Strategies to Improve Feed Efficiency in Pigs

Dear Colleagues,

Feed efficiency stands as the cornerstone of profitable and sustainable pig production. With feed costs accounting for the largest proportion of total expenses, even marginal improvements can yield significant economic and environmental benefits. While the traditional selection of growth traits has indirectly enhanced feed conversion ratios, the industry now faces unprecedented challenges from volatile ingredient prices, antimicrobial reduction policies, and the pressing need to reduce its environmental footprint. This Special Issue aims to gather research and reviews that explore novel approaches to optimizing nutrient utilization. We seek to move beyond conventional practices by exploring advances in genetics, precision nutrition, feed processing, gut health, and data-driven management, as well as the synergies among them. Key areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: application of genomic tools for selecting more efficient animals; formulation of diets using alternative ingredients and functional additives; implementation of feed processing, microbial fermentation, and enzymatic hydrolysis techniques to improve nutrient availability; and use of precision livestock farming technologies to tailor management to individual animal needs. This Special Issue will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, industry specialists, and policymakers dedicated to shaping a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable future for the swine industry.

Dr. Qingwei Meng
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. Animals 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.