Search Results (444)

Salinity is a growing problem for cereal cultivation because it imposes multiple stresses, including osmotic, ionic, nutritional, and oxidative constraints, on the crop. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is considered a climate-smart C4 cereal for food, feed, fodder, forage, and bioenergy, but recent studies indicate that salinity continues to hinder establishment, biomass formation, reproductive growth, and yield. This review compiles the literature on the impacts of salinity on sorghum from 2021 to 2026, with a focus on germination, vegetative growth, physiological and biochemical responses, ion homeostasis, genetic control, productivity, mitigation, and future breeding priorities. In total, 160 records were identified, 118 records were screened after duplicate removal, and 44 recent sources were included in the synthesis. Across comparable sorghum studies, saline/NaCl treatments of approximately 60–200 mM commonly reduced germination by about 20–40%, root and shoot elongation by 25–50%, and biomass by 20–55%, while tolerant genotypes generally maintained higher K⁺/Na⁺ balance, 40–60% greater biomass retention, or two- to five-fold stronger ion homeostasis indicators than sensitive lines under similar conditions. Salt stress also lowers leaf expansion, chlorophyll stability, gas exchange, dry matter accumulation, panicle fertility, and grain filling. Tolerant genotypes show greater antioxidant potential, osmotic adjustment, photosynthetic stability, and root system resilience. Recent omics and genome-wide association studies suggest that salinity tolerance in sorghum is polygenic and involves genes related to ion transport, stress signalling, antioxidant regulation, osmolyte metabolism, and growth maintenance. This review recommends a shift from descriptive trait lists to full-cycle field validation, multi-trait selection indices, and integrated packages combining breeding with seed priming, soil water management, amendments, and beneficial microorganisms. Full article

Dependence on corn may increase feed costs and supply vulnerability in tropical livestock systems. This study evaluated replacing corn with whole-fruit jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) silage in feedlot lamb diets. Sixteen castrated male Santa Inês crossbred lambs (26.2 ± 3.6 kg) received diets in which jackfruit silage replaced 0, 333, 666, or 1000 g/kg of corn dry matter in the concentrate. Jackfruit silage had lower non-fibrous carbohydrate gas volume (132.9 vs. 182.9 mL), degradation rate (0.081 vs. 0.096 h⁻¹), and total carbohydrate gas volume (238.5 vs. 298.2 mL) than corn (p < 0.05). Dry matter intake increased linearly, whereas organic matter digestibility, final body weight, and total weight gain decreased linearly as replacement increased (p ≤ 0.011). Feed conversion ratio increased from 6.6 to 12.3 kg dry matter intake/kg gain. Nevertheless, 333 g/kg replacement maintained 98.5% of final body weight and 96.0% of total weight gain. Carcass yields and Longissimus muscle area were unaffected. One-third replacement reduced corn use by 26.2% per kilogram of gain while maintaining productive viability. Jackfruit silage is therefore a strategic partial, rather than complete, substitute for corn in tropical sheep diets. Full article

Intensive yak fattening in cold alpine regions requires essential long-term high-concentration feeding, which disrupts rumen microbial homeostasis and causes inefficient digestion of nutrients. Lactobacillus may have probiotic potential for ruminants, yet its regulation of rumen function is poorly understood under high-energy diets. During a 120-day feeding experiment, 120 male Pamir yaks were allocated to four dietary treatments, with LEG and LLG serving as the primary comparison for evaluating 0.02% Lactobacillus supplementation to explore the regulatory effects of Lactobacillus supplementation on the rumen microbiota and host metabolism of yaks during a fattening process based on a concentrate feed diet via phenotypic data (body wight and nutrient digestibility) and multi-omics analyses (rumen microbial sequencing and rumen epithelial transcriptome) in a concentrate-based rearing yak model. The results showed that Lactobacillus intervention reduced OTU (Operational Taxonomic Unit) richness during the early fattening period and subsequently promoted microbial recovery through colonization resistance, which significantly enhanced microbial diversity (p < 0.05), and restructured the microbial community structure toward efficient energy utilization under high-concentrate feeding by reducing Prevotellaceae and Ruminococcaceae abundance, increasing the Bacillota/Bacteroidota ratio (p < 0.05). Concurrently, Lactobacillus enhanced the apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and fibrous components (p < 0.05). According to the transcriptomic analysis, there was an activation of signaling pathways related to IL-18 and TNF, and up-regulation of immune-and metabolism-related genes, in addition to strengthening the rumen mucosal barrier function. Multi-omics integration supported that dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus can optimize rumen fermentation, enhance nutrient digestion, and strengthen immune defense in Pamir yaks fed high-concentrate in cold seasons. These modifications demonstrate the positive effects of the Lactobacillus supplementation strategy on yak rumen health without interfering with the high-energy intensive rearing pattern. The present research presents a scientific basis for the use of targeted probiotic strategies to improve the rumen health and efficiency of alpine yak production systems. Full article

The use of crossbreeding between dairy and beef breeds has been adopted as a strategy to add value to male calves from dairy systems, improve productive efficiency, and reduce economic and animal welfare concerns. This study evaluated the effects of Holstein × Angus crossbreeding on productive performance, metabolism, ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and fatty acid profile during the feedlot finishing phase. Twenty-four uncastrated male cattle (8 Holstein, 8 Angus, and 8 crossbreds) were confined for 130 days and fed an isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diet. No significant differences were observed among breeds for weight gain, dry matter intake, feed efficiency, or nutrient digestibility (p > 0.05). However, Angus and crossbred cattle showed higher carcass yield compared to Holstein cattle (p ≤ 0.05). Angus and crossbred animals presented higher concentrations of total volatile fatty acids, acetate, and propionate in the rumen (p ≤ 0.05). Breed differences were also observed in erythrocyte indices and serum urea concentrations (p ≤ 0.05). Meat from crossbred animals showed superior quality attributes compared to Holstein, including lower ultimate pH, higher lightness, greater water-holding capacity, and an intermediate lipid profile between the parental breeds (p ≤ 0.05). It is concluded that Holstein × Angus crossbreeding improves carcass yield, ruminal fermentation efficiency, and meat quality, without compromising productive performance, representing a viable strategy for adding value to male calves from dairy herds under tropical production conditions. Full article

The “algarrobo” (Neltuma pallida) is a key tree species in the seasonally dry tropical forests in Equatorial Pacific coast of South America, currently at risk. Its regeneration depends on endozoochorous dispersal, in which seeds are ingested and later defecated by animals, helping to release and scarify them. We compared the role of the native white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus peruvianus) and the introduced goat (Capra hircus) in seed dispersal. Seeds were recovered from the dung of both species after experimental feeding and from grazing goats in a fruiting N. pallida forest. Seed recovery was higher in deer dung (9.34%) than in goat dung (3.09%), and retention time was shorter in deer than in goats (peak at 48 and 84 h respectively). Only passage of seeds through the deer’s digestive tract significantly improved cumulative germination (63% vs. 44%) and germination rate (time to reach 25% germination, T25 = 8.98 days). Meanwhile, the passage of seeds through the goat’s digestive system reduced germination rate under experimental conditions (T25 = 19.25 days) but slightly increased it under forest conditions (T25 = 12.81 days), where goats ingest fruits constantly. Differences in seed recovery and germination are explained by the morphophysiological traits of ruminants. In conclusion, both goats and deer contribute to seed dispersal. White-tailed deer enhances seed germination (~66%), whereas goats maintain seed viability (~44%) and exhibit a longer seed retention time. During peak fruiting, alternating grazing between high-fruiting and degraded areas is recommended to maximize seed incorporation into the soil. Full article

Digital transformation in agricultural production requires automated approaches for monitoring, risk assessment, and decision support under uncertainty. This study proposes an automated risk assessment and control framework for feed production in digital agroengineering systems. The framework is designed for the quantitative evaluation of producer and consumer risks arising during the control of key feed-quality parameters, using the case of feed production for cattle in the OHMK agricultural holding. The proposed approach integrates probabilistic modeling, simulation-based risk estimation, fuzzy logic, expert evaluation, and a multi-agent representation of agroengineering processes. A three-dimensional risk model is developed to represent producer risk, consumer risk, and actuarial risk as interconnected components of a digital control environment. In addition, a fuzzy model is introduced to assess the robustness and digital maturity of management functions, including organization, planning, motivation, and control. Computer experiments based on statistical data for crude protein content in silage demonstrate that control risks depend nonlinearly on measurement uncertainty, parameter variability, and normative thresholds. In the analyzed single-indicator case study, the arithmetic mean of crude protein content in silage was 7.5% of dry matter, the standard deviation was 0.5, and the Weibull approximation parameters were α = 1.0, β = 2.5, and γ = 6.0. Under the most sensitive normative threshold scenario, producer risk increased to approximately 25%, while consumer risk showed a lower but nonlinear increase with measurement uncertainty. The results show that producer risk may reach significant levels when measurement uncertainty becomes comparable with the variability of the controlled parameter. The proposed framework can serve as a computational basis for future automated monitoring, risk-aware control, and decision-support systems in Industry 4.0-oriented agricultural production. Full article

The sustainability of livestock production currently faces a challenge due to the need to meet a growing demand for animal protein while simultaneously addressing the urgent need to reduce its environmental footprint. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Musa spp. waste fodder on ruminal fermentation and mitigation of gas, CH₄ and CO₂ production in vitro. Waste forage (leaves) was collected immediately after harvesting the fruit of Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana, and Musa paradisiaca (six production farms were selected for each Musa spp.; 20 kg of fresh forage was collected from each farm). A completely randomized design was used, with three treatments (M. acuminata, M. balbisiana, and M. paradisiaca) and six repetitions (production farms). The digestibility of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) was higher (p = 0.0001) in the waste forage of M. balbisiana (399.3 and 438.6 g/kg, respectively) compared to the other forages evaluated. In the volatile fatty acids, no differences were observed (p > 0.05). Gas production was lower (p < 0.0001) in M. acuminata and M. balbisiana. However, CH₄ production was lower (p < 0.0001) only in M. acuminata. Regarding CO₂ production, it was lower (p < 0.0001) in M. acuminata and M. balbisiana. In conclusion, Musa spp. fodder can be used for ruminant feed due to its high protein content, which in tropical and subtropical regions can be higher than that of many grasses. However, its recommendation and strategic utility for the mitigation of greenhouse gases must be distinguished according to the mitigation objective, since M. balbisiana optimizes the reduction in total gas and CO₂, while M. acuminata does so with CH₄, seeking to maximize the sustainability of livestock production systems, promoting the development of cleaner and more resilient agriculture. Full article

Provision of cow–calf contact (CCC) in combination with pair housing may enhance welfare and stimulate greater intake of both milk and starter feed, thereby improving the performance and health of calves reared under cold conditions. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of combining partial daily CCC (5 h/d) with pair housing (19 h/d) in dairy calves reared in outdoor pens during winter, when the mean ambient temperature was 6.2 ± 0.4 °C throughout the study period. A total of 30 Holstein calves (birth weight = 37.4 ± 3.4 kg) were enrolled at birth. Fourteen calves received daily dam contact and were pair-housed (DC-PH), while the remaining 16 calves had no dam contact (NC); of these, 8 were pair-housed (NC-PH) and 8 were individually housed (NC-IH). Dam contact was maintained until day 60, after which all calves were weaned and group-housed until day 80. Milk consumption was greater in DC than NC calves (7.4 vs. 5.5 L/d). During the pre-weaning period, body weight and average daily gain did not differ between treatments. However, DC-PH calves had greater body weight at day 80 and higher average daily gain between days 60 and 80 than NC-PH calves (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). Pre-weaning starter feed intake and feed efficiency did not differ across treatment groups. Dry matter digestibility was significantly greater in NC-PH than in NC-IH calves (87.7% vs. 81.4%; p = 0.03), but no significant effects were observed on NDF and DM digestibility between NC-PH and DC-PH calves. On day 54 (the pre-weaning phase), compared with NC-PH calves, DC-PH calves had higher blood glucose (p = 0.05), lower cortisol (p = 0.02), tended to have lower βHBA concentrations (p = 0.06), and a greater ruminal protozoal count on day 35 (p = 0.01). Total health score tended to be higher in DC-PH than NC-PH calves (p = 0.06) and was higher in NC-IH than in NC-PH calves (p = 0.05). During an 8-h behavioral recording prior to weaning, DC-PH calves were observed less frequently performing non-nutritive oral behaviors, such as licking the stall or fences and sucking on other calves, and tended to be more frequently standing, contacting other calves, playing alone, walking, and ruminating than NC-PH calves. After weaning, DC-PH calves were observed more frequently eating, resting, walking, and engaging in social interactions than NC-PH calves. Likewise, after weaning, NC-IH calves were observed more frequently playing, vocalizing, and walking, but less eating than NC-PH calves. Overall, our findings indicated that while social interaction (NC-IH vs. NC-PH) significantly improved dry matter digestibility and health, the addition of dam contact (DC-PH) maintained nutrient digestibility at levels comparable to NC-PH, but tended to reduce health status. Also, calves in the DC-PH treatment, which voluntarily consumed more milk than NC calves, exhibited greater post-weaning growth, more favorable behavioral responses, and improved pre-weaning metabolic profiles (lower cortisol and βHBA concentrations and higher blood glucose). These findings indicate that the partial dam contact management system, together with greater voluntary milk intake, was associated with enhanced post-weaning performance and metabolic status, as well as differences in rumen microbial development. However, as milk intake was not standardized across treatments, these responses cannot be attributed solely to maternal contact. Overall, under the conditions of this study, partial dam contact represents a feasible management strategy to support calf welfare and development, provided that appropriate environmental management is implemented to minimize disease risks. Full article

Gas–solid fluidized bed separation uses upward gas flow to fluidize a dense medium. By controlling medium properties, gas velocity, and bed height, the apparent bed density can be adjusted so that low-density particles float and high-density particles sink. In practice, separation density may differ from measured bed density. Large feed particles can cause local defluidization near the upper bed, increasing resistance and effective particle weight. Bubble behavior also affects separation: near minimum fluidization, limited bed activity restricts particle motion, whereas higher gas velocities promote bubble growth, coalescence, and wake-induced upward transport of medium particles. Fine low-density particles may also pass through bubbles, disrupting normal separation. These effects are especially important in high-bed Geldart A systems. This study developed a separation-density model for a Geldart A dense-medium gas–solid fluidized bed from the force balance of spherical particles and compared it with a Geldart B model. Forces on spherical simulated feed particles were measured under different operating conditions, and theoretical separation densities were calculated. Separation tests were then performed to evaluate the effects of gas velocity and bed height, compare bed and separation densities, and assess model reliability. The results support density regulation and scale-up of dry beneficiation using Geldart A media. Full article

The study evaluated the effects of corn grain deterioration under different storage conditions in processed feeds and broiler digestibility. The corn grains were stored in chambers (quality corn and contaminated corn) at different storage temperatures and relative humidity (10 °C and 90%, 30 °C and 40%), and the evaluations were carried out at five storage times (zero, three, six, nine, and twelve months). After feed formulation (zero, six, and twelve months of corn stored), the broilers (504 animals) were fed for up to 14 days. The excreta collection was done twice per day for metabolism analysis. The 10 °C and 90% RH conditions influenced the loss of dry matter; the physical quality of corn grain was lower for the 30 °C and 90% RH conditions. When we obtained lower dry matter losses, the microbiological and mycotoxin levels were directly influenced by the loss of dry matter in corn. The storage time increased the risk of fungi (8.5 × 10⁷ CFU g⁻¹), bacteria (7.5 × 10⁶ CFU g⁻¹), and aflatoxins (64.96 µg kg⁻¹), reaching levels above acceptable limits for the corn quality and interfering with digestibility and animal metabolism. In addition, the storage time was the determining factor in the nutritional loss of corn quality, feed, and animal digestibility. Furthermore, the storage time reduced the levels of crude protein (5%), gross energy in the feed (3200 kcal kg⁻¹), metabolizable energy (3000 kcal kg⁻¹), and animal digestibility (3100 kcal kg⁻¹) after six months of storage. Based on the results of this study, the feed processing industry should pay close attention to the origin of stored corn and the associated environmental conditions, as these factors led to significant changes in grain quality, directly impacting animal nutrition and production. Therefore, it is recommended that the production chain invest more in the sector—specifically in adequate infrastructure and grain storage monitoring and control systems—to provide higher-quality raw materials to the processing industry. Full article

This study developed a compound enzyme-assisted microbially fermented concentrate for Yanbian steers. The enzyme formulation was optimized using response surface methodology, with acid-soluble protein/crude protein ratio (ASP/CP), ammonia-N/total N ratio (AN/TN), and pH as response variables. The optimized enzyme preparation contained 619.15 U/g protease, 742.08 U/g amylase, and 257.75 U/g β-mannanase. The measured ASP/CP, AN/TN, and pH values were 31.74%, 3.56%, and 4.32, respectively, closely agreeing with the predicted values of 32.00%, 3.55%, and 4.28. Membership function analysis, which normalized positive and negative indicators to a common 0–1 scale and integrated them into a comprehensive score, supported the selection of day 5 as the most balanced fermentation duration under the primary equal-indicator weighting scheme. Thirty Yanbian steers were randomly assigned to receive microbially fermented concentrate without compound enzyme addition (MF) or compound enzyme-assisted microbially fermented concentrate (MEF) at 500 g/head/day on an as-fed basis for 100 days. After adjustment for initial body weight using ANCOVA, MEF increased final body weight by 3.9% and average daily gain by 35.7% compared with MF (both p < 0.001). MEF also increased dry matter intake by 12.1% (p = 0.018) and reduced feed conversion ratio by 18.4% (p = 0.008). MEF increased dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber digestibility by 4.3%, 5.4%, 22.6%, and 15.6%, respectively, and reduced blood urea nitrogen by 18.9%. MEF also increased ruminal total volatile fatty acids and decreased ruminal NH₃-N and the acetate-to-propionate ratio (p < 0.05). Observed ASVs, Chao1, and Shannon indices did not differ between treatments, whereas PERMANOVA detected a significant difference in overall rumen bacterial community structure (R² = 0.180, p = 0.023). VIF-based redundancy analysis indicated that variation in rumen bacterial community structure were correlated with crude protein digestibility, total volatile fatty acids, and blood urea nitrogen. Overall, within the microbial-fermentation system evaluated in this study, compound enzyme addition increased growth performance and apparent nutrient digestibility, reduced ruminal NH₃-N and blood urea nitrogen concentrations, and improved feed efficiency in Yanbian steers. Full article

Despite the potential of Eragrostis nigra in alleviating forage shortages and controlling soil erosion, there is little information about how nitrogen fertilization and row spacing affect its forage and seed production. Thus, a two-year field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization (0, 45, 90, 135 kg hectare⁻¹ (ha⁻¹)) and row spacing (20 cm, 40 cm) on its forage yield, nutritive value, seed yield and quality. Results showed that forage dry matter yield (DMY) and harvested seed yield (HSY) increased with higher N rates; however, no further enhancement was observed at 135 kg per ha⁻¹, making 90 kg ha⁻¹ optimum. This may be because excessive nitrogen disrupts the carbon–nitrogen metabolic balance. N fertilization increased the relative feed value by enhancing crude protein content and decreasing acid detergent fiber. Relative to the 20 cm spacing, the 40 cm spacing averagely raised PSY and HSY by 34.7% and 21.3%, respectively. The quadratic regression model yielded maximum predicted HSY values of 27.6 and 26.7 kg ha⁻¹, achieved at optimal N rates of 135 and 98.6 kg ha⁻¹ for the 20 cm and 40 cm spacings, respectively. Thousand-seed weight (TSW), germination index, and vigor index were significantly improved by row spacing and N application (p < 0.05). Seed yield enhancement from N was positively correlated with increases in number of fertile tillers (FT), number of spikelets per tiller and seed set (p < 0.05). Furthermore, FT and TSW had the strongest direct effects on seed yield, with standardized path coefficients of 0.362 and 0.390. Our findings highlight that an application rate of 90 kg ha⁻¹ N combined with 40 cm row spacing could be recommended as the efficient agronomic practice for maximizing forage yield, nutritive value, and seed yield in E. nigra. Importantly, this regime also enhances economic returns while reducing N leaching risks, thereby supporting more sustainable forage production systems. Full article

Enteric methane (CH₄) emissions from ruminants contribute to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and represent a loss of dietary energy that could otherwise support animal production. Dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGSs) have received increasing attention as an alternative feed ingredient because of their nutritional value and potential to influence rumen fermentation, nutrient utilization, and CH₄ emissions. This systematic review evaluated the effects of DDGSs on enteric CH₄ emissions and nutrient utilization in ruminant diets. Literature searches were conducted in Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published between 2010 and 2025. Following PRISMA guidelines and using the SYRCLE risk of bias tool, 17 studies, comprising 9 in vivo, 5 in vitro, and 3 integrated in vivo–in vitro studies, were included in the qualitative synthesis. The DDGS supplementation did not consistently reduce absolute CH₄ production, although reductions in CH₄ yield and emission intensity were more frequently reported. Moderate inclusion levels (up to 20% of diet dry matter) were frequently associated with improved nutrient utilization, feed efficiency, and animal performance, although these responses varied among studies. Reductions in CH₄ yield and emission intensity were more commonly reported than reductions in absolute CH₄ production. Higher inclusion levels (>30% of diet dry matter) produced more variable responses and were often associated with reduced fiber digestibility. In conclusion, the available evidence suggests that DDGS may act as a dietary modifier capable of improving nutrient utilization and production efficiency under appropriate dietary conditions; however, responses remain dependent on inclusion level, DDGS source, basal diet composition, and production system. Full article

Organic waste valorisation using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), Hermetia illucens L., offers a biological strategy to transform biodegradable residues into biomass with potential feed applications. This study evaluated five fruit–vegetable residue mixtures under tropical conditions: 100% fruit (100F), 100% vegetables (100V), 50% fruit–50% vegetables (50F–50V), 70% fruit–30% vegetables (70F–30V) and 30% fruit–70% vegetables (30F–70V), using three independent rearing units per diet. The analysis included initial egg mass, estimated viable larvae, coffee husk input as structural bulking material, tray-level process conditions, larval biomass, dry feed offered and estimated bioconversion indicators. The 100F treatment produced the greatest dry biomass (0.1311 ± 0.0132 kg), while 100V and 50F–50V showed favourable input-normalised responses. Biomass was also expressed relative to estimated viable larvae and dry feed offered to support treatment interpretation under the operational conditions evaluated. Coffee husk improved substrate handling and was incorporated into the dry-matter balance; therefore, adjusted BCR was interpreted as a process balance indicator and complemented with biomass yield per dry feed offered. Estimated protein values ranged from 35.4% to 38.1% in selected composite samples. Salmonella spp. were absent in pooled microbiological samples, Escherichia coli was <10 CFU/g, and screened heavy metals were below the laboratory detection limit in selected composite samples. Overall, the results support the potential of BSFL systems for valorising local fruit and vegetable residues under tropical conditions. Full article

Fish processing generates substantial quantities of by-products, creating important management and valorization challenges, particularly in insular regions. This study provides a first-order quantification of fishery and aquaculture wastes in the Madeira archipelago. The methodology combined a feed-based mass-balance model, targeted data collection, stakeholder analysis, and valorization assessment. Organic matter (OM) released from marine cage aquaculture was estimated at approximately 851.6 t yr⁻¹ (dry weight), while fish by-products from processing activities in factories and retail stores generated approximately 938 t yr⁻¹ (wet weight). These waste streams differ substantially in their physical characteristics and management pathways, with aquaculture producing diffuse environmental discharges and processing activities generating concentrated and potentially recoverable residues. Structured stakeholder interviews identified limited scale and insufficient raw materials, logistics and labor as the main factors affecting valorization initiatives. A comparative multi-criteria assessment further evaluated potential valorization strategies based on environmental performance and economic viability. Despite the generation of organic residues, the results suggest that effective valorization is constrained less by total waste generation than by biomass fragmentation, logistical limitations, and restricted economies of scale, emphasizing the need for integrated circular management approaches. A combined approach, integrating farm usage of decaying OM from cage systems and locally supported valorization strategies is required to transition towards a more resource-efficient production system. Full article