Search Results (178)

Background: Dietary crude protein (CP) acts as a key nutritional factor that affects the growth performance and liver metabolism of fattening Hu sheep, with metabolizable energy (ME) representing a major confounding factor in CP-related responses. To isolate the specific effects of CP on liver metabolism and minimize energy–protein interactions, we standardized dietary ME at 9.4 MJ/kg dry matter. Methods: We then established three isoenergetic CP concentrations: 11.07%, 13.07%, and 15.11%. A total of ninety 4-month-old male Hu sheep (with an initial body weight of 27.09 ± 1.83 kg) were allocated at random to three dietary treatment groups, each containing 30 animals distributed across three replicate pens, and fed pelleted total mixed rations (PTMRs) for 75 days under pen conditions in southern Xinjiang. Exploratory combined transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of liver tissue was conducted to characterize how graded CP levels modulate growth traits and hepatic metabolic pathways, thereby identifying the appropriate dietary CP level for efficient and sustainable fattening of Hu sheep in this region. Result: Results indicated that animals fed the 15.11% CP diet showed a significantly higher average daily gain (ADG) and cumulative weight gain compared with those fed 11.07% or 13.07% CP (p < 0.05). Exploratory multi-omics enrichment analysis demonstrated significant overrepresentation (p < 0.05) of differentially expressed genes and metabolites in key biological pathways—including bile secretion, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, steroid biosynthesis, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling, and oxidative stress-related and oxidative phosphorylation. Correlation analyses characterized two hub genes—ATP6AP1 and LOC101119853—that were significantly and negatively correlated with ADG (p < 0.05), whereas two metabolites—calcidiol and ADP—displayed significant positive relationships with ADG (p < 0.05). Pathway-level comparisons further demonstrated that both the 13.07% vs. 15.11% CP and the 11.07% vs. 15.11% CP contrasts yielded significant enrichment in AMPK signaling and steroid biosynthesis. Notably, calcidiol and ADP both declined numerically in the 13.07% vs. 15.11% CP comparison, whereas only ADP reached statistical significance in the 11.07% vs. 15.11% CP contrast. Conclusions: Collectively, under an ME level of 9.4 MJ/kg, a dietary CP concentration of 15.11% contributes to favorable growth of 4-month-old fattening Hu sheep housed in pens in southern Xinjiang. This level is associated with improved growth performance and coordinated regulation of central hepatic regulatory networks—particularly those involved in energy homeostasis and steroidogenesis—thereby supporting metabolic stability without compromising animal health or production efficiency. These findings provide a preliminary molecular basis for precision protein nutrition in Hu sheep feeding systems and offer translational insights for optimizing ruminant nutrition under arid and semi-arid environmental constraints. All correlations indicate potential associations, not causal relationships. Full article

Iberian pigs reared in a semi-extensive outdoor system, known as cebo de campo, have their commercial feed supplemented with natural pasture. However, the availability and quality of pastures vary seasonally under the Mediterranean conditions of the southwestern Iberian Peninsula. This study evaluates the effect of the seasonal fattening period on fatty acid content and nutritional quality indices (atherogenic index, thrombogenic index, hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio, and healthy fatty index) in subcutaneous adipose tissue and intramuscular fat from 258 purebred Iberian pigs raised under the cebo de campo system during three periods: winter–spring (December–April, n = 63), spring–summer (May–August, n = 99), and summer–autumn (August–November, n = 96). Winter–spring pigs exhibited significantly higher monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and lower saturated fatty acids compared to spring–summer and summer–autumn groups in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Nutritional quality indices were more favorable in winter–spring pigs, indicating superior cardiovascular health benefits. Principal component analysis revealed clear seasonal group separation, with the first two components explaining 88.51% of the variance in subcutaneous fat. Significantly higher neophytadiene concentrations, a biomarker of pasture intake, in winter–spring pigs confirmed greater pasture consumption. These findings demonstrate that seasonal factors significantly influence the nutritional quality of meat produced in cebo de campo Iberian pig systems. This influence is much clearer in subcutaneous adipose tissue than intramuscular fat, as winter–spring fattening is associated with a more favorable lipid profile. Full article

Pre-fattening (also referred to as nursery culture) of Manila clam is a priority for this sector of aquaculture, as it allows hatchery-produced seed (1–3 mg) to reach sowable juvenile sizes of 30–100 mg and reduces reliance on natural juvenile recruitment. This study evaluated the efficiency of two early pre-fattening systems, both in economic terms and in product quality: conventional upwelling units (a high-density system) and flat-bottom tanks (a mid-density system), the latter tested with and without a sand layer. The 51-day trial was conducted under autumn environmental conditions (temperature 13–25.8 °C; salinity 25–28 ppt; chlorophyll-a 3–24 µg/L), starting with 1.34 mg seed maintained under a water flow rate ≥ 15–20 mL/min/g. In upwelling units, the initial density was ~216 ind./cm². Four grading events produced four size classes, with total mean weights ranging from 6.4 mg in the smallest (tails) to 46.3 mg in the largest (heads). The overall population mean size was 19.0 mg, with a specific growth rate (SGR) of 5.2%/day and mortality of 17.6%. Flat-bottom tanks, stocked at ~30 ind./cm², achieved higher growth (overall weighted mean: 28.0 mg; SGR ~6%/day), but exhibited higher mortality (26.0% on average), with no significant effect from the presence of bottom sand. Overall, flat-bottom systems showed promising growth performance with reduced labor requirements, suggesting that this system could represent a viable alternative to upwelling. However, the associated rearing protocol could still be improved by optimizing stocking density and water exchange rates. Full article

The sustainability of livestock farming is becoming a key consideration in the European pork industry, particularly regarding the balance between intensive and extensive farming practices. This study focuses on the Iberian pig breed, assessing the pure breed and the Iberian × Duroc crossbreed and three production systems: intensive indoor fattening, outdoor intensive fattening, and free-range fattening, with an emphasis on their impact on both sustainability and pork quality. The quick-scan sustainability assessment tool developed within the H2020 project mEATquality was used to evaluate the environmental, social, and economic performance of each system. The results revealed that the free-range system performed best in environmental and economic sustainability, while the intensive indoor system showed higher economic stability. Significant differences in meat quality were observed based on the production system, including pH, fat and protein content, colour, texture, and fatty acid profiles. Notably, the free-range system produced pork with higher levels of MUFA and omega-3 fatty acids while intensive indoor showed a more favourable texture, while the intensive systems were associated with paler meat and higher SFA content. Indeed, the results highlighted a significant interaction between the production system × breed, indicating that the 100% Iberian is better adapted to the extensive systems. This study highlights the importance of integrating sustainability assessments with meat quality parameters to identify production methods that are both environmentally responsible and capable of meeting the consumer demand for high-quality pork. Full article

High-concentrate diets are widely used to enhance growth performance in fattening beef cattle; however, they often compromise rumen epithelial integrity, increasing the risk of rumenitis and systemic inflammation. Supplementation with alkaline mineral complex (AMC) has been shown to alleviate these adverse effects, although the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In this study, AMC supplementation was associated with improved rumen epithelial integrity and remodeling of the rumen microbiota, characterized by a reduction in Bacteroidota and Prevotella, and an enrichment of Sarcina sp. DSM11001 and Fibrobacter spp., with the latter identified as a key microbial biomarker in the AMC group. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed activation of the tryptophan metabolism pathway and accumulation of several anti-inflammatory metabolites, including sulfinpyrazone, Thr-Leu, and 4-guanidinobutyric acid. These metabolomic changes were correlated with the upregulation of tight junction pathways and increased expression of related proteins, which in turn were associated with enhanced epithelial barrier integrity and reduced systemic inflammation in the AMC group. Collectively, these findings suggest that AMC supplementation may protect rumen epithelial integrity by modulating the microbial community and altering ruminal metabolite profiles. This study provides insights into nutritional strategies to prevent epithelial damage under high-concentrate feeding conditions and support the potential use of AMC to maintain rumen health in fattening cattle. Full article

This study evaluated the growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of male Alpine and Saanen goat kids raised under standardized fattening conditions to inform breed-specific strategies for meat production. The study included 36 single-born male kids (18 Alpine and 18 Saanen purebreds) of similar age and live weight. The animals were allocated by breed and randomly assigned to three replicates per breed, with six animals in each replicate. After a two-week adaptation period, the kids were fattened for 12 weeks on an 80:20 concentrate–roughage diet. At the end of the fattening period, all animals were slaughtered, and physical, sensory, and chemical analyses of the meat were performed on the Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle. Final live weights did not differ significantly between Alpine and Saanen kids, nor did average daily gains. However, the feed conversion ratio favored the Saanen breed, indicating superior feed efficiency. Alpine kids had significantly higher internal fat content, while Saanen kids had a higher proportion of full intestines. Meat pH, color, and texture were similar between breeds. Fatty acid analysis showed that Alpine meat had higher palmitic and palmitoleic acid content, whereas Saanen meat contained more calcium and sodium. These results suggest that both breeds are suitable for high-quality meat production under controlled feeding conditions, but breed-specific differences in fat composition and mineral content may affect nutritional value and market positioning. These findings are valuable for optimizing selection and marketing strategies in goat meat production systems targeting diverse consumer demands. Full article

Ammonia is one of the most important and widely produced basic chemicals worldwide. However, this highly toxic gas is also produced in livestock farming and a variety of industrial processes, posing a potential threat to humans, animals and the environment and also significantly contributing to the formation of persistent particulate matter. The aim of this project was to develop a textile-based adsorber material and to demonstrate a suitable test system for purifying ammonia-contaminated air from production-related sources using the example of pig fattening and PCB production. This aim was achieved through the wash-resistant immobilization of polyacrylic acid on a polyester needle felt at laboratory, pilot plant and industrial scales. In addition, various system concepts have been developed in which air or phosphoric acid can flow through the adsorber textile, whereby in the latter case, the phosphoric acid is both actively involved in ammonia adsorption and also serves to elute the bound ammonia, enabling continuous and low-maintenance operation. Concurrently, the high-quality inorganic fertilizer ammonium phosphate is produced. In summary, an efficient alternative to existing solutions for ammonia minimization has been developed, which is fundamentally characterized by its universal applicability in different load scenarios, including small mobile systems in production facilities with local ammonia pollution, in addition to scenarios for large-scale agricultural operations. Full article

Between 2014 and 2023, Italian Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) production declined by 36% due to climate change and predation by the invasive blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), which preys particularly on small clams. Traditionally, Manila clam farming starts with seed collection from natural recruitment or hatcheries, followed by pre-fattening in raceways and/or FLUPSY (Floating Upweller Systems) to size T3 (>3 mm). The fattening phase in lagoons up to the commercial size (>25 mm) follows. Rearing juveniles in controlled conditions may ensure stable supplies of high-quality seed, reduced mortality, and increase overall yields. Furthermore, a larger pre-seeding size (e.g., T10, >10 mm) is supposed to improve resistance to predators and environmental stress. This study uses an ex-ante Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a novel and unique “sand-nursery” method under development at an Italian company. The nutrient removal potential of juvenile clams was also assessed as an ecosystem service. At full capacity, the optimised system could produce 120 t of liveweight juveniles and remove 338 kg of nitrogen and 32 kg of phosphorus. Although it has inherent limitations, the ex-ante LCA results show that electricity consumption is the main contributor to environmental impacts, with a global warming potential of 1.11 kg CO₂ eq/kg T10 clam. Further research is needed to assess impacts across the full production cycle. Full article

Bovine babesiosis is a widespread tick-borne parasitic disease that compromises calf health and productivity, causing substantial economic losses. This study evaluated the potential of molecular and hematobiochemical biomarkers for the detection of babesiosis in Holstein calves by analyzing the expression dynamics of selected immune and antioxidant genes and their association with blood-based indicators. Blood samples were collected from 243 fattening calves, classified as healthy (n = 180) or naturally infected (n = 63). Transcriptional levels of immune-related genes (IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1) and antioxidant genes (SOD3, CAT, GPX, and GST) were measured alongside hematological, biochemical, immunological, and oxidative stress assessments. Infected calves exhibited significant upregulation (p < 0.05) of immune and pro-inflammatory genes, indicating strong immune activation, while antioxidant gene expression was markedly downregulated, reflecting impaired redox balance. These molecular changes were accompanied by hematobiochemical alterations, including elevated liver and kidney markers, serum lipids, inflammatory mediators, and oxidative stress indices. Conversely, reductions were observed in glucose, serum proteins, thyroid hormones, essential minerals, total antioxidant capacity, and endogenous antioxidant enzymes. The coordinated assessment of immune and antioxidant gene expression with hematobiochemical profiles provides a robust biomarker-based approach for the early detection and monitoring of bovine babesiosis. These integrated molecular and blood-based indicators may support effective diagnosis, disease management, and control strategies in livestock production systems. Full article

This review examined the environmental impact of fattening pigs, with particular focus on the Italian heavy fattening pig, affected by dietary interventions aimed at mitigating nitrogen excretion and gases emission into the atmosphere, maintaining product quality and complying with the regulation frameworks. In the Italian heavy pig supply chain, environmental regulations are often difficult to comply with due to the constraints imposed by PDO. The pig sector is increasingly committed to developing strategies that can effectively mitigate its environmental impacts. In intensive pig farming, emissions of ammonia (NH₃) and greenhouse gases (GHGs) can occur in every production phase, from animal housing to manure treatment, management, storage, and up to in-field application. All these phases present key actions to limit emissions of NH₃ and GHG, according to Best Available Techniques (BAT) for housing and Best Practices (BP) for manure treatments and management. Nitrogen excretion in manure is another important aspect to consider for its negative effects when applied in Vulnerable Zones with considerable additions of animal waste and synthetic fertilisers. Nutritional strategies can contribute a priori to mitigate nitrogen excretion, NH₃ emissions, and overall GHG output in heavy pigs, particularly in Italian PDO ham systems. While these interventions effectively mitigate NH₃ and influence manure-related emissions, their impact on total GHG varies depending on diet composition, fibre type, additive combination, and post-excretion treatment. Full article

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a proven and promising technology for recovering energy from biowastes, such as pig slurry (PS) from the fattening/finishing phase. The mechanisms of AD are widely studied, and nowadays, it is of the utmost importance to investigate strategies that give end-users the confidence to choose this technology and to adapt it to their reality, promoting the energy transition and circular economy. This study investigated how collection and storage period affect PS samples, and how hydraulic retention time (HRT) (15 versus 20 days) influences AD performance and stability. Seasonality was the primary factor influencing feedstock characteristics. Samples presented no significant differences during the storage period. A 20-day HRT led to higher digestate pH, total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), and free ammonia nitrogen (FAN) concentrations, which can cause process instability and methanogenesis inhibition. However, 20-day HRT led to a specific methane production that was 7% higher and to a methane quality (expressed in % v/v CH₄) that was 6% higher than 15-day HRT. Overall, methane quality, digestate pH, TAN, and FAN values may be considered key points that need to be monitored to prevent the AD system from being compromised. Nevertheless, these results provide the operational freedom to choose either HRT, allowing reduced reactor volume and investment. Full article

The study addresses the assessment of environmental sustainability in agriculture, noting that the existing scientific literature has predominantly focused on negative environmental impacts, particularly greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock sector. It argues that a comprehensive evaluation of farming systems should go beyond impact-based metrics and instead compare the demand and supply of natural capital, using appropriate methodologies such as the ecological footprint (EF). Accordingly, the objective of the study is to analyze the environmental sustainability of fattening pig farming systems in Italy by applying the EF to compare a virtuous case-study farm (located in Umbria, 72.4 ha of utilized agricultural area, and 1960 pigs per year) with a representative sample of ninety-four specialized pig-fattening farms drawn from the Italian FADN 2023 database. The results show the following marked differences between the two systems: the case study exhibits a positive ecological balance (EB = +50.1 gha; IEP = +0.69 gha/ha), while the FADN sample displays, on average, a negative ecological balance (EB = −167.6 gha) and a strongly negative sustainability index (IEP = −3.84 gha/ha). These findings indicate that, in a sector characterized by generalized environmental unsustainability, the preservation of natural capital can be achieved not only through low-impact technical solutions, but also by addressing structural factors (e.g., livestock density per unit area and the presence of non-productive land uses). Overall, the study demonstrates that sustainability assessment requires explicitly comparing natural capital demand and supply, rather than merely quantifying emissions. Full article

Most animal welfare (AW) assessment protocols have been developed for intensive production systems and European cattle, raising concerns about their applicability in the tropics. To compare the results obtained by using the welfare quality (WQ) assessment for fattening cattle in the dry tropics, relevant modifications were implemented in 20 cattle production units (PUs) during the dry (DS) and rainy (RS) seasons. Regarding the principle of good feeding, only during the RS, between 20% and 25% of the farms maintained their animals in the acceptable and good categories, compared to the DS, where all PUs were classified as unacceptable (p < 0.04). Under the “Appropriate Behavior” principle, only 15% and 60% of the PUs maintained their animals at good and acceptable levels, respectively, in the RS, but not in the DS (p < 0.001). Conversely, during the DS, better scores were obtained for the measures and criteria in the Good housing group, with 45%, 50%, and 5% of PU classified as acceptable, good, and excellent, respectively, while for the RS, only 15%, 30%, and 5% reached these levels (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, under the “Good Health” principle, better animal health scores were observed during the RS, with 20%, 30%, and 50% of farms classified as acceptable, good, and excellent, compared to the DS, where only 70% and 10% of farms maintained their animals at good and excellent levels (p < 0.01). It is concluded that better animal welfare (AW) indicators were recorded during the RS, and the adjustments we applied to the conventional WQ protocol comprised a modification for the criterion that included the prolonged absence of thirst as well as adding six new indicators (measures) to the principles of housing, health, and behavior, which are considered essential for evaluating AW in cattle that are managed under extensive conditions by season. Full article

This experiment evaluated whether a high-forage, low-starch, and high-oil diet (experimental) could improve lamb meat fatty acid composition without compromising growth performance or overall meat quality, compared with a high-cereal diet typically used in intensive fattening systems (control). Ninety lambs were randomly assigned to six pens (fifteen animals/pen), with each diet provided to three pens for 32 days. Feed intake was monitored daily, and animal weight was monitored weekly. The feeding cost was also assessed. Four lambs per pen were slaughtered to assess carcass and meat traits. Average daily gain was unaffected by diet, but the experimental diet increased the feed conversion ratio. Kidney knob channel fat was higher in the experimental diet, while other carcass traits were unchanged. Meat sensory attributes and most physicochemical properties, including colour and lipid stability during storage, did not differ between diets. However, the experimental diet reduced meat pH and increased the proportions of t11–18:1, c9,t11–18:2, 18:2n-6, and 18:3n-3 in intramuscular fat, while t10–18:1 remained unchanged, and n-6 PUFA/n-3 PUFA ratio increased. A low-starch, high-forage, high-oil diet can be effectively used in lamb feedlots to enhance the intramuscular fat content of healthy fatty acids without compromising animal growth or meat characteristics, although it results in higher feeding costs. Full article

In intensive breeding systems, goats reared for meat production are often housed in group pens at high stocking densities. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between expressed behaviours and stocking density, and to compare the time budget of these confined goats with that of pasture-based goats. A detailed ethogram of 19 mutually exclusive behavioural activities was developed. Behavioural observations were conducted continuously over 72 h on group pens selected for their variation in stocking density and homogeneity in breed, age, body condition and acclimation period since arrival. Using the scan-sampling method (96 scans per goat daily), data were collected from 42 goats. The time budget, expressed as the mean frequency (%) ± standard deviation for each behavioural activity, was calculated. The associations between time budget and stocking density were assessed via bivariate analysis, with the strength and direction of relationships quantified using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r). Results indicated that self-grooming and Bipedal stance/Climbing were positively correlated with increased space allowance (i.e., lower stocking density), suggesting their potential utility as positive welfare indicators for housed fattening goats in group pens. Furthermore, the time budget differed notably from pasture-based patterns, primarily characterized by resting (53.09% ± 2.72%), eating (16.05% ± 2.88%), and moving (2.30% ± 0.75%). Full article