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Ruminant enteric methane, the largest agricultural source of CH₄, is a key target in global climate policies. We developed a biowaste-derived live fed microbial (LFM) from fruit- and vegetable residues and evaluated its potential as a scalable intervention to reduce enteric methane while improving animal performance. In controlled in vitro assays and a 98 days in vivo feeding trial in bovine calves ( n  = 15), LFM at 2% dietary inclusion (dry-matter basis) improved feed efficiency by 30.9%, reduced modelled methane emissions by 25.2%, increased total volatile fatty acids by 45.5%, and lowered NH₃–N by 28.4%. At 3% inclusion, feed efficiency improved by 25.5%, methane emissions decreased by 30.4%, total VFA increased by 43.0%, and NH₃–N declined by 11.7%. Methane abatement was estimated by integrating in vitro and in vivo measurements using an empirically fitted conversion factor and Tier-2–compatible intake models. The IPCC (2006) Tier-2 equivalents indicated ~19% reduction. Scaling to India’s livestock herd suggested abatement of 15.4 Mt CH₄ yr⁻¹ (432.3 Mt CO₂-eq yr⁻¹; GWP₁₀₀ = 28) under full adoption, corresponding to ~US$494.1 million annually under the carbon-price assumption used. These findings position biowaste-derived LFM as a circular-economy feed technology capable of simultaneously improving productivity and reducing enteric methane emissions at scale.

Background Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) contamination in animal feed poses a serious risk to livestock health due to its hepatotoxic effects. Many medicinal herbs which may be used as feed additives exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties with potential hepatoprotective outcomes. We investigated effects of AFB1 in three concentrations (30 µg/kg BW, 60 µg/kg BW, 120 µg/kg BW) as well as three medicinal herbs, i.e., kalmegh ( Andrographis paniculata ), milk thistle ( Silybum marianum ), and turmeric ( Curcuma longa ) in pigs. Hepatic expression of genes involved in biotransformation, detoxification, antioxidation, energy homeostasis, and immunity were evaluated by high-throughput real-time PCR. Results We found that AFB1 significantly suppressed genes involved in biotransformation ( CYP2U1 , CYP4V2 , CYP7B1 , CYP26A1 , CYP51A1 ), detoxification ( GSS , ABCC2 , SULT1E1 ), redox balance ( GPX1 , PRDX4 ), lipid homeostasis ( ACOX1 ), and immune regulation ( CP , CRP ). Kalmegh and, to a lesser extent, milk thistle supplementation provided a comprehensive upregulation of genes involved in key hepatic pathways maintaining liver integrity. Under the specific experimental conditions, the applied dietary turmeric supplement did not induce consistent effects on the analyzed target genes. Conclusions The results indicate that certain medicinal herbs could counteract AFB1-induced gene expression responses in liver. Their application as dietary supplements to reduce potentially harmful effects caused by AFB1 toxicity in farm animals might be an effective tool in improving animal health, productivity and food safety.

Curcumin, the major polyphenolic constituent of Curcuma longa, has been widely investigated as a hepatoprotective adjunct due to its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. This review evaluates the relevance of curcumin for the prevention and management of liver dysfunction and hepatitis in pigs by synthesizing available porcine evidence and integrating mechanistic insights from translational liver injury models where pig-specific data remain limited. Across experimental hepatic injury contexts, curcumin administration is most consistently associated with reduced biochemical and structural indicators of hepatocellular damage, including decreased aminotransferase activity, attenuation of lipid peroxidation, and enhancement of endogenous antioxidant defenses. These effects are mechanistically linked to suppression of pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, particularly NF-κB-related transcriptional activity and inflammasome-associated responses, together with reduced expression of key cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Concurrent activation of Nrf2-centered cytoprotective pathways and induction of phase II antioxidant enzymes (including HO-1, GST, and NQO1) appear to constitute a conserved axis supporting hepatic oxidative stress resilience. In swine-relevant infectious settings, available data further support antiviral activity against selected porcine pathogens, including classical swine fever virus and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, potentially mediated through interference with lipid-dependent stages of viral replication and modulation of Kupffer cell activation. Although combination strategies with established hepatoprotective approaches are conceptually attractive, current synergy evidence remains heterogeneous and largely extrapolated. Overall, curcumin represents a plausible adjunct candidate for supporting porcine liver health; however, translation into practice will depend on resolving formulation-dependent bioavailability constraints and strengthening the pig-specific evidence base.