Estimating Amino Acid Requirements in Real-Time for Precision-Fed Pigs: The Challenge of Variability among Individuals

This study aimed to measure protein deposition (PD) in pigs fed with daily tailored diets where either dietary lysine (Lys) or threonine (Thr) were provided at independent levels (ignoring an ideal ratio). A total of 95 growing pigs (35 kg body weight (BW)) with electronic ear tags granting them access to automatic feeders were randomly assigned to treatments. The setup was an unbalanced 2 × 5 factorial arrangement with Lys and Thr provided at five levels (i.e., 60%, 80%, 100%, 120%, and 140% of the estimated individual requirements of Lys and Thr), resulting in 25 treatments for 21 days. The observed PD variation to Lys and Thr provisions was large, with Lys and Thr intake explaining only 11% of the variation. Cluster analysis discriminated pigs with low (167 g/d, n = 16), medium (191 g/d, n = 38), and high (213 g/d, n = 37) PD, but with a similar amino acid intake. Differences in PD were associated with differences in nutrient efficiency of utilization. Providing Lys and Thr in a factorial mode, ignoring an ideal ratio, did not decrease the variability in PD. Future research efforts should focus on identifying and investigating the sources of interindividual variability—a necessary step before final recommendations can be made for AA in precision-fed pigs.

Explorative Study of Aquaponics Systems in Indonesia

Aquaponics is the combined cultivation of fish in aquaculture systems and plants in hydroponic systems. This study aimed to explore and evaluate new aquaponics system designs in Jakarta, Indonesia, in terms of water and nutrient efficiency, and/or profitability. In total, one brackish water system with barramundi and tomato (BW) and three freshwater systems with Nile tilapia, rice, and duckweed (FW + DW), Nile tilapia and rice (FW − DW), and Nile tilapia and tomato (FW-tomato) were investigated using dynamic mathematical models. The results showed an increase of N, P, and water use efficiency by 10%, 18%, and 31%, respectively, in FW-tomato compare to FW − DW. Meanwhile, FW + DW only slightly increased the efficiency but worsened the already negative net present value (NPV) of FW − DW due to the high land prices. The BW system had similar water and nutrient efficiency to FW-tomato, but lower NPV. Profit of the BW and FW-tomato becomes comparable if the hydroponic area in the BW system can be expanded by 35%, or the selling price of tomato or fish in the BW can be increased by 20%. Given the expected growth of both the production of tomatoes and aquaculture in Indonesia, there is potential for further introduction of aquaponics systems in Indonesia.

Feeding Strategies to Reduce Nutrient Losses and Improve the Sustainability of Growing Pigs

The efficiency of pig production using nutrients has increased over the years. Still, better efficiency of nutrient utilization can be achieved by feeding pigs with diets adjusted to their estimated requirements. An increase in nutrient efficiency of utilization represents economic gains while maximizing environmental performance. The objective of this paper is to review the impact of different methods of diet formulation that provide farm animals with the amount of nutrients to satisfy their needs while minimizing nutrient excretion and greenhouse gas emissions. Diet formulation is one tool that can help to maximize nitrogen and energy utilization by decreasing crude protein content in diets. The use of local feedstuff and non-human-edible products (e.g., canola meal) associated with synthetic amino acid inclusion in the diet are valuable techniques to reduce carbon footprint. Precision feeding and nutrition is another powerful tool that allows not only daily tailoring of diets for maximal nutrient efficiency of utilization but also to reduce costs and improve nitrogen efficiency of utilization. In this review, we simulated through mathematical models the nitrogen and energy efficiency of utilization resulting from crude protein reduction in the diet. An 8% crude protein reduction in the diet can increase nitrogen efficiency of utilization by 54% while costing 11% less than a control diet without synthetic amino acids. The same reduction in crude protein represented a major improvement in available energy due to the decrease of energetic losses linked to protein deamination. Urinary and hindgut fermentation energy losses were 24% lower for pigs fed with low-protein diets when compared to control diets. In terms of modern feeding techniques and strategies, precision feeding and nutrition can decrease nitrogen excretion by 30% when compared to group phase feeding. The benefits of feeding pigs with low-protein diets and precision feeding techniques are additive and might result in a 61% nitrogen efficiency of utilization. There is room for improvement in the way nutrient requirements are estimated in pigs. Improving the understanding of the variation of nutrient utilization among pigs can contribute to further environmental gains.

Jejunal transcriptomic profiling of two layer strains throughout the entire production period

The jejunum plays crucial roles for the digestion and absorption of nutrients and minerals and for barrier functions that are essential for a healthy, productive life cycle of farm animals, including laying hens. Accordingly, knowledge of the molecular pathways that emerge in the intestine during development, and particularly at the beginning of laying activity, will help to derive strategies for improving nutrient efficiency in laying hens. In this study, jejunal samples were obtained from two high-yielding layer strains at five developmental stages (weeks 10, 16, 24, 30 and 60 of life) for RNA-sequencing, alongside the profiling of blood plasma parameters to approximate the dynamics of mineral homeostasis. The results reflected a marked distinction between the pre-laying and laying phase as inferred from levels of parathyroid hormone, triiodothyronine, estradiol, vitamin D, and calcium. Moreover, the expression patterns of the intestinal mucosa responded directly to the changing metabolic and nutritional profiles at the beginning of the laying phase in maturing high-yielding strains of laying hens. These comprise signaling events namely RANK/RANKL signaling and cellular senescence. Taken together, the timing of sexual maturity of laying hens demands closer examination to unravel metabolic requirements and associated endogenous mechanisms.

FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT IN POLAND IN LIGHT OF EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL OBJECTIVES

The aim of the paper is to outline the problem areas of fertilizer management in Poland, taking the need to achieve European Green Deal (EGD) objectives into account. Fertilizer management is one of the key elements of future agricultural policy, to which the European Green Deal refers, and is closer to the Farm to Fork strategy. The emphasis on the need to promote rational fertilizer management in European documents stemmed from the pressures of this economic activity on the natural environment. The paper focuses on the main determinants of fertilizer management, including the costs and quantities of mineral fertilizers used and the results of the NPK fertilizer balance, using the gross balance and indicator method. The study used Statistics Poland data 2007 and 2016 from the Farm Structure Survey and agricultural accountancy FADN 2014-2019. It was found that, at the level of the agricultural sector, the results of fertilizer balances do not create surpluses and problematic issues concern a significant share of farms with an understated balance of main NPK macroelements. The expected reduction in the level of fertilization under the EGD may result in a reduction in production and economic performance from a farm and negatively affect the state of the natural environment. The fertilizer balance and nutrient efficiency level should be used as measurable indicators for setting reduction targets.

Substandard and Semi-Dwarfing Citrus Rootstocks for More Intensive, Higher-Density, and Sustainable Plantation Systems

An increasing number of intensive, dense, and sustainable citrus plantations have fostered a growing interest in addressing the future challenges of citrus crops: An increase in the world’s population, climate change, and globalization. Nutrient efficiency and the absence of vigorous citrus rootstocks are required for the success of these plantation systems. The agronomic performances of the “Lane Late” orange cultivar on three substandard or semi-dwarfing citrus rootstocks (Forner-Alcaide no.5 (FA5), Forner-Alcaide no.13 (FA13), and Forner-Alcaide no.41 (FA41)) were evaluated in Spain in comparison with more traditional Mediterranean citrus rootstocks (Carrizo citrange (CA), Citrus macrophylla (MP), and ‘Cleopatra’ mandarin (CL)) under a poor mineral fertilization program over six growing seasons. FA13 and FA41 induced the smallest ‘Lane Late’ trees. Although the rootstock did not induce a significant effect on the ‘Lane Late’ yield efficiency (kg m−3), the highest values were recorded for ‘Lane Late’ on MP, CL and FA13. In this sense, FA13 showed a high productive potential (kg ha−1), given the possibility of narrowing the tree spacing (smaller tree size). Regarding the use of soil nutrients, FA13 was the most efficient citrus rootstock. Thus, FA13 stands out as the most suitable citrus rootstock for more intensive and sustainable plantation systems of the ‘Lane Late’ orange under Mediterranean conditions similar to those of this study.

89 Controlling intrinsic pathways to optimize efficiencies of mineral and vitamin use by sows

Nutrient efficiency concepts seem to have been ignored in applications of diet formulations for the breeding herd, especially for minerals and vitamins. Historically, gestating sows were notably the animal that could withstand marginal, or minimal fortifications of nutrients. The sow was resilient to nutrient inputs. Ample examples illustrate the ability of sows to adapt to marginal nutrient inputs by improvements in efficiency, and thus, avoid reduced productivity. Over-supplementation of nutrients precludes adaptive improvements in efficiency and leads to substantial environmental impacts and economic losses. Failure to focus on optimizing nutrient efficiency contributes to negative consumer perceptions, which imply that modern swine production is not sustainable. Understanding intrinsic pathways provide opportunities to improve nutrient efficiencies for both macro- and micro- minerals, and fat-soluble vitamins. As an example, over-supplementation of 0.10% excess P to sow herd diets equates to an excess of 4,745 metric tons of P that must be accommodated in manure nutrient management plans. The recent global shortage of vitamins captured the attention of nutritionists and raised questions around sufficient safety margins needed for vitamins. Based on our research efforts, the minimal vitamin D requirement for sows is likely around 300 IU D3/kg diet, yet commercial diets are commonly supplemented at 6X that level. The historical recommendations that 1.5X requirements for fat soluble vitamins and 3X requirements for water soluble vitamins provide sufficient safety margins have been largely ignored in current production applications. Does scientific evidence support such extreme over-supplementation? In conclusion, understanding intrinsic pathways to improve gestating sow nutrient efficiencies provides opportunities for significant impacts on the balance between meeting animal needs and minimizing environmental impacts. As an industry our research efforts and practical applications must focus on positive ways to capture nutrient efficiency, especially in mineral and vitamin fortifications, in order to promote a sustainable industry.