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Sustainable Animal Nutrition and Feeding Strategies for Enhanced Livestock Production and Environmental Impact Reduction

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 11 February 2026 | Viewed by 3820

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Anusorn Cherdthong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Mittraphap Road Muang, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Interests: rumen fermentation; rumen microbiome; rumen manipulation; rumen biotechnology; enteric methane; feed resources and utilization; plant secondary compound
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the global population expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, the demand for animal-based food is set to rise, intensifying pressure on feed resources, land availability, and environmental sustainability. The challenge lies in balancing increased livestock production with responsible resource management, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land). Achieving sustainable animal nutrition requires forward-thinking strategies that enhance nutrient utilization, optimize feed efficiency, and reduce the environmental footprints of livestock systems.

This Special Issue delves into innovative approaches that support both productivity and sustainability. Key focus areas include precision feeding technologies, alternative feed ingredients, and the integration of circular economy principles into animal nutrition. Additionally, it explores microbiome-targeted dietary strategies to improve animal health, the utilization of agro-industrial by-products to mitigate feed–food competition, and nutritional interventions aimed at reducing methane emissions. A strong emphasis is placed on using life cycle assessment methodologies to evaluate the overall sustainability of feeding practices. By bringing together cutting-edge research and emerging solutions, this Special Issue will foster a more resilient and resource-efficient livestock sector, ensuring food security while safeguarding the environment for future generations.

Dr. Anusorn Cherdthong
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Sustainability 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 2400 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

  • sustainable animal nutrition
  • precision feeding and efficiency
  • alternative feed ingredients
  • feed additives
  • methane and greenhouse gas reduction
  • feed efficiency and nutrient utilization
  • circular economy in livestock
  • agro-industrial by-products in feed
  • microbiome and gut health
  • life cycle assessment in animal production
  • sustainable livestock and the SDGs

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3094 KB  
Article
Valorizing Hempseed Meal as a Circular Bio-Ingredient for Sustainable Fisheries Development
by Iulian Voicea, Florin Nenciu, Lorena-Diana Popa, Tatiana Onisei, Manuela Rascol, Petru Alexandru Vlaicu, Nicolae-Valentin Vlăduț, Mihai Gabriel Matache, Teofil Alin Oncescu and Marius Oprescu
Sustainability 2025, 17(23), 10656; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172310656 - 27 Nov 2025
Viewed by 292
Abstract
The increasing demand for sustainable aquafeeds necessitates the development of alternative protein sources that support both economic efficiency and ecological responsibility. This study evaluates the potential of using hempseed meal (a nutrient-dense agro-industrial by-product) as a functional ingredient in carp aquaculture diets. The [...] Read more.
The increasing demand for sustainable aquafeeds necessitates the development of alternative protein sources that support both economic efficiency and ecological responsibility. This study evaluates the potential of using hempseed meal (a nutrient-dense agro-industrial by-product) as a functional ingredient in carp aquaculture diets. The paper presents a proof-of-concept evaluation demonstrating the potential of hempseed meal as a circular bio-ingredient that aligns with the principles of sustainable aquaculture, rather than providing a comprehensive assessment of its long-term physiological effects on fish. A 90-day feeding trial was conducted under controlled pond conditions to assess the effects of graded hempseeds meal inclusion levels on growth performance, feed utilization, and environmental sustainability indicators for three Cyprinus carpio varieties. Four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated: a control diet (R1) based on conventional plant protein sources such as soybean and pea meal, and three experimental diets containing 5%, 10%, and 20% hempseed meal (R2–R4). Growth indices including absolute weight gain (WG), average daily gain (ADG), specific growth rate (SGR), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined, and data was analyzed via two-way ANOVA with Tukey HSD post hoc testing. Results indicated that 10% hempseed meal inclusion produced optimal growth responses, improving specific growth rate by 12.6% and reduced feed conversion ratio by 10.8% compared to the control. The most pronounced effects were observed for Frăsinet carp variety (SGR 1.23%·day−1; FCR 1.39). Environmental assessments demonstrated that substituting conventional protein sources (soybean and pea meal) with hempseed meal at 20% inclusion valorized 200 kg of hemp press cake per ton of feed, reduced conventional protein use by 33.3%, diverted up to 80% of waste from disposal. These findings validate hempseed meal as a sustainable, cost-effective, and nutritionally viable alternative to conventional protein sources in freshwater aquaculture, advancing circular bioeconomy strategies and supporting low-carbon fish production systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Animal Nutrition and Feeding Strategies for Enhanced Livestock Production and Environmental Impact Reduction)
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20 pages, 589 KB  
Article
Sustainable Animal Nutrition and Feeding Strategies for Reducing Methane Emissions and Enhancing Feed Digestibility with Encapsulated Black Soldier Fly Larvae Oil
by Hajrian Rizqi Albarki, Chanon Suntara, Sawitree Wongtangtintharn, Chuleemas Boonthai Iwai, Anuraga Jayanegara and Anusorn Cherdthong
Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 3155; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073155 - 2 Apr 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2603
Abstract
Sustainable feeding strategies incorporating alternative feed ingredients, such as insect-derived oils, play a crucial role in improving nutrient utilization in ruminants while mitigating environmental impact and methane emissions. Black soldier fly larvae oil (BSFLO) has emerged as a promising lipid source; however, its [...] Read more.
Sustainable feeding strategies incorporating alternative feed ingredients, such as insect-derived oils, play a crucial role in improving nutrient utilization in ruminants while mitigating environmental impact and methane emissions. Black soldier fly larvae oil (BSFLO) has emerged as a promising lipid source; however, its effective utilization requires protection to prevent adverse effects on rumen microbial activity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of encapsulated BSFLO on rumen fermentation, gas production kinetics, methane estimation, and digestibility using an in vitro approach. A completely randomized design (CRD) with a 2 × 4 (+1) factorial arrangement was employed. The first factor was the type of BSFLO (intact or encapsulated), while the second factor was the product level (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% of dry matter [DM]), with an additional negative control included. The in vitro analysis revealed that encapsulated BSFLO significantly (p < 0.05) increased gas production, with the highest value observed at the 2% level. Encapsulated BSFLO enhanced rumen digestibility, with the highest values recorded for the negative control, 2%, and 4% encapsulated BSFLO treatments. Additionally, digestibility in the abomasum was highest for the negative control and the 2% encapsulated BSFLO treatment. Encapsulated BSFLO also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced methane (CH4) production, with the lowest values observed at 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% encapsulated BSFLO. Encapsulated BSFLO had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on total ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), pH, and protozoal population. Furthermore, total volatile fatty acid (VFA) values were not significantly (p > 0.05) increased by the inclusion of encapsulated BSFLO. In conclusion, encapsulated BSFLO is a promising feed additive that enhances digestibility and reduces methane emissions, contributing to sustainable animal nutrition. Its potential to lower the environmental impact of ruminant production supports efficient feeding strategies for improved livestock productivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Animal Nutrition and Feeding Strategies for Enhanced Livestock Production and Environmental Impact Reduction)
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