Chapters authored
Phytochemicals as Alternatives to Antibiotics in Animal Production
Despite the continuous improvement of feed diets and recipes, animal health problems persist. For their treatment, antibiotics and chemotherapy have been shown to have side effects hard to control. The antibiotic residues in animal products may endanger human health. Since the antibiotics were restricted in animals’ diets, which were previously used to keep under control digestive and respiratory pathologies, as well as allergies, so the researchers began to search for natural alternatives. Thus, it was developed the concept of phytoadditives, and these natural plant extracts are gaining ground in animal farming. Since then, more and more animal breeders and farms are willing to use various types of phytoadditives. This chapter aims to present the most widely used phytochemicals in animal nutrition, their effects on animal production and health, and to make some recommendations on the use of phytochemicals in farm animals’ diets.
Part of the book: Antibiotics and Probiotics in Animal Food
Biorefinery for Rehabilitation of Heavy Metals Polluted Areas
Biorefinery applied in heavy metals polluted lands proposed here describes a process starting from soil (polluted and unfit for food and feed production) and solar energy stored in carbohydrates (regarded here as a solar energy carrier) to deliver liquid and gaseous biofuels, green building block chemicals for the market and return the rest of the matter (not delivered to the market) as fertilizer and soil improver, extracting the heavy metals from the polluted soil for safe reuse and remediating the land to sustainably deliver resources in a circular bioeconomy. The circular economy proposed in this chapter offers a novel approach to land rehabilitation by investigating the opportunity for economic value creation as an integral part of a rehabilitation strategy and production of biomaterials and biofuels as renewable energy carriers. The case study approached here can be developed in a complete circular biorefinery process and value chain enabling the use of heavy metals polluted lands for production of renewable energy and biomaterials and at the same time serve as a means of rehabilitation of contaminated lands. This biotechnology can be transferred and adapted in other areas improper for food/feed production due to contamination human industrial activity.
Part of the book: Heavy Metals
The Role of Nutrition in Enhancing Sustainability in Sheep Production
Sheep nutrition is of paramount importance for ensuring sustainable sheep production, regardless of whether it follows traditional or precision methods. Optimal nutrition not only contributes to the well-being and productivity of sheep but also mitigates environmental consequences. Both traditional and precision production systems can adopt responsible management practices to enhance sustainability. These practices encompass maximizing pasture utilization, reducing dependency on synthetic inputs, minimizing waste generation, and implementing efficient feeding strategies. By giving due consideration to the nutritional requirements of sheep and their ecological footprint, sustainable sheep production can be successfully attained across various production systems. It is essential to strike a balance between meeting the nutritional needs of sheep and minimizing environmental impacts to foster a sustainable future for sheep farming.
Part of the book: Sheep Farming - Sustainability From Traditional to Precision Production [Working title]