Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a crucial crop in tropics and subtropics, primarily cultivated for its tuber. However, its foliage is rich in protein and can supply essential elements for ruminants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical compounds by Gas chromatography-MS (GC-MS) and the main phenolic by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) present in cassava foliage, along with the fermentation pattern using a semi-automated gas production (GP) system. The in vitro evaluation was carried out for four diets formulated as follows: T1 (alfalfa: grass hay at ratio of 30: 70); T2 (alfalfa: grass hay: banana flour 30:60:10); T3 and T4 (replaced alfalfa in T1 and T2 with cassava foliage, respectively). The addition of green banana flour aimed to increase the diets’ energy. The GC-MS results indicated that cassava foliage showed a large number of valuable bioactive components, with the biflavonoid isoginkgetin representing the major component at 25.33% of total peak area percentage. The HPLC analysis declared that rutin, gallic acid, and ferulic acid were the main phenolic compounds presented in cassava foliage ethanolic extract. The accumulative gas after 24 h of incubation was significantly lower with cassava diets compared to alfalfa diets, being 119.3 versus 130.1 ml/g DM, respectively. The degradation of both organic matter and neutral detergent fiber was significantly higher with alfalfa compared to cassava diets, while there was no significant difference between alfalfa and cassava diets on final pH, ammonia concentration and protozoal count. Banana flour inclusion, regardless of the forage type, decreased the accumulative gas after 24 h of incubation with about 9% compared with no banana addition. The use of cassava foliage in ruminant diets considered a promising protein source with valuable bioactive components that could have a positive effect on animal health and production.

Prevention and control are two complementary strategies for disease management. In the absence of disease, prevention could be viewed as wasteful. On the contrary, control requires efforts, only in the presence of the disease. But in some cases, control strategies are implemented a long time after the disease started, when irrevocable damages could be already observed. Deciding how much efforts are dedicated to prevention and control is a difficult problem in practice. In this work, we formulated a simple mathematical model to balance the trade-off between prevention and control efforts, with the expected loss due to disease. We derived an analytical form of the optimal prevention and control efforts and showed that the amount of control and prevention efforts depends on the relative values of the control and prevention efficacy, weighted by the probability of disease occurrence. We illustrated our framework for the management of gastro-intestinal nematodes in small-ruminants. In particular to discuss the use of different common management methods, such as systematic or targeted anthelmintic treatments, and mixed grazing. We proposed simple decision rules that could help designing future management practice and research efforts in this area. For examples, we computed the minimal anthelmintic efficacy for treatment to be economically viable. We also discussed the optimal cost and efficacy of a monitoring method for implementing targeted selective treatment, or the maximal cost of mixed grazing implementation. This framework is particularly useful to discuss the cost of new management strategy, and to ensure that new management designs are economically viable.

Tropical peas can be used as both animal feed and human food but the nutritional quality of their proteins for humans is currently poorly documented. Here, 3 varieties of tropical peas were studied at two stages of seed maturity (green or dry): Cajanus Cajan (CC), Vigna Unguiculata (VU) and Lablab Purpureus (LP). Pea seeds were prepared traditionally (soaking and cooking). The true ileal digestibility (TID) of their amino acids was measured in minipigs, and the digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS) was calculated. Total amino acid TID was not significantly different between pea varieties (95.8 % for CC vs 93.0 % for VU vs 96.7 % for LP), but it decreased slightly between green and dry seeds. The DIAAS for adults of green and dry seeds was 104 and 111 for CC, 94 and 96 for VU, and 78 and 64 for LP. For human consumption, Cajanus Cajan and Vigna Unguiculata provided a good balance in indispensable amino acids in relation to adult requirements, whereas Lablab Purpureus was deficient in sulphur amino acids.

The objective of this meta-regression was to evaluate the influence of ruminant species, sex, and climatic regions on the metabolizable energy (ME) requirements for maintenance (MEm) and weight gain (MEg) in growing small ruminants raised for meat production across different climatic regions. Data included 655 and 337 treatment means from 173 and 99 studies on sheep and goats, respectively. Metabolizable energy intake (MEI; MJ/kg(<^>0.75)) was regressed against average daily gain (ADG; g/kg(<^>0.75)), with the study included as a random effect. The analysis found that MEm was not affected by species (P = 0.50), but MEg (MJ/g ADG) was significantly different between species (P = 0.02), with sheep requiring 0.032 (+/- 0.002) and goats 0.026 (+/- 0.002) MJ/g ADG. Sex did not affect MEm in either species (P >= 0.32). However, in goats, intact males had a greater MEg (P = 0.02) than females (0.030 +/- 0.003 vs. 0.013 +/- 0.006 MJ/g ADG). MEm was lower (P = 0.03) in small ruminants raised in subtropical regions (0.497 +/- 0.046 MJ/kg(<^>0.75)) compared to those in semi-arid (0.600 +/- 0.038 MJ/kg(<^>0.75)) and tended to be lower than those in arid regions (0.529 +/- 0.050 MJ/kg(<^>0.75)). However, these differences disappeared when adjusting for maturity, diet composition, digestibility, or altitude. MEg was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in animals raised in arid regions (0.032 +/- 0.006 MJ/g ADG) compared to those in Mediterranean (0.009 +/- 0.004 MJ/g ADG) or semi-arid regions (0.009 +/- 0.004 MJ/g ADG) after adjusting for diet composition and digestibility. Similarly, ruminants in Mediterranean regions had lower MEg (0.019 +/- 0.004 and 0.009 +/- 0.004 MJ/g ADG) than those in tropical regions (0.033 +/- 0.002 and 0.024 +/- 0.002 MJ/g ADG), respectively after adjusting for maturity, diet composition, and digestibility. MEg in semi-arid regions was consistently lower than in tropical regions, regardless of the covariates tested. For predictive purposes, the global model exhibited the best accuracy (CCC = 0.57 and RSR = 0.79), comparable to the model derived specifically for the tropical region (CCC = 0.58 and RSR = 0.80). This meta-analysis provides a comprehensive evaluation of species-specific differences in ME requirements in small ruminants while recognizing the challenges posed by confounding effects and climatic variability inherent in global datasets. The analysis suggests that animals raised in tropical conditions may have lower MEm than current feeding systems that use data from temperate climates.

Enteric methane (CH4) emissions from sheep contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions from livestock. However, as already available for dairy and beef cattle, empirical models are needed to predict CH4 emissions from sheep for accounting purposes. The objectives of this study were to: 1) collate an intercontinental database of enteric CH4 emissions from individual sheep; 2) identify the key variables for predicting enteric sheep CH4 absolute production (g/d per animal) and yield [g/kg dry matter intake (DMI)] and their respective relationships; and 3) develop and cross-validate global equations as well as the potential need for age-, diet-, or climatic region-specific equations. The refined intercontinental database included 2,135 individual animal data from 13 countries. Linear CH4 prediction models were developed by incrementally adding variables. A universal CH4 production equation using only DMI led to a root mean square prediction error (RMSPE, % of observed mean) of 25.4% and an RMSPE-standard deviation ratio (RSR) of 0.69. Universal equations that, in addition to DMI, also included body weight (DMI + BW), and organic matter digestibility (DMI + OMD + BW) improved the prediction performance further (RSR, 0.62 and 0.60), whereas diet composition variables had negligible effects. These universal equations had lower prediction error than the extant IPCC 2019 equations. Developing age-specific models for adult sheep (>1-year-old) including DMI alone (RSR = 0.66) or in combination with rumen propionate molar proportion (for research of more refined purposes) substantially improved prediction performance (RSR = 0.57) on a smaller dataset. On the contrary, for young sheep (<1-year-old), the universal models could be applied, instead of age-specific models, if DMI and BW were included. Universal models showed similar prediction performances to the diet- and region-specific models. However, optimal prediction equations led to different regression coefficients (i.e. intercepts and slopes) for universal, age-specific, diet-specific, and region-specific models with predictive implications. Equations for CH4 yield led to low prediction performances, with DMI being negatively and BW and OMD positively correlated with CH4 yield. In conclusion, predicting sheep CH4 production requires information on DMI and prediction accuracy will improve national and global inventories if separate equations for young and adult sheep are used with the additional variables BW, OMD and rumen propionate proportion. Appropriate universal equations can be used to predict CH4 production from sheep across different diets and climatic conditions.

The present study investigated the impact of rumen-protected (RP) methionine supplementation on the resistance and resilience to Haemonchus contortus experimental infection of goat kids. Twenty-seven 6-month-old goat kids (14.55 ± 2.7 kg body weight) were placed in individual pens during an experimental period of forty-two days. Each kid was placed under one of three distinct diets (n = 9 animals/diet) corresponding to the following experimental groups: Control (C, Hay + concentrate), Low Methionine (LM, Hay + concentrate + 3.5 g/Kg of Dry Matter (DM) of RP methionine, or High Methionine (HM, Hay + concentrate + 11.5 g/Kg of DM of RP methionine). After a 4-week period of adaptation to the diets, all the animals were experimentally infected with a single oral dose of 10,000 H. contortus third-stage infective larvae (L3). No significant effect of RP methionine supplementation was observed for feed intake, digestibility and growth performance. The faecal egg counts (FEC) and worm burdens were not impacted by RP methionine supplementation either. In contrast, Packed cell volume (PCV) and haemoglobin concentration were higher in kids supplemented with RP methionine. Similarly, the level of serum IgA directed against adult H. contortus excretion and secretion products (ESP) was higher in supplemented kids. These results suggested that RP methionine supplementation improved goat kids’ resilience against H. contortus infection.

A project, jointly developed with the sheep and cattle farmers of Martinique, aimed to revitalize the meat sector through 'breeding and territory' actions. The partners from the interprofession, cooperatives and research carried out a two-year technical diagnostic phase on farms (6 sheep farms and 3 cattle farms). Fodder production (10 and 7 plots, respectively) and the growth of meat animals (291 and 70 animals, respectively) were characterised. The species richness of the plots, located in contrasting pedo-climatic regions, indicates a great variability and underlines the interest of these grazing systems to contribute to the biodiversity of the territory. Fodder production varies from 2.9 to 3.7 TDM/ha, depending on pedo-climatic factors (region, season,...) and represents a good potential. Growth rates (g/d) of lambs or bulls vary from 50 to 150 and from 400 to 980, respectively. Values are almost doubled when concentrate is added to the diet. Performance levels and the main factors of variation are discussed and highlighted with the literature. Grazing techniques that need to be further developed could support the reactivation of the meat sector within the framework of a quality approach that is being planned.

In tropical regions, Mixed Farming System (MFS) are very common. In these systems, the choice of crops is partly based on their potential to provide, in addition to their main functions (food for humans, raw material for the agro-industry), co-products that can be used as animal feed. These crops are called dual-purpose crops. The management of livestock and fodder crops within these MFSs meets different criteria than those of specialized livestock. The fodder resources come mainly from the co-products of dual-purpose crops. These are the basis, if not the only, ingredients of the rations. These co-products have physicochemical profiles that make them often unbalanced from a nutritional point of view. However, certain combinations of co-products can allow balanced rations for livestock. Another major constraint of the use of these co-products is their asynchronous availability relative to the needs of the herds. One of the challenges for an optimal use of these resources is the implementation at the farm and/or territory level of sober technologies allowing their availability in time and to formulate balanced rations.

With global climate changes currently occurring, and particularly given the severe energy and food shortages occurring throughout tropical regions, agroecological (AE) systems are drawing renewed attention as an efficient alternative to intensive models of production, particularly unsuitable in regions of the world such as the Caribbean or Latin America. There is a pressing need to focus on livestock farming systems (LFS) and characterize their potential contributions to global sustainability. A multidisciplinary approach is needed to address these multiple and complex problems. Traditionally, LFS have shown their sustainability high potential. The purpose of this work is to highlight solutions to minimize inputs, by describing some success and diverse case studies through the Caribbean. These systems were analyzed at different levels: animal/function, farm/family, and territory/society. This produced a set of guidelines that help to increase the efficiency of tropical systems, particularly those concerned with (1) choosing the best-suited genotypes, while enhancing population biodiversity; (2) matching the farming system to the available resources, feed, and by-products; (3) steering the whole farming system through reproduction management with no hormonal treatment, while facilitating system reproducibility and increasing performances; (4) controlling health constraints instead of annihilating risks and implement an integrated management design to reduce chemical treatments or increase the use of nutraceuticals; and (5) mitigating climate constraints by using soft techniques. In the second part of this work, some integrated systems are described. The Tosoly farm of Colombia, for instance, is conceived as a totally integrated crop-livestock system, allowing the additional production of energy at the farm level. Thus, it epitomizes the positive impact that livestock can exert upon the environment. The case study of Haiti indicates how AE practices can help in designing a pro-poor sustainable milk production system. It concerns an entire dairy sector built all over the country on the basis of micro-units of milk production and processing.

Protein and condensed tannin-rich foliage (TRF) are potentially useful as nutraceuticals. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the diet and anthelmintic properties of three TRF types both individually and in combination. We hypothesized that synergistic or antagonistic effects on feed and anthelmintic values related to associations between TRF types may occur. Nutritional and anthelmintic characteristics of Leucaena leucocephala, Manihot esculenta, Cajanus cajan and a mixture of the compounds were evaluated using alfalfa pellets as a control. TRF ingredients were combined with Dichantium hay (48 and 52% of dry matter intake respectively) in mixed diets were consumed by Creole goat kids. Measurements were carried out in animals without parasites and in animals artificially infected with Haemonchus contortus . Individual feed intake and the digestibility of each diet was measured along with kid growth. There were no significant differences between the growth rates of pre-infected animals and animals fed mixed diets that included alfalfa. A strong anthelmintic activity is observed with Leucaena leucocephala contrary to other TRFs. This work confirms variable dietary and anthelmintic properties of TRF. The combination of TRF did not have synergistic or antagonistic effects on feed value or the anthelmintic potential of TRF.

Background Leucaena leucocephala , as a shrub legume rich in condensed tannins, is a candidate for the integrated control of gastrointestinal parasitic pathogen nematodes. Here, we investigated the anthelmintic potential of the nutraceutical L. leucocephala , transformed into pellets, against Haemonchus contortus . Results Creole goat kids were fed an iso-nitrogenous diet of Dichantium hay with alfalfa pellets or Leucaena pellets or an alfalfa–leucaena mixture in varying ratios. The artificial infection of kids with H. contortus led to infection levels comparable to those observed in the farm environment on the basis of egg excretion. The anthelmintic activity of Leucaena , compared to alfalfa, was demonstrated by its potential to reduce egg excretions (1524 vs. 3651 eggs/g) and the larval development of excreted eggs (3.5 vs. 24%). This anthelmintic potential was reported when the ratio of Leucaena incorporation in the diet was high (50% DM intake). The voluntary dry matter intake (79.3 vs. 77.0 g Large Weigth 0.75 ), the total tract dry matter digestion (0.585 vs. 0.620), and the growth (57.1 vs. 71.3 g/d) of kids fed Leucaena compared to alfalfa indicate that Leucaena has a high feed value. The Leucaena , even at the highest intakes in the diets, has not shown any signs of poisoning in kids. Conclusions Leucaena fulfilled the conditions to be a good nutraceutical, and pelleting is a good method for its use.

In tropical and subtropical countries, livestock productivity may be affected by the availability of food resources and the high prevalence of gastrointestinal pathogenic nematodes. The classical method of control using anthelmintic drugs is becoming decreasingly efficient because of a generalised resistance of the gastrointestinal nematodes suppress (GIN) to most of the drugs. In small farms, protein-rich biomasses with significant amounts of condensed tannins (CT), which are known to have anthelminbtic properties, might be good candidates to produce nutraceuticals. This experiment was conducted to determine the feasibility of producing nutraceutical pellets from Manihot esculenta sp., Cajanus cajan and Leucaena leucocephala, considering the influence of agro-pedo-climatic conditions plant species and technological factors, such as drying and pelleting. The samples were harvested in two different agro-pedo-climatic zones and sundried under shelter (at 25 to 35°C) or in a ventilated oven (45°C) before pelleting. Chemical analysis on crude protein and condensed tannins were conducted. The chemical composition of the plants did not vary significantly with agro-pedo-climatic conditions. Sun-drying and oven-drying decreased the CT content of the plants. No effect of pelleting was recorded on crude protein and CT contents, except for C. cajan, for which a small decrease in CT content was observed. Protein-rich foliage types with CT contents above 50 g/kg of dry matter are potentially good candidates to produce nutraceutical pellets if they are dried using mild drying conditions, like sun-drying under shelter. Key words: Condensed tannins, nutraceuticals, Biological variability; drying, pelleting processes.

Dans les régions tropicales, où les rations de base sont souvent déficitaires en protéines, la complémentation est cruciale. Des alternatives à l’utilisation de tourteau de soja sont potentiellement disponibles dans les systèmes agroforestiers et les systèmes mixtes polyculture-élevage intégrés, bien que l’offre soit plus importante pour les ruminants que les monogastriques non herbivores. La valeur nutritionnelle des ressources n’est pas la seule règle de décision : l’évaluation des stratégies alimentaires, dans une approche multicritère, doit considérer les différents services productifs et non productifs. Elle doit en outre prendre en compte la compétition possible entre l’utilisation des ressources par l’Homme et l’animal. Dans le cadre des systèmes mixtes polyculture-élevage intégrés, les ressources duales, dont la valorisation intégrale concilie les besoins de l’Homme et de l’animal, occupent une place stratégique : graines et fanes de légumineuses, feuilles et tubercules de manioc ou de patate douce etc. Les légumineuses annuelles, pérennes ou arbustives présentent des atouts agronomiques et environnementaux importants dans les systèmes intégrés par leur capacité à fixer l’azote. Le rôle de recyclage et la faible emprise sur le foncier agricole des nouvelles sources d’aliments (plantes aquatiques, microorganismes, insectes, vers de terre) sont aussi un atout pour leur développement. La mise au point de technologies adaptées pour lever les verrous (facteurs antinutritionnels, conservation…) permettra de valoriser pleinement le potentiel de nombreuses ressources protéiques.

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of one of tannin-rich legumes, Leucaena leucocephala, on lactating small ruminant performance. To do this, twenty two late pregnant Blackbelly ewes (17 days before lambing) were randomly divided into two groups. First group received mixed diet consist of hay + 750 g of leucaena pellets + 1000 g of green banana, for the second group, leucaena was replaced by alfalfa pellets as a control diet. After lambing, animals were divided into four groups to feed alfalfa, alfalfa+banana, leucaena, leucaena+banana in present of hay for all animals. No significant differences were observed on dry matter intake, milk production (632 vs 582 ml), weight loss (0.16 vs 1.69 kg) and lambs daily weight gain (201 vs 193.4 g/day) for alfalfa vs leucaena comparisons with a slight decrease of colostrum production (430 vs 324 ml) for the leucaena (P=0.124). The presence of banana in leucaena and alfalfa diets did not show a significant effect on the studied parameters. It was concluded that leucaena could replace alfalfa in rations with no depressive effect on lactating ewe's performance.

Ingested soil is a major vector of organic contaminants from environment to free-ranged animals, particularly for grazing herbivores. Therefore, a better understanding of processes driving soil intake may provide new insights to limit animal exposure to contaminants and ensure safety of animal products. To maintain the supply service of livestock farming activities in contaminated areas, it is necessary to design adapted farming practices aiming at controlling the risk for human health. This study was conducted in the French West Indies, where chlordecone, an organochlorine insecticide previously used to protect banana plantation against the black weevil and banned since 1993, has polluted nearly 20% of agricultural surfaces since the 1970s. A crossover study design was performed to estimate soil intake by twelve tethered Creole young bulls according to different grazing practices. The objectives were to characterize the influence of (i) daily herbage allowance (LOW, HIGH, ADLIB: 100, 150, 300 g DM/kg BW0.75 respectively); (ii) and soil surface moisture (SSM) testing grazing on a water-saturated (HUM) vs dried (DRY) ground. The herbage offer was managed via the allocated surfaces varying the chain length as animal holders commonly do in informal Caribbean systems. The results evidenced an increase in soil intake with DHA reduction (2.1 to 3.8% of DM intake; P < 0.05) and with SSM increase (2.4 to 3.6% of DM intake; P < 0.05). Herbage offer reduction involved a closer-to-the-ground grazing with shorter post-grazing sward surface height (82.2 to 63.3 mm; P < 0.001), and both herbage offer reduction and SSM increase amplified sward soiling (measured from titanium content in unwashed herbage and image analysis). This work showed that soil intake is unavoidable even when herbage offer is very generous. The animals will significantly increase soil intake when herbage offer would be at 150 g DM/kg BW0.75 or less, especially when the grazed surface is humid.

Resistance to gastro-intestinal nematode (GIN) in small ruminant is expected to arise from protein-rich rather than from energy-rich feeds. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the quality of the dietary proteins on the response of Creole goats to Haemonchus contortus. Three diets were compared: no supplementation (Hay: hay ad libitum), Control supplement (CS: hay ad libitum +2% BW of CS at 70 g of by-pass proteins/kg) and supplement enriched in rumen-protected proteins (RPP: hay ad libitum +2% BW of RPP at 139 g of by-pass proteins/kg). The FEC (faecal eggs counts) and the TFEC (total faecal eggs excreted/day) were significantly lower in the RPP. No difference was found between the supplemented diets for the total number of nematodes, but the RPP reduced the parasite prolificacy. The highest IgA responses were observed in animals with the highest nematode burden (Hay compared with CS diets). However, while the FEC and the TFEC were lower in animals feed with the RPP the IgA response were similar to those of the Hay. The IgA response that control GIN egg production in sheep could be one mediator of the resistance to H. contortus induced with by-pass proteins in goats.

The objective of this study was to measure the effect of the nutritional status of Creole goat kids on the host responses and the nematode population established after an experimental H. contortus infection. Fifty six kids were fed with 4 diets corresponding to 2 nutritional statuses: the low nutritional status (HAY, hay ad libitum and HB, Hay ad libitum + banana) and the high nutritional status (HS, hay ad libitum + soya meal and HSB, hay ad libitum + banana + soya meal). For each diet, 8 kids were experimentally infected with 10,000 H. contortus infective larvae (L3) and 6 kids were kept as non-infected controls. From the day of infection until 6 weeks post-infection, samples were collected to measure individual intake, total tract digestibility, parasitological and hematological parameters. The dry matter intake (DMI), the average daily gain (ADG), the crude protein (CP) and the digestible CP intake were higher in goats fed the HS and HSB diets, but no statistically significant interaction between the nutritional status and the infection was observed. The packed cell volume (PCV), the red blood cell counts (RBC) and the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were higher with the HS and the HSB diets. In kids with the high nutritional status the nematode burden and pathophysiological impact of the infection were significantly lower but not the FEC. In conclusion, this reduced establishment rate was associated with an increased production of eggs by the female parasites and suggested a phenomenon of density-dependent prolificacy of H. contortus probably inherent to the fitness of the parasite population.

Intake, digestion and nitrogen retention were measured in fifteen 1-year-old Black Belly rams that had an average weight of 35.3 (± 1.59) kg and that consumed mixed diets. Diets consisted of old Dichanthium spp. hay distributed ad libitum, combined with 500 g (dry matter basis) of green or pelleted cassava foliage. Alfalfa pellets were used as a control for foliage supplement. The experiment was run in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Total dry matter intake was lower (P < 0.05) with the green foliage cassava diet compared with the alfalfa pellet diet. Differences were not significant (P < 0.12) with the green cassava foliage diet compared with the cassava foliage pellet diet. Total tract digestion of organic matter, crude protein and cell wall components in cassava green foliage and cassava foliage pellet diets were significantly lower than in the alfalfa diet. Crude protein total tract digestion was similar for cassava green foliage and cassava foliage pellet diets, while fibre digestion was lower with cassava green foliage diets. Retained nitrogen was significantly higher with the alfalfa diet compared with cassava diets—between which there were no differences. Urinary nitrogen excretion was similar between all diets. In conclusion, pelleting does not decrease the feed value of cassava foliage, but this value is nevertheless lower than the feed value of alfalfa.