To manage anaerobic digestion residues (digestate) sustainably, it is important to determine their agricultural properties. In the present study, the effects of two digestate fractions (solid and liquid) on processing tomato yield parameters, quality traits, health-related compounds and some fruit physiological disorders were evaluated. The solid and liquid digestate fractions were compared with chemically fertilized and unfertilized control to evaluate the potential of the digestate as a fertilizer. A 2-year experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design, with three replications and using two tomato varieties: cv. ‘Arte F1’ and cv. ‘Zeplin F1’. The results indicated that (1) compared with chemical fertilizer, the solid digestate produced equal or even better results in terms of fruit size, yield parameters (solid digestate treatment increased the total fruit weight per plant by an average of 30.7, 8.2 and 22.4% in 2019 and 25.3, 14.2 and 17.9% in 2022 compared with control, chemical fertilizer and liquid treatments, respectively) and percentage of fruit affected by sunscald and blossom-end rot in both years; (2) use of liquid digestate led to similar or significantly higher fruit size, yield parameters and percentage of fruit affected by sunscald and blossom-end rot than control in both years and (3) use of both solid and liquid digestate fractions significantly maintained or improved fruit quality in terms of colour traits, pericarp thickness, dry matter content, total soluble solid content, titratable acidity, pH, vitamin C and antioxidant activity. However, the effects of solid and liquid digestate fractions varied with year and variety.

Cephalaria joppensis Rchb. (CJ) has recently been domesticated as a new forage crop in Israel. Feeding trials with dairy cows and sheep have shown that CJ silage can replace wheat silage for these animals. The current work tested the effect of row spacing on the growth, yield, chemical composition and digestibility of CJ for forage. Two field trials were performed at a research farm in Acre to test three row spacings: (T1) 16 cm between rows (narrow row spacing), (T2) pairs of adjacent (16 cm apart) rows with 32 cm spacing between pairs (alternated row spacing) and (T3) 32 cm between rows (wide row spacing). T1 row spacing had the advantage of a better area coverage rate, which may be beneficial at the beginning of growth, reflected by the rapid establishment of the plants in the field, as well as in the competition with weeds. The growth rate was more significant in T2 and T3 row spacings. In the first year, a higher yield was obtained for T2 and T3 row spacings; in the second year, no differences in yield were found among the row spacing treatments. Row spacing did not affect the plant’s digestibility or chemical nutrition for ruminants. There was no uniformity in plant quality among the cultivars between the two years. Thus, we should define the phenological stages of Cephalaria joppensis and their relationship to nutritional quality at different sites having different climate conditions, in both small and semi-commercial plots.

The facilities where the livestock carry their production cycle must have as their main characteristic the control of the influence of variation of environmental factors on the animals, which can be controlled through the use of different ventilation systems. In this way, the objective of this research was to evaluate the influence of different conditioning systems in the swine farrowing house. Three treatments were tested in a farrowing house located in Parana, Brazil: refrigerated ventilation (T1), forced ventilation (T2) and natural ventilation (T3), on 12 females with 11 piglets each. The climatic parameters evaluated were temperature, velocity and relative humidity of the air. For the females were analysed the parameters: surface temperature (laser thermometer and thermal image), average weight and feed conversion at the end of lactation; and for the piglets: surface temperature (thermal image), average weight and weekly feed conversion. The data were interpreted statistically by analysis of variance and Tukey’s test with 5% probability of error, using the program SAS (2008). The use of the refrigerated ventilation system decreased the temperature of the air and the superficial temperature of the females, without affecting the comfort of the piglets. There was no difference in the productive indexes of the animals, thus other aspects of the production chain could be explored to reflect a higher financial gain.

The presence of excessive arsenic (As) in paddy fields poses a significant risk to human health due to its accumulation in rice grains. However, the current level of As in Sri Lankan paddy fields remains unclear. Therefore, this research aims to assess the distribution of exchangeable As concentration and investigate the effects of agro-climatic zones (ACZs), soil orders and water sources on exchangeable As concentration in Sri Lankan paddy fields. For this purpose, 7,154 soil samples were collected from paddy fields using a stratified random sampling method representing six ACZs, six soil orders and three water sources. Arsenic extraction was made using 0.01 M CaCl2 followed by the detection with inductive coupled plasma mass spectrophotometry. The concentration of exchangeable As ranged from 0.01 to 392.9 µg/kg with an average of 24.6 µg/kg. Samples from the Low-country Wet zone exhibited higher exchangeable As levels compared to those from the Low country Dry zone (P < 0.05). Among soil orders, Histosols, Inceptisols and Ultisols showed higher exchangeable As concentrations than Alfisols and Vertisols (P < 0.05). Rainfed paddy fields had higher exchangeable As compared to the fields with access to supplementary irrigation. Additionally, exchangeable As concentration was inversely correlated with soil pH and paddy grain yield (P < 0.05). The observed variations in soil-As concentration across ACZs, soil orders and water sources highlight the need for climate, soil order and water source-specific strategies to mitigate further accumulation of As in paddy fields.

Extreme weather events caused by climate change, such as drought and heavy rainfall, will further increase in Central Europe in the near future. Resilient crop production requires in-depth knowledge of soil moisture (SM), its spatial and temporal variability and the dynamics of agriculturally used land. In the current study, different SM estimation methods, including measurement and simulation-based methods, were evaluated over a 17-ha experimental arable crop field with respect to their abilities to capture the spatial and temporal SM dynamics of within-field areas and their related uncertainty and spatial representativeness. The high-spatial resolution in-situ topsoil moisture measurements (50 m grid) were compared with the estimated SM from satellite-based remote sensing (S1ASCAT) and the simulated SM from three different crop water balance models (Agricultural Risk Information System [ARIS], AquaCrop and DSSAT). The evaluation revealed that the spatial variability in the experimental field obtained from the reference could not be captured by the alternative methods investigated because of the limitations of the grid size-related soil map information. Nevertheless, the analysis revealed a very good temporal correlation of SM dynamics with the field area average across all approaches, with AquaCrop and ARIS at a soil depth of 0–10 cm and S1ASCAT soil–water index 05 achieving a R2 and a Kling–Gupta efficiency >0.80. These results indicate the added value of complementary methods for estimating SM to reduce spatial and temporal uncertainties in the estimated topsoil water content.

The study investigated the effects of replacing maize with enzyme-supplemented Dried Date Fruit Pulp (DDFP) in the diets of broiler chickens. 576-day-old commercial broiler chicks (Arbor Acre Plus) were randomly selected and distributed into 8 treatment groups of 72 birds each. Each treatment was divided into six replicates of 12 birds on a weight-equalisation basis. The treatments consisted of 4 levels of DDFP (0, 100, 200 and 300 g/kg) and 2 levels of enzyme supplementation (with or without). The data obtained were subjected to an Analysis of Variance in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement. Birds fed 300 g/kg DDFP recorded the least weight gain (971 g) and final weight (1013 g) across the treatments at the starter phase, while there were no significant (P > 0.05) differences in the final weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of birds fed with DDFP and maize-based diets at the finisher phase. DDFP inclusion reduced the experimental birds’ feeding cost (NGN/kg) and cost/kg weight gain (NGN/kg WG). Enzyme supplementation increased serum protein and glucose concentrations. Reduced (P < 0.05) EE and CF digestibility coefficients were seen in birds fed 30% DDFP at the finisher phase. Carcass indices, ileal digesta viscosity and caecal total bacteria were not negatively influenced. It was concluded that DDFP could replace up to 200 g/kg maize in broiler chicken diets at the starter phase and up to 300 g/kg at the finisher phase without any deleterious effects on health and performance.

In this study, the effects of wheat-based diets processed in a hammer mill with different sieve diameters (4000 (fine), 5000 (medium) and 6000 (coarse) µm) and enzyme addition (0 and 300 g/ton) on the performance, slaughtering characteristics, tibia properties, jejunum morphology and pancreatic enzyme secretion in broilers (1–42 days) were tested in a 3×2 factorial design. A total of 480 one-day-old chickens were randomly distributed into 6 treatment groups of 5 replicates, each containing 16 birds. The performance of broilers was not affected by particle size. Dietary enzyme supplementation improved body weight on the 1–10th day period but did not affect other performance parameters. Thigh and abdominal fat increased with fine particle size, breast weight increased with medium particle size and gizzard weight increased with coarse particle size. Enzyme addition decreased the carcass and gizzard weights. Tibia breaking strength decreased with fine particle size. Tibia wall thickness and ash increased with enzyme addition. Pancreatic enzyme secretions increased in the coarse group and with enzyme supplementation. Jejunum histomorphology worsened with coarse particle size, while enzyme inclusion improved histomorphology. The interactions affected feed consumption (25–42nd day), feed conversion ratio (11–24th day), breast weight, tibia breaking strength and ash, pancreas weight, lipase activity and villus parameters. These findings demonstrated that coarse grinding of wheat-based diets improved bone development and pancreatic enzyme activity without affecting performance while worsening jejunum morphology. Enzyme addition positively affected bone and digestive system development.

The combination of the trend of Japanese food consumption with the health benefits of black rice is in high demand for rice consumers in Thailand. For this challenge, incorporation of desirable traits from tropical indica black rice, Riceberry and temperate japonica white rice, Akitakomachi was performed by pedigree selection with maker-assisted selection (MAS). The three candidate lines showed highly favourable agronomic characteristics and a high grain yield, with short grains and good cooking quality, similar to japonica rice, in a tropical climate. In addition, these lines showed black coloration of the pericarp, indicating high nutritional value and phytochemical, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, similar to those of the Riceberry parent. In terms of the sensory testing of unpolished rice, two breeding lines; 69-1-1 and 72-4-3 showed higher scores than their parents. However, only 69-1-1 was identified as japonica type according to its genetic background. Therefore, this breeding programme can create black short grain rice variety adapted to a tropical environment, similar to japonica-type rice.

The objective was to evaluate the influence of supplementation of L-arginine at 10 g/kg on the performance of lactating sows and their litters by evaluating the milk amino acid composition, serum hormone levels, mammary tissue redox status indicators, mammary tissue histomorphology, and the expression of genes related to mammary gland metabolism. The study was conducted in the municipality of Oliveira, Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 2019. A total of 24 sows were selected. A completely randomized design was used in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, with two diets (control and 10 g L-arginine/kg) and three mammary gland positions (thoracic, abdominal and inguinal), totaling six treatment groups. Each dietary treatment consisted of 12 replicates, with each replicate equivalent to one experimental unit, which was considered a sow and its litter. Females that were fed a diet supplemented with L-arginine had lower feed intake and greater weight loss. Piglets from sows that received L-arginine supplementation presented reduced weaning weight variation. L-arginine supplementation did not affect the amino acid composition of the milk, the plasma hormone levels of the sows, the oxidative stress parameters of redox, or breast tissue morphology. However, it may modulate the expression of genes important for mammary gland metabolism, such as the COX1 and SLC27A4. Piglets that suckled teats in the thoracic and abdominal positions had higher mean weights at 14 and 23 days, as well as greater daily weight gains. L-arginine supplementation to sows improves litter quality by increasing weaning weight uniformity; piglets that occupy the thoracic and abdominal positions perform better.

A ruminant model, MINDY, was used to explore the impact of grazing patches of tannin-containing legumes on environmental impact of cows grazing on grass-dominated rangelands swards. MINDY was initialised as a pregnant beef cow grazing on a grass (Bromus biebersteinii; meadow brome-Control), with the addition of a patch with tannin-containing legumes (Lotus corniculatus-birdsfoot trefoil-Tre, or Onobrychis viciifolia-sainfoin-Sain). Twenty-five scenarios (treatments) were established as a product of frequency (weekly, fortnightly and monthly) and dietary proportions (0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 of total forage allocation) of either Sain or Tre. Methane (CH4) production and nitrogen (N) excretion increased with legume availability. As legume proportion increased, dry matter intake (DMI), animal performance, CH4 production and urinary nitrogen (UN) excretion increased with a greater magnitude for Sain. Methane yield was lower than the Control at weekly allocation of legumes. Environmental costs in terms of CH4 emission increments per unit of production relative to Control were greater at monthly allocations when the levels of legumes in the diet were low (0.5–0.10). Legumes in the diet at 0.15–0.20 yielded the lowest costs regardless of frequency of allocation. Environmental costs in terms of UN increments per unit of production relative to Control were lowest at 0.15–0.20 of legumes in the diet regardless of frequency of allocation. This study suggests that strategic allocation of either sainfoin or birdsfoot trefoil when beef cattle graze grass-dominated rangelands swards can reduce environmental impact while increasing secondary production of the system at the same levels of resource allocation.

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for dairy traits (daily milk yield (DMY), daily milk fat yield (DMFY), and daily milk protein yield (DMPY)) and somatic cell score (SCS) of Iranian Murciano-Granadina goats. The analysis involved 99,839 records from 4,307 does, spanning from 2015 to 2021. A single-trait animal model was used to obtain estimates of genetic and residual (co)variances and heritabilities. In the model, both fixed effects (birth year, parity, litter size, age dam (day)) and random effects (additive animal genetic effects) were considered. R software was used to evaluate environmental effects, assess the model, examine genetic and phenotypic trends, and determine genetic-environmental correlations. Additionally, variance components and heritability were estimated using the Gibbs1f90 software. The heritability of dairy traits and SCS trait, namely DMY, DMFY, DMPY, and SCS, was estimated to be 0.244, 0.133, 0.188, and 0.023, respectively. The genetic correlations between DMY and DMFY, DMY and DMPY, DMY and somatic cell score (SCS), DMFY and DMPY, DMFY and SCS, and DMPY and SCS were 0.07, 0.16, 0.42, –0.08, –0.005, and 0.04, respectively. The study found moderate heritability for milk yield traits and low heritability for somatic cell score. Genetic correlations varied, with the strongest correlation between daily milk yield and somatic cell score, indicating useful genetic linkages for selective breeding.

Maternal ability (milk and environment) in beef cattle is one of the most important traits influencing weaning weight of the calf, but amount and composition of milk produced by the dam is difficult to measure. The assessment of polymorphisms of candidate genes related to milk composition could indirectly enlighten this perspective. In the present study, the frequency of αs1-casein 1175AG and g26181A>G; κ-casein 13068 (CSN3 AB1) and 13104 (CSN3 AB2) loci, β-lactoglobulin variants 3984GA and 5263CT, Diacyl glycerol transferase K232A, and Stearoyl CoA desaturase A702G and A762G polymorphisms were estimated in Gray and Red Brahman, Nellore, Guzerat, Gir, Indubrazil, and Sardo Negro registered sires from Mexico. Most of the documented favourable alleles were found in low frequency in most of the evaluated breeds, except for β-lactoglobulin, in which the presence of favourable alleles might represent an opportunity for marker-assisted introgression. The relevance of the findings for each variation and implications from the outcomes are discussed.

Reducing nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is a sustainable practice in rice production. The effects of reducing N fertilizer input on grain yield and rice quality of early- and late-season dual-use rice (ELDR) in South China remain uncertain. Therefore, a short-term field trial was conducted with a high-yielding ELDR cultivar (Yuehesimiao, YHSM) and a low-yielding ELDR cultivar (Meixiangzhan 2, MXZ). The rice was cultivated with a 20% reduced N application rate (RN2), a 10% reduced rate (RN1) and the conventional N application rate (CN). In the early season, compared to CN, RN2 reduced the grain yield of YHSM and MXZ by an average of 16.1 and 6.6%, respectively, while RN1 lowered YHSM grain yield by 11.2% on average and had no effect on MXZ yield. In addition, RN2 decreased the milling and eating qualities of the two cultivars in the early season, while RN1 did not alter their milling, appearance or eating qualities. In the late season, neither RN2 nor RN1 affected grain yield or rice quality for both cultivars. Therefore, short-term reductions of 10 and 20% in N application could maintain grain yield and rice quality at current N fertilizer application rates in the late season. However, the early-season results only recommended a 10% reduced N fertilizer application rate for low-yielding ELDR cultivars to sustain grain yield and rice quality. The findings of this study can provide a theoretical basis for N management of ELDR in South China.

In working towards meeting the rapidly rising demand for livestock products in the face of challenges such as climate change, limited forage land availability and inadequacies in water availability and quality, it is imperative to consider sustainability in farm or grazing land management and water resources conservation as well as biodiversity management and conservation, etc. Geophysics, GIS, remote sensing, etc., have been useful tools. Emerging technologies such as biotechnology, advanced sensor technologies, machine learning algorithms, internet of things, artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial vehicles, robotics, etc., are also being employed in agriculture and other aspects of human concerns. There are potentials for better utilization of these emerging technologies and more in livestock production and management. However, a limitation is that relevant knowledge and skills are still relatively inadequate, especially in developing countries; hence the need for this review, which is an enhancement of knowledge for research and improved productivity. Efforts should be made to advance in knowledge and skills acquisition so as to optimize this development for improved livestock production and management.

This study evaluated the effects of capsaicin (CAP) supplementation on the intake, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, nitrogen balance, microbial protein synthesis and health traits of bulls managed on pasture. Eight crossbred (Holstein x Zebu) cattle averaging 313 ± 31 kg of body weight (BW) were arranged in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design (one square of four bulls, rumen fistulated with 4-inch silicone cannulas and one square of four non-fistulated bulls), which were kept on Pangola grass pasture (Digitaria decumbens). Each experimental period consisted of 21 days, with 7 days for data collection (no washout between periods). Bulls were randomly assigned to the following treatments: CON (control): concentrate supplementation at 0.5% live weight (BW) and no additive (CAPCIN®), or concentrate supplementation at 0.5% BW in association with CAPCIN® (NutriQuest, Campinas, Brazil) fed at the inclusion rates of 150 (CAP150), 300 (CAP300) and 450 (CAP450) mg/animal/day. Digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fibre showed quadratic responses to CAP supplementation. Rumen pH linearly increased with CAP supplementation. The numbers of lymphocytes and eosinophils were linearly increased with CAP supplementation. The use of encapsulated pepper in supplements of crossbred (Holstein x Zebu) bulls managed on D. decumbens pasture up to 450 mg/animal/day improves nutrients digestibility and ruminal fermentation and can positively influence the health status of beef cattle managed under tropical conditions.