Samira El Otmani

Growing concerns about antibiotics in semen extenders have driven interest in natural antimicrobial alternatives. The primary objective was to evaluate whether Thymus satureioides essential oil (EO) could replace antibiotics in a skim-milk extender while controlling bacterial growth and maintaining the post-thaw quality of Beni Arouss buck semen. Eighty ejaculates from eight bucks were pooled per collection and assigned to 12 treatments: EO at 0–0.05% (v/v), each with or without penicillin–streptomycin. After cryopreservation, extenders were assessed for oxidative balance, and semen was evaluated for sperm quality, lipid peroxidation, and aerobic bacterial load. Anti-oxidant activity increased and lipid peroxidation in the extender decreased as EO concentration rose whereas antibiotic-containing treatments showed higher lipid peroxidation. In semen, EO at 0.01–0.02% caused no significant changes in motility, viability, morphology, or membrane integrity compared to the control. Antibiotics better preserved sperm quality and reduced bacterial growth, but within 0–0.02% EO they were linked to higher lipid peroxidation. At ≥0.03%, EO showed significant toxicity, sharply reducing sperm quality while bacterial growth correlated negatively with motility, viability, and membrane integrity and positively with abnormalities. These findings suggest that oxidative stress may not have been the primary driver of sperm damage, as much of the measured MDA likely originated from extender lipids. In addition, significant EO × antibiotic interactions for total motility, abnormalities, and bacterial growth indicate that the response to EO depended partly on antibiotic supplementation. Overall, the tested EO concentrations did not reproduce the combined bacterial control and post-thaw sperm preservation observed with antibiotics and therefore did not support replacing antibiotics under these conditions.

Background: The rich pastoral ecosystems, which are widespread in the Mediterranean, are essential for extensive goat farming. Their varied vegetation supplies the necessary nutrients for browsing goats. Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the seasonal variations in the forage availability and nutritional quality of plants browsed by goats in a Mediterranean forest rangeland in northern Morocco. Methods: Key pastoral species browsed by goats were sampled seasonally, and their yield, chemical composition and in vitro digestibility were determined using standard laboratory analyses. Results: The results indicated high variation in the parameters under investigation depending on the grazing season. Total dry matter (DM) yield peaked at 1860 kg DM/ha in spring. Shrubs provided the major contribution to total DM yield throughout the year. The crude protein content ranged between 58 g/kg DM (observed in Erica arborea in summer) and 228 g/kg DM (recorded in Calicotome villosa in the autumn). With plant maturation, there was a notable increase in fiber fractions, including neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Condensed tannin content ranged from 2.3 g/kg DM (observed in herbaceous species in spring) to 186 g/kg DM (observed in Pistacia lentiscus in summer). Most species exhibited the highest levels of in vitro digestibility in spring and the lowest in summer. Some plants, such as C. villosa, Olea europaea, and Myrtus communis, had higher crude protein and digestibility, and lower lignin concentrations throughout the year, making them particularly valuable during the dry season. Conclusions: The results show that forage availability and the nutritive value of plant species browsed by goats vary significantly across seasons. Some shrub species maintain relatively good nutritional quality and, therefore, may represent important forage resources for goats in the dry season.

Reproductive management in goats remains challenging due to seasonal breeding and the use of hormones that raise concerns about immunogenicity, cost, sustainability, and animal welfare. In this study, we evaluated date palm pollen (Phoenix dactylifera L.) (DPP) as a natural source of estrogenic compounds capable of modulating reproductive function. DPP was extracted using methanol, ethanol, acetone, and hexane, and the extracts were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Quercetin and coumestrol were detected in the methanolic and ethanolic extracts at comparable levels (quercetin 0.043–0.044 mg/g; coumestrol 0.987–1.015 mg/g of extract) (p > 0.05). The acetone extract contained significantly lower concentrations (quercetin 0.017 mg/g; coumestrol 0.033 mg/g of extract), while the hexane extract showed no detectable amounts. Molecular docking using the crystallographic structure of estrogen receptor alpha (PDB:6PIT) showed that both compounds interact with key residues of the receptor’s ligand-binding domain. Coumestrol exhibited the highest affinity (−9.3 kcal/mol), surpassing 17-β estradiol (−8.9 kcal/mol), forming several hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic contacts. Quercetin showed a lower affinity (−7.2 kcal/mol) but maintained stabilizing interactions compatible with partial agonist activity. Overall, methanol and ethanol were the most effective solvents for extracting phytoestrogens from DPP, and the findings support their potential as natural alternatives to hormones for estrus induction in goats.

This study aims to investigate the impact of carvacrol and thymol on the quality of Beni Arouss buck semen stored in skim milk at 4 °C. Ejaculates were collected from eight Beni Arouss bucks weekly for 11 weeks, pooled, and then divided into three equal parts. Samples were diluted to 400 × 10⁶ sperm/mL in skim milk (control) and skim milk supplemented with a single dose of 200 µM carvacrol and thymol each. Evaluations of sperm motility, viability, abnormalities, membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation, and bacterial growth were conducted at 0, 6, 24, and 48 h of liquid storage at 4 °C. After 48 h of storage, the results indicate that the addition of carvacrol positively influences total and progressive motility and viability. However, it also leads to a decrease in lipid peroxidation and bacterial growth compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Thymol showed similar results to carvacrol, except for progressive motility (p > 0.05). Bacterial growth was negatively correlated with total and progressive motility and viability (p < 0.05), while no correlation between lipid peroxidation and these parameters was observed (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the addition of carvacrol and thymol to skim milk extender moderately improves the quality of Beni Arouss buck semen after 48 h storage at 4 °C due to its antimicrobial activity.

This study aims to evaluate the state of precision livestock farming (PLF)’s spread, utilization, effectiveness, and evolution over the years. PLF includes a plethora of tools, which can aid in a number of laborious and complex tasks. These tools are often used in the monitoring of different animals, with the objective to increase production and improve animal welfare. The most frequently monitored attributes tend to be behavior, welfare, and social interaction. This study focused on the application of three types of technology: wearable sensors, video observation, and smartphones. For the wearable devices, the focus was on accelerometers and global positioning systems. For the video observation, the study addressed drones and cameras. The animals monitored by these tools were the most common ruminants, which are cattle, sheep, and goats. This review involved 108 articles that were believed to be pertinent. Most of the studied papers were very accurate, for most tools, when utilized appropriate; some showed great benefits and potential.

Forest rangelands are an important component of extensive goat production in the Mediterranean region. The aim of this study was to survey the floristic composition, lifespan, life forms, phytogeographic relationships, palatability degree, and forage availability of forest rangelands in Northern Morocco. To achieve this goal, a plant species inventory was carried out, and a digital herbarium was constructed. Forage availability was estimated using the quadrat method. According to the results, 358 taxa were recorded with 228 genera and 66 families. The flora is mainly dominated by Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Lamiaceae families. Six principal life forms of plants were recognized with the predominance of therophytes (48.3%). The Mediterranean floristic category was the most dominant in the flora (73.7%) with 264 species. The palatability degree was studied for 95 taxa, known by herders. The palatable plant group was highly represented with 32 species. Of these identified taxa, 93% were evaluated as potential sources of forage for grazing animals. The forage availability depended considerably on the season and the existing plant species (p < 0.01). The spring recorded the higher value with 3143 kg DM/ha. In conclusion, forest rangelands have a high biodiversity, which they need for rigorous protection to preserve their floristic composition and diversity.

The recent advancements in sensor technologies to monitor and record behavioral activities of livestock provide an accurate scope to extend the database and understand the animal behavior under actual grazing conditions. The aim of this work was to determine the seasonal variation in grazing activities of goats using the Global Positioning System (GPS) and leg sensor technologies. The study was conducted in the Southern Mediterranean forest pasture of Northern Morocco. Eight dairy alpine goats have been fitted with GPS tracking collars and tri-axial accelerometers over a 3-day period of each grazing season (spring, summer, and fall). Most of the behavioral activity of goats was dedicated to grazing (36 to 59%), followed by resting (22 to 30%) and walking without grazing (10 to 24%). During summer and fall, goats traveled longer distances compared to the spring. The combination of the two studied sensors provided useful data information to understand the behavioral activity of goat grazing in forest pasture.

The recent development of advanced electronic sensors to monitor and record animal grazing activity provides a real opportunity to facilitate understanding of their behavioral responses. This study aimed to characterize the grazing activity and protein–energy requirements of grazing dairy goats in a Mediterranean woodland in northern Morocco by combining two sensors, the Global Positioning System (GPS) and three axis accelerometers. An experiment was conducted in a representative woodland with eight dairy goats. Measurements were undertaken during the three main grazing seasons (spring, summer, and autumn) for two consecutive and contrasting years. Grazing activity parameters were assessed using GPS collars and leg position sensors. The results showed that grazing time was higher in spring (57% and 59%) than in summer (39% and 36%) and autumn (41% and 45%), respectively, for the dry and wet years (p < 0.001). During the two studied years, the daily horizontal distance traveled by the goats increased from spring (about 4.5 km) to summer (about 6.5 km) and autumn (about 7.4 km), while greater daily vertical distances were recorded over similar distances during summer–autumn. Several protein–energy intakes that were insufficient to cover the requirements of the grazing goats were recorded, especially in summer. The combination of GPS collars and accelerometers contributed to a better understanding of the grazing activities of dairy goats in the studied Mediterranean woodland. These findings provide useful data on the protein–energy balances of dairy goats and offer additional information that could be useful for herders and managers to enhance goat-feeding strategies and guarantee high-performance in the semi-extensive traditional goat farming system.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) and sensors technologies are increasingly used to study the grazing behavior of animals. This work was conducted to understand the grazing behavior and energy balance of goats browsing in forest rangeland using GPS and sensors technologies. Forage availability was estimated using the quadrat method during three grazing seasons. Simultaneously, eight indigenous goats were selected to explore their feeding behavior, grazing activities, and energy requirements. The experimental goats were fitted with GPS collars and leg sensors to monitor their grazing activities. At the same time, direct observation was used as a method to study their feeding behavior. Forage availability was higher during spring compared to the summer and autumn seasons. Goats recorded the highest biting rate during summer and autumn (about 22 bites/min). The highest intake rate was recorded during spring (5.6 g DM/min). During spring, goats spent most of their time on grazing (48%) in contrast to the summer and autumn (p < 0.001). They prolonged their lying down time in summer at the expense of standing duration. The time devoted exclusively to grazing (eating) was longer in spring. Walking time in summer and autumn was longer than in spring (p < 0.001). During summer and autumn, the energy balance of goats under grazing conditions was in deficit. Using GPS collars and leg sensors appears to be a useful and easily replicable method to explore and understand the seasonal changes in the grazing areas and activities of goats in a mountainous region. The results could help goat herders and managers to develop feeding and grazing systems while increasing the performance of goats in the Mediterranean forest rangeland.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feeding behaviour of indigenous goats and the selection drivers of different plant species in a Mediterranean forest rangeland. To achieve this goal, the seasonal variations in terms of forage availability and quality of ingested plant species were studied during three grazing seasons. In the same period, eight indigenous goats of Beni Arouss breed were selected to explore the seasonal changes in their browsing behaviour. Forage quality was determined by the hand-plucking technique. The results showed a wide seasonal variation in forage availability and quality, and feeding behaviour. Woody species were more selected independently of the season (p < 0.001). The crude protein content varied from 53.3 g/kg of dry mater (DM) for Erica arborea in summer to 197 g/kg DM for Calicotome villosa in autumn (p < 0.001). Despite the high condensed tannins content in selected shrubs, they were highly consumed. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) had recorded the highest contents in herbaceous during spring. Shrubs and trees contain the lowest levels of IVOMD (<500 g/kg) and ME (<7.2 MJ/kg) during autumn and summer. It is concluded that seasonal changes in forage availability and quality did not necessarily affect the indigenous goats’ preference. These findings could help goat herders to develop feeding and grazing systems while increasing the performance of goats in the Mediterranean silvopastoral system.