L’ambition de l’Atelier de Réflexion Prospective sur l’élevage a été de repenser la place, les rôles de l’élevage et en quoi il doit se transformer pour contribuer pleinement au développement de systèmes agri-alimentaires plus durables ainsi que d’identifier des thématiques de recherches interdisciplinaires permettant d’explorer des fronts de science ou méthodologiques porteurs d’avenir pour lever les verrous de connaissances. La réflexion a été animée par un groupe de 15 chercheurs et a mobilisé une centaine de chercheurs. A partir d’une analyse du contexte et des drivers d’évolution des systèmes nous proposons un nouveau cadre conceptuel et des voies de progrès pour penser l’élevage de demain. L’élevage doit s’inscrire dans le cadre de systèmes agri-alimentaires circulaires dans lesquels il doit contribuer, au-delà d’une efficience accrue des moyens de production, à la préservation de la qualité des ressources et à la production d’une alimentation à un prix abordable. Il faut repenser les systèmes pour qu’ils soient climato-intelligents et répondent aux enjeux de santé et du bien-être des animaux et des hommes ; repenser les liens entre élevage, production végétale et territoire pour maximiser les recyclages et repenser les liens entre élevage, transformation et consommation de ces produits de l’élevage. Les innovations doivent être basées sur les principes de l’agro-écologie complétés par ceux de l’économie circulaire et par la mobilisation des leviers des (bio)technologies et de l’innovation organisationnelle. Le texte décrit quatre grandes priorités scientifiques avec leurs enjeux de recherche et produit des recommandations pour un plan d’action.

Uterine fluid is an aqueous milieu to which sperm are exposed during their storage and ascent. In this study a bottom up proteomic strategy and bioinformatic analysis of hen uterine fluid was performed to improve understanding of this fluid and its potential role in sperm survival mechanisms. The proteomic data were submitted to ProteomeXchange. Among the 913 proteins identified, 160 are known to be secreted and 640 are referenced in exosomes databases. We isolated exosomes from avian uterine fluid, analyzed them using electron microscopy and targeted several exosomes markers (ANXA1/2/4/5, VCP, HSP90A, HSPA8, PARK7, and MDH1) using immunoblotting. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry were also used to analyze uterovaginal junctions for the exosomal proteins ANXA4, VCP and PARK7. Exosomes were observed both at the surface epithelium and inside sperm storage tubules. Our data were compared to two previously published studies on proteomic of hen uterine fluid, and with one study describing the proteomic content of rooster seminal plasma and sperm. In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time that avian uterine fluid contains exosomes. These may play a key role in preserving sperm functions within the female genital tract. Their presence in the sperm storage tubules may represent an important mechanism regarding interaction between the female genital tract and sperm.

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Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient in livestock feed but can pollute waterways. In order for pig production to become less of a threat to the environment, excreta must contain as little P as possible or be efficiently used by plants. This must be achieved without decreasing the livestock performance. Phosphorus and calcium (Ca) deposition in the bones of growing pigs must be optimised without affecting the muscle gain. This requires precision feeding based on cutting-edge techniques of diet formulation throughout the animal growth phase. Modelling and data mining have become important tools in this quest. In this study, a mechanistic model taking into account the distribution of P between bone and soft tissues was compared to the established factorial models (INRA (Jondreville and Dourmad, 2005) and NRC (National Research Council, 2012)) that predict P (apparent total tract digestible, ATTD-P; or standardised total tract digestible, STTD-P) and Ca (total and STTD) requirements as a function of BW and protein deposition. The requirements for different bone mineralisation scenarios, namely, 100% and 85% of the genetic potential, were compared with these two models. Sobol indices were used to estimate the relative impact of growth-related parameters on mineral requirements at 30, 60 and 120 kg of BW. The INRA showed the highest value of ATTD-P requirement between 29 and 103 kg of BW (6%) and lower for lighter and higher BW. Similarly, the model for 85% bone mineralisation showed lower STTD-P requirement than NRC between 29 and 93 kg of BW (7%) and higher for lighter and higher BW. Contrary to other models, the Ca requirement of the proposed model is not fixed in relation to P. It increases from 95 kg of BW while the others decrease. The INRA showed the highest Ca requirements. The model Ca requirements for 100% bone mineralisation are higher than NRC from 20 to 38 kg of BW similar until 70 kg of BW and then higher again. For 85% objective, the model showed lower Ca requirements from 25 to 82 kg of BW and higher for lighter and higher BW. The potential Ca deposition in bones is the most sensitive parameter (84% to 100% of the variance) of both ATTD-P and Ca at 30, 60 and 120 kg. The second most sensitive parameter is the protein deposition, explaining 1% to 15% of the ATTD-P variance. Studies such as this one will help to usher in a new era of sustainable and eco-friendly livestock production.

The Focus Group on New Feed for Pigs and Poultry of the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) addressed the question `Which are the promising new sources and strategies to reduce pressure on natural resources while feeding or producing feed for pigs and poultry?` This group of 20 experts from across Europe assessed the challenge and identified possible solutions. The expert group identified ‘knowledge gaps’ and needs, generated recommendations on how to ensure future implementation of new feed for pigs and poultry, and proposed innovation actions and ideas for Operational Groups. One of the key issues to be addressed by the Focus Group was to identify and characterise the potential new feed options for pigs and poultry. Based on a rationale focusing on economy, nutritional value and sustainability, outlined in the Starting paper, the experts assessed the most promising new feed options during two workshops held in Finland and Belgium. The Focus Group experts identified the following top five new feed options: • Bakery products • Green biomass (grass/clover) • Insects (black soldier fly – Hermetia illucens) • Micro-algae • Single cell protein (bacteria) The selected top five new feed options have different pros and cons regarding nutritional value, economy and sustainability (Chapter 4). Overall, bakery products are a potential feed ingredient which would be relatively easy to introduce/use more widely in the EU. Yet, the nutritional value is not as high as the other new feed options in the Focus Group`s top five. Although green biomass (grass/clover) is slightly more mature than insects, micro-algae and single cell protein from bacteria, the remaining four new feeds are relative immature; and require a lot of research and development before they can be fully implemented at both farm and industry level. To promote implementation, several ideas for Operational Groups were suggested for these top five new feed options (Chapter 5). Recommendations regarding future needs were likewise discussed by the experts both from a practical as well as academic perspective. The consensus was that there is a great need for fast(er) analysis of new feed materials. NIRS (Near InfraRed Spectrometry) was identified as one of the promising techniques to do this. The experts also discussed the need for more insight on the processing of novel (and current) feedstuffs, particularly insects. They also pointed out that more knowledge is needed on the optimal or maximum percentage of these new feed ingredients in feed mixes. The work of the Focus Group provides a broad overview of how stakeholders from the feed sector can contribute to addressing practical and research related issues.

COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE - L’œuf de poule renferme l’ensemble des éléments nécessaires au développement et à la protection d’un embryon. Il constitue une véritable mine de molécules aux activités biologiques diverses, dont la plupart restent à caractériser. Un consortium réunissant des scientifiques d’INRAE, du CNRS, de l’Inserm et de l’Université de Tours (1), a étudié la structure et la fonction physiologique d’un constituant majeur de la membrane vitelline (2) de l’œuf de poule, la protéine AvBD11. Pour la première fois, les scientifiques ont mis en évidence les caractéristiques uniques de cette petite protéine qui lui confèrent des activités biologiques variées, à la fois antimicrobiennes, anti-invasives (3) et cytotoxiques. Ces résultats, publiés le 23 décembre 2019 dans la revue Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, apportent de nouvelles données sur le rôle des protéines de l’œuf dans le développement embryonnaire et sur les spécificités de l’œuf d’oiseau.

Autophagy (a process of cellular self-eating) is a conserved cellular degradative process that plays important roles in maintaining homeostasis and preventing nutritional, metabolic, and infectionmediated stresses. Surprisingly, little attention has been paid to the role of this cellular function in species of agronomical interest, and the details of how autophagy functions in the development of phenotypes of agricultural interest remain largely unexplored. Here, we first provide a brief description of the main mechanisms involved in autophagy, then review our current knowledge regarding autophagy in species of agronomical interest, with particular attention to physiological functions supporting livestock animal production, and finally assess the potential of translating the acquired knowledge to improve animal development, growth and health in the context of growing social, economic and environmental challenges for agriculture

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