Interactions between animal enterprises and marketing strategies shape organic multispecies farming systems

One of the key ways to improve the sustainability of agricultural systems is through diversification, taking advantage of synergies between farm enterprises. Among diversified systems, multispecies livestock farms with at least two animal enterprises have rarely been studied. We explored 95 organic farms from six countries, accounting for the proportion of animal enterprises, sales management, workforce size, and work organization. The study reveals various types of interactions between animal enterprises. Complementarities were observed between ruminant and monogastric enterprises, particularly fertilizer transfer from monogastric manure to grasslands. Milk production was often associated with on-farm processing and short distribution channels, which enhanced farm viability and reduced its dependency on herd productivity. Eleven out of the 95 farms combined above-average production efficiency, on-farm processing, and the majority of sales in short distribution channels. Their labor productivity converged toward 22 livestock units per annual work unit, regardless of the number of workers. Combining farm structure; livestock production efficiency; social elements, such as the workforce; and sales management led us to distinguish four types of farms: (i) small and very autonomous grassland farms with on-farm processing and short distribution channels; (ii) dairy farms associated with a high-density pig or poultry enterprise, whose feed purchase contributes to high rates of cattle feeding self-sufficiency and stocking rate; (iii) large farms with an extensive, grassland beef enterprise associated with either sheep or monogastrics; and (iv) dairy sheep associated with goat or beef cattle on rangelands, with high added-value products enhancing salaries. This study highlights for the first time the diversity of organic multispecies livestock farms and how consistent patterns of interactions among farm structure, livestock management, sales management, and workforce management shape them. The results are a preliminary basis for designing policy interventions aiming to scale up organic farming and value social assets of diversified and small farms

Functional regression to model the link between livestock farms' performance and their size

International audienceOver the last decades, livestock farms' sizes have increased in Western Europe although the benefits obtained by the farms and agricultural workers are far from being obvious nor demonstrated. The purpose of this paper is to propose the use of functional regression to study the relationship between farm size and farm performance trends in long-term panel data. While a linear Partial Least Squares regression is performed as a reference model, a regression for functional data enrich the modelling with the chronological information contained in panel data, in particular evolution shapes of performance and size. The proposed methods are applied on a long-term structural, technical and economic database of cattle beef farms in the Charolais region (France). The achieved regression models, whether classical or functional, suggest that, in our case study, the farm size is not sufficient to explain its performance. We now expect our work to be a starting point for further analysis. In particular, other structural, economical and technical characteristics could contribute to better model livestock farms' evolution

Représentation et interprétation en régression pls fonctionnelle

National audienceNous nous int´eressons `a la probl´ematique de la mise en relation entre deux ensembles de variables en grande dimension : Y (`a expliquer) et X (explicatif) `a valeurs respectivement dans les espaces s´eparables, X et Y `a partir n observations de Z = (X, Y ). G´en´eralement, l’exploitation de ce type de donn´ees est fragmentaire. L’approche que nous proposons permet de visualiser directement l’influence des sous-ensembles X sur ceux de Y dans un contexte de r´egression PLS (Partial Least Squares). Plusieurs applications seront abord´ees au cours de cet expos´e. Nous illustrerons notre approche notamment dans des situations o`u X et Y sont de grandes dimensions (voire fonctionnelles) et montrerons comment elle permet de r´epondre `a des questions telles que : quel(s) groupe(s) de micro-ARN influence(nt) quel(s) groupe(s) d’ARN messagers

Transcriptomic analysis of Staphylococcus xylosus in the presence of nitrate and nitrite in meat reveals its response to nitrosative stress

International audienceStaphylococcus xylosus is one of the major starter cultures used for meat fermentation because of its crucial role in the reduction of nitrate to nitrite which contributes to color and flavor development. Despite longstanding use of these additives, their impact on the physiology of S. xylosus has not yet been explored. We present the first in situ global gene expression profile of S. xylosus in meat supplemented with nitrate and nitrite at the levels used in the meat industry. More than 600 genes of S. xylosus were differentially expressed at 24 or 72 h of incubation. They represent more than 20% of the total genes and let us to suppose that addition of nitrate and nitrite to meat leads to a global change in gene expression. This profile revealed that S. xylosus is subject to nitrosative stress caused by reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generated from nitrate and nitrite. To overcome this stress, S. xylosus has developed several oxidative stress resistance mechanisms, such as modulation of the expression of several genes involved in iron homeostasis and in antioxidant defense. Most of which belong to the Fur and PerR regulons, respectively. S. xylosus has also counteracted this stress by developing DNA and protein repair. Furthermore, it has adapted its metabolic response carbon and nitrogen metabolism, energy production and cell wall biogenesis to the alterations produced by nitrosative stress

Processus érosifs et transport solide en milieu tropical insulaire. Cas des bassins versants de la Baie du Robert, Martinique, FWI

Particulièrement vulnérable aux pressions d’origine anthropique, la Baie du Robert en Martinique est marquée par une dégradation généralisée de ses écosystèmes. L’envasement des fonds marins, les changements de bathymétrie et la dégradation de biocénoses remarquables sont notamment les conséquences d’un apport excessif de particules solides dans la baie. Sur certains sous-bassins versants de ce territoire, nous avons caractérisé et quantifié le transfert de solutés dans les eaux superficielles. Une première approche qualitative a permis d’établir un diagnostic cartographié de la vulnérabilité des terres à l’érosion à l’échelle des bassins versants. Dans un deuxième temps, un réseau de stations de mesures a été installé pour évaluer quantitativement le régime hydrologique et la dynamique de transport solide des cours d’eau instrumentés. Les principaux résultats de cette seconde étape permettent de caractériser les variations spatiales et temporelles du transport solide et d’estimer les quantités de matériaux entraînés en fonction des spécificités des sous-bassins instrumentés.In Martinique (FWI), the Robert bay is characterised by some signs of eutrophication and hyper sedimentation, inducing impacts on its natural ecosystems. This study has allowed highlighting some of the main driving factors of erosion processes in the catchment basins. Combination of agricultural practices and human settlements uphill during the last decades is one of the phenomena of erosion amplification. A first step was to build a diagnosis of erosion vulnerability in the catchment basins. The second step was dedicated to design monitoring programmes, install equipment and collect physical and chemical data on three different basins. First results allow improving scientific knowledge on spatiotemporal variability of solid transport on catchment basin scale and assessing contribution of solid transport in pesticides contamination

Transcriptomic adaptation of [i]staphylococcus xylosus[/i] to a cheese model

Staphylococcus xylosus belongs to the food-related species of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Thisspecies is present in the natural microbiota of traditional cheeses. It is also commercially available as an adjunct culture to enhance the aroma and texture of cheeses, as well as the color of the surface of smeared cheeses. The molecular mechanisms allowing the growth and adaptation of S. xylosus in the dairy products are still poorly understood. A microarray representing the S. xylosus C2a genome was used to determine how the gene expression profile was modified during growth and adaptation to a cheese model. The C2a strain was inoculated at 5.6 log CFU/g in ultra filtered milk concentrated 5.5-fold and supplemented with UHT cream and salt. Then rennet was added. The temperature of incubation was decreased from 30°C to 12°C after 10 hours of culture, to mimic the temperature shift generally encountered during cheese making. The growth of S. xylosus in the cheese model was exponential until 5 hours and reached a maximum of 8.7 log CFU/g at 24h. S. xylosus population remained almost at this population level after 48 hours of incubation. Total RNA extractions were performed directly from the solid dairy matrix inoculated with S. xylosus after 6, 24 and 48 hours of incubation. Compared to the 6 hours time point sampling, more than 1000 genes of S. xylosuswere differentially expressed at 24 and/or 48 hours of incubation. In particular, extensive upregulation of genes involved in the biosynthesis of purines, pyrimidines, aromatic amino acids and arginine was observed.This work generates a comprehensive genome-wide picture of what genes are modulated during S. xylosus growth and adaptation to a cheese model. Our study increases the understanding of the physiology of adjunct culture in the first step of cheese making process

Transcriptomic adaptation of [i]staphylococcus xylosus[/i] to a cheese model

Staphylococcus xylosus belongs to the food-related species of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Thisspecies is present in the natural microbiota of traditional cheeses. It is also commercially available as an adjunct culture to enhance the aroma and texture of cheeses, as well as the color of the surface of smeared cheeses. The molecular mechanisms allowing the growth and adaptation of S. xylosus in the dairy products are still poorly understood. A microarray representing the S. xylosus C2a genome was used to determine how the gene expression profile was modified during growth and adaptation to a cheese model. The C2a strain was inoculated at 5.6 log CFU/g in ultra filtered milk concentrated 5.5-fold and supplemented with UHT cream and salt. Then rennet was added. The temperature of incubation was decreased from 30°C to 12°C after 10 hours of culture, to mimic the temperature shift generally encountered during cheese making. The growth of S. xylosus in the cheese model was exponential until 5 hours and reached a maximum of 8.7 log CFU/g at 24h. S. xylosus population remained almost at this population level after 48 hours of incubation. Total RNA extractions were performed directly from the solid dairy matrix inoculated with S. xylosus after 6, 24 and 48 hours of incubation. Compared to the 6 hours time point sampling, more than 1000 genes of S. xylosuswere differentially expressed at 24 and/or 48 hours of incubation. In particular, extensive upregulation of genes involved in the biosynthesis of purines, pyrimidines, aromatic amino acids and arginine was observed.This work generates a comprehensive genome-wide picture of what genes are modulated during S. xylosus growth and adaptation to a cheese model. Our study increases the understanding of the physiology of adjunct culture in the first step of cheese making process

Bovine mammary nutrigenomics and changes in the milk composition due to rapeseed or sunflower oil supplementation of high-forage or high-concentrate diets

International audienc

Liver transcriptome modifications by nutrient restriction in early lactation Holstein cows challenged with intramammary lipopolysaccharide

Diffusion dans les revues Journal of Animal Science, Vol.94, E-Suppl.5 et Journal of Dairy Science, vol.99, E-Suppl.1International audienc