1,721,009 research outputs found
Effect of pasture availability on the fatty acid profile and oxidative status of rabbit meat
No full textInduction of ovulation in rabbits by adding Lecirelin to theseminal dose : in vitro and in vivo effects of different excipients
No full textThis study evaluates the effect of Lecirelin (Dalmarelin(®), Fatro, Italy) diluted in different excipients (benzilic alcohol, benzoic acid and paraben) added to a seminal dose on LH concentrations, progesterone concentrations and ovarian status in rabbits. The in vitro effect on spermatozoa was also tested. A total of 100 multiparous female rabbits were divided into 5 groups, which at the moment of AI, received 0.2 mL (5 μg/dose) intramuscular (im) inoculation of Lecirelin (control) or the same Lecirelin dose administered intravaginally (iv) with the seminal dose alone (Lecirelin group) or with benzilic alcohol (Lecirelin BA group), benzoic acid (Lecirelin BAc group) or parabens (Lecirelin PA group) as an excipient. After 7 days, 10 rabbits per group were euthanized to analyze their ovarian status. In the control group, a high LH peak was detected 30 min post AI, while in the iv groups a slight increase in LH occurred after 120 min. The ovulation and fertility rate was similar in control and Lecirelin groups, while the lowest fertility rate was detected in the Lecirelin BA group. In a second experiment, the semen samples collected from male rabbits were diluted in TALP (control) or mixed with the 5 μg of Lecirelin solutions used in the first experiment. The highest percentage of capacitated sperm (68.3%) was recorded in the Lecirelin PA. The lowest percentages were observed in the Lecirelin BA and BAc groups. In conclusion, the iv administration of Lecirelin represents an alternative method for simplifying rabbit insemination procedures
Effect of genotype on welfare conditions of broilers reared under organic conditions
No full textIn organic broiler chicken production the European regulation suggests to use indigenous breeds with slow-growing profile, high liveability, resistance to diseases and adaptability to outdoor local conditions. However in practice mostly fast-growing chickens are utilised due to their higher efficiency although they were selected for indoor rearing. This study aimed to compare the foot pad and carcass lesions as well as the behavior and plumage conditions of one egg-type slow-growing (SG) genotype (Brown Classic Lohman) and two meat-type strains, medium- (MG) (Naked neck Kabir) and fast-growing (FG) (Cobb 700), reared under organic conditions. A total of 360 1-d-old male chicks, equally divided into 3 experimental groups, were reared at a density of 10 birds/m2 in 3 poultry houses with outdoor pens (10 m2/bird) and fed the same organic diets. One week before slaughter, birds were evaluated for kinetic activity, tonic immobility and plumage conditions. At slaughtering, food-pad dermatitis (FPD) of all birds of each group were assessed by assigning them to one of 3 different classes: 0 = no remark (no lesion), 1 = mild lesions, 2 = severe lesions. The FPD score was obtained applying the formula reported in the EU proposal COM (2005) 221 final. Qualitative traits of carcass, such as skin damage and incidence of breast blisters were recorded. FG birds, in respect to MG and SG, performed the lowest kinetic activity, the highest percentage of laying behavior (90 vs 34 and 3%, respectively) and showed the higher value of tonic immobility (176 vs 114 and 77 sec). This finding indicated a scarce adaptation of FG to organic housing system also confirmed by their bad plumage conditions: total plumage score (15 vs 21 and 23) in particular for breast (1 vs 3 and 4), vent (2 vs 3 and 4), wings (2 vs 3 and 4) and tail (2 vs 3 and 3); respectively in FG, MG and SG birds. The incidence of foot pad lesion was dramatically higher in FG in comparison with MG and SG (Class 0= 3 vs 93 and 99%; class 1= 29 vs 7 and 1%; class 2= 68 vs 0 and 0% respectively). The FPD score was 151 for FG birds and less than 1 for the other genotypes. The occurrence of breast blisters of FG birds resulted noticeably higher (66%) than both MG (2%) and SG (0%). This trial confirms that genotype has a great effect on behavior and welfare conditions of birds and that MG and SG chickens are more suitable for organic rearing system
The effect of the sustainable production systems on the qualitative characteristics and consumers preferences of poultry meat
No full textFaba bean (Vicia faba var. minor) as a protein source for organic chickens: performance and carcass characteristics. In Press Italian Journal of Animal Science.
Full text linkThe ban of transgenic feed and synthetic amino acids in organic chicken diets has made necessary to find protein-rich feedstuffs which do not alter productive performance. The effect of the faba bean (Vicia faba var. minor) as a partial substitute for soybean on the performance and carcass traits of slow-growing chickens of both sexes reared under the organic method was assessed. The experiment was carried out in the spring and autumn; one thousand birds per season were split into 8 groups (4 groups of males and 4 groups of females, each duplicated) and fed a double phase diet: a common starter diet for 20 days and two different growing-finisher diets containing either soybean (24%; S) or faba bean (16%; F) till the end of the rearing period (120 d). Average values of final live weight, feed intake and daily weight gain were significantly affected by sex, being higher in males than in females; the diets affected performance only in the 21-60 days of age period when the F group grew less and had poorer feed efficiency compared to the S group. Successively, the compensatory growth eliminated differences in slaughter weight. Regarding carcass traits, the diet affected only the ready- to-cook carcass percentage and the carena length, both of which were higher in S birds. Faba beans could be a valuable protein source in the diet of organic chickens when used after the critical starter period
Serum level of hormone and metabolites in pregnant rabbit does
No full textThe aims of this study were to compare the hormones and metabolites serum levels and the reproductive performances of nulliparous (n=100) and primiparous pregnant does submitted to artificial insemination (AI) 11 days post-partum. On the day of AI, all the does were weighed and the sexual receptivity was evaluated. The kits were weaned at 26 day. Blood samples were collect by puncture of the marginal ear vein from one day before AI until few days before the kindling and assayed for hormones and metabolites. The higher sexual receptivity and the fertility in nulliparous than in primiparous does confirmed the negative effect of lactation. Nulliparous does showed higher blood concentration of leptine than primiparous, and in both the groups such level lowered during pregnancy, probably reflecting the reduction of the fat reserve. The insuline level increased during pregnancy in either groups as a consequence of the growing of the foetuses. In nulliparous does the cortisol, NEFA and T3 concentrations were higher than primiparous does. The glucose levels were similar in both the groups probably due to the homeostatic mechanisms controlling the glycemia. Hormonal and metabolite analyses represent a good tool for understanding the physiological mechanisms required to meet higher reproductive performanc
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