1
|
Timmis K, Hallsworth JE, McGenity TJ, Armstrong R, Colom MF, Karahan ZC, Chavarría M, Bernal P, Boyd ES, Ramos JL, Kaltenpoth M, Pruzzo C, Clarke G, López‐Garcia P, Yakimov MM, Perlmutter J, Greening C, Eloe‐Fadrosh E, Verstraete W, Nunes OC, Kotsyurbenko O, Nikel PI, Scavone P, Häggblom MM, Lavigne R, Le Roux F, Timmis JK, Parro V, Michán C, García JL, Casadevall A, Payne SM, Frey J, Koren O, Prosser JI, Lahti L, Lal R, Anand S, Sood U, Offre P, Bryce CC, Mswaka AY, Jores J, Kaçar B, Blank LM, Maaßen N, Pope PB, Banciu HL, Armitage J, Lee SY, Wang F, Makhalanyane TP, Gilbert JA, Wood TK, Vasiljevic B, Soberón M, Udaondo Z, Rojo F, Tamang JP, Giraud T, Ropars J, Ezeji T, Müller V, Danbara H, Averhoff B, Sessitsch A, Partida‐Martínez LP, Huang W, Molin S, Junier P, Amils R, Wu X, Ron E, Erten H, de Martinis ECP, Rapoport A, Öpik M, Pokatong WDR, Stairs C, Amoozegar MA, Serna JG. A concept for international societally relevant microbiology education and microbiology knowledge promulgation in society. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14456. [PMID: 38801001 PMCID: PMC11129164 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Microbes are all pervasive in their distribution and influence on the functioning and well-being of humans, life in general and the planet. Microbially-based technologies contribute hugely to the supply of important goods and services we depend upon, such as the provision of food, medicines and clean water. They also offer mechanisms and strategies to mitigate and solve a wide range of problems and crises facing humanity at all levels, including those encapsulated in the sustainable development goals (SDGs) formulated by the United Nations. For example, microbial technologies can contribute in multiple ways to decarbonisation and hence confronting global warming, provide sanitation and clean water to the billions of people lacking them, improve soil fertility and hence food production and develop vaccines and other medicines to reduce and in some cases eliminate deadly infections. They are the foundation of biotechnology, an increasingly important and growing business sector and source of employment, and the centre of the bioeconomy, Green Deal, etc. But, because microbes are largely invisible, they are not familiar to most people, so opportunities they offer to effectively prevent and solve problems are often missed by decision-makers, with the negative consequences this entrains. To correct this lack of vital knowledge, the International Microbiology Literacy Initiative-the IMiLI-is recruiting from the global microbiology community and making freely available, teaching resources for a curriculum in societally relevant microbiology that can be used at all levels of learning. Its goal is the development of a society that is literate in relevant microbiology and, as a consequence, able to take full advantage of the potential of microbes and minimise the consequences of their negative activities. In addition to teaching about microbes, almost every lesson discusses the influence they have on sustainability and the SDGs and their ability to solve pressing problems of societal inequalities. The curriculum thus teaches about sustainability, societal needs and global citizenship. The lessons also reveal the impacts microbes and their activities have on our daily lives at the personal, family, community, national and global levels and their relevance for decisions at all levels. And, because effective, evidence-based decisions require not only relevant information but also critical and systems thinking, the resources also teach about these key generic aspects of deliberation. The IMiLI teaching resources are learner-centric, not academic microbiology-centric and deal with the microbiology of everyday issues. These span topics as diverse as owning and caring for a companion animal, the vast range of everyday foods that are produced via microbial processes, impressive geological formations created by microbes, childhood illnesses and how they are managed and how to reduce waste and pollution. They also leverage the exceptional excitement of exploration and discovery that typifies much progress in microbiology to capture the interest, inspire and motivate educators and learners alike. The IMiLI is establishing Regional Centres to translate the teaching resources into regional languages and adapt them to regional cultures, and to promote their use and assist educators employing them. Two of these are now operational. The Regional Centres constitute the interface between resource creators and educators-learners. As such, they will collect and analyse feedback from the end-users and transmit this to the resource creators so that teaching materials can be improved and refined, and new resources added in response to demand: educators and learners will thereby be directly involved in evolution of the teaching resources. The interactions between educators-learners and resource creators mediated by the Regional Centres will establish dynamic and synergistic relationships-a global societally relevant microbiology education ecosystem-in which creators also become learners, teaching resources are optimised and all players/stakeholders are empowered and their motivation increased. The IMiLI concept thus embraces the principle of teaching societally relevant microbiology embedded in the wider context of societal, biosphere and planetary needs, inequalities, the range of crises that confront us and the need for improved decisioning, which should ultimately lead to better citizenship and a humanity that is more sustainable and resilient. ABSTRACT The biosphere of planet Earth is a microbial world: a vast reactor of countless microbially driven chemical transformations and energy transfers that push and pull many planetary geochemical processes, including the cycling of the elements of life, mitigate or amplify climate change (e.g., Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2019, 17, 569) and impact the well-being and activities of all organisms, including humans. Microbes are both our ancestors and creators of the planetary chemistry that allowed us to evolve (e.g., Life's engines: How microbes made earth habitable, 2023). To understand how the biosphere functions, how humans can influence its development and live more sustainably with the other organisms sharing it, we need to understand the microbes. In a recent editorial (Environmental Microbiology, 2019, 21, 1513), we advocated for improved microbiology literacy in society. Our concept of microbiology literacy is not based on knowledge of the academic subject of microbiology, with its multitude of component topics, plus the growing number of additional topics from other disciplines that become vitally important elements of current microbiology. Rather it is focused on microbial activities that impact us-individuals/communities/nations/the human world-and the biosphere and that are key to reaching informed decisions on a multitude of issues that regularly confront us, ranging from personal issues to crises of global importance. In other words, it is knowledge and understanding essential for adulthood and the transition to it, knowledge and understanding that must be acquired early in life in school. The 2019 Editorial marked the launch of the International Microbiology Literacy Initiative, the IMiLI. HERE, WE PRESENT: our concept of how microbiology literacy may be achieved and the rationale underpinning it; the type of teaching resources being created to realise the concept and the framing of microbial activities treated in these resources in the context of sustainability, societal needs and responsibilities and decision-making; and the key role of Regional Centres that will translate the teaching resources into local languages, adapt them according to local cultural needs, interface with regional educators and develop and serve as hubs of microbiology literacy education networks. The topics featuring in teaching resources are learner-centric and have been selected for their inherent relevance, interest and ability to excite and engage. Importantly, the resources coherently integrate and emphasise the overarching issues of sustainability, stewardship and critical thinking and the pervasive interdependencies of processes. More broadly, the concept emphasises how the multifarious applications of microbial activities can be leveraged to promote human/animal, plant, environmental and planetary health, improve social equity, alleviate humanitarian deficits and causes of conflicts among peoples and increase understanding between peoples (Microbial Biotechnology, 2023, 16(6), 1091-1111). Importantly, although the primary target of the freely available (CC BY-NC 4.0) IMiLI teaching resources is schoolchildren and their educators, they and the teaching philosophy are intended for all ages, abilities and cultural spectra of learners worldwide: in university education, lifelong learning, curiosity-driven, web-based knowledge acquisition and public outreach. The IMiLI teaching resources aim to promote development of a global microbiology education ecosystem that democratises microbiology knowledge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Timmis
- Institute for MicrobiologyTechnical University of BraunschweigBraunschweigGermany
| | | | | | | | | | - Zeynep Ceren Karahan
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyAnkara University School of MedicineAnkaraTurkey
| | - Max Chavarría
- Escuela de Química, CIPRONAUniversidad de Costa Rica & Centro Nacional de Innovaciones Biotecnológicas (CENIBiot)San JoséCosta Rica
| | - Patricia Bernal
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversidad de SevillaSevillaSpain
| | - Eric S. Boyd
- Department of Microbiology and Cell BiologyMontana State UniversityBozemanMontanaUSA
| | - Juan Luis Ramos
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientificasEstación Experimental del ZaidínGranadaSpain
| | - Martin Kaltenpoth
- Department of Insect SymbiosisMax Planck Institute for Chemical EcologyJenaGermany
| | - Carla Pruzzo
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV)University of GenoaGenoaItaly
| | - Gerard Clarke
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural Science and APC Microbiome IrelandUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | | | - Michail M. Yakimov
- Institute of Polar SciencesItalian National Research Council (ISP‐CNR)MessinaItaly
| | | | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonAustralia
| | - Emiley Eloe‐Fadrosh
- Metagenome Program, DOE Joint Genome InstituteLawrence Berkeley National LabBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Willy Verstraete
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET)Ghent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - Olga C. Nunes
- LEPABE‐Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of EngineeringUniversity of PortoPortoPortugal
| | | | - Pablo Iván Nikel
- Systems Environmental Microbiology Group, The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for BiosustainabilityTechnical University of DenmarkLyngbyDenmark
| | - Paola Scavone
- Departamento de MicrobiologíaInstituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente EstableMontevideoUruguay
| | - Max M. Häggblom
- Department of Biochemistry and MicrobiologyRutgers UniversityNew BrunswickNew JerseyUSA
| | - Rob Lavigne
- Laboratory of Gene TechnologyKU LeuvenHeverleeBelgium
| | - Frédérique Le Roux
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et ImmunologieUniversité de MontréalMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - James K. Timmis
- Department of Political ScienceUniversity of FreiburgFreiburg im BreisgauGermany
| | - Victor Parro
- Centro de Astrobiología (CAB)CSICINTAMadridSpain
| | - Carmen Michán
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología MolecularUniversidad de CórdobaCórdobaSpain
| | - José Luis García
- Environmental Biotechnology LaboratoryCentro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CIB‐MS, CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Arturo Casadevall
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and ImmunologyJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Shelley M. Payne
- Department of Molecular BiosciencesUniversity of Texas at AustinAustinTexasUSA
| | - Joachim Frey
- Vetsuisse FacultyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Omry Koren
- Azrieli Faculty of MedicineBar‐Ilan UniversitySafedIsrael
| | | | - Leo Lahti
- Department of ComputingUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
| | - Rup Lal
- Acharya Narendra Dev CollegeUniversity of DelhiNew DelhiDelhiIndia
| | - Shailly Anand
- Department of Zoology, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya CollegeUniversity of DelhiNew DelhiDelhiIndia
| | - Utkarsh Sood
- Department of Zoology, Kirori Mal CollegeUniversity of DelhiNew DelhiDelhiIndia
| | - Pierre Offre
- Department of Marine Microbiology and BiogeochemistryNIOZ–Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea ResearchDen BurgThe Netherlands
| | - Casey C. Bryce
- Cabot Institute for the EnvironmentUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | | | - Jörg Jores
- Institute of Veterinary BacteriologyUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Betül Kaçar
- Department of BacteriologyUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | | | - Nicole Maaßen
- Institute of Applied MicrobiologyRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Phillip B. Pope
- Faculty of BiosciencesNorwegian University of Life SciencesAsNorway
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food ScienceNMBUAsNorway
| | - Horia L. Banciu
- Department of Molecular Biology and BiotechnologyBabeș‐Bolyai UniversityCluj‐NapocaRomania
| | | | - Sang Yup Lee
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular EngineeringKAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology)DaejeonSouth Korea
| | - Fengping Wang
- International Center for Deep Life Investigation (ICDLI)Shanghai JiaoTong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Thulani P. Makhalanyane
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and MicrobiologyUniversity of PretoriaHatfieldSouth Africa
| | - Jack A. Gilbert
- Department of Pediatrics and Scripps, Institution of OceanographyUC San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Thomas K. Wood
- Department of Chemical EngineeringPennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Branka Vasiljevic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic EngineeringUniversity of BelgradeBelgradeSerbia
| | - Mario Soberón
- Instituto de BiotecnologíaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoMexico CityMexico
| | - Zulema Udaondo
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientificasEstación Experimental del ZaidínGranadaSpain
| | - Fernando Rojo
- Department of Microbial Biotechnology, Centro Nacional de BiotecnologíaCSICMadridSpain
| | | | - Tatiana Giraud
- Laboratoire Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution (ESE)Université Paris‐SaclayGif‐sur‐YvetteFrance
| | - Jeanne Ropars
- Laboratoire Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution (ESE)Université Paris‐SaclayGif‐sur‐YvetteFrance
| | - Thaddeus Ezeji
- Department of Animal SciencesThe Ohio State University & OARDCWoosterOhioUSA
| | - Volker Müller
- Molekulare Mikrobiologie & BioenergetikGoethe‐Universität FrankfurtFrankfurtGermany
| | - Hirofume Danbara
- Shibasaburo Kitasato Memorial MuseumKitasato UniversityMinato‐kuJapan
| | - Beate Averhoff
- Molekulare Mikrobiologie & BioenergetikGoethe‐Universität FrankfurtFrankfurtGermany
| | | | | | - Wei Huang
- Department of Engineering ScienceUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | | | - Pilar Junier
- Laboratory of MicrobiologyUniversity of NeuchâtelNeuchâtelSwitzerland
| | - Ricardo Amils
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo OchoaMadridSpain
| | - Xiao‐Lei Wu
- Department of Energy Resources EngineeringPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Eliora Ron
- The Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer ResearchTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Huseyin Erten
- Department of Food EngineeringCukurova UniversityAdanaTurkey
| | | | - Alexander Rapoport
- Institute of Microbiology and BiotechnologyUniversity of LatviaRigaLatvia
| | - Maarja Öpik
- Department of BotanyUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | | | | | | | - Jéssica Gil Serna
- Departamento de Genética, Fisiología y MicrobiologíaUniversidad Complutense de MadridMadridSpain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Linde A, Lahiff M, Krantz A, Sharp N, Ng TT, Melgarejo T. Domestic dogs maintain clinical, nutritional, and hematological health outcomes when fed a commercial plant-based diet for a year. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298942. [PMID: 38625934 PMCID: PMC11020905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Domestic dogs can maintain health on complete and well-balanced canine plant-based nutrition (K9PBN). Novel insight on health outcomes in dogs consuming K9PBN is of relevance to veterinary professionals and consumers given a growing interest in non-traditional dog foods with perceived health benefits, while considering potential safety concerns. We aimed to investigate nutritional equivalence by measuring clinical health outcomes in adult dogs fed K9PBN over twelve months compared to a meat-based diet at baseline. We enrolled fifteen clinically healthy adult dogs living in households in Los Angeles County, California in a prospective cohort study and evaluated clinical, hematological, and nutritional parameters in dogs at 0, 6, and 12 months, including complete blood count (CBC), blood chemistry, cardiac biomarkers, plasma amino acids, and serum vitamin concentrations. The study found that clinically healthy, client-owned, adult dogs maintain health, based on physical exams, complete blood count, serum chemistry, plasma amino acids, serum vitamins, and cardiac biomarkers combined with client-reported observations, when fed commercial K9PBN over a twelve-month period. This study is the most comprehensive and longest known K9PBN investigation to date and provides clinically relevant evidence-based nutrition data and new knowledge on outcomes in clinically healthy dogs who thrive without consumption of animal-derived ingredients. These results also provide a valuable foundation for the future study of K9PBN as a potential nutritional intervention for clinically relevant pathologies in canine medicine. Lastly, it is of major relevance to One Health paradigms since ingredients produced independent of industrial food animal production are both more sustainable and help to circumvent ethical dilemmas for maintenance of health in domestic dogs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annika Linde
- Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Maureen Lahiff
- University of California Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Adam Krantz
- Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Nathan Sharp
- Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Theros T. Ng
- Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Tonatiuh Melgarejo
- Western University of Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Pomona, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rzymski P. Avian influenza outbreaks in domestic cats: another reason to consider slaughter-free cell-cultured poultry? Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1283361. [PMID: 38163084 PMCID: PMC10754994 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1283361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza causes substantial economic loss in the poultry industry and potentially threatens human health. Over recent years, the highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 virus has led to devastating losses in poultry flocks and wild birds. At the same time, the number of mammalian species identified to be infected with A/H5N1 is increasing, with recent outbreaks in domestic cats, including household individuals, evidenced in July 2023 in Poland, ultimately creating opportunities for the virus to adapt better to mammalian hosts, including humans. Overall, between 2003 and 2023, over 10 outbreaks in felids have been documented globally, and in six of them, feed based on raw chicken was suspected as a potential source of A/H5N1, fuelling a debate on threats posed by A/H5N1 and methods to decrease the associated risks. This article debates that technology allowing the production of slaughter-free meat, including poultry, from cell and tissue cultures could be considered as a part of a mitigation strategy to decrease the overall burden and threat of adaptation of avian influenza viruses to human hosts. By shifting poultry production to the cultured meat industry, the frequency of A/H5N1 outbreaks in farmed birds may be decreased, leading to a reduced risk of virus acquisition by wild and domesticated mammals that have direct contact with birds or eat raw poultry and have close contact with human (including domestic cats), ultimately minimizing the potential of A/H5N1 to adapt better to mammalian host, including humans. This adds to the list of other benefits of cultured meat that are also reviewed in this paper, including decreased antibiotic use, risk of microbial contamination and parasite transmission, and environmental and ethical advantages over conventional slaughtered meat. In conclusion, further development and implementation of this technology, also in the context of poultry production, is strongly advocated. Although cultured poultry is unlikely to replace the conventional process in the near future due to challenges with scaling up the production and meeting the continuously increased demand for poultry meat, it may still decrease the pressures and threats related to the transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza in selected world regions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Rzymski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li M, Mao C, Li X, Jiang L, Zhang W, Li M, Liu H, Fang Y, Liu S, Yang G, Hou X. Edible Insects: A New Sustainable Nutritional Resource Worth Promoting. Foods 2023; 12:4073. [PMID: 38002131 PMCID: PMC10670618 DOI: 10.3390/foods12224073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Edible insects are a highly nutritious source of protein and are enjoyed by people all over the world. Insects contain various other nutrients and beneficial compounds, such as lipids, vitamins and minerals, chitin, phenolic compounds, and antimicrobial peptides, which contribute to good health. The practice of insect farming is far more resource-efficient compared to traditional agriculture and animal husbandry, requiring less land, energy, and water, and resulting in a significantly lower carbon footprint. In fact, insects are 12 to 25 times more efficient than animals in converting low-protein feed into protein. When it comes to protein production per unit area, insect farming only requires about one-eighth of the land needed for beef production. Moreover, insect farming generates minimal waste, as insects can consume food and biomass that would otherwise go to waste, contributing to a circular economy that promotes resource recycling and reuse. Insects can be fed with agricultural waste, such as unused plant stems and food scraps. Additionally, the excrement produced by insects can be used as fertilizer for crops, completing the circular chain. Despite the undeniable sustainability and nutritional benefits of consuming insects, widespread acceptance of incorporating insects into our daily diets still has a long way to go. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the nutritional value of edible insects, the development of farming and processing technologies, and the problems faced in the marketing of edible insect products and insect foods to improve the reference for how people choose edible insects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengjiao Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; (M.L.); (Y.F.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
- Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-Industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
- College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; (C.M.); (X.L.); (L.J.); (W.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Chengjuan Mao
- College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; (C.M.); (X.L.); (L.J.); (W.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Xin Li
- College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; (C.M.); (X.L.); (L.J.); (W.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Lei Jiang
- College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; (C.M.); (X.L.); (L.J.); (W.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Wen Zhang
- College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; (C.M.); (X.L.); (L.J.); (W.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Mengying Li
- College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; (C.M.); (X.L.); (L.J.); (W.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Huixue Liu
- College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
| | - Yaowei Fang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; (M.L.); (Y.F.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
- Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-Industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
- Jiangsu Marine Resources Development Research Institute, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Shu Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; (M.L.); (Y.F.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
- Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-Industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
- Jiangsu Marine Resources Development Research Institute, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Guang Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; (M.L.); (Y.F.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
- Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-Industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
- Jiangsu Marine Resources Development Research Institute, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Xiaoyue Hou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; (M.L.); (Y.F.); (S.L.); (G.Y.)
- Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-Industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
- College of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China; (C.M.); (X.L.); (L.J.); (W.Z.); (M.L.)
- Jiangsu Marine Resources Development Research Institute, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Knight A. The relative benefits for environmental sustainability of vegan diets for dogs, cats and people. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291791. [PMID: 37792712 PMCID: PMC10550159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental impacts of the livestock sector are proportional to consumption levels. To assess the relative consumption of livestock animals within the diets of dogs, cats and people, this study examined their dietary energy needs within the US in 2020, and globally in 2018. Also studied were US pet food ingredients, and environmental sustainability indicators for plant- and animal-based foods consumed globally. Relative consumptions of average livestock animals were: US: dogs- 17.7%, cats- 2.3%, humans- 80.0%; and globally: dogs- 7.7%, cats- 1.2%, humans- 91.1%. Full transition to nutritionally-sound vegan diets would spare from slaughter the following numbers of terrestrial livestock animals annually (billions): US: dogs- 1.7, cats- 0.2, humans- 7.8, and globally: dogs- 6.0, cats- 0.9, humans- 71.3, as well as billions of aquatic animals in all dietary groups. Very large impact reductions were also associated with land and water use, emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), acidifying and eutrophifying gases, and biocide use, in all dietary groups. If implemented globally, nutritionally-sound vegan diets would free up land larger than the following nations: dogs-Saudi Arabia or Mexico, cats-Japan or Germany, humans-Russia-the world's largest country-combined with India. Such diets would save freshwater volumes greater than all renewable freshwater in the following nations: dogs-Denmark, cats-Jordan, humans-Cuba. Such diets would reduce GHGs by amounts greater than all GHG emissions from following nations: dogs-South Africa or the UK, cats-Israel or New Zealand, humans-India or the entire EU. The numbers of additional people who could be fed using food energy savings associated with vegan diets exceeded the 2018 human populations of the following nations: dogs-the entire European Union, cats-France or the UK, humans-every single nation or collective region on Earth, as defined by the World Bank. All of these estimates are conservative.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Knight
- School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Knight A, Bauer A, Brown H. Vegan versus meat-based cat food: Guardian-reported health outcomes in 1,369 cats, after controlling for feline demographic factors. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284132. [PMID: 37703240 PMCID: PMC10499249 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing concerns about environmental sustainability, farmed animal welfare and competition for traditional protein sources, are driving considerable development of alternative pet foods. These include raw meat diets, in vitro meat products, and diets based on novel protein sources including terrestrial plants, insects, yeast, fungi and potentially seaweed. To study health outcomes in cats fed vegan diets compared to those fed meat, we surveyed 1,418 cat guardians, asking about one cat living with them, for at least one year. Among 1,380 respondents involved in cat diet decision-making, health and nutrition was the factor considered most important. 1,369 respondents provided information relating to a single cat fed a meat-based (1,242-91%) or vegan (127-9%) diet for at least a year. We examined seven general indicators of illness. After controlling for age, sex, neutering status and primary location via regression models, the following risk reductions were associated with a vegan diet for average cats: increased veterinary visits- 7.3% reduction, medication use- 14.9% reduction, progression onto therapeutic diet- 54.7% reduction, reported veterinary assessment of being unwell- 3.6% reduction, reported veterinary assessment of more severe illness- 7.6% reduction, guardian opinion of more severe illness- 22.8% reduction. Additionally, the number of health disorders per unwell cat decreased by 15.5%. No reductions were statistically significant. We also examined the prevalence of 22 specific health disorders, using reported veterinary assessments. Forty two percent of cats fed meat, and 37% of those fed vegan diets suffered from at least one disorder. Of these 22 disorders, 15 were most common in cats fed meat, and seven in cats fed vegan diets. Only one difference was statistically significant. Considering these results overall, cats fed vegan diets tended to be healthier than cats fed meat-based diets. This trend was clear and consistent. These results largely concur with previous, similar studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Knight
- Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom
- School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Alexander Bauer
- Statistical Consulting Unit StaBLab, Department of Statistics, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Hazel Brown
- Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Teixeira A, Gabriel R, Martinho J, Santos M, Faria A, Oliveira I, Moreira H. Pro-Environmental Behaviors: Relationship With Nature Visits, Connectedness to Nature and Physical Activity. Am J Health Promot 2023; 37:12-29. [PMID: 35953073 PMCID: PMC9755701 DOI: 10.1177/08901171221119089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Examine the association of visits to the natural environment, connectedness to nature, physical activity, and the adoption of pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) in individuals aged 18 years or older. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING City of Vila Real, located in the north of Portugal. SUBJECTS We recruited 194 individuals (61 men and 133 women) aged 18-75 years. MESURES A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure nature visits, connectedness to nature, PEBs, and demographic characteristics. Neighborhood green space was appreciated through a Simplified Land Occupation Map and physical activity was measured using ActiGraph accelerometers (wGT3X-BT). ANALYSIS Correlations and nonlinear canonical correlation analysis were used to analyze the data. The coefficients of canonical and multiple correlations were calculated. RESULTS Nature visits were associated with involvement in environmental volunteering (V = .317, P ≤ .05) among men. In these, higher levels of moderate-vigorous PA were associated with green travel behavior (η2 = .325, P ≤ .05). Connectedness with nature was related (P ≤ .05) to private sphere behaviors, such as purchase of eco-products (η2 = .191) and local/seasonal products (η2 = .186) in females and encouraging care and protection of natural environment (η2 = .336, P ≤ .01) in males. CONCLUSIONS Nature visits, connection to nature, and physical activity levels were related to the adoption of PEBs in the private and public sphere, and these relationships differed between men and women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Teixeira
- University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal,Andreia Teixeira, Departamento de Ciências do Desporto, Exercício e Saúde, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, Vila Real 5000-801, Portugal.
| | - Ronaldo Gabriel
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Department of Sports Science, Exercise and Health, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - José Martinho
- Geosciences Centre (CGeo), Department of Geology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Mário Santos
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Laboratory of Applied Ecology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Aurélio Faria
- Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), Department of Sport Science, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Irene Oliveira
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Department of Mathematics, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal,Center for Computational and Stochastic Mathematics, CEMAT-IST-UL, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Helena Moreira
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB) Department of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Oven A, Yoxon B, Milburn J. Investigating the market for cultivated meat as pet food: A survey analysis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275009. [PMID: 36584123 PMCID: PMC9803157 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of people reducing their meat consumption due to ethical and environmental concerns is growing. However, meat reducers sometimes care for omnivorous or carnivorous pets, creating the 'vegetarian's dilemma'. Some meat-reducers opt to feed plant-based diets to companion animals, but others express reservations. Cultivated meat offers a possible third path, but consumer perceptions of cultivated meat as pet food have received little scholarly attention. Using survey data from 729 respondents, we analyzed consumers' willingness to feed cultivated meat to companion animals, particularly with reference to their own current dietary practices, and their own willingness to eat cultivated meat. Though not all our respondents willing to eat cultivated meat were willing to feed it to their companions, a large majority were (81.4%, 193/237). However, for those unwilling to eat cultivated meat, the story was more complicated. Vegans and vegetarians were less likely to say they would eat cultivated meat (16.4%, 39/238) than meat-eating respondents (40.3%, 198/491). However, among vegans and vegetarians who would not consume cultivated meat, the majority (55.9%, 86/154) indicated that they would still feed it to their pets. Among meat-eating respondents, only a small minority (9.6%, 11/114) unwilling to eat cultivated meat would feed it to their pets. Consequently, we suggest that the potential market for cultivated meat for pet food is markedly different from the potential market for cultivated meat from human consumption. A key concern among our respondents about feeding cultivated meat to pets was a worry that it was not healthy, indicating that there may be easy gains in cultivated pet food's uptake through messaging relating to safety and nutritional completeness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Oven
- Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara Yoxon
- Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Josh Milburn
- International Relations, Politics and History, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Li K, Lu A, Deng R, Yi H. The Unique Cost of Human Eye Gaze in Cognitive Control: Being Human-Specific and Body-Related? PSICHOLOGIJA 2022. [DOI: 10.15388/psichol.2022.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the eye gaze cost in cognitive control and whether it is human-specific and body-related. In Experiment 1, we explored whether there was a cost of human eye gaze in cognitive control and extended it by focusing on the role of emotion in the cost. Stroop effect was found to be larger in eye-gaze condition than vertical grating condition, and to be comparable across positive, negative, and neutral trials. In Experiment 2, we explored whether the eye gaze cost in cognitive control was limited to human eyes. No larger Stroop effect was found in feline eye-gaze condition, neither the modulating role of emotion. In Experiment 3, we explored whether the mouth could elicit a cost in Stroop effect. Stroop effect was not significantly larger in mouth condition compared to vertical grating condition, nor across positive, negative, and neutral conditions. The results suggest that: (1) There is a robust cost of eye gaze in cognitive control; (2) Such eye-gaze cost was specific to human eyes but not to animal eyes; (3) Only human eyes could have such eye-gaze costs but not human mouth. This study supported the notion that presentation of social cues, such as human eyes, could influence attentional processing, and provided preliminary evidence that the human eye plays an important role in cognitive processing.
Collapse
|
10
|
Su B, Zhang C, Martens P, Cao X. A comparative study on the dietary ecological footprint in contemporary China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158289. [PMID: 36030877 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Food consumption is increasingly impacting environmental sustainability. Building on the latest data of China Statistical Yearbook 2015-2020, this study quantified the dietary ecological footprint per capita (EFP), including animal-based and plant-based EFP, across seven provinces (representing seven regions) and between urban and rural areas of China. We further analyzed the possible correlated factors with the EFP and the strength of these correlations. The results showed that the EFP in southern areas was generally higher than that in northern areas, and the EFP in urban areas was higher than that in rural areas. The EFP was significantly correlated with per capita disposable income (PCDI), food consumption (FC) quantity, urban/rural status, southern/northern areas, and provinces. Moreover, we found geographical locations (i.e., southern/northern areas and provinces) contributed more to the total and animal-based EFP than economic conditions (i.e., urban/rural status and PCDI). Although pork price dramatically influenced the dietary patterns, it did not affect the total or animal-based EFP. These findings provide novel insights for understanding the mechanisms of the relationship between food consumption and environmental sustainability in China. The conclusions are helpful in predicting the future environmental impacts of diets in other countries with similar national conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bingtao Su
- School of Philosophy and Social Development, Shandong University, 27 Shanda Nanlu, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, 72 Binhai Road, Jimo, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
| | - Pim Martens
- University College Venlo, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Venlo, the Netherlands
| | - Xianqiang Cao
- School of Political Science and Public Administration, 72 Binhai Road, Jimo, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kierończyk B, Rawski M, Mikołajczak Z, Homska N, Jankowski J, Ognik K, Józefiak A, Mazurkiewicz J, Józefiak D. Available for millions of years but discovered through the last decade: Insects as a source of nutrients and energy in animal diets. ANIMAL NUTRITION (ZHONGGUO XU MU SHOU YI XUE HUI) 2022; 11:60-79. [PMID: 36101841 PMCID: PMC9442335 DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2022.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this review is to present and discuss the most recent literature about the processing of insect biomass and its impact on nutritive value, further implementation of meals and fats derived from invertebrates to livestock (poultry and swine), aquaculture (salmonids), and companion animal diets and their impact on growth performance, metabolic response, and gastrointestinal microbiota shifts. Additionally, the most important barriers to obtaining unified products in terms of their nutritive value are considered, i.e., to define insects' nutrient requirements, including various technological groups and further biomass processing (slaughtering, drying, and storage). Due to the current limitation in the insect production process consisting of the lack of infrastructure, there is stress on the relatively small amount of insect products added to the animal diets as a functional feed additive. Currently, only in the case of pet nutrition may insects be considered a full replacement for commonly used environmentally harmful and allergenic products. Simultaneously, the least information has been published on this topic. Thus, more scientific data are needed, particularly when the pet food branch and insect-based diets are rapidly growing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Kierończyk
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Mateusz Rawski
- Laboratory of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture, Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Mikołajczak
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Natalia Homska
- Laboratory of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture, Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jan Jankowski
- Department of Poultry Science, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Ognik
- Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Agata Józefiak
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Infectious Diseases, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jan Mazurkiewicz
- Laboratory of Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture, Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Damian Józefiak
- Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Pedrinelli V, Teixeira FA, Queiroz MR, Brunetto MA. Environmental impact of diets for dogs and cats. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18510. [PMID: 36396966 PMCID: PMC9672041 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22631-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Food production is responsible for almost one-quarter of the environmental impact and, therefore, its importance regarding sustainability should not be overlooked. The companion animal population is increasing, and an important part of pet food is composed of ingredients that have a high environmental impact. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dry, wet, and homemade pet diets on greenhouse gas emission, land use, acidifying emission, eutrophying emissions, freshwater withdrawals, and stress-weighted water use. The wet diets were responsible for the highest impact, and dry diets were the type of diet that least impacted the environment, with a positive correlation between the metabolizable energy provided by animal ingredients and the environmental impact. It is necessary to consider the environmental impact of pet food since it is significant, and the population of pets tends to increase.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Pedrinelli
- grid.11899.380000 0004 1937 0722School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabio A. Teixeira
- grid.11899.380000 0004 1937 0722School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana R. Queiroz
- grid.11899.380000 0004 1937 0722School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcio A. Brunetto
- grid.11899.380000 0004 1937 0722School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kilburn-Kappeler LR, Lema Almeida KA, Aldrich CG. Evaluation of graded levels of corn-fermented protein on stool quality, apparent nutrient digestibility, and palatability in healthy adult cats. J Anim Sci 2022; 100:6770041. [PMID: 36272147 PMCID: PMC9733501 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skac354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Dried distillers' grains, coproducts from the ethanol industry, may provide sustainable ingredients for pet food. Due to new post-fermentation separation techniques, corn-fermented protein (CFP) is higher in protein and lower in fiber compared with traditional dried distillers' grains, increasing its appeal for inclusion into pet food. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the effects of increasing levels of CFP on stool quality, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), and palatability in adult cats. Four extruded diets were fed to 11 adult cats in an incomplete 4 × 4 replicated Latin square design. The control diet contained 15% soybean meal (0C) and CFP was exchanged for soybean meal at either 5%, 10%, or 15% (5C, 10C, 15C). Cats were fed each dietary treatment for 9-d adaption followed by 5-d total fecal collection. Feces were scored on a 1 to 5 scale, with 1 representing liquid diarrhea and 5 representing hard pellet-like (Carciofi et al., 2008). A fecal score of 3.5 to 4 was considered ideal. Titanium dioxide was added to all diets (0.4%) as a marker to estimate digestibility. Data were analyzed using a mixed model in SAS (version 9.4, SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC) with treatment as a fixed effect and cat and period as random effects. Fecal dry matter percent and dry fecal output were greater (P < 0.05) at elevated levels of CFP. Stool scores were maintained (P > 0.05) throughout treatments (average; 4). Dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and gross energy ATTD decreased when cats were fed 15C. There was no difference in ATTD of fat or total dietary fiber among treatments. For palatability assessment, cats preferred 5C over 0C but had no preference with increased CFP inclusion. These results suggest that CFP is comparable to SBM, but there may be a maximum inclusion level of 10% when fed to cats.
Collapse
|
14
|
Eagan BH, Wang S, Hall N, Protopopova A. Consumer attitudes toward bacteriophage applications to pet food. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:921508. [PMID: 36032294 PMCID: PMC9403512 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.921508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This study used a two-part questionnaire to investigate consumer knowledge and attitudes toward bacteriophage applications in pet food, pet food safety, and environmental sustainability. Part 1 included questions about pet food safety, sustainability, and knowledge and attitudes toward bacteriophages. Next, participants reviewed educational materials about each, and Part 2 assessed if this increased knowledge of, or changed attitudes toward, bacteriophage application. Participants (n = 80), were recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MT) (n = 45) and Social Media (SM) (n = 35). Mean responses in Part 1 and Part 2 were compared by paired t-tests, and mean responses between MT and SM were compared by t-tests. Participants reported pet food safety was important to them (combined proportion strongly agree or agree, mean ± SD) (75/80, 94%, MT 4.66 ± 0.60, SM 4.71 ± 0.95) and were most concerned with raw pet food safety (51/80, 64%, MT 3.88 ± 0.80, SM 3.17 ± 1.40). Participants rated environmental sustainability as important (61/80, 76%, MT 3.86 ± 0.94, SM 3.97 ± 0.66); however, it was not a strong driver of pet food purchasing (26/80, 33%, MT 3.31 ± 1.25, SM 2.82 ± 0.82). Overall, data showed an increase in knowledge of bacteriophages following a review of educational material. However, in the SM group, no statistically significant difference was observed in the comfort eating food with bacteriophage additives (SM Part 1 3.37 ± 1.05, SM Part 2 3.48 ± 1.12, p = 0.279), whereas the MT group did show an increase (MT Part 1 3.57 ± 1.01, MT Part 2 4.08 ± 0.92, p < 0.001). In the SM group, no statistically significant difference was observed in comfort feeding their pet food with bacteriophage additives (SM Part 1 3.40 ± 1.03, SM Part 2 3.45 ± 1.14, p = 0.571), whereas the MT group did show an increase (MT Part 1 3.57 ± 0.98, MT Part 2 4.31 ± 0.84, p < 0.001). The strongest objections related to safety concerns (20/53, 38%, MT 2.83 ± 0.96, SM 3.27 ± 0.84). These results demonstrate that despite increasing knowledge, there is still hesitancy among some consumers toward bacteriophage applications in pet food.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bailey H. Eagan
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Bailey H. Eagan
| | - Siyun Wang
- Food, Nutrition and Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nathaniel Hall
- Department of Food and Animal Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Alexandra Protopopova
- Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Geiger M, Kistler C, Mattmann P, Jenni L, Hegglin D, Bontadina F. Colorful Collar-Covers and Bells Reduce Wildlife Predation by Domestic Cats in a Continental European Setting. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.850442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In many areas, domestic cats are the most abundant predators of small vertebrates. Due to the potential impact on prey populations by cats, there are calls to investigate the effectiveness of visual and acoustic cues as measures to reduce the cat’s hunting efficiency. In this study, we complement previous studies on the efficacy of Birdsbesafe collar-covers (BBScc) in a so far not investigated Continental European setting and explore the effectiveness in combination with a bell. We also evaluate the tolerability of these devices by the cat and the acceptance by their owners. With a randomized and comparative citizen science-based approach we collected data from 26 households with 31 study cats, which were wearing either a BBScc or both a BBScc and a bell. The BBScc reduced the number of birds brought home by 37% (probability of reduction of 88%). The number of mammals brought home was reduced by 54–62%, but only with the additional bell (probability of reduction of >99%). About one fourth of the birds that could be dissected were found to have collided with a hard object prior to having been brought home by the cats. Our results are in line with previous findings from Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom and highlight the great potential of visual and acoustic cues in reducing hunting success in domestic cats also in Continental Europe. On the other hand, our result show that the number of prey brought home by cats overestimates their hunting bag, if scavenging is not considered. The majority of cat owners reported that their cats habituated quickly to the BBScc. However, frequent scratching in some cats indicates that some individuals may not habituate. Most participating cat owners had a positive attitude toward the BBScc and said that they were willing to use it after the study. However, cat owners reported that their social environment (e.g., neighbors, family, friends) was relatively skeptical, which indicates a need for communication. To conclude, commercially available devices with visual and acoustic stimuli are straightforward and effective ways to mitigate the potentially harmful effect of domestic cats on wildlife.
Collapse
|
16
|
Knight A, Huang E, Rai N, Brown H. Vegan versus meat-based dog food: Guardian-reported indicators of health. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265662. [PMID: 35417464 PMCID: PMC9007375 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative pet foods may offer benefits concerning environmental sustainability and the welfare of animals processed into pet foods. However, some worry these may compromise the welfare of pets. We asked 2,639 dog guardians about one dog living with them, for at least one year. Among 2,596 involved in pet diet decision-making, pet health was a key factor when choosing diets. 2,536 provided information relating to a single dog, fed a conventional meat (1,370 = 54%), raw meat (830 = 33%) or vegan (336 = 13%) diet for at least one year. We examined seven general indicators of ill health: unusual numbers of veterinary visits, medication use, progression onto a therapeutic diet after initial maintenance on a vegan or meat-based diet, guardian opinion and predicted veterinary opinion of health status, percentage of unwell dogs and number of health disorders per unwell dog. Dogs fed conventional diets appeared to fare worse than those fed either of the other two diets. Dogs fed raw meat appeared to fare marginally better than those fed vegan diets. However, there were statistically significant differences in average ages. Dogs fed raw meat were younger, which has been demonstrated to be associated with improved health outcomes. Additionally, non-health related factors may have improved apparent outcomes for dogs fed raw meat, for three of seven general health indicators. We also considered the prevalence of 22 specific health disorders, based on predicted veterinary assessments. Percentages of dogs in each dietary group considered to have suffered from health disorders were 49% (conventional meat), 43% (raw meat) and 36% (vegan). Significant evidence indicates that raw meat diets are often associated with dietary hazards, including nutritional deficiencies and imbalances, and pathogens. Accordingly, the pooled evidence to date indicates that the healthiest and least hazardous dietary choices for dogs, are nutritionally sound vegan diets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Knight
- Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom
- School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Eason Huang
- Independent consultant, Rochedale, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Nicholas Rai
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Hazel Brown
- Centre for Animal Welfare, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Laflamme DP, Backus RC, Forrester SD, Hoenig M. Evidence does not support the controversy regarding carbohydrates in feline diets. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2022; 260:506-513. [DOI: 10.2460/javma.21.06.0291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Robert C. Backus
- 2Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
| | | | - Margarethe Hoenig
- 4Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Lepczyk CA. Unnatural Companions: Rethinking Our Love of Pets in an Age of Wildlife Extinction. PeterChristie. 2020. Island Press, Washington, D.C., USA. 280 pp. $28.00 hardcover. ISBN: 9781610919708. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
|
19
|
Knight A, Satchell L. Vegan versus meat-based pet foods: Owner-reported palatability behaviours and implications for canine and feline welfare. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253292. [PMID: 34133456 PMCID: PMC8208530 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Consumer suspicion of conventional pet foods, along with perceived health benefits of alternative diets, are fuelling development of the latter. These include raw meat diets, in vitro meat products, and diets based on novel protein sources such as terrestrial and marine plants, insects, yeast and fungi. However, some claim vegan diets may be less palatable, or may compromise animal welfare. We surveyed 4,060 dog or cat guardians to determine the importance to them of pet food palatability, and the degree to which their animals displayed specific behavioural indicators of palatability at meal times. Guardians were asked to choose one dog or cat that had been within their household for at least one year, and not on a prescription or therapeutic diet. Of 3,976 respondents who played some role in pet diet decision-making, palatability was the third most important among 12 factors cited as important when choosing pet diets. For 1,585 respondents feeding conventional or raw meat diets, who stated they would realistically consider alternative diets, palatability was the fourth most important among 14 desired attributes. For the 2,308 dogs included, reported observations of 10 behavioural indicators of palatability at meal times reliably indicated significant effects of increased reports of appetitive behaviour by dogs on a raw meat diet, as opposed to a conventional diet. There was no consistent evidence of a difference between vegan diets and either the conventional or raw meat diets. For the 1,135 cats included, reported observations of 15 behavioural indicators indicated that diet made little difference to food-oriented behaviour. Based on these owner-reported behaviours, our results indicate that vegan pet foods are generally at least as palatable to dogs and cats as conventional meat or raw meat diets, and do not compromise their welfare, when other welfare determinants, such as nutritional requirements, are adequately provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Knight
- Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom
- School of Environment and Science, Nathan Campus, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, Australia
| | - Liam Satchell
- Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Penazzi L, Schiavone A, Russo N, Nery J, Valle E, Madrid J, Martinez S, Hernandez F, Pagani E, Ala U, Prola L. In vivo and in vitro Digestibility of an Extruded Complete Dog Food Containing Black Soldier Fly ( Hermetia illucens) Larvae Meal as Protein Source. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:653411. [PMID: 34179159 PMCID: PMC8226000 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.653411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing attention is being directed toward insects as a novel and sustainable source of protein for pet food. The aim of the study was to evaluate nutrient digestibility of a diet containing black soldier fly larvae as its main protein source. Moreover, the purpose of the study was to compare the traditional in vivo total collection method with the in vivo marker method and in vitro digestibility method. Two isonitrogenous and isoenergetic dry diets containing either venison meal (CTRL diet) or black soldier fly larvae meal (BSF diet) as their primary sources of proteins were fed to six adult dogs, according to a Latin square design. The digestibility of nutrients was determined using both in vivo ("total collection" and "internal marker" approaches) and in vitro methods. The two diets showed similar nutrient digestibility values for dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, ash, and phosphorus. However, a statistical trend (p = 0.066) was observed indicating greater protein digestibility in the BSF diet compared with the CTRL diet. Calcium digestibility was higher in the BSF diet compared with the CTRL diet (p = 0.018). On the contrary, fiber digestibility was lower in the insect-based diet compared with the venison diet (p < 0.001). There was no difference between total collection and internal marker methods in the assessment of in vivo digestibility for any of the nutrients considered. The in vitro digestibility values for dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein, as well as the estimated in vivo digestibility of organic matter and crude protein by the means of the predictive equation, were aligned with the in vivo results, although in vitro estimations were consistently higher compared with those obtained by in vivo analysis. Digestibility analysis of a dog food containing insect meal as the sole source of protein (36.5% inclusion) showed promising results in terms of it presenting similar values as a meat-based diet, indicating its suitability as a sustainable protein source for pet food. Moreover, the study showed that both the in vivo marker method and the in vitro method could be possible alternatives to the traditional total collection method in digestibility trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Livio Penazzi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Achille Schiavone
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Natalia Russo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Joana Nery
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Emanuela Valle
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Josefa Madrid
- Department of Animal Production, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Silvia Martinez
- Department of Animal Production, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Elena Pagani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Ugo Ala
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Liviana Prola
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Higa JE, Ruby MB, Rozin P. Americans’ acceptance of black soldier fly larvae as food for themselves, their dogs, and farmed animals. Food Qual Prefer 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2020.104119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
22
|
Gompper ME. Adding Nuance to Our Understanding of Dog-Wildlife Interactions and the Need for Management. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:93-102. [PMID: 33963410 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The interactions of dogs and wildlife are receiving increasing attention across the globe. Evidence suggests that dogs can negatively affect wildlife in a variety of ways, including through the risk of predation, by hybridizing with other Canis species, by acting as a reservoir or vector of pathogens, and by competing with wildlife for resources. A multitude of observations and case studies for each of these interactions has led to calls to prioritize increased management of dogs, for instance, through population reduction, vaccination, movement restrictions, and enhanced care of the dogs themselves. Here, I argue that while the risks that dogs present to wildlife are real, they vary in their importance across the globe. Furthermore, often the approaches used to address these risks are championed without a full understanding of the likelihood of success given the necessary spatial scale of management, the availability of alternative management approaches, and the role dogs play in societies. For instance, culling, vaccination, and animal husbandry approaches in reducing the impacts of dogs on wildlife sometimes fail to recognize that local human populations actively recruit replacement dogs, that vaccination often fails to reach levels necessary for herd immunity, and that enhanced dog husbandry may have indirect impacts on wildlife by requiring environmentally impactful activities. I suggest there is a need for attention not only to identify the impacts of dogs but also to determine where and when such interactions with wildlife are problematic and the likelihood of success for any proposed management approach. The impacts of dogs should be mediated in a context-specific manner that accounts for factors such as the local density of dogs, the susceptibility of local wildlife populations to the risks that dog populations may represent, and the local societal norms that underpin how dogs might be managed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E Gompper
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Bryce CM. Dogs as Pets and Pests: Global Patterns of Canine Abundance, Activity, and Health. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:154-165. [PMID: 33940621 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs (Canis familiaris) were the first domesticated species and, at an estimated population of 1 billion individuals, are globally ubiquitous today. Describing the tremendous morphometric diversity and evolutionary origins of dogs is a scientific endeavor that predates Darwin, yet our interdisciplinary understanding of the species is just beginning. Here, I present global trends in dog abundance, activity, and health. While the human-dog relationship has for millennia been close, it is also complicated. As pets, companion dogs are often treated as family members and constitute the largest sector of the ever-growing >$200 billion USD global pet care industry. As pests, free-roaming dogs are an emerging threat to native species via both predation and nonconsumptive effects (e.g., disturbance, competition for resources, and hybridization). Furthermore, I briefly discuss mounting evidence of dogs as not only infectious disease reservoirs but also as bridges for the transmission of pathogens between wild animals and humans in zoonotic spillover events, triggering intensive dog population management strategies such as culling. Dog mobility across the urban-wildland interface is an important driver for this and other adverse effects of canines on wildlife populations and is an active topic of disease ecologists and conservation biologists. Other canine scientists, including veterinary clinicians and physiologists, study more mechanistic aspects of dog mobility: the comparative kinetics, kinematics, and energetics of dog locomotor health. I outline the prevalent methodological approaches and breed-specific findings within dog activity and health research, then conclude by recognizing promising technologies that are bridging disciplinary gaps in canine science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caleb M Bryce
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Acuff HL, Dainton AN, Dhakal J, Kiprotich S, Aldrich G. Sustainability and Pet Food: Is There a Role for Veterinarians? Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2021; 51:563-581. [PMID: 33773646 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Sustainability has become a watchword for a wide array of resource-intensive goods and services. This is promulgated by an increasing global population and concerns that natural resources and a hospitable climate will not be preserved for future generations. Life-cycle analysis is a tool that provides a framework to determine the magnitude products contribute to carbon emissions and depletion of natural resources. In this review, published research has been summarized to provide an overview of the impacts that pet food production and pet ownership have on the environment and the prospective role of veterinary practitioners in advocating for sustainability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Acuff
- Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
| | - Amanda N Dainton
- Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
| | - Janak Dhakal
- Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
| | - Samuel Kiprotich
- Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA
| | - Greg Aldrich
- Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Andrzejczak R, Dylewski Ł, Jerzak L, Peťko B, Myczko Ł. Does Traditional Feeding of Outdoor Guard Dogs Provide a Food Resource for Wild Mammals and Birds? Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11051198. [PMID: 33921922 PMCID: PMC8143549 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Access to food is crucial in the life of birds, and affects reproduction, survival and, consequently, population size. We investigated how traditional care of dogs affected rural birds and other animal populations. Using camera traps, it was found that the food fed to dogs was also taken by seven species of birds and at least three species of mammals. The most numerous species taking dog food was the house sparrow, Passer domesticus, which is declining in Europe. In the case of this species, females were more likely than males to use food provided for dogs, with a clear preference for food prepared in the human kitchen. We conclude that the food provided to domestic pets can be an important component of the diet of wild birds and mammals living close to humans. Abstract Access to food is crucial in the life of birds and affects reproduction, survival and, consequently, population size. In the case of bird species inhabiting villages, poorer food conditions now exist, mainly because of changes in the lifestyle of rural residents and a reduction in the number of farm animals traditionally housed in backyards. Recent changes have also affected dog populations in villages, and the majority of them are no longer kept outside as guard dogs, but rather inside houses as pets. We investigated how traditional care of dogs impacted rural birds and other animal populations. The study was carried out at the end of winter and early spring in 29 farmsteads in western Poland. Using camera traps, it was found that the food fed to dogs was also taken by seven species of birds and at least three species of mammals. The most numerous species taking dog food was the house sparrow, Passer domesticus, which is declining in Europe. In the case of this species, females were more likely than males to use food given to dogs, with a clear preference for food prepared in the human kitchen. We conclude that the food provided to domestic pets can be an important component of the diet of wild birds and mammals living close to humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Róża Andrzejczak
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71 C, 60-625 Poznań, Poland; (R.A.); (B.P.)
- Institute of Biological Scienes, University of Zielona Góra, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland;
| | - Łukasz Dylewski
- Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland;
| | - Leszek Jerzak
- Institute of Biological Scienes, University of Zielona Góra, 65-516 Zielona Góra, Poland;
| | - Branislav Peťko
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71 C, 60-625 Poznań, Poland; (R.A.); (B.P.)
- University of Veterinary Medicine in Kosice, Komenského 68/73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Łukasz Myczko
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71 C, 60-625 Poznań, Poland; (R.A.); (B.P.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Abstract
Studies of dogs have proliferated among canine scientists, aided in part by the logistical convenience of working with owned animals whose care is handled by others. These pet dogs are unlike most dogs that have lived in contemporary or prehistoric settings. In particular, many of the dogs studied by canine scientists are NATIVE dogs: (1) neutered, (2) alimented, (3) trained, (4) isolated, (5) vaccinated, and (6) engineered. The distinct genotypes and unusual environments of NATIVE dogs stand in contrast to the characteristics of dogs who have adapted to lives in other human communities and settings. For a holistic perspective on the evolution of dogs, it is helpful to study dogs in environments that share features of the settings in which dogs evolved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Koster
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Pl. 6, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Protopopova A, Ly LH, Eagan BH, Brown KM. Climate Change and Companion Animals: Identifying Links and Opportunities for Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies. Integr Comp Biol 2021; 61:166-181. [PMID: 33871032 PMCID: PMC8300940 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent natural disasters and weather extremes are a stark reminder that we live in a climate crisis. Climate scientists and policymakers have asked each discipline to anticipate and create mitigation and adaptation plans in preparation for a worsening future. Companion animals both impact and are impacted by the changing climate through their intrinsically linked relationships to human society. In this theoretical paper, we argue that companion animal scientists are well-suited to address climate change issues. We identify several anticipated climate change outcomes, such as an increase in extreme weather events, human migration, disasters, and an increase in human inequity, and connect these outcomes to identified or hypothesized impacts on companion animals and the human–animal bond. We suggest opportunities to reduce climate change impacts on companion animals that include alterations to owner caretaking behaviors and breeding practices, and education of owners and governments on zoonosis and disaster preparedness. Furthermore, building climate resilience through decreasing inequity in companion animal fields is paramount; and we propose that a starting place can be in animal sheltering and other support services. We also summarize how companion animals and owners’ caretaking behaviors are impacting climate change through the use of finite natural resources as well as pollution and carbon emissions. We propose that replacement, reduction, and refinement, that guide laboratory animal research, can also be useful to mitigate the effects of companion animals on the environment. We suggest criteria for successful mitigation and adaptation plans to include equitability, sustainability, respect for animals, and measurability. Finally, we end on a call to all companion animal professionals to actively consider their role in mitigating the impact of companion animals on the climate and preparing for the fallout of climate change in their communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Protopopova
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lexis H Ly
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bailey H Eagan
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems, Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wehrmaker AM, Bosch G, van der Goot AJ. Effect of sterilization and storage on a model meat analogue pet food. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2020.114737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
29
|
Aiking H, de Boer J. The next protein transition. Trends Food Sci Technol 2020; 105:515-522. [PMID: 38620223 PMCID: PMC7127173 DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Background Meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals requires a relatively rapid transition towards a circular economy. Therefore, a multidisciplinary perspective is required to sketch why a transition from diets based primarily on animal proteins towards diets based primarily on plant proteins products is extremely urgent for both food security and sustainability. Scope and approach This review starts out by identifying ecological, economic and social aspects of sustainable food consumption. Subsequently, it is argued how protein supply is underlying and linking the top-3 of anthropogenic impacts based on the planetary boundaries concept, i.e. 1) biodiversity loss, 2) nitrogen cycle acceleration, and 3) carbon cycle acceleration (resulting in climate change). These environmental impacts associated with current Western food consumption need to be reduced urgently. In order to address the inefficiencies inherent to current dietary patterns, therefore, a ranked list of more sustainable options is proposed, based on their order of magnitude. Addressing consumers, industry, and governmental stakeholders plus cultural aspects, challenges and options are sketched. Key findings and conclusions Clearly, a dietary transition from primarily animal towards plant protein products is required. Fortunately, new dietary guidelines are increasingly taking sustainability into account and the contours of a diet transition are slowly emerging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harry Aiking
- Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joop de Boer
- Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Souza JL, Moraes MT, Galera LA, Abdalla Filho AL, Navarro AB, Junior AA, Mazola YT, Alvarez DO, Camargo PB, Martinelli LA. Identifying the composition of commercial Brazilian cat food with stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen. ISOTOPES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH STUDIES 2020; 56:346-357. [PMID: 32508164 DOI: 10.1080/10256016.2020.1771331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Considering the increasing pet owner's concern about the food their pets are consuming, in this study we investigated the origin of the main ingredients in wet and dry foods produced in Brazil using stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen. We concluded that chicken and pork seem to be the dominant ingredients in most of the samples, with larger proportions in wet cat food. Even in pet foods showing 'beef' as the main ingredient on the label, we found a low proportion of bovine products in both wet and dry cat foods. Comparing the contribution of plant-derived products (C3 and C4 plants) and animal-derived products (chicken-pork, bovine and fish), approximately 21 % of cat foods had more than 30 % of ingredients with plant origin in their composition. The high amount of plant-derived products in cat foods found here raises the question whether this should be mentioned on package labels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janaina L Souza
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Moacir T Moraes
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Leonardo A Galera
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Adibe L Abdalla Filho
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Ana B Navarro
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Alci Albiero Junior
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Yuniel T Mazola
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Dasiel O Alvarez
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Plínio B Camargo
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - Luiz A Martinelli
- Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Abstract
The number of pet animals in the European Union is increasing over the last decades. Few studies with a limited focus in terms of impacts and life cycle stages exist that assess the environmental impacts of dogs. This paper addresses the entire life cycle of a dog. An LCA study on an average dog was conducted considering the pet food and dog excrements, i.e., urine and feces. Fifteen impact categories were analyzed. An average dog has a climate change and freshwater eutrophication potential of around 8200 kg CO2eq and 5.0 kg Peq., respectively. The main contribution to most impact categories over the dog’s life is caused by pet food. Freshwater eutrophication is mainly determined by the dog´s urine and feces. Feces also have a significant contribution to the category of freshwater ecotoxicity. Impacts increase significantly with increasing weight and a longer lifetime of the dog as well as low collection rates of the feces. This LCA study reveals that pet dogs can have a significant environmental impact, e.g., around 7% of the annual climate change impact of an average EU citizen. Optimizing pet food and increasing the feces´ collection rate can reduce the impacts.
Collapse
|
32
|
Fraeye I, Kratka M, Vandenburgh H, Thorrez L. Sensorial and Nutritional Aspects of Cultured Meat in Comparison to Traditional Meat: Much to Be Inferred. Front Nutr 2020; 7:35. [PMID: 32266282 PMCID: PMC7105824 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2020.00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cultured meat aspires to be biologically equivalent to traditional meat. If cultured meat is to be consumed, sensorial (texture, color, flavor) and nutritional characteristics are of utmost importance. This paper compares cultured meat to traditional meat from a tissue engineering and meat technological point of view, focusing on several molecular, technological and sensorial attributes. We outline the challenges and future steps to be taken for cultured meat to mimic traditional meat as closely as possible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilse Fraeye
- Research Group for Technology and Quality of Animal Products, Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre, KU Leuven Ghent Technology Campus, Gent, Belgium
| | - Marie Kratka
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Herman Vandenburgh
- Department of Pathology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Lieven Thorrez
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Kortrijk, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Sykes N, Beirne P, Horowitz A, Jones I, Kalof L, Karlsson E, King T, Litwak H, McDonald RA, Murphy LJ, Pemberton N, Promislow D, Rowan A, Stahl PW, Tehrani J, Tourigny E, Wynne CDL, Strauss E, Larson G. Humanity's Best Friend: A Dog-Centric Approach to Addressing Global Challenges. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E502. [PMID: 32192138 PMCID: PMC7142965 DOI: 10.3390/ani10030502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
No other animal has a closer mutualistic relationship with humans than the dog (Canis familiaris). Domesticated from the Eurasian grey wolf (Canis lupus), dogs have evolved alongside humans over millennia in a relationship that has transformed dogs and the environments in which humans and dogs have co-inhabited. The story of the dog is the story of recent humanity, in all its biological and cultural complexity. By exploring human-dog-environment interactions throughout time and space, it is possible not only to understand vital elements of global history, but also to critically assess our present-day relationship with the natural world, and to begin to mitigate future global challenges. In this paper, co-authored by researchers from across the natural and social sciences, arts and humanities, we argue that a dog-centric approach provides a new model for future academic enquiry and engagement with both the public and the global environmental agenda.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Sykes
- Department of Archaeology, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QE, UK;
| | - Piers Beirne
- Department of Criminology, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME 04104, USA;
| | - Alexandra Horowitz
- Department of Psychology, Barnard College, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, USA;
| | - Ione Jones
- Department of Math and Sciences, Exeter College, Exeter EX4 4HF, UK;
| | - Linda Kalof
- Department of Sociology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
| | - Elinor Karlsson
- Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA;
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Tammie King
- WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute, Waltham on the Wolds LE14 4RT, UK;
| | - Howard Litwak
- Annenberg PetSpace Foundation, 12005 Bluff Creek Dr, Playa Vista, CA 90094, USA;
| | - Robbie A. McDonald
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK;
| | - Luke John Murphy
- Department of Archaeology, University of Iceland, 102 Reykjavík, Iceland;
| | - Neil Pemberton
- Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHSTM), University of Manchester, Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;
| | - Daniel Promislow
- Department of Biology and Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA;
| | - Andrew Rowan
- Wellbeing International, 9812 Falls Road #114-288, Potomac, MD 20854-3963, USA;
| | - Peter W. Stahl
- Department of Anthropology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2, Canada;
| | - Jamshid Tehrani
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham DH1 1LE, UK;
| | - Eric Tourigny
- School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK;
| | - Clive D. L. Wynne
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Box 871104, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA;
| | - Eric Strauss
- LMU Center for Urban Resilience, Loyola Marymount University, LMU Drive Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659, USA;
| | - Greger Larson
- Palaeogenomics & Bio-Archaeology Research Network, School of Archaeology, 1 South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3TG, UK
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Letters to the Editor. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2019; 255:1110-1112. [PMID: 31687899 DOI: 10.2460/javma.255.10.1110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
35
|
Martínez-Sabater E, García-Muñoz M, Bonete P, Rodriguez M, Sánchez-García FB, Pérez-Murcia MD, Bustamante MA, López-Lluch DB, Moral R. Comprehensive management of dog faeces: Composting versus anaerobic digestion. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 250:109437. [PMID: 31473397 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this work was to study the possibilities to manage and recycle dog faeces (DF) using biological processes, using two approaches: composting (C) and anaerobic digestion (AD). Thus, different experiments have been carried out: i) two laboratory/pilot scale experiments (self-heating and composting tests) and one, on a commercial scale; ii) two AD experiments. In both approaches, municipal waste such as the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OMSW) and urban pruning waste (GW) were used as co-substrates. The results obtained regarding the optimization of the composting process indicated that the best strategy was the use of a 1:2 ratio of DF, a 1:4 ratio of OMSW, and a 1:4 ratio of GW, according to the thermal parameters studied (temperature and cumulative quadratic exothermic index (EXI2)), and the quality of the compost obtained. A potentially limiting factor of the process was the high salinity of the DF waste. In addition, AD experiments were performed on DF, OMSW, and GW wastes in controlled anaerobic systems at a laboratory scale. In these experiments, the biogas production obtained was 229 mL biogas/g total solids for the DF residue, 248 mL biogas/g total solids for GW, and 263 mL biogas/g total solids for OMSW. The co-digestion yields a clear improvement in the efficiency of the process against the use of a single residue, increasing the production of biogas by up to 27% with respect to that of the DF waste alone during the first 25 days of AD. The results obtained with these procedures have shown the possibilities to add value to this waste in an urban context where the circular economy represents an increasingly favourable scenario, including the generation of fertilisers and/or energy at a local scale, provided that the collection of dog faeces is optimized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Martínez-Sabater
- Dept. of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernandez University, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel Km 3.2, Orihuela, Alicante, 03312, Spain
| | - M García-Muñoz
- Gestión de Residuos Manchegos S.L., Av. Constitución 142, 45710-Madridejos, Toledo, Spain
| | - P Bonete
- Dpto. Química Física, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, Alicante, E-0308C0, Spain
| | - M Rodriguez
- Dpto. Ingeniería Química, University of Alicante, P.O. Box 99, Alicante, E-03080, Spain
| | - F B Sánchez-García
- Dept. of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernandez University, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel Km 3.2, Orihuela, Alicante, 03312, Spain
| | - M D Pérez-Murcia
- Dept. of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernandez University, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel Km 3.2, Orihuela, Alicante, 03312, Spain
| | - M A Bustamante
- Dept. of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernandez University, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel Km 3.2, Orihuela, Alicante, 03312, Spain.
| | - D B López-Lluch
- Dept. of Agrienvironmental Economics, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Spain
| | - R Moral
- Dept. of Agrochemistry and Environment, Miguel Hernandez University, EPS-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel Km 3.2, Orihuela, Alicante, 03312, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Abstract
Marra discusses the ways in which owning pets impacts the environment.
Collapse
|
37
|
Gordon IJ. Adopting a utilitarian approach to culling wild animals for conservation in National Parks. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Iain J. Gordon
- Division of Tropical Environments & SocietiesJames Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
- Fenner School of Environment and SocietyAustralian National University Acton Australian Capital Territory Australia
- The James Hutton Institute Aberdeen UK
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Fawcett A. Feeding cats a plant‐based diet. IN PRACTICE 2019. [DOI: 10.1136/inp.l4950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
39
|
Abstract
As an indicator of sustainable development, the ecological footprint has been successful in providing a basis for discussing the environmental impacts of human consumption. Humans are at the origin of numerous pollutant activities on Earth and are the primary drivers of climate change. However, very little research has been conducted on the environmental impacts of animals, especially companion animals. Often regarded as friends or family members by their owners, companion animals need significant amounts of food in order to sustain their daily energy requirement. The ecological paw print (EPP) could therefore serve as a useful indicator for assessing the impacts of companion animals on the environment. In the present article, we explain the environmental impact of companion dogs and cats by quantifying their dietary EPP and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions according to primary data we collected in China, the Netherlands, and Japan and discuss how to reduce companion dietary EPP and GHG emissions in order to understand the sustainability of the relationship between companion animals and the environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pim Martens
- Maastricht University, in Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Bingtao Su
- School of Philosophy and Social Development at Shandong University, in Jinan, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Galera LDA, Abdalla Filho AL, Reis LS, de Souza JL, Hernandez YA, Martinelli LA. Carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of commercial dog food in Brazil. PeerJ 2019; 7:e5828. [PMID: 30809425 PMCID: PMC6387582 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brazil is a low- to medium-income country and has the second largest pet food market in the world with 8% of world pet food consumption. The lowest-income social class spends around 17% of their domestic budget on pet food and other items related to pets. Consumers are frequently misled by advertising as there is no precise information about the main sources of protein, carbohydrates and fat in the labels, and the Brazilian pet food industry can legally claim that their products contain certain items like salmon or beef even if they use just a flavoring compound. METHODS The stable isotope methodology compares the stable isotope ratios of carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) between source and product. The 13C/12C ratio of a specific product (e.g., dog food) reveals the proportions of C4 (maize) and C3 (soybean, rice and wheat) plants in that product and the 15N/14N ratio reveals the proportion of the compounds derived from animals. With this isotopic data, we used MixSIAR, a Bayesian stable isotope-mixing model, to estimate the proportion of maize, grains, poultry and beef in dog food. RESULTS The δ13C values of dry dog food ranged from -24.2‰ to -12.8‰, with an average (± standard-deviation) of -17.1‰ ± 2.8‰. The δ13C values of wet pet food ranged from -25.4‰ to -16.9‰, with an average (± standard-deviation) of -21.2‰ ± 2.4‰, which was significantly lower (p < 0.01). The δ15N values of the dry and wet food ranged from 1.7‰ to 4.2‰, and from 0.5‰ to 5.5‰, respectively. The average δ15N values of dry food (2.9‰ ± 0.5‰) was not higher than the wet food (2.6‰ ± 1.3‰) (p > 0.01). The output of the MixSIAR showed a low proportion of bovine products in dry dog food samples. On the other hand, poultry was obviously the dominant ingredient present in most of the samples. Maize was the second dominant ingredient. Wet and dry dog food showed similar isotopic analysis results. The only difference was a lower proportion of maize and higher proportion of grains in wet dog food. DISCUSSION The main finding is that dog food in Brazil is mostly made of approximately 60% (ranging from 32% to 86%) animal-based and 40% (ranging from 14% to 67%) plant-based products. Poultry and maize are the main ingredients. Poultry is added as a by-product or meal, which avoids competition between dogs and humans for meat products, while they can compete for maize. On the other hand, a large proportion of plant-based products in dog food decreases the energy and environmental footprint, since plant-based food products tend to be less harmful compared to animal-based products. Labels can mislead consumers by showing pictures of items that are not necessarily part of the product composition and by not showing the detailed information on the proportion of each ingredient. This information would allow customers to make their own choices considering their pet's nutrition, the competition between animals and humans for resources and environmental sustainability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo de Aro Galera
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Adibe Luiz Abdalla Filho
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiza Santos Reis
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Janaina Leite de Souza
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Yeleine Almoza Hernandez
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Antonio Martinelli
- Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Dodd SAS, Cave NJ, Adolphe JL, Shoveller AK, Verbrugghe A. Plant-based (vegan) diets for pets: A survey of pet owner attitudes and feeding practices. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210806. [PMID: 30645644 PMCID: PMC6333351 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
People who avoid eating animals tend to share their homes with animal companions, and moral dilemma may arise when they are faced with feeding animal products to their omnivorous dogs and carnivorous cats. One option to alleviate this conflict is to feed pets a diet devoid of animal ingredients-a 'plant-based' or 'vegan' diet. The number of pet owners who avoid animal products, either in their own or in their pets' diet, is not currently known. The objective of this study was to estimate the number of meat-avoiding pet owners, identify concerns regarding conventional animal- and plant-based pet food, and estimate the number of pets fed a plant-based diet. A questionnaire was disseminated online to English-speaking pet owners (n = 3,673) to collect data regarding pet owner demographics, diet, pet type, pet diet, and concerns regarding pet foods. Results found that pet owners were more likely to be vegetarian (6.2%; 229/3,673) or vegan (5.8%; 212/3,673) than previously reported for members of the general population. With the exception of one dog owned by a vegetarian, vegans were the only pet owners who fed plant-based diets to their pets (1.6%; 59/3,673). Of the pet owners who did not currently feed plant-based diets but expressed interest in doing so, a large proportion (45%; 269/599) desired more information demonstrating the nutritional adequacy of plant-based diets. Amongst all pet owners, the concern most commonly reported regarding meat-based pet foods was for the welfare of farm animals (39%; 1,275/3,231). The most common concern regarding strictly plant-based pet foods was regarding the nutritional completeness of the diet (74%; 2,439/3,318). Amongst vegans, factors which predicted the feeding of plant-based diets to their pets were concern regarding the cost of plant-based diets, a lack of concern regarding plant-based diets being unnatural, and reporting no concern at all regarding plant-based diets for pets. Given these findings, further research is warranted to investigate plant-based nutrition for domestic dogs and cats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. S. Dodd
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nick J. Cave
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | | - Anna K. Shoveller
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adronie Verbrugghe
- Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Conway DMP, Saker KE. Consumer Attitude Toward the Environmental Sustainability of Grain-Free Pet Foods. Front Vet Sci 2018; 5:170. [PMID: 30320125 PMCID: PMC6166590 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated consumer knowledge and attitude toward environmental sustainability, grain-free diets (GFDs), and the influence of on-site environmental sustainability education on pet owner diet choices. A two-part questionnaire was designed, bracketing an educational brochure on environmental sustainability and GFDs. The study consisted of an informational brochure and two questionnaire sections, Q1 and Q2. Preliminary information regarding current diets, diet choice(s), views of environmental sustainability, the definition of GFDs, and the likelihood of feeding GFDs were gathered via Q1. Participants then read a factual brochure regarding pet food trends and environmental sustainability. After reading the brochure, participants completed Q2. Pet ownership of the survey population indicated 12/78 cared exclusively for at least one cat, 48/78 cared exclusively for at least one dog, and 18 cared exclusively for at least one dog and one cat. The majority (70/78) of survey responders fed a dry commercial product, 25/78 fed a canned commercial product, and 1/78 fed a commercial raw product. Prior to reading the brochure, 44.9% of participants were able to partially identify a GFD, 47.4% partially defined environmental sustainability, and 19.2% reported feeding a GFD. After reading the brochure, 67.6% of participants were able to identify a more environmentally sustainable diet vs. 55.9% prior to reading the brochure. A paired T-test demonstrated that after reading the brochure, people were significantly less likely to feed a GFD (p < 0.001). When participants already feeding a GFD were isolated, they demonstrated a higher likelihood to feed a GFD both before and after reading the pamphlet than the remaining population; however, the likelihood decreased from 8.4 ± 2.7 to 7.8 ± 2.7. The informational brochure was effective; participants were less likely to feed a GFD after reading the brochure. Although participants considered environmental sustainability important, factors independent of environmental sustainability influenced the likelihood of diet change. Participants already feeding a GFD also ranked environmental sustainability highly but were less likely to consider changing their pet's diet. These preliminary findings identify a need for public education regarding pet food choices that can have environmental consequences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M P Conway
- Small Animal Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Korinn E Saker
- Small Animal Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| |
Collapse
|