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Intensification and complexity of pig production systems may require different strategies for animal welfare improvement. We aimed to identify welfare issues of gestation sows and areas for improvement by comparing four production systems, including the smallholder pen-based system (SPS: 26 farms), smallholder stall-based system (SSS:14 farms), semi-intensive stall-based system (SES: 15 farms), and intensive stall-based system (ISS: 10 farms). Ten significant animal-based measures in the Welfare Quality® protocol were used for welfare assessment at the individual level. Stall-housed sows in SES and ISS faced more welfare problems where sows presented a higher prevalence of poor body condition (P < 0.001), wounds on body (P = 0.003), fear of humans (P < 0.001), and stereotypies (P < 0.001) than pen-housed sows in the SPS. Sows in the SPS presented the highest prevalence of panting (P < 0.001). Welfare improvement should be focused on minimizing the adverse effects of hot weather on sows in the SPS and SSS and redesigning a more welfare-friendly housing system that prevents sows from the risk of wounds on body and enables them to perform motivated behaviors in the SES and ISS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed at evaluating how sires, classified for their additive genetic effects on residual feed intake (RFI) of ad libitum-fed progeny, influence growth performance, tissue accretion, and gain composition in restricted-fed offspring (96–168 kg body weight, BW). A total of 416 purebred C21 Goland pigs, offspring of 23 sires, were randomly allocated to three feeding groups: ad libitum, restricted medium-protein, or restricted low-protein. Empty BW, body lipid mass and body protein mass were estimated from individual BW and backfat measures using literature equations. Residuals of a linear regression of average daily feed intake on average empty BW, body lipid and protein daily gains were used as estimates of individual RFI in ad libitum-fed pigs. Additive genetic effects of sires on RFI of ad libitum-fed pigs were estimated with a linear animal model and solutions of the model were used to allocate the sires to low- (LRFI), medium- (MRFI), or high-RFI (HRFI) groups. Restricted-fed progeny of LRFI sires exhibited reduced average daily feed intake (-3%) compared to MRFI and HRFI progeny. This indicates that LRFI progeny make a more efficient use of energy intake and implies that variation in RFI across families, assessed under ad libitum feeding, is related to the across-family variation in feed efficiency detected under restricted feeding. LRFI progeny exhibited also a lower feed conversion ratio (-11%), partially resulting from of a 3% increase in growth rate compared with HRFI. Thus, LRFI progeny consumed less feed, while growing at a similar or slightly higher rate than MRFI or HRFI. No significant differences across sire classes were observed for daily tissue accretion and gain composition. Hence, we can hypothesise that efficient sires would not affect carcass leanness of heavy pig progeny fed restricted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosecurity measures, coupled with effective on-farm management, encompass all aspects aimed at preventing the entry of pathogens into pig farms and their subsequent spread within the facility. This study assessed biosecurity practices on commercial pig farms in Serbia by surveying farm veterinarians/managers. To evaluate biosecurity on these farms, a Biocheck online survey (https://biocheckgent.com) was conducted across ten commercial pig farms in Northern Serbia, where the highest concentration of industrial pig production occurs. The average overall biosecurity score was 65.56 ±11.65. External biosecurity scored higher (75.56 ±9.39), whereas internal biosecurity scored lower (54.89 ±16.92). Within external biosecurity, the weakest scores were observed in categories such as feed, water, and equipment supply (47 ±25.48), showing considerable variation among farms, particularly in feed, water, equipment supply (54.22), and farm location (57.65). Regarding internal biosecurity, the lowest scores were noted during the farrowing and suckling period (37.22 ±15.08) and the finishing unit (37.66 ±24.12). This study reveals that biosecurity measures in commercial pig farms in Serbia are slightly below the global average. Given the predominance of extensive production systems in Serbia, urgent improvements in biosecurity practices on industrial farms are essential. Identification and implementation of appropriate biosecurity measures tailored to existing animal production systems are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Traditional smallholder pig farming plays an important role in farmers' income and national food security in the low- and middle-income countries in Southeast Asia including Laos; however, its productivity is low and it is often environmentally unsustainable. Aims: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of using fermented bed-floor housing compared with the conventional concrete-floor housing on growth, carcass treats and economic return on raising Laos native pigs. Methods: The study was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos. Twenty four castrated native pigs, aged ±3 months with initial liveweight of 17 ± 2 kg/head, were randomly assigned to the following housing types as treatments: (1) conventional concrete-floor system (CS) as control, and (2) fermented bed-flooring system (FB). The pigs were fed with similar diet with 16.01% crude protein and 11,796 kJ/kg gross energy for a period of 84 days after a 14-day adaptation to the feed. Each treatment was replicated four times (pens), with three pigs/pen. Data on feed intake, liveweight change, carcass trait and costs and returns of production in the two treatments were analysed using Student's paired-sample t -test. Key results: Pigs kept in FB flooring had higher DM and nutrient (crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract and organic matter) intakes than did their counterparts raised in the CS, but the differences were not significant when adjusted to bodyweight basis. There were also no significant differences in growth performance (average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR)), and carcass traits, except that pigs from FB had higher hot carcass weight, dressing percentage and rib and bone weights. Native pigs kept in the FB system had significantly higher total production costs because of the cost of the bedding material, but also had four-fold higher net income return generated from the sale of the fermented floor compost. Conclusions: Fermented bed-flooring system has no significant impact on growth and key carcass traits, but significantly enhanced profit. Implications: Fermented bed-flooring system should be promoted for rearing local pigs under smallholder farms to increase profit and protect the environment in the low- and middle-income countries. Traditional indigenous pig farming using concrete floor has low productivity and is environmentally unsustainable. Fermented bed-flooring system enhances net profit by four fold through sale of the flooring compost. Fermented bed floor provides a profitable and environmentally sustainable option for smallholder pig farming in the developing countries. This article belongs to the Collection Sustainable Animal Agriculture for Developing Countries 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is transmitted by the fecal route, usually through contaminated water in humans and/or infected animals, especially pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of anti-HEV antibodies in a panel of pig sera and to identify HEV in pig feces in farms. Methodology: The presence of HEV antibodies was tested by an in-house ELISA and a commercial ELISA IDvet. HEV genome was assessed by nested RT-PCR, and then, genotype was identified by sequencing (MinION Nanopore technology). Results: In 2017–2019, the 43% seroprevalence found in Forest Guinea was significantly higher than the 7% found in the Lower region (p < 0.01). Presence of HEV genotype 3c was demonstrated during a secondary study in the Lower region (Conakry) in 2022. Conclusion: The presence of HEV-3c in pigs calls for an evaluation of seroprevalence in human populations and for a HEV genotype human circulation check. Contribution Heading: This study is the first report, to our knowledge, of seroprevalence and characterization of HEV infection in pigs in Guinea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Porcine pleuropneumonia, caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, is one of the main causes of massive losses in the pig industry, with a high economic impact. This study aimed to identify A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes isolated from pneumonic lesions in dead pigs, naturally infected, in some Piedmontese farms and to describe the macroscopic and microscopic lesions. The identification of circulating serotypes in swine farming is crucial to adopting optimal strategies to control the diseases, such as vaccination plans and biosecurity measures. Porcine pleuropneumonia (PPP) is one of the main causes leading to massive losses in the pig industry, with high economic impacts. Among different etiological agents, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) is responsible for severe fibrinous-necrotizing pleuropneumonia. A total of 19 different APP serotypes are currently recognized. This study aimed to identify APP serotypes isolated from pneumonic lesions in naturally infected and dead pigs in the Piedmont Region and to describe lesions. A total of 107 dead pigs with a suspected PPP diagnosis were included in this study. Lungs were evaluated using gross-pathology scoring systems, histopathology, and APP isolation and serotypes identification by multiplex PCR were conducted. Gross lung lesions were mainly represented by fibrinous pneumonia and pleuropneumonia. APP was isolated in 20/107 (18.7%) samples. PCR indicated APP DNA presence in 53/107 (49.5%) of lung samples. The most observed serotypes were serotype 2 in 24/53 (45.3%) and serotype 6 in 13/53 (24.5%) samples. Moreover, multiplex PCR results suggested a coinfection of different serotypes in five samples. This study emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach, utilizing various techniques, such as gross- and histopathology, and bacteriological culture and PCR, to enhance the diagnosis of APP infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The community partnership program at Kelompok Usaha Bersama (KUBE) Rare Angon Goat Farming aims to increase the productivity of goat livestock to support livestock and agricultural businesses in partner groups, especially in terms of providing a technological touch in processing livestock and agricultural waste into solid and liquid organic fertilizer of high quality and economic value. Goat farming is one of the livestock commodities that produce meat and milk which has great potential to be developed Target What is achieved from the activity is that partners can look after goats well and can independently make quality organic fertilizers that have economic value. Apart from that, an increase in the economic value of livestock waste was also achieved by up to 20%. The able in this activity is This activity is also able to reduce environmental pollution by up to 40%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many parts of the world, domestic and wild animal populations interact at the interface between natural and agricultural ecosystems. Introduced with the first inhabitants arriving from eastern Africa, the bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus) is the largest living terrestrial mammal in Madagascar. Bushpigs are regularly reported close to human settlements where they damage crops and gardens. As domestic pigs are often raised in free-ranging conditions around the villages, bushpigs and domestic pigs can interact leading to the transmission and circulation of shared swine pathogens that impact both animal and human health. In this study, we characterized the socio-ecological context of bushpig–domestic pig interactions in two different regions of western Madagascar. We conducted participatory mapping sessions and focus group interviews with 65 hunters, 80 pig farmers and 96 crop farmers in 20 fokontany, the smallest administrative unit in Madagascar. After discussing with participants, we gathered information about the spatialization of interactions and their potential geographical drivers. We explored data by performing multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical clustering on principal components. Based on the reported occurrence or absence of bushpig-domestic pig interactions we were able to classify areas with high or intermediate levels of interactions or no interactions at all. Interactions between the two pig species were reported in only 25% of the fokontany assessed. Even though both suid species were attracted to fruit trees, crops, and water sources, only indirect interactions in those spots were reported. Direct interactions were reported in 10% of cases and referred to interspecific sexual and/or agonistic behavior. The participatory methods used to acquire local knowledge about natural events were confirmed as valuable, low-cost exploratory methods to characterize areas with wild-domestic animal interactions. The results of this study will help plan future studies to characterize the interface between the two species from an ecological or epidemiological perspective using more sensitive and sophisticated ecological approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Taeniasis and cysticercosis are parasitic infections caused by Taenia spp., mainly transmitted through the consumption of undercooked pork. Prevention requires increasing knowledge and awareness, improving meat inspection and hygiene, and promoting safe food handling and sanitation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and practice (KP) of residents in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, regarding taeniasis and cysticercosis. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, and its 11 subdistrict municipalities. Study participants were selected using a stratified random sampling design. A validated questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.70) was used to collect socio-demographic information and assess knowledge and practices related to taeniasis and cysticercosis. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used for the analysis. Results: Of the 360 survey respondents, 65.0% (n = 234) were women, 82.2% (n = 296) were aged under 60 years, 99.2% (n = 357) identified as Buddhist, 87.5% (n = 315) had less than a bachelor's degree education level, 54.2% (n = 195) had monthly family income ≥10,000 Thai baht, 10.6% (n = 38) were unemployed, and 26.1% (n = 93) lived in a town municipality. The survey revealed that 98.3% (n = 354) of participants were categorized as having less accurate knowledge and 83.6% (n = 301) were classified as more frequently engaging in correct prevention practices. Our study revealed that pig farmers (1.7%) occasionally permitted the pigs to forage freely. The results of multiple linear regression analysis revealed that knowledge scores were positively associated with household income ≥10,000 Thai baht (βadj = 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65 to 2.36). Practice scores were negatively associated with age over 60 years (βadj = −1.77, 95% CI −3.14 to −0.40) and living in a subdistrict municipality (βadj = −2.58, 95% CI −3.77 to −1.39). There was no association between KP regarding taeniasis and cysticercosis in the population of Pak Chong. Conclusions: Overall, participants' knowledge was lacking. Public education interventions are recommended to improve knowledge among residents with low socioeconomic status. These findings can inform the development of targeted interventions and educational programs in Pak Chong District, especially among elderly people in subdistrict municipalities, to improve practices for the prevention and control of these parasitic infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African swine fever (ASF) has remained persistent in Tanzania since the early 2000s. Between 2020 and 2021, pig farms in twelve districts in Tanzania were infected with ASF, and ≥4,804 pigs reportedly died directly due to the disease with disruption to livelihoods. We conducted semiquantitative field investigations and rapid risk assessment (RRA) to understand the risk factors and drivers of ASF virus (ASFV) amplification and transmission in smallholder pig farms, and determine the gaps in biosecurity through hazard profiling, focus group discussions and expert opinion. Outbreaks were connected by road and aligned along the pig product value chain and reported in the northern, central, and southern parts of Tanzania. The patterns of outbreaks and impacts differed among districts, but cases of ASF appeared to be self-limiting following significant mortality of pigs in farms. Movement of infected pigs, movement of contaminated pig products, and fomites associated with service providers, vehicles, and equipment, as well as the inadvertent risks associated with movements of animal health practitioners, visitors, and scavengers were the riskiest pathways to introduce ASFV into smallholder pig farms. Identified drivers and facilitators of risk of ASFV infection in smallholder pig farms were traders in whole pigs, middlemen, pig farmers, transporters, unauthorized animal health service providers, and traders in pork. All identified pig groups were susceptible to ASFV, particularly shared adult boars, pregnant and lactating sows, and other adult females. The risk of ASF for smallholder pig farms in Tanzania remains very high based on a systematic risk classification. The majority of the farms had poor biosecurity and no single farm implemented all identified biosecurity measures. Risky practices and breaches of biosecurity in the pig value chain in Tanzania are profit driven and are extremely difficult to change. Behavioural change communication must target identified drivers of infections, attitudes, and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pig sector in Corsica is based by a wide range of farming systems, mainly characterized on traditional extensive practices, which favor contacts between domestic and wild individuals. These contacts are suspected to influence the maintenance and the transmission of shared infectious diseases between both populations. Therefore, it is important to develop methods that allow to understand and anticipate their occurrence. Modeling these interactions requires accurate data on the presence, location and use of land on pig farms and farming practices, but such data are often unavailable, incomplete or outdated. In this study, we suggest a method to collect and analyze pig farming information that combines approaches from social sciences and epidemiology and enables a spatial representation of an index of potential interaction (IPI) between wild and domestic pigs at municipality level in the Corsican territory. As a first step of the process, interviews were conducted to gather information from 103 pig farms. Then, using hierarchical clustering, we identified five different clusters of pig farming practices which were evaluated and validated by local experts using participatory tools. The five pig farming clusters with their respective estimated levels of direct and indirect interactions with wild boars were combined in a linear equation with pig density to estimate a hypothetical index of potential interaction (IPI) in 155 municipalities. Our results revealed the diversity of pig farming practices across the island of Corsica and pointed out potential hotspots of interaction. Our method proved to be an effective way to collect and update information on the presence and typology of pig farms which has the potential to update official livestock production statistics. The spatial representation of an IPI between wild boars and domestic pigs in the Corsican territory could help design regional disease management strategies and policies to improve the control of certain shared pig pathogens in pig farms from Corsica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vietnam heavily relies on pork as its primary source of animal protein. Traditional farming methods, characterized by small-scale operations, dominate the industry. However, challenges such as rising feed costs, disease outbreaks, and market volatility are prompting many farmers to abandon their businesses. Recognizing the pivotal role of the swine sector in both economic development and nutrition, authorities must intervene to prevent its collapse. In developed nations, smart pig farming, utilizing technologies like sensors and cameras for data collection and real-time decision-making, has significantly improved health and productivity. These technologies can detect subtle indicators of animal well-being, enabling prompt intervention. This review aims to analyze the drivers of Vietnam's swine farming, identify existing production system flaws, and explore innovative precision farming methods worldwide. Embracing precision farming promises to enhance Vietnam's competitiveness in export markets and bolster consumer confidence. However, reliance solely on expensive foreign technologies may benefit large-scale farms, leaving smaller ones behind. Therefore, fostering local innovation and validating cost-effective solutions will be crucial for the sustainable growth of small- and medium-scale pig farming in Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eco-agricultural park is a new comprehensive agricultural technology system integrating agricultural production, rural economic development, ecological environment protection, and efficient resource utilization. Therefore, an in-depth analysis of the ecosystem structure of eco-agricultural parks will help achieve the goal of coordinated symbiosis between human development and environmental protection. This study takes the research area of the Eco-agricultural Park of Jinchuan Town, Huinan County, a typical town in the Changbai Mountains of Northeast China. Based on field surveys, market research, farmer consultation, and related data collection, emergy theory and methods are used to construct an emergy model for the park. The value evaluation index system integrates the unique emergy index of the agricultural ecosystem with the traditional emergy index system to conduct a targeted evaluation of the park's functional structure and sustainable development capabilities in order to improve the efficiency of material and energy use and provide technical reference for ecological construction and comprehensive development of agricultural industry in mountainous areas in northern China. The research results show that: (1) The annual input total emergy of the eco-agricultural park is 4.04E+24 sej/a, and the emergy of labor input, electricity input, and topsoil loss is relatively high. The park is in a labor-intensive stage. The annual output total emergy is 5.09E+24 sej/a, the park is dominated by planting and forestry industries. (2) The park's emergy utilization intensity is high—production efficiency is high, economic development is advanced, and the system's self-control, adjustment, and feedback functions are vital—and plays a significant role in promoting the development of the regional economy. However, the park relies more on investment from external resources, and production in the park puts pressure on the environment. (3) The current sustainable development capability of the study area is weak, and the factors affecting the sustainable development capability are mainly energy loss and uneven distribution of industrial areas in the park. Effective measures to promote the transformation of the park to develop technology-intensive industries and improve the sustainable development performance of the park were proposed. These include: adjusting the proportion of industries in the park; reducing high-energy external input emergy, such as industrial auxiliary emergy; reducing the loss of non-renewable natural resources through ecological engineering measures, such as reducing the depth of slope runoff in the park; and combining modern resource-based production technology and environmentally sound management methods to reduce energy loss and rational use of natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was to present data on the current situation and future trends of pig meat production in the European Union-27 (EU). Pig production has played an important social and economic role for centuries in many states of the EU. In 2022, pig meat production in the EU reached 23 M tons, which represented 21% of total production worldwide. The two key reasons that justify such amount of pork produced, are the acceptance and high consumption of the meat by the local population and the high quality of the meat produced which facilitated pork export. However, current data show a reduction in pork production for the last three years, as a consequence of a series of events that include i) problems with the chain of ingredients supply, ii) uncontrolled increase in African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks, iii) fast recovery of pig production in China, iv) increasing concerns by the rural population on the high cost to meet future requirements of the EU legislation on farm management, environmental sustainability and animal welfare, v) increased cost of all inputs involved in pig production and vi) limited interest of the new farmer generation to work on the pig sector. Consequently, pork production is expected to decrease in the EU for the next years, although sales will be maintained at a relative high level because pork is the meat preferred by local consumers in most EU countries. In order to maintain the favourable position of the pork industry in the near future, strategies to implement include: i) maintain the quality of the meat destinated to export markets, ii) improve the control of outbreaks of ASF and other swine diseases, iii) implementation of technological innovations to improve working conditions making more attractive to work in the pork sector of the food chain to the new generation of farmers and workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asia is not only the primary region for global pig production but also the largest consumer of pork worldwide. Although the pig production in Asia has made great progress in the past, it still is confronted with numerous challenges. These challenges include: inadequate land and feed resources, a substantial number of small-scale pig farms, escalating pressure to ensure environmental conservation, control of devastating infectious diseases, as well as coping with high temperatures and high humidity. To solve these problems, important investments of human and financial capital are required to promote large-scale production systems, exploit alternative feed resources, implement precision feeding, and focus on preventive medicine and vaccines as alternatives to antibiotics, improve pig breeding, and increase manure recycling. Implementation of these techniques and management practices will facilitate development of more environmentally-friendly and economically sustainable pig production systems in Asia, ultimately providing consumers with healthy pork products around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • It emphasizes the vital role of CBE in promoting sustainable pig farming. • A CBE approach provides both economic and environmental benefits for pig farming. • The CBE outcomes are evaluated with Scenarios (1 to 3). • Scenario 2 using partial microalgae-based biomass recycle is superior to other Scenarios. • Scenario 2 increases revenue and lowers environmental impact, ideal for CBE. The circular bioeconomy (CBE) presents a sustainable solution for the pig farming system, delivering economic and environmental benefits. This shift from a linear to a CBE model is anticipated to result in substantial economic, environmental, and social transformations. In this study, the CBE outcomes are evaluated with Scenarios (1 to 3): (1) pig farming and anaerobic digestion (AD) only, (2) pig farming, AD, and microalgae system (MS) with partial microalgae-based biomass (MB) recycle, and (3) pig farming, AD, and MS without MB recycle. Through economic and life cycle analyses, the internal rate of return for Scenarios (1 to 3) are 13.3%, 15.0%, and 12.3%, respectively, but the corresponding endpoint indicators are 483pt, 363pt, and 398pt. To address the best CBE, Scenario 2 by using MB product as a pig feed supplement could achieve higher revenue as well as lower environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several smallholder pig farms exist in Brazil in parallel with industrial pig farming, which is carried out on large-scale farms. This study aimed to describe the smallholder pig production systems in the Metropolitan Area of Curitiba. For this, a questionnaire was applied in loco by interviewing 362 farmers. The labor force was exclusively family-oriented (93.4%), 50% of the farms had between 1.1 and 10 acres, 98.3% raised other animal species (i.e., poultry), and in 80.9% of the properties they cultivated mainly corn. Farrow-to-finish operations were developed in 57.2% of the farms, the swine were kept in a confined system in 62.5%, and the swine were kept outdoors in 20.7%. Of the farrow-to-finish operations, 40.1% had between 11 and 20 pigs, while in the fattening farms, 88.4% had up to 5 pigs. Most of the visited properties (79.6%) had pigs with undefined breeds. In terms of feeding practices, corn, and locally available vegetables were the most commonly used. In addition, 38.1% of farmers used commercial concentrate, usually with other feed. Reproduction was exclusively by natural mating, and the most frequently weaning age (46.9%) was two months. All the interviewees raised swine primarily for their consumption, with 78.7% also selling the animals. In the studied region, farmers obtained their family income by combining farming with other activities and stated that pig production contributed little to this income, and was developed mainly as a family tradition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As African swine fever is a serious threat to the pig industry in Malaysia, scientifically analyzed information on the disease is vital for better control of the disease. The present study was conducted to determine the environmental and biosecurity-related risk factors for African swine fever outbreaks among domestic pig farms in Peninsular Malaysia. Data collected through a face-to-face interview with the pig farmers using a structured, close-ended questionnaire were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The final logistic regression model identified (1) presence of wild birds in the pig pens area (OR = 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01-0.74; p = .03), (2) presence of attractive crops/fruit trees surrounding the farm (OR = 4.00; 95% CI = 1.25-12.82; p = 0.02), (3) sharing of workers with other farms (OR = 6.11, 95% CI, 1.46-25.61; p = .01), (4) entry of visitor's vehicle into farm (OR = 0.14; 95% CI, 0.02-1.00; p = .05), (5) entry of feed truck into farm (OR = 5.45; 95% CI, 1.03-28.92; p = .04), (6) presence of biting insects such as flies, mosquitoes on pig's body which irritates the pigs (OR = 0.21; 95% CI, 0.06-0.80; p = .02), and (7) farm prone to rodent access and infestation (OR = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.03-0.79; p = .03) as the significant risk factors for African swine fever outbreaks in the studied farms. These findings highlight the need to strengthen on-farm biosecurity practices, farm management practices, and strict control of vehicle movement into the farm to prevent African swine fear outbreaks in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The arrival of the African swine fever (ASF) epizootic in the European continent has pushed public veterinary authorities to act immediately in order to contain its spread by applying the regulatory guidance of the current Animal Health Law of the European Union (Regulations EU 2016/429). Control and surveillance measures, in accordance with Regulations 2020/687 and 2023/594, have been implemented. Moreover, protection and surveillance areas have been created around the infected holdings and the wild boar cases. This paper analyzes the advantages and critical points of the legal framework for the control of ASF in wild boar, focusing on the role of official veterinary services in European Union Member States (EU MS). Recently, the African swine fever (ASF) epizootic has been reported in domestic pigs and wild boars in several European Union Member States (EU MS) and epidemiological evidence has accumulated which indicates that wild boar play a key role in maintaining and spreading the disease. Thanks to the experience gained when managing ASF outbreaks in Sardinia (Italy) and Eastern Europe, Directive 2002/60 CE was issued. This directive represented an important step forward in controlling the disease, particularly the risk of spreading the virus to wild animals. Since 2021, according to Regulation (EU) 2016/429, which is also called "Animal Health Law—AHL", when the MS competent authority suspects or confirms ASF (a cat. A listed disease) in wild animals, it is mandatory to conduct surveillance in the wild boar population and implement the necessary control measures. Within AHL, Regulations (EU) 2020/687 and 2023/594 established special ASF control measures in kept and wild porcine animals, and their products and by-products, focusing on and underlying old and new responsibilities that vets (both public and private ones) have to accomplish under the new regulations. The new change in the legal framework deals with specific measures to be applied in the wild and represents a great challenge for MS veterinary services. Some of these measures have been well established in the last two decades, particularly those related to application in the farming system, while other measures are still new to veterinary health management and require a holistic approach in terms of intensity, considering all geographical, ecological, productive, cultural and social features of the involved EU MS. In this contribution, the authors intend to focus on specific measures which have been issued in order to limit or stop the spread of ASF in a wild, "boundless" ecosystem. These measures expand the field of competence of the official veterinary service to wild areas in addition to farm activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing awareness of the difficulties associated with ensuring optimal nutrition for everyone, while preserving the environment. This issue is particularly relevant in the context of aquaculture, as it heavily relies on marine resources for essential feed components, while also playing a crucial role in supplying vital nutrients such as omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Aquaculture is responsible for producing the majority of the world's fish and seafood, making it a significant contributor to global food security. However, the rising costs of traditional feed ingredients and the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources pose significant challenges to aquaculture production. To address these challenges, various methods and techniques are employed, with the recent trend being the utilization of unconventional feed ingredients in the aquaculture sector. These alternative feed sources include plant-based products, various types of algae (both micro and macroalgae), single-cell protein derived from bacteria and yeast, as well as insect meal, poultry by-products, meat and bone meal etc. all aimed at promoting sustainable food production in aquaculture. The objectives of this review are to elucidate the role of "blue-food production" (which encompasses animals, plants and algae harvested from freshwater and marine environments) within a circular bio-economy, to explore how this approach can enhance the sustainability and resilience of aquaculture, and to provide an overview of emerging novel nutrient sources for aquaculture species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China, the world's largest consumer and producer of pork in the world, is attracting increasing attention due to the environmental impacts of its pig production. Previous studies seldom comprehensively compare the environmental impacts of the pig production system with different models, resulting in different intensities of environmental impacts. We aim to comprehensively evaluate Chinese pig production with different breeding models and explore a more sustainable way for pig production. We use life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate and compare environmental impacts of pig production system with four main breeding models in China from 1998 to 2020: domestic breeding, small-scale breeding, medium-scale breeding, and large-scale breeding. The life cycle encompasses fertilizer production, feed production, feed processing, pig raising, waste treatment, and slaughtering. The impact categories including energy consumption (EN), global warming (GWP), acidification (AP), eutrophication (EU), water use (WD), and land occupation (LO) are expressed with "100 kg live weight of fattening pig at farm gate." The results show that driven by governmental support, growing meat demand, and cost advantage, the scale breeding especially large-scale breeding simultaneously yielded greater net economic benefit and less environmental impact compared to other breeding models especially the domestic breeding. Due to mineral fertilizer application, feed production contributed over 50% of the total environmental impacts. Notably, the composition of feeds exerted significant influence on the environmental impacts arising from fertilizer production and feed processing. Furthermore, attributable to the substantial use of electricity and heat, as well as the concomitant emissions, pig raising contributed the largest GWP, while ranking second in terms of AP and EU. Notably, waste management constituted the third-largest EU, AP, and WD. In addition to promote scale breeding, we put forth several sustainable measures encompassing feed composition, cultivation practices, fertilizer utilization, and waste management for consideration., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)