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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (24 May 2023) | Viewed by 17900

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Prof. Dr. Abdulmojeed Yakubu

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Guest Editor

Department of Animal Science/Centre for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Shabu-Lafia, Nigeria
Interests: genetics and genomics of animal species; improvement and conservation of animals; modelling of economic traits of livestock breeds; sustainable animal production and management

Prof. Dr. Luc Hippolyte Dossa

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Guest Editor

Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin
Interests: characterization and analysis of livestock production systems; characterisation and management of farm animal genetic resources; sustainable animal agriculture; improvement of resource use efficiency in smallholder livestock production systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The world’s population is expected to grow to 9.5 billion by 2050. By this period, agricultural production will need to increase substantially to feed growing and urbanising populations. However, increased food production will require a sustainable intensification of agricultural production systems. This is because, in agroecosystems, there is competition for and synergism in the use of basic resources of land, water, energy, air, labour, technology, capital, and management. Sustainable agricultural development nurtures healthy ecosystems and supports the sustainable management of land, water and natural resources, while ensuring world food security.

Animals and their products provide multiple benefits to humans: protein-rich diets that contribute to food security, employment, rural/urban economies, capital stock and draught power in many countries of the world. Livestock-based farming systems can also play an important role in coping with environmental problems such as declining soil fertility, soil erosion, and water contamination. Sustainable livestock intensification implies greater productivity and a more efficient use of natural resources, reducing the impact of livestock systems on the environment. Some of the approaches to reach this goal include advances in animal breeding and genetics, the diversification of animal species and animal functional groups, improvements in health, feeding techniques and grazing management, integrated crop–livestock systems, and livestock biodiversity–agroecology convergence. In this context, this Special Issue, ‘‘Animal Science and Sustainable Agriculture’’, welcomes original high quality research and review papers on sustainable animal agriculture targeting one or more of the following areas:

Characterization of livestock production systems;
Innovative animal breeding and genetics technologies;
Livestock feeds and feeding strategies;
Animal health and production;
Climate-smart animal agriculture;
Sustainable animal-crop integration;
Policy issues towards sustainable livestock production.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Abdulmojeed Yakubu
Prof. Dr. Luc Hippolyte Dossa
Guest Editors

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Keywords

animal
sustainability
innovation
development
agroecosystem

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

10 pages, 1100 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Management of Dairy Cows in Semi-Arid Summers: Additional Early Nighttime Sprinkler Cooling for Heat Stress Mitigation

by Abu Macavoray, Muhammad Afzal Rashid, Hifzul Rahman and Muhammad Qamer Shahid

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11665; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511665 - 28 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 819

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different cooling sessions on the performance and welfare of Holstein Friesian cows during the semi-arid summer in Pakistan. Sixteen lactating cows were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: (1) five cooling sessions per day (5CS) and (2) eight cooling sessions (8CS), with two sessions during early nighttime and one in the early morning. Each sprinkler cooling session lasted 1 hour. The trial was conducted over a period of 8 weeks during August and September of 2021. The results showed that cows in the 8CS group produced an average of 2.9 kg/d more milk than those in the 5CS group. Additionally, the respiration rate and total feeding time of cows in the 8CS group was significantly lower than that of the 5CS group. Moreover, the core body temperature of cows was not significantly influenced by addition of extra cooling sessions. In conclusion, the results suggest that the addition of cooling sessions in the early nighttime had a positive effect on milk yield and welfare in Holstein cows during the semi-arid summer season. These findings could have significant implications for the management of dairy cows in similar climatic conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Science and Sustainable Agriculture)

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12 pages, 696 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gender-Linked Dynamics and Sustainable Small Holder Poultry Value Chains in Makueni County, Kenya

by Salome A. Bukachi, Mariah Ngutu, Dalmas Omia, Mercy M. Musyoka, Judith Chemuliti and Isaac K. Nyamongo

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 10907; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151410907 - 12 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1793

Abstract

Understanding the gender-linked dynamics in the small holder poultry value chain is necessary for enabling sustainable agriculture and food systems. Small holder livestock production, including poultry keeping in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), plays important socio-economic and food security roles in rural communities. Poultry production contributes to sustainable food systems as it supports nutrient cycling through feed, manure, and soils. A qualitative study utilized data from 18 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 22 in-depth interviews (IDIs) to interrogate the gender-linked dynamics in the value chain and inform interventions for sustainable food systems. The data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded into themes responding to the study question. The results highlight the gender-linked drivers, namely, the social and economic value placed on poultry, ownership, power positions, and decision making dynamics in production and management among small holder poultry value chain actors in Makueni County, Kenya. The study findings demonstrate the increasing economic and social value placed on poultry in households and communities. The study further discusses gender-disaggregated ownership and decision making in the poultry value chain, highlighting the need to engage all involved actors to develop sustainable food systems. In addition to the social and economic value of poultry to small holder farmers, it is necessary to factor in potential nutrition and environmental benefits. While small holder poultry production has the potential to contribute to sustainable food systems economically, nutritionally, and environmentally, this study found that more emphasis is placed on socio-economic value dimensions. Noteworthy is that in ownership and decision making, gender dynamics inform the role and position of the different actors in a sustainable small holder poultry value chain that is socio-economically, nutritionally, and environmentally sound. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Science and Sustainable Agriculture)

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16 pages, 1398 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Cotton Gin Trash Supplementation as Unconventional Feedstuff on Feed Intake and Production Characteristics of Mecheri Sheep of India

by Sri Balaji Nagarajan, Subramaniam Ramakrishnan, Jaganathan Muralidharan, Palanisamy Vasan, Karuppusamy Sivakumar and Aranganoor Kannan Thiruvenkadan

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10500; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310500 - 4 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1430

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of feeding cotton gin trash (CGT) to Mecheri ram lambs, as an alternate diet, on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. A growth performance trial was conducted with thirty-two weaned Mecheri ram lambs with an average body weight of 12.64 ± 0.74 kg, which were assigned to four groups (n = eight animals in each group). The diet’s roughage part was replaced by CGT at percentages of 0% (T₁), 25% (T₂), 50% (T₃), and 75% (T₄). The growth trial lasted six months (180 days) from weaning lambs at 3–4 months until 9 months for marketing. All the animals were fed on a dry matter requirement basis at 4% of their body weight. The study revealed that the lambs fed with 50 (T₃) and 75 (T₄) % inclusion levels of CGT showed significantly (p < 0.01) higher total body weight gain than the T₁ and T₂ groups. The average daily gain of lambs in T₃ (99.24 g) and T₄ (105.51 g) were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than T₁ (80.77 g) and T₂ (83.61 g) groups. Throughout the study period, there was no statistically significant (p > 0.05) difference in the average Dry Matter Intake (DMI) (g) between the groups; however, the lambs in T₄ demonstrated higher feed efficiency (7.4) than the T₁ (9.3) group. The slaughter studies revealed that the lambs in the T₄ followed by the T₃ groups registered significantly (p < 0.01) higher hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, and meat: bone ratio than T₂ and T₁ group animals. The T₃ and T₄ groups had significantly (p < 0.05) higher weights of the liver, spleen, head, stomach, and empty intestines when compared to T₁ and T₂ groups; however, there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in the weights of edible and inedible offals. In addition, there were no significant variations (p > 0.05) in pH, WHC, shear force value, sensory characteristics, and proximate composition of meat among treatment groups. The SFA levels in the T₃, T₄, and T₂ groups were substantially (p < 0.01) greater than in the control group (T₁). In contrast, the proportion of MUFA in the T₁ group was significantly (p < 0.05) greater than in the T₃ and T₄ treatment groups. There was no significant difference in PUFA or the PUFA/SFA ratio between the treatment groups. In accordance with current research findings, the CGT can be added up to 75% of the roughage component in sheep feed as an effective unconventional supplementation, as it improves body weight, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics in Mecheri ram lambs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Science and Sustainable Agriculture)

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15 pages, 957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect and Mechanism of Environmental Decentralization on Pollution Emission from Pig Farming—Evidence from China

by Haiying Shao, Bowen Li and Yanjun Jiang

Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 8297; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15108297 - 19 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1193

Abstract

Pollutants produced by pig breeding are among the important pollutions. It is necessary to explore the factors influencing the emission intensity of pollutants from pig breeding and find ways to decrease them. Using the provincial panel data of China from 2001 to 2017, this paper analyzed the mechanism impact of environmental decentralization on pollution emission from pig farming. The results showed that environmental decentralization could significantly reduce the emission intensity of pollutants from pig farming. Decentralization of environmental monitoring had a certain effect on reducing such emission intensity, while decentralization of environmental administration has not played this role. In addition, the scale of pig farming can effectively strengthen the effect of environmental decentralization on pollution reduction in pig farming. From the perspective of regional heterogeneity, environmental decentralization can reduce such emission intensity in restricted development areas, potential growth areas, and moderate development areas. Also, decentralization of environmental monitoring can also, obviously, reduce pollutant emissions in potential growth areas. The research results have reference value for determining the reasonable level of environmental decentralization between regions and improving environmental regulation policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Science and Sustainable Agriculture)

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11 pages, 260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Storage on Chemical Composition of Wheat and Efficiency of Its Utilization in Broilers

by Urooj Anwar, Muhammad Qamar Bilal, Muhammad Farooq Khalid, Riaz Mustafa, Umar Farooq, Muhammad Ashraf, Hassan Munir, Muhammad Riaz, Mubasher Hussain, Munawar Hussain, Muhammad Farhan Ayaz Chisti, Abdul Rehman and Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7129; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097129 - 24 Apr 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1309

Abstract

This present study was designed to evaluate the effect of storage duration (1.5 years and 2.5 years storage) on wheat quality and the impact of the inclusion of stored wheat in the diet of broilers on performance, nutrient digestibility, and carcass parameters. A total of 560 one-day-old male broilers were randomly assigned to the 56 pens, and each pen had 10 birds. A corn-soybean-based diet was considered as the control diet and the other six dietary treatments were prepared by replacing corn of the corn-soybean diet with 50% and 100% replacement of fresh, 1.5-year stored, and 2.5-year stored wheat. The data of proximate composition of wheat represents that dry matter was improved (p < 0.05) and acid detergent fiber was decreased in 2.5-year-old wheat (p < 0.05). Performance parameters data represents that both in the starter phase and finisher phase, the replacement of corn with 50% and 100% fresh wheat in the diet significantly reduced the feed intake, nutrient digestibility, and body weight gain (p < 0.05), and 100% replacement of corn with fresh wheat resulted in higher FCR (p < 0.05). Based on the findings of this current study, it is concluded that the storage of wheat improves the performance of birds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Science and Sustainable Agriculture)

12 pages, 414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Babesia ovis Infecting Sheep in Nigeria

by Taiye Samson Adewumi, Michael Irewole Takeet, Foluke Adedayo Akande, Adekayode Olarewaju Sonibare and Moses Okpeku

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16974; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416974 - 18 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2535

Abstract

Babesiosis is a significant tick-borne disease that causes varying degrees of losses to animals and humans, as well as a severe economic impact. In Nigeria, there have been several reports on the prevalence of Babesia infection in sheep; however, to date, there is no documented report on the molecular characterization of Babesia ovis in sheep. Here, we determined the prevalence of Babesia infection in sheep using microscopy and PCR and further characterized Babesia ovis in sheep in Nigeria. In this study, 198 blood samples were collected from Abuja and Abeokuta, Nigeria. Microscopic and polymerase chain reactions were used to detect the presence of B. ovis in sheep. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples, and generic RLB forward and reverse primers were used to amplify the 18S rRNA segment of B. ovis. Sequence analysis of the generic molecular marker was used to determine the genetic characteristics of B. ovis in sheep in Nigeria. The prevalence of B. ovis infection using microscopy and PCR was 61.1% and 36.9%, respectively. There was a higher prevalence of Babesia infection in Abeokuta (38.4%) than in Abuja. Study animals of one and half years to three years had the highest percentage (45.8%) of Babesia infection, and higher infection of B. ovis was recorded in male animals (37.5%), balami breeds (40.0%), white coat colors (44.4%), emaciated animals (75.0%), and polycythaemic animals (57.1%). Sequencing analysis indicated that B. ovis 18S rRNA from southwestern Abeokuta and north-central Abuja, Nigeria, showed 90–95% identity of documented isolates from other countries. BioEdit and MEGAX software was used to clean sequences and construct a phylogenetic tree to show evolutionary relationships. In conclusion, the findings from this study offer significant information on the molecular characteristics of B. ovis infection for the first time in Nigeria, as well as its present prevalence status. Furthermore, sheep have been identified as a potential reservoir for this tick-borne pathogen; thus, the information from this study can serve as a basis to formulate effective control strategies for tick-borne pathogens circulating amongst the ruminant population in Nigeria and Africa by extension. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Science and Sustainable Agriculture)

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18 pages, 2200 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial and Temporal Characteristics, Evolution Law and Improvement Path of China’s Animal Husbandry Production Pattern

by Xianghao Zhao and Changjiang Xiong

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15794; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315794 - 28 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1724

Abstract

To examine the evolutionary pattern of livestock production activities in China, this paper analyzes the livestock production pattern from 1995 to 2020 using the models of center of gravity shift, spatial agglomeration and binary structure equilibrium index. The results show that: (1) overall, the degree of geographic agglomeration of China’s livestock industry shows a weak trend of enhancement, the center of gravity of production moves to the northwest, the main production areas gradually move to the three northern regions, and Inner Mongolia and Liaoning become emerging large livestock production provinces; (2) in terms of classification, there are obvious geographical characteristics in the movement of the center of gravity of production of various livestock products; some livestock product production is highly concentrated in a few provinces and produces (3) “Zhongtiao Mountains-Taihang Mountains” has become an important geographical division of spatial division of labor for livestock products in China, and the North China Plain and Loess Plateau on the left and right sides have become the landing areas of the center of gravity for the production of grain-consuming and herbivorous livestock products, respectively; 2006 was the peak of spatial concentration of livestock industry in China. 2006 is not only the peak inflection year of spatial concentration of livestock industry in China, but also the turning point of balanced development of grain-consuming livestock industry and herbivorous livestock industry. Therefore, following the intrinsic requirements of the new development concept on productivity layout, it is proposed to comprehensively implement the green spatial layout strategy, deeply promote the innovation of grass-livestock balance system, construct the green production mode of animal husbandry, coordinate and promote the “one place, one product” characteristic animal husbandry industrialization project and promote the transformation from a large country of animal husbandry production to a strong country of animal husbandry industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Science and Sustainable Agriculture)

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11 pages, 1335 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Yield Performance of Forage Shrubs and Effects on Milk Production and Chemical Composition under the Tropical Climatic Conditions of Peru

by Luz Marlene Durand-Chávez, Héctor Vladimir Vásquez Pérez, Daniel Ushiñahua-Ramírez, William Carrasco Chilón, Benjamín Alberto Depaz-Hizo and José Américo Saucedo-Uriarte

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12774; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912774 - 7 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1850

Abstract

Forage shrubs have the potential to substantially contribute to pasture and increase the milk production of cows in tropical environments. The yield performance of forage shrubs and its effects on the production and chemical composition of milk in Bos indicus and Bos taurus crossbred cows in the tropics of Peru were studied. Fifteen cows were divided into M. alba, L. leucocephala, M. oleifera, and C. argentea treatments and only one of B. brizantha (control). Analysis of variance (p < 0.05) and comparison of means with Tukey’s test were performed. The highest plant height, stem diameter, fresh forage, and dry matter were observed in L. leucocephala and M. oleifera. The highest milk production was observed in cows fed B. brizantha with M. alba, and the highest milk production was in the rainy season. The highest concentration of fat and total solids was observed in milk from cows fed B. brizantha with L. leucocephala. The highest utility was observed in cows fed B. brizantha with M. alba; however, the highest operational profitability was observed in the treatment of only B. brizantha and B. brizantha with L. leucocephala. The use of forage shrubs can contribute to cattle feeding, especially in the dry season when there is a shortage of pastures, and possibly contribute to improving the soil and overcoming climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Science and Sustainable Agriculture)

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11 pages, 475 KiB

Open AccessReview

Additive Tannins in Ruminant Nutrition: An Alternative to Achieve Sustainability in Animal Production

by Natalia Vilas Boas Fonseca, Abmael da Silva Cardoso, Angélica Santos Rabelo de Souza Bahia, Juliana Duarte Messana, Eduardo Festozo Vicente and Ricardo Andrade Reis

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4162; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054162 - 25 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2515

Abstract

Sustainable intensification involves maintaining ecosystem balance and increasing productivity per animal per unit area. Phytogenic additives can be used as an alternative to achieve sustainable intensification. Tannins are phenolic compounds present in plants that are classified according to their chemical structure into hydrolyzable and condensed compounds. When added to ruminant diets, condensed tannins exert effects on rumen fermentation, such as a reduction in rumen protein degradation and enteric methane production per unit of dry matter ingested, and may also improve weight gain. The advantage of this mechanism is that it increases dietary protein utilization, reduces nitrogen excretion in urine, and reduces nitrous oxide emissions. However, the positive effects of these compounds as nutritional additives require further investigation. Therefore, the objective of this review is to demonstrate the results hitherto known of the use of condensed tannins in ruminant nutrition. The use of tannins can result in both positive and negative effects, depending on the sources and doses administered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal Science and Sustainable Agriculture)

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