The 14th China national symposium on animal nutrition: Embracing precision, efficiency, and innovation towards a greener future

1. Introduction

The 14th China National Symposium on Animal Nutrition, convened at the Baiyun International Convention Center in Guangzhou from November 22 to 24, 2024, drew an impressive gathering of over 1800 scientists, industry professionals and postgraduate students from China as well as overseas. The conference, themed “Embracing Precision, Efficiency, and Innovation Towards a Greener Future”, was designed to nurture a collaborative spirit of exploration into the forefront of animal nutrition and feed research and chart the future course of industry development (see Fig. 1).

Fig. 1.

Overview of major themes and research areas presented at the 14th China National Symposium on Animal Nutrition. The figure captures themes (Precision, Innovation, Efficiency, and Sustainability) and keywords (Precision Feeding, Nutritional Modeling, Bio-intelligent Manufacturing, Innovative Technologies, Iron Nutrition, and Homeostatic Balance) of the 14th China National Symposium on Animal Nutrition conference. In addition, the major research areas discussed during the conference are summarized, which includes swine nutrition, poultry nutrition, ruminant nutrition, aquatic animal nutrition, special animal nutrition, feed and additives, young scholar forum, and Animal Nutrition editorial board meeting.

The 14th China National Symposium on Animal Nutrition was proudly presented by the Animal Nutrition Branch of Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine (CAAV), and organized by the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GDAAS). Established in 1980, China National Symposium on Animal Nutrition is run every four years and its goal is to disseminate novel findings in animal nutrition and feed science, promote industry adoption of research outcomes, and nurture collaborative approaches to tackle emerging challenges.

We present here the salient points of the six keynote presentations and eight topics, covering swine nutrition, poultry nutrition, ruminant animal nutrition, aquatic animal nutrition, special animal nutrition, and feed nutrition, safety and biotechnology.

2. Keynote presentations

2.1. Precision nutrition of swine: challenges and explorations

Presented by Prof. Yulong Yin, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Prof. Yulong Yin delivered a comprehensive report on swine nutrition, highlighting the significance and urgency of adopting precision feeding practices for swine. He elaborated on this topic by assessing the current landscape of the industry and pinpointing the key challenges it encounters. Yin emphasized that implementing precision feeding is the key to both enhancing the health of pig herds and reducing feeding costs. During the presentation, he elucidated the principles of precision farming and pointed out that the establishment of nutritional models, the development of a precision feeding system, and the creation of an intelligent management platform are essential steps to achieve the goals of precision farming. Yin also addressed the challenges inherent in the application of precision feeding and suggested the necessity of breakthroughs in big data analytics, multi-omics technologies, and intelligent control systems to provide a robust technological framework to propel the field of precision feeding forward.

2.2. Bio-intelligent manufacturing drives innovation in feed technology

Presented by Prof. Bin Yao, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Prof. Bin Yao focused on the combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and synthetic biology, as well as its transformative potential in the field of feed industry. He began by introducing significant breakthroughs in these disciplines, such as the protein-folding prediction tool AlphaFold and the development of xenobots. The presentation focused on the application of these technologies in the synthesis of feed ingredients and bioactive substances. For instance, Yao highlighted how cellulose and carbon dioxide could be repurposed to synthesize starch and glucose, and how carbon monoxide could be utilized to produce microbial protein. In addition, he discussed the engineering of bacterial strains to efficiently produce amino acids like isoleucine and proline, which are essential for animal health and growth. In conclusion, Yao predicted that AI and synthetic biology would play an increasing role in the feed and animal industry, including exploration of novel feed resources, management of animal health, and enhancement of environmental safety.

2.3. Strategies for scientific and technological innovation in efficient livestock and poultry husbandry

Presented by Prof. Shiyan Qiao, China Agricultural University

Prof. Shiyan Qiao started his talk by discussing the significant challenges faced by animal production in China, emphasizing the need for strategic innovation in technology and industrial development to address these issues. He outlined six key areas for innovation that would contribute to eco-friendly, efficient, and sustainable development of China's animal production: (1) Efficient Breeding Regulation: This included advancements in pregnancy diagnosis, animal embryo manipulation techniques, and the application of livestock stem cell technology; (2) Bio-manufacturing: The integration of synthetic biology and biotechnology to transform waste biomass into feed resources; (3) Precision Nutrition and Feeding: Constructing decision support tools and intelligent feeding equipment to achieve dynamic precision nutrition; (4) Environmental Control and Intelligent Farming: Developing “internet + livestock farm” intelligent farming management and independent working equipment to realize precise environmental control and intellisense; (5) Grass-Livestock Coupling: Employing genomic selection and molecular breeding to improve breeds, along with integrated water and fertilizer management and precision fertilization techniques; (6) Sustainable Development: The implementation of ammonia recovery technologies for the liquid waste of manure.

2.4. Homeostatic balance and oxidative stress in dairy cows: mechanism and nutritional regulation

Presented by Prof. Jianxin Liu, Zhejiang University

Prof. Jianxin Liu explored the connection between oxidative stress and milk production in dairy cows, focusing on two major areas: the variation and mechanism of oxidative stress in periparturient dairy cows, and the nutritional solutions that can modulate these effects. Liu then introduced the trajectory of oxidative stress in periparturient dairy cows and revealed that oxidative stress was associated with increased non-esterified fatty acids and microbial disorder in periparturient cows and was related to amino acid deficiency and hypoxia in lactating cows. Furthermore, he investigated various biomarkers and diagnostic techniques for early detection of oxidative stress and mastitis. In the final segment of his presentation, he outlined feeding strategies and nutritional interventions for milk production of cows, for instance, the use of N-carbamoylglutamate to up-regulate arginine concentration in blood and increase feed intake and milk yield of periparturient cows. These findings highlighted the pivotal role of oxidative stress in the performance of dairy cows and offered promising strategies for mitigating oxidative stress in cows both during periparturient period and lactation.

2.5. Iron nutrition for gut health in piglets

Presented by Prof. Daiwen Chen, Sichuan Agricultural University

Prof. Daiwen Chen presented his recent findings related to the metabolism and biological functions of iron in swine gut health. Chen pointed out a critical issue in the industry: the iron level in commercial feeds, particularly for piglets, is often over-supplied. Building on this observation, he elucidated the effect of iron overload or iron deficiency on piglets and found that an excess in iron supply could impair growth performance and gut health, thus aggravating transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV)-induced diarrhea in piglets. In addition, he explored the potential mechanisms underlying the regulatory role of iron in gut health, focusing on four major areas: changes in intestinal cell composition, ferroptosis induction and aggravation, changes in microbiota and its metabolites, and the regulation of bile acid metabolism and homeostasis.

2.6. Nutritional modeling for piglets

Presented by Prof. Zongyong Jiang, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Prof. Zongyong Jiang delivered a report on nutritional modeling for piglets weighing 6 to 25 kg, focusing on four key areas: curves of growth and feed intake, deposition processes for body composition, deposition efficiency of metabolic energy, standard ileal digestible (SID) amino acids (AAs) and standardized total tract digestible (STTD) phosphorus and calcium and nutritional model-derived recommendations for feeding strategies. Prof. Jiang explained that the NRC and INRA have established nutritional models for growing-finishing pigs and sows, but more robust nutritional models for piglets are yet to be developed. Through comparative slaughter experiments, he documented the dynamic changes in body weight and feed intake in piglets and elucidated the intricate correlations between body weight and key nutritional components such as protein, fat, AAs, calcium and phosphorus in the empty body. Furthermore, Jiang discussed the mechanisms by which digestible nutrients are deposited and metabolic energy utilized, as well as how the two are interrelated.

3. Swine nutrition session

This session featured t39 presentations, including 9 invited speeches. The session spanned a variety of critical topics, such as nutrient requirements and feeding regimen, nutritional values of feed ingredients (soybean meal, DDGS, rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal, et al.) in sows, nutritional strategies to improve gut health of piglets (including fermented feeds, functional lipids and additives like glucuronolactone, alginate oligosaccharides, iron, sesamin, L-glutamate, and cardamine violifolia) and pork quality (including branched-chain AAs, trimethylglycine, and conjugated linoleic acid). Multi-omics technologies have become a major feature in these studies, with research perspectives covering mitochondrial fusion, stem cell research, ferroptosis, and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Furthermore, the digestive physiology of indigenous pig breeds has garnered renewed attention.

Prof. De Wu from Sichuan Agricultural University established mathematical models for energy and AA requirements for both gestating and lactating sows. The models revealed that the effective energy of available feeds was underestimated in sows. Wu also presented data on the effects of unconventional feed ingredients and feeding frequency on the productivity of sows. As feed price is on the increase, Chinese producers are constantly looking into finding alternative feed resources that can be used in pig diets whilst alleviating feed costs.

Prof. Jian Peng from Huazhong Agricultural University demonstrated how machine learning can be used to optimize the nutritional requirements of gestating sows. The use of such a model could improve precision and consistency for setting the nutritional requirements of gestating sows, which in turn, may lead to cost savings. Prof. Xianghua Yan from Zhejiang University discussed the possibility of improving reproductive performance in sows through modulation of intestinal microbiota. His team found that the Meishan pig, a native breed known for its high reproductive performance, had distinct intestinal microbiota compared to Landrace × Yorkshire sows, which could produce more valerate to maintain ovarian health. Peng and Yan's efforts laid a crucial foundation for the further development of sow nutrition.

Prof. Weiyun Zhu and Dr. Kaifan Yu from Nanjing Agricultural University focused on the interaction between intestinal microbiota and nutrients in the pig gastrointestinal tract. On the one hand, Yu introduced that Lactobacillus amylovorus utilized peptide-bound AAs to synthetize lactic acid in the porcine small intestine, thus promoting intestinal epithelial proliferation. On the other hand, Yu demonstrated the beneficial effect of a high carbohydrate/protein ratio on large intestinal health, which was mediated by alterations in bile acid metabolism. Prof. Dongsheng Che from Jilin Agricultural University emphasized the fact that feed energy structure dramatically affected energy conversion efficiency. He presented that the increase in fat level in feeds could improve growth performance and reduce the emission of polluting gases, urging further optimization of current feed energy structures. Prof. Yongqing Hou from Wuhan Polytechnic University delivered a report on the effects of functional lipids on gut health in swine and poultry. For instance, tributyrin was found to repress apoptosis and activate EGFR signaling to alleviate acetic acid-induced intestinal injury in piglets. Notably, Hou has successfully integrated several functional lipid products into practical pig production. Taken together, these studies explored novel nutritional regulation strategies for improving production performance in pig industry.

Prof. Wenkai Ren from South China Agricultural University analyzed the immune characteristics of jejunum and lung across different swine breeds, focusing on the relationship between macrophage homeostasis and various amino acids. For instance, his work revealed that serine regulated mitochondrial biogenesis in macrophages via cytoplasmic glutathione synthesis. Prof. Junjun Wang from China Agricultural University emphasized the importance of macrophage regulation in alleviating intestinal inflammation in piglets with low birth weight. He presented that several functional nutrients, such as lactadherin in macrophage-derived extracellular vesicles, ursodeoxycholic acid, and pentadecanoic acid from Bacteroides acidifaciens, could improve gut health and growth performance of piglets. Prof. Tian Wang from Nanjing Agricultural University discussed the impact of IUGR on growth performance and gut health in piglets. Prof. Wang's team identified IGF1, HSP70, and Akt/mTOR as major targets for IUGR regulation and revealed the protective effects of many nutrients (such as curcumin, resveratrol, and threonine) on gut health in IUGR piglets. Collectively, these studies identified macrophage as a major target of nutritional regulation in pig industry, deepening our understanding of the potential mechanisms of nutritional regulation.

These studies shed light on the pivotal issues in pig nutrition research and captured the industry's keen interest. Moreover, the mentioned research methodologies and technical strategies offer valuable insights for the broader field of animal nutrition research.

4. Poultry nutrition session

This session contained 39 presentations, including 8 invited papers. Various types of poultry, including ducks, squabs, and different breeds of chickens (such as yellow-feathered chickens from either Qingyuan, Danzhou, or Wenchang, and Tibetan chicken) were studied in a diverse array of subjects, such as nutrient requirements of yellow-feathered chickens and laying ducks, lipid metabolism in laying hens, nutritional strategies to improve egg quality (including carotenoids and magnolol), chicken meat quality (for example, L-theanine, polysaccharides from enteromorpha) and health status of different broilers (including tagetone, quercetin, matrine, ferulic acid, strobilanthes cusia extract, nobiletin, polysaccharides from morinda officinalis, monolaurin, and probiotics). These explorations aimed to address key issues and provide innovative solutions for the industry.

Profs. Guanghai Qi and Jing Wang from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences pointed out the critical need to improve egg quality. Qi's team focused on egg nutrition, albumen quality, and shell defects, exploring nutritional solutions and the underlying mechanisms. Their work provided key technical supports for improving egg quality in the layer industry. Prof. Qiugang Ma from China Agricultural University explored the effect of the mycotoxin, zearalenone, on calcium metabolism in aged layers and the underlying mechanisms. He demonstrated that zearalenone suppressed estrogen receptor α and activated estrogen receptor β to inhibit the transport and deposition of calcium, thus leading to abnormal calcium metabolism in aged layers. Prof. Hai Lin from Shandong Agricultural University focused on the detection of fatty liver in layers using hematology and histology. He found that Prevotella-derived succinate promoted mitochondrial function and fatty acid oxidation to reduce hepatic fat accumulation in layers. Additionally, Lin revealed the disorders of bile acid metabolism in layers with fatty liver and demonstrated the regulatory role of bile acids in fat metabolism. His team's work revealed the relations between fat metabolism and probiotic or bile acids, which laid a crucial foundation for the improvement of layer health.

Prof. Shouqun Jiang from Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences detailed research outcomes of her team focusing on elevating the meat quality of yellow-feathered broilers. This was achieved through the modulation of dietary metabolic energy levels, the incorporation of various oils, and the use of antioxidants, among other strategies. Prof. Shourong Shi from Jiangsu Institute of Poultry Science reported that Tibetan chickens displayed increased disease resistance compared to Arbor Acres chickens. Phocaeicola salanitronis isolated from Tibetan chickens could competitively utilize N-acetylglucosamine to attenuate Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis-induced intestinal injury in Arbor Acres chickens. Besides, Prof. Shi demonstrated the potential of Phocaeicola salanitronis to enhance antioxidant capacity and growth performance in broilers.

Prof. Xiaojun Yang from Northwest A&F University focused on microbial regulation of gut health in poultry. In addition, Yang's team focused on improving the healthy development of livestock and poultry husbandry. Prof. Aike Li from Academy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration introduced the importance and manufacturing technology of Lactobacillus in the poultry industry. His team utilized muti-coated technology to elevate the resistance of Lactobacillus to extreme conditions such as high temperature and stomach acid. Li also presented that muti-coated Lactobacillus plantarum could boost immunity and production performance of both broilers and layers.

Prof. Chuntian Zheng from Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences summarized their work on laying duck nutrition, leveraging over a decade of research findings. His team addressed several knowledge gaps in the field including nutrient requirements of laying ducks, the replacement technologies to reduce the dietary reliance on corn and soybean meal for these birds, and the formation mechanism of “hard core” in salted egg yolks and outlined possible nutritional strategies to overcome it.

5. Ruminant nutrition session

This session had 40 presentations, including 8 invited speakers. The primary focus of this session is the intricate aspects of digestion, physiology, and gastrointestinal microbiota of various ruminant species, including dairy and beef cattle, yaks, sheep and goats. They have scrutinized how these animals respond to dietary energy, fiber, urea, protein, and amino acids, as well as to nutrient additives like melatonin, yeast cell walls, lysozyme, niacin, and natural bioactive substances. Additionally, methane emissions remained a key concern with explorations into methods to reduce methane emissions through feed strategies and grazing systems.

Prof. Shengli Li from China Agricultural University first investigated the requirements of starch and fiber in dairy cows. He proposed that the abundances of rumen Prevotella and hindgut Prevotellaceae_UCG-003 were positively associated with superior performance in these animals. Meanwhile, Li shed new light on the link between ketosis and rumen microbiota disorders in prenatal cows. Prof. Jiaqi Wang from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences highlighted that incorporating slow-release urea into rations improved production performance and reduced carbon emissions in cows. Wang identified novel bacteria decomposing urea and revealed the active structural features of microbial urease in the rumen. According to the active structure of microbial urease, he selected red clover to inhibit microbial urease activity, which contributed to increases in antioxidant capacity and production performance in cows.

Prof. Linshu Jiang from Beijing University of Agriculture discussed the effects of several natural bioactive compounds on the physical health and production of cows. For instance, citrus flavonoids promoted the growth of probiotics, sphingolipid metabolism, and butyric acid synthesis in hindgut, which improved intestinal health and metabolism homeostasis in cows. In addition, Jiang established a comprehensive database of natural plants and their bioactive components that benefit ruminants, facilitating the identification and application of plant-based solutions to optimize ruminant nutrition and health. Prof. Zhiliang Tan from Chinese Academy of Sciences emphasized the importance of gastrointestinal motility to physical health and performance in ruminants and introduced the relations between gastrointestinal motility and gastrointestinal hormone, melatonin, or progesterone, as well as the nutritional regulation of gastrointestinal motility. Tan's study provided a novel regulation strategy for physical health in ruminants. Prof. Shengyong Mao from Nanjing Agricultural University focused on the effect of rumen microbiome on rumen metabolism and physical health in cows. He demonstrated that high-grain rations induced metabolism disorders and pro-inflammatory substance accumulation in the rumen, which could lead to systemic inflammation in cows.

Prof. Mingren Qu from Jiangxi Agricultural University reported the energy and protein requirements of various beef cattle breeds, including Xia'nan, Jinjiang, and Simmental crossbreeding, providing insights into their specific nutritional profiles. He also analyzed the effect of transport stress on rumen microbiota and metabolites and found that increased polyamine and decreased vitamin B6 were major triggers for immune disruption following transport. Qu's study offered a feasible nutritional intervention to alleviate transport stress in cattle.

Prof. Qiyu Diao from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences focused on nutrient requirements of mutton sheep. His team evaluated the requirements of energy, protein, and neutral detergent fiber specific to this species, culminating in the creation of a comprehensive database that serves as a valuable resource for the industry. Diao also devoted to studying the technologies to reduce carbon emissions in mutton sheep farming.

Prof. Yan Tu from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences explored the methane emission features in different physiological phases of cows and mutton sheep. She also introduced several feed additives reducing methane emissions, such as seaweed and rosmaric acid. Tu's study drew our attention to methane emission in ruminant industry and offered novel and environmental-friendly solutions from a nutritional perspective.

6. Feed science session

This session had 39 presentations, including 7 invited speakers. Food security emerged as a recurring theme throughout this session. Extensive research has been conducted to evaluate the true digestibility of feed ingredients, refine processing techniques with fermentative microorganisms and/or enzymes to boost digestive efficiency, and explore viable alternatives to corn and soybean meal, aiming to lessen the dependency on traditional feed components and promote a more sustainable approach to animal nutrition. Furthermore, the session highlighted the critical role of feed interventions in bolstering animal health. A range of substances, including antimicrobial peptides, probiotics, prebiotics, enzyme preparations, and a variety of other additives such as plant extracts, glucuronolactone, equol, mint leaf powder, quercetin, magnolol, honokiol, and berberine, were scrutinized for their impact on both animal health and growth performance.

Probiotics and their applications have consistently garnered widespread interest in the field of feed research. Prof. Baoming Shi from Northeast Agricultural University focused on functional bacterial strains and fermented feed and their use in feeds. His team isolated a variety of functional bacterial strains such as Bacillus subtilis MZ01, Bacillus siamensis MZ16, and Bacillus velezensis MZ09 and validated their beneficial effects on growth performance in piglets and broilers. In addition, Shi demonstrated that fermented feeds, such as wheat bran and palm meal, can improve growth performance in piglets and broilers. Prof. Xi Ma from China Agricultural University investigated the roles of probiotics (Lactobacillus johnsonii, Agathobacter, and Clostridium butyricum) and their metabolites (γ-aminobutyric acid, 3-Indolepropionic acid, and bacteriocin) in physical health and growth performance of piglets and the underlying mechanisms. Notably, he constructed bacteriocin-producing engineering probiotics, which could promote the healthy development of the pig industry. Prof. Jiakun Wang from Zhejiang University proposed that omics technologies promoted the exploration of enzyme gene resources and polysaccharide utilization patterns in rumen microbiota. She demonstrated the multiple functions of rumen glucanases and the high catalytic activity of rumen pectinase. Dingyuan Feng and Jianjun Zuo from South China Agricultural University presented the synergistic effect probiotics, prebiotics and probiotic-enzymes have on nutrition and gut health. They introduced the design concept of probiotic enzymes, proposing that mathematical modeling and mathematical statistics optimization are important means in the design and development of probiotic enzyme preparations.

Antibacterial peptides are noted for their multifaceted capabilities, including bacteriostasis and immunoregulation, which make them potent tools for disease control and health promotion in animals. Prof. Anshan Shan from Northeast Agricultural University focused on the identification of natural antibacterial peptides. He reconstructed pig-derived PMAP-36 and poultry-derived β-defensin-4 to elevate their antibacterial activity. Prof. Shan also presented various in-vitro expression systems of antibacterial peptides and the application of antibacterial peptide L25 and R7I to inhibit feed mildewing and improve growth performance in piglets. In a related vein, Prof. Yizhen Wang from Zhejiang University explored the potential of antibacterial peptides as a substitute for antibiotics in animal husbandry. For instance, antibacterial peptide KR-32 and CWA exerted antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects in pig industry. He also introduced the design and in-vitro expression of novel antibacterial peptides, offering insights into their potential integration into livestock practices as a means to reduce reliance on traditional antibiotics.

Regarding food security, Prof. Hongfu Zhang from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences emphasized the importance of integrating crop farming with livestock farming as the scale of animal production enterprises expands. Addressing the need to substitute corn and soybean meal in animal feed, he reiterated the exploration of alternative feed ingredients and listed several successful examples such as corn straw and pineapple dreg.

These studies, tailored to meet the demands of the industry, have delivered valuable insights and a wealth of groundbreaking products and technologies that are essential for the development of the industry. Additionally, they serve as a valuable reference for future innovation in feedstuffs development, with a clear emphasis on driving industrial growth and sustainability.

7. Aquatic animal nutrition session

This session contained 11 presentations, including 2 invited papers. These presentations showcased the latest research advances in nutritional regulation strategies for the health (such as fermented black soldier fly, thiamin, niacin, and bile acid) and meat quality of aquatic animals (such as grass carp, small yellow croaker, and gibel carp). The session also discussed the detrimental impact of mycotoxins on grass carp.

Prof. Xiaoqiu Zhou from Sichuan Agricultural University first introduced mycotoxin contaminations in aquatic feed, and analyzed the accumulation characteristics of mycotoxins in grass carp organs, highlighting the harm of mycotoxins to grass carp growth and health. Then, he revealed that mycotoxins could impair the growth and health of grass carp through inducing oxidative injury, apoptosis, and tight junction damage and redefined the limits of mycotoxins in grass carp diet based on physical health rather than production performance. Zhou also shared some functional additives that could alleviate fungal toxins, such as curcumin. He found that dietary supplementation with 400 mg/kg curcumin had a strong ability to alleviate the toxicity of ochratoxin. Prof. Zhigang Zhou from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences discussed the research ideas on the regulation of fish gut microbiota in response to the common problems of gut microbiota imbalance, weak immunity, and low feed conversion rates in fish farming. He pointed out that the development of eco-friendly feed additives and their application schemes, such as quenching enzymes, probiotics, probiotics, and bioactive ingredients, could promote the improvement of fish farming technology and sustainable development.

8. Special animal nutrition session

This session featured 9 presentations, including 2 invited talks. The session covered nutritional interventions, ranging from microelements to chlorogenic acid and nodakenin, and their impact on the intestinal health and reproductive performance of special economic animals, including dogs, cats, deer, pigeons, rabbits, and raccoon dogs, highlighting the importance of tailored nutritional strategies for the well-being and productivity of these species.

Prof. Guangyu Li from Qingdao Agricultural University shared his latest findings on the effects of dietary supplementation of probiotics on the gut microbiota of dogs and cats. He also summarized recent advances on commonly used pet food ingredients and their protein levels, the energy needs of dogs and cats, the prevention and treatment of canine bone and joint diseases with small molecule compounds in traditional Chinese medicine, and the establishment of a pet gut microbiota database. For instance, Li found that a dietary protein level of 21.08% could meet the physiological requirements of adult Beagle dogs. He pointed out that building models for common pet diseases will help better determine the pathogenesis of pet diseases, and provide a scientific basis for disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Prof. Haihua Zhang from Hebei Normal University of Science & Technology reported the nutrient requirements of Wusuli raccoon dogs, covering energy, protein, minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients, and summarized the application of additives, such as oligosaccharides, licorice extract, and Chinese herbal medicine, as well as probiotics including Bacillus subtilis and yeast in Wusuli raccoon dog feeding. Zhang's efforts to explore Wusuli raccoon dog nutrition requirements promoted the high-quality development of raccoon dog industry.

9. Young scientist forum

The young scientist forum contained 7 presentations, including 2 invited talks and 5 presentations given by young scientists selected through a talent competition sponsored by DSM-Firmenich. This event showcased the cutting-edge research and innovative ideas of the next generation of scientific leaders in their field. Prof. Mick Watson from DSM-Firmenich delivered a report on functional metagenomic sequencing-mediated precision modulation of the enteric microbiome. He proposed that microbiome was key to the health and productivity of farmed animals. Prof. Shengyong Mao from Nanjing Agricultural University discussed gastrointestinal microbiome in cows and its connection with butterfat quality. He revealed that butterfat yield was associated with acetate/propionate ratio in cows. Dr. Qihang Hou graduating from China Agricultural University focused on intestinal stem cells and the exploration of gut-beneficial feed additives. He demonstrated the beneficial effects of Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus reuteri D8, and arginine on stem cell differentiation, which could promote intestinal epithelial regeneration. Dr. Zhenheng Lai graduating from Northeast Agricultural University reported the creation and application of feed-grade anti-proteolytic antimicrobial peptides. He created anti-proteolytic C₁₆-3RP antimicrobial peptides and found that C₁₆-3RP could improve gut health and growth performance in broilers after E. coli infection. Dr. Fei Xie graduating from Nanjing Agricultural University introduced the microbiological mechanisms of methanogenesis in the gastrointestinal tract of ruminant livestock and its regulation. He established a microbial gene database and analyzed the characteristics and metabolism of methanogens, providing a solid basis for methane emission reduction. Dr. Dong Dai graduating from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences focused on uterine microbiota of aged layers, including its composition characteristics, transmission pathways, and regulation of cellular homeostasis. This work contributed to improving eggshell quality and extending the laying cycle in poultry husbandry. Dr. Peng Tan graduating from China Agricultural University reported the researches of feed immunomodulatory peptides, such as design and optimization strategies for immunomodulatory peptides and engineering modification of Pichia yeast. The application of feed immunomodulatory peptides in swine husbandry could result in an improvement of gut health and production performance.

10. The forum of the journal Animal Nutrition

Animal Nutrition is an open-access journal launched in 2015 by the Chinese Society of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine and is published by Elsevier and KeAi Communication Co., Ltd. It is a peer-reviewed and open access international journal that publishes original research findings and reviews related to the nutrition of farm animals and aquatic species. Prof. Mingan Choct and academician Yulong Yin are the editors-in-chief, and Prof. Guangyong Zhao is the executive editor and the director of the Editorial Office of the journal.

The Editorial Board of the journal met at the conference where matters pertinent to the journal were canvassed and two presentations were made, including one by Prof. Mingan Choct who presented a talk entitled “Animals never lie: the importance of getting the basics right in animal nutrition studies”. His presentation revealed that more than 80% of submissions received by Animal Nutrition were rejected based on flaws in the methodology, such as lack of hypothesis, poor diet formulation, no nutrient characterization of the key ingredients (no analyzed contents of key nutrients), wrong statistical treatment of the data, no feed intake data, etc. Then, Prof. Shubiao Wu from the University of New England, Australia presented the salient points of a Special Issue (Poultry and Pigs: Feed Enzymes, Gut Health and Nutrient Supply) that he edited. The Special Issue featured 8 papers from distinguished international experts on a range of topics, including gut health, fecal microbiota, future of feed formulation, fiber and enzymes, interaction between disease, antibiotic-free production and feed additives, and the use of a net energy system in broiler chickens.

The forum allocated ample time for comments and discussion. The journal attracted numerous suggestions for improvement by the members of the Editorial Board as well as those who were in attendance. Chief among them were the importance of the papers published by Animal Nutrition having a proper basic experimental design and appropriate laboratory analysis, the quality of peer reviews and a responsible adjudication by handling associate editors.

In conclusion, Prof. Guangyong Zhao reiterated the challenges faced by the journal, such as the massive number of submissions, the difficulty in finding responsible reviewers, the inability of the journal to publish more papers in the immediate future, maintenance of quality and timely decisions, and the emergence of the increasing number of new journals in competing fields. Finally, he thanked the scientists who submit their findings to Animal Nutrition, the Editors, the Members of the Editorial Board, and, last but least the reviewers.

11. Conclusion

Throughout the 14th China National Symposium on Animal Nutrition, a diverse range of topics were covered, with some innovative ideas in animal nutrition and feed science emerging. The presentations and discussions shed light on the potential connections between the most advanced theoretical concepts and practical application in animal production. The conference contributed to addressing current and future challenges faced by the animal production industries, providing appreciable advances in gaining new knowledge and helping industry find novel solutions to its pressing issues.

Credit Author Statement

Chenbin Cui: Writing – original draft. Jing Wu: Writing – original draft. Min Tian: Writing – original draft, Conceptualization. Xuefen Yang: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Supervision, Project administration, Conceptualization. Zongyong Jiang: Writing – review & editing, Supervision, Project administration, Conceptualization.

Data availability statement

The researches in the 14th China National Symposium on Animal Nutrition are compiled in “Progress in Animal Nutrition Research 2024” and conference proceedings. The tremendous pictures of every presentation and memorial photographs by on-site photographers are available on https://m.alltuu.com/topic/view/large/1002230242/.

Declaration of competing interest

We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work, and there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and/or company that could be construed as influencing the content of this paper.