But the accurate mechanism of miRNAs and miRNA clusters has not been well understood. It is extremely necessary to ascertain clearly the role and mechanism of each miRNA or miRNA cluster in the future. Understanding precise functions and mechanisms of miRNAs in FGCs apoptosis and FD will be beneficial for finding new diagnostic and treatment strategy or scheme for infertility and ovarian diseases in humans and animals.Objective The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of odor abatement by using two different ventilation-biofilter systems with recycled stablized swine wastewater. Methods The performance of odor removal efficiency was evaluated using two different ventilation-biofilter-recycled wastewater arrangements. A recirculating air-flow ventilation system connected to a vertical biofilter (M1) and a plug-flow ventilation system connected to a horizontal biofilter (M2) were installed. The dripping water over the surface of biofilter was recycled at a flow rate of 0.83 L/h in summer and 0.58 L/h in winter to reduce odorous compounds and particulate matter (PM). The experiments were performed for 64 days with M1 and M2 to investigate how these two ventilation-biofilter systems influenced the reduction of odor compounds in the model houses. Odorous compounds, NH3 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were analyzed, and microclimatic variables such as temperature, humidity, and PM were monitored. Results Ammonia concentration inside M1 was about 41% higher on average than that in M2. PM and total suspended particles (TSPs) inside M1 were about 62.2% and 69.9%, respectively, higher than those in M2. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/AZD1480.html TSPs in the model house were positively correlated with the concentration of NH3 and VOCs. Conclusion M2 emitted lower concentration of odorous compounds than M1. Moreover, M2 could maintain the optimum temperature condition for a swine house during the cooler season. The plug-flow ventilation-horizontal biofilter system could be used for pig houses to minimize air pollution produced by swine farming activities and maintain optimum microclimate conditions for pigs.Objective Weaning is an important stage in the life of young mammals, which is associated with intestinal inflammation, gut microbiota disorders, and even death. β-carotene displays anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, which can prevent the development of inflammatory diseases. However, whether β-carotene can affect intestinal microbiota remains unclear. Methods Twenty-four piglets were distributed into four groups the normal suckling group (Con), the weaning group (WG), the weaning+β-carotene (40 mg/kg) group (LCBC), and the weaning+β-carotene (80 mg/kg) group (HCBC). The serum, jejunum, colon, and faeces were collected separately from each group. The effects of β-carotene on the phenotype, overall structure, and composition of gut microbiota were assessed in weaning piglets. Results The results showed that β-carotene improved the growth performance and intestinal morphology, and relieved inflammation. Furthermore, β-carotene significantly decreased the species from phyla Bacteroidetes and the genus Prevotella, and increased the species from the phyla Firmicutes and the genera Blautia, p-75-a5, and Parabacteroides compared to the WG group. Spearman's correlation analysis showed that Prevotella and Blautia were positively correlated, and Parabacteroides and Synergistes were negatively correlated with the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, while p-75-a5 showed negative correlation with IL-6 in serum samples from piglets. Conclusion These findings indicate that β-carotene could alleviate weaning-induced intestinal inflammation by modulating gut microbiota in piglets. Prevotella may be a potential target of β-carotene in alleviating the weaning-induced intestinal inflammation in piglets.Objective This study was conducted to evaluate changes in nutritional value and in situ DM degradability of oak and pine wood before and after steam-digestion process (60 min/ 160 ℃/ 6 atm) and feeding effect of the oak roughage on performance and behavior of Hanwoo steers. Methods Chemical composition and tannin concentration were analyzed for oak and pine trees before and after the pretreatment. In situ DM and effective degradability (ED) of these samples were assessed using a nylon bag method. In vivo trial was performed to estimate animal performance and behavior, using steers fed TMR diets containing 0 (control), 25 (OR-25) and 50% (OR-50) of the oak roughage. Eighteen steers were allocated into nine pens (2 steers/pen, 3 pens/treatment) for 52days according to BW and age. Results By the steam-digestion treatment, the NDF was decreased from 86.5 to 71.5% for oak and from 92.4 to 80.5% for pine, thereby increasing NFC (non-fiber carbohydrate). In situ DM degradability of treated oak reached 38% at 72 h, whereas that of untreated oak was only 11.