Article
Food Science & Technology
Qunchao Fang, Xiaoying Zhang, Guichao Dai, Bingxin Tong, Hongliang Wang, Oene Oenema, Hannah H. E. van Zanten, Pierre Gerber, Yong Hou
Summary: Increasing the use of low-opportunity-cost feed products in animal feeding in China can reduce food-feed competition for cropland and save resources such as water, fertilizer, and greenhouse gas emissions. It has been found that a significant amount of edible products are used as animal feed, while a large proportion of available low-cost feed products are not utilized. By increasing the utilization of these feed products, significant land and resource savings can be achieved without compromising livestock productivity. However, this requires improved technology and coordination among stakeholders.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
B. Meda, F. Garcia-Launay, L. Dusart, P. Ponchant, S. Espagnol, A. Wilfart
Summary: The use of multiobjective feed formulation (MOF) can significantly reduce the environmental impacts of pig and broiler production, particularly in terms of climate change and land occupation. Additionally, MOF may also lead to a decrease in the relative economic profits of pig and broiler production.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lefteris Melas, Maria Batsioula, Apostolos Malamakis, Sotiris I. Patsios, Dimitris Geroliolios, Evangelos Alexandropoulos, Stamatia Skoutida, Christos Karkanias, Anna Dedousi, Maria-Zoi Kritsa, Evangelia N. Sossidou, George F. Banias
Summary: The study examines the implementation of circular bio-economy practices in the Greek pig sector to improve its environmental performance. By collecting and processing bakery by-products to produce bakery meal as pig feed, the study found that this practice can significantly reduce land occupation, decrease pesticide usage, and improve the overall environmental performance of the Greek pig sector.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Kirsty Joanna Blair, Dominic Moran, Peter Alexander
Summary: The livestock sector is facing sustainability and health challenges in the production and consumption of livestock products, but barriers and conflicting worldviews have led to inertia and inaction. This study explores the influence of environmental worldviews, values, and demographic factors on perspectives towards the future of the livestock sector and identifies different preferences for behavior-oriented or technological solutions based on individuals' worldviews and values.
AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN VALUES
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Alan J. Duncan, Ben Lukuyu, Gilbert Mutoni, Zelalem Lema, Simon Fraval
Summary: Livestock production is crucial for smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries, but inadequate feed limits their potential to reduce poverty. The Feed Assessment Tool (FEAST) was developed to involve farmers in decision-making on feed improvement. It uses discussions and interviews to gather information. FEAST has been used in many countries and its data can inform feed strategies and be used by researchers to understand livestock feed issues.
AGRONOMY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
K. McGarr-O'Brien, J. Herron, L. Shalloo, I. J. M. De Boer, E. M. De Olde
Summary: This study characterized the sustainability certification standards used in dairy production and identified 19 standards that qualify as sustainability certification based on selection criteria. The standards vary in terms of organization type, number of indicators, sustainability themes covered, and the balance of credibility, accessibility, and continuous improvement. The environmental pillar is most frequently addressed, while the economic pillar is least addressed. The analysis shows that credibility and accessibility are often described and assured, but continuous improvement is less focused on. The variability in standards allows farmers to choose a standard that aligns with their beliefs or stage of development, but it may also create mistrust in standards.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Taylor Jacob Garcia, Nichole Marie Cherry, Kimberly Ann Guay, Jeffrey Alan Brady, James Pierre Muir, William Brandon Smith
Summary: The study examined the variability in nutritive values of dried paunch manure collected from harvested cattle and found that animal-to-animal differences significantly impacted all nutrient measures. Dried paunch manure has the potential to be used as a feed ingredient to reduce economic costs in livestock production, but a centralized processing system is needed for consistent product quality.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ulysse Gaudare, Sylvain Pellerin, Marc Benoit, Guillaume Durand, Bertrand Dumont, Pietro Barbieri, Thomas Nesme
Summary: Livestock productivity is found to be 12% lower in organic farming compared to conventional farming, with significant differences in feeding strategy and feed use efficiency. However, organic dairy cattle have a 46% lower human-food vs animal-feed competition, which contributes to the sustainability of organic livestock management.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Review
Agronomy
Prabhat Khanal, Rajan Dhakal, Tanka Khanal, Deepak Pandey, Naba Raj Devkota, Mette Olaf Nielsen
Summary: Livestock sector is crucial in many developing countries by providing food, income, and employment. The paper discusses the status of livestock production in Nepal and evaluates strategies for future productivity and sustainability. Strong emphasis on improving feeding strategies and developing innovative technologies is essential for a productive yet environmentally sustainable livestock sector.
Article
Agronomy
Beatriz Elisa Bizzuti, Simon Perez-Marquez, Flavia de Oliveira Scarpino van Cleef, Vagner Silva Ovani, Wilian Santos Costa, Paulo Mello Tavares Lima, Helder Louvandini, Adibe Luiz Abdalla
Summary: This study evaluated the nutritive value of various by-products for use as feed for ruminants. The results showed that these by-products are suitable for use in ruminant diets and can contribute to addressing issues such as climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and food security.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Imen Saadaoui, Rihab Rasheed, Ana Aguilar, Maroua Cherif, Hareb Al Jabri, Sami Sayadi, Schonna R. Manning
Summary: The review discusses the potential of using microalgae as feed for domestic animals, highlighting their rich nutrients and prebiotic effects. Recommendations are made to enhance the assimilation of biomolecules in animals fed with microalgal biomass, and economic trade-offs in large-scale cultivation are emphasized for further investigation to reduce costs.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Francisco Jose Castillo-Diaz, Luis J. Belmonte-Urena, Maria J. Lopez-Serrano, Francisco Camacho-Ferre
Summary: Quantifying the sustainability of the agri-food industry is crucial for sustainable development. The study found moderate sustainability in food production and processing in the European Union, with France having the highest overall sustainability. Economic and social progress in agriculture was associated with lower quality environmental indicators.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
D. Destoumieux-Garzon, P. Bonnet, C. Teplitsky, F. Criscuolo, P-Y Henry, D. Mazurais, P. Prunet, G. Salvat, P. Usseglio-Polatera, E. Verrier, N. C. Friggens
Summary: The article explores the commonalities between animal production science and animal ecology in order to identify promising avenues of synergy through the transfer of concepts and methodologies. Key concepts such as animal adaptability, diversity, selection, management, monitoring, agroecology, and viability risks were identified as crucial for cross-fertilization to improve ecosystem resilience and farming sustainability. The need to break down interdisciplinary barriers was highlighted with examples such as pathogen circulation between wild and domestic animals and the role of animals in nutrient cycles.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yinan Li, Lanyu Li, Chuan Zhang, Yingru Zhao, Xiaonan Wang
Summary: This study investigates the cost-optimal transition pathway of the electricity-chemical nexus in China, and finds that carbon neutrality can be achieved for the co-supply of electricity, methanol, and ammonia by 2060 through a systematic shift towards combined deployment of low-carbon and negative emission technologies. Sector coupling significantly improves the effectiveness of the transition. Green methanol and ammonia, as well as power transmission, all play a role as energy carriers in the future energy system.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & FUELS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Jeno Zsolt Farkas, Iren Rita Koszegi, Edit Hoyk, Adam Szalai
Summary: Livestock farming in developed countries faces adverse environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. Economic and social issues, such as farm concentration and the aging of farmers, have also emerged. These challenges have resulted in the decline of small farms and household animal husbandry, posing challenges for rural development.