Role of Forage and Grain Crop Condensed Tannins in Environmentally Sustainable Animal Agriculture

Dear Colleagues,

Forage and grain crop condensed tannins (CT) and crude protein (CP) could be the key to a number of environmental issues in animal agriculture. The efficient and effective rearing of small ruminant is possible with the use of CT and CP-rich forages and grains because of their digestive support. Using plant-based (natural) CT more effectively to reduce the need for pharmaceutical products in the environment (anthelmintics, microbicides, etc.), reduce methane emissions, increase plant and animal species diversity in cultivated pastures and rangeland, foster greater soil organic matter buildup from plant and fecal material resistant to soil microbial decomposition, etc., could increase the ruminant production in an environmentally sustainable manner. Analyses of the forms of CT and CP in forages and grains would advance the natural healthy rearing practice of ruminants. Climate change is spatially influencing small ruminant farming; therefore, the use of newer technologies such as geospatial- and bio-technology is essential to enhance natural CT and CP-containing forage and crop production systems in the world. The goal of this Special Issue is to compile various advanced research works related to this topic to aid in the achievement of environmentally sustainable forage and crop production optimization. Thus, animal production could be optimized with less dependence on generally less available animal healthcare providers. 

Prof. Dr. Sudhanshu Sekhar Panda
Dr. Thomas Terrill
Dr. Ajit Kumar Mahapatra
Dr. Andres Alfredo Pech Cervantes
Dr. Carlos Sandoval Castro
Guest Editors

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• condensed tannins (CT)
• crude protein (CP)
• forage and grain crop production
• small ruminant production optimization
• geospatial- and bio-technology