Food and Animal Nutrition

Nutritional evaluation of forages (green, hay, silage, dried), raw materials, by-products and compound feeds. Applications of near-infrared spectroscopy technology in food, feed and excreta.

Assess extensive livestock farming in terms of sustainability, in order to improve its management. This includes the characterization and classification of production systems, the analysis of animal diets and the availability and quality of fodder produced from natural resources and the study of livestock carrying capacity.

Researchers

Elena Albanell Trullàs
Jordi Bartolomé Filella
María José Milán Sendra
Josepa Plaixats Boixadera

Projects

BIOPYMED (PID2020-116786RB-C31)

Prescribed burning and selective grazing in firebreak areas are effective fire prevention strategies. Both tools are traditional pastoral practices with low implementation costs compared to other forest fire prevention techniques. In Spain, creams prescribed in pastures have been applied mainly in temperate climates, but much less in more southern environments. In a previous Open2preserve project, two pilot areas of pyric herbivory have recently been implemented in Mediterranean areas with a high propensity to fire, in Catalonia and Andalusia. The implementation of new tests and their monitoring are the starting point to achieve the scientific and technical objectives proposed in this sub-project.

The main objective of the project is to determine the regeneration capacity of the biota (microbiota, vegetation and entomo-fauna) after applying different creams, in order to deepen knowledge and establish the best practices of pyric herbivory that contribute to enhancing the aerial and soil biodiversity of these Mediterranean ecosystems, as well as the associated ecosystem services. This will include both long-term monitoring of previously established pyric herbivore treatments in two living laboratories (Andalusia and Catalonia), as well as new experimental approaches, the latter related to the study of i) the soil seed bank, ii) the entomo-fauna associated with the vegetation and iii) the soil microbiome and the associated ecosystem services. In addition, a technological approach will be carried out in the two living laboratories, focused on the development and transfer of remote sensing technology based on UAVs and satellite images for the monitoring of phytomass and floristic evolution in remote areas of difficult access

From September 2021 to December 2024

Contact persons: Emilio Benitez (emilio.benitez@eez.csic.es) and Josefina Plaixats josefina.plaixats@uab.cat

IMAGINE (CGL2017-85490-R)

The increasing ability to capture and process ecological images at multiple scales - regional, landscape, ecosystem and edaphic - is changing our understanding of ecosystem dynamics and the relationship between ecological patterns and processes, including the role of biodiversity in multiple functions of the ecosystem In addition, the application of molecular techniques in ecological studies is revealing the fundamental role of soil diversity and function in the interaction with vegetation and other organisms on the maintenance of ecosystem services.

The IMAGINE project aims to assess biodiversity and the distribution of multifunctionality in pastoral ecosystems, currently active or abandoned, at various scales within the context of global change, through the analysis of multispectral drone and satellite images, along with other standard and state-of-the-art molecular, analytical and modeling methods.

This objective has four specific objectives: i) To represent the multifunctionality through models, images and maps to pastures and ecosystems of the pasture areas of three areas of the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula at a landscape scale, including the distribution of vulnerability of biodiversity, and productivity; ii) Improve current imaging techniques for a better coupling between image capture and interpretation and for the evaluation of the distribution in the field of biodiversity and the ecosystem; iii) Investigate what biodiversity patterns and species interactions look like within and across taxa, including fertility islands, plant functional type patches, faeces and fairy rings and iv) Contribute to the modeling of the multifunctionality, the provision of ecosystem services and biodiversity-multifunction interactions, including the exploration of ascending and descending scales.

From January 2018 to December 2021

Contact persons: Josefina Plaixats (josefina.plaixats@uab.cat) and MT Sebastià (teresa.sebastia@udl.cat)

OPEN2PRESERVE 

The open mountain spaces of southern Europe are immersed in processes of land use change and consequently an intense modification of the landscape is detected. The rural exodus and the reduction of grazing, due to the decline of the extensive hut, is affecting especially the pastures, manifesting itself in a rapid colonization and expansion of shrubs and in extensive processes of natural repopulation, which originate the loss of biodiversity, the homogenization of the landscape, the accumulation of combustible plant biomass and the increase in the risk of fire, a high and permanent threat in the current scenario of climate change.

European open landscapes evolved under a natural regime of fire and herbivory and today can be reproduced by sustainable management practices. Prescribed creams and guided grazing are presented as two key options.

The aim of the OPEN2PRESERVE project is to connect current interdisciplinary scientific knowledge, with technology and practice in order to implement and value combined techniques that guarantee the preservation of ecosystem services linked to open spaces of high natural value.

This goal has three specific objectives: i) combine directed grazing with prescribed burning of woody material: pyric herbivory; ii) graze with animals of indigenous breeds and iii) identify innovative solutions for the valorization of products that allow to ensure the profitability of the management model and make clear the value of the territory's natural heritage.

The project proposes the development of different regional pilot experiences, based on the combination of guided herbivory and controlled cremation. In all the experiences, it is sought to offer innovative solutions, which guarantee the economic viability of the bet and can serve as an example and training for the realization of similar initiatives at local and regional level.

From March 2018 to December 2021

https://open2preserve.eu/

https://open2preserve.eu/programa-sudoe/

Multiscale study of the role of herbivores in island Mediterranean vegetation and its interaction with fire (HERBINSU)
This project provides valuable information for the sustainable management of vegetation in Mediterranean islands. This proposal aims to evaluate not only the functional response of the Mediterranean maquis to herbivory, but also the role of small ruminants in the prevention of forest fires and the restoration of burnt areas in the Balearic Islands. On an individual scale, we will study the impact of feral goats on endemic, widely distributed or palatable plants on the island. However, at the population scale, we will explore the role of landscape structure in herd abundance and distribution. Finally, we will evaluate the impact of grazing on the secondary succession of the vegetation succession. In this line, we will carry out navigation pressure field manipulations with the aim of evaluating the use of goats for the prevention of forest fires. To achieve our goals, we will combine laboratory analysis (diet quality, microhistology for diet composition, assessment of secondary compounds), vegetation monitoring in open and closed areas, and the use of non- manned to assess goat density or vegetation activity (multispectral images). In addition, the public perception of the role of herbivores in this unique ecosystem will also be taken into account. The expected results of this project will serve to develop environmental plans aimed at vegetation control and fire prevention in the Mediterranean basin.
Conctact person: Jordi Bartolome (jordi.bartolome@uab.cat)
 
Conditioned aversion: application of small ruminant grazing in vineyards
Conditioned aversion (CTA) is a behavioral learning process in which animals are trained to reject certain foods after gastrointestinal distress has occurred. Lithium chloride (LiCl) is the preferred agent used to induce CTA in cattle because it specifically stimulates the vomiting center. In addition, LiCl is commercially available and easy to prepare and administer using a deworming gun. Due to their innate neophobic feeding behavior, small ruminants can easily associate the negative effects of digestive discomfort with the ingestion of a novel food, resulting in a strong and persistent CTA. However, some factors must be considered in order to obtain an effective and durable CTA, which allows small ruminants to graze during the growing season.
Contact person: Elena Albanell (Elena.albanell@uab.cat )

Processes of digestion and use of nutrients, as well as strategies for the use of additives in monogastric animals: effects on production efficiency, animal health and quality and safety of final products. Food management of monogastric animals: pregnant and lactating sows.

Researchers

Ana Cristina Barroeta Lajusticia
Josep Gasa Gasó
Susana María Martín Orúe
José Francisco Pérez Hernández
Roser Sala Pallarés

Projects

Deciphering the individual response of more or less efficient piglets after weaning. An opportunity to design management strategies (DIR_PIGS) 2021-2024

Growth variability between animals in pig production is considered one of the biggest concerns of the sector. Pigs with a slow growth rate reach market weight later than other animals in the same lot causing underutilization of farms and the consequent increase in production costs. The negative consequences of this variability also include carcass depreciation and a lower economic value per pig. Inadequate feeding and handling of the animals is at the origin of this variability. The present proposal suggests that slow-growing piglets will show indicators that may point towards compromised feeding and welfare behaviour, which will likely be associated with changes in gut microbiota; reinforcing the possible existence of an axis linking microbiota-gut-brain. The project also aims to identify possible metabolic and genomic differences associated with slow-growing animals, and possible management and dietary opportunities to improve the growth rate of light individuals.

The proposal has 2 specific objectives: I) Exploratory objective, in which we aim to unravel the individual response of low-efficiency piglets during the transition to identify probability trees that cover the different causes; II) Intervention objective, in which variability will be addressed through the use of management and feeding strategies that improve the growth of piglets with lower performance.

Contact Persons: J. Francisco Pérez (josefrancisco.perez@uab.cat) and Susana M. Martín-Orúe (susana.martin@uab.cat)

The prenatal period modulates subsequent growth efficiency of the piglet: importance of nutrition and handling of the sow during gestation (Qpig). PID2019-103915GB-I00 (2020-2024)

One of the best ways to optimize resources in the agro-industrial sector is to increase the efficiency of productive and industrial systems, always complying with current legislation. A basic pillar of pig production is to maintain a balanced health status, which requires handling the animals in batches avoiding moving small piglets back to the next batch. In these circumstances, one of the problems that most contributes to reducing production efficiency and carcass and meat quality is the variability of live weight (PV) in the slaughterhouse. Under commercial conditions this variability, measured as coefficient of variation (CV), is approximately 10-15%, or even higher with hyper-prolific sows. Different approaches have been used to reduce this variability; both handling during the lactation period and handling and nutrition during the transition and fattening. However, since piglet PV CV at birth usually exceeds 20%, it is assumed that measures aimed at reducing this number or improving future piglet performance through fetal programming will have a positive impact on PV variability to the sacrifice Gestation outcome is farrow PV and low PV newborn piglets, intra and between farrows, are mainly responsible for within-lot PV variability. PV at birth is an essential factor that impacts future piglet performance, although other parameters may be involved, e.g. vitality; not all low PV piglets at birth behave and grow the same. High and medium PV piglets grow better than low PV; however, a percentage of those with low PV also grow normally and must be differentiated from those with a certain degree of Intrauterine Growth Retardation (IUGR). IUGR piglets have specific morphological, physiological and biochemical traits. The specific way to reduce the variability of PV at birth, and the percentage of IUGR, is still unknown. There is no doubt that genetic, reproductive and management aspects are involved, but the nutrition of the sow during gestation is of great interest. Uterine capacity is known to determine litter size, but piglets with low PV or IUGR are more associated with the intrauterine environment where nutrition is essential. Although both the sow and the piglets are involved, the growth and functionality of the placenta is fundamental.

The objectives of the project are: i) to know the inter and intra genetic impact of PV variability at birth and at weaning in two populations of different prolificacy; ii) develop a method (Qpig) to differentiate between normal piglets and those with IUGR traits. Qpig should be simple and applicable under commercial conditions; and iii) Investigate the effect and conditions of supplementation (dose, period) of some amino acids added to the gestation feed on placental function, PV at birth and its variability and the incidence of IUGR piglets.

This proposal presents a high degree of interaction and synergy with the DIR_PIGS project in which knowledge is generated in the phases after weaning.

Contact Persons: David Solà-Oriol (david.sola@uab.cat) and Josep Gasa Gasó (Josep.gasa@uab.cat)

By-products rich in medium-chain fatty acids (MFA) in monogastric feeding. Comparative Nutrition, Gut Health and Effect on Food Quality (MCBYFATS), granted by the Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2020-115688RB-C21).

The project seeks to reuse and valorize by-products rich in AGCM, and to generate applied information on the strategies for incorporating these by-products in the formulation of feeds for the different species and physiological phases. Its overall objective is to study its potential use in the feeding of monogastric animals and its repercussions in terms of nutritional value, intestinal health and productive performance, without forgetting its impact on the quality of the final product (meat, eggs, fish). For this, it will be determined how the different composition (fatty acid profile and lipid fractions) affects its use by the animal (digestion-absorption dynamics along the gastrointestinal tract), and also the effect of different sources of AGCM on intestinal health (study of the microbiome, histomorphology and barrier function of the intestinal epithelium). Likewise, appropriate strategies will be established to incorporate these sources of AGCM in the feeding programs of broiler chickens, laying hens and fish in order to obtain: a) a high palatability of the feeds, high efficiency in the use of nutrients and an adequate intestinal balance, and b) chicken meat, fish fillets and eggs with a lipid composition and oxidative stability that lead to adequate nutritional and commercial quality, and good acceptance by the consumer.

Contact Persons: Ana Cristina Barroeta (ana.barroeta@uab.cat) and Roser Sala (roser.sala@uab.cat).

Factors involved in the processes of digestion and utilization of nutrients in ruminants. Impact of food on the environment. thermal stress Food strategies to improve product quality (milk and meat).

Researchers

Elena Albanell Trullàs
Gerardo Caja López
Ramon Casals Costa
Francesc Xavier Such Martí
Sergio Calsamiglia Blancafort

Projects

Barley for New Uses
This project aims to study new types of barley of interest for their functional properties for human and animal consumption. In particular, (I) hulled barley types with very high beta-glucan content for direct extraction for industrial uses and hull or bare, waxy and non-waxy genotypes with medium levels of beta-glucan for direct human consumption and ( II) hooded barley, doubled with haploids adapted to Spanish conditions (these genotypes carry the kap gene, resulting in the development of an extra sterile spiotic flower instead of the normal frost). Hooded materials are of great interest in animal nutrition, as they avoid damage to livestock in the digestive system when consumed compared to regular types, allowing multiple alternative uses such as hay, silage or grain. In this project, these varieties are tested to feed ruminants, through their nutritional evaluation, the study of the ruminal degradability of starch and beta-glucans from barley cereals and the evaluation of the lactogenic, metabolic and immunostimulating effects of barley beta-glucans in sheep.
Contact persons: Elena Albanell (Elena.albanell@uab.cat) and Ramon Casals (Ramon.Casals@uab.cat)
 
Nutritive value of camelina by-products in ruminants
Camelina sativais an annual summer oil of the genus Cruciferae that grows in temperate climates and has lower production costs than other oil plants such as rapeseed. This oleaginous crop is used for the production of biofuels. Different by-products can be obtained in this process: camelina expeller, camelina flour and camelina helmets. To date, few studies have focused on the use of camelina by-products in ruminants. So, the aim of this project is to analyze and compare its chemical composition and nutritional value with other ingredients that are commonly used in cattle production. To do this, several in vitro and in vivo experiments will be carried out.
Contact Person: Alfred Ferret (Alfred.Ferret@uab.cat)
 
Use of Unifeed diets based on hay and concentrate for beef production
With the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, the European Union intends to make life more difficult for beef farms that do not have land for fodder production. This has significant implications for beef production in this country, which is largely based on a non-forage model. In this situation, the search for alternatives that allow, on the one hand, farmers who currently support calves to comfortably adapt to the new regulations and, on the other hand, those who are involved in production based in fodder to enter the process, is of great interest to the sector. In addition, finding ways to save costs in production to counteract sudden changes in the price of the raw materials that make up cattle is another of the main objectives of the sector. In this regard, we believe that the proposed use of complete diets, based on alfalfa hay and combined with other concentrate ingredients to provide the energy and protein density necessary for successful production, is entirely feasible. However, this would require technical adjustments to our feeders, through the use of "mixed unifeed wagons" or the purchase of dry mixes, as well as their distribution in the pipelines, which would also have to be adapted . All this would help to reduce the incidence of subclinical acidosis in calves, thanks to a greater intake of fiber and ruminant activity, and thus improve the welfare of the animals. Finally, this could also put an end to the bad image of meat production in the eyes of consumers, who often mistakenly adopt the intensive production system as an unnatural process.
Contact person: Alfred Ferret (Alfred.Ferret@uab.cat)
 
Conditioned aversion: application of small ruminant grazing in vineyards
Conditioned aversion (CTA) is a behavioral learning process in which animals are trained to reject certain foods after gastrointestinal distress has occurred. Lithium chloride (LiCl) is the preferred agent used to induce CTA in cattle because it specifically stimulates the vomiting center. In addition, LiCl is commercially available and easy to prepare and administer using a deworming gun. Due to their innate neophobic feeding behavior, small ruminants can easily associate the negative effects of digestive discomfort with the ingestion of a novel food, resulting in a strong and persistent CTA. However, some factors must be considered in order to obtain an effective and durable CTA, which allows small ruminants to graze during the growing season.
Contact Person: Elena Albanell (Elena.albanell@uab.cat )

Effects of different dietary components on behavior in dogs.

Researcher

Susana María Martín Orúe