Search Results (82)

Circular agriculture has emerged as a promising framework for addressing the inefficiencies and environmental pressures associated with conventional food production systems. Within this context, livestock systems can play a transformative role by enabling waste valorisation, enhancing nutrient recycling, and improving overall resource-use efficiency. This review critically examines the multifunctional role of livestock in circular agriculture, with a particular focus on their capacity to convert non-human-edible biomass, such as crop residues, agro-industrial by-products, and food waste, into high-value animal-sourced foods. Drawing on the recent literature, the analysis explores how livestock systems can be reconfigured to utilise non-human-edible biomass, including crop residues, agro-industrial by-products, and food waste, thereby reducing competition between feed and food while enhancing sustainability outcomes. The findings highlight that livestock can function as biological upcycles, converting low-value materials into high-quality animal products, while also contributing to closed nutrient loops through manure management and integration with crop production. Additional benefits include the generation of renewable energy through anaerobic digestion and improved economic resilience through diversified outputs. However, the extent of these benefits depends on system design, management practices, and regional context. Despite their potential, circular livestock systems face challenges related to greenhouse gas emissions, regulatory constraints, economic feasibility, and knowledge gaps. These challenges highlight the need for a systems-based evaluation that accounts for environmental, economic, and social dimensions. The study concludes that livestock can contribute meaningfully to sustainable food system transitions when aligned with circular principles, but their role must be critically assessed to avoid burden-shifting and unintended environmental impacts. Full article

Genetic resources of small ruminants are essential for food security in arid regions; however, basic data for each breed in Saudi Arabia remain incomplete. This study establishes a comprehensive national database through a systematic survey of 104 farms, covering 21,214 heads of livestock (sheep and goats) across the kingdom’s primary agro-ecological zones between January and October 2025. Although national census data indicate that major breeds of sheep such as Naeemi, Najdi, Arabi, and Harri or goats such as Ardi exceed the FAO’s numerical thresholds for “not at risk,” our analysis reveals a fundamental paradox of “genetic vulnerability,” defined as a high risk of inbreeding depression and genetic stagnation despite high census numbers. The results show significant regional variations in prolificacy (p < 0.05), with the southern region displaying a substantial productivity gap compared to the central and eastern regions, mainly due to reliance on traditional grazing (46.7%) and limited infrastructure. This vulnerability is driven by a high risk of systematic inbreeding, with 65.7% of breeders acquiring sires from their own herds, a situation worsened by a severe 80% shortage of high-quality breeding males in the central region. Furthermore, selection criteria heavily emphasize esthetic phenotypic traits (over 80%) rather than production indicators (less than 8%), hindering genetic progress. Correlation analysis showed that higher farmer education levels were negatively associated with reproductive challenges (r = −0.216), while high feed prices remained a near-universal obstacle (97.1%). To mitigate these risks, we recommend implementing region-specific sire exchange programs to break closed breeding loops and establishing a national performance recording system to shift selection focus from phenotypic traits to measurable productivity. This study provides a vital, evidence-based framework for transitioning toward data-driven, resilient conservation and breeding strategies. Full article

The livestock sector underpins food security, employment, and rural livelihoods across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), contributing up to 50% of agricultural GDP and supporting more than 60% of rural households. Yet climate change poses escalating threats through heat stress, declining pasture productivity, water scarcity, and vector-borne diseases that compromise productivity and economic resilience. This review identifies and locates effective climate change mitigation strategies along the livestock value chain, spanning production, processing, transport, and consumption, to promote sustainable, low-emission, and inclusive growth in the SADC region. A broad review of 46 peer-reviewed and institutional sources (2000–2024) was undertaken, focusing on livestock-related mitigation within SADC and comparable agro-ecological systems. Strategies were thematically categorized by value-chain stage and assessed for their emission-reduction and livelihood-enhancement potential. Local strategies include genetic improvement for low-methane and heat-tolerant breeds, adaptive rangeland and feed management, renewable-energy adoption in processing, climate-resilient transport infrastructure, and consumer awareness of low-emission products. Evidence suggests potential GHG-emission reductions of 18–30%, coupled with productivity gains and improved smallholder incomes. Coordinated implementation through the SADC Regional Agricultural Investment Plan (2021–2030) and national policies can transform the livestock sector into a climate-resilient driver of inclusive growth. Further research should quantify the socioeconomic feasibility and scaling potential of these strategies across production systems. Successful integration of climate change mitigation imperatives must be tailored to local biophysical conditions (e.g., rainfall, soil type) and socioeconomic contexts (e.g., market access, cultural practices). Full article

Feed availability and quality remain major constraints to ruminant productivity in West Africa, where livestock systems rely heavily on locally available resources such as natural forages, crop residues and agro-industrial by-products. However, reliable ration formulation requires accurate information on feed chemical composition, while existing data are fragmented and highly variable. This study conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2025 to synthesize available data on the chemical composition of ruminant feeds in West Africa. Following PRISMA guidelines, 44 studies reporting quantitative feed composition data were retained. Feed resources were classified into agro-industrial by-products, agricultural by-products and forages, and descriptive statistics were calculated for key nutritional parameters. The results revealed substantial variability in nutrient composition across feed types and even within the same feed resource. Cottonseed cake emerged as a major protein-rich supplement, legume haulms showed higher nutritional value than cereal residues, and several browse species such as Moringa oleifera and Leucaena leucocephala demonstrated high protein potential. These findings highlight that fixed feed composition values are poorly suited to heterogeneous tropical feeding systems. The reference ranges established in this review provide a more reliable basis for feed evaluation and ration formulation and can support the development of locally adapted feeding strategies and decision-support tools for West African livestock systems. Full article

This study investigates the typology of the pastoral farming systems in the arid region of southern Tunisia, with a particular focus on the governorate of Tataouine. A field survey was conducted among 111 livestock farmers distributed across different agro-ecological zones. The typology of breeding systems was established using a Factor Analysis of Mixed Data (FAMD), which identified eleven dimensions explaining 69.74% of the total data variance. The first three dimensions accounted for 15.91%, 8.79%, and 7.67% of the variability, respectively, and were defined by herd composition, resource availability, and management strategies, including variables such as the number of goats, sheep, and camels, distance to water sources, infrastructure, reproductive practices, and workforce availability. Hierarchical clustering revealed three distinct systems: System 1, regrouping “Small Urban Farmers”, defined by small-scale operations relying on family labor, localized feed resources, and market-driven production targeting urban consumers; System 2, representing large livestock, composed of professionalized operations with improved infrastructure, hired labor, and transhumance practices to optimize resource use and productivity; and System 3, for herds with camels, characterized by extensive systems utilizing collective rangelands and camels to adapt to arid conditions and ensure ecological resilience. The results emphasize how ecological constraints, infrastructure, and spatial organization shape the diversity of these systems. This typology provides critical insights into the challenges and potential of livestock farming in arid environments and offers a foundation for designing targeted interventions to support the sustainability of pastoral systems under increasing environmental and economic pressures. Full article

The Montado, a traditional Mediterranean agro-silvopastoral system, has historically sustained ecological and economic functions through the integration of trees, livestock, and crops. Today, its multifunctionality is increasingly threatened by climate variability, market volatility, and evolving policy frameworks. While previous research has examined Montado dynamics at landscape or plot scales, less attention has been paid to sustainability trajectories at the farm level, where management decisions are made. This study bridges that gap by assessing the sustainability dynamics of farms through a participatory, typology based, scenario approach grounded in a regional typology. We characterized three representative farm archetypes (forestry-focused, mixed agro-silvopastoral, and livestock-focused) and evaluated their trajectories under plausible future scenarios driven by climate, market, and policy pressures. Scenario outcomes were assessed using expert-based scoring (five-point scale), revealing score differences of up to two points across sustainability dimensions between farm archetypes and scenarios. Findings reveal marked trade-offs: Tree-focused farms maintain high environmental value but remain vulnerable to market and labor constraints, while livestock-specialized farms achieve higher economic output at the expense of ecological integrity. Mixed systems demonstrate greater resilience through diversification but face significant labor intensity challenges. We conclude that current “one-size-fits-all” policies generate contradictory incentives. Therefore, adaptive governance frameworks (e.g., results-based payment schemes) are essential to realign farm economics with ecological stewardship. Beyond the Montado, the approach provides insights relevant to other Mediterranean agroforestry systems facing similar sustainability challenges. Full article

Biomass-based energy systems represent a strategic and dispatchable renewable option for sustainable energy transitions in Latin America, where agricultural and agro-industrial residues provide significant potential for circular economy integration. This study presents a PRISMA-compliant systematic literature review synthesizing dominant biomass conversion pathways in the region, with emphasis on biofuels and bioelectricity applications and their reported technical, techno-economic, and environmental indicators. A comprehensive search of Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and ScienceDirect yielded 64 peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2025. Results show a marked growth in scientific output after 2016, although evidence remains concentrated in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. Anaerobic digestion emerges as the most frequently assessed route, particularly for agro-industrial effluents, municipal organic waste, livestock residues, and wastewater streams, followed by combustion-based cogeneration linked to sugarcane industries. Electricity generation and biomethane dominate evaluated outputs. Overall, the review highlights technological maturity alongside persistent barriers, including fragmented supply chains, investment constraints, and limited harmonized reporting, underscoring the need for standardized frameworks and system-scale deployment across the region. Full article

The increasing global demand for animal-source protein underscores the importance of sustainable livestock systems, including commercial rabbit production. Rabbits are valued for their short production cycle, high prolificacy, efficient feed utilization, and favorable meat quality. In parallel, agro-industrial by-products are being explored as functional feed ingredients to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact. Grape by-products (GBPs), including pomace, seeds, stalks, and derived extracts, are rich in polyphenols, dietary fiber, and lipid bioactives with potential physiological benefits. This scoping review synthesizes current evidence regarding the effects of GBPs on rabbit health, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, reproductive function, and meat quality. Available studies indicate that moderate dietary inclusion can enhance antioxidant status, support immune function, modulate gut fermentation, and improve meat oxidative stability without consistently compromising growth performance when appropriately formulated. Benefits appear particularly evident under environmental stress conditions. However, outcomes vary according to inclusion level, processing method, and physiological stage, and excessive inclusion may impair nutrient utilization due to fiber and tannin content. Overall, this synthesis identifies functional mechanisms, practical feeding considerations, and key knowledge gaps to inform evidence-based application of GBPs in sustainable rabbit nutrition. Full article

Intensive livestock and aquaculture systems require high-quality feeds with the correct nutritional composition. The decrease in wild fish proteins has led to demands within the feed supply chain for new alternatives to fulfil the growing demand for protein. In this context, edible insects like the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) have the greatest potential to become a valid alternative source of proteins. This study evaluated the growth performance and nutritional profile of yellow mealworm larvae reared under laboratory conditions on eight different agro-industrial by-products: wheat middling, durum wheat bran, rice bran, hemp cake, thistle cake, dried brewer’s spent grains, dried tomato pomace, and dried distilled grape marc. The quantitative and qualitative impacts of rearing substrates on larvae were compared. The results showed that larvae adapt well to different substrates with different nutritional compositions, including the fibrous fraction. However, substrates affect larval growth feed conversion and larval macro composition. Hemp cake stood out for its superior nutritional value, as reflected by its high protein content and moderate NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber) levels, which determine fast larval growth. On the contrary, imbalanced substrate lipid or carbohydrate content (rice bran), as well as the presence of potential antinutritional compounds (thistle cake), appeared to negatively affect growth performances. Full article

The transition toward sustainable and circular agricultural systems is increasingly important, yet evidence linking circularity and farm profitability in transition economies remains limited. This study examines the determinants of farm profitability in Serbia by combining micro-level structural and productivity indicators with a macro-level agro-eco efficiency measure, used here as a sector-wide ecological pressure indicator rather than a direct proxy for circular practices. Using a balanced Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) panel of 443 farms (2015–2022) across dairy, mixed, field crop, and fruit & wine sectors, dynamic panel estimators (difference and system Generalized Method of Moments-GMM) reveal strong sectoral heterogeneity. Asset turnover is the primary driver of profitability in field crops and perennial systems, while dairy farms benefit from scale and land productivity. Energy intensity consistently reduces profitability across all sectors. Agro-eco efficiency shows a negative effect in livestock-based systems, indicating higher sensitivity to macro-ecological pressures. These findings suggest that environmental and economic vulnerabilities differ across production systems, highlighting the need for sector-specific strategies aimed at improving resilience rather than inferring the profitability of circular technologies. Full article

The long-standing separation of agro-pastoral relations has adversely affected the agricultural economy and ecology, hindering sustainable agricultural development. The process of reconstructing agro-pastoral relations involves moving from separation to reintegration. To further verify the scientific validity of reconstructing agro-pastoral relations to improve economic and ecological benefits and enhance the capacity for sustainable agricultural development in the major corn-producing areas of Northeast China, this study used survey data from 521 sample farmers in Jilin Province, China, collected during the agricultural production cycle from 2020 to 2022. Using an endogenous switching regression (ESR) model and a counterfactual scenario, the integrated crop–livestock family farm (ICFF) model was shown to have a comparative advantage in improving economic and ecological benefits. The ICFF model can serve as a foundation for reconstructing agro-pastoral relations, thereby enhancing sustainable agricultural development capacity. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that larger-scale cultivated land, intensive cultivated land management, and higher education have a more significant impact on farmers’ choice of the ICFF model. To promote the restructuring of agro-pastoral relations through the ICFF model, farmers should be encouraged and supported to standardize the transfer of farmland, engage in livestock farming according to the principle of land-based livestock management, implement large-scale and intensive management, improve agricultural production technologies and improved varieties, strengthen publicity on the positive role of integrated crop-livestock management, and improve the financial support system. Full article

Climate change and variables pose a significant risk for agro-pastoral production systems, where mixed crop–livestock production is a primary livelihood strategy. Therefore, this study aims to analyze agro-pastoralists’ perceptions of climate change, the perceived impacts on their production systems, and the adaptation strategies used by mixed crop–livestock producers in the lowland areas of Ethiopia. Data was collected using household surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews. A survey was conducted in three major mixed crop–livestock producer woredas (Teltale, Yabello, and Gomole) with a total of 396 respondents. A multi-stage sampling approach was used for selecting the sample household for the study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a chi-square test. The study found that agro-pastoralists perceive climate change as a significant threat to their livelihoods. The results revealed that 95.9% and 91.4% of respondents across the three woredas perceived a decline in rainfall and increased temperatures, respectively. The most widely adopted adaptation strategies were livelihood diversification (96.4%), livestock diversification (89.3%), and crop diversification (70.4%). Notably, Teltale had the highest adoption rate of crop diversification, while Yabello exhibited a higher prevalence of non-farming activities. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to enhance adaptive capacity, improve access to climate-smart technologies, and strengthen capacity for climate adaptation in mixed crop–livestock systems. This study contributes to climate risks, their impacts on their production systems, and the adaptation strategies for designing targeted interventions that enhance the resilience of mixed crop–livestock production systems in the face of climate change. Full article

Global population growth, climate change, and the environmental impact of livestock production have accelerated the search for sustainable and efficient protein sources. Fruiting bodies (mushrooms) and mycelial biomass have emerged as promising alternatives due to their high nutritional quality, low ecological footprint, and compatibility with circular bioeconomy principles. This review highlights the nutritional, biotechnological, and environmental aspects of fungal proteins obtained from both fruiting bodies and mycelial biomass of Basidiomycetes. Emphasis is placed on amino acid composition, protein digestibility, and advances in cultivation and fermentation systems for large-scale production. Submerged and solid-state fermentation processes are analyzed in terms of scalability, resource efficiency, and integration with agro-industrial residues for sustainable bioprocessing. Comparative analyses reveal that mycelial biomass production achieves high protein yields with significantly reduced land, water, and energy requirements compared to conventional protein sources. Emerging fungal species such as Schizophyllum commune and Auricularia polytricha demonstrate strong potential for producing protein-rich mycelia applicable to functional and plant-based foods. Finally, the review discusses current technological innovations, regulatory frameworks, and market perspectives that position fungal biomass as a strategic component in the ongoing global protein transition. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable ruminant feeds has driven interest in the valorization of agro-industrial wastes. Artichoke wastes are attractive in the Mediterranean region due to their availability and richness in protein (CP) and fiber (NDF), but their high lignin (ADL) and tannin contents limit their nutritional value. This experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with four treatments—control, ozone (O₃), exogenous fibrolytic enzyme (EFE), and O₃ + EFE—tested over six runs, each including three replicates per treatment. The study evaluated the effects of ozone (O₃) and exogenous fibrolytic enzyme (EFE) treatments, applied alone or in combination, on artichoke waste chemical composition, ruminal fermentation, microbial populations, enzyme activity, and degradability. Ozone pretreatment significantly reduced fiber fractions (NDF −10%, ADF −7%), ADL (−16%), and condensed tannins (−64%), while increasing CP (+13%) and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC +38%). These modifications enhanced ruminal bacterial populations (+29%) and fibrolytic enzyme activities (xylanase +21%, endoglucanase +19%, exoglucanase +10%), resulting in higher dry matter degradability (DMD +11%), fiber degradability (NDFD +14%), total volatile fatty acids (VFAs +13%), and a lower acetate-to-propionate ratio. EFEs alone showed negligible effects; however, when applied after ozone, further improvements were observed in NFCs (+21%), bacterial populations (+21%), enzyme activities (xylanase +11%, endoglucanase +10%), DMD (+8%), NDFD (+7%), and VFAs (+6%) compared to ozone alone. These findings demonstrate that O₃ pretreatment facilitates the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic structures and enhances the effectiveness of EFEs, offering a sustainable and eco-efficient strategy for the bioconversion of artichoke wastes into high-value feed for ruminants, contributing to resource efficiency and circular bioeconomy development in livestock systems. Full article

Although pastures cover nearly half of Brazil’s agricultural land and form the backbone of national livestock production, they have historically received limited attention regarding management and fertilization, resulting in widespread degradation. Sustainable intensification of these pasture-based systems is therefore essential to meet growing global demand for animal products while minimizing environmental impacts. This review highlights recent technological innovations in pasture fertilization in Brazil, with a particular focus on alternative phosphorus sources such as natural reactive phosphates, which offer slow-release nutrients at lower costs compared to conventional fertilizers. Efforts to enhance nitrogen use efficiency through nitrification and urease inhibitors show promise in reducing nutrient losses and greenhouse gas emissions, despite current cost constraints limiting adoption. The integration of grass-legume intercropping, especially with Arachis pintoi, has been shown to enhance forage quality and system persistence when appropriately managed. Moreover, plant growth-promoting microorganisms emerge as sustainable biotechnological tools for restoring degraded pastures and boosting forage productivity without adverse environmental consequences. Properly treated agro-industrial residues also present a viable nutrient source for pastures, provided environmental regulations are strictly followed to prevent pollution. Together, these innovations offer a comprehensive framework for enhancing the productivity and sustainability of Brazilian livestock systems, highlighting the pressing need for continued research and the adoption of advanced fertilization strategies. Full article