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The living lab approach to innovation is receiving increasing attention also in the agricultural sector in view of the current environmental, economic, and social challenges. This contribution presents some preliminary results of INTAQT project (EU Horizon 2020), which aims to perform an in- depth multi-criteria assessment of the relationships between animal husbandry and qualities of products. In specific, this research aims to identify and implement on-farm changes in the production processes (e.g. feeding regimes, outdoor access, herd management), which are expected to improve intrinsic quality traits of the products and/or sustainability traits of the farms. A participatory approach was used to establish farmer field-groups (living labs) representative of the different geographic regions and of the main production systems involved in the project. Each farmer field group involves from 5 to 8 farms. The groups are established considering different husbandry systems according to a gradient of intensification (extensive vs intensive systems): 3 groups for dairy farms (Ireland, northern Italy and France); two groups for beef farms (Switzerland and northern Italy); two groups for poultr (France and Italy). The methodological approach is based on 5 steps: (1) tarting analytical phase: a critical analysis of trade-offs / synergies between sustainability and quality traits for each farmfield group; (2) decision phase: development of practices to improve the identified synergies / mitigate trade-offs; (3) implementation phase: implementation of practices for at least one year. During this time, 2-3 meetings of the whole farmers group on farms allow farmers discussions about their experiences, successes and drawbacks; (4) concluding analytical phase: the aim is to analyse the effects of the implementation of the practices during a last meeting in the farmer’s groups and presentation of the analysis results; (5) scientific data analysis and interpretation. The first results

The aim of this study was to test chicken manure as duckweed (Lemna minor) fertiliser. Duckweed was grown using three different concentrations (low, medium and high; dilution factors 1:16, 1:12 and 1:8, respectively) of previously solubilised chicken manure. Subsequently, duckweed was evaluated for its fresh and dry biomass production, protein content and protein production capacity. Ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N) concentrations increased in all substrates during an experimental week, with the increase being steeper in the treatments with higher chicken manure concentrations. However, duckweed populations were unable to fully utilise all the provided nitrogen. As the concentration of chicken manure increased, growth and protein production decreased. Adding the highest concentration of chicken manure (1:8 dilution) led to nearly complete die-off of the duckweed population. The low concentrated (1:16 dilution) chicken manure fertilisation resulted in acceptable growth (1.85 g dry matter (DM) per m2 and day) and high crude protein content (42.8% DM). The medium concentration (1:12 dilution) of chicken manure still stimulated growth, although it was significantly lower compared to duckweed grown on the low concentrated poultry manure and declined towards the end of the experiment (0.88 g DM per m2 and day). The biomass from this treatment also contained slightly lower protein content (40.6% DM). Duckweed cultivated using low and medium chicken manure concentrations produced an average of 0.79 and 0.36 g protein per m2 and day, respectively. Although solubilised chicken manure can serve as a potential fertiliser for duckweed, balancing the amount of chicken manure necessary to obtain a target NH4-N concentration when compared to cow or pig slurries is challenging.

Productive lifespan (PL) is a key factor for the sustainability of dairy farming. A long productive lifespan amortizes the rearing costs over a longer period of time and dilutes resource consumption and emissions. In addition, beef and milk production can be combined to a greater extent, which is advantageous in terms of emissions compared to specialized (separate) production of meat and milk. Nevertheless, the productive lifespan of dairy cows has been decreasing across main milk producing countries for many years. We aimed at describing the development of production level, productive lifespan and culling reasons from 1999 to 2019 by analysing herdbook data of 2.60 Mio. cows of the breeds Braunvieh (BV, n= 1.011.192), Swiss Fleckvieh (SF, n= 652.299), Holstein from swissherdbook (HO_SHB, n= 497.467), Holstein from Holstein Switzerland (HO_HOS, n=262.359), Simmental (SI, n=128.920), and Original Braunvieh (OB, n=50.063). We compared the increase in daily lifetime milk yield achievable over an extended PL with the increase in daily lifetime milk yield achieved over time from 1999 to 2019. Average milk yield per day of life continuously increased in all studied breeds, ranging from 7.5±4.1 (SI) to 12.1±5.5 (HO_HOS) kg/d in 2019. Average length of productive lifespan in 2019 ranged from 3.0±2.1 (HO_HOS) to 3.8±2.8 (SF) years. In contrast to international reports it increased (and stabilized) in all studied breeds, apart from OB where it decreased. Culling rates during first and second lactations were high, ranging from 40 (SF) to 51% (HO_SHB). Main culling reasons were fertility, udder health and leg/ claw problems in pronounced dairy breeds, while insufficient milk production was relevant in dual-purpose breeds. The comparison revealed that increase of daily lifetime milk yield during 20 years had the same size as could be achieved through extension of the PL by 1.3 years. Therefore, efforts to increase the number of completed lactations per cow may be expected to pay

1. Due to the increasing global demand for more sustainably produced animal protein, there is an intensive search for feeds to replace soybeans. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) appear to have great potential for replacing soybeans in poultry diets. The main objective of this study was to determine if the nutritional value of BSFL is superior to soybeans when feeding organic broilers, since smaller amounts of BSFL could replace the soybean content in the feed, thus saving even more resources. 2. Eighty Hubbard S757, a slow growing organic broiler type, were fattened for 63 d, spending the last 49 d on one of five diets. Two soybean cake- and soybean oil-based diets (SS, SS-) were compared with three diets based on partially defatted BSFL meal and BSFL fat from two origins (AA-, AB-, BB-). Different from diet SS, diets SS-, AA-, AB-and BB- were designed with approximately 20% less lysine and methionine. Growth (n = 16), metabolisability, body nitrogen retention, carcase and meat quality (n = 8) were evaluated. 3. Broilers of the insect-based feeding groups, AA- and AB-, grew similarly well compared to those of group SS. They also retained more nitrogen in the body than those fed BB- and SS-. Breast meat yield was higher with AA- and AB- than with BB- and SS-, but still lower than with SS. Dietary variations in physicochemical meat quality were of low practical relevance. Diet BB- resulted in a more yellow skin and meat. The fatty acid profile of the breast meat lipids reflected the high lauric acid proportion of the BSFL lipids, resulting in up to 80 times higher proportions than when feeding the soybean-based diets. 4. The results indicate that high-quality BSFL, depending on their origin, may indeed be superior to soybean protein, but that the meat lipids from BSFL-fed broilers can contain significant amounts of lauric acid, which, from a human nutrition perspective, could have a negative impact on meat quality.

To increase the sustainability of egg production, alternatives to soybean in poultry nutrition are intensively searched for. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) could have a great potential, but the comparative protein value to soybean is not well known. The main objective of this study was to facilitate this comparison by using experimental diets clearly limited in calculated supply of sulphurous amino acids and lysine. Fifty laying hens (Lohmann Brown Classic), aged 40 weeks, were fed one of five diets for 7 weeks (n=10). Two diets were based on soybean cake and oil (SS, SS-) as protein and energy sources, and three diets contained partially defatted BSFL meal and fat from two different origins (AA-, AB-, BB-). Different from SS, all other diets were designed to be deficient in methionine and lysine in relation to requirements by >20%. The realised supply with total sulphurous amino acids and lysine was indeed superior with SS even though this diet was analysed to be more deficient in methionine than the BSFL-based diets. Despite the calculated deficiency in limiting amino acids, laying performance of the hens of all groups was similar and ranged between 93 and 97%. Similarly, egg mass, daily feed intake and feed efficiency were not influenced by the BSFL-based diets. The yolks of group BB- were more intensely coloured compared to the others indicating a difference between BSFL origins. Yolks of SS-, but not of the BSFL-based diets, had lower contents of dry matter and ether extract than those of SS. Including BSFL into the diet did not influence the odour of the eggs tested in scrambled form. The results show that soybean-based feeds for laying hens may be completely replaced by BSFL-based feeds and suggest that the recommendations for amino acid supply of laying hens might need revision.

Alternatives to riboflavin (vitamin B2) production by recombinant microorganisms are needed in organic poultry production, but are cost-intensive, so that a demand-oriented riboflavin supply is necessary. Details on the riboflavin requirements of organic poultry are not available. A feed material with high native riboflavin content from fermentation of the filamentous fungus Ashbya gossypii was studied. Two runs with 800 Ranger Gold™ broilers each (40 pens with 20 animals) were conducted. The fattening period was divided into starter (S), grower (G) and finisher (F) stage. In the first run, a basal diet without riboflavin supplementation (NATIVE; 3.27, 3.50 and 3.16 mg riboflavin/kg DM in S, G and F) was compared to diets with supplementation at low (LOW; 5.30, 4.85 and 5.19 mg/kg in S, G and F), medium (MEDIUM; 7.56, 6.88 and 7.56 mg/kg in S, G and F) and high (HIGH; 10.38, 9.14 and 9.93 mg/kg in S, G and F) dosage. In the second run, different combinations of low and medium riboflavin supplementation were used in S, G and F diets: S-LOW (4.50 mg riboflavin/kg DM), G-MEDIUM (6.66 mg/kg), F-MEDIUM (5.71 mg/kg) (Treatment A), S-LOW (4.50 mg riboflavin/kg DM); G-LOW (4.92 mg/kg), F-LOW (4.01 mg/kg) (Treatment B); S-MEDIUM (6.37 mg/kg), G-MEDIUM (7.37 mg/kg), F-MEDIUM (5.07 mg/kg) (Treatment C); S-MEDIUM (6.37 mg/kg), G-LOW (5.28 mg/kg), F-LOW (4.22 mg/kg) (Treatment D). Body weight, feed and water consumption were recorded weekly, health and welfare indicators were scored bi-weekly. Slaughter traits were assessed for five males and females per pen. In the first run, NATIVE animals showed symptoms of riboflavin deficiency and lower live weights in the second week of age. Riboflavin contents of this group were increased to avoid further deficiency and recovery was observed. Feed conversion was better in HIGH (2.07) compared with NATIVE and LOW (2.11). At slaughter, treatments differed neither for foot pad dermatitis nor plumage cleanliness. In the second run, daily weig

Currently, there is a great interest in finding alternative protein and energy sources to replace soybean-based feeds in poultry diets. The main objective of the present study was to completely replace soybean in layer diets with defatted meal and fat from black soldier fly larvae without adverse effects. For this purpose, 5 × 10 Lohmann Brown Classic hens were fed either a soybean-based diet or diets based on defatted black soldier fly larvae meal and fat from 2 producers (1 commercial, 1 small-scale) operating with different rearing substrates, temperatures, and larvae processing methods (10 hens/diet). The data obtained included nutrient composition of larvae meals and diets, amino acid digestibility (6 hens/diet), and metabolizability, performance and egg quality (all 10 hens/diet). In addition, the acceptance of the 4 larvae-based diets was tested against the soybean-based diet in a 6-day choice feeding situation (10 hens/treatment). The nutritional value of the larvae-based diets was equivalent to the soybean-based diet in hens with a laying performance of 98%. Although average feed intake was not significantly different over the 7 experimental weeks, the diets based on larvae feeds from the small-scale production appeared to be slightly less accepted in a choice situation than the soy-based diet and those with larvae from commercial origin. This was more likely the effect of the larvae fat rather than that of the larvae protein meal. In addition, the commercial larvae material was superior to that from the small-scale production concerning supply with digestible sulfur-containing amino acids (548 vs. 511 mg/day) and lysine (792 vs. 693 mg/day), egg weight (67 vs. 63 g), daily egg mass (66 vs. 61 g/day) and, in tendency, feed efficiency. The results indicate that soybean-based feeds can be replaced completely by black soldier fly meal and fat in diets of high-performing layers. However, because of nutritional differences between the larvae materials of differe

Longevity of dairy cows is a key trait combining all functional traits and is decisive for sustainability of dairy production at economic, environmental and ethical level. We used herdbook data of culled Swiss dairy cows to predict longevity (days) and average lifetime daily milk yield (LT_DMY, kg milk) of dairy cows in low-input dairy farms from data easily available for the farmer. First, we assessed the suitability of 1st vs 2nd lactation data to predict longevity and LT_DMY without (n=10,031 cows, 384 farms) and with information on number of inseminations (n=6,011 cows, 372 farms). Second, we tested if lactation curve parameter estimates (LCPs) derived from test day records can be successfully used to predict LT_DMY and longevity (n=1,632 cows, 321 farms). Finally, we investigated breed differences between local dual-purpose breeds and pronounced dairy type breeds in a subset of mixed herds (n=1,796 cows, 72 farms). Models based on 2nd lactation data were consistently better across all traits investigated. Although estimation of LCPs was only possible with sufficient reliability for about 16% of the cows, models including LCPs performed best in predicting LT_DMY with a mean predictability of 73.3%. By contrast, longevity models performed best when using insemination data, but mean predictability only reached 4.6%. Somatic cell count, breed, calving interval, age at first calving, lactation curve persistency, fat protein ratio and information on alpine pasturing were additional traits improving predictions of both traits. Investigation of breed differences in mixed herds revealed lower LT_DMY in the local breeds Simmental and Original Braunvieh compared to Swiss Fleckvieh and Holstein cows. Original Braunvieh lived longer than Holstein (1,949±70 SE vs 1,709±54 SE days, P=0.046), while the local Simmental cows (1,681±61 SE days) did not. We conclude that it seems possible to develop models for TL_DMY, while reliable prediction of longevity remains challenging usin

Substitution of soy components – Does feeding diets based on Hermetia illucens larvae impair growth performance, carcass and meat quality of organic broilers?

Greenhouse gas emissions during black soldier fly larval development in relation to different feeding substrates.

Contentious inputs are used by organic farmers to maintain production sustainability and high standards in animal health and welfare. Their implementation has detrimental impact on the environment and present a risk for the development of the organic sector. Information regarding the application of contentious inputs is not available at the European scale and it is a prerequisite to devise and implement roadmaps to phase them out. This work aimed to determine the extent to which antibiotics, anthelmintics and synthetic vitamins are currently used in organic livestock and to highlight differences in their controlled use. A multi-dimensional approach, incorporating: (1) literature reviews; (2) Europe-wide surveys or interviews of organic experts; (3) analysis of publicly available research data; and (4) national and international authorities (veterinary and agricultural organisations) was followed to quantify the current use and need of contentious inputs in European organic animal production. Overall, there was considerable variation in the use of anthelmintics and antibiotics reflecting country-specific differences in the level of pathogen threat and control. Estimates suggest that overall anthelmintic treatments do not exceed one treatment per animal per year in organic farms, although exceptions were noted. Extrapolated calculations indicate that on average 0.7 antibiotic treatments per animal per year are input in organic livestock systems. Dosages of synthetic vitamins are highly standardized, and decisions are made in the premix producing industry rather than on the farms. With few exceptions there are no differences between conventional and organic practice regarding dosage. Research-based background for organic-specific recommendations is therefore needed. The results provide the first benchmark on patterns of contentious input uses in organic livestock farming across Europe. Funded by EU H2020 No 773431 – RELACS.

Global grassland areas are often referred to as important resources for agricultural production of animal sourced food avoiding land-use pressure on arable soils. However, real utilisation of grassland is often not at optimum, for varying reasons of economic, social and political implications. This concerns also mountain grassland areas, which are in many cases poorly utilised. In the European mountains, too high labour costs at too small revenues are a frequent reason for slackening of mountain pasture utilisation and ultimately abandonment of the land. In Central Asian regions the opposite is frequently the case: due to poverty and social structures, stocking density on mountainous pastures is too high, however at insufficient herd management. Both tendencies lead to grassland degradation. Consequences are ecological damage as well as low productivity on the scales of animals or land. We hypothesise, that in the European as well as in the Central Asian mountainous pasturelands increase of productivity and improvement of ecological sustainability are possible as synergistic effects of improved herd, pasture and fodder management. To challenge the hypothesis and in in order to identify measures of action and the potential margins of productivity raise, case-studies are needed. Two proposed case studies in the European Alps and the Kyrgyz Tian Shan are aiming at: (1) developing applicable strategies of action based on the pilot character of research and development work; and (2) providing sound data to calculate the potential contribution of grassland-based food production to future global nutrition demands under improved management conditions. The role of climate change is a further crucial issue requiring assessment in this context. The overall target is to value the political, economic and ecological importance of mountain grasslands in a demanding future. Based on the exemplary in-depth description of the status quo in the two regions mentioned, this paper will d

An on-farm experiment was conducted in order to evaluate effects of graded supplementation with chestnut tannin extract to cows in situations of excessive dietary protein supply on a low-input organic dairy farm. Respectively 10 Swiss Fleckvieh cows received twice per day 1 kg of experimental pellets containing either 0, 50 or 100 g/kg of chestnut extract (targeted at approximately 0, 5 and 10 g extract/kg of total dietary dry matter). Experimental feeding lasted for 21 days. Measurements and collection of milk, faeces and urine spot samples were performed in weeks 0 (baseline), 1 and 3. All cows were kept in one herd on pasture; fresh grass and grass hay were provided in the barn during night. Milk yield was recorded and cows wore sensor halters for recording chewing activity. In urine, total nitrogen and purine derivatives were measured; faeces were analyzed for protein, fibre and particle fractions; in milk, solid concentrations were determined. The data was analyzed with a general linear model. Cows did not show differences in general eating and rumination behaviour, but needed time to accept the tannin-containing pellets. Milk yield and composition were not affected by treatment, except for lactose content. No relevant differences between treatments were found for urinary and faecal parameters. In conclusion, although technically easy to supplement, pellets containing chestnut tannin extract were not readily accepted by the cows and effects on protein digestion and metabolism were not found. Successful on-farm application of chestnut extract in order to improve nitrogen efficiency therefore seems questionable.

In contrast to natural and historical diets of wild and domesticated ruminants, the diversity of plant species is limited in diets of modern dairy cows. Are “production diseases” linked to this? We conducted a trial to test the effects of a multicomponent herbal feed additive (HFA) on health, performance and fertility traits. A dose‐finding study (DF) with 62 cows on 11 commercial farms compared a low (50 g) and a high (100 g) dose of HFA (HFA‐50, HFA‐100) with a placebo (PL). In a subsequent field trial (FT) with 280 cows on 30 commercial farms, HFA‐100 was compared to PL. Cows were randomly assigned to HFA and PL groups and received HFA or PL individually daily from 14 days pre‐ to 300 days post‐calving. Data were analysed with mixed effects models. No differences between HFA and PL were found regarding performance, body condition score and overall culling rates. A tendency towards lower milk urea for HFA‐100 compared to PL (p = .06) was found in DF. HFA significantly reduced elevated milk acetone observations (≥10 mg/L) in the first 10 lactation weeks (HFA‐100: 4%; HFA‐50: 4%; PL: 12%) in DF. HFA‐50 significantly reduced lameness incidence (HFA‐100: 11%; HFA‐50: 2%; PL: 14%) in DF. Calving intervals were 15 days shorter in HFA compared to PL in both trials, which could be confirmed by tendency (p = .07) in FT. In both trials, the proportion of test days with elevated somatic cell score (≥3.0) was significantly lower in HFA compared to PL (DF: HFA‐100: 40%, HFA‐50: 45% and PL: 55%; FT: HFA‐100: 38% and PL: 55%) which is also reflected by tendency (p = .08) in lower culling rates due to udder diseases in FT. HFA showed no negative impact on any of the measured parameters. The effects of HFA indicate a potential of phytochemically rich and diverse feed additives for dairy cows' nutrition and physiology.

Although the use of local breeds is recommended by organic regulations, breed comparisons performed under organic production conditions with similar production intensities are scarce. Therefore, we compared data of local and widely used Holstein dairy cattle breeds from 2011 to 2015 regarding production, fertility and health from German and Swedish organic farms with similar management intensities within country. In Germany, the energy-corrected total milk yield tended to be lower in the local breed Original Angler Cattle (AAZ, 5193 kg) compared to the modern German Holstein Friesian breed (HO, 5620 kg), but AAZ showed higher milk fat and protein contents (AAZ v. HO: 5.09% v. 4.18% and 3.61% v. 3.31%, respectively). In Sweden, the widely used modern Swedish Holstein (SH) breed had the highest milk yield (9209 kg, fat: 4.10%, protein: 3.31%), while the local Swedish Polled (SKB) showed highest milk yield, fat and protein contents (6169 kg, 4.47%, 3.50%, respectively), followed by the local breed Swedish Red (SRB, 8283 kg, 4.33%, 3.46%, respectively). With regard to fertility characteristics, the German breeds showed no differences, but AAZ tended to have less days open compared to HO (−17 days). In Sweden, breeds did not differ with regard to calving interval, but both local breeds showed a lower number of days open (−10.4 in SRB and −24.1 in SKB compared to SH), and SKB needed fewer inseminations until conception (−0.5 inseminations) compared to SH. Proportion of test day records with a somatic cell count content of ≥100 000 cells per ml milk did not reveal breed differences in any of the two countries. German breeds did not differ regarding the proportion of cows with veterinary treatments. In Sweden, SRB showed the lowest proportion of cows with general veterinary treatment as well as specific treatment due to udder problems (22.8 ± 6.42 and 8.05 ± 2.18, respectively), but the local breed SKB did not differ from SH in either of the two traits. In Sweden, we found