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Novel Animal Feeds, Forage Crops, and Cultivation Strategies for Enhancing...
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Novel Animal Feeds, Forage Crops, and Cultivation Strategies for Enhancing Livestock Nutrition and Ecosystem Services (Closed)

A topical collection in Animals (ISSN 2076-2615).

Viewed by 22815

Editor

Dr. Mark A Lee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Natural Capital and Plant Health, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK
Interests: animal nutrition; climate change; ecology and ecosystems; forage; grasslands; livestock; natural capital; plants

Topical Collection Information

Global meat and milk production has increased rapidly in recent years and livestock farms now cover vast areas of the planet. Livestock farms can deliver benefits to society, such as provisioning (e.g., meat, milk, and raw materials), regulating (e.g., soil protection and carbon storage), supporting (e.g., wildlife habitat and genetic diversity), and cultural (e.g., aesthetic inspiration, tourism, mental health, and physical health) ecosystem services. Although some livestock feeds and feeding systems enhance the delivery of ecosystem services, many do not, causing detrimental impacts on our environment. Innovative feeding techniques and technologies could offer solutions, increasing productivity, optimising the delivery of valuable ecosystem services, and improving the sustainability of the sector. Innovations include novel feed components, novel combinations of feed and/or forage, and novel methods of cultivation (e.g., biodiverse pastures, low fertiliser inputs, silvopasture, and precision farming).

In this Special Issue, we aim to bring together research articles, reviews, and short communications that investigate novel animal feeds or forage crops as well as innovative cultivation or feeding strategies. Manuscripts should consider the nutrition or health of the animals as well as the delivery of one or more ecosystem service (for more information, see http://www.teebweb.org/resources/ecosystem-services/). Manuscripts that focus on housed or pasture-fed livestock, or that focus on the cultivation of the feed or forage, are welcome providing that they also consider at least one ecosystem service in addition to food production.

Dr. Mark A Lee
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 collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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.

Keywords

  • animal nutrition
  • climate change
  • ecology and ecosystems
  • forage
  • grasslands
  • livestock
  • natural capital
  • plants

Published Papers (8 papers)

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2022

Jump to: 2021

12 pages, 401 KiB  
Article
Effect of Cultivar, Plant Spacing and Harvesting Age on Yield, Characteristics, Chemical Composition, and Anthocyanin Composition of Purple Napier Grass
by Narawich Onjai-uea, Siwaporn Paengkoum, Nittaya Taethaisong, Sorasak Thongpea, Boontum Sinpru, Jariya Surakhunthod, Weerada Meethip, Rayudika Aprilia Patindra Purba and Pramote Paengkoum
Animals 2023, 13(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010010 - 20 Dec 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3650
Abstract
Purple Napier grass is a semi-dwarf, purple-leaved Napier grass. The purple color is anthocyanins. Anthocyanin is classified as a group of flavonoids. It has antioxidant properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of plant spacing and harvesting age on [...] Read more.
Purple Napier grass is a semi-dwarf, purple-leaved Napier grass. The purple color is anthocyanins. Anthocyanin is classified as a group of flavonoids. It has antioxidant properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of plant spacing and harvesting age on the forage yield, morphological characteristics, chemical composition, and anthocyanin composition of purple Napier grass. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of plant spacing and harvesting age on the forage yield, morphological characteristics, chemical composition, and anthocyanin composition of purple Napier grass when grown on a sandy soil. The cultivars were Napier Pakchong 1 (Pennisetum purpureum × Pennisetum americanum cv. Pakchong 1) and purple Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum “Prince”), with plant spacings of 50 × 50, 50 × 75, and 75 × 75 cm, and the harvesting ages were 45, 60, and 75 days. The experiment was a 2 × 3 × 3 factorial layout in a randomized complete block design with four replications, for a total of 72 plots, each 5 × 5 m. The purple Napier grass had a higher number of tillers per plant than the Napier Pakchong 1 grass. The LSR value (leaf/stem ratio) was influenced by the interaction of cultivar × plant spacing × harvesting age. The purple Napier grass planted at 75 × 75 cm for 45 days had the highest LSR value. The crude protein of the purple Napier grass, the grass planted at 75 × 75 cm, and the grass for 45 days were significantly higher than the other treatments. The purple Napier grass planted at 75 × 75 cm for 45 days had the highest (p < 0.05) anthocyanin content. It was concluded that purple Napier grass planted at 75 × 75 cm for 45 days would contain the proper number of tillers per plant, LSR value, chemical composition for ruminants, and the highest anthocyanin composition. Full article
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11 pages, 548 KiB  
Article
Alternative Forages as Roughage for Ruminant: Nutritional Characteristics and Digestibility of Six Exotic Plants in Azores Archipelago
by Helder P. B. Nunes, Sofia Teixeira, Cristiana S. A. M. Maduro Dias and Alfredo E. S. Borba
Animals 2022, 12(24), 3587; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12243587 - 19 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2580
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional potential of unconventional plants: Pittosporum undulatum, Cryptomeria japonica, Acacia melanoxylon, Hedychium gardnerianum, Eucalyptus globulus, and Arundo donax, as an alternative roughage for ruminants. Chemical composition, gross energy, in vitro gas [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional potential of unconventional plants: Pittosporum undulatum, Cryptomeria japonica, Acacia melanoxylon, Hedychium gardnerianum, Eucalyptus globulus, and Arundo donax, as an alternative roughage for ruminants. Chemical composition, gross energy, in vitro gas production, kinetics, and digestibility of dry matter and organic matter in vitro were determined for each species. The obtained results showed variations between the studied forages concerning crude protein, and the different fiber fractions: NDF, ADF, and ADL The P. undulatum with a relative food value of 92.12%, showed a significant difference compared to the other species under study. After 96 h of incubation, the plants that produced, on average, less in vitro gas were A. melanoxylon and E. globulus. Among the studied species, A. donax stands out as the species that presented the highest gas production, with 31.53 mL. 200 mg−1 DM, observing a significant difference compared to the other plants. This is a reflection of it having the highest DMD (60.44 ± 1.22%) as well. P. undulatum was the species with the longest colonization time (4.8 h). Among the plants studied, we highlight P. undulatum as presenting a good quality in the RFV index and A. donax as having good digestibility. Both can be used as roughage in periods of greater shortage of pastures. Full article
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19 pages, 609 KiB  
Article
Effects of Prickly Burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach.) Control and Sheep Grazing on Hay Yield and Quality on Gökçeada Island, Turkey
by Fırat Alatürk, Ahmet Gökkuş, Altıngül Özaslan Parlak, Harun Baytekin and Cemil Tölü
Animals 2022, 12(22), 3073; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12223073 - 8 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1877
Abstract
(1) Background: The effects of prickly burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum) control measures (pulling out, burning and cutting) and grazing on the botanical composition, grazeable dry matter (GDM) yield and nutritional values of rangeland were investigated on Imbros Island (Turkey) in 2010–2013. (2) [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The effects of prickly burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum) control measures (pulling out, burning and cutting) and grazing on the botanical composition, grazeable dry matter (GDM) yield and nutritional values of rangeland were investigated on Imbros Island (Turkey) in 2010–2013. (2) Methods: The rangeland was grazed by Imbros sheep during the last year of the experiment. About 0.15 ha of rangeland was allocated to each sheep and five sheep were placed in each plot. Grazing was continuous throughout the year. (3) Results: Shrub levels decreased by 50–60% due to pulling out, burning and cutting in the first year and herbaceous species increased. Forbs increased more in the pulled and burnt plots and grasses increased more in the cut plots. In the third year, the shrub level increased to 60–65% and herbaceous species decreased. The decrease in herbaceous species was observed mostly in forbs. Plant cover was mostly (58%) composed of annual species. Development decreased plant cover ratios, but this decrease ceased in the burnt plot in the third year. Grazing also reduced plant cover. Crude protein (CP), NDF, ADF and digestible dry matter (DDM) content did not vary significantly over the experimental period. CP and DDM increased, NDF decreased and ADF did not change in the development plots. Overall, significant differences were not observed in GDM yield and nutritional values due to development efforts (pulling out, burning and cutting). (4) Conclusions: However, cutting is difficult over stony and rough terrain and pulling out creates erosion on sloping surfaces. Therefore, burning is recommended over the entire rangeland and burning or pulling out is recommended over smooth terrain for the temporary control of S. spinosum. Full article
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9 pages, 267 KiB  
Article
Hematological Changes in Sika Doe and Suckling Fawn Fed with Spent Mushroom Substrate of Pleurotus ostreatus
by Chongshan Yuan, Changze Li, Xinyuan Chen, Syed Muhammad Tahir, Aiwu Zhang and Min Wu
Animals 2022, 12(15), 1984; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151984 - 5 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1723
Abstract
Sika deer velvet antler is the most important animal nutraceutic in traditional Chinese medicine. Reducing the breeding cost of sika deer by looking for a low-cost diet is the main research direction at present. The purpose of this experiment was to find an [...] Read more.
Sika deer velvet antler is the most important animal nutraceutic in traditional Chinese medicine. Reducing the breeding cost of sika deer by looking for a low-cost diet is the main research direction at present. The purpose of this experiment was to find an alternative diet for sika deer and reduce the cost of the diet by using spent mushroom substrate (SMS) as a concentrate supplement. The apparent digestibility for sika doe and the hematological changes of sika doe and suckling fawn were measured by replacing 10% of the concentrate supplement with SMS of Pleurotus ostreatus (SMS-MP). Compared with the control group, the digestibility of dry matter (DM), total protein (TP), globulin (GLO), and cholesterol (CHOL) of sika doe were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), and glucose (GLU), alanine (Ala), phenylalanine (Phe), and proline (Pro) of sika doe were significantly increased (p < 0.05) after the replacement of SMS-MP. Compared with the control group, the serum GLU of suckling fawn was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and the phosphatase (ALP) was significantly increased after the replacement of SMS-MP (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the immune globulin and amino acid of suckling fawns between the two groups (p > 0.05). The present findings confirm the applicability of SMS-MP as a sika doe concentrate supplement. At the same time, using SMS, a waste resource, can not only reduce the breeding cost of sika doe, but also make full use of SMS to reduce environmental pollution. Full article
9 pages, 252 KiB  
Article
Velvet Antler Production and Hematological Changes in Male Sika Deers Fed with Spent Mushroom Substrate
by Chongshan Yuan, Min Wu, Syed Muhammad Tahir, Xinyuan Chen, Changze Li, Aiwu Zhang and Wenfa Lu
Animals 2022, 12(13), 1689; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12131689 - 30 Jun 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1734
Abstract
At present, spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is a waste resource that is producing a pollution problem in China, and which has some use as animal feed or fertilizer, has not been assessed as a feed for deer. The purpose of this study is [...] Read more.
At present, spent mushroom substrate (SMS) is a waste resource that is producing a pollution problem in China, and which has some use as animal feed or fertilizer, has not been assessed as a feed for deer. The purpose of this study is to expand the feed of male sika deer and reduce the feeding cost by using the waste resource of SMS. The 10% concentrated supplement was replaced with SMS and the feed intake, apparent digestibility, blood index and velvet production of male sika deer were measured. As the results showed, compared to the control group, the substitution of SMS for 10% of the concentrate supplement decreased the concentration of IgA (p < 0.01), replacing 10% concentrated supplement with SMS of Pleurotus ostreatus (SMS-MP) reduced the intake of organic matter (OMI) and improved the digestibility of ether extract (EE), while replacing 10% concentrated supplement with SMS of Flammulina velutipes (SMS-MF) had no effect on apparent nutrient digestibility, feed intake, velvet antler production, and biochemical indexes. In conclusion, SMS had no effect on serum biochemical indexes and the ratio of the feed weight of the deer supplement to the weight of velvet antler (p > 0.05). At the same time, SMS could reduce the feed consumption and improve the economy by using SMS as a waste resource. Full article
10 pages, 251 KiB  
Article
Growth Performance and Hematological Changes in Growing Sika Deers Fed with Spent Mushroom Substrate of Pleurotus ostreatus
by Chongshan Yuan, Min Wu, Xinyuan Chen, Changze Li, Aiwu Zhang and Wenfa Lu
Animals 2022, 12(6), 765; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12060765 - 18 Mar 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2014
Abstract
The purpose of this experiment is to expand the feed of growing sika deer and to explore the effects on growing sika deer of the spent mushroom substrate of Pleurotus ostreatus (SMS-MP). Twelve immature female growing sika deer were randomly assigned to four [...] Read more.
The purpose of this experiment is to expand the feed of growing sika deer and to explore the effects on growing sika deer of the spent mushroom substrate of Pleurotus ostreatus (SMS-MP). Twelve immature female growing sika deer were randomly assigned to four groups. The ratios of SMS-MP to replace concentration supplements were 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%, respectively, and the growth performance, feed intake and apparent digestibility, serum biochemical indexes, blood physiological indexes, serum immune globulin and plasma amino acid of growing sika deer were measured. The results of the current study confirmed the applicability of SMS-MP as a feed ingredient in growing sika deer diets. There was no significant change in growth performance and hematology of growing sika deer when the concentrate supplement was replaced with 10–20% SMS-MP. However, replacing 30% of concentrate supplements with SMS-MP in the growing sika deer diet resulted in significantly decreased Hb and HCT levels. It can be concluded that, as a waste resource, adding a small amount of SMS-MP has no significant effect on the growth of sika deer, and at the same time can reduce the consumption of concentrate supplements, thereby improving the economic benefits of sika deer breeding. Full article

2021

Jump to: 2022

14 pages, 3924 KiB  
Article
Browse from Three Tree Legumes Increases Forage Production for Cattle in a Silvopastoral System in the Southwest Amazon
by Lucy Dablin, Simon L. Lewis, William Milliken, Alexandre Monro and Mark A. Lee
Animals 2021, 11(12), 3585; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123585 - 17 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4656
Abstract
Assessing the palatability of forage from locally adapted trees could improve the sustainability of livestock production systems. However, grasses continue to dominate livestock feed across the Amazon. We established a silvopastoral cattle farming system in Peru, comparing three different forage tree species with [...] Read more.
Assessing the palatability of forage from locally adapted trees could improve the sustainability of livestock production systems. However, grasses continue to dominate livestock feed across the Amazon. We established a silvopastoral cattle farming system in Peru, comparing three different forage tree species with grass monocultures using a randomised block design. Trees were arranged in alleys of 0.5 × 7.5 m, planted alongside grass, and were directly browsed by cattle. Browse removal was estimated by three methods: destructive sampling, canopy measurements and leaf counts. We found that all three tree species were palatable to cattle. Plots containing trees and grass produced more available forage (mean > 2.2 Mg ha−1) for cattle than the grass monocultures (mean = 1.5 Mg ha−1). Destructive sampling below 1.6 m demonstrated that cattle consumed 99% of the available Erythrina berteroana forage, 75% of the available Inga edulis forage and 80% of the available Leucaena leucocephala forage in 8 days. This research demonstrates methodologies to estimate the intake of locally adapted browse species by cattle and highlights the potential benefits of silvopastoral systems in the Amazon. Planting trees could also benefit animal health and provide ecosystem services such as soil regeneration, enhanced nutrient cycling and carbon capture. Full article
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11 pages, 2228 KiB  
Article
Cover Crop Management on the Southern High Plains: Impacts on Crop Productivity and Soil Water Depletion
by Lisa L. Baxter, Charles P. West, C. Philip Brown and Paul E. Green
Animals 2021, 11(1), 212; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010212 - 16 Jan 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2636
Abstract
The imminent depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer demands innovative cropping alternatives. Even though the benefits of cover crops are well recognized, adoption has been slow in the Southern High Plains (SHP) of the United States because of concerns that cover crops withdraw soil [...] Read more.
The imminent depletion of the Ogallala Aquifer demands innovative cropping alternatives. Even though the benefits of cover crops are well recognized, adoption has been slow in the Southern High Plains (SHP) of the United States because of concerns that cover crops withdraw soil water to the detriment of the summer crops. This small plot experiment tested the interacting effects—production, soil water depletion of the cover crops, and subsequent teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] summer hay crops—of irrigation and tillage management with five cover crop types to identify low-risk cover crop practices in the drought-prone SHP. Dryland rye (Secale cereale L.) produced modest forage biomass (>1000 kg ha−1), even in a dry year, but it was found that light irrigation should be used to ensure adequate forage supply (>1200 kg ha−1) if winter grazing is desired. No-till management and timely termination of the winter cover crops were crucial to reducing the negative impact of winter crops on summer teff production. The results indicated no detriment to soil water content that was attributable to planting no-till cover crops compared with the conventional practice of winter fallow. Therefore, producers could take advantage of the soil-conserving attributes of high-quality winter forage cover crops without experiencing significant soil water depletion. Full article
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