Fatty acid content,health and risk indices,physicochemical composition,and somatic cell counts of milk from organic and conventional farming systems in tropical south-eastern Mexico

Organic agriculture and livestock farming is claimed to promote animal welfare and can offer animal products with better hygienic-sanitary quality, based on principles of health, ecology, fairness, and care. However, no clear advantages of organic milk (OM) versus conventional milk (CM) from tropical conditions are available. The aims of the study were to determine fatty acid profile, health-promoting (HPI) and thrombogenic (TI) indices, physicochemical composition, and somatic cell counts (SCC) of OM and CM in tropical south-eastern Mexico. Female cross-breed cows (400–600 kg) were employed. CM had larger values of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (63.6 %; 4.57 %) than OM (61.48 %; 4.22 %), while OM resulted in a larger value of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) (34.3 %) than CM (31.7 %). HPI and TI showed that OM was more favorable than CM. Milk production and physicochemical composition (PC) as well as density had no significant difference, while SCC was significantly lower in OM than in CM on a monthly basis. These results showed that OM promotes a healthful and balanced diet, and is already produced by sustainable ecologic technologies employing traditional agrosilvopastoral management, which is more environmentally friendly and promotes ecological resilience.     

"自然友好式"的欧盟有机农业哺乳动物生产规程

从欧盟有机农业动物生产基本规程、转型、动物来源、饲料、疾病预防治疗、饲料方式、肥料、饲养条件等方面，系统地阐述了欧盟有机农业哺乳动物生产规程，介绍了有机农业动物饲养实践中善待环境、善待生态、善待动物的具体措施。     

Organic livestock production in Europe: aims,rules and trends with special emphasis on animal health and welfare

Organic farming in Europe has increased during the last decade but the market share is still relatively low with less than 3% of farmed arable land and an even smaller proportion of farm animal species raised in organic livestock production systems. In many aspects, the biological and ethological needs of animals in organic farming systems are better met than on conventional farms. Emphasis is placed on high standards in product quality, animal health and welfare. However, limitations due to the strict organic rules place high demands on management qualifications. Practical experience shows that organic livestock production is certainly no guarantee of good animal health and welfare. It is suggested to develop quality assurance programmes for process quality assessment to ensure a certain level of management standard. Epidemiological studies are needed to evaluate health risk factors for health and welfare problems in organic livestock production. The concept of organic animal farming can only fulfil the criteria for sustainability, if all requirements on animal health and welfare, together with product quality and ecological soundness, are strongly considered and controlled.     

Natural living—a precondition for animal welfare in organic farming

This article discusses animal welfare in organic farming systems in relation to values and aims in organic farming. It sums up experiences from a 4-year interdisciplinary project. An important finding is that animal welfare is understood somewhat differently in organic farming from what is common in conventional agriculture. It is interpreted in terms of natural living, which includes the possibility to perform a natural behaviour, feed adapted to the animal's physiology and a natural environment. Some of the criticism of animal welfare in organic farming may stem from different understandings of what “welfare” actually means. However, although welfare is an important aim in organic farming, the overall concern is to develop sustainable farming systems. This causes some welfare dilemmas. For example, a healthy system does not automatically mean good welfare for the individual. Based on available literature the actual welfare situation in organic systems was scrutinized. Unfortunately little research has been done, but a careful conclusion was that animal health is as good or better than in conventional farming—with the exception of parasitic diseases. Organic farming systems have a “welfare potential”, but organic farmers must deal with the dilemmas and take animal welfare issues seriously.     

生态循环农业与有机奶产业化发展途径探讨

建立绿色健康产业技术体系,是前进牧业发展的必由之路。人与自然是生命共同体,人类必须尊重自然、顺应自然、保护自然。就是在这样的信念指引下,前进牧业从2017年开始,按照国家《有机产品》标准,依据国际标准,制定了前进牧业有机奶生产的企业标准。并将有机奶的生产作为企业发展的战略定位予以明晰确立,上下贯通,并以此为发展总目标,着力建立生态循环农业体系与有机奶生产示范基地。前进牧业立足张掖独特的光热水土资源条件,开展牧草有机种植与奶牛清洁健康养殖技术,建立有机奶及其产品管控体系,应用智慧牧场技术,数字农业技术有效控制奶牛生产关键技术环节,确保养殖环境清洁健康、生态安全、循环利用,牛奶绿色有机、产品优质、营养富集。并不断引进现代畜牧前沿学科的最新技术和科研成果,加大技术推广力度,实现前进牧业旗下18家牧场奶牛清洁健康养殖全覆盖,着力创建有机奶品牌,提高奶牛养殖效益,建立起农业生产力与资源环境承载力相匹配的农业发展新格局,实现奶业绿色持续健康发展的总目标。     

Dietary sources and their effects on animal production and environmental sustainability

Animal agriculture has been an important component in the integrated farming systems in developing countries. It serves in a paramount diversified role in producing animal protein food, draft power, farm manure as well as ensuring social status-quo and enriching livelihood. Ruminants are importantly contributable to the well-being and the livelihood of the global population. Ruminant production systems can vary from subsistence to intensive type of farming depending on locality, resource availability,infrastructure accessibility, food demand and market potentials. The growing demand for sustainable animal production is compelling to researchers exploring the potential approaches to reduce greenhouse gases(GHG) emissions from livestock. Global warming has been an issue of concern and importance for all especially those engaged in animal agriculture. Methane(CH_4) is one of the major GHG accounted for at least 14% of the total GHG with a global warming potential 25-fold of carbon dioxide and a 12-year atmospheric lifetime. Agricultural sector has a contribution of 50 to 60% methane emission and ruminants are the major source of methane contribution(15 to 33%). Methane emission by enteric fermentation of ruminants represents a loss of energy intake(5 to 15% of total) and is produced by methanogens(archae) as a result of fermentation end-products. Ruminants' digestive fermentation results in fermentation end-products of volatile fatty acids(VFA), microbial protein and methane production in the rumen. Rumen microorganisms including bacteria, protozoa and fungal zoospores are closely associated with the rumen fermentation efficiency. Besides using feed formulation and feeding management, local feed resources have been used as alternative feed additives for manipulation of rumen ecology with promising results for replacement in ruminant feeding. Those potential feed additive practices are as follows: 1) the use of plant extracts or plants containing secondary compounds(e.g., condensed tannins and saponins) such as mangosteen peel powder, rain tree pod; 2) plants rich in minerals, e.g., banana flower powder; and 3) plant essential oils, e.g., garlic, eucalyptus leaf powder, etc. Implementation of the-feed-system using cash crop and leguminous shrubs or fodder trees are of promising results.     

粮草兼顾型畜牧业饲草料发展现状及展望

随着我国人口数量的持续增长,居民生活水平不断提高,粮食需求随之剧增,肉、蛋、奶等畜禽产品的消费也不断增长,人们对畜产品的需求决定着农业发展的方向。本文介绍了我国粮草兼顾型畜牧业发展的主要背景,简述了传统畜牧业和粮草兼顾型畜牧业对饲草料需求的异同,并分析了新形势下我国畜牧业发展的方向:1)针对我国居民膳食结构改变对农业结构发展模式的影响,提出现阶段发展草地农业,进行广泛的系统耦合是促进农业可持续发展的技术保障,是我国农业结构调整的必然之路;2)结合我国现阶段畜牧业发展现状,指出将牧草或其他饲料作物的生产利用纳入到农业生产体系当中,通过粮―草―畜有机结合,建立起土地―植物―动物产品完整的产业链条来满足消费者食物需求;3)建议通过增加优质牧草日粮比例、发展草食家畜、建设信息自动化等具体措施,来促进、引领和保证粮草兼顾型畜牧业的可持续发展。     

Towards a sustainable livestock production in developing countries and the importance of animal health strategy therein.

Livestock and animal health development projects have not always led to substantial increases in animal productivity or in farmers' welfare. Some have even resulted in unsustainable systems, when they were not based on an understanding of (livestock) production systems. The multipurpose functions of livestock and complex relationships between the biological, technical and social components require a systems approach, whereby nutrition, animal health, breeding, biotechnology knowhow, inputs and technologies are used to optimise resource use. The challenge for developed and developing countries is to reverse the current degradation of the environment, and arrive at sustainable increases in crop and livestock production to secure present and future food supplies. For rural development, governments should show long term commitment and political will to support the rural population in development programmes, because smallholders (including women and landless livestock keepers) represent a large labour force in developing countries. Different systems need different approaches. Pastoral systems must focus on effective management of grazing pressure of the rangelands. Communal rangelands management involves not only the development and application of technologies (e.g. feedlots, vaccination campaigns), but also land tenure policies, institutional development, economic return and a reduction in the number of people depending upon livestock. Smallholder mixed farms must aim at intensification of the total production system, in which external inputs are indispensable, but with the emphasis on optimum input-output relationships by reducing resource losses due to poor management. Resource-poor farming systems must aim at the improved management of the various livestock species in backyards and very small farms, and proper packages for cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry should be developed. Specialised commercial livestock farming systems (poultry, pigs, dairy or meat) can only be sustainable with adequate marketing, supply of quality feed, veterinary services, labour, management and control of pollution. Animal health programmes play a keyrole in the proposed system approach.     

畜牧业可持续发展战略的理论思考

畜牧业的可持续发展作为农业可持续发展乃至全球经济可持续发展的重要组成部分,近年来愈来愈引起世人的重视。本文以目前畜牧业发展过程中暴露的主要问题为着眼点,分别从资源承载和系统功能整合两个方面对畜牧业发展存在的深层次问题进行了分析探讨。以期对我国畜牧业的可持续发展研究能有所启迪。     

基于CiteSpace中国草牧业研究的文献计量分析

利用CiteSpace文献可视化分析工具,对中国草牧业研究现状、热点、演进路径及前沿进行分析.研究发现:1)草牧业研究始于20世纪90年代初,文献数量呈增长趋势,建立了一批有影响的研究机构,但作者之间、机构之间整体关联性不强.2)从关键词共现和聚类来看,研究热点主要聚焦于畜牧业发展与草地/草原生态环境保护、草牧业生产技术和草牧业可持续发展3个方面.从演进路径来看,第一阶段聚焦于畜牧业发展,第二阶段以"草地生态保护"和"可持续发展"为核心议题,最后形成以"草牧业及相关产业发展与转型升级"为主的研究.草牧业前沿研究的阶段性特征与关键词演化路径相一致,前沿分析表明,未来研究应在草食畜产品有效供给、种植结构"三元"调整、草原生产向生态转变为背景下的草牧业布局研究以及发展草牧业促进农牧民增收增效等方面予以关注.     

对楼房猪舍的再认识

楼房养猪是18亿亩耕地红线制约养殖用地的宏观背景下，向空间要发展、向楼房要效益的创新之举，为中国生猪养殖产业的持续健康迅速发展做出了可贵的探索、尝试与贡献。对于拥有悠久农耕历史和“猪粮安天下”理念的中国大农业而言，楼房养猪将是一个历史发展潮流与产业升级趋势。在业界的一片喝彩声中，我们更应该保持理性和清醒。要对楼房养殖模式有一个客观、理性、科学和正确的认知。惟有澄清了楼房养猪领域的偏见和误区、甄别了空间养殖的特点与优势，并及时总结源于实践的楼房猪舍建设经验和分享楼房养猪相关数据成果，中国全域包含楼房养猪在内的畜牧产业才能步入可持续的良性循环的快车道。     

草地畜牧理论与实践

为了完善草地畜牧研究与生产,系统论述了草地畜牧理论及实践体系。草地生态系统过程决定草地生态系统功能及其属性,其资源属性决定生产草食牲畜的利用途径,发展形成草地畜牧业。基于草地营养循环,草地畜牧过程由草地放牧亚系统及储料饲喂亚系统构成基本封闭的循环系统;基于能量流动和生产实践,草地畜牧过程由草地资源生产及草地资源利用、产品输出构成一个开放的线性系统,二者统一于放牧场内发生,放牧场是草地畜牧管理的基本单元。草地畜牧学是草地畜牧业的理论基础,研究草地资源生产、草地营养供给与牲畜营养需要之间的关系的学科。草地畜牧学的基本研究内容为草地土壤培肥、草地资源生产、草地资源利用。割草与放牧饲养为草地资源利用的基本方式,产量与有效营养浓度乘积的最大值或累积最大值是草地割草或放牧利用关键,放牧能是草地放牧所特有的能量消耗组分。草地放牧饲养需要有计划、有规定、有处方,形成计划放牧;草地储料饲养需要有目标、有预案、有设计,形成设计饲养;最终提高饲草转化率及饲养效益,实现放牧场管理的某一特定目标。草食牲畜饲养经历了零散饲养、连续放牧饲养、划区轮牧饲养及集约大规模饲养的发展阶段。草地畜牧为粮食节约型肉品生产途径,对于保障国家粮食安全及肉品供给安全具有重要意义,并具有积极的生态意义和富民意义。     

冻原高山草地牧户家畜养殖规模影响因素分析——以青海省为例

家畜养殖规模是草地载畜的重要组成部分,对其影响因素进行深度剖析,对于引导牧户合理放牧,遏制草地退化,确保我国生态安全意义重大。根据在青海省调查获取的牧户数据,本研究运用主成分分析法识别了冻原高山草地上相关因素对牧户家畜养殖量的贡献率,进一步采用分位数回归深入剖析了不同规模牧户家畜养殖量的影响因素及其影响规律,探索家畜养殖影响因素在牧户规模层面的异质性。结果表明：冻原高山草地牧户家畜养殖量的主导现实因素为自然因子,其余影响因素依次是政策因子、教育因子和非牧因子;中等以下规模牧户家畜养殖量受家庭劳动力和非牧就业收入占比的显著影响;中等及以上规模牧户家畜养殖量受人均经营草地面积和草原补奖政策的显著影响,补奖政策中禁牧比草畜平衡更能达到保护草地生态的目标。建议增加牧区非牧就业机会,积极引导中等以下规模牧户参与非牧就业,同时加大冻原高山草地禁牧范围,并在补偿标准上对中等及以上规模牧户适当倾斜。本研究发现了冻原高山草地上家畜养殖影响因素在牧户规模上的异质性,为政府针对不同规模牧户区分管理提供了一定的科学依据。     

Enhancing livestock through genetic engineering--recent advances and future prospects

Transgenic technology allows for the stable introduction of exogenous genetic information into livestock genomes. With its ability to enhance existing or introduce entirely novel characteristics at unprecedented magnitude and speed this emerging technology is expected to have a profound impact on the genetic improvement of livestock in the future. The continual advances in animal genomics towards the identification of genes that influence livestock production traits and impact on human health will increase its ability and versatility for the purposeful modification of livestock animals to enhance their welfare, produce superior quality food and biomedical products and reduce the environmental impact of farming. In contrast to biomedicine, which has so far been the main driver for this technology platform, the potential opportunities for animal agriculture are more challenging because of the greater demands on cost, efficiency, consumer acceptance and relative value of the product. While various transgenic concepts for the genetic improvement of livestock animals for agriculture are being evaluated the integration of this technology into practical farming systems remains some distance in the future.     

Organic poultry production in the United States: Broilers

Since the USDA implemented the National Organic Program, the growth of the organic food market has continued to increase, with organic poultry as leading products. Organic livestock husbandry practices focus on living conditions that permit natural behaviors and provide outdoor access, preventive health management with a prohibition of antibiotics or other drugs (although vaccines can be used), and organic feed. Organic feed is raised without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides; pastures to which birds have access must also be organic. Hatcheries are currently not required to be organic, and conventional chicks may be used if they are under organic management by the second day after hatching. Although alternative, slow-growing genotypes are used in organic production in the European Union, conventional genetics are used in the United States. Poultry products, including meat and eggs, must be handled organically. Most synthetic materials are not permitted in organic food production, whereas most natural materials are; however, the National Organic Program National List specifies which materials are allowed. Of particular interest is an impending ban on the use of synthetic methionine in organic poultry diets. Research in the United States has examined alternative strategies, including the use of slow-growing broilers that are less heavily muscled than conventional fast-growing meat birds, but has not shown these birds to have lower methionine requirements. Research has also examined sensory differences between specialty and conventional meat chickens in the United States. Consumer panelists indicated no preference between these products, although trained panelists found some differences in the flavor of thigh meat. More meat quality differences were due to genotype than to outdoor access. Breast meat from slow-growing birds was more tender than that from fast-growing birds. Outdoor access resulted in leaner meat, but only in the case of slow-growing birds. As interest grows in specialty and organic poultry meat products, additional research is needed.     

国际草田耕作制度研究进展

豆科牧草与其他牧草或作物间套作或轮作是国际牧草耕作制度研发方向。发展有机、可持续的、绿色和生物多样性的农牧业是发达国家牧草耕作制度的基本政策,保护当地植物和生物多样性是非洲国家牧草耕作制度发展前沿,将家畜养殖和农牧业生产相结合、集雨和地膜覆盖种植牧草和新技术应用是亚洲部分国家牧草耕作制度研发方向。     

Farming strategies in organic dairy farming: Effects on breeding goal and choice of breed. An explorative study

Organic farming principles give rise to multifunctionality: different activities are combined at farm level to create ecological and economic synergies. These principles do however allow for different operationalisations and different farm development strategies, for example with regard to the use of external inputs or the decision whether or not to use advanced breeding technologies such as artificial insemination. Maintaining and improving diversity are therefore characteristic to organic farming. Since organic farming took off in the early 1990 s, many specialised dairy farms which tend to be more mono-functional in nature, have converted to organic, adding a new farming strategy to the diverse collection of farming strategies in organic dairy farming. All these farming strategies actually create different organic production environments for cows, which might result in different demands on selective breeding and breeding technology. This differential demand was explored in a survey, among 151 organic dairy farmers, on general farm strategy, milk production, breeding goal, choice of breed and approach to reproduction. Farmers were divided into one of two groups on each of three strategic options: a) diversification in farm business—Specialised Dairy Farming vs. Multifunctional Farming; b) intensity of milk production—Low Input vs. High Input Farming and c) naturalness of breeding—Farming with Artificial Insemination vs. Farming with Natural Service.A pair-wise comparison within each strategic option showed that each pair differed significantly with regard to farm characteristics, farm goal and animal production goals. However, there were only minor or no significant differences within each pair with regard to overall breeding goal. For each strategic option, big differences were found within each pair as regards preferred cattle breeds and crossbreeds. Farmers in the Specialised Dairy Farming and High Input Farming groups preferred milk-type cattle (Holstein and Holstein crossbreeds), while farmers in the Multifunctional Farming and Low Input Farming groups preferred various native Dutch breeds. But even farmers with a similar strategy (within one group) differed strongly in their choice of breeds and crossbreeds. These results indicate that organic farmers are going through process of learning by doing, experimenting as they search for breeds or crossbreeds that are optimally suited to their farm environment and that best agree with their farm development strategy. In this, the growing preference for keeping bulls on the farm for natural service is remarkable.     

Veterinary medicine educational requirements to meet the needs of the US Agency for International Development

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) works within the overall purpose of US foreign assistance to improve the lives of the citizens of the developing world. Through partnerships with other agencies, organizations, and governments, and using its field offices around the world, USAID strives to develop local capacity and thus build sustainable development. Two specific USAID programs pertinent to veterinary medicine are global health and agriculture. In the area of global health, veterinarians can aid USAID's work to improve the quality, availability, and use of essential health services that specifically target maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, family planning and reproductive health, infectious diseases, environmental health, nutrition, and other life-saving areas. The challenge of making the agricultural sector in a developing country more productive is a critical one for USAID and a clear area for input from the veterinary profession. Animal agriculture is the largest single sector of agricultural economies in most developing countries, and livestock remains a critical component of poverty alleviation. There are educational requirements that benefit anyone working at USAID and can be met prior to admittance to a DVM program, as part of a DVM curriculum, or in post-graduate training/employment, such as proficiency in a foreign language; environmental sciences background; familiarity with accounting and management techniques; expertise in foreign animal diseases, zoonotic diseases, epidemiology, food safety, and nutrition, as well as the application to human health of those areas; an advanced degree such as an MPH; and management experience. Appropriately trained veterinarians can make enormous contributions to USAID's global efforts to improve the health and agriculture sectors of developing nations.     

广西贵港市水产畜牧业可持续发展概述

广西贵港市落实中央强农、惠农、富农政策,加强养殖农户科技培训力度,提高养殖农户科技素质;建立畜禽养殖标准化示范场,以点带面,以龙头企业带动养殖户共同发展的模式,加强与科研院所合作,实施良种战略,通过科技创新,促进了水产畜牧业的持续发展。     

我国兽用生物制品的现状与思考

扼要回顾了我国兽用生物制品半个多世纪以来的发展历史 ,特别是在质量管理上的变化和产生的影响。针对近年来由于以畜禽为主的养殖业迅猛发展 ,导致预防兽用的生物制品流通失控 ,而影响到疫病防治的问题。建议国家应从体制上特别是从质量管理体制和流通管理体制上进行改革 ,以适应养殖业持续发展的需要。