Pig Production Research Articles

Molecular Regulation of Porcine Skeletal Muscle Development: Insights from Research on CDC23 Expression and Function.

Cell division cycle 23 (CDC23) is a component of the tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) subunit in the anaphase-promoting complex or cyclosome (APC/C) complex, which participates in the regulation of mitosis in eukaryotes. However, the regulatory model and mechanism by which the CDC23 gene regulates muscle production in pigs are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression of CDC23 in pigs, and the results indicated that CDC23 is widely expressed in various tissues and organs. In vitro cell experiments have demonstrated that CDC23 promotes the proliferation of myoblasts, as well as significantly positively regulating the differentiation of skeletal muscle satellite cells. In addition, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) revealed a significant downregulation of the cell cycle pathway during the differentiation process of skeletal muscle satellite cells. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network showed a high degree of interaction between genes related to the cell cycle pathway and CDC23. Subsequently, in differentiated myocytes induced after overexpression of CDC23, the level of CDC23 exhibited a significant negative correlation with the expression of key factors in the cell cycle pathway, suggesting that CDC23 may be involved in the inhibition of the cell cycle signaling pathway in order to promote the differentiation process. In summary, we preliminarily determined the function of CDC23 with the aim of providing new insights into molecular regulation during porcine skeletal muscle development.

Tracing clinically-relevant antimicrobial resistances in Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex across diverse environments: A study spanning clinical, livestock, and wastewater treatment settings

Acinetobacter baumannii has become a prominent nosocomial pathogen, primarily owing to its remarkable ability to rapidly acquire resistance to a wide range of antimicrobial agents and its ability to persist in diverse environments. However, there is a lack of data on the molecular epidemiology and its potential implications for public health of A. baumannii strains exhibiting clinically significant resistances that originate from non-clinical environments.Therefore, the genetic characteristics and resistance mechanisms of 80 A. baumannii-calcoaceticus (ABC) complex isolates, sourced from environments associated with poultry and pig production, municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and clinical settings, were investigated.In total, our study classified 54 isolates into 29 previously described sequence types (STs), while 26 isolates exhibited as-yet-unassigned STs. We identified a broad range of A. baumannii STs originating from poultry and pig production environments (e.g., ST10, ST238, ST240, ST267, ST345, ST370, ST372, ST1112 according to Pasteur scheme). These STs have also been documented in clinical settings worldwide, highlighting their clinical significance. These findings also raise concerns about the potential zoonotic transmission of certain STs associated with livestock environments. Furthermore, we observed that clinical isolates exhibited the highest diversity of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). In contrast to non-clinical isolates, clinical isolates typically carried a significantly higher number of ARGs, ranging from 10 to 15. They were also the exclusive carriers of biocide resistance genes and acquired carbapenemases (blaOXA-23, blaOXA-58, blaOXA-72, blaGIM-1, blaNDM-1). Additionally, we observed that clinical strains displayed an increased capacity for carrying plasmids and undergoing genetic transformation. This heightened capability could be linked to the intense selective pressures commonly found within clinical settings.Our study provides comprehensive insights into essential aspects of ABC isolates originating from livestock-associated environments and clinical settings. We explored their resistance mechanisms and potential implications for public health, providing valuable knowledge for addressing these critical issues.

Comparison of immune effects of porcine circovirus type 2d (PCV2d) capsid protein expressed by Escherichia coli and baculovirus-insect cells

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is an important pathogen harmful to global pig production, which causes immunosuppression and serious economic losses. PCV2 capsid (Cap) protein expressed by E. coli or baculovirus-insect cells are often used in preparation of PCV2 subunit vaccines, but the latter is expensive to produce. It is therefore crucial to comparison of the immune effects of Cap protein expressed by the above two expression systems for reducing the production cost and guaranteeing PCV2 vaccine quality. In this study, the PCV2d-Cap protein lacking nuclear localization signal (NLS), designated as E. coli-Cap and Bac-Cap, was expressed by E. coli and baculovirus-Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 (Bac-Sf9) cells, respectively. The expressed Cap proteins could self-assemble into virus-like particles (VLPs), but the Bac-Cap-assembled VLPs were more regular. The two system-expressed Cap proteins induced similar specific IgG responses in mice, but the neutralizing antibody levels of Bac-Cap-immunized mice was higher than those of E. coli-Cap. After PCV2 challenge, IL-10 in Bac-Cap immunized mice decreased significantly than that in E. coli-Cap. The lesions and PCV2 antigen positive cells in tissues of mice immunized with E. coli-Cap and Bac-Cap were significantly reduced, and Bac-Cap appeared mild lesions and fewer PCV2 antigen-positive cells compared with E. coli-Cap immunized mice. The study indicated that Cap proteins expressed by E. coli and Bac-Sf9 cells could induce specific protective immunity, but the latter induced more effective immunity, which provides valuable information for the research and development of PCV2 vaccine.

Citizens' willingness to support farmers’ adoption of low crude protein diet in pig production

Livestock farming has a detrimental effect on the environment since it generates a lot of gas emissions. In pig farming, the use of feed is among the substantial sources of animal farm emissions among the European Union. Nevertheless, the use of Low Dietary Crude Protein (LCP) may reduce the environmental impacts of pig farming and provide diverse ecosystem services (ESs). Concurrently, these pig diets alternatives may result more expensive than the conventional ones, which may negatively affect farmers' intention to adopt these alternatives. Citizens’ payment for ESs may be a viable strategy to motivate farmers to implement more sustainable pig diets. The primary objective of this study is to assess the extent to which citizens of Catalonia (Spain) are willing to pay for the ESs generated by the implementation of a LCP diet in pig production. In pursuit of this goal, we conducted an online survey among 501 citizens, including a Discrete Choice Experiment. Participants evaluated three feed scenarios, and their choices were scrutinized using conditional logit model. Results revealed that citizens prefer the new pig diets, including both LCP and Very LCP (VLCP) diets, over the conventional pig diet. However, there is a clear preference toward the VLCP diet justified by their willingness to pay (WTP) of €67/year/adult.

Divergent selection for feed efficiency in pigs altered the duodenum transcriptomic response to feed intake and its DNA methylation profiles.

Feed efficiency is a trait of interest in pigs as it contributes to lowering the ecological and economical costs of pig production. A divergent genetic selection experiment from a Large White pig population was performed for 10 generations, leading to pig lines with relatively low- (LRFI) and high- (HRFI) residual feed intake (RFI). Feeding behavior and metabolic differences have been previously reported between the two lines. We hypothesized that part of these differences could be related to differential sensing and absorption of nutrients in the proximal intestine. We investigated the duodenum transcriptome and DNA methylation profiles comparing overnight fasting with ad libitum feeding in LRFI and HRFI pigs (n = 24). We identified 1,106 differentially expressed genes between the two lines, notably affecting pathways of the transmembrane transport activity and related to mitosis or chromosome separation. The LRFI line showed a greater transcriptomic response to feed intake than the HRFI line. Feed intake affected genes from both anabolic and catabolic pathways in the pig duodenum, such as rRNA production and autophagy. Several nutrient transporter and tight junction genes were differentially expressed between lines and/or by short-term feed intake. We also identified 409 differentially methylated regions in the duodenum mucosa between the two lines, while this epigenetic mark was less affected by feeding. Our findings highlighted that the genetic selection for feed efficiency in pigs changed the transcriptome profiles of the duodenum, and notably its response to feed intake, suggesting key roles for this proximal gut segment in mechanisms underlying feed efficiency.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The duodenum is a key organ for the hunger/satiety loop and nutrient sensing. We investigated how the duodenum transcriptome and DNA methylation profiles are affected by feed intakes in pigs. We observed thousands of changes in gene expression levels between overnight-fasted and fed pigs in high-feed efficiency pig lines, but almost none in the related low-feed efficiency pig line.

Reducing the emission of harmful gases from pig manure using different doses of biodestructors

The anthropogenic impact of the functioning of livestock complexes on the environment is caused by the release of gaseous air pollutants into the atmosphere, including harmful gases such as methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O). The latter cause environmental degradation and have a negative impact on the climate balance of the planet. Therefore, the basis of the planned research was to evaluate the effectiveness of different doses of "Scarabei" and "Vodohrai Chystyi Khliv" biodestructors on the emission of harmful gases from pig manure in vitro. In the process of conducting experimental studies, it was established that the addition of "Scarabei" and "Vodohrai Chystyi Khliv" biodestructors to pig waste helps to reduce the level of CH4 emissions up to 14.4% and 22.3%, NH3 up to 23.7% and 39.7%, H2S up to 22.2% and 38.2%, CO2 up to 23.4% and 35.6%, NO up to 14.6% and 23.2%, respectively. Simultaneously, with the reduction of emissions of the studied gases, biodestructors also provide a lower level of pH, i.e., its shift to the acidic side up to 5.54 ("Scarabei") and 5.12 ("Vodohrai Chystyi Khliv"), against 6.2–6.5 – in the control. Thus, the results obtained indicate the feasibility of using the studied biodestructors, such as "Scarabei" and "Vodohrai Chystyi Khliv" at a dose of 40 g/m3 for lower emissions of harmful gases, both when storing manure in storage facilities (lagoons) and directly in the pig keeping premises, which will prevent the negative impact of intensive pig production on the environment.

Concerns about the use of antimicrobials in swine herds and alternative trends

Abstract Pig productivity in Brazil has advanced a lot in recent decades. Specialized breeds are more vulnerable to pathogens, which has boosted the use of antimicrobials by farmers. The selective pressure generated favors the emergence of resistant bacteria, which compromises the effectiveness of this treatment and limits therapeutic options. In addition to increasing costs and mortality rates in the production system, public awareness of this issue has increased. The authorities have imposed restrictive measures to control the use of antimicrobials and have banned their use as growth promoters. This literature review highlights biosecurity and animal welfare to prevent pig diseases. Hence, we describe alternatives to the use of antimicrobials in pig production for the selection of effective non-antibiotic feed additives that help maintain good health and help the pig resist disease when infection occurs.

One-step in vivo gene knock-out in porcine embryos using recombinant adeno-associated viruses.

Introduction: Gene-edited pigs have become prominent models for studying human disease mechanisms, gene therapy, and xenotransplantation. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/CRISPR-associated 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) technology is a widely employed tool for generating gene-edited pigs. Nevertheless, delivering CRISPR/Cas9 to pre-implantation embryos has traditionally posed challenges due to its reliance on intricate micromanipulation equipment and specialized techniques, resulting in high costs and time-consuming procedures. This study aims to introduce a novel one-step approach for generating genetically modified pigs by transducing CRISPR/Cas9 components into pre-implantation porcine embryos through oviductal injection of recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAV). Methods: We first used rAAV-1, rAAV-6, rAAV-8, rAAV-9 expressing EGFP to screen for rAAV serotypes that efficiently target porcine embryos, and then, to achieve efficient expression of CRISPR/Cas9 in vivo for a short period, we packaged sgRNAs targeting the GHR genes to self-complementary adeno-associated virus (scAAV), and Cas9 proteins to single-stranded adeno-associated virus (ssAAV). The efficiency of porcine embryos -based editing was then validated in vitro. The feasibility of this one-step method to produce gene-edited pigs using rAAV-CRISPR/Cas9 oviductal injection into sows within 24h of conception was then validated. Results: Our research firstly establishes the efficient delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 to pig zygotes, both in vivo and in vitro, using rAAV6. Successful gene editing in pigs was achieved through oviductal injection of rAAV-CRISPR/Cas9. Conclusion: This method circumvents the intricate procedures involved in in vitro embryo manipulation and embryo transfers, providing a straightforward and cost-effective approach for the production of gene-edited pigs.

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DURABILITY OF OPERATIONS FINANCED UNDER THE CAP IN THE OPINION OF AGRICULTURAL ADVISORS

The durability of operations is an important category from the point of view of public policies, including the Common Agricultural policy (CAP). The main objective of the article is to identify and assess factors affecting the durability of CAP financial operations on the example of measure 4.1. “Modernization of farms” based on the opinions of experts – advisors of agricultural advisory centers (ODR). We used primary data from expert surveys amongst agricultural counsellors: CAWI technique was employed. Diversification of production at farm-level, employment outside the farm and running non-agricultural activities should be assessed as key internal factors having a beneficial impact on the durability of the investment. The significant internal factors that were considered to have a strongly unfavorable impact on the durability of investments projects are those related to the insufficient level of capital and land held. Specialization in milk production, then pig production had a beneficial effect on durability of operations. Strengthening the quality of human capital in rural areas, including farm management should be recommended. This includes strengthening their flexibility and resilience, for example through diversification.

How Does Specialization in Agricultural Production Affect Soil Health?

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the specialization of agricultural production on selected parameters of soil health, i.e., soil organic carbon content (SOC), soil acidification, soil nutrient status, i.e., total nitrogen content (NT), available forms of phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium, and microelements content, as well as the content of selected potentially toxic metals (PTMs). For the study, 18 farms located in the Masovian Voivodeship in Central Poland were selected. They were grouped into six types, and each type was represented by three farms. The study included organic farms; farms specializing in: crop, vegetable, poultry, dairy cattle, and pigs production. A total of 144 soil samples were analyzed. The results showed that the specialization of agricultural production and fertilizer management had a significant impact on most of the tested soil health parameters, except SOC and NT content. Despite the high organic fertilizer doses introduced into soils in poultry (170 kg N per hectare as poultry manure) and pig farms (150 kg N per hectare as pig manure), there was no significant influence of these amendments on SOC content. This may indicate low organic carbon sequestration potential in some Polish agricultural soils. Organic farms had the lowest levels of plant nutrients in the tested soil samples, which may limit soil productivity. All the tested soils were strongly acidified, which could restrict both production and regulatory soil functions. Based on the synthetic index of soil fertility (SSFI), vegetable and poultry farms were characterized by very high fertility, while crop, dairy cattle, and pig farms fell into the medium fertility class. Organic farms were in the lowest fertility class. However, the study suggests that the SSFI may not be the best indicator for assessing soil fertility and health; therefore, further research is needed.

Comparative assessment of methane emissions from the manure of Mexican Creole Hairless Pigs and Commercial Pigs fed the same diet

AbstractPig production contributes significantly to the high environmental footprint of the livestock sector. Therefore, in this framework, a transition toward more sustainable production is essential. Local natural livestock resources, such as Mexican Creole Hairless Pigs, provide a good opportunity to achieve sustainable pig production. In the present study, a first approximation to compare the carbon emissions of Mexican Creole Hairless Pig manure from Commercial Pig manure is presented. Under the same feeding and housing conditions, the specific methane emissions of both Mexican Creole Hairless Pigs and Commercial Pigs manure were determined experimentally at room temperature. In addition, specific methane production kinetics was modeled using the Gompertz equation to estimate the specific methane production rate. The methane emission factors for Mexican Creole Hairless Pig manure (0.33 ± 0.02 kg[CO2‐eq]/LU per day) were half those of Commercial Pig manure (0.7 ± 0.04 kg[CO2‐eq]/LU per day), and biochemical manure analysis suggested that Mexican Creole Hairless Pigs had better digestibility of the diet. In general, due to physiological factors such as food intake rate and gut microbiota development, which could influence the fat and fiber digestibility of Creole genotypes, pig genotype should be included as an additional factor to estimate greenhouse gas emissions from pig manure. The production of Mexican Creole Hairless Pigs in an extensive local system is therefore an attractive option for developing new sustainable markets.

Characterization of the Effects of a Novel Probiotic on Salmonella Colonization of a Piglet-Derived Intestinal Microbiota Using Improved Bioreactor.

The carriage of Salmonella in pigs is a major concern for the agri-food industry and for global healthcare systems. Humans could develop salmonellosis when consuming contaminated pig products. On the other hand, some Salmonella serotypes could cause disease in swine, leading to economic losses on farms. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the anti-Salmonella activity of a novel Bacillus-based probiotic using a bioreactor containing a piglet-derived intestinal microbiota. Two methods of probiotic administration were tested: a single daily and a continuous dose. Salmonella enumeration was performed using selective agar at T24h, T48h, T72h, T96h and T120h. The DNA was extracted from bioreactor samples to perform microbiome profiling by targeted 16S rRNA gene sequencing on Illumina Miseq. The quantification of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) was also assessed at T120h. The probiotic decreased Salmonella counts at T96 for the daily dose and at T120 for the continuous one. Both probiotic doses affected the alpha and beta diversity of the piglet-derived microbiota (p < 0.05). A decrease in acetate concentration and an increase in propionate proportion were observed in the continuous condition. In conclusion, the tested Bacillus-based product showed a potential to modulate microbiota and reduce Salmonella colonization in a piglet-derived intestinal microbiota and could therefore be used in vivo.

Strategies for reducing noxious gas emissions in pig production: a comprehensive review on the role of feed additives.

The emission of noxious gases is a significant problem in pig production, as it can lead to poor production, welfare concerns, and environmental pollution. The noxious gases are the gasses emitted from the pig manure that contribute to air pollution. The increased concentration of various harmful gasses can pose health risks to both animals and humans. The major gases produced in the pig farm include methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and volatile fatty acids, which are mainly derived from the fermentation of undigested or poorly digested nutrients. Nowadays research has focused on more holistic approaches to obtain a healthy farm environment that helps animal production. The use of probiotics, prebiotics, dietary enzymes, and medicinal plants in animal diets has been explored as a means of reducing harmful gas emissions. This review paper focuses on the harmful gas emissions from pig farm, the mechanisms of gas production, and strategies for reducing these emissions. Additionally, various methods for reducing gas in pigs, including probiotic interventions; prebiotic interventions, dietary enzymes supplementation, and use of medicinal plants and organic acids are discussed. Overall, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge on reducing noxious gas in pigs and offers valuable insights for pig producers, nutritionists, and researchers working in this area.

Subdural Empyema from Streptococcus suis Infection, South Korea.

In Jeju Island, South Korea, a patient who consumed raw pig products had subdural empyema, which led to meningitis, sepsis, and status epilepticus. We identified Streptococcus suis from blood and the subdural empyema. This case illustrates the importance of considering dietary habits in similar clinical assessments to prevent misdiagnosis.

Parasites burden in peri-urban free-roaming pigs in Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

Parasite infections, unlike regulated animal diseases, do not often receive attention. In fact, parasites are major sources of financial losses in pig enterprises, particularly in subsistence and small-scale pig production systems. To identify and quantify the prevalence of ecto- and endo-parasites among peri-urban free-roaming pigs (FRP) in Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM), Mpumalanga. Pig owners were identified using the snowball sampling method since no sampling frame for FRP farmers exists. Stratified sampling was used to select pigs for sampling for ecto- and endo-parasites. A form was used to record the observations. Pairwise correlation analysis was performed using Stata 15.0. The SPSS V28.0 statistical package was used to perform the chi-square test (X2) to assess the distribution of parasites in different age groups. The prevalence of parasites was assessed in different age groups of pigs using multi-response crosstabs. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to estimate the marginal mean of parasites according to municipality. Statistical significance was assessed at α ≤ 0.05. Over 90% (91.2%) of the pigs examined were infested with at least one parasite, including Haematopinus suis, Sarcoptes scabiei, Ascaris suum, Fasciola hepatica, Trichuris suis, Strongylids, Coccidia spp, Moniezia expansa, and Siphonaptera spp. The correlation between Ascaris suum and body condition was weak but statistically significant (r = 0.24; p < 0.05). Policy makers, animal researchers and veterinary services must focus on developing policies, risk communication and community engagement materials, which target pig farmers in peri-urban areas such as Gert Sibande District Municipality, Mpumalanga Province.

Potential of Organic Acids, Essential Oils and Their Blends in Pig Diets as Alternatives to Antibiotic Growth Promoters.

Over the years, the use of management and feeding strategies to enhance pig productivity while minimizing the use of antibiotic growth promoters has grown. Antibiotic growth promoters have been widely used as feed additives to reduce diet-related stress and improve pig performance. However, increasing concern about the consequences of long-term and increased use of antibiotic growth promoters in animal production has led to a paradigm shift towards the use of natural organic alternatives such as plant essential oils and organic acids in pig nutrition to enhance growth. Antibiotic growth promoters endanger human health by allowing multidrug-resistant genes to be transferred horizontally from non-pathogenic to pathogenic bacteria, as well as directly between animals and humans. Scientific research shows that alternative growth promoters such as essential oils and organic acids appear to improve pigs' ability to prevent pathogenic bacteria from colonizing the intestinal system, stabilizing the gut microflora and promoting eubiosis, as well as improving immunity and antioxidant stability. The purpose of this review was to provide an in-depth review of organic acids and essential oils as growth promoters in pig production, as well as their effects on productivity and meat quality. Organic acids and essential oils in pig diets are a safe way to improve pig performance and welfare while producing antibiotic-free pork.

Swine influenza A virus infection dynamics and evolution in intensive pig production systems.

Swine influenza A virus (swIAV) is one of the main viral pathogens responsible for respiratory disease in farmed pigs. While outbreaks are often epidemic in nature, increasing reports suggest that continuous, endemic infection of herds is now common. The move towards larger herd sizes and increased intensification in the commercial pig industry may promote endemic infection; however, the impact that intensification has on swIAV infection dynamics and evolution is unclear. We carried out a longitudinal surveillance study for over 18 months on two enzootically infected, intensive, indoor, and multi-site pig production flows. Frequent sampling of all production stages using individual and group sampling methods was performed, followed by virological and immunological testing and whole-genome sequencing. We identified weaned pigs between 4 and 12-weeks old as the main reservoir of swIAV in the production flows, with continuous, year-round infection. Despite the continuous nature of viral circulation, infection levels were not uniform, with increasing exposure at the herd level associated with reduced viral prevalence followed by subsequent rebound infection. A single virus subtype was maintained on each farm for the entire duration of the study. Viral evolution was characterised by long periods of stasis punctuated by periods of rapid change coinciding with increasing exposure within the herd. An accumulation of mutations in the surface glycoproteins consistent with antigenic drift was observed, in addition to amino acid substitutions in the internal gene products as well as reassortment exchange of internal gene segments from newly introduced strains. These data demonstrate that long-term, continuous infection of herds with a single subtype is possible and document the evolutionary mechanisms utilised to achieve this.

The effect of increased air velocity on respirations rate and resting behavior in gestating sows on moderately warm summer days

Heat stress is a challenge for farm animals and animal production, particularly in warmer regions of the world. In pig production, the consequences of heat stress are the adverse effects on animal welfare including behavioral alterations, increased respiration rate, body temperature and mortality and reduced feed intake, milk production and piglet growth rate. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of increased air velocity through wall air inlets directed towards the resting area on respiration rate and resting behavior of gestating sows under commercial conditions.The gestating sows were loose housed and chill inlets (including adjustable guiding plates to direct the incoming air in a downward direction) directing air towards the resting area were mounted in one of two resting areas within each pen. The purpose of the latter was to investigate whether the sows preferred to lie in the area with increased air speed. Compared to normal inlets (control) the chill inlets increased the average air velocity from 0.19 to 0.45 m/s (measured 0.4 m above the floor). Respiration rate was recorded and the chill inlets significantly reduced the respiration rate (P < 0.0001). Within the three temperature intervals, 24.4–27.0, 27.1–28.2 and 28.0–32.2 ⁰C, the reduction was 4.2, 6.2 and 7.6 bpm (beats per minute) respectively.There was no difference in percentage of sows resting in the lying areas with activated vs. inactivated inlets.

CONDITIONS OF CHANGES IN THE REGIONAL SPECIALIZATION OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION IN POLAND

Aim: The study aimed to identify regional specialization and changes in competitiveness in the field of animal production in Poland. Methods: The analysis covered statistical data of the Central Statistical Office from 2010–2021 on a national scale and in individual voivodeships. The study used a comparative analysis of animal production in regional terms. In order to determine the specialization of the region and to analyze changes in competitiveness over time, the classic method of Shift-Share Analysis (SSA) was used. Results: Major changes are taking place in Poland in the stock of farm animals and the production of animals for slaughter. In the years 2010–2021, the pig stock decreased drastically, and the stock of cattle, especially for fattening and poultry, increased. Changes in livestock stock contributed to an increase in beef cattle and poultry production and a decrease in the production of live pigs. Conclusions: There is specialization in Poland, and the concentration of production of the most important livestock species in individual voivodeships is increasing. Specialization and concentration processes allow for more effective use of farm resources and greater competitiveness of regions. However, the accelerating concentration of production may threaten the sustainable development of agriculture and negatively affect the natural environment. Therefore, further research on the impact of specialization and concentration of animal production on food security and the natural environment is recommended.

Air treatment technologies in pig farms. Life cycle assessment of dry and wet scrubbers in Northern Italy and Northeastern Spain

Over the years, different solutions were developed and tested to reduce the emissions of ammonia and particulate matter from the livestock facilities. The environmental performances of these solutions were not always evaluated in detail.This study examines the environmental footprint of pig production at farm gate, with a focus on emissions from housing. Using Life Cycle Assessment, the environmental impact of pig production in a transition farm in Spain and in two finishing farms in Italy was evaluated considering three scenarios (one baseline and two of them involving an air treatment technology: wet scrubber or dry scrubber).The study goal was to quantify the environmental footprint of pig production in different scenarios, identify key environmental hotspots, and to assess impact reduction efficiency due to the two assessed technologies, analyze the environmental trade-offs that come with the use of these technologies, and identify potential for improvements.Both wet and dry scrubbers showed potential for reducing emissions in pig housing, affecting environmental impact categories related to air pollutants such as particulate matter, acidification and eutrophication. However, there were trade-offs between emissions reduction and categories related to energy and resource use. The infrastructure and consumables required to operate the scrubber added to the impacts compared to the baseline.The dry scrubber showed a more favorable balance between emission reduction and trade-offs. In this regard, results were similar for the Spanish and Italian farms, although there were slight variations. Scrubbers had a greater effect in the Italian farms due to their use along longer periods of the pig fattening (closed cycle farms) compared to the Spanish farm (transition farm).Scrubbers are environmentally promising, especially where acidification, eutrophication and particulate matter are local problems. However, they alone cannot fully address the complex environmental impacts of pig production, which require comprehensive interventions across the supply chain.