Sustainable Animal Research Articles

Integrating animal welfare into the WHO pandemic treaty: a thematic analysis of civil society perspectives and comparison with treaty drafting

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed critical weaknesses in the global health system, highlighting the urgent need for a coordinated international approach to pandemic prevention and management. As negotiations for a new WHO pandemic treaty progress, the effective integration of animal welfare is crucial. This paper aims to investigate the perspectives of key civil society organizations on the integration of animal welfare provisions into the pandemic treaty. Through a thematic analysis of documents prepared by FOUR PAWS, Wildlife Conservation Society, and Action for Animal Health between 2020–2023, five major themes are identified: prevention of zoonotic spillover, One Health approach, animal health systems and infrastructure, sustainable and ethical animal management practices, and policy coherence and governance. A comparative analysis of these themes against the April 2024 draft of the pandemic treaty reveals areas of alignment and divergence. Due to the ongoing controversies and the need for further improvements, the WHO's intergovernmental negotiating body was unable to finalize the treaty text for the 77th World Health Assembly in May 2024, leading to an extended mandate until 2025. Based on the findings, the paper proposes recommendations to strengthen the integration of animal welfare into the treaty, arguing that incorporating these recommendations is critical for developing a transformative, equitable, and effective treaty that addresses the systemic drivers of pandemic risk.

Grazing for dollars: responsible investing for healthy and sustainable animal agriculture in Australia

AbstractInvestments by the global finance sector contribute to industrial-scale agriculture along with its harmful environmental impacts, making their actions significant in supporting or opposing sustainable food systems transformation. Previous research has shown that institutional investors identify animal agriculture as an important consideration with respect to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues regarding sustainable food systems. This study aimed to explore ways in which so-called ‘responsible’ investors in Australia consider risks related to animal agriculture, and whether existing ESG metrics are ‘fit-for-purpose’ for assessing issues related to sustainable animal agriculture. Nineteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with responsible investors and relevant non-government organisations (NGOs) in Australia. We found that the responsible investment sector lacked mechanisms to recognise the inter-connections between animal agriculture and multiple environmental and social outcomes. Furthermore, we found that investors largely focused on ‘techno’ solutions to the impacts of animal agriculture, such as alternative proteins, through a ‘single issue’ lens. They rarely made connections to other relevant ‘food systems’ issues, such as health. We conclude that holistic approaches are needed to monitor and assess the impacts of animal agriculture in the investment sector and suggest that integrated ‘food systems’ metrics will be necessary to inform these approaches.

Rethinking Amino Acid Nutrition of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) Based on Insights from an Amino Acid Reduction Trial

Rearing black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) in order to utilize biogenic materials is of increasing interest in the context of sustainable animal production. However, little is known about the amino acid (AA) requirements of this animal species. Therefore, a feeding experiment with BSFL was conducted, in which lysine, methionine, cysteine, arginine, phenylalanine, or histidine was reduced by 65% or methionine was increased by 65%. Reductions in single AAs in the substrate did not negatively impact BSFL growth, while the addition of methionine improved the growth performance, indicating that methionine was a limiting nutritional factor for maximal productivity. Differences in dietary AA profiles had no impact on the AA profile of the BSFL biomass. However, balance calculations for individual AAs indicated that the substrate microbiome was capable of synthesizing and balancing those AAs for microbial protein synthesis. While both the BSFL and microbiome utilized all free AAs, suggesting that supplemental AAs can be effective additives in BSFL production, this microbial AA synthesis avoided the negative performance impacts of BSFL provoked by severe AA reductions. The quantification of these effects suggested that the microbiome could add up to 35% to the overall AA supply in order to overcome AA deficiency. This effect may not necessarily ensure maximal BSFL productivity, as demonstrated by the extra addition of methionine to the substrate. Our research indicated that BSFL nutrition should consider interactions between substrate composition and microbial activity.

NAVIGATING THE REGULATORY LANDSCAPE OF VOLUNTARY SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS IN INTERNATIONAL FOOD TRADE: A MULTILATERAL INTERPLAY - DOI: 10.12818/P.0304-2340.2024v85p171

Voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) are non-mandatory criteria designed to foster sustainable practices throughout the global supply chain. These standards are particularly prevalent in the agri-food sector, where they aim to support wider public policy objectives such as sustainable food production, animal welfare, healthy lifestyle, and labour conditions. Significant challenges arises from the fact that VSSs, despite their voluntary nature, they often impose mandatory effect in the global supply chain. They also often lack easily-identifiable features of the product themselves. These creates systematic problems for the global food trade system, where conventional regulation address governmental measures on goods with specific inherent characteristics that can be clearly identified in the final product. This article explored the interrelationship among private VSSs, national regulations and international treaties within the agri-food industry. It highlights ambiguity surrounding the regulatory framework for VSSs under the WTO law, noting the absence of a consensus on how relevant provisions should be interpreted. Despite the diversity among various VSSs, VSSs, this article argues for the potential for harmonization and equivalence among VSSs. By aligning various VSSs and with technical regulations, it is possible to strike a balance between trade liberalization and promotion of sustainable practices.

Exploitation of Biobased Co-Product Streams; Contributing to European Protein Demands Using Ethanol Plant Derived Co-Products

Abstract Europe is short of high-quality protein for animal feed, being only 29% self-sufficient in high-quality protein and relies heavily on imported proteins. But consumer demand is shifting towards more sustainable, home-grown sources of plant-based protein. This presents a significant challenge for the animal feed industry. Establishing a new plant protein crop for Europe would take a decade to create elite, geographically adapted varieties, adopt new agronomic practices, and establish appropriate supply chains. Approximately 9 million tons of European non-GM grains (maize, wheat, barley and rye) are converted annually by fermentation into bioethanol, a renewable fuel. The residue of the grain is currently used as medium-quality protein animal feed (distillers dried grains and solubles (DDGS; approx. 30% crude protein). Mechanically processing to separate the protein from the fibre fraction produces a Super-Pro (>50%crude protein concentration). The process produces commercially viable quantities of high-quality, non-GM grain protein, that can be used as an alternative to imported soybean products, in a time frame significantly ahead of establishing alternative agronomies or developing alternative novel proteins. Processing technology can transform low-quality co-product steams into high-quality alternative animal feed products and merits further investigation as a means of producing sustainable animal feed. Re-engineering grain bioethanol plants into biorefineries allows them to produce a super high protein (>50% crude protein) feed material concurrently with bioethanol, a renewable fuel. Information © The Authors 2024

Consumers’ Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Honey Purchases and Expectations on Traceability and Sustainability in Italy

Traceability is a cornerstone of sustainable honey production and consumption. Honey fraud and a lack of traceability have been recently highlighted by the European Commission. Innovative systems aimed at guaranteeing food safety ’from farm to fork’ and improved controls are highly recommended. Within the framework of the BPRACTICES project, part of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, and the ERA-Net SusAn initiative—focused on Sustainable Animal Production Systems—an advanced traceability system has been developed. This system utilizes QR code and radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, along with a user-friendly web application, to facilitate direct interactions between producers and consumers. Despite existing research, studies on the information needs of Italian consumers regarding honey and its traceability remain limited. Understanding these needs is vital for creating effective communication strategies that enhance consumer satisfaction and trust. This study aims to identify the needs of Italian consumers’ honey during the purchasing and consumption decisions. To explore consumer perceptions, behaviors, expectations, and needs regarding honey, we employed diverse social research methodologies, including a quantitative online survey, paper-and-pencil interviews, and focus groups. The results of this study indicate a robust demand for more information on honey’s origin, production processes, and beekeeping practices, aligning with the recent EU Directive 2024/1438, which mandates clear labeling. Italian consumers would be willing to pay a premium for honey that offers detailed information about production practices and transparency. The positive reception of QR code technology by consumers suggests a growing openness to digital tools that enhance transparency and access to information. Ultimately, this research emphasizes the need for the beekeeping sector to adopt sustainable practices, improve traceability systems, and actively engage with consumers to foster trust and ensure long-term viability in the honey market. By addressing these information needs, the sector can align itself with increasing consumer demand for quality, sustainability, and transparency.

Citric Acid by-Product Fermentation by Bacillus subtilis I9: A Promising Path to Sustainable Animal Feed

Citric acid by-products in animal feed pose a sustainability challenge. Bacillus species are commonly used for fermenting and improving the nutritional quality of feedstuffs or by-products. An experiment was conducted to enhance the nutritional value of citric acid by-products through fermentation with Bacillus subtilis I9 for animal feed. The experiment was carried out in 500 mL Erlenmeyer flasks with 50 g of substrate and 200 mL of sterile water. Groups were either uninoculated or inoculated with B. subtilis I9 at 107 CFU/mL. Incubation occurred at 37 °C with automatic shaking at 150 rpm under aerobic conditions for 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Inoculation with B. subtilis I9 significantly increased Bacillus density to 9.3 log CFU/mL at 24 h (p < 0.05). CMCase activity gradually increased, reaching a maximum of 9.77 U/mL at 72 h. After 96 h of fermentation with inoculated B. subtilis I9, the citric acid by-product exhibited a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in crude fiber by 10.86%, hemicellulose by 20.23%, and cellulose by 5.98%, but an increase in crude protein by 21.89%. Gross energy decreased by 4% after inoculation with B. subtilis in comparison to the uninoculated control (p < 0.05). Additionally, the non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) degradation due to inoculation with B. subtilis I9 significantly reduced (p < 0.05) NSP by 24.37%, while galactose, glucose, and uronic acid decreased by 22.53%, 32.21%, and 18.11%, respectively. Amino acid profile content increased significantly by more than 12% (p < 0.05), including indispensable amino acids such as histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and valine and dispensable amino acids like alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, proline, and tyrosine. Furthermore, citric acid by-products inoculated with B. subtilis I9 exhibited changes in the cell wall structure under scanning electron microscopy, including fragmentation and cracking. These results suggest that fermenting citric acid by-products with B. subtilis I9 effectively reduces dietary fiber content and improves the nutritional characteristics of citric acid by-products for use in animal feed.

The biosynthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using Synadenium grantii latex: characterization and evaluation of their antimicrobial activities

The steadily rising incidences of microbial and infectious diseases pose a direct threat to both human and animal sustainability. Over the previous 20 years, the expectations for eco-friendly nanoparticles application as contemporary medicinal agents have grown. This is why, as opposed to using hazardous chemicals, researchers have recently concentrated on simple, green, sustainable, and affordable ways to create nanoparticles. This research aimed to use the latex of Synadenium grantii to synthesize ZnO NPs (zinc oxide nanoparticles) using a simple and environmentally friendly technique. The observation of the maximum wavelength at 365 nm using Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrometry signified the formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles. The FT-IR (Fourier transform-infrared) spectrometry indicated the bands of various biomolecules (mainly polyphenols at 1541 cm-1 wavenumber) involved in reducing and capping zinc oxide nanoparticles. The XRD spectrum demonstrated the wurtzite phases of ZnO nanoparticles of 24 nm in size. The synthesized ZnO NPs demonstrated great anti-microbial potency compared to the positive control (ampicillin) as tested on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The study confirmed the presence of various chemical compounds in latex of Synadenium grantii responsible for the synthesis of ZnO NPs with enhanced anti-bacterial effects in comparison to the latex extract.

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Animal Nutrition: Historical Insights, Technical Principles, and Practical Applications

Optimizing forage quality is vital for enhancing animal performance and supporting the global animal production industry. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy offers a rapid, non-destructive alternative to traditional, time-intensive laboratory analyses, enabling the on-site assessment of forage properties with significant advantages in cost, speed, and environmental impact. This review traces the development of NIR spectroscopy, outlines its core principles, and highlights its applications in animal nutrition. Additionally, it discusses the current technological state, challenges, and future prospects, emphasizing NIR’s growing role in promoting more sustainable and efficient animal production systems.

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PLANT DENSITY ON THE FORAGE YIELD AND SOME FORAGE QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF MORINGA (Moringa oleifera Lam.)

In sustainable animal husbandry, the use of highly adaptable shrub and tree species as alternative forage crops has gained importance in recent years. One of these plants is moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.), which is considered one of the promising feed sources due to its high nutritional value. This research was carried out to determine the potential of Moringa as a forage crop for the Mediterranean climate during 2020 and 2021 growing season in the experimental areas of the Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ege, Türkiye. The effects of four different plant densities (60x20 cm, 60x30 cm, 60x40 cm, 60x60 cm) on the some forage quality and digestibility traits were investigated. The Moringa cultivar "PKM-1" was used as plant material and plant height, stem diameter, dry matter, herbage yield, crude protein, crude ash, crude fat, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were examined during two consecutive vegetation periods. In the study conducted in Mediterranean ecological conditions, the average values of the moringa plant for two years were obtained as Plant height 159.2-170.3 cm, total herbage yield 3.310-6.970 kg/da, crude protein ratio 17.12-18.15%, ADF ratio 35.31-37.85% and NDF ratio 45.66-49.71%. Increasing the planting density increased the herbage yield and the highest value was obtained from 60x20 cm planting density. In addition, 60x20 cm planting density is also suggested in terms of protein , ADF and NDF traits.

Assessment of grassland carrying capacity drivers and evaluation of pasture-livestock balance: A case study of Xinjiang, China

Evaluating the spatiotemporal variations and driving mechanisms of carrying capacity (CC) is critical for optimizing grassland resource utilization and promoting sustainable development in grassland animal husbandry. This study focuses on Xinjiang, an arid and semi-arid region significantly impacted by environmental changes and human activities. To capture the dynamics of grassland CC, we employed Theil-Sen trend analysis and the Mann-Kendall test to assess spatiotemporal trends. The innovative use of the Geodetector method allowed for a detailed quantification of the influence of various environmental and human-related factors on grassland CC. Additionally, we incorporated livestock data to evaluate the overgrazing conditions of the grassland ecosystem. Our findings demonstrate that: (1) Grassland CC has shown a pronounced overall upward trajectory over the last twenty years, with notable inter-annual fluctuations and significant spatial variations, particularly between the northern and southern regions. (2) The spatial distribution of grassland CC is primarily influenced by precipitation patterns and population density, with key determining factors varying across different types of grasslands. Except for alpine steppe and alpine desert, the spatial distribution of grassland CC was primarily influenced by two-factor interactions, surpassing the impacts of single-factor effects. (3) The overgrazing rate has generally declined, peaking in 2014 and showing the mildest condition in 2017. In comparison, the overgrazing situation in Northern Xinjiang is relatively more favorable, whereas the southern and eastern regions necessitates more immediate and comprehensive ecological restoration and management measures. In summary, this study provides important scientific evidence for prioritizing grassland protection and planning for the sustainable animal husbandry development in arid and semi-arid regions.

Food Additives Derived from Fruits and Vegetables for Sustainable Animal Production and Their Impact in Latin America: An Alternative to the Use of Antibiotics.

The production of healthy animal-derived food entails the effective control of foodborne pathogens and strategies to mitigate microbial threats during rearing. Antibiotics have been traditionally employed in animal farming to manage bacterial infections. However, the prohibition of antibiotic growth promoters in livestock farming has brought significant changes in animal production practices. Although antibiotics are now restricted to treating and preventing bacterial infections, their overuse has caused serious public health issues, including antibiotic resistance and the presence of antibiotic residues in food and wastewater. Therefore, sustainable animal production is crucial in reducing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Annually, 40-50% of fruit and vegetable production is discarded worldwide. These discards present significant potential for extracting value-added ingredients, which can reduce costs, decrease waste, and enhance the food economy. This review highlights the negative impacts of antibiotic use in livestock farming and stresses the importance of analyzing the challenges and safety concerns of extracting value-added ingredients from fruit and vegetable co-products at an industrial scale. It also explores the current trends in reducing antibiotic use in livestock, with a focus on Latin American contexts. Finally, the suitability of using value-added ingredients derived from fruit and vegetable co-products for animal feeds is also discussed.

PSXI-5 Transforming retailer’s food waste into silage for sustainable animal nutrition

Abstract Food waste (FW) represents a major environmental and socio-economic problem. In Canada, about 11.2 million metric tons of avoidable food waste is produced yearly. An alternative to reduce this impact would be preserving a greater proportion of this, for livestock feed. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use discarded fruits, vegetables, and bakery products from retailers (FW), ensile them, and assess their nutritional value and contribution to a sustainable livestock feed supply. For this, two treatments for reducing the moisture content of FW were evaluated: Sun-dried (SD), and Passive-dried (PD), were compared with Control (C), using laboratory mini-silos over 60 d of ensiling. Although dry matter (DM) increased by 1-5% for PD and SD, respectively, up to 41.9% of bread products were required to produce a targeted silage DM of 38%. Silage aerobic stability was assessed during 20 d exposure to air. Chemical analyses (pH, volatile fatty acids, lactic acid, ammonia) were assessed in pre-fermentation (d 0), and post-fermentation (d 60). Nutritional quality was evaluated according to AOAC standard methods. Statistical analyses employed mixed models for nutritional and fermentation data, with drying treatments (C, PD, SD) as fixed effects. All mature silages were greater in crude protein (15.2 to 15.7%), crude fat (6.0 to 6.3%), sodium (0.48 to 0.52 %), sugars (WSC; 0.95 to 1.53 %), and less in neutral detergent fiber (6.2 to 7.6%) as compared with traditional silages used as livestock feed. Fermentation parameters showed that lactic acid content was greater than acetic acid, and pH decreased from a maximum of 5.26 at d 0 to a minimum of 3.85 at d 60. Mycophenolic acid was the only mycotoxin above the limit of detection in d 0 silage, with all mycotoxins below reference concentrations at d 60. Plate counts of molds and yeasts declined (P < 0.001) by 5 to 7 log colony-forming units (CFU) over 60 d of fermentation and were not detected in mature silage. Silage showed aerobic stability after 20 d of aerobic exposure (pH 3.86 ± 0.027). In conclusion, ensiling FW could be a viable way of converting low-value waste products into good-quality feed. However, approaches other than SD and PD are required for increasing silage DM as insufficient bread products may be available for this purpose in all batches of FW. Further study of palatability along with digestibility testing will be needed for a scaling-up process.

3 Hands -on 1: Applying system dynamics to develop “Flight Simulators” for sustainable animal production

Abstract Solving complex livestock production problems is a pressing issue for achieving long-term sustainability and profitability and often requires modeling techniques. The use of mathematical models is undoubtedly a daily practice in the livestock industry, especially nutrition, and has improved animal performance, productivity, and environmental sustainability while maintaining or reducing costs. Although many students and professionals use spreadsheets and existing empirical models for nutrition and management [NASEM (2016)], there is still a need to understand the complexity of livestock systems and the utility of flight simulator models. At the same time, more complex models (although robust) may fail to provide new insights for experienced nutritionists due to poor user-friendliness. A systems understanding goes beyond simply obtaining a desired output, such as optimizing a total mixed ration, but instead leads to identifying high-leverage solutions and gaining insight. Further, parameterizing and calibrating variables and equations and testing management scenarios is straightforward. However, developing causal feedback linkages (A to B and B to A) and identifying time delays is less intuitive and more challenging for novices. Model flight simulators grounded in fully documented, calibrated models provide a means to introduce practitioners to a methodology of insight generation because the user designs and runs the model scenarios for themselves, challenging their mental models. Such approaches are generally more impactful (compared with someone telling them) because they have gained insight into the system themselves, and, in the case of open source (white box models), they can explore equations and parameters. Therefore, understanding how to utilize dynamic models in scenario-based simulations is critical in training current and future modelers in animal science. This hands-on model training will cover the basics of System Dynamics modeling and allow participants to run real-time animal production simulations. Finally, participants will be “debriefed” to unpack “ah ha” moments that were unexpected. The debrief will include using models to develop accurate guidelines and recommendations for those who cannot use computer models and developing experimental designs to test hypotheses and “validate” model recommendations (proof in the pudding). Participants will gain knowledge of System Dynamics applications for animal production systems, experience using flight simulators, and their utility in teaching, informing, and guiding their livestock production or that of a client. The “flight simulator” will focus on production and nutrition with species-agnostic principles. Participants will also have a new tool to identify areas for improvement in model development (i.e., what is missing?), research questions, or industry needs. The need for modelers who can turn big data into insight, knowledge, and wisdom using a systems approach is becoming even more critical due to the increasing use of precision livestock farming. Thus, providing the livestock industry with trained systems modelers will help achieve current and future sustainability challenges.

Effect of Rosemary on Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Fatty Acid Content, Intestinal Flora, and Antioxidant Capacity of Broilers.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a natural spice plant with an aromatic flavor and antioxidant properties that can help enhance the flavor and texture of food, as well as be used as an antioxidant source in pet feed. This study explored the effect of rosemary on the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of broiler chickens. In total, 144 healthy 1-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into four groups: The control group was fed a basic diet, while the positive control group was fed a basic diet supplemented with 30 mg/kg kitasamycin, and the treatment groups were fed a basic diet supplemental with 0.5% rosemary, or 2% rosemary. The average daily feed intake of broilers fed with 0.5% and 2% rosemary in 1-42 days was higher than that in the basal diet group (p < 0.05). The pH was lower in the rosemary groups than in the 30 mg/kg kitasamycin group as measured in the thigh muscle tissue (p < 0.05), and the monounsaturated fatty acid C17:1 heptadecanoic acid content of the 2% rosemary group was higher than that of the other groups (p < 0.05). With 0.5% rosemary supplementation, the activities of the serum and liver antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) activity and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) increased (p < 0.05); malondialdehyde content decreased (p < 0.05). The serum activities of CAT, total superoxide dismutase, and T-AOC increased with 2% rosemary supplementation (p < 0.05). The relative expression of liver antioxidant genes, the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2, glutathione catalase 1, and superoxide dismutase 1 increased (p < 0.05) with 0.5% rosemary supplementation. The addition of rosemary resulted in higher intestinal lactobacilli counts and lower E. coli counts. In summary, adding 0.5% or 2% rosemary to the diet improved the growth performance of Arbor Acres broilers and increased the number of intestinal probiotics, and supplementing with 0.5% rosemary yielded better results than adding 2% rosemary. This study provides valuable insights into the broader application of plant-derived antioxidants in promoting sustainable and health-focused animal farming practices.

The Growth Performance and Nutrient Composition of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Fed Slaughtered Bovine Blood.

The disposal of slaughterhouse blood poses significant environmental challenges due to its biological instability and high nutrient content. We used a gradient of 10% blood increments (0-100%) to feed BSFL, and the correlation between the proportion of bovine blood and the BSFL weight gain, mortality rate, fatty acid content, and amino acid content was researched. Results indicate a positive correlation between the bovine blood content and BSFL mortality, with survival rates above 95% for blood proportions below 60%. Larval weight exhibited a negative correlation as the bovine blood content increased. Nutritional analysis revealed that the crude protein content in BSFL increased proportionally with bovine blood (14.75-25.45 g/100 g), while the crude fat content decreased correspondingly (10.70-4.66 g/100 g). The sugar content remained relatively constant across groups. Fatty acid analysis showed increased levels of C16:0, C14:0, and C16:1 and decreased levels of C18:1, C18:2, and C18:3 with higher bovine blood contents. The amino acid content generally increased with higher blood proportions. This study highlights the bioconversion potential of BSFL for bovine blood and underscores the impact of protein, lipid, and sugar concentrations in feed on BSFL growth. These findings provide valuable insights for utilizing slaughterhouse waste in BSFL rearing, contributing to the development of more sustainable waste management and animal feed production methods.

Development of a Gold Nanoparticle-Based Sensor for Authentication of Organic Milk Based on Differential Levels of miRNA.

Dairy production systems significantly impact environmental sustainability, animal welfare, and human health. Intensive farming maximizes output through high-input practices, raising concerns about environmental degradation, animal welfare, and health risks from antibiotic residues. Conversely, organic farming emphasizes sustainable practices, animal welfare, and minimal synthetic inputs, potentially enhancing biodiversity, soil health, and milk quality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), non-coding RNAs regulating gene expression, are promising biomarkers due to their response to various conditions. In this study, miRNAs bta-miR-103 and bta-miR-155, which are abundant in milk from pasture-fed cows, were selected. Additionally, bta-miR-215, which is abundant in milk fat from intensive systems, was also studied, in order to differentiate dairy production systems. A novel, cost-effective gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-based sensor was developed for miRNA detection, leveraging the unique plasmonic properties of AuNPs for visual detection. The method involves functionalizing AuNPs with complementary RNA probes and detecting miRNA-induced aggregation through colorimetric changes. This rapid, results in 30 min, and sensitive, visual limit of detection of 200 nM, assay requires minimal instrumentation and can be easily interpreted, offering significant advantages for field implementation in characterizing dairy production systems. This study demonstrates the successful application of this sensor in detecting miRNAs in 350 nM miRNA spiked raw milk, highlighting its potential for in situ dairy industry applications.

Environmental factors and management practices associated with beef cattle carcass quality in the mid-west of Brazil.

The "Precoce MS" program, established by the Brazilian government in Mato Grosso do Sul in 2017, aims to encourage beef producers to harvest animals at younger ages to enhance carcass quality. About 40% of the beef produced in the state now comes from this program, which offers tax refunds ranging from 49% to 67% based on carcass classification and production system. Despite the program success, with participants delivering younger animals (with a maximum of 4 incisors), there remains significant variability in carcass quality. This paper investigates management practices and environmental factors affecting farm performance regarding carcass quality. Data from all animals harvested between the beginning of 2017 and the end of 2018 were analyzed, totaling 1,107 million animals from 1,470 farms. Farm performance was assessed based on the percentage of animals achieving grades "AAA" and "AA." Each batch of harvested cattle from each farm was categorized into two groups: high farm performance (HFP, with more than 50% of animals classified as "AAA" or "AA") and low farm performance (LFP, with less than 50% classified as such). A predictive logistic model was developed to forecast farm performance (FP) using 14 continuous and 15 discrete pre-selected variables. The most effective model, obtained through backward stepwise variable selection, had an R 2 of 0.18, accuracy of 71.5%, and AUC of 0.715. Key predictors included animal category, production system type, carcass weight, individual identification, traceability system, presence of a feed plant, location, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from the 12-mo average before harvest. Developing predictive models of carcass quality by integrating data from commercial farms with other sources of information (animal, production system, and environment) can improve our understanding of production systems, optimize resource allocation, and advance sustainable animal production. Additionally, they offer valuable insights for designing and implementing better sectorial, social, and environmental policies by public administrations, not only in Brazil but also in other tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

ASSESSMENT AND CURRENT TRENDS OF ENSURING FOOD SECURITY IN UKRAINE

The research on Ukraine's food security is of paramount importance, as it directly impacts the national agro-food systems. The article delves into the current state of internal food self-sufficiency in the Ukrainian population, conducting an analytical assessment of export-import transactions with agricultural raw materials and food products. The findings reveal a significant trend of increasing food exports in recent years, along with an evaluation of the export-import coverage for the main types of food products. Ukraine's place in the world rating of food security based on the Global Food Security Index was studied. The fundamental problems and reasons that determined Ukraine's decrease in the rating positions and the level of food security of its population were identified. In addition to the military conflict, Ukraine has a low economic availability of food products for the population and a low level of sustainability in the domestic agro-food system. Despite the war's consequences, the agricultural business remains one of the most profitable economic activities in Ukraine. This analysis of individual indicators of the effectiveness of the country's agrarian sector as a basis for ensuring food security underscores the sector's potential. The modern production structure of the main types of agricultural products by categories of producers was studied. The key trends accompanying ensuring food security in Ukraine under modern conditions are summarized. It was revealed that food security in the crop sector is achieved at the expense of the public sector agrarian formations, mainly at the expense of households in the livestock sector. Based on the average values ​​of the actual consumption indicators, the state of providing the population with the main types of food was analyzed. The results showed problematic aspects in providing the country's population with meat and dairy products, fish, fruits, berries, and grapes. The priority directions for ensuring and strengthening food security on a national scale are substantiated. Among the main ones, the following are highlighted: the need to implement sustainable farming and animal husbandry practices, further improvement of the food quality management and control system, protection of biodiversity of ecological agrosystems, optimization and reduction of value chains, increasing the level of social responsibility of food producers and consumers.

Statistical approaches for assessing meat quality and heifer rumen histology based on dietary forage.

Feeding local forages to ruminants is a promising strategy for enhancing metabolic processes, promoting sustainable farming, and improving product quality. However, studies comparing the effects of different forages on rumen histology and meat attributes of heifers are limited and variable. This study evaluated the benefits of incorporating local forages into heifer diets by comparing barley straw (BS) and oat hay (OH) on heifer attributes focusing on meat quality (MQ) and rumen status (RS). Sixteen crossbred (Charolais x Limousin) female heifers (7 months of age, 263 ± 10.50 kg) were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments (BS or OH) over 120 days. Heifers fed OH showed enhanced RS (p < 0.05), characterized by improved intestinal epithelial integrity and a lower percentage of hyperpigmented cells, suggesting a potential reduction in inflammatory processes compared to BS, which may indicate a lower risk of metabolic diseases. Despite this, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in animal performance, chemical composition, and technological properties of the meat between the dietary groups, while lower levels (p < 0.05) of certain saturated fatty acids (C12:0, C15:0, and C22:0) were found in the meat from heifers fed OH. Principal component analysis (PCA) reduced the variables and demonstrated that all variables assessed can be condensed into four new variables explaining 75.06% of the variability. Moreover, biplot analysis reveals that the OH diet could be discriminated from BS. Our findings suggest that OH is a valuable fiber source, positively influencing certain heifer attributes, and supporting sustainable animal agriculture practices.