Bringing livestock back into the fold: Animal research in the <i>Annals of Applied Biology</i> —Past, present and future

In 2019, editorial the journal's previous Editor-in-Chief, late Professor Simon Leather, announced my appointment as a new Senior Editor responsible for farm animal health and welfare, subject area that had not featured significantly in Annals of Applied Biology many years (Leather, 2019). Despite this hiatus publishing applied livestock research journal, look into archives demonstrates animals were by no means ignored past, but fell out favour over time, with plant crop-based focus predominating. editorial, I briefly review coverage other vertebrates interest to agriculture food production journal stretching back its beginnings more than century ago, then comment on how these debates around welfare challenges from history continue today. Some opportunities will be discussed later, begins reviewing both terrestrial aquatic, while ignoring some wildlife species have also been because their impacts agricultural productivity. The first issue 1914 an article zoology, where Gamble (1914) highlighted increasing application actual practice, special reference helminthology relation animals. Commercial fishing parasites early history, when Williamson (1919) distribution appearance parasite-infested haddock cod landed Scottish ports. Fish appeared sporadically succeeding years, various aspects fish biology pathobiology covered, particularly harmful effects toxins pollutants, although specifically context commercial (e.g., Carpenter, 1925; Lloyd, 1960; Rushton, 1922). Pentelow (1964) provided commentary freshwater fisheries symposium, compared small growing significance resource Britain at time (salmon, eel trout) much greater importance across Africa, Asia Americas. Parasites affecting causing productivity loss disease became something focal point papers published 1920s onwards. Jenkins (1923) described discovery study Moniezia tapeworms intestines sheep killed abattoir Wales, subsequent paper made observations life parasite (Jenkins, 1924). A series 1930s 1940s focussed blowfly, efforts control important external (Angus, Williams, & 1943; Davies, 1934; Hobson, 1935, 1937, 1941). disease-causing tick Ixodes ricinus (“castor bean tick”) impact ruminants, sheep, was 1940s, particular dipping arsenic solutions method (MacLeod, 1947; Milne, 1943, 1945). Continuing theme, recent decades Gray Lohan (1982) field sampling I. better understanding epidemiology babesiosis (redwater fever) cattle Ireland, one diseases transmits livestock. Veterinary entomology Beesley 1964, arthropods veterinary summarised range hosts considered, mention blowflies, ticks, lice, mites warble flies variously cattle, pigs poultry according arthropod (Beesley, 1964). This followed narrower three organophosphate insecticides used kill infesting livestock, noted toxic side-effects which possible mammals 1963). Mammalian pest considered Phillips (1955) methods rabbit 300-acre Houston (1978) investigated motivations hooded crow attacks young lambs, suggesting crows only attacked weak lambs or those already dead rather targeting healthy, fit ones. Early discoveries scientific opinions viral reviewed Arkwright (1923). reported 48–50 viruses record time. “virus disease” defined “an infective can transmitted experimentally, though it is due any known protozoon, spirochaete ordinary bacterium, liquid containing very minute particles”. Notable covered foot mouth, rinderpest, swine fever influenza. Arkwright, before development powerful microscopy advanced laboratory isolation techniques deeper epidemiological understanding, correctly identified: high transmissibility viruses; presence carrier state such mouth; insect vectors certain diseases; destruction infected control. potential virus typified British myxomatosis outbreak wild rabbits Armour Thompson (1955). novel confirmed October 1953 subsequently spread wide area, despite intensive seeking limit spread. authors postulated flea (Spilopsyllus cuniculi) vector rabbits. nutrition has decades. Hammond (1945) overviewed relationship between genetic make-up associated pests diseases, linked nutritional status using example dairy cows lowered resistance fed deficient diets. Campling (1977) feeding value maize pigs, suggested increased risk metabolic ketosis displaced abomasums there over-reliance silage ration. what could classified “miscellaneous” category, improvement through selective breeding theme Crew's fleece quality primitive breeds Scotland (Crew, 1921). Measurements hair wool fibres photographs presented view comparing domestic breeds. Finally, returning blowflies conclude our quirky aside same year's volume R. A. Wardle University Manchester (Wardle, 1921) looked later stage supply chain, frustrating problem prevent contaminating meat products butchers' shops fishmongers! Since relaunch number covering themes. Łagowski, Gnat, Nowakiewicz, Osińska, Zięba (2020) evidence genotyping demonstrate routine administration vaccine against dermatophyte Trichophyton verrucosum calves resulted clinical cases dermatophytosis (ringworm) farms Poland. phenomenon previously literature, rarely. results analysis revealed dermatophytes isolated skin lesions vaccinated identical electrophoretic profile strain different T. verrucosum, showing percentage Animal science recently. Shirmohammadi et al. (2021) tested heating methods—roasting, microwave irradiation steam flaking—compared processing ruminal post-ruminal nutrient degradability starch granule morphology barley grains (Hordeum vulgare). They found heat enhance utilisation efficiency ruminant feed source, resulting higher total tract digestibility. Field emission scanning electron images visualisation surface granules treatments, attachment microbial colonies. unique highly significant Woodgate Wilkinson describes by-product rendering systems poorly understood until vitally aftermath bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic beginning mid-1980s United Kingdom (UK). global human health, key process parameters needed fully elucidated guide future European Union legislation inactivation transmissible encephalopathies (TSE). Providing fascinating historical overview industry, use bone meal feeds, emergence BSE entity, goes describe investigation refinement system processes TSE trials. traces legislative policy developments right crisis present, considers market modern processed proteins feeds. Saati-Santamaría, Revilla-Martín, García-Fraile, Palacios-Riocerezo (2022), further chicken gut microbiota–host interactions, conducted analyse bacteria contained within faecal microbiota medium-slow Redbro chickens 4 weeks after hatching. demonstrated diverse excreta did vary period, genus Lactobacillus predominated, Clostridiales Bacteroidales. hypothesised present largely controlling fructose mannose metabolism. It understand past contextualise future, now turn attention. Papers featuring again long hiatus, given breadth depth subjects room expansion output high-quality appeal. With rapidly population, need produce quantities efficiently, always sustainably limited competing resources. Livestock crucially part chain world's population (Eisler al., 2014), are ongoing faced overcome ensuring security, resilience public (Anon, 2013; FAO, 2009; Thornton, 2010). challenges, opportunities, harness do things differently—more efficiently sustainably—while influencing making initiate enact change (Gill, Garnsworthy, Wilkinson, 2021). Reflecting Biology, issues dealt ago still resonance Obviously, knowledge expanded, sometimes exponentially, caused infestation compromised continue. For example, security remain salient 21st they 20th, complicated therapeutic pharmaceutical products, anthelmintics (Ahuir-Baraja, Cibot, Llobat, Garijo, hinders ability treat internal problems, makes husbandry technologies relevant ever (Fitzpatrick, 2013). entomology, situated nexus animal, environmental remains (Mullens, Hinkle, Fryxell, Rochon, 2018). Illustrating triad MacLeod (1947) almost complete agreement globally regarded most effective tick-killing substance notable classification Group-A carcinogen challenge heavily contaminated soils groundwater sources vat sites (Sarkar, Makris, Parra-Noonan, Datta, 2007). As control, similar exist antimicrobials treatment bacterial infections implications (Magouras, Carmo, Stärk, Schüpbach-Regula, 2017), meaning being expended improve improving antimicrobial stewardship optimal (Gozdzielewska 2020). Understanding role “people factors” increasingly if enabled (Redfern, Sinclair, Robinson, 2021; Robinson Epperson, epizootic today, apart declared eradicated 2011 (Roeder, Mariner, Kock, Avian influenza continues infect domesticated world, providing well producing economic consequences (Peacock, James, Sealy, Iqbal, Over last 10–15 African become Asian pig populations, expand (Dixon, Sun, Roberts, Although rarely increases drive towards economic, outcomes 2014; Hatcher Particularly, interesting here attention paid gastrointestinal microbiome (Kogut Arsenault, 2016; Pajarillo, Lee, Kang, genetics, “constitution” adapt Hammond's concept (Hammond, 1945), efficiency, welfare. feasibility selectively host disease, therefore reduced susceptibility, exciting Tsairidou, Anacleto, Woolliams, Doeschl-Wilson, 2019), areas focussing level aiming solve problems require holistic (Doeschl-Wilson, Knap, Opriessnig, More, Rosendal Olesen, 2022). Last, least, behaviour place debate sustainability production. does certainly future. Fascinating all involved stages Charlton Rutter, 2017; Dawkins, Wang, Ellwood, Gebhardt-Henrich, Grosse-Kleimann Much wellbeing, precision approaches farming continually developed animals, future-proof viability (Eastwood, Edwards, Turner, Gómez Mota-Rojas 2020; Vaintrub Editor, welcome submissions demonstrating areas, bringing fold century; building upon publications hundred