Tropical and Mediterranean Animal Production Systems

The consistent monitoring of trees both inside and outside of forests is key to sustainable land management. Current monitoring systems either ignore trees outside forests or are too expensive to be applied consistently across countries on a repeated basis. Here we use the PlanetScope nanosatellite constellation, which delivers global very high-resolution daily imagery, to map both forest and non-forest tree cover for continental Africa using images from a single year. Our prototype map of 2019 (RMSE = 9.57%, bias = −6.9%). demonstrates that a precise assessment of all tree-based ecosystems is possible at continental scale, and reveals that 29% of tree cover is found outside areas previously classified as tree cover in state-of-the-art maps, such as in croplands and grassland. Such accurate mapping of tree cover down to the level of individual trees and consistent among countries has the potential to redefine land use impacts in non-forest landscapes, move beyond the need for forest definitions, and build the basis for natural climate solutions and tree-related studies.

Human and animal pathogens that are transmitted by arthropods are a global concern, particularly those vectored by ticks (e.g. Borrelia burgdorferi and tick-borne encephalitis virus) and mosquitoes (e.g. malaria and dengue virus). Breaking the circulation of pathogens in permanent foci by controlling vectors using acaricide-based approaches is threatened by the selection of acaricide resistance in vector populations, poor management practices and relaxing of control measures. Alternative strategies that can reduce vector populations and/or vector-mediated transmission are encouraged worldwide. In recent years, it has become clear that arthropod-associated microbiota are involved in many aspects of host physiology and vector competence, prompting research into vector microbiota manipulation. Here, we review how increased knowledge of microbial ecology and vector-host interactions is driving the emergence of new concepts and tools for vector and pathogen control. We focus on the immune functions of host antibodies taken in the blood meal as they can target pathogens and microbiota bacteria within hematophagous arthropods. Anti-microbiota vaccines are presented as a tool to manipulate the vector microbiota and interfere with the development of pathogens within their vectors. Since the importance of some bacterial taxa for colonization of vector-borne pathogens is well known, the disruption of the vector microbiota by host antibodies opens the possibility to develop novel transmission-blocking vaccines.

For breeding schemes based on a diversity of production systems, there is a growing challenge in combining standardised tools for the collective genetic improvement of a breed and the selection of a flock able to respond to the specific constraints of the farm and the farmer’s objectives. In order to progress on this question, it is necessary to gain better knowledge of how farmers who use one or several of these tools select the future breeding animals of their flocks, and the conditions under which they use these collective tools. We took the example of dairy sheep farming in Corsica (France) and of two collective tools for the Corsican breed’s management: the use of milk recording data within and outside of the breeding scheme and the buying of rams from the breeding scheme’s cooperative. The tools’ use and perception were described by means of interviews with farmers (n = 40). Cross-analysis of farms’ descriptors and the use of collective tools was performed by statistical analysis using available databases on dairy sheep flocks in Corsica. A diversity of breeding practices was associated to the use of milk recording data and to the purchase of rams sold by the breeding scheme’s cooperative. Flock size, milking method and type of land use influenced these breeding practices and the adoption or mistrust of a collective genetic improvement tool. Dissemination of genetic progress through rams from the breeding scheme is possible, provided that a diversity of breeding practices and production environments is represented in the nucleus flocks.HighlightsParticipating in the breeding scheme of the Corsican breed did not hinder the use of various replacement and culling practices in dairy sheep farmsModalities of use of the milk recording tool are multiple and driven by work organisation, perception of the breeding scheme and the farm projectRams sold by the breeding scheme’s cooperative are present in several commercial farms with varying characteristics

En Guyane, les questions environnementales et le besoin croissant en énergie et produits alimentaires liés à la croissance démographique exercent une pression accrue sur les ressources naturelles par le changement d’affectation des sols qu’ils engendrent. Des agriculteurs testent cependant des pratiques à faible impact conciliant objectifs de production et respect de l’environnement. Une prospection dans les systèmes de production agricoles guyanais, basée sur des enquêtes de terrain, a permis la description de ces pratiques ; parmi celles-ci, les pratiques à faible impact sur la dynamique du carbone ont été sélectionnées dans des systèmes maraîchers et arboricoles, pour des mesures spécifiques des stocks de carbone des sols. En Guyane, la pratique de la défriche est toujours active afin d’étendre les surfaces agricoles utiles. Cela induit des pertes de carbone importantes. Nous cherchons donc à identifier des pratiques qui permettent de compenser ces pertes. La place du sol dans les prises de décision des agriculteurs a été appréhendée et des mesures spécifiques des stocks de carbone des sols ont complété l’enquête, pour mieux comprendre les logiques des pratiques mises en œuvre et en cerner les effets. Nos résultats montrent que les agriculteurs maîtrisent « l’objet sol » dans ses composantes physiques ; la matière organique est un indicateur reconnu qui conditionne l’organisation des cultures sur l’exploitation. En Guyane, les agriculteurs mobilisant des pratiques à faible impact ont des systèmes de production efficients au niveau économique et environnemental (carbone et gaz à effet de serre).

Exploring the relationship between farm's social and economic factors and the adoption of agricultural best management practices is useful to tackling the environmental challenges faced by the animal production. This study used the data of 47,211 dairy farms from the 2010 French Agricultural Census to study the statistical correlations between these factors and the adoption of nine agricultural best management practices. First, we tested the internal factors related to the characteristics of the farmer, farm's structure, and governance. Second, we tested the external factors related with commercial and regulatory followed by spatial features. The results show that the internal factors like farm size and the contracting any agri-environmental insurance are negatively correlated with the adoption of most of the practices. Communication and information technologies are both positively or negatively correlated with the practices. In terms of governance, farms with individual and corporative legal status have statistically significant adoption behaviour. The share of familial annual working unit is negatively correlated with most of the practices. On the contrary, the diversification has an important positive correlation. Education, age, knowing the succession and the share of land under property have not significant correlation with most of the practices. In terms of external factors, the statistical analysis highlights the significant positive correlation of positioning on alternative markets, short circuits, organic products, or quality markets and the adoption of almost all practices. As the literature commonly suggests, the results show that environmental regulations also drive the adoption. The spatial environment of the farm and, more specifically, the environmental behaviour of neighbouring farms is highly correlated with the adoption. Finally, polices to promote locally farmer's experience exchange and to supporting diversification, high quality products and short circuits can further the adoption of agricultural best management practices reducing the environmental impacts of dairy farms.

Abstract BackgroundIn order to maintain homeostasis, ruminants submitted to alternating shortage and refeeding situations manifest switches in metabolic pathways induced by undernutrition and body reserves (BR) replenishment cycles. The objective of this experiment was to study adaptive regulatory mechanisms present during subsequent feeding transition periods and the inherent lipolytic activity of the adipose tissue in individuals with contrasted BR. Three diets containing different levels of energy were offered to 36 mature, dry, non-pregnant Mérinos d’Arles ewes in an experiment lasting 122 days. Ewes were selected with similar body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS) and were allocated into three equivalent treatments according to the plane of nutrition: normally fed (Control); underfed (Under) or overfed (Over). The BW, BCS and individual energy metabolism were monitored. At the end of the experiment, lipolytic activity of adipose tissue was studied through a ß-adrenergic challenge to the same ewes, with body conditions according to the offered diet (Normal, Leans and Fat, respectively).ResultsAnabolic or catabolic responses to energy dietary manipulation were accompanied by synchronised metabolic regulation, leading to contrasting metabolic and BR profiles. Average BW and BCS were higher and lower in Over and Under ewes, respectively. The higher and lower BR variations were observed for Under and Over ewes. Higher plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentrations were accompanied by lower insulin, leptin and glucose. Differences in leptin were consistent with the dietary energy load (Over > Control > Under). After refeeding, a rebound in BW and BCS was observed for the three groups whereas NEFA was drastically reduced in Under ewes. No differences among treatments were detected in NEFA profiles at the end of the study but lipolytic activity responses to the ß - adrenergic challenge were different and coherent with the adipose tissue mass (Fat > Normal > Lean) and, importantly, was also different between ewes from the same group or BR status, thus evidencing diversity among individual adaptive capacities.ConclusionsThe ability of ewes to quickly overcome undernutrition situations by efficiently using their BR was confirmed. There is potential for a simplified ß-adrenergic challenge protocol helping to identify differences in adaptive capacity among individuals.

L’agroecologie propose un cadre theorique pertinent pour concevoir des systemes agricoles a la fois productifs, autosuffisants, efficients et resilients. Dans ce travail, nous questionnons dans quelle mesure, les systemes mixtes agriculture-elevage (SMAE) les plus integres sont-ils aussi plus performants. Par l’analyse comparative de dix-sept etudes de cas issues de trois territoires tropicaux contrastes (Guadeloupe, Amazonie bresilienne, Cuba), nous appliquons l’analyse de reseaux ecologiques (cf. Ecological Network Analysis, ENA) pour en caracteriser l’integration agriculture-elevage (IAE) et en evaluer les performances agroecologiques a partir d’indicateurs comme l’efficience,la productivite, le recyclage des nutriments (azote), la dependance et la resilience. Nos resultats, issus de la reconstitution du fonctionnement des exploitations sur une annee donnee, montrent que les exploitations peu integrees sont soit peu efficientes et peu resilientes, soit peu productives et fortement resilientes. En revanche, des exploitations fortement integrees combinent un niveau eleve de productivite, d’efficience et un bon niveau de resilience.

Fermented milk is a common beverage in many countries, but its flavor is highly variable from one region to another. The fermented mare milk, common beverage in Central Asia, has a typical flavor of koumiss, but those flavors were never described using aroma compound determination. In the present study, six lactic acid bacteria were identified in local koumiss. Due to the apparent technological advantage of Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus thermophilus (notably their acidification speed), the main objective of this study was to compare their volatile compound profiles. 35 aromatic compounds were detected. To compare the aroma profiles of each strain, the ratio proportion strain/control was calculated for each strain and for each aroma showing significantly different profiles with predominance of 2-methyl-1-propanol and 2-undecanol in milk fermented with L. casei, and of 2,3-pentanedione in milk fermented with S. thermophilus. L. casei strain produced more aroma and its profile was significantly (P>0.03) different from S. thermophilus profile.