Farming Factors' Influence on Animal Productions

Animal farming is presently facing a two-fold challenge, comprising, on the one hand, ensuring food safety and security to a continuously increasing population and, on the other, ensuring that production remains sustainable and environmentally friendly. With regard to this, the circular economy presents an opportunity to develop conventional farming technologies step by step via the use of modern and alternative production systems, relying on biotechnologies or on re-inventing traditional farming practices. Therefore, this Special Issue focuses on the innovation, development and assessment of conventional animal farming technology towards improved production systems, which must become increasingly more sustainable. The selected research articles explore the influence of certain factors implemented at the farm level (nutrition, reproduction, genetics, housing, technological endorsement, management, hygiene, etc.) on the conditions of conventional and alternative farming systems of certain species, such as large and small ruminants, horses, poultry, swine, rabbits and honey bees, particularly in terms of their yielding performance and the quality and safety of animal products. Moreover, the question of the adaptability of certain animal populations to new farming conditions can be approached from context of recent ethical challenges relating to animal welfare and non-conventional manners of producing animal-originated foods.