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Innovative Approaches in Animal Nutrition and Feed Additives: Enhancing Productivity and Product Quality

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 1529

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Animal Physiology Department, National Research and Development Institute for Animal Nutrition and Biology, 077015 Balotesti, Ilfov, Romania
Interests: monogastric; animal; nutrition; egg; meat; quality; behaviour; antioxidants

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Guest Editor
Research Station for Sericulture Baneasa, 013685 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: sericulture; animal nutrition; probiotic supplementation; essential fatty acids; meat quality traits

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Guest Editor
Nutrition Physiology Department, National Research and Development Institute for Biology and Animal Nutrition, Balotesti, 077015 Ilfov, Romania
Interests: monogastrics; digestibility trials; feed ingredients; functional foods (meat and eggs); nutritional strategies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Animal nutrition is moving in a transformative direction worldwide, driven by the urgent need for sustainability, efficiency, and premium-quality animal products, while  optimizing animal health and welfare. This evolution accelerates the advancement of cutting-edge nutritional strategies and next-generation feed additives designed to set new standards in modern animal agriculture.

The purpose of this topic is to explore how innovative nutritional strategies—while emphasizing the critical dynamics between farm animals and humans for more ethical and sustainable farming—can optimize growth performance, elevate product quality (such as that of meat, milk, and eggs), and significantly reduce the environmental impact of animal production. This thematic area highlights the shift from traditional feeding practices towards precision nutrition, functional feed ingredient utilization in animal nutrition, bioactive compounds, probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, and phytogenic additives. Moreover, attention must be paid to the role of nutrition in supporting animal welfare, resilience to stressors (such as heat stress and disease challenges), and the modulation of the microbiome. This topic encourages interdisciplinary research linking nutrition, physiology, microbiology, sustainability, and animal behaviour providing a platform for innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of animal production systems and consumer expectations for healthier, more sustainable animal products.

Dr. Gabriela Maria Cornescu
Dr. Anca Gheorghe
Dr. Tatiana Dumitra Panaite
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • animal
  • nutrition
  • productive performance
  • functional ingredient
  • feeding strategies
  • behaviour and welfare
  • innovative solutions

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 2044 KB  
Article
Evaluating the Dietary Effects of White Grape Pomace Supplementation in Laying Hens Exposed to Thermal Stress: Hematological, Biochemical, Cecal Fermentation Metabolites, Histomorphology Approaches
by Gabriela Maria Cornescu, Tatiana Dumitra Panaite, Ana Elena Cișmileanu, Claudiu Gal, Elvira Gagniuc, Cristina Gabriela Tudorică and Mihaela Dumitru
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(24), 12903; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152412903 - 7 Dec 2025
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Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the hematological, biochemical, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content, and histomorphological responses of laying hens exposed to different thermal stress conditions and fed a diet supplemented with 6% white grape pomace (WGP). The research was part of a large [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the hematological, biochemical, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content, and histomorphological responses of laying hens exposed to different thermal stress conditions and fed a diet supplemented with 6% white grape pomace (WGP). The research was part of a large six-week experimental trial conducted on 240 Lohmann Brown hens (58 weeks old), arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial design with two dietary treatments (control and WGP) conducted under thermoneutral (NT, 22 °C), high thermal stress (HST, 35 °C), and low thermal stress (LST, 10 °C) conditions. HST conditions significantly lowered the production performances of ALBW (average live body weight; p = 0.0001) and ACW (average carcass weight; p = 0.026) and significantly increased the heterophil/lymphocyte (H:L) ratio and platelets concentration (p < 0.05). Serum K values decreased and the Na/K ratio increased significantly (p = 0.001) under both HST and LST conditions; total protein (TP) decreased significantly under HST (p = 0.031). Significantly decreased (p < 0.001) feed intake and excreta were registered under HST conditions. Concerning SCFAs content, isobutyrate was higher under LST (p = 0.0001), while butyrate showed higher values under NT conditions for the WGP group (p = 0.002). Intestinal morphometry was highly influenced by high temperatures (shorter villi, deeper crypts). Overall, the 6% WGP supplementation, a natural high antioxidant resource, produced modest, context-dependent effects, with benefits under NT and LST conditions but insufficient to protect against the negative effects of chronic heat stress. Full article
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13 pages, 1713 KB  
Article
Natural Strategies for Improving the Antioxidant Status and Health of Rabbits: The Role of Biochar and Tribulus terrestris
by Katarzyna Karpińska, Bożena Nowakowicz-Dębek, Dorota Kowalska, Paweł Bielański, Łukasz Wlazło and Anna Czech
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(23), 12515; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152312515 - 25 Nov 2025
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Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with biochar and Tribulus terrestris (TT) on oxidative stress and metabolic parameters in New Zealand White rabbits. A total of 80 weaned rabbits (35 days of age) were assigned to four groups (20 each): a [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with biochar and Tribulus terrestris (TT) on oxidative stress and metabolic parameters in New Zealand White rabbits. A total of 80 weaned rabbits (35 days of age) were assigned to four groups (20 each): a control group (C) and three experimental groups supplemented with 0.25% biochar (E1), 0.25% biochar and 0.1% Tribulus terrestris (E2), or 0.1% Tribulus terrestris (E3). The feeding experiment lasted 78 days following a 7-day adaptation period. Hematological, biochemical, and redox parameters, including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), total reducing capacity (FRAP), immunoglobulin G (IgG), and testosterone levels, were assessed and analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Rabbits from group E1 exhibited the highest FRAP values (8.16 µmol/L; p < 0.05), whereas MDA concentrations were significantly elevated in groups E1 and C (2.02 and 1.83 µmol/L; p < 0.05), indicating increased lipid peroxidation. Groups E2 and E3 showed lower MDA levels (1.38 and 1.59 µmol/L; p < 0.05) and higher IgG concentrations (44.72 and 37.82 ng/mL; p < 0.05) compared to the control, suggesting improved antioxidant defense and immune status. GSH levels were significantly higher in groups E1 and E2 (6.34 and 6.79 µmol/L; p < 0.05). No adverse changes were observed in basic hematological and biochemical parameters. The results indicate that dietary supplementation with biochar and T. terrestris is safe and can beneficially modulate redox balance and immune response in rabbits, confirming their potential as natural feed additives in sustainable rabbit production. Full article
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15 pages, 418 KB  
Article
Pre-Weaning Performance and Genetic Efficiency Indices in Charolais and Limousine Calves Raised in Romania
by Mircea Catălin Rotar, Rodica Ștefania Pelmuș, Mihail Alexandru Gras and Cristina Van
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(16), 9141; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15169141 - 19 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Understanding the genetic basis of growth and feed efficiency traits is essential for advancing beef cattle breeding programs. This study analyzed the average daily gain (ADG; from birth [day 0] to 200 days of age) and the Kleiber ratio (KR) in Charolais and [...] Read more.
Understanding the genetic basis of growth and feed efficiency traits is essential for advancing beef cattle breeding programs. This study analyzed the average daily gain (ADG; from birth [day 0] to 200 days of age) and the Kleiber ratio (KR) in Charolais and Limousine calves raised in Romania. The data collection period was between 2020 and 2022. Genetic parameters were estimated using a maternal animal model based on 936 Charolais and 726 Limousine records sourced from the Romanian Breeding Association. For both traits, Charolais showed lower direct, maternal and total heritability estimates (0.44, 0.17 and 0.44 for ADG; 0.44, 0.17 and 0.44 for KR) compared to Limousine (0.67, 0.26 and 0.67 for ADG; 0.66, 0.26 and 0.67 for KR). The sex of calf and season of birth influenced the average daily gain and Kleiber ratio. Strong correlations were observed between the average daily gain and Kleiber ratio. The Kleiber ratio was confirmed as a reliable genetic indicator of feed efficiency across both breeds. Full article
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