Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.9
3.3
Journals
Agriculture
Special Issues
Valorization of Agri-Food Waste Bioresources for Sustainable Livestock Feeding
share announcement

Valorization of Agri-Food Waste Bioresources for Sustainable Livestock Feeding

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Farm Animal Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 2689

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sonia Tassone

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
DISAFA, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, TO, Italy
Interests: animal nutrition; alternative feeds; in vitro degradability; microplastics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Khalil Abid

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
DISAFA, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, TO, Italy
Interests: agri-food waste valorization; aternative feed; feed additives; ruminal digestibility; ruminal fermentation; microplastics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleague,

The use of bio-waste from agriculture for sustainable livestock feed is an important strategy for tackling environmental problems, optimizing resource use and securing feed supplies. With a high portion of the global agri-food produced being wasted, reusing this biomass as animal feed offers a promising way to mitigate its ecological impact and promote a circular economy. This eco-friendly approach improves the economic viability and competitiveness of farms, diversifies feed sources, bridges the gap between demand and supply, and reduces the competition between feed and food. Recent studies have highlighted the nutritional richness of agri-food waste, which has many bioactive compounds that can increase animal productivity and the quality of their products, strengthen disease resistance, promote animal welfare and reduce the environmental footprint associated with methane emissions from ruminants.

This Special Issue aims to explore the potential benefits and challenges of using agri-food waste bioresources in animal feed, investigate the way they are incorporated into the diet, and explore innovative approaches to improve their use in animal nutrition and to promote the sustainability of the livestock sector. We welcome interdisciplinary studies from different research areas, including agriculture and animal science, and invite contributions in various formats, including original research and reviews.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Animals.

Dr. Sonia Tassone
Dr. Khalil Abid
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • agri-food waste
  • agricultural structures
  • animal production
  • bioactive compounds
  • greenhouses
  • circular economy
  • environment
  • livestock feed
  • sustainability
  • waste management

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

25 pages, 1107 KiB  
Article
Impact of Peas (Pisum Sativum L.) as a Sustainable Source of Protein in Growing Pigs’ Diets on Production Efficiency, Nitrogen Metabolism and Gastrointestinal Tract Health
by Tatiana Dumitra Panaite, Gabriela Maria Cornescu, Elvira Gagniuc, Ana Elena Cismileanu, Claudiu Gal, Mihaela Dumitru and Smaranda Mariana Toma
Agriculture 2025, 15(8), 897; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15080897 - 20 Apr 2025
Viewed by 209
Abstract
This pilot study evaluated the effects of dietary pea inclusion as a sustainable and nutritional alternative protein source on growth performance, nitrogen balance, digestibility, and intestinal health on nine castrated male Topigs hybrid pigs (three pigs/group), with an initial average weight of 20 [...] Read more.
This pilot study evaluated the effects of dietary pea inclusion as a sustainable and nutritional alternative protein source on growth performance, nitrogen balance, digestibility, and intestinal health on nine castrated male Topigs hybrid pigs (three pigs/group), with an initial average weight of 20 ± 2.5 kg, for 45 experimental days. To conduct this digestibility pilot study, the pigs were kept individually in metabolic cages. Three experimental groups were compared: T0 (control), T10 (10% pea inclusion), and T20 (20% pea inclusion). Growth performance parameters, such as the feed conversion ratio (FCR), daily feed intake (DFI), and dry matter intake (DMI), were significantly higher in the T10 and T20 groups compared to T0 (p < 0.05). Nitrogen retention was significantly higher in the T10 group (p = 0.042) compared to the T0 group only. Biochemical markers, such as the total bilirubin (T-Bil) and uric acid (UA) levels, were significantly higher in T20 compared to T0 (p < 0.05). The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) increased significantly in the ceca and ilea of the T10 and T20 groups compared to T0, with higher levels of acetic acid (C2) and butyric acid (C4). A positive effect on Lactobacillus populations was observed in both the ileum and cecum in the T10 and T20 groups (p < 0.05). Intestinal morphology analysis revealed that the villus width, villus area, and crypt depth were significantly increased in the jejuna and ilea of both pea-fed groups. The N retention, SCFA concentration, and Lactobacillus population from the ileal and cecal segments showed a strong correlation. These findings suggest that the dietary inclusion of peas positively impacts growth performance, nitrogen retention, and intestinal health, with enhanced microbial populations and improved gut morphology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valorization of Agri-Food Waste Bioresources for Sustainable Livestock Feeding)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 245 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Assessment of the Nutritional Value of Seed Crop Plants Damaged by Hailstorms and Strong Winds as Alternative Forages for Ruminants
by Sonia Tassone, Salvatore Barbera, Rabeb Issaoui, Hatsumi Kaihara, Sara Glorio Patrucco and Khalil Abid
Agriculture 2025, 15(8), 799; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15080799 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 235
Abstract
The increasing frequency of extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, has caused significant physical damage to crops worldwide. This study explores the potential of repurposing crop plants that exhibit structural breakage due to hailstorms and strong winds and were originally cultivated for [...] Read more.
The increasing frequency of extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, has caused significant physical damage to crops worldwide. This study explores the potential of repurposing crop plants that exhibit structural breakage due to hailstorms and strong winds and were originally cultivated for seed production (amaranth, borage, camelina, flax, quinoa, soybean, and white lupin) as alternative forages for ruminants. Their nutritional value was assessed by analyzing chemical composition, in vitro dry matter degradability (DMD), in vitro neutral detergent fiber degradability (NDFD), estimated dry matter intake (DMI), and relative feed value (RFV) compared to conventional forages (alfalfa and ryegrass hay from undamaged plant). Results revealed significant variability among the damaged crops. Borage, amaranth, and white lupin exhibited superior DMD, NDFD, estimated DMI, and RFV, positioning them as promising forage alternatives. Soybean and quinoa showed protein content, DMD, NDFD, estimated DMI, and RFV comparable to alfalfa hay, suggesting their suitability as substitutes. However, camelina exhibited limited NDFD, while flax had low DMD, NDFD, estimated DMI, and RFV, indicating the need for pre-treatment strategies to optimize their nutritional value. Overall, repurposing weather-damaged borage, amaranth, white lupin, soybean, and quinoa as alternative forages for ruminants provides a promising approach to mitigating feed shortages, improving feed resource utilization, and optimizing resource utilization in livestock production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valorization of Agri-Food Waste Bioresources for Sustainable Livestock Feeding)
16 pages, 1970 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Grape Pomace Supplementation in Lamb Diets to Mitigate Haemonchus contortus Infection
by Mateus O. Mena, Gustavo G. O. Trevise, Thais N. R. Silva, Victor M. Moellmann, César C. Bassetto, Bruno S. Gatti, Helder Louvandini, Ricardo V. G. Soutello, Ana C. A. Albuquerque and Alessandro F. T. Amarante
Agriculture 2025, 15(3), 341; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15030341 - 5 Feb 2025
Viewed by 919
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the potential benefits and feasibility of adding dried and ground grape pomace to the concentrate fed to lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus. Eighteen male Santa Inês lambs, recently weaned, were housed in individual pens and were [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the potential benefits and feasibility of adding dried and ground grape pomace to the concentrate fed to lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus. Eighteen male Santa Inês lambs, recently weaned, were housed in individual pens and were allocated into two groups based on their body weight. The lambs in the supplemented group (n = 9) initially received a diet composed of 50% ground hay and 50% concentrate. Subsequently, these animals were gradually adapted to grape pomace until its final inclusion in the concentrate reached 20%. The lambs in the control group received a concentrate without grape pomace. Both groups of lambs were artificially infected with 4000 infective larvae of H. contortus, and 28 days later, the lambs were euthanized for quantification of the nematodes present in the abomasum. The following variables showed no statistical differences (p > 0.05) between the groups: worm burden, packed cell volume, total plasma protein, blood eosinophil count, and daily weight gain. Regarding anti-Haemonchus IgG plasma levels, there was a significant time * treatment interaction (p = 0.0099) with higher values in the supplemented group. At the two final samplings, the supplemented group showed significantly lower values of eggs per gram of feces than the control group (p < 0.05). The supplemented group showed female worms shorter and with less eggs in utero than those of the control group, with significant difference for these variables (p < 0.05). In conclusion, grape pomace can be included in the diet, as it promotes more sustainable animal production, and, additionally, it can cause a reduction in H. contortus fecundity, benefiting haemonchosis prophylaxis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valorization of Agri-Food Waste Bioresources for Sustainable Livestock Feeding)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 1021 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Dietary Red Lentil Screenings on Performance, Antioxidant Status, Caecal Environment, and Intestinal Morphometric Features in Rabbits
by Gianluca Pugliese, Caterina Losacco, Letizia Passantino, Giovanni Lentini, Maria M. Cavalluzzi, Michele Schiavitto, Simona Tarricone, Vito Laudadio and Vincenzo Tufarelli
Agriculture 2024, 14(12), 2152; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14122152 - 26 Nov 2024
Viewed by 961
Abstract
Among the goals of global environmental policies, one is to achieve a critical rethinking of the agro-industrial production chain aimed at enhancing its sustainability and resilience while addressing its environmental impact. Lentils are widespread worldwide and are consumed as part of traditional dishes, [...] Read more.
Among the goals of global environmental policies, one is to achieve a critical rethinking of the agro-industrial production chain aimed at enhancing its sustainability and resilience while addressing its environmental impact. Lentils are widespread worldwide and are consumed as part of traditional dishes, and their health-promoting benefits are currently well recognized. Their industrial processing for human consumption implies the generation of different by-products which can be used as promising alternative feedstuff. Calling for the future sustainable development of rabbit farming, the present study questions the dietary inclusion of red lentil screenings (RLS) as an upcycling strategy for this by-product, as well as to ease the challenges faced by the rabbit-farming system. A total of 120 male Bianca Italiana breed growing rabbits aged 42 days were allotted to three dietary treatments containing different levels of RLS: 0 (RLS0), 5 (RLS5), or 10% (RLS10), respectively, for 6 weeks. At 84 days (slaughter age), meat, plasma, and intestinal samples were collected. The RLS inclusion showed no adverse effects on growth performance. However, significant differences were found in the meat fatty acid profile, where both RLS5 and RLS10 groups showed reduced C18:0 percentage and higher MUFA content owing to an increase in C18:1 n-9; moreover, RLS5 showed a significant increase in C16:1 trans. On the other hand, only RLS10 recorded a significant reduction in the PUFA total content due to decreased single unsaturated fatty acid (C18:2 n-6; C20:3 n-6; C22:5 n-3). Dietary RLS significantly decreased serum total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL, along with an enhancement of the overall serum antioxidant capacity. The results regarding the rabbit caecal characteristics and microbial population were found to be similar among the groups. However, referring to histomorphometric measurements, both RLS5 and RLS10 groups displayed significant increases in villus height and an improved villus height to crypt depth ratio. In conclusion, up to 10% RLS in the diets rabbits can be considered an effort-effective feeding strategy to modulate rabbit meat fatty acid profiles, to enhance the endogenous antioxidant capacity, and to improve the serum lipid profile and intestinal morphology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Valorization of Agri-Food Waste Bioresources for Sustainable Livestock Feeding)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop