Climate Change and Livestock Production: A Literature Review

Enhanced anaerobic co-digestion of cattle manure with food waste and pig manure: Statistical optimization of pretreatment condition and substrate mixture ratio

This study investigated the optimal pretreatment condition and mixture ratio of cattle manure (CM) for its efficient anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) with food waste (FW) and pig manure (PM). The pretreatment performances of thermal (TM), microwave (MW), and ultrasound (US) technologies and the AcoD performance were statistically and experimentally evaluated at various mixture ratios of CM, FW, and PM. The results revealed that the most effective pretreatment condition with the TM, MW, and US pretreatments was 129.3 °C for 49.6 min, 824.2 W for 7.3 min, and 418.0 W for 36.3 min, respectively. The best AcoD performance of optimally pretreated CM (PCM) was achieved when 30.5 % PCM was mixed with 42.5 % FW and 27.0 % PM. A long-term evaluation showed that the start-up rate for the anaerobic mono-digestion of PCM was 2.3 times faster than that of CM and the amount of methane produced was 4.7 times higher; process stability was thus preferentially maintained under a higher organic loading rate (OLR) (2.0 kg-VS/m3∙d). The start-up rate for the AcoD of PCM with FW and PM was 1.2 times higher than that of the AcoD of CM with FW and PM. Although the performance gap between the AcoD reactors after steady state was not significantly different, the PCM AcoD reactor provided a more stable operation under a higher OLR (5.0 kg-VS/m3∙d). This study demonstrates that the pretreatment and co-digestion of CM could significantly enhance the production of biogas and improve process stability.

Does calf-mother contact during heat stress period affect physiology and performance in buffaloes?

OBJECTIVE

Objective of the study was to reduce heat stress in Murrah buffaloes and maintain their milk production and other vital functions during heat stress.

METHODS

A total of 21 dyads of calf-mother Murrah buffalo were selected for the study and equally divided in 3 treatment groups. First treatment group was restricted calf contact (RCC), second treatment group was fence line calf contact (FCC) and third treatment groups fence line calf contact and heat stress protection (FCC-HSP [time-controlled fan-fogger system] in the shed). Present study was conducted from April to mid-September 2021.

RESULTS

Maximum temperature and temperature humidity index in FCC-HSP shed were significantly (p<0.05) lower than that in FCC and RCC shed. Higher (p<0.05) mean daily milk yield in both the treatment groups FCC (10.36±0.30) and FCC-HSP (10.97±0.31) than RCC (8.29±0.41) was recorded. Though no significant difference between FCC and FCC-HSP in daily milk yield but FCC-HSP yielded 600 gm more milk than FCC. Pulse rate (PR) and respiration rate (RR) were lowest in FCC-HSP followed by FCC and RCC, respectively. Cortisol and prolactin levels were lower (p<0.05) in FCC-HSP followed by FCC and RCC, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Hence, FCC along with heat stress ameliorative measures helped the buffaloes to be free of stress and maintain milk yield during heat stress period of the year in tropical conditions.

Recent developments and challenges in algal protein and peptide extraction strategies, functional and technological properties, bioaccessibility, and commercial applications

The burgeoning demand for protein, exacerbated by population growth and recent disruptions in the food supply chain, has prompted a rapid exploration of sustainable protein alternatives. Among these alternatives, algae stand out for their environmental benefits, rapid growth, and rich protein content. However, the widespread adoption of algae-derived proteins faces significant challenges. These include issues related to harvesting, safety, scalability, high cost, standardization, commercialization, and regulatory hurdles. Particularly daunting is the efficient extraction of algal proteins, as their resilient cell walls contain approximately 70% of the protein content, with conventional methods accessing only a fraction of this. Overcoming this challenge necessitates the development of cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally friendly cell disruption techniques capable of breaking down these rigid cell walls, often laden with viscous polysaccharides. Various approaches, including physical, chemical, and enzymatic methods, offer potential solutions, albeit with varying efficacy depending on the specific algal strain and energy transfer efficiency. Moreover, there remains a pressing need for further research to elucidate the functional, technological, and bioaccessible properties of algal proteins and peptides, along with exploring their diverse commercial applications. Despite these obstacles, algae hold considerable promise as a sustainable protein source, offering a pathway to meet the escalating nutritional demands of a growing global population. This review highlights the nutritional, technological, and functional aspects of algal proteins and peptides while underscoring the challenges hindering their widespread adoption. It emphasizes the critical importance of establishing a sustainable trajectory for food production, with algae playing a pivotal role in this endeavor.

Exploring the Role and Functionality of Ingredients in Plant-Based Meat Analogue Burgers: A Comprehensive Review

The development of plant-based meat analogues has become a significant challenge for the food industry in recent years due to the increasing demand for sustainable and healthier proteins in the context of a global protein transition. Plant-based meat analogues imitate the visual, textural, and chemical properties of traditional meat products and are required to closely resemble meat to appeal to consumers. In addition, consumers demand natural, clean-label, and nutritional, and healthy products. To address these challenges, the food industry must develop highly healthy, nutritious, and E-number-free meat analogue products. Understanding the functionality of each ingredient and its role in the food matrix is crucial to being a key player in the innovation of the meat analogue market. This review provides updated information on the primary ingredients utilized for the development of plant-based burger meat alternatives and their functionality. The key components of meat analogue burgers are outlined, including plant proteins, binding agents, fats and oils, flavorings, colorings, preservatives, fortificants, and clean-label considerations.

Influence of dietary Salicornia europaea L. extract supplementation on feed efficiency of Altay sheep by modifying their gastrointestinal bacteria communities

This experiment aimed to examine the impact of Salicornia europaea L. extract on sheep growth performance, rumen fermentation variables, nutrient apparent digestibility, and gastrointestinal microbial diversity. Forty-eight male Altay sheep, weighing 32.5 ± 2.8 kg and approximately 3.5 months old, were chosen. Four dietary treatments, each consisting of four replicates and three sheep per replicate, were distributed randomly to the sheep. The pelleted total mixed ration containing Salicornia europaea L. extract at 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% DM was freely available to the sheep in the four treatment groups. The 56-day experiment consisted of 45 days of measurements followed by 11 days of adaptation. The growth performance was not affected by nutrition Salicornia europaea L. extract (p ≤ 0.05), but the feed-to-gain ratio was reduced when the extract was given at 0.4% DM (p ≤ 0.05). Compared to the 0 and 0.2% treatments, the apparent digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, and ADF was substantially greater in the 0.4, and 0.6% treatments. Furthermore, compared to sheep in the 0 and 0.2% groups, sheep in the 0.6% group had a noticeably higher apparent digestibility of CP. As the amount of Salicornia europaea L. extract added to the rumen fluid rose, the molar ratio of acetic acid increased. In contrast, the molar ratio of propionic acid gradually decreased, and the total volatile fatty acid content gradually reduced. Thus, adding a suitable quantity of Salicornia europaea L. extract to the sheep ration is natural and secure, which may improve the environmental sustainability of small ruminant production systems.

Development strategy of non-GMO organism for increased hemoproteins in Corynebacterium glutamicum: a growth-acceleration-targeted evolution

Heme, found in hemoproteins, is a valuable source of iron, an essential mineral. The need for an alternative hemoprotein source has emerged due to the inherent risks of large-scale livestock farming and animal proteins. Corynebacterium glutamicum, regarded for Qualified Presumption of Safety or Generally Recognized as Safe, can biosynthesize hemoproteins. C. glutamicum single-cell protein (SCP) can be a valuable alternative hemoprotein for supplying heme iron without adversely affecting blood fat levels. We constructed the chemostat culture system to increase hemoprotein content in C. glutamicum SCP. Through adaptive evolution, hemoprotein levels could be naturally increased to address oxidative stress resulting from enhanced growth rate. In addition, we used several specific plasmids containing growth-accelerating genes and the hemA promoter to expedite the evolutionary process. Following chemostat culture for 15 days, the plasmid in selected descendants was cured. The evolved strains showed improved specific growth rates from 0.59 h-1 to 0.62 h-1, 20% enhanced resistance to oxidative stress, and increased heme concentration from 12.95 µg/g-DCW to 14.22-15.24 µg/g-DCW. Notably, the putative peptidyl-tRNA hydrolase-based evolved strain manifested the most significant increase (30%) of hemoproteins. This is the first report presenting the potential of a growth-acceleration-targeted evolution (GATE) strategy for developing non-GMO industrial strains with increased bio-product productivity.

- Invited Review - Pig production in Africa: current status, challenges, prospects and opportunities

Pig production is one of the viable enterprises of the livestock sub-sector of agriculture. It contributes significantly to the economy and animal protein supply to enhance food security in Africa and globally. This article explored the present status of pig production in Africa, the challenges, prospects and potentials. The pig population of Africa represents 4.6% of the global pig population. They are widely distributed across Africa except in Northern Africa where pig production is not popular due to religio-cultural reasons. They are mostly reared in rural parts of Africa by smallholder farmers, informing why majority of the pig population in most parts of Africa are indigenous breeds and their crosses. Pig plays important roles in the sustenance of livelihood in the rural communities and have cultural and social significance. The pig production system in Africa is predominantly traditional, but rapidly growing and transforming into the modern system. The annual pork production in Africa has grown from less than a million tonnes in year 2000 to over 2 million tonnes in 2021. Incidence of disease outbreak, especially African swine fever is one of the main constraints affecting pig production in Africa. Others are lack of skills and technical know-how, high ambient temperature, limited access to high-quality breeds, high cost of feed ingredients and veterinary inputs, unfriendly government policies, religious and cultural bias, inadequate processing facilities as well as under-developed value-chain. The projected human population of 2.5 billion in Africa by 2050, increasing urbanization and decreasing farming population are pointers to the need for increased food production. The production systems of pigs in Africa requires developmental research, improvements in housing, feed production and manufacturing, animal health, processing, capacity building and pig friendly policies for improved productivity and facilitation of export.

Understanding Circular RNAs in Health, Welfare, and Productive Traits of Cattle, Goats, and Sheep

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are unique noncoding RNA molecules, notable for their covalent closed-loop structures, which play a crucial role in regulating gene expression across a variety of biological processes. This review comprehensively synthesizes the existing knowledge of circRNAs in three key livestock species: Bos taurus (cattle), Ovis aries (sheep), and Capra hircus (goats). It focuses on their functional importance and emerging potential as biomarkers for disease detection, stress response, and overall physiological health. Specifically, it delves into the expression and functionality of circRNAs in these species, paying special attention to traits critical to livestock productivity such as milk production, meat quality, muscle development, wool production, immune responses, etc. We also address the current challenges faced in circRNA research, including the need for standardized methodologies and broader studies. By providing insights into the molecular mechanisms regulated by circRNAs, this review underscores their scientific and economic relevance in the livestock industry. The potential of circRNAs to improve animal health management and the quality of animal-derived products aligns with growing consumer concerns for animal welfare and sustainability. Thus, this paper aims to guide future research directions while supporting the development of innovative strategies in livestock management and breeding.

Modeling Climate Change Effects on Genetic Diversity of an Endangered Horse Breed Using Canonical Correlations

The historical increase in the occurrence of extreme weather events in Spain during the last thirty years makes it a perfect location for the evaluation of climate change. Modeling the effects of climate change on domestic animals' genetic diversity may help to anticipate challenging situations. However, animal populations' short life cycle and patent lack of historical information during extended periods of time drastically compromise the evaluation of climate change effects. Locally adapted breeds' gene pool is the base for their improved resilience and plasticity in response to climate change's extreme climatic conditions. The preservation of these domestic resources offers selection alternatives to breeders who seek such improved adaptability. The Spanish endangered autochthonous Hispano-Arabian horse breed is perfectly adapted to the conditions of the territory where it was created, developed, and widespread worldwide. The possibility to trace genetic diversity in the Hispano-Arabian breed back around seven decades and its global ubiquity make this breed an idoneous reference subject to act as a model for other international populations. Climate change's shaping effects on the genetic diversity of the Hispano-Arabian horse breed's historical population were monitored from 1950 to 2019 and evaluated. Wind speed, gust speed, or barometric pressure have greater repercussions than extreme temperatures on genetic diversity. Extreme climate conditions, rather than average modifications of climate, may push breeders/owners to implement effective strategies in the short to medium term, but the effect will be plausible in the long term due to breed sustainability and enhanced capacity of response to extreme climate events. When extreme climatic conditions occur, breeders opt for mating highly diverse unrelated individuals, avoiding the production of a large number of offspring. People in charge of domestic population conservation act as catalyzers of the regulatory changes occurring during breeds' climate change adaptive process and may identify genes conferring their animals with greater adaptability but still maintaining enhanced performance. This model assists in determining how owners of endangered domestic populations should plan their breeding strategies, seeking the obtention of animals more resilient and adapted to climate-extreme conditions. This efficient alternative is focused on the obtention of increased profitability from this population and in turn ensuring their sustainability.

Bioclimatic thermal stress indices and their relationships with andrological characteristics in hair rams

This study evaluated relationships among reproductive parameters and the bioclimatic indices: temperature and humidity index (THI), equivalent temperature index (ETI), black globe temperature and humidity index (BGTHI), and thermal comfort index (TCI), during the first 45 days of spermatogenesis (SP-45) and during the 15 days of sperm transit through the epididymis (STP-15) that preceded the reproductive assessments (ReA). Such information is useful in determining the optimal breeding season in Northeast Brazil. Santa Inês rams (n = 25) underwent two ReA in three periods of the year (D-P = dry; R-P = rainy and RD-P = rainy/dry transition), and the bioclimatic indices were calculated at the corresponding SP-45 and STP-15 timepoints prior to each ReA. Sperm kinetic parameters in D-P were depressed compared to R-P and RD-P (P < 0.05). The index values had an antagonistic relationship with most parameters and regression analysis demonstrated that the BGTHI and the TCI had a negative association with the progressive motility, curvilinear, straight line, and average path velocities, and a positive association with slow sperm in the ejaculate in SP-45 and STP-15 phases (P < 0.01). Semen quality kinetics is affected throughout the year by the environment and it is apparent that it is impaired in D-P and better in R-P and RD-P seasons. The BGTHI and TCI measured in the sperm production phase classified the environment most coherently and presented better association with the behavior of sperm kinetics.

Knowledge Gaps on the Utilization of Fossil Shell Flour in Beef Production: A Review

Population growth in many countries results in increased demand for livestock production and quality products. However, beef production represents a complex global sustainability challenge, including meeting the increasing demand and the need to respond to climate change and/or greenhouse gas emissions. Several feed resources and techniques have been used but have some constraints that limit their efficient utilization which include being product-specific, not universally applicable, and sometimes compromising the quality of meat. This evokes a need for novel techniques that will provide sustainable beef production and mitigate the carbon footprint of beef while not compromising beef quality. Fossil shell flour (FSF) is a natural additive with the potential to supplement traditional crops in beef cattle rations in response to this complex global challenge as it is cheap, readily available, and eco-friendly. However, it has not gained much attention from scientists, researchers, and farmers, and its use has not yet been adopted in most countries. This review seeks to identify knowledge or research gaps on the utilization of fossil shell flour in beef cattle production, with respect to climate change, carcass, and meat quality. Addressing these research gaps would be a step forward in developing sustainable and eco-friendly beef production.

Methane Emission, Carbon Footprint and Productivity of Specialized Dairy Cows Supplemented with Bitter Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

The objective of this research was to determine the effect of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) supplementation on enteric methane (CH4) emissions, carbon footprint, and production parameters in dairy cows. Daily concentrate supply for Jersey and Jersey * Holstein breeds was evaluated in four treatments (T): T1: 100% commercial concentrate; T2: 70% concentrate + 30% cassava leaves; T3: 70% concentrate + 30% cassava roots; and T4: 70% concentrate + 15% cassava leaves + 15% cassava root chips. Measurements of CH4 emissions were performed using the polytunnel technique. Average daily dry matter intake ranged from 7.8 to 8.5 kg dry matter (DM). Cassava leaves were characterized by a high crude protein (CP) content (171 g CP/kg DM), with 5 times more neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content than cassava root (587 vs. 108 g NDF/kg DM). Average enteric CH4 emissions per animal ranged from 194 to 234 g/d (p > 0.05). The carbon footprint was reduced by replacing 30% of the concentrate with cassava leaves and/or roots. Energy-corrected milk production was 1.15 times higher in Jersey * Holstein animals than Jersey cows (47 vs. 55 kg). Therefore, supplementation with cassava leaves and/or roots is a nutritionally and environmentally sustainable strategy.

Feeding Pellets Containing Agro-Industrial Waste Enhances Feed Utilization and Rumen Functions in Thai Beef Cattle

The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of citric waste fermented with yeast waste pellet (CWYWP) supplementation on feed intake, rumen characteristics, and blood metabolites in native Thai beef cattle that are fed a rice-straw-based diet. Four native male Thai beef cattle (1.0-1.5 years old) with an initial body weight (BW) of 116 ± 16 kg were held in a 4 × 4 Latin square design within 21-day periods. The animals were assigned to receive CWYWP supplementation at 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% of the total dry matter (DM) intake per day. The results indicate that feeding beef cattle with CWYWP leads to a linear increase in the total intake as well was the intake of crude protein (CP) and the digestibility of CP, with the maximum levels observed at 6% CWYWP supplementation (p < 0.05). Rumen characteristics, including pH, blood urea-nitrogen concentration, and protozoal population, showed no significant alterations in response to the varying CWYWP dosages (p > 0.05). In addition, the CWYWP supplementation resulted in no significant changes in the concentration of ammonia-nitrogen, remaining within an average normal range of 10.19-10.38 mg/dL (p > 0.05). The inclusion of 6% CWYWP resulted in the highest population of ruminal bacteria (p < 0.05). Additionally, the CWYWP supplementation led to a statistically significant increase in the mean propionic acid concentration as compared to the group that did not receive the CWYWP supplementation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this experiment demonstrates that supplementing Thai native beef cattle with CWYWP at either 4% or 6% DM per day can enhance their total CP intake as well as the CP digestibility and rumen bacterial population, and can increase propionate concentration.

Analysis of reproduction success, growth and milk trajectories and response to nutritional challenge in two Alpine goat lines selected on divergent longevity

This study aims to investigate whether the variation in reproduction success, growth, and milk trajectories is associated with different adaptive strategies in the short term (response to an acute nutritional challenge), using two Alpine goat lines. A total of 382 Alpine goats (179 low longevity (low_LGV) and 203 high longevity (high_LGV)), selected for divergent functional longevity from a commercial population, were monitored for 4 years and recorded for BW, reproduction and milking performance. Every year, an average of fifty primiparous goats were exposed to a 2-d nutritional challenge in early lactation. A polynomial model was used to analyse the lifetime trajectory of lactation and BW. A piecewise model was used to analyse the individual milk yield and responses of milk components to the nutritional challenges. The statistical analysis revealed that the two lines had a similar performance for total milk yield in the first lactation, BW at birth and at first kidding, litter size and weight, kidding interval and interval from the first insemination to conception. BW trajectories revealed that low_LGV goats had a greater BW in pregnancy but then lost more weight in early lactation compared to high_LGV goats, which showed a greater BW after kidding. Milk trajectories showed that the high_LGV goats had a higher initial milk yield, an earlier but less marked lactation peak and more persistency in milk production in late lactation than low_LGV goats. Except for milk protein content, quite similar response and recovery profiles of milk yield and milk fat content were observed during the challenge for both lines. The response to the challenge was positively correlated to the initial level of milk production in early lactation but negatively correlated with milk production decline after the peak. This finding suggests that the low_LGV goats were more adapted to allocate resources to meet an expected physiological change such as gestation and lactation. However, high_LGV goats allocate more than low_LGV goats for structural mass and may better cope with an unexpected environmental change such as nutritional deficit.

Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emission from the dairy production system - review

Climate change is altering ecological systems and poses a serious threat to human life. Climate change also seriously influences on livestock production by interfering with growth, reproduction, and production. Livestock, on the other hand, is blamed for being a significant contributor to climate change, emitting 8.1 gigatonnes of CO2-eq per year and accounting for two-thirds of global ammonia emissions. Methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2) are three major greenhouse gases (GHG) that are primarily produced by enteric fermentation, feed production, diet management, and total product output. Ruminants account for three-quarters of total CO2-equivalent (CO2-eq) emissions from the livestock sector. The global dairy sector alone emits 4.0% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions. Hence, dairy farming needs to engage in environmental impact assessment. Public concern for a sustainable and environmentally friendly farming system is growing, resulting in the significant importance of food-based life cycle assessment (LCA). Over the last decade, LCA has been used in agriculture to assess total GHG emissions associated with products such as milk and manure. It includes the production of farm inputs, farm emissions, milk processing, transportation, consumer use, and waste. LCA studies on milk production would assist us in identifying the specific production processes/areas that contribute to excessive greenhouse gas emissions when producing milk and recommending appropriate mitigation strategies to be implemented for a clean, green, and resilient environment.

Pichia pastoris growth-coupled heme biosynthesis analysis using metabolic modelling

Soy leghemoglobin is one of the most important and key ingredients in plant-based meat substitutes that can imitate the colour and flavour of the meat. To improve the high-yield production of leghemoglobin protein and its main component-heme in the yeast Pichia pastoris, glycerol and methanol cultivation conditions were studied. Additionally, in-silico metabolic modelling analysis of growth-coupled enzyme quantity, suggests metabolic gene up/down-regulation strategies for heme production. First, cultivations and metabolic modelling analysis of P. pastoris were performed on glycerol and methanol in different growth media. Glycerol cultivation uptake and production rates can be increased by 50% according to metabolic modelling results, but methanol cultivation-is near the theoretical maximum. Growth-coupled metabolic optimisation results revealed the best feasible upregulation (33 reactions) (1.47% of total reactions) and 66 downregulation/deletion (2.98% of total) reaction suggestions. Finally, we describe reaction regulation suggestions with the highest potential to increase heme production yields.

Chemical Composition and Functional Properties of Spray-Dried Animal Plasma and Its Contributions to Livestock and Pet Health: A Review

Spray-dried animal plasma (SDAP) is a functional ingredient derived from healthy animal blood, used as a nutritional additive in livestock and pet nutrition. SDAP is rich in macronutrients, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds such as immunoglobulins, albumin, growth factors, peptides, transferrin, and enzymes. This review focuses on the chemical composition of SDAP from porcine, bovine, and poultry sources, including protein quality and mineral profile. SDAP enhances performance and health in monogastric farm animals, aquaculture, and pets. It promotes growth rates and feed intake due to its high digestibility and superior amino acid profile compared to other protein sources. In pigs, SDAP's positive effects stem from tissue-specific actions in the gastrointestinal tract, impacting digestion, immunity, and barrier function. For poultry, SDAP shows promise as a substitute for antibiotic growth promoters, particularly in chick starter diets. SDAP contains functional proteins that regulate immune response, enhance intestinal health, and aid in stress conditions. It is also used as a binder in pet food, providing high protein content and other desirable properties. SDAP meets the dietary requirements of carnivorous pets, appealing to owners seeking animal-derived protein sources. Additionally, SDAP may help prevent cognitive impairment in senior dogs and cats.

The ameliorative effect of bergamot oil nano-emulsion in stressed rabbit bucks: Influence on blood biochemical parameters, redox status, immunity indices, inflammation markers, semen quality, testicular changes and the expression of HSPs genes

This work explored the activities of bergamot oil nano-emulsion (NBG) in modulating blood biochemical parameters, redox status, immunity indices, inflammation markers, semen quality, testicular changes and the expression of HSPs genes in stressed rabbit bucks. Twenty-four mature rabbit bucks (5 months) were randomly divided into three groups; control group (NBG0) received 1 ml of distilled water, while the other two groups received NBG orally at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg (bw) twice a week. The present study's findings revealed that treated groups had lower values of total and direct bilirubin, triglyceride, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatinine compared with NBG0 group (p < 0.05). NBG100 group recorded the greatest of total protein, albumin, GPx, T3 and T4 values as well as the lowest values of uric acid, MDA, and indirect bilirubin. Both treated groups showed significantly reduced 8-OhDG, Amyloid A, TLR 4, while significantly increased nitric oxide, IgA, IgM, TAC, and SOD levels. Semen characteristics such as volume, sperm count, sperm motility, normal sperm, and vitality were significantly higher in the NBG100 group compared to the NBG50 and NBG0 groups, whereas sperm abnormalities and dead sperm were significantly reduced. HSP70, HSP72, and HSPA9 gene overexpression showed that testicular integrity was maintained after buck received oral doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg of NBG. Existing findings indicate that oral administration of NBG improves heat tolerance in rabbit bucks primarily as e result of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Anthelmintic activity of Carica pubescens aqueous seed extract and its effects on rumen fermentation and methane reduction in Indonesian thin-tailed sheep: An in vitro study

Background and Aim

Seeds from Carica pubescens were observed to be abundant as waste. This waste contains active plant compounds whose utilization has not been studied in the livestock sector. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of an aqueous seed extract of Carica pubescens (ASE) as an anthelmintic agent during rumen fermentation and methane reduction.

Materials and Methods

Aqueous seed extract of Carica pubescens was prepared from C. pubescens cultivated in Wonosobo, Indonesia. Phytochemical analyses were performed to quantify the secondary metabolite content of ASE. In vitro adult worm mortality tests, scanning electron microscopy, and gas production tests were conducted to evaluate rumen characteristics, methane reduction, and the potential of ASE as an anthelmintic against Haemonchus contortus. Adult worms and ruminal fluid were collected from Indonesian thin-tailed sheep. Two-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's test was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences® 21.0 software to detect significant differences.

Results

In vitro study results showed that 1-5% ASE inhibited H. contortus after the 1st h of incubation, and 5% ASE suppressed 100% of adult H. contortus worms in the 5th h. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of ASE-treated worms ASE revealed damaged cuticle structures. ASE had no significant effect on pH, NH3, volatile fatty acid, acetate, propionate, butyrate, acetate: propionate, or microbial protein in rumen fluid (p > 0.05). The in vitro feed fermentation results showed that ASE significantly affected methane reduction.

Conclusion

The inclusion of up to 5% ASE in sheep diets may serve as a potential alternative anthelmintic against H. contortus as well as a methane reduction agent, without deleterious effects on rumen fermentation.

A systematic review on whether regenerative agriculture improves animal welfare: A qualitative analysis with a One Welfare perspective

The welfare of animals in food-production systems is a cause of concern to the public. Regenerative agriculture was first used by the Rodale Institute and proposes to regenerate degraded components of ecosystems, aiming to be more than just sustainable. However, despite animal welfare being pushed to be part of the SDG agenda for 2030, there is no clarity on how regenerative agriculture impacts animal welfare. It is challenging to determine regenerative agriculture impacts on animal welfare, since it is not entirely defined. One Welfare could help define entry points for future research by studying animal welfare in connection with human welfare and environmental conservation. We aimed to analyse the extent to which positive animal welfare outcomes characterise regenerative agriculture systems in peer-reviewed articles and whether the narratives of such articles support that regenerative agriculture promotes animal welfare directly or indirectly by improving human welfare and environmental conservation. We searched papers including 'regenerative agriculture' using PRISMA-P, selecting animal welfare, human welfare, environment conservation terms, developed themes, and carried out analysis using Atlas.Ti8 and Causal Loop Diagram. We found that papers mainly linked animal welfare to animal health, human welfare to financial farm status and farmer's self-awareness, and environmental conservation to soil improvement. Causal Loop Diagram indicated that regenerative agriculture had the potential to improve the health and nutrition components of animal welfare by enhancing financial farmers' status/self-awareness (human welfare), and the soil (environmental conservation), reflecting that the processes that affect human welfare and environmental conservation could also affect animal welfare. However, information in papers remains insufficient to determine how regenerative agriculture impacts on animal welfare and research into regenerative agriculture needs to extend its focus on animal welfare and elucidate the regenerative agriculture principles leading to animal welfare.

Impact of environmental variables on some reproductive metrics of white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) raised in Atlantic Forest of Brazil

Knowledge on male reproductive physiology is essential for the development of effective conservation strategies. This study investigated the influence of environmental variables on certain reproductive metrics in white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) raised in the Atlantic Forest. After anesthetization, testicular and cauda epididymis biometry were evaluated in nine adult male individuals subjected to electroejaculation. Semen was evaluated for volume, pH, concentration, total number of sperm, sperm morphology, membrane integrity, and kinematic parameters. Concurrently, environmental variables were collected from the day before, for the previous 14 days (estimated for sperm maturation in epididymis), and the period of 51-55 days (corresponding to the spermatogenic cycle) before semen collection. Overall, it was observed that rainfall is the most important environmental variable influencing the reproductive parameters of white-lipped peccaries, being positively correlated with the amplitude of lateral sperm head displacement (ρ = 0.62, P < 0.05) and the appearance of proximal cytoplasmic droplets in sperm (ρ = 0.62, P < 0.05). In addition, the testicular biometry of the species is influenced by the set of environmental variables of air temperature, rainfall, and relative humidity (ρ ≥ 0.60, P < 0.05). On the other hand, epididymal biometric data showed numerous correlations between cauda epididymis metrics and sperm parameters (ρ = 0.68, P < 0.05). This information will be useful to improving conservation strategies for these animals, contributing to their management in captivity and to reintroduction programs, especially in the Atlantic Forest where the species is declining.

Effects of management strategies on animal welfare and productivity under heat stress: A synthesis

Climate change includes different dramatic events, and among them, heat stress exposition is the strongest phenomenon affecting the livestock sector. The effects of heat stress events on animal welfare are complex and the economic impacts for the livestock sector are relevant. Management measures may contribute to improve the resilience to heat stress, but the extent to which they impact on livestock performances and management strategies depend on the magnitude of the stress conditions. Through a pioneering synthesis of existing knowledge from experiments conducted in controlled conditions, we show that management strategies, both adaptation and mitigation measures, halved the negative impacts on the ruminants' performances and welfare induced by heat stress, but the efficacy is low in extreme conditions, which in turn are more and more frequent. These novel findings emphasize the need to deepen research on more effective adaptation and mitigation measures.

Herd Health Troubles Potentially Related to Aluminium Grass Silage Content in Dairy Cows

In ruminants, the main documented clinical manifestation of aluminium (Al) intoxication is similar to grass tetany. In a 50 dairy cow Belgian herd, the farmer reported excessive uterine bleeding at calving and decreased milk production. Dairy cows received a mixed ration (MR) with high Al concentration (453 ppm/kg of dry matter (DM)). Various analyses were sampled from 10 sick cows and compared with 10 healthy cows (from another herd). Sick cows presented anaemia and marginal hypozincaemia and 6/10 showed subclinical ketosis. Their urine analysis revealed hypomagnesaemia and a high Al/creatinine ratio. It was advised to determine soil pH, add salts to the ration to chelate the Al and support cows with mineral supplements and propylene glycol. A visit was carried out 2 years later and highlighted an improvement in the situation, but all examined animals presented subclinical ketosis. Grass silage Al content remained high (700 ppm/kg DM), as did butyric acid concentration (11.22 g/kg DM). Al could be incriminated at different stages: micronutrient deficiencies, anaemia and negative energy balance. However, Al was probably not the only culprit. This case report is a concern for future years in these areas due to droughts, scarcity of forage and an increase in contaminated soil ingestion.

Is Generation Z Ready to Engage in Entomophagy? A Segmentation Analysis Study

This study examines the behavior and attitudes of adult Generation Z cohort members in relation to entomophagy. Specifically, it explores their familiarity with insect consumption, prior experience, and willingness to consume certain insect-based foods and drinks. Lastly, the Z cohort is segmented based on their behavior and attitudes. Through online quantitative research, a valid sample of 742 questionnaires was collected. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, factor, hierarchical cluster, and K-means cluster analysis, as well as chi-square tests. Results revealed that 41.4% are familiar with what insect consumption is, and no one had previously engaged in entomophagy. The insect-based food that the Z cohort is most willing to try is bakery products containing insect flour. The 88.5% of the Z cohort is not willing to replace meat protein with insect protein, and 20.4% are interested in obtaining more information about entomophagy. Moreover, 6.3% of the Z cohort is "willing" to participate in sensory tests, but when contact information was requested, only one factual name with phone number was provided. Segmentation of the Z cohort's behavior was performed based on eight variables and four segments were identified: the "Future potential insect consumers" (29.1%), the "Rejecters" (26.7%), the "Disgusted, prefer to starve" (22.2%), and the "Inconsistent" (22.0%). Overall, the Z cohort is not food neophobic, but is unwilling to engage in entomophagy. Communication strategies are suggested to increase awareness and provide information about entomophagy and its benefits.

‘Can They Take the Heat?’—The Egyptian Climate and Its Effects on Livestock

Egypt already has conditions in summer that cause heat stress for livestock, and predicted climate changes suggest that these will be exacerbated over the course of this century. As well, extreme climatic events make the mitigation of climate change difficult but important to understand. Apart from neonates, farm animals have upper critical temperatures in the region of 25–30 °C, whereas temperatures in summer regularly exceed 40 °C for prolonged periods. The temperature and humidity data were collected half hourly to calculate Temperature Humidity Indices and demonstrate that Egyptian livestock at two centers of livestock production in the country would experience heat stress in summer for extended periods of each day. The impact of rising temperatures on livestock in Egypt was reviewed, where extensive resources to mitigate the impact are not often available. It was found that, although there are some prospects to mitigate some heat stress, by using agroforestry systems of production for example, these are unlikely to have a major impact, and reduced food security may ensue over the course of this century.

Material flow cost accounting (MFCA) to enhance environmental entrepreneurship in the meat sector: Challenges and opportunities

The material flow cost accounting (MFCA) is one of the most broadly standardized tools accepted in environmental, social and economic research, which traces and quantifies material flows and stock in physical and economic units. Although its application has been recently developed in the field of resource and waste management, few academic articles have investigated its value towards food waste management, which represents a topical concern on a global scale. The present research applies the MFCA to investigate the material, energetic and economic costs associated with the Italian beef, pork and poultry production, exploring related challenges and opportunities towards the enhancement of the environmental entrepreneurship in the meat sector. The present countryside analysis is based on literature and empirical data collected during the Covid-19 pandemic. It highlights the need to improve knowledge on food waste issue under the economic perspective and its dual impact: when it is generated, in terms of income losses due to by-products and finished products sales failure, and when it is disposed, in terms of disposal costs sustained by farms, processing plants and distribution and sales centers. It is estimated that more than 0.45-0.50 Mt of fresh meat is wasted along the entire Italian agri-food chain, equal to more than 242-268 million euros, to which additional energy and water losses should be added (435-481 million euros). MFCA results are useful for business decisions, highlighting quantities, qualities and costs otherwise not considered in common financial reports.