Numerous biotic and abiotic stresses can significantly decrease crop growth and yields. In the context of climate change, stresses will be more frequent in the coming years and will have an even more severe impact on agricultural systems. As a result, crop production could be drastically reduced, with the consequences aggravated by the fact that the world’s growing population will require more food production. Furthermore, among abiotic stresses, the salinity of soils and water for agricultural use, as well as drought, particularly impact crops. For these reasons, sustainable measures need to be implemented to maintain/increase crop production and ensure the resilience of agricultural systems. To this end, biostimulants, materials that can increase crop productivity and the quality profile of end products, are an increasingly popular solution. The primary function of biostimulants is improving nutrient use efficiency, quality traits, and stress tolerance, as well as ensuring the bioavailability of nutrients in the soil or rhizosphere. Therefore, this Special Issue published research on the effects of biostimulants on helping crops to cope with abiotic stresses, focusing on salt and drought stress. In addition, scientific contributions on the use of biostimulants to counteract other abiotic stresses, such as potentially toxic metals and extreme temperatures, are also welcome. New substances with biostimulant action and studies investigating the mechanisms of action of biostimulants and their qualitative, economic, and environmental benefits will also be considered.

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The discipline of aquaculture ecology is developing rapidly and has generated much valuable progress in recent decades. This reprint mainly describes the recent advances in the individual ecology of commercial aquatic organisms, the ecology of aquaculture systems, the interaction between aquaculture activities and the environment, the structure of function of microbial communities, the principles of environmental management in aquaculture ecosystems, etc. Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing human activities, and has achieved high and predictable yields in recent decades. However, the industry is also facing numerous long-term challenges, such as environmental pollution, excessive resource consumption, etc. Aquaculture ecology aims to lay an ecological foundation for the sustainable development of aquaculture. This reprint hosts 10 papers and 1 editorial, with topics including, but not limited to, the impact of floating raft aquaculture on the hydrodynamic environment of an open sea area; the bioremediation of aquaculture wastewater using seaweed; the production environment in biofloc systems; the effects of various environmental factors, including temperature, carbonate alkalinity and protein levels in compound feed on commercial aquatic species; advances in ecology research on major integrated rice field aquaculture models in China, etc. The advances in aquaculture ecology research collected in this reprint can provide references for the sustainable development of aquaculture.

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The externalization of animals’ genetic potential is determined by a number of external factors, of which feeding plays a major role. Animal nourishment is one of the most important levers in ensuring the efficiency of animal production due to both the high share of feed costs in the total cost of products and the influence this has on the growth, reproduction, and health of animals, as well as the quality of products obtained from them. This particular field is one of the most dynamic in the field of husbandry sciences due to the continuous acquisition and use of numerous results obtained from studies on energy metabolism and nutrients, related to the composition of feed and its influence on animal products. This is also due to the great advances made in genetics with the creation of new types of animals with increasing productive potential and different food requirements. The following Special Issue is dedicated to interdisciplinary studies on animal nutrition, physiology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, reproduction, and breeding technologies. The articles contained herein cover a wide range of topics related to feed quality, the influence of food on production levels, the quality of production, and their influence on animal health.

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This includes 17 original research articles and focuses on the knowledge on the effects of dietary antioxidants on host health and performance of production animals, including livestock, poultry and fish. It provides various nutritional approaches to improve antioxidant capacity and benefit host health in animal production. Production animals exposed to air pollution, heavy metals, or other stressful conditions can experience oxidative stress that may suppress animal health, performance, and production, subsequently impacting economic feasibility; hence, maintaining and improving oxidative status, especially through an appropriate nutrition strategy, are essential for normal physiological processes in animals. Promising research results have revealed that the administration of natural or synthetic antioxidants in an animal’s diet may be an important strategy to mitigate the negative influence induced by oxidative stress conditions. The Special Issue has been conceived to set out the knowledge on the effects of dietary antioxidants on host health and performance of production animals. It provides various nutritional approaches, mainly including vitamins, plant extracts, trace elements, non-essential amino acids, etc., to improve antioxidant capacity and benefit host health in livestock, poultry and fish. This book will encourage more scientists to move forward on the path to increasing knowledge on the effect of natural or synthetic antioxidants on the growth and health of production animals.

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The exposure of animals to environmental stresses (restraint, bad housing conditions, irradiation, pollution, diseases, and heat stress) and endogenous stresses (metabolic and physiological disorders) can seriously disrupt the redox homeostasis, leading to impairments in animals’ health and overall performance. Under these circumstances, the self-antioxidant defense system may not be enough to neutralize ROS effects. In this context, the utilization of an exogenous source of antioxidants, mainly dietary sources, may present an effective and cost-effective solution. There are a plethora of substances, either naturally occurring or synthesized (organic acids, minerals, vitamins, hormones, and specific feed additives originating from plants such as essential oils and polyphenols), known for their antioxidant activity, that can be used to maintain adequate redox status in animals in order to preserve their well-being and/or productivity. This area of research still needs more investigations in order to clearly elucidate the effective antioxidant substances that could be used in practical applications, with an emphasis on their biological mechanisms during different physiological conditions and health statuses. We intend to bring together current research concerning the role of antioxidant substances either from natural sources or those synthesized for improving animal production, reproduction, health, and welfare.

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From birth to first calving, the replacement heifer undergoes tremendous changes anatomically as well as in feeding and management practices. The calf changes from being a pseudo-monogastric to a full ruminant within a period of two months. During the same period, the calf is fed colostrum, milk, or milk replacer, and starter with or without hay. Notably, the lifetime milk production and health of a dairy cow is highly dependent on early life nutrition and management of the calf and, subsequently, the heifer. Hence, animal scientists continue to investigate critical areas such as colostrum feeding, the level of liquid feeding, gut microbial succession, energy and protein levels, housing, health management, and their interactions with the animal in an effort to help dairy producers raise successful and sustainable dairy enterprises.

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There is global interest in using insects as food and feed. However, before insects can be recommended as a type of nourishment to augment more traditional and widely accepted sources of food and feed, it is essential that in-depth research involving a variety of subjects is carried out. We can learn from societies in which insects are still a component of the local diet which species are preferred and how they are prepared for human consumption. We need information on the chemical composition of edible insects and have to make sure we know what kinds of micro-organisms and pathogens they contain. Legal questions in relation to the sale and breeding of certain species need to be addressed, and medicinal aspects of edible insects and their products should be examined. How best to market selected species and make them palatable to a clientele that more than often rejects the idea of insects in the diet are further important aspects in need of study. This book deals with these questions in 19 articles written by experts from at least 20 different countries that represent a range of disciplines. As such, it is a useful tome for a wide range of food researchers.

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With the development of the aquatic feed industry, new feedstuff and feed additives have been developed, but their roles on the growth and immunity of different aquaculture animals remain to be examined. In addition to essential nutrients, feedstuffs and feed additives must contain some biologically active constituents to support fish growth and wellness. However, some also have adverse effects on growth performance through the introduction of undesirable materials. This Special Issue focuses on the application of feedstuffs and additives in aquaculture species’ growth and immunity, especially recently developed feedstuff and additives.

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This Special Issue focuses on feeding and feed technology advances and challenges in aquaculture. These are of particular interest since aquaculture and fisheries are considered crucial sources of animal protein in human diets, providing around 17% of global edible animal protein. Special attention is given to alternative sources of fish meal and how substitutions can influence the metabolism, immune response, and disease resistance of the targeted species. Moreover, the impact of plant extracts on growth performances, physiological responses, immunity, and intestinal health is addressed.

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Meat quality is associated with the chemical composition and metabolic state of skeletal muscle. This Special Issue aims to compile the recent literature with a focus on meat quality and pre-mortem factors that affect muscle metabolism. It includes nine research articles about various types of meat, as well as one review article about beef quality.

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This book focuses on the effect of natural substances, bioactive compounds and bacteriocins on rabbit production and reproduction, performance, gastrointestinal microbiota, health parameters, and metabolic processes in rabbits. Obtained information may help in the utilization of natural additives in human and veterinary healthcare without negative impact on environment and animal welfare. Finally, special attention is given to urgent need for more studies to understand the metabolic processes of natural compounds on a molecular level, to establish the beneficial dose.

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In recent years, interest in nutrition has grown, with a particular focus on the pivotal role of antioxidants in the formulation of functional diets essential for animal health and disease prevention. This comprehensive reprint offers a deep dive into the world of innovative antioxidants that can be used in animal nutrition. The key to this field lies on the oxidative balance. The inclusion of antioxidants aligns with sustainable farming practices, following the One Health principles, thus supporting health and feed and food safety. With an exploration across different animal species, from piglets to dairy ewes, and from broilers to calves, the studies showcased in this collection underscore the beneficial impact of antioxidant-enriched diets on animal welfare, product quality, and stress reduction. As the quest for sustainable approaches in livestock farming gains importance, the supplementation of natural antioxidants emerges as a valuable strategy, promising to increase health, welfare, and sustainability in the livestock field.

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The aim of this Special Issue is to publish high quality papers concerning poultry nutrition and the interrelations between nutrition, metabolism, microbiota and the health of poultry. Therefore, I invite submissions of recent findings, as original research or reviews, on poultry nutrition, including, but not limited to, the following areas: the effect of feeding on poultry meat end egg quality; nutrient requirements of poultry; the use of functional feed additives to improve gut health and immune status; microbiota; nutraceuticals; soybean meal replacers as alternative sources of protein for poultry; the effects of feeding poultry on environmental impacts; the use of feed/food by-products in poultry diet; and feed technology.

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This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue Promising Detoxification Strategies to Mitigate Mycotoxins in Food and Feed that was published in Toxins

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Ruminants contribute significantly to human food security. However, the production of ruminants contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are responsible for climate change. GHGs such as methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide are produced from different processes of ruminant production. Ruminant enteric methane is a substantial component of methane produced by agriculture. This book presents novel and established methods in quantifying and reducing enteric methane emission from ruminants in different production systems. The book covers different types of ruminants including cattle, sheep, and goats. The chapters are contributed by scientists and authors from different parts of the world, demonstrating the importance of this problem and the universal drive for immediate and sustainable solutions. Although, biologically speaking, the production of enteric methane cannot be reduced to zero, high emissions are an indicator of inefficient digestion of feed in the rumen and low utilisation of feed energy. By presenting research that could lead to robust and yet practical quantification methods and mitigation strategies, this book not only contributes to the discourse and new knowledge on the magnitude of the problem but also brings forward potential solutions in different livestock production systems.

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The aim of this Special Issue was to publish high-quality papers on poultry nutrition and the inter-relations between nutrition, metabolism, gut microflora, and poultry performance. Therefore, we present here original research articles in the following topics:- the nutrient requirements of poultry;- the impact of dietary fibre on poultry health and performance;- the use of feed additives to improve gut microflora and performance;- the effect of feeding on poultry meat and egg quality;- factors that cause variation in feed ingredients used in poultry diets;- alternative feed ingredients for use in poultry feed formulations;- the impact of gastrointestinal pH on nutrient bioavailability and the intestinal microbiota in poultry;- phytate and xylan ‘susceptibility’ in relation to the effects of enzymes;- factors that influence reactivity and enzyme efficacy;- in vitro models to determine the digestibility of poultry diets.

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This book focuses on animal nutrition strategies using various feed additives to enhance nutrient digestibility and utilization, modulate the antioxidant capacity, mineral status, immunity, and gut and/or rumen microbiota in livestock. This results in improvements in their growth, performance and production parameters, as well as the quality of animal products.

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