Sustainable Agriculture Research, Issue: Vol.15, No.2

Value-Chain Feasibility of Mexican Creole Pig Products for Sustainable Agriculture: Perceptions, Market Constraints and Rural Economy Implications

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 03:40:23 +0000

This article examines the market viability of introducing Mexican Creole pig products into contemporary agri-food markets from a sustainable agriculture and rural economy perspective. Native and locally adapted livestock breeds can contribute to biodiversity, rural livelihoods and food system resilience, but their conservation depends not only on genetic value or cultural narratives. It also depends on whether producers, processors, retailers and food-service actors can integrate them into viable production and commercialization systems. Based on data from 28 value-chain participants engaged through semi-structured interviews and sectoral focus groups, this qualitative study analyzes how sanitary risk, carcass performance, supply continuity, price formation and market trust shape the adoption prospects of Mexican Creole pig products. Participants represented six types of value-chain actors: industrial pig breeders, small butchers, restaurateurs, traders/distributors, dairy/cheese producers and meat processors without herds. Results indicate a structural misalignment between conservation-oriented innovation proposals and the operational logic of real value-chain actors. Creole pigs are perceived as slower-growing, fattier and less predictable than industrial pigs, which limits their suitability for mainstream pork markets. However, actors identify potential in small-volume, high-value niches such as food festivals, specialty retail and artisanal processed products, provided that traceability, sanitary guarantees and coordinated branding are ensured. The study concludes that Mexican Creole pig conservation through food innovation requires more than consumer interest: it depends on value-chain coordination, institutional support and market designs that align heritage, sustainability and economic feasibility.

Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal Enhance Nutrients Composition in Diets for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:17:05 +0000

The study evaluated the potential of defatted black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) as a sustainable alternative to fish meal (FM) in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) diets while promoting organic waste valorisation through a circular economy approach. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) (Hermetia illucens) were reared on faecal sludge and organic waste, harvested at the pre-pupal stage, and defatted to produce a protein rich feed ingredient. Three isonitrogenous diets (30 % crude protein) were then formulated such that BSFLM substituted FM at 0% (control, diet 1), 50% (diet 2) and 100% (diet 3) on a protein basis. Nutritional chemical analysis on ingredients and diets were determined while diets’ fatty acids profile was determined by MPA FT-NIR spectrometer. The analysis showed significant differences (p < 0.05) among the diet treatments for all measured parameters except dry matter. FM registered the highest crude protein, (57.89%) followed closely by defatted BSFL (54.69%). However, partial substitution of FM with defatted BSFL in diets increased crude protein levels (31.77%), registered moderate crude fat (5.26%) and moderate crude fibre (11.08%) (diet 2) levels compared to FM meal diet (diet 1). Consequently, partial substitution yielded the highest overall polyunsaturated fatty acids (ƩPUFAs) content (4.81 mg/g). Thus, the study shows that, partial replacement (50%) of FM with defatted BSFLM provides rich proximate and fatty acid profiles that can support Nile tilapia production while sustainably managing waste, promoting resource recovery within a circular economy.

Combining Abilities for Growth Performance of Indigenous Chicken Strains Reared under Improved Management in Zambia

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:06:44 +0000

Zambian indigenous chickens play a crucial role in rural livelihoods, yet their genetic potential remains largely unexplored. This study assessed growth performance and combining abilities of five indigenous strains: Naked Neck (Na), Frizzle Feathered (F), Short Legged (S), White Spotted (W), and Normal Feathered (N) using a full diallel design to obtain 25 genetic groups. The body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured in purebreds, crossbreds and reciprocals, with general combining ability (GCA), specific combining ability (SCA) and reciprocal effects (RE) quantifying additive, non-additive and maternal effects. BW differed significantly (P < 0.05) among genetic groups from hatch to 20 weeks. At 20 weeks, the pure strains White Spotted and Naked Neck showed superior growth performance with BW of 2229.7 g and 2140.7 g, respectively. Reciprocal crosses, F×Na had highest BW (≈2329.3 g), followed by crosses involving White Spotted and Naked Neck strains. FI did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) among genetic groups. Purebred strains recorded ADG values of 10.8-17.9 g/day and FCR ranging from 2.2 to 2.7, whereas crossbreds showed higher ADG (>17.9 g/day) with FCR ranging from 1.7 to 2.7. Reciprocal crosses exhibited highest ADG (19.3 g/day) and lowest FCR (1.5). WW exhibited highest GCA (128.8), followed by NaNa (72.7), while SS was lowest (−175.8). The SN cross had highest SCA (236.1), followed by NaF (184.8) and SW (128.1). RE were highest in FNa (195.1), WS (192.8) and SF (178.1). Crossbreds and reciprocal crosses outperformed purebreds, indicating strong heterosis and high genetic combination potential for improving productivity, feed efficiency, and conservation of Zambia’s indigenous chicken genetic resources.

Control of Vegetation Traits on Soil Water Storage in Annual and Perennial Grazed Forage Systems

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:26:06 +0000

Soil water storage in forage systems is dependent not only on grazing and environmental factors, but also on the water use efficiency and other traits of the forage. Annual and perennial forages have varying impacts on soil water recharge and depletion dependent on litter, rooting, canopy, and other traits which impact soil water infiltration and evapotranspiration. Those traits were used to examine changes in seasonal soil water storage up to 1.4 metres below ground surface over a four-year drought period, 2020 to 2023. Using a grazed forage system with two perennial and two annual cover types, grasses and cereals—particularly bromegrasses—were found to be the largest contributing vegetation to soil water decline over the study period. The dense rooting and lack of soil insulation in paddocks dominated by meadow bromegrass exacerbated drought conditions most significantly of the forage systems studied, despite their low yields when compared to a treatment containing hybrid bromegrass.