Nutrients and Feed Additives in Sheep and Goats
A special issue of Ruminants (ISSN 2673-933X).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 105
Special Issue Editor
2. Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Paraiba (UFPB), Areia 58397-000, Brazil
Interests: ruminant nutrition; feed additives; sustainable feeding strategies; natural additives; rumen health; animal performance; methane mitigation; animal welfare; animal behavior
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Ruminant nutrition plays a crucial role in animal productivity and environmental sustainability. Sustainable feeding strategies aim to optimize the use of resources and minimize environmental impacts. Natural additives, such as essential oils, tannins, and probiotics, have gained prominence as alternatives to synthetic additives, promoting rumen health and improving animal performance. These compounds help balance the rumen microbiota, favoring digestion and feed efficiency. A sustainable approach also includes practices that mitigate methane emissions, one of the main greenhouse gases associated with animal production. Strategies such as the use of specific feed additives and dietary adjustments can significantly reduce emissions, contributing to more sustainable livestock farming. In addition to nutritional aspects, it is essential to prioritize animal welfare and behavior. Well-planned diets and environmental enrichment promote not only the physical health but also the behavioral balance of ruminants, ensuring a better quality of life. Thus, integrating quality nutrition with ethical and sustainable practices is key to meeting the challenges of modern livestock farming and meeting society's demands for safe, sustainable, and responsibly produced food.
Dr. Neila Lidiany Ribeiro
Guest Editor
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. Ruminants is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1000 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
- sustainability
- animal welfare
- animal behavior
- ruminants
- natural additives
- methane mitigation
- gut health
- small ruminants
- native breeds
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