Independent Science for Animals, Farms and Ecosystems.
GLOBAL FARMING DIGEST
Science-based insights for profitable and sustainable agriculture production by Alvaro Garcia, DVM, PhD.
Independent articles, practical recommendations, and consulting services for agricultural producers and industry professionals worldwide.
Latest Articles
Articles written exclusively for Global Farming Digest
The Best Chicken Is Not Always the Best Layer
Open a poultry catalogue today and you will find chickens bred to do one job exceptionally well. Commercial layers are selected to produce large numbers of eggs, while broilers are bred to grow rapidly and efficiently convert feed into meat. Under the conditions for which they were developed, these birds are remarkably productive.
Feed Efficiency Depends on the Clock
A broiler may complete its productive life in about six weeks. A dairy cow may remain productive for three lactations or ten. Yet we routinely describe both animals using the same concept: feed efficiency. In both cases, we are asking how effectively feed is converted into an economically valuable product. The biology behind that conversion, however, is quite different.
We Measure Methane: What Does the Cow Give Back?
Cattle are frequently evaluated for their climate impact primarily through enteric methane emissions, but these represent only one component of a livestock production system. Grazing cattle also recycle nutrients through manure and urine, potentially reducing requirements for manufactured fertilizer, while pasture management can influence soil carbon accumulation or loss.
El Niño Is Strengthening. Is Your Farm Ready?
El Niño is strengthening across the Pacific, and the developing 2026–27 event deserves the attention of farmers well beyond the regions where drought or excessive rainfall may occur. The reason is not simply that another major weather event is developing. Agriculture today is interconnected through feed, fertilizer, energy, commodity markets, and international trade.
Publications
Articles that appeared in magazines, journals and more.
Strategies to Improve Dairy Cows' Feed Intake during Heat Stress
Extended periods of high ambient temperature coupled with high relative humidity compromise the ability of cows in lactation to dissipate excess body heat. Cows with elevated body temperatures exhibit lower intakes and milk yields. Supplemental fan cooling in combination with low pressure feed bunk sprinklers can reduce the effects of heat stress on milk production and feed intake. Several key areas of nutritional management should also be considered for complementing environmental cooling during hot weather.
DDGs as a Postbiotic Feed Ingredient in Dairy Cows
Intestinal barrier integrity plays a central role in the health and productivity of lactating dairy cows, particularly during periods of heat stress and metabolic strain. Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), traditionally valued for their protein and energy contribution, also deliver fermentation-derived bioactive compounds. These components position DDGS as a potential postbiotic feed ingredient, with implications for gut permeability, immune activation, and oxidative stress regulation in dairy nutrition.
OUR VISION
To contribute to a future where every decision in animal agriculture is informed by trusted science.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to bridge the gap between science and practice by translating complex research into practical, evidence-based insights that support informed decisions promoting animal health, longevity, lifetime productivity, sustainable farming systems, environmental stewardship, and animal well-being.