Sustainable Animal Research Articles

Black Soldier Fly Larvae as Alternative to Conventional Animal Feed: An Islamic and Science Perspective

The black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens Linnaeus, is a worthwhile insect genus whose larvae have shown promise for sustainable animal feed because of their economical and premium protein. Concerns arise among Muslims about whether the usage of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) as animal feed is permissible by Shariah because hasyarat (insect) consumption, excluding grasshoppers, is forbidden based on the majority of Islamic scholars. This study examined the Halal status of animals fed with BSFL, investigated the benefits of BSFL in industrial farming, and analyzed the Maqasid al-Shariah view on the usage of BSFL as animal feed. Library research and document analysis were applied as qualitative methods. The study shows that BSFL has approximately a dry matter of 40% protein and 30% fat, no significant upshot in egg odour produced by hens fed with BSFL, and the whole nutritional exchange of fish meal with BSFL has no negative effects on the physicochemical merit of Atlantic salmon. The study concludes that if animals fed with BSFL are not affected in terms of the odour, colour, and taste of najs (impurity), then the animals are not categorized as Jallalah (contaminated) animals. Hence, the usage of BSFL as animal feed is permissible (Halal) and is classified as Tahsiniyyat (luxuries) based on Maqasid al-Shariah.

A comprehensive review on natural phenolic compounds as alternatives to in-feed antibiotics.

Intensive livestock and poultry farming in China largely relied on the use of in-feed antibiotics until July 2020. The consequences of antibiotic overuse in animal feed include accumulation in animal products and the development of bacterial antibiotic resistance, both of which threaten food safety and human health. China has now completely banned the circulation of commercial feed containing growth-promoting drug additives (except Chinese herbal medicine). Therefore, alternatives to in-feed antibiotics in animal production are greatly needed. Natural phenolic compounds (NPCs) exist widely in plants and are non-toxic, non-polluting, highly reproducible, and leave little residue. Many natural flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans, and stilbenes have polyphenol chemical structures and exhibit great potential as alternatives to antibiotics. In this review we delineate the characteristics of plant-derived NPCs and summarize their current applications as alternatives to in-feed antibiotics, aiming to provide new strategies for antibiotic-free feeding and promote the development of more sustainable animal husbandry practices.

A Topographic Perspective on the Propensity for Degradation of Plateau Swampy Meadows in Maduo County, West China

The swampy meadows atop the vast Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in West China fall into alpine, pediment, valley, floodplain, terrace, lacustrine, and riverine types according to their hydro-geomorphic properties. They have suffered degradation to various levels of severity due to climate change and external disturbance. In this paper, we studied the propensity of these types of swampy meadows to degrade from the topographic perspective. Evaluated against four degradation indicators of vegetation, hydrology, soil erosion, and pika (Ochotona curzoniae) damage, degradation severity at 106 swampy meadows representing all types of wetlands was graded to one of four levels, from which the field-based propensity to degrade (PtD) index value was derived. Judged against this index, terrace and alpine swampy meadows are the most prone to degradation while valley, lacustrine, and riverine swampy meadows are the least. The index value of a given swampy meadow type bears a close relationship (R2 = 0.916) with its rate of change during 1990–2013, which confirms the validity of the proposed index in predicting the propensity of swampy meadows to change. The observed differential PtD of different types of swampy meadows is attributed primarily to elevation (R2 = 0.746; p = 0.027) and, secondarily, to surface morphology (R2 = 0.696; p = 0.039). Thus, the elevation at which a swampy meadow is situated is a more important factor to its PtD than its surface morphology. In particular, swampy meadows located at a higher elevation with a convex surface are much more prone to degradation than those at a lower elevation of a concave slope. Such findings can guide the proper management of different types of swampy meadows to achieve sustainable animal husbandry.

Climate Change Impact on Small-Scale Animal Agriculture: Livestock Water & Food Security in Africa

Water is essential for food security and animal agricultural productivity, but it is becoming more scarce due to climate change. The interaction between climate change and livestock water resources has received little attention from researchers, despite the significance of small-scale animal husbandry for the rural poor in Africa and the size of the changes that are anticipated to have an impact on smallholder livestock systems. Threats to livestock water are undoubtedly one of the most significant environmental issues that have impacted food security on the continent, given their links to small-scale animal husbandry and the detrimental impacts on productivity. In order to balance the negative effects of climate change scenarios for sustainable animal productivity and contribute to food security through small-scale animal agriculture, the most climate-smart and resilient agricultural water practices and technologies must be used. Changes in rainfall and a decline in the biomass available for grazing and rangelands as a result of water stress brought on by the climate would have the most severe effects. This is due to the rain-fed nature of small-scale livestock farming. The local animal genetic resources are essential for animal productivity and food security in Africa, particularly in areas where livestock water is becoming scarce owing to climate change. Research and development goals on the effects of climate change on livestock water, animal productivity, and food security may need to be reviewed if demands of vulnerable small-scale animal producers are to be successfully addressed in the future decades. It is best to use an interdisciplinary approach to comprehend the relationships between small-scale animal husbandry, food security, and climate change. By navigating the complexities of climate adaptation, small-scale livestock farmers can manage livestock water scarcity by taking adaptation measures that are in line with evolving climate impacts and associated means of implementation based on pertinent and useful knowledge that takes into account a blend of traditional and modern water science. In this paper, an effort is made to close some significant information gaps and shed light on how water-induced stress impacts small-scale animal production, which has an effect on food security.

Sustainable Management and Valorization of Agri-Food Industrial Wastes and By-Products as Animal Feed: For Ruminants, Non-Ruminants and as Poultry Feed

Substantial increase in the production of agri-food commodities over the past years has resulted in the generation of enormous volumes of wastes and by-products, thus contributing to increased environmental pollution. Being an under-exploited raw material which are rich in bioactive compounds (e.g., polyphenols, dietary fibre, oils, essential vitamins, minerals, etc), novel strategies and initiatives have been proposed and implemented for the effective management and valorization of these wastes and by-products. The proposed initiatives and strategies support the concepts of EU circular economy and green biorefinery, thus promoting sustainability. One of the strategies of management of waste and by-products includes the effectual development of nutritious low-cost sustainable animal feed. Currently, in the world market, there are a range of fruit and vegetable wastes and by-products that have been effectively introduced in animal diets. Within this context, this systematic review focuses on a diversified group of agri-food wastes (and the industrial by-products), their bioactive components, the opportunities for the development of animal feed or feed supplements (for Ruminants, Non-Ruminants and as Poultry feed) and conclusively the health benefits imparted. In addition, the safety issues and regulations aspects are also covered.

A Novel Cost-Effective Nanobody against Fumonisin B1 Contaminations: Efficacy Test in Dairy Milk and Chickens.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a secondary metabolite produced mainly by Fusarium verticillioides or Fusarium proliferatum. It poses a huge threat to the sustainable animal industry and human health as well via food chains (egg, meat and milk). Although E. coli-expressed nanobodies are documented for diagnostic applications, nanobodies remain elusive as FB1 detoxifiers in feed and food. In the present study, the E. coli-expressed nanobody was assessed to remove FB1 in fresh milk, embryonated eggs and broilers. Firstly, 2 alpacas received intramuscularly FB1-adjuvanted BSA 6 times, and then the variable domain of the heavy-chain antibody (VHH) of fb1 genes were amplified to clone into the pCANTAB 5 E vector in order to generate a VHH-FB1 phage antibody display library, yielding 3.4 × 1010 capacity with 96.7% positivity. Afterwards, 5 anti-FB1 nanobodies were expressed and identified. Furthermore, maximal 43.2% FB1 was removed from milk by 1:2000 concentration of nanobody 5 (Nb5). Furthermore, SPF-embryonated eggs were inoculated into albumens with nanobody-treated FB1. The Nb5 group yielded an 83.3% hatching rate, higher body weight, lower gizzard ulceration and fewer FB1 residuals. In order to warrant the above results, 50 broilers aged 10 days were received orally with 20 ppm of FB1 for 20 days. At the same time, birds were fed orally with 50 μg of Nb5 or bivalent nanobody 11 (BiNb11). Finally, the Nb5 group showed a higher relative body weight gain and lower gastric ulcerations and fewer inflammations in the thymus and bursa. Based on the above evidence, the Nb5 nanobody may be considered as an additional FB1 detoxifier, contributing to FB1 decontamination.

Impact of Moringa oleifera on rumen fermentation and methane emission under in vitro condition

Exploring innovative methods to provide essential nutrients and reducing ruminant greenhouse gas emission is crucial for animal production and diminishing global warming. This study was conducted to examine the efficacy of Moringa oleifera leaves (ML) in ruminants at 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30% and 40% level in different roughage (R) and concentrate (C) (80R:20C, 70R:30C and 60R:40C) under in vitro conditions. Chemical composition of ML, concentrate mixture and berseem were estimated. Rumen fermentation parameters of male goat kids viz., total gas production, CH4, true dry matter digestibility (TDMD), organic matter digestibility (TOMD), partial fraction (PF), microbial biomass (MBP), ammonia (N), acetate, propionate, butyrate and acetate propionate ratio were observed under in vitro conditions. Results revealed that crude protein, organic matter and ethyl ether content were higher in ML as compared to concentrate mixture and berseem. Magnesium and iron content were also higher in ML as compared to concentrate and berseem. Total gas production, digestibility of DM and OM, MBP, acetate and propionate level were improved (P < 0.05) upto 10–20% replacement. In contrast, decreased in CH4 (%) and CH4 (mL/100 mg dDM) was noted with increased levels of ML incorporation. There was no change observed in ammonia, acetate: propionate ratios at all the three planes of nutrition. In this study, it is concluded that mixing Moringa oleifera leaves in feed can be used as protein supplement and reduce the methane emission without causing any effect on digestibility and rumen fermentation parameters. However, ML can be suggested for widespread practice to attain the sustainable animal production (10–20%) and to alleviate the global warming.

Prediction of Elephant Movement Using Intellectual Virtual Fencing Model

The capability to navigate and orientate is crucially a significant factor to determine the survival of all migratory animals like elephants. The sustainability of animals is constrained with a limited amount of techniques available for analysis of complex animals’ behavioral responses. Various approaches are used to track animals’ movement like elephants crossing the railway track, roads have to be varied based on the degree of accuracy that is needed essentially. However, the existing approaches fail to trigger an alert in some cases. To overcome these limitations, a novel Intellectual Inertial Measurement Unit (IIMU) is proposed where the data are acquired from the aerial elephant dataset with a set of training and testing image samples. Data collected with these dataset are analyzed for triggering Virtual Fencing (VF) and to alert animals to avoid danger. This work attempts to validate that this IIMU installed with animals’ bodies can be used to evaluate patterns related to the animal’s movement. The collected data are provided for filtering using Levenberg Marquardt Algorithm to reduce the noise over the data and to enhance the prediction accuracy. The pattern set undergoes training with Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and optimized with Elephant Optimization to evaluate the prediction accuracy. Based on the evaluation, the model shows better prediction accuracy in case of emergency and alert is triggered to save the life of elephants. Here, some performance metrics like accuracy, precision, F-measure, recall, ROC are evaluated to show the significance of EPO-ANN model. The model outperforms the existing standard SVM model and gives higher prediction accuracy.

Effect of supplemental malic acid on methane mitigation in paddy straw based complete diet for sustainable animal production in indigenous dairy cattle

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplemental malic acid on mitigation of methane emission for dairy cattle by in vitro and in vivo methods. The in vitro finding was validated by in vivo feeding trial in indigenous dairy cattle. Ten dairy cattle with uniform milk production were selected and divided into two groups with five animals each and they were fed with and without supplementation of malic acid at 0.39% in 60% paddy straw and 40% concentrate mixture based complete diet. The malic acid at 0.39% was the minimum level which resulted in highly significant reduction of methane by 15.95% and methane (ml) per 100 mg of truly digested substrate by 15.69%, respectively than control in in vitro study. The methane emission per animal per day and per kg dry matter intake (DMI) was significantly decreased by 3.26% and 3.11%, respectively in malic acid supplemented group than control. The methane emission per kg milk production was significantly reduced by 5.43% in malic acid supplemented group than control. The total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) and propionic acid were significantly increased by 2.69% and 11.71%, respectively in malic acid supplemented group than control. It was concluded that the supplementation of malic acid at 0.39% of paddy straw based complete diet significantly reduced the methane emission per animal per day and per kg milk production than control in indigenous dairy cattle.

Welcome to the (label) jungle? Analyzing how consumers deal with intra-sustainability label trade-offs on food

Sustainability labels provide consumers with information about the production process, but the number of specialized labels is increasing rapidly. Different label combinations on one product can lead to trade-offs for consumers since sustainability dimensions, e.g., animal welfare and climate impact, may conflict. Consumers may face a combination of sustainability labels where not all characteristics are positive. The likelihood of a combination of positive and negative labels is particularly high when certain labels become mandatory. It is unclear how this influences the decision-making of consumers. This study analyzes the effect of different multi-level sustainability labels: animal welfare label, climate label, and a binary label (organic), and a nutritional label: the Nutri-Score on two food products. We measured the willingness to pay (WTP) for chicken breast and whole milk for different label combinations using a discrete choice experiment with 985 German consumers. Our results provide first indications that the presence of a sustainability label does not diminish the marginal utility of another sustainability label and that the effects of a negative label on the WTP cannot be compensated by a positive label. Consumers can handle two different types of labels at the same time and seem to be able to cope even with contradictory information in a trade-off situation between different sustainability dimensions. For manufacturers, this means that they should avoid scoring negatively on any sustainability dimension.

Feeding Preferences of Domestic and Wild Ungulates for Forage Trees in the Dry Tropics

Silvopastoralism based on livestock feeding on forage trees is becoming a sustainable alternative to traditional grazing on the open pastures of dry tropical Central America. Four autochthonous trees, Acacia pennatula, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Gliricidia sepium and Guazuma ulmifolia, and one exotic (Moringa oleifera) tree are the preferred species for these silvopastoral systems. Little is known, however, about the feeding preferences of cattle, sheep and goats for such fodder trees and whether wild ungulates (white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus) feed on these plants. In this work, we conducted several multiple-choice feeding preference tests (cafeteria test) to compare the best choice to feed cattle, sheep, goats and white-tailed deer in these farming systems. Although all ruminant species included the four autochthonous trees and the exotic M. oleifera in their diets, G. ulmifolia was the preferred forage tree by far. The preference for the rest of the trees varied among our ruminant species. When M. oleifera was added to the cafeteria test, it was well accepted by white-tailed deer but little appreciated by their domestic counterparts. The use of these forage trees for livestock feeding is thus interesting not only for sustainable animal production but also to support wild herbivores in the dry tropics of Central America.

Short term Heart Rate Variability in Rats

Objective: A sustainable animal model is needed to detect Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunctions, which can be assessed by recording electrocardiogram and analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Therefore, the present study tried to find out the duration for HRV analysis for reliable results.Material and methods: Recording of Electroencephalogram (ECG) is reported in many articles. However, there is no information regarding the duration of ECG to be considered for the HRV analysis. Adult Wistar rat were used for a recording of ECG and HRV analysis. A combination of Ketamine 50 mg/kg and Xylazine 10 mg/kg was used for anesthésia in all the recordings. We analyzed the HRV parameters for all the records with 10 different durations starting from 1 minute to 10 minutes and compared.Results and Discussion: It was observed that, ECG parameters were within normal range while the data from HRV analysis from different duration showed wide discrepancies depending on the duration of ECG recording used for HRV analysis.Conclusion: The minimum duration of eight minutes of recording is likely to produce acceptable data for HRV parameters.

The impact of COVID-19 on the sustainable intensification of forage-based beef and dairy value chains in Colombia: a blessing and a curse

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the difficulties associated with the need to transition the cattle sector in Latin America towards achieving sustainability and created a “double crisis” of pandemic and climate change. The increasing demand for animal sourced foods and the need to address the negative environmental impacts of cattle production, including greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss and deforestation, and the implications of climate change on cattle production (prolonged droughts, prolonged rainy seasons, heat stress), have placed strong emphasis on sustainable intensification of forage-based beef and dairy systems for climate change mitigation and adaptation. This is needed to meet the commitments made by many Latin American countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement. Through a qualitative approach, this perspective paper reviews the present and potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on progress towards sustainable intensification of the Colombian cattle sector. It also outlines new opportunities for sustainable intensification in Colombia that may provide useful examples for other Latin American countries. Short-term impacts such as: (i) increased input prices, (ii) limited access to inputs, credit, and technical assistance, and (iii) reduced incomes, have limited investment in sustainable intensification along the value chains. Reduced resources for research and development funding, unavailability of skilled and experienced staff, restrictions to travel and person-to-person interactions, in tandem, have caused setbacks in the development and application of sustainable technologies and programs. This has been addressed by increased use of technology for communication but there are difficulties with the broad availability of such technologies, especially farmers. A long-term shift of consumer demand towards more sustainable animal products is occurring and expected to continue, and this should lead to new opportunities for sustainable intensification.

381 Awardee Talk: Increasing the Sustainability of Beef Cattle Production Through Internationalization

Abstract Intelligent societies are built through education. Wisdom gained through scientific knowledge and discourse is necessary for spreading reliable information and building consensus among citizens of the six continents on earth. Internationalization empowers the fostering and discovery of novel techniques and resources that could solve contemporary issues assailing humankind’s prosperity, including sustainability, environmental pollution, and hunger. A community might have found solutions to problems other communities face; however, our failures of globalization postpone their resolution. Animal science is not immune to these failures. Livestock production could incorporate know-how from other communities, borrowing from experiences of student and faculty exchange and study abroad programs. The tremendous evolutionary aspects of ruminants’ digestive system allow them to thrive in diverse and sometimes inhospitable ecosystems and convert human-inedible resources into high-quality animal products for human consumption. Humankind relies on ruminants for energy and protein consumption, wool, and draft power. This symbiotic relationship has led to extreme production systems due to economy-of-scale factors and the availability of resources in some countries. But, other countries have relied on rustic, low-intrusive production systems that are more amenable to the environment and more conducive to sustainability. Therefore, breaking the boundaries across nations through international partnership programs will lead to sharing scientific knowledge and enhancing management programs essential to the long-term continuation of this human-ruminant symbiotic relationship within responsible animal welfare programs. Besides improving the communication among societies and spreading scientific advancements, such internationalization programs will shape students, i.e., the workforce of the future, into citizens of the world with accurate and helpful information about the language, culture, problems, and needs of other civilizations and how to enrich our likelihood and theirs. As a result, leaders of the many different nations worldwide can, once again, expand the frontiers of scientific knowledge in seeking sustainable, responsible, and affordable animal agriculture activities.

PSI-7 Differential Effects of Garlic on the Secretion of Structurally Different Galectins in Sheep Blood

Abstract The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of garlic treatment on structurally different Gals 1(Prototype), Gal 3 (chimera type), and Gal 9 (tandem-repeat type) secretion in sheep blood. St Croix sheep are parasite-resistant sheep useful for sustainable animal production. Producers seek to improve animal health and performance. Garlic (Allium sativum) and its derivatives are eco-friendly non-antibiotic growth-promoting dietary supplements. Garlic lectins have immune-modulatory effects that could interfere with animal lectins. Galectins (Gals) are a family of animal lectins that bind β-galactosides. Secreted Gals modulate pathological processes and immunity. A survey of (N=20) St Croix sheep was conducted to evaluate indicators of health and performance. Four clinically healthy female St Croix sheep (n=4) were used. Bodyweight (lb.), FAMACHA©, body condition score, blood, and fecal samples were collected. Blood was treated (37C for 30 min) with fresh Garlic (Herbal Roots CAs) at the following concentrations 0, 1, 10, 50,100 µg/ml PBS. Total plasma protein concentration was analyzed using BCA assay and secretion of Galectins 1,3 and 9 was determined using commercial ELISA(MY BIOSOURCE). All variables were analyzed using the statistical analysis software package SAS version 9.4(SAS Institute, Cary, NC) p≤0.05. Health indicators varied among sheep and no correlations were observed. The dose of garlic used and animal genetics had a variable effect. At 10ug/ml garlic increased concentration of total plasma protein (7%), Gal 1, 3(50% above control), and Gal-9 has no significant effect. concentration at 50 and 100 µg/ml garlic decreased all indicators. Galectin secretion was modulated by garlic treatment. There was a differential effect on the structurally distinct Gal types. Further studies are needed to determine the effect of Garlic on Gal mediated functions in St Croix sheep immunity and possible effects that can impact pathogenesis.

Food price dynamics and regional clusters: machine learning analysis of egg prices in China

PurposeThe study uses machine learning techniques to cluster regional retail egg prices after 2000 in China. Furthermore, it combines machine learning results with econometric models to study determinants of cluster affiliation. Eggs are an inexpensiv, nutritious and sustainable animal food. Contextually, China is the largest country in the world in terms of both egg production and consumption. Regional clustering can help governments to imporve the precision of price policies and help producers make better investment decisions. The results are purely driven by data.Design/methodology/approachThe study introduces dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm which takes into account time series properties to analyze provincial egg prices in China. The results are compared with several other algorithms, such as TADPole. DTW is superior, though it is computationally expensive. After the clustering, a multinomial logit model is run to study the determinants of cluster affiliation.FindingsThe study identified three clusters. The first cluster including 12 provinces and the second cluster including 2 provinces are the main egg production provinces and their neighboring provinces in China. The third cluster is mainly egg importing regions. Clusters 1 and 2 have higher price volatility. The authors confirm that due to transaction costs, the importing areas may have less price volatility.Practical implicationsThe machine learning techniques could help governments make more precise policies and help producers make better investment decisions.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to use machine learning techniques to cluster food prices. It also combines machine learning and econometric models to better study price dynamics.

Does supplementing β-mannanase modulate the feed-induced immune response and gastrointestinal ecology in poultry and pigs? An appraisal

The provision of adequate and balanced nutrients is critical for efficient and profitable animal protein production. However, non-nutritive components in feedstuffs can elicit responses that can negatively impact nutrient utilization efficiency. For example, dietary β-mannans are recognizable by cell surface mannose receptors are pivotal for diverse cellular functions. This review will evaluate the physiological implications of dietary native β-mannans, the utility of supplemental feed β-mannanase in hydrolyzing β-mannans, and subsequent metabolic responses. Dietary native β-mannans have been implicated in inadvertent stimulation of immune response through a phenomenon called the feed-induced immune response (FIIR), that has been associated with intestinal inflammation and depression in animal performance. Supplemental β-mannanase blunted the FIIR by hydrolyzing native β-mannans to smaller fragments with a reduced ability to stimulate the innate immune system as indicated by the modulation of oxidative stress, mucosal permeability, and blood concentration of acute phase proteins and immunoglobulins in broilers and piglet models. Moreover, β-mannanase hydrolysis of native β-mannans to mannooligosaccharides (MOS) impacted gastrointestinal microbial ecology. Indeed, β-mannanase-derived MOS reduced the concentration of pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella and increased the production of short-chain fatty acids in gastrointestinal tracts of various animal models. Consequently, by hydrolyzing native β-mannans, supplemental β-mannanase may have nutritional, metabolic, and microbial ecology benefits. In summary, integrating multi-functional feed additives such as β-mannanase into feeding programs for monogastric animals will be critical for efficient and sustainable animal protein production in the context of evolving challenges such as the mandated elimination of use of antibiotics for growth promotion.

Changing Perceptions and Uses of “Companion Animal” Public and Pseudo-Public Spaces in Cities during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Beijing

This paper examines the debate over the place of “companion animal” public space in China’s cities. With the COVID-19 outbreak, this debate has entered a new phase, where the social response to the outbreak may have fundamentally changed the public’s use and perception of “companion animal” public and pseudo-public space. This paper combines quantitative and qualitative analysis of posts and comments on two of China’s largest social media platforms with a big data approach, based on a case study in Beijing, China. There were statistically significant differences in the perception and use of “companion animal” public spaces and pseudo-public spaces before and after the pandemic. We attribute the impact of the pandemic on “companion animal” spaces to three pathways: changes in opportunity, changes in ability, and changes in motivation. We found that the pandemic led to an increase in the amount of time available to some people but a decrease in the amount of “companion animal” public space available due to the pandemic closure. In addition, the use of “companion animal” public spaces in pseudo-public spaces declined, while those located within the open urban green space on the city’s outskirts stood out after the outbreak. With the normalisation of the pandemic, there will be new challenges for the development and operation of companion-animal-related public spaces in cities, which will be the next focus of research. In addition, governments and social media should work together to promote and support sustainable animal ethical practices to better respond to the crisis. These findings will help complement the urban services system and guide future planning, design, and evaluation of related spaces.

Near Infrared Spectroscopy as a Traceability Tool to Monitor Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) Intended as Animal Feed

The demand for animal proteins, especially from pork and poultry, is projected to increase significantly due to rapid growth in population and underlying socio-economic conditions. Livestock rearing using conventional feed ingredients is becoming challenging due to climate change and several other factors, thereby suggesting the need for alternative, viable and sustainable animal feed sources. The use of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia illucens) as a component in animal feed is a promising candidate due to their ability to valorise different organic waste streams. The nutrient composition of BSFL reared on organic waste streams is also comparable to that of several conventional animal feed ingredients and varies depending upon the feed, rearing conditions, and the morphological stage of the larvae. The identification of organic waste is of importance as it can determine not only the composition but also the safety issues of BSFL as an animal feed ingredient. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to trace the food waste used to grow BSFL. Samples of BSFL (5th and 6th instar BSFL; n = 50) obtained from a commercial production facility were analysed using NIR spectroscopy. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was employed to develop the models. The outcomes of this study revealed that NIR spectroscopy could distinguish different larval instars and suggested the importance of larval instars in developing calibration models for traceability applications. The developed PLS-DA model could predict the feed source used for rearing the 5th instar larvae (R2 value: 0.89) and 6th instar pre-pupae (R2 value: 0.91). This suggests that NIR spectroscopy could be used as a non-invasive traceability tool for BSFL and to assist in selecting the suitable time frame for larvae harvesting in commercial facilities.

Antimicrobial and Digestive Effects of Yucca schidigera Extracts Related to Production and Environment Implications of Ruminant and Non-Ruminant Animals: A Review

Plant extracts have been used over time in traditional medicine, mainly for their antimicrobial activity as well as for their medicinal effects. Plant-derived products contain secondary metabolites that prevent pathogenic microbial growth similar to conventional medicines. These secondary metabolites can enhance animal health and production in a more natural or organic manner and may contribute to the reduction in the use of pharmacological drugs in animal feed, which is of great concern for emerging microbial resistance. Plant secondary metabolites can be cost effective, while improving the production efficiency of ruminants, non-ruminants, and aquatic food animals. Among the plant-derived products is the Yucca schidigera extract (YSE), containing steroidal saponins as their main active component. YSE has multiple biological effects, including inhibition of some pathogenic bacteria, protozoa, and nematodes. YSE is used to control odor and ammonia and consistently enhance poultry production by enhancing intestinal health and function. In pigs, results are as yet inconclusive. In ruminants, YSE works against protozoa, has selective action against bacteria, and reduces the archaea populations; all these effects are reflected in the reduction in emissions of polluting gases, mainly methane, although the effects are not observed in all feeding conditions. These effects of YSE are discussed in this review. YSE has potential as a natural feed additive for sustainable animal production while contributing to the mitigation of contaminant gas emissions.