Sustainable Livestock Production Research Articles

Assessing the potential of phytogenic feed additives: A comprehensive review on their effectiveness as a potent dietary enhancement for nonruminant in swine and poultry.

Phytogenic feed additives (PFAs) often referred to as phytobiotics or botanical feed additives, are natural compounds derived from various plants, herbs, spicesand other botanical sources. These feed additives are intended to serve a variety of purposes, including an immune system regulator, an antimicrobial, an antimutagenic, an antioxidantand a growth promoter. They are composed of bioactive compounds extracted from plants, including essential oils, polyphenols, terpenoidsand flavonoids. They are mostly utilized as substitute antibiotic growth promoters in nonruminant (swine and poultry) livestock production, owing to the prohibition of antibiotic usage in the feed industry. It has been thoroughly examined to ascertain their impact on intestinal health and activity, correlation with animals'effective health and well-being, productivity, food securityand environmental impact. The potential uses of these feed additives depend on the properties of herbs, the comprehension of their principal and secondary components, knowledge of their mechanisms of action, the safety of animalsand the products they produce. They are gaining recognition as effective and sustainable tools for promoting animal health and performance while reducing the reliance on antibiotics in nonruminant nutrition. Their natural origins, multifaceted benefitsand alignment with consumer preferences make them a valuable addition to modern animal farming process. However, because of their inconsistent effects and inadequate knowledge of the mechanisms of action, their usage as a feed additive has been limited. This review offers a comprehensive assessment of the applications of PFAs as an effective feed supplement in swine and poultry nutrition. In summary, this comprehensive review provides current knowledge, identifies gaps in researchand emphasizes the potential of phytogenic additives to foster sustainable and healthier livestock production systems while addressing the global concerns associated with antibiotic use in livestock farming.

SMART LIVESTOCK FOR SCIENCE…12 months later

The fourth issue of Slovak Journal of Animal Science 2023 gives to me the opportunity to overview our scientific publishing activity after the first 12 months together. Along four issues, our Journal has been faced with many different aspects of animal farm production, among them mainly circular economy strategy, non-conventional feed resources, and community-based livestock programs. All these different aspects have a common point: boost and develop the livestock farming system, in terms of competitiveness and profitability. Looking at the different articles collected and published during this year, the incorporation of locally available novel feed resource alternatives can promote circular economy concepts, increase food security, and improve sustainable livestock production. By exploiting locally accessible resources, the inclusion of these materials in animal feed nutrition has significant potential to enhance livestock performance, lower production costs, and promote bioeconomy concepts.
 On the other hand, analysis of genomic data is an important resource for the effective management of small and endangered animal populations. The research activity of scientists has deeply been focused on developing breeding programs able to conserve animal biodiversity and monitor animal biodynamics.
 
 In the last Editorial article of 2023, I am going to introduce the contents of the articles collected and published in the fourth issue of 2023 year.
 Formelova et al. performed a study to evaluate the effect of dried hempseed cake (by-product of oil production) supplementation (5% - EG1 and 10% - EG2) to rabbit feed mixture on livestock performances, quality of meat, digestibility of nutrients and animal health status. All obtained data let Authors to recommend the inclusion of hempseed cake up to 10% in rabbit diet without any negative effect on animal welfare, livestock performance and quality of meat.
 Osaiyuwu et al. organized a study to provide useful information for the creation of sustainable breeding programmes and developing a sustainable use and conservation strategy aimed at developing highly producing Muscovy ducks in Nigeria; consequently, increasing the food security index of the nation and source of income for small-scale farmers. In general, the ducks from all seven ecogeographic locations were rather homogeneous than heterogeneous.
 Mekonnen et al., had the prime objective to survey and characterize the husbandry practices of the different indigenous sheep populations. Authors concluded the study claiming a need of feed development, shift to modern husbandry practices, access to veterinary services, indigenous sheep conservation through utilization, control of inbreeding, ram-to-ewe ratio, fattening and castration should be of future attention of farmers and stakeholders.
 Ajayi et al., to justify the use of duckweed as an alternative and novel aquatic-derived fodder in ruminants' feeding strategies, performed preliminary investigation via in vitro gas production technique. The study assessed the nutrient and mineral potential, secondary metabolites and in vitro gas production characteristics of duckweed to estimate the short-chain volatile fatty acids, metabolizable energy, organic matter digestibility and apparent in vitro dry matter degradability. In conclusion, duckweed from earthen fish ponds is fairly degradable in vitro, and the nutrient contents elucidate its forage value for ruminants.
 Editorial Team looks forward to evaluating your submitted contributions and providing all necessary support to Authors in order to best serve animal science and the scientific community, with commitment to research integrity and the highest publishing ethics. Enjoy the reading!

Impacts of Grazing on the Selected Features of Herbaceous Species and Harvested Dry Matter Yield of Natural Pasture

This study evaluated how grazing influenced the specific features of herbaceous species (basal cover, species richness, evenness, and diversity) as well as dry matter yield in the northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. For this study, the natural pastures were divided into three strata based on grazing types (grazing exclusion areas, controlled grazing, and continuous grazing). The areas in each grazing type were divided into two randomly selected (100 m × 50 m) sampling blocks. Then, each of the separated areas was divided into five 10 m × 10 m, and in each subdivided plot, (0.5 m × 0.5 m) were placed across the plots. Thus, a total of 30 (0.5 m × 0.5 m) quadrats were used to evaluate the effect of grazing on the basal cover, species richness, diversity, and dry matter yield of the herbaceous pasture layers. As the results showed, there were significant differences in dry matter yield, basal cover, species richness, evenness, and diversity among grazing areas. The dry matter yield, basal cover, species richness, and diversity were significantly (P<0.05) higher in both grazing exclusion and controlled grazing areas than in continuous grazing areas. Therefore, to increase the dry matter yield of natural pasture and to ensure sustainable livestock production, the livestock producers in the study areas should practice either a cut-carry system or a controlled grazing system.

Effects of two types of Coccomyxa sp. KJ on in vitro ruminal fermentation, methane production, and the rumen microbiota.

Coccomyxa sp. KJ is a unicellular green microalga that accumulates abundant lipids when cultured under nitrogen-deficient conditions (KJ1) and high nitrogen levels when cultured under nitrogen-sufficient conditions (KJ2). Considering the different characteristics between KJ1 and KJ2, they are expected to have different effects on rumen fermentation. This study aimed to determine the effects of KJ1 and KJ2 on in vitro ruminal fermentation, digestibility, CH4 production, and the ruminal microbiome as corn silage substrate condition. Five treatments were evaluated: substrate only (CON) and CON + 0.5% dry matter (DM) KJ1 (KJ1_L), 1.0% DM KJ1 (KJ1_H), 0.5% DM KJ2 (KJ2_L), and 1.0% DM KJ2 (KJ2_H). DM degradability-adjusted CH4 production was inhibited by 48.4 and 40.8% in KJ2_L and KJ2_H, respectively, compared with CON. The proportion of propionate was higher in the KJ1 treatments than the CON treatment and showed further increases in the KJ2 treatments. The abundances of Megasphaera, Succiniclasticum, Selenomonas, and Ruminobacter, which are related to propionate production, were higher in KJ2_H than in CON. The results suggested that the rumen microbiome was modified by the addition of 0.5-1.0% DM KJ1 and KJ2, resulting in increased propionate and reduced CH4 production. In particular, the KJ2 treatments inhibited ruminal CH4 production more than the KJ1 treatments. These findings provide important information for inhibiting ruminal CH4 emissions, which is essential for increasing animal productivity and sustaining livestock production under future population growth.

Sustainable livestock production under changing climate: A review

Sustainable livestock production under changing climate: A review

Besouros rola-bostas em pastagens sul-americanas

Abstract Pasturelands are characterized as grasslands utilized for cattle raising and consist of natural or exotic vegetation, predominantly grasses. In the context of sustainable production, the biodiversity of insects within grazing environments holds significant value. Dung beetles play a crucial role in sustaining pasturelands as the burial of feces by these beetles fosters ecological services indispensable for maintaining a robust and healthy environment. Given that different dung beetle species contribute to distinct environmental benefits, a comprehensive understanding of the species present in pasturelands, their origins, and the ecological services they provide is imperative. This study endeavors to compile comprehensive information on dung beetle species native to South America, emphasizing taxonomic precision and a confirmed affinity for cattle dung. Our findings are derived from a synthesis of literature and observational data, incorporating location information obtained from taxonomic revisions and specimen labels of specimens housed at CEMT. In South America, a total of 57 dung beetle species are documented that inhabit grazing areas and actively feed on cattle manure. These areas span diverse biomes encompassing native and/or introduced grasslands, which may include deforested sections within forest biomes such as Chaco, Pantanal, Cerrado, Caatinga, Pampa, Atlantic Forest, Amazon Forest, Paramo, Puna, Llanos, and Patagonia. The preponderance of species identified fall within the paracoprid category, recognized as particularly vital for the sustainability of pasturelands. Despite their acknowledged importance, a noticeable knowledge gap impedes the effective conservation of these species. This gap is a focal point of discussion in this study, addressing the challenges and opportunities for enhancing conservation efforts. The species documented in this research exhibit notable economic and environmental relevance in the context of sustainable livestock production, emphasizing the urgency and significance of initiatives that prioritize their conservation.

Sustaining livestock: minimum technical requirements and quality standards for Angus Grade - Black Cattle in Sragen Regency in supporting livestock preservation

This research focuses on establishing the minimum technical requirements and quality standards for Angus Grade - Black Cattle, to promote sustainable livestock practices and support the preservation of genetic resources. The absence of standardized quality measures for Angus Grade - Black Cattle necessitates the use of data from field surveys in Sragen Regency as a baseline for initial quality standards until national standards are established. The study defines the minimum technical requirements for Angus Grade - Black Cattle breeding, with a special emphasis on sustainable production, encompassing both qualitative and quantitative criteria. the minimum requirements (in centimeters) of chest circumference, shoulder height, body length for male candidates aged 24-36 months are: Class 1 - 191, 139, 140; Class 2 - 187, 138, 137; Class 3 - 182, 137, 135, for female candidates aged 18-24 months are: Class 1 - 170, 127, 129; Class 2 - 168, 125, 126; Class 3 - 165, 124, 124, female candidates aged 24-36 months are: Class 1 - 178, 130, 131; Class 2 - 174, 129, 128; Class 3 - 170, 128, 126, respectively. These stringent requirements aim to select high-quality Angus Grade - Black Cattle for breeding, ensuring sustainable livestock production, genetic preservation, and overall productivity.

The effect of dietary eugenol nano-emulsion supplementation on growth performance, serum metabolites, redox homeostasis, immunity, and pro-inflammatory responses of growing rabbits under heat stress.

Heat stress (HS) is a main abiotic stress factor for the health and welfare of animals. Recently, the use of nano-emulsion essential oils exhibited a promising approach to mitigate the detrimental impacts of abiotic and biotic stresses, ultimately contributing to the global aim of sustainable livestock production. The current study was piloted to assess the impact of eugenol nano-emulsion (EUGN) supplementation on growth performance, serum metabolites, redox homeostasis, immune response, and pro-inflammatory reactions in growing rabbits exposed to HS. A total of 100 male weaning rabbits aged 35 days were divided into 4 treatments. Rabbits were fed the diet with EUGN at different concentrations: 0 (control group; EUGN0), 50 (EUGN50), 100 (EUGN100), and 150 (EUGN150) mg/kg diet for 8 weeks under summer conditions. Dietary EUGN levels significantly improved (p < 0.05) the body weight, body weight gain, carcass weights, and improved feed conversion ratio of rabbits. EUGN supplementation significantly increased Hb, platelets, and red blood cells , while the mean corpuscular hemoglobin and eosinophils were significantly decreased compared to the control one. Compared with EUGN0 stressed rabbits, all EUGN-experimental groups had a reduction in levels of total glycerides (p < 0.01), uric acid, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (p < 0.01). Total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase were significantly improved by EUGN treatment when compared to the control one (p < 0.01), while the EUGN100 exhibited the greatest levels of catalase. Lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) was significantly decreased in EUGN-treated groups. All pro-inflammatory cytokines serum interleukin 4, Interleukin 1β, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were considerably decreased after dietary EUGN supplementation (p < 0.05). The serum concentrations of immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) were significantly improved in rabbits of the EUGN150 group. This study shows that EUGN can be used as a novel feed additive to enhance the growth performance, immune variables, and antioxidants, and reduce the inflammatory response of growing rabbits exposed to thermal stress.

Sustainable livestock production systems are key to ensuring food security resilience in response to climate change

Sustainable livestock production systems are key to ensuring food security resilience in response to climate change

The Current Status and Potential Development of Genetic Resources of Indigenous Toraya Spotted Buffalo in Indonesia: A Systematic Review

Buffaloes are integral to the Asiatic market as they are crucial for agricultural work and transportation and provide a significant source of dairy and meat, contributing to various industries, local economies, and cultural practices across the region. Indonesia is a mega biodiversity country abundant in livestock genetic resources, including indigenous, local, and introduced breeds that play a crucial role in agriculture and the livestock industry. These genetic resources offer the potential for selective breeding and improving the quality of livestock populations through well-designed breeding programs, ensuring sustainable livestock production for the future. The current study was performed using the “Publish or Perish” software, and the data obtained was analyzed using the CADIMA web tool. The Toraya buffalo population is the largest in the Tana Toraja and North Toraja regencies and is widely distributed within South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. The population of Toraya buffalo in this region reached 43674 heads. Toraya buffaloes exhibit diverse body color characteristics, such as black, gray, white, and mixed. Moreover, Toraya buffaloes possess distinct quantitative traits that set them apart from other swamp buffalo breeds. Although there are limited studies on Toraya buffaloes, the potential for broader and more comprehensive studies offers opportunities to uncover new information on the characteristics, genetics, reproduction, health, and management of Toraya buffaloes. The development of Toraya buffalo farms also holds significant economic promise, as it can lead to increased agricultural productivity and improved livelihoods for local communities by enhancing the quality by implementing well-planned breeding programs and leveraging reproductive technology, and genetics-based selection, growth, and productivity can be produced. To increase the population and productivity of Toraya buffaloes, a well-structured breeding program integrating reproductive technology and selection based on quantitative and molecular genetics is essential. The development potential of Toraya buffalo is vast, not only due to its high cultural value but also its superior quantitative traits compared to common swamp buffalo, positioning it as a potential national meat provider. The present review article aimed to discuss the characteristics and development potential of Toraya buffaloes, along with the implementation of reproductive biotechnology and molecular genetics to enhance the population, productivity, and quality of Toraya buffaloes in Indonesia.

Indiscriminate use and inappropriate application of agrochemicals by smallholder farmers in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: Implications for sustainable beekeeping, crop and livestock production

This study was conducted to investigate the knowledge gaps regarding the use of agrochemicals by the farming communities in the Amhara Region, Ethiopia and its impact on beekeeping, crop and livestock production. The primary data were collected through household surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and researchers’ observations. A total of 540 farmers (270 beekeepers and 270 non-beekeepers) were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The survey data was analyzed using SPSS software version 21, while the qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. The results revealed that beekeeping contributes significantly to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Amhara Region, mainly through the provision of hive products for home consumption and income but also for pollination services. The trends in the past decade showed that honeybee colony holdings and hive productivity had decreased due to indiscriminate use of agrochemicals, among others. Both beekeeper and non-beekeeper farmers in the study areas have been using different types of agrochemicals to control crop pests, diseases and weeds, and in some areas farmers used herbicides to clear weeds from pastureland. Farmers also stated that they are already aware of the negative effects of agrochemicals on honeybees. Nevertheless, the applications of agrochemicals are continuing without attitudinal changes. The results also showed that farmers purchase agrochemicals from legal as well as illegal vendors without proper understanding of their safe use and the expiry dates. Farmers’ use of agrochemicals in violation of the technical recommendations on their proper applications; they ignore risks and safety instructions, use unsafe storage facilities, do not use protective devices when applying agrochemicals, and dispose of agrochemical containers unsafely. The findings demonstrated that apart from the direct effects on honeybees, indiscriminate and inappropriate application of agrochemicals even poses risks to the lives of farmers. Beekeepers, non-beekeepers and both crop and livestock experts revealed that nowadays IPM has not been used by farmers as an alternative to synthetic agrochemicals. Farmers are also unaware of the legal frameworks available to protect honeybees from the negative effects of agrochemicals, and they have not developed local bylaws that can be used by farming communities to protect honeybees from the negative effects of agrochemicals. The results also showed that the direct economic losses incurred due to the loss of honey bee colonies from the indiscriminate application of agrochemicals run into ETB 11,520,000.00 /USD422,133.00/. Thus, the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals has become one of the major threats to the development of beekeeping, crop and livestock production. Therefore, very strong actions are needed by concerned and responsible stakeholders to save the lives of honeybees. The interventions to reduce agrochemical exposure should be implemented through context-specific and integrated approaches.

Choice of metrics matters—Future scenarios on milk and beef production in Norway using an LCA approach

The consumption of dairy and beef products is expected to increase globally in the future, and at the same time, food must be produced in a more sustainable way, including reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, avoided feed-food competition, and reduced biodiversity loss. The purpose of the study was to a) provide an overall life cycle assessment (LCA) of these impacts for various future milk and beef production systems in Norway and b) determine how the choice of metrics for climate change affects the results. System boundaries were from cradle to farm gate and the temporal boundary was 2017 with future scenarios for 2040. The actual production and consumption in Norway in 2017 was used as a baseline (BL), and the sustainability of future Norwegian domestic production of milk and beef was assessed through three scenarios for 2040: 1) a trend yield scenario (TrendY) based on an expected increase in milk yield following the present trend, 2) a high yield scenario (HighY) with higher increase in the milk yield per cow per year than the trend, and 3) a low yield scenario (LowY) where the milk yield per cow per year was adjusted for covering the domestic demand for beef solely from dual-purpose production and no domestic specialized beef production. The beef production per dual-purpose cow was kept constant and the remaining domestic demand in scenario 1 and 2 were covered by specialized beef production. Climate change was assessed using both a GWP100 and a GWP* approach. The HighY scenario had the lowest impact on climate change using GWP100, but when taking the different behaviors of short- and long-term climate pollutants into account (GWP*), the ranking of the future scenarios changed and favored LowY. The potential biodiversity loss was lower for the LowY scenario because the proportion of concentrates in the dairy cow ration was decreased due to lower milk yield. Similarly, the feed-food competition was lower (land use ratio < 1) for the LowY. The results of our study suggest that the choice of metric for GWP and time frame highly affects the results and conclusions and strategies for climate smart and sustainable livestock production should therefore be made with caution.

Assessing body condition scores, weight gain dynamics, and fecal egg counts in feedlot and non-feedlot cattle within high throughput abattoirs of the Eastern Cape Province

IntroductionFeedlots have emerged as an ideal mitigation option to pursue sustainable and efficient livestock production. This paper aims to elucidate how the establishment and widespread adoption of feedlots have provided solutions to complex problems of food security, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.MethodsAn observational cross-sectional study compared fecal egg count per gram (EPG), weight gain, and body condition score (BCS) in feedlot and non-feedlot cattle at high throughput abattoirs. Cattle (n = 120) of different age and sex groups, farms, and breeds were selected from two commercial abattoirs (EA1 and EA2) in the Eastern Cape Province.ResultsAt EA1, non-feedlot cattle exhibited higher EPG values (323.3±28.9) than feedlot cattle (73.3±13.3), indicating a potentially greater susceptibility to internal parasitic infections. The similar weight gains between feedlot (298.1±4.7) and non-feedlot cattle (287.16±7.79) were attributed to the sufficient natural pasture in the communally raised cattle. However, body condition scores were significantly (P&amp;lt; 0.05) better in feedlot than in non-feedlot cattle. Nonetheless, the feedlot farms of origin had a significant effect (P&amp;lt; 0.05) on the EPG and body condition score values in EA1, with no significant effect in EA2.DiscussionMoreover, the negative correlation between EPG and body condition scores highlights that as parasite load increases, there might be a subtle tendency for body condition to decrease. These results underscore the importance of feedlots as an effective management strategy to improve animal health and productivity. Further investigations into the factors driving the differences in non-feedlot cattle are needed for informed decision-making in livestock management and abattoir operations.

Preface

The 7th ASEAN Regional Conference on Animal Production (ARCAP) 2023 was held on October 20 – 23, 2023 with a theme of Food Security Across ASEAN Region: Sustaining Livestock Production and Health and a subtheme of Food Security and Livestock Health and Production, Especially Surrounding the Southeast Asia Region. The present conference was initiated by Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), The Malaysian Society of Animal Production (MSAP) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).The conference covered eight major topics in the related fields such as (i) Sustainable livestock & feed production, (ii) Food/Feed security, (iii) Animal nutrition & feeding, (iv) Farm management, (v) Animal health and welfare, and (vi) Animal breeding & genetics, (vii) Animal & feed biotechnology, (viii) Livestock social economy.Considering the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia and other nations, which have a substantial influence on our work culture, social gatherings, and travel limitations, the committee decided to hold as a hybrid conference. Opening ceremony followed by presentation by invited speakers was done offline in Universitas Sumatera Utara Indonesia Malaysia Thailand Growth Triangle (IMTGT) Room. All Parallel Presentation was carried out online from Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara.Notable invited speakers presented the current issue and challenge in their respective field of studies. Special thanks to Prof. Anjas A Samsudin from Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia; Prof. Max H. Shelton from University of Queensland, Australia; Dr. Peregrino G. Duran from Central Luzon State University, Philippines; Dr. Nurzainah Ginting from Universitas Sumatera Utara, Indonesia; Dr. Yuan Yu-Lin from National Taiwan University, Taiwan; Dr. Parsaoran Silalahi from Universitas HKBP Nommensen, Indonesia and Dr. Desianto B. Utomo from Indonesian Feedmills Association (IFMA), Indonesia.We received 40 papers in total through the online submission system for abstract (https://ocs.usu.ac.id/arcap2023/arcap2023) and Morressier as conference submission management system for full papers from several countries in which were accepted for presentation. Selected papers (40 articles) will be published in IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Sciences by IOP Publishing (Bristol, UK). We hope that the publication will aider either academic or farmers surround Southeast Asia Region in relating with Animal Husbandry.Finally, the organizing committee would like to express our most profound appreciation to Directorate of Research, Technology and Community Service, Ministry Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Republic of Indonesia, Rector of Universitas Sumatera Utara, Vice-Rectors, Dean and Vice Deans of Faculty of Agriculture, Nusantara Plantation Limited Company 2, Charoen Pokphand Limited Company, Indoneia for their support and cooperation during the conference. We also extended our sincere appreciation to the whole 7th ARCAP 2023 organizing committee for their enthusiastic participation, diligent labor, and constructive collaboration for 7th Arcap 2023. We hope to see you again at the next 8th ARCAP 2025 event in the meanwhile.List of Organizing Committee is available in this Pdf.

Impact of Harvest Time on the Dry Matter Content, and Nutritional Parameters Related to Forage Quality of Maralfalfa (Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone, Poaceae) under Mediterranean Climate

Maralfalfa (Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone) is a productive fodder crop in tropical regions that has been evaluated for forage nutritional value in a Mediterranean climate. To assess the nutritional value, parameters including dry matter content (DM), ash, ether extract (EE), protein (CP), fiber contents (NDF and ADF), and the amino acids profile were determined at eight harvest times (HTs) in a non-fertilized and non-irrigated crop based in Silla (Valencia, Spain). The results showed significant differences in most of the parameters studied. While CP and ash significantly decreased over the eight HTs, NDF and ADF increased. In contrast, EE and the ratio of essential amino acids/total amino acids remained constant. Values of CP remained higher than 15% during the first two HTs (16 and 28 days). According to the analyses performed, the optimum HT can be stated at 28 days as it combines high levels of CP (including an optimal combination of essential amino acids) with low levels of fibers (NDF = 57.13%; ADF = 34.76%) and a considerable amount of dry matter (15.40%). Among the essential amino acids (EA) determined, lysine and histidine showed similar values (Lys ≈ 6%, His ≈ 1.70%) when comparing the composition of these EA to other forage species and cultivars studied, whereas methionine showed lower values. This work establishes the basis for the appropriate HT of maralfalfa according to the nutritional parameters measured. Further studies could be aimed to optimize the nutritional and phytogenic properties of maralfalfa to improve its value as a fodder crop, and to finally introduce it for sustainable livestock production in Mediterranean countries.

Isolation and Screening Microorganisms from Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) that Producing Amylase, Protease and Cellulase

The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) has gained significant attention for its ability to decompose various types of organic waste and produce valuable enzymes related to its digestive system. These enzymes hold immense potential for applications across diverse industrial sectors, with promise in the livestock industry. This study aimed to extract and assess amylase, protease, and cellulase enzymes from microorganisms present in BSF larvae fermentation. The isolation technique employed was the spread plate method, followed by rigorous screening for the presence of these enzymes. The results showed 46 isolates of 26 bacterial isolates and 20 yeast isolates. In the amylase enzyme screening, a substantial 25 bacterial and 19 yeast isolates exhibited positive amylase activity. For cellulase, 20 bacterial and 14 yeast isolates displayed positive results. In the case of protease, 16 bacterial and 12 yeast isolates demonstrated protease enzyme activity. Notably, nine isolates exhibited the remarkable capability to produce multiple enzymes, including eight bacterial and one yeast isolate. These results showcase the rich enzymatic potential of BSF-associated microorganisms, offering exciting prospects for their application in various industrial sectors, especially in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of livestock production

Designing grazing systems that enhance the health of New Zealand high-country grasslands

More sustainable pastoral livestock production systems are required to face the challenge of reconciling agricultural production and environmental impact. Although the need for more holistic approaches, such as systems thinking and design theory, is acknowledged, systemic research applying those theories to create healthier systems remains underexplored. A multiple steps holistic approach involving modelling, geographic information systems, and decision-making analysis was used to design, assess, and contrast alternative scenarios that represent distinct grazing management to the current grazing management of a high-country station in New Zealand used as a case study to enhance grassland health. Three alternative scenarios were created, and five main parameters used to assess grassland health were obtained from the evaluation of the designed scenarios. From all the parameters, soil erosion control and increased production were ranked as the most and least important, respectively, to be considered in the design process. A multi-criteria evaluation defined that the best-compromise scenario to enhance grassland health is the scenario with lower soil erosion, as a result of applying adaptive and flexible management at the paddock level, the lower total emission of greenhouse gases (only sheep herd grazing), and greater profitability (due to production costs reduction, as cattle were removed from the station), compared to the ‘status quo’. Our design methodology produced a variety of alternatives that enhanced the health of grasslands in different parameters while still maintaining or increasing profitability. The use of multi-criteria evaluation facilitated the decision of the most contextualised and best-compromise scenario for New Zealand high country grasslands.

Adoption of on-farm feed safety practices among livestock farmers: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

Compliance with feed safety standards and practices on the farm promotes sustainable livestock production and can positively affect the environment and human health. This study aims to examine farmers' on-farm adoption of feed safety practices and determine the differences in adoption according to the socio-economic characteristics of farmers. An online survey was conducted to collect the study data. The study participants consisted of 442 livestock farmers in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. The study findings revealed that farmers highly adopted categories of feed purchasing (77.9 %) and feed mixing and distribution (75.05 %), whereas they were considered as a moderate level adoption regarding feed storing (70.9 %). The cluster analysis results showed two main patterns of adoption— “high adopters” and “moderate adopters”—based on the average level of adoption for 25 feed safety practices examined. The cluster of “high adopters” accounted for 59.9 % of the sample and had higher average adoption in all practices examined. The findings revealed that there are significant differences between the two segments of farmers, corresponding to gender, membership in livestock association, extension contact, raising sheep, and feeding system. This study proposes the regular monitoring of farms to ensure strict adherence to feed safety regulations, with the implementation of awareness and capacity development initiatives pertaining to feed safety concerns.

Management of diseases in a ruminant livestock production system: a participatory appraisal of the performance of veterinary services delivery, and utilization in Ghana

IntroductionSustainable livestock production remains crucial for attainment of food security globally and for safeguarding the livelihoods of many households in low- and –middle income countries. However, the high prevalence of infectious livestock diseases, coupled with inadequate provision and adoption of effective control measures, leads to reduced livestock productivity, increased animal mortalities, and emergence of antimicrobial resistant pathogens. This study sought to assess the management strategies employed by farmers for priority diseases affecting their animals and the utilization and performance of veterinary services.MethodsWe conducted the study in three districts, namely, Mion, Pru East, and Kwahu Afram Plains South Districts, which represent the main livestock production belts in Ghana. We used questionnaires in surveys, to collect pertinent data from 350 ruminant livestock farmers and 13 professional veterinary officers (VOs) in the study districts. Additionally, we conducted seven focus group discussions (FGDs) with 65 livestock farmers in the study districts. The survey data was analyzed, and we describe the distribution of the priority livestock diseases, the disease management strategies employed, and the performance of veterinary services in Ghana. We also analyzed the raw FGD transcript texts deductively based on the study objectives. To validate findings across the different datasets, we used triangulation.ResultsAlmost all the farmers (98%) reared small ruminants, with about 25% also rearing cattle. The main priority livestock diseases identified includes pestes-des-petits-ruminants and mange infection in sheep and goats, as well as contagious bovine pleuropneumonia and foot-and-mouth-disease in cattle. We found that majority (82%) of the farmers relied on treatment, while only 20% opted for vaccination services. Additionally, the veterinary system in Ghana did not adequately regulate the antimicrobial medications employed by farmers to manage diseases. Thus, in most of the cases, the medicines applied by farmers were not useful for the target diseases. Although our findings show the farmers perceived VOs to perform highly compared to informal providers on most of the attributes evaluated including medicine availability and quality, treatment effectiveness, advisory services, service affordability, and competence, only 33% utilized VOs services. The majority of the farmers (51%) used the services of informal providers, who were better in proximity and popularity with farmers.ConclusionsThe livestock sector in Ghana faces a substantial challenge due primarily to vaccine-preventable diseases. Even though VOs demonstrated superior performance on key veterinary service performance indicators, their services are underutilized by livestock farmers. Additionally, the absence of regulatory oversight by the veterinary system over antimicrobials utilized in animal production contributes to their misapplication by livestock farmers, posing a considerable risk to both public health and food security. It is thus imperative to introduce new initiatives that enhance the uptake of animal vaccines and better antimicrobial stewardship to ensure sustainable livestock production.

Lysinibacillus fusiformis: a novel fibrolytic native strain from the rumen microbiome that increases in vitro digestibility of central agricultural residues

ABSTRACT Increasing the digestibility of agricultural residues is one goal of sustainable livestock production, and the role of rumen microbiome-feed interaction is critical for efficient digestion. This study was aimed at isolating and evaluating in vitro the effect on dry-matter digestibility (IVDMD), relative feed values (RFV), volatile fatty acid (VFA) synthesis, pH changes, and gas production (GP) by the inclusion of native rumen strains in mixtures of corn, sorghum, and oat agricultural residues with ruminal fluid. The results show that an inoculum of 1 × 1010 colony-forming unit per millilitre (CFU/mL) of the aero-tolerant native rumen strain Lysinibacillus fusiformis increases the IVDMD, RFV, and VFA values of all mixtures. During agricultural residue fermentation, the pH was stable, and propionic acid was the primary fatty acid synthesized, indicating increased energy availability for efficient cattle growth performance while limiting molecular hydrogen (H2) synthesis for conversion to methane (CH4). These results suggest that L. fusiformis could be used as a direct-feed microbial to promote sustainable livestock production. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to link the fermentation of fibrous agricultural residues in ruminal fluid inoculated with a fibrolytic native strain and digestibility in favour of increasing the efficiency of livestock production.