animal-agriculture
Animal agriculture encompasses the raising of livestock for food, fiber, and other products, and is deeply intertwined with plant science through the crops grown to feed animals and the land management practices that sustain both. The feed crops, pasture systems, and forage plants that underpin livestock production drive significant research into plant nutrition, yield optimization, and sustainable cultivation. Understanding these plant-animal agricultural systems is essential for developing resilient food systems that balance soil health, resource efficiency, and productivity.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-04
Researchers analyzed the viruses present in the guts of diarrhea-affected and healthy piglets in England, finding a surprisingly complex mix of at least 14 virus types in both sick and healthy animals — with no clear single viral culprit responsible for the illness.
At least 14 different virus types from 10 or more virus families were identified in both diarrhea-affected and healthy piglets, including astrovirus, rotavirus, and parvovirus.
Four viruses (astrovirus, enterovirus, kobuvirus, and smacovirus) were found in 100% of all samples — both sick and healthy pigs — making them unlikely sole causes of disease.
Several viruses (including astro-, entero-, sapelo-, sapo-, posa-, adeno-, and toro-viruses) showed higher levels in sick pigs, but the differences were not statistically significant.