The well-recognized efficiency of Tenebrio molitor larvae to convert low quality organic matter into a nutritionally valuable biomass was exploited to manage solid wastes coming from the olive oil industry, which represent a severe environmental challenge in the Mediterranean area. Three organic pomace-enriched substrates (mixtures middlings/pomace 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3) were assessed, together with 100% organic wheat flour and 100% organic middlings as control feeds. A feeding substrate made up of 25% olive pomace and 75% wheat middlings appeared to be the best compromise between growth performance (larval and pupal weights, survival rate, development time) and nutritional properties of mealworm larvae. In fact, larvae fed the 3:1 feed showed the highest dry matter (DM) yield (38.05%), protein content (47.58% DM), and essential/non-essential amino acids ratio (1.16). Fat content (32.14% DM) and fatty acid composition were not significantly different than those of larvae fed more pomace-enriched feeds.

Environmental stressors have, over generations, influenced the morphology, anatomy, behaviour, physiology, and genetic structure of small ruminants. The widespread dispersal of small ruminants over vast geographical areas occurred along with human migration, thereby promoting the adaptative process to different environmental conditions mainly through natural selection. Ongoing global warming prompted scientific efforts to deepen the knowledge and understanding of adaptation traits in small ruminants. Compared to other ruminants, sheep and goats seem to have a better adaptation ability to environmental stressors, as evident by their presence across different geographic areas on a global level. Adaptation to a specific environment leads to variations in precise genomic regions, allowing for the identification and selection of animals with a high capacity of adaptation to environmental stressors. Rapid development in sequencing technologies, together with bioinformatics tools, make it possible to analyse the genomic regions related to environmental adaptation. Hence, the aims of this review were (i) to outline the main steps of the evolution process in sheep and goat species, (ii) to summarise candidate genes related to environmental adaptation, and (iii) to evaluate both selection and conservation possibilities of these genes in native small ruminant breeds for future challenges to better face the global warming.

The myostatin gene also called Growth Differentiation Factor 8 gene (GDF8) is one of the most investigated loci that can be responsible for several quantitative and qualitative carcass and meat traits in double-muscled beef cattle. The objective of the study was to bring to light the effect of the myostatin polymorphism on slaughtering performance and meat quality in Marchigiana beef cattle. The experiment was carried out on 78 bulls reared according to the “cow-calf” extensive managing system. At the end of the fattening period, in vivo and carcass data were recorded. From each carcass, a steak of Longissimus thoracis was taken and used to determine the meat’s analytical composition and colorimetric properties. Finally, from each steak a sample of Longissimus thoracis was collected, then used for DNA extraction and genotyping at the myostatin locus. The heterozygous bulls showed slight superiority in the carcass data (e.g., hot carcass weight: 426.09 kg—heterozygotes vs. 405.32 kg—normal) and meat quality parameters, although not always with statistical significance. Only fat and ashes content were significantly affected by the myostatin genotype (heterozygotes: 2.01%, 1.26%; normal: 3.04%, 1.15%). The greater muscularity of heterozygous animals compared to normal ones could be a starting point to improving productive efficiency in Marchigiana beef cattle.

Morphometric traits are closely linked to body condition, health, welfare, and productivity in livestock. In recent years, contactless 3D reconstruction technologies have been increasingly adopted to improve the accuracy and efficiency of morphometric evaluations. Conventional approaches for 3D reconstruction mainly employ Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) or photogrammetry. In contrast, emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based methods, such as Neural Surface Reconstruction, 3D Gaussian Splatting, and Neural Radiance Fields, offer new opportunities for high-fidelity digital modeling. Smartphones’ affordability represents a cost-effective and portable platform for deploying these advanced tools, potentially supporting enhanced agricultural performance, accelerating sector digitalization, and thus reducing the urban–rural digital gap. This preliminary study assessed the viability of using smartphone-based LiDAR, photogrammetry, and AI models to obtain body measurements of Marchigiana cattle. Five morphometric traits manually collected on animals were compared with those extracted from smartphone-based 3D reconstructions. LiDAR measurements offer more consistent estimates, with relative error ranging from −1.55% to 4.28%, while photogrammetry demonstrated accuracy ranging from 0.75 to −14.56. AI-based models (NSR, 3DGS, NeRF) reported more variability between accuracy results, pointing to the need for further refinement. Overall, the results highlight the preliminary potential of portable 3D scanning technologies, particularly LiDAR-equipped smartphones, for non-invasive morphometric data collection in cattle.

Myostatin gene ( MSTN ), a TGF‐β superfamily member, negatively regulates skeletal muscle growth, positioning it as a prime genetic target for enhancing livestock meat production. This review synthesizes evidence from 1979 to 2025 on MSTN mutations across cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, and rabbits, emphasising impacts on yield, quality, reproduction, and feed efficiency. Loss‐of‐function variants drive 20%–30% muscle mass increases in double‐muscled phenotypes, boosting lean yield, carcass conformation, and dressing percentages while reducing fat (decreased by 50%). These changes improve growth rates and feed conversion ratios, and overall sustainability by lowering resource inputs and emissions, aligning with demands for low‐fat and high‐quality protein. Reproduction exhibits species‐specific challenges, such as reduced fertility or dystocia, which are often manageable in heterozygotes through targeted breeding, while meat quality benefits from tender, lean profiles. From natural alleles to CRISPR/Cas9 knockouts in goats/pigs, MSTN manipulation enhances productivity without major welfare trade‐offs. Multi‐species insights underscore the value of heterozygous strategies for balanced gains by integrating genomic selection and editing tools to meet rising global meat needs efficiently, resiliently, and ethically.

Food waste is a major global challenge and its bioconversion through insect farming offers a sustainable solution. Black soldier fly larvae ( Hermetia illucens ; Diptera: Stratiomyidae) efficiently convert organic residues into protein- and lipid-rich biomass for animal feed and frass for use as a biofertiliser. This study formulated nutritionally balanced diets by combining seasonal vegetable by-products (spinach, peas, green beans, tomatoes) with dry legume- and cereal-based residues (chickpea husks and wheat silo residues) to evaluate their effects on larval growth and bioconversion efficiency. Six combinations of by-products were tested under controlled conditions and compared with a standard control diet (Gainesville House Fly Diet). Experimental diets generally resulted in higher biomass yields and higher larval weight, with the best performance observed in green bean- and tomato-based diets supplemented with wheat. Survival exceeded 77% in all treatments and development time was slightly shorter in spinach- and pea-based diets. Several experimental diets also improved feed conversion and waste reduction efficiency compared with the control. Overall, larval performance was more strongly associated with dietary energy availability, particularly nitrogen-free extract and lower fibre levels, than with crude protein concentration alone. These findings demonstrate that seasonal vegetable by-products can support cost-effective, sustainable black soldier fly larvae production while providing valuable information for the optimisation of large-scale bioconversion systems.