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The importance of sow functional teat assessment and provision of supplementary milk to enhance performance of piglets reared in large litters
Get PDFRearing piglets in large litters where there are supernumerary piglets compared to functional teats presents a challenge in maintaining piglet health by avoiding successive fostering, whilst minimising mortality caused by starvation. Supplementary milk (SM) provision to litters during the suckling period has been shown to reduce preweaning mortality, but there has been no characterisation of which piglets consume SM and the subsequent performance effects. Using electronic identification (RFID) tags and an antenna at the SM bowl, it was possible to record the duration of each visit for each individual piglet. Multiplying individual piglet weight and duration of SM visits for each day, and summing for the litter showed a positive relationship with daily weighed litter SM consumption during lactation, yielding a regression equation with r2 = 0.84. Therefore, the daily duration of visits to the SM bowl was considered a proxy measure of daily individual piglet SM consumption. Litter SM consumption during lactation, measured both by weighing SM and by calculation using the regression equation, was greater in litters where there were supernumerary piglets compared to functional teats (IS), than in litters where there were no supernumerary piglets (S). Litter weight at each timepoint was greater for IS litters than for S litters, but average piglet weight was lower. Piglets with very high duration of SM visits/d during the final week of lactation were lightest at weaning, and at d 54 postweaning, with the lowest postweaning average daily gain (ADG). Piglets suckling posterior teats had a higher duration of SM visits/d than piglets suckling anterior teats, throughout lactation. Piglets observed as non-sucklers on d 14 had the highest du/d throughout the suckling period and were lightest at weaning. The SM DM feed conversion ratio for non-suckling pigs predicted using the regression equation was 0.88. This was higher than the predicted 0.70 for piglets suckling sow milk, indicating lower efficiency of piglet growth from SM. This may be due to reduced fat and protein content of SM compared to sow’s milk; therefore, further investigation of the composition of SM and refinement of the formulation is warranted. Validation of the methodology employed to estimate SM consumption from the duration of SM visits/d is also necessary
Towards improved accounting and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from ditches and canals
Get PDFCreative teaching methods for imagining the future of technology in farming: storytelling for responsible transitions
No full textSo-called ‘agriculture 4.0’ technologies, such as robotics, AI, drones etc., are apparently set to revolutionise farming, helping us to produce more, with less. However, a growing literature from social science disciplines, such as Science and Technology Studies (STS), Sociology, and Transition Studies, illustrates that new technologies have both positive and negative consequences. For the future of farming to be responsible, the consequences of adopting different technologies and practices need to be anticipated. Students at university, who are studying courses related to agri-food systems, are a key cohort that will shape the future of farming. This paper describes the use and refinement of creative teaching methodologies that help to expose students to literature from Science and Technology Studies (STS), particularly on ‘responsible innovation,’ which many agri-food students rarely study. The concept of responsible innovation is important for agri-food students to understand because it enables them to consider the opportunities and risks of different future farming systems, helping to make future trade-offs more tangible. With one main learning objective in mind, to enable students to interrogate the opportunities and risks of agricultural technologies, we shared student-led stories of future agricultural utopias and dystopias, using them as a tool for critical discussion
From Grass to Protein: Assessing the Economic Viability of Mechanochemical-Assisted Extraction for Sustainable Food Production
Get PDFGrasslands represent one of the world’s largest yet most underexploited renewable biomass resources. Here, we present a techno-economic framework for transforming grass silage into edible protein and microbial lipids through mechanochemical and biocatalytic processing. Two biorefinery configurations were evaluated using stochastic and spatial modeling: a baseline system producing protein and biogas (Scenario 1) and an integrated design incorporating lipid fermentation (Scenario 2). Both achieve strong economic performance at industrial scale, with median net present values (NPVs) of £528 million and £1.21 billion, respectively, and protein production costs of £2.97–3.40 kg–1─comparable to plant-derived alternatives. Sensitivity analysis reveals that protein extraction efficiency and product price dominate profitability, while scale and coproduct valorisation drive the largest gains in expected NPV. Spatial simulations show that sourcing 33,333 t y–1 of wet silage (25% DM) is logistically feasible across UK grasslands at delivered costs of £51–58 t–1, enabling decentralised, regionally integrated deployment. Together, these results establish grass-based biorefineries as a scalable and economically credible route to sustainable protein production, bridging agricultural residues and food technology. The study provides quantitative guidance on how process yield, market development, and spatial logistics can be co-optimized to accelerate the emergence of a circular, pasture-driven bioeconomy
Patagonian deglaciation: aquatic macroinvertebrate biodiversity in proglacial and paraglacial ponds
Get PDFGlacier retreat is rapidly transforming cryospheric landscapes with new pond networks establishing in deglaciated landscapes. However, our understanding of the aquatic biodiversity within these rapidly evolving landscapes has been limited, especially in southern Patagonia despite having the largest temperate icefields globally. We examined the aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity in paraglacial forest and proglacial ponds at the snout of the Exploradores Glacier (Southern Patagonia, Chile) and assessed the environmental factors influencing taxonomic richness and community composition. Alpha and estimated gamma diversity were significantly higher in periglacial forest ponds compared to proglacial ponds. Clear differences in macroinvertebrate community composition were recorded between paraglacial and proglacial ponds. Taxonomic turnover explained most of the variation in community composition with Trichoptera and Diptera taxa constituting a greater proportion of taxonomic richness in proglacial ponds, while Coleoptera and Hemiptera taxa represented a higher proportion of taxa in paraglacial forest than proglacial ponds. When taxa-environment relationships were examined, a significant negative association was recorded between dissolved oxygen and taxonomic richness. Sodium concentrations were also found to be negatively associated with LCBD. This study provides vital evidence that ponds formed naturally due to deglaciation can support a wide diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates, and as glacial retreat continues and landscapes transition from glacial to paraglacial, pond habitats represent increasingly important freshwater habitats at the landscape scale. Future research is critical to advance understanding of proglacial and paraglacial pond networks to provide the underpinning information needed to raise awareness to support the conservation of these unique habitats
Drivers, barriers and grower perspectives of innovation adoption in the UK controlled environment agriculture sector
No full textControlled environment agriculture (CEA), which comprises both greenhouse and vertical farming, is a multi-billion-pound global industry contributing significantly to fruit and vegetable production. CEA allows growers to produce crops reliably in otherwise unfavourable climatic conditions and permits extended growing seasons. CEA is ideally placed to exploit the technological and digital revolution in agriculture for precision control of crop growth conditions, health, quality and yield. Despite the value of the sector, there is a paucity of data regarding drivers and barriers, adoption rates and grower opinion of implementing advanced technologies in commercial CEA production. We combined a Quick Scoping Review of global CEA technology literature comprising 3679 primary studies with a Delphi study of UK CEA growers and technology providers (25 and 18 participants in rounds one and two, respectively) to determine CEA technology research focus, stakeholder priorities and concerns. Comparison of categorised technology types between these approaches was used to assess the degree of synergy between the two. This revealed a global CEA technology research focus on modelling/simulation, energy, lighting and sensors. Meanwhile, the most used technologies in UK CEA were environmental control, lighting and nutrient application. This illustrates a fair degree of connect between research focus and industry requirements. However, some grower priorities, including nutrition and robotics, were under-represented in the literature. UK grower behaviour remains optimistic regarding the opportunities technology such as alternative energy sources and automation can offer CEA, including reduced costs, improved efficiency and crop quality, extended supply season and mitigation of import risk. This must, however, be balanced with threats including operational and capital costs, which are viewed as the most significant barriers to technology innovation uptake
Effects of bioinsecticide exposure route on aphids and their natural enemies in oilseed rape
Get PDFBACKGROUND
Myzus persicae Sulzer and Brevicoryne brassicae L. are economically important aphid pests of oilseed rape (OSR) and the primary vectors of turnip yellows virus. Control options are constrained for many aphid pests due to pest resistance to synthetic chemical insecticide active ingredients or their withdrawal from market. Physically acting bioinsecticides may offer an alternative control option, yet their efficacy against aphids and compatibility with natural enemies outside of horticultural production systems is poorly understood. Three bioinsecticides based on fatty acids, silicone polymers or surfactants were tested against two economically important aphid species and non-target effects on their natural enemies, Diaeretiella rapae M'Intosh adults and mummies as well as Chrysoperla carnea Stephens larvae, were also assessed.
RESULTS
Under direct exposure, fatty acids, silicone polymers and surfactants all caused aphid mortality (B. brassicae 90–56%, M. persicae 63–20%) within 72 h. Diaeretiella rapae mortality was 100% 24 h after exposure to fatty acids and silicone polymers while Chyrsoperla carnea mortality was 66% and 100%, respectively. Residual exposure caused limited mortality in aphids (M. persicae 0%, B. brassicae ≤10%) and natural enemies (D. rapae ≤33%, C. carnea ≤13%) compared to the sulfoxaflor synthetic chemical insecticide control (66–100%).
CONCLUSION
Fatty acids and silicone polymers significantly reduced numbers of aphids but showed acute toxicity to parasitoids under direct exposure. Their lack of residual activity means that precise targeted application to pest populations is required but allows natural enemy populations to recolonise treated areas rapidly. These bioinsecticides may provide supplementary control within OSR integrated pest management programmes when applied strategically. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry
The role of the marine new infrastructure in the low-carbon development of marine fisheries--micro-level evidence from China
No full textMarine new infrastructure (MNI) is playing an increasingly important role in supporting marine fisheries, yet its impact on carbon mitigation remains insufficiently understood. The objective of this study was to develop and empirically test a conceptual framework linking MNI to low-carbon development in marine fisheries. We proposed a tripartite framework for MNI, comprising integration infrastructure, innovation infrastructure, and information infrastructure. Based on the measurement of marine fishery carbon emission efficiency (MFCEE) using a Super-EBM model across China's 11 coastal provinces from 2006 to 2021, the impact of MNI was evaluated. Results yielded three main findings: First, MNI significantly improved carbon efficiency, with integration infrastructure exhibiting the strongest effect, followed by innovation and information infrastructures; Second, the improvement in MFCEE was driven primarily by industrial structure optimization, aquaculture technology promotion, and production scale expansion; and Third, the effects of MNI were moderated by environmental regulation, for which command-and-control regulation showed a single-threshold effect, while market-based regulation presented a double-threshold effect. These regulatory thresholds helped explain regional disparities, with significant efficiency gains observed in the Northern and Southern Marine Economic Circles but efficiency losses in the Eastern Circle. Overall, this study provided a theoretical foundation for understanding MNI's role in low-carbon fisheries development and offered practical insights for spatial planning and regulatory design
A critical evaluation of the potential of an online agricultural forum as a space for supporting farmer well-being
No full textFarming is associated with low levels of individual well-being with recent research exploring influencing factors, resulting consequences and potential support opportunities. Exploration of how online peer-to-peer interactions may support farmer well-being is yet to be fully explored despite suggestions that many turn to the internet when facing farming challenges. This original research study examined the potential of an online agriculturally focused forum, The Farming Forum (TFF), as a space for supporting farmer well-being, exploring the more varied formats of peer support and building on existing landscapes of support literature. Forum posts were analyzed using methods of sentiment analysis, classification of forum participant behavior, and reflexive thematic analysis. TFF acts as an information repository for farmers, based heavily on the lived experiences of those farming within the UK and beyond. This study revealed the willingness of farmers to share experiential knowledge they felt would benefit others with likely positive impacts on the well-being of those involved. Whilst there may have been more limited explicit reference to individual well-being outside of a specific ‘suicidal thoughts’ discussion thread,findings suggested TFF could enable and host conversations around farmer wellbeing. TFF offered a space for farmers to hold discussions with like-minded individuals and allowed them to seek advice or information anonymously. Whilst there appeared some limitations surrounding the forums' ability to professionally support farmer well-being due to the potential for negative remarks and disclosure of identifying information, these could be overcome with a degree of forum management. TFF likely has an influence on the well-being of those farmers utilizing the forum and this paper offers a starting point for further research in this area
Impact of cover cropping on root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.) and nematode communities in Narcissus fields
Get PDFCover crops offer numerous benefits to the soil, including pest, pathogen suppression and enhanced fertility. Focussing on fields used for Narcissus production as a model, the potential of different cover crop treatments to suppress plant-parasitic nematodes while safeguarding beneficial nematode communities was evaluated. The root lesion nematode species, Pratylenchus penetrans, is known to significantly reduce Narcissus yields, a challenge further exacerbated by limited chemical control options and restricted land availability to deploy effective crop rotation. French marigold, oilseed radish, Phacelia, Japanese oats, alfalfa, and forage chicory were evaluated in two experiments under greenhouse conditions to assess their suitability as hosts for P. penetrans based on the nematode reproduction factor (Rf). Phacelia and Japanese oat were rated as maintenance hosts (1 < Rf < 2) while the remaining cover crops were identified as poor hosts (0.15 < Rf < 1). Thereafter, three field experiments assessed the effects of the same cover crop treatments, plus Indian mustard, on the abundance of Pratylenchus, Aphelenchus, Aphelenchoides spp., and bacterivore nematodes. Sampling occurred before sowing of the cover crop, three months after sowing and six weeks post-incorporation of the mature cover crop. Four of the tested cover crops (French marigold, oilseed radish, forage chicory and alfalfa) significantly reduced the abundance of Pratylenchus spp., by 53–75 % across all three experiments. Phacelia and Japanese oats had no effect, while Indian mustard increased the abundance of Pratylenchus spp., by 113–319 % across all experiments. Oilseed radish and Indian mustard increased the abundance of bacterivore nematodes, with oilseed radish showing the greatest increase of 335 %. Using 18S rRNA amplicon sequencing, cover crops showed no adverse effects on alpha and beta nematode diversity, while cover crop incorporation resulted in higher enrichment and lower structure indices. These findings strongly suggest that French marigold, oilseed radish, forage chicory, and alfalfa are potential options for managing Pratylenchus spp. without adverse effects on non-target beneficial soil nematode communities. Understanding cover crop–nematode interactions can expand their use beyond current production systems. This study offers a first step towards selecting cover crops that maintain/promote beneficial nematodes, support soil health restoration, and suppress Pratylenchus spp. in crops that form a typical UK arable rotation