1,720,984 research outputs found
Grape seed and linseed, alone and in combination, enhance unsaturated fatty acids in the milk of Sarda dairy sheep
No full textThis study evaluated the effect of dietary inclusion of grape seed and linseed, alone or in combination, on sheep milk fatty acids (FA) profile using 24 Sarda dairy ewes allocated to 4 isoproductive groups. Groups were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments consisting of a control diet (CON), a diet including 300 g/d per animal of grape seed (GS), a diet including 220 g/d per animal of extruded linseed (LIN), and a diet including a mix of 300 g/d per animal of grape seed and 220 g/d per animal of extruded linseed (MIX). The study lasted 10 wk, with a 2-wk adaptation period and an 8-wk experimental period. Milk FA composition was analyzed in milk samples collected in the last 4 wk of the trial. The milk concentration of saturated fatty acids (SFA) decreased and that of unsaturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (UFA, MUFA, and PUFA, respectively) increased in GS, LIN, and MIX groups compared with CON. The MIX group showed the lowest values of SFA and the highest of UFA, MUFA, and PUFA. Milk from ewes fed linseed (LIN and MIX) showed an enrichment of vaccenic acid (VA), oleic acid (OA), α-linolenic acid (LNA), and cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) compared with milk from the CON group. The GS group showed a greater content of milk oleic acid (OA) and linoleic acid (LA) and tended to show a greater content of VA and cis-9,trans-11 CLA than the CON group. The inclusion of grape seed and linseed, alone and in combination, decreased the milk concentration of de novo synthesized FA C10:0, C12:0, and C14:0, with the MIX group showing the lowest values. In conclusion, grape seed and linseed could be useful to increase the concentration of FA with potential health benefits, especially when these ingredients are included in combination in the diet. Key words: by-product, beneficial fatty acids, grape seed, extruded linseed, multivariate analysi
Recalculating the global warming impact of italian livestock methane emissions with new metrics
Full text linkThe warming impact of methane (CH4) emissions calculated using the metrics proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which measure its global warming potential in 100 years (GWP100) expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2 e), accounts for the greatest impact in animal production chains. This work uses the new metrics, proposed to consider the difference between short living climate pollutants (SLCP), such as CH4, and long living climate pollutants (LLCP), such as carbon dioxide (CO2), which measure the warming equivalent (we) effect relative to that of CO2 in a given time frame (GWP*) and expressed as CO2 we. The GWP* was applied to CH4 emissions from all Italian livestock supply chains and compared with GWP100 for annual and cumulative assessment from 2010 to 2020 of the impact of this gas on climate change. Using official data published by Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) from 1990 to 2020, almost all species, except for buffalo (+272.6% of emissions calculated with the new metrics), revealed lower CH4 emissions with the greatest re-dimensioning for non-dairy cattle (-53786 kt of CO2 we of calculated with GWP* compared to +66437 kt of CO2 e estimated with the GWP100 method). The total cumulative contribution of Italian livestock production to global warming over the past 10 years, including the nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, has been greatly negative (-48759 kt of CO2 we) compared to the data calculated using the GWP100 method (+206091 kt of CO2 e). In conclusion, the application of GWP* metric to CH4 emissions of all Italian livestock supply chains allowed to better identify the role of Italian livestock on climate change. Over the 2010–2020 time frame, the Italian animal supply chains reduced the warming impact related to its CH4 emission, with the ruminants (expect buffaloes) being the major contributor to this positive effect.HIGHLIGHTS The application of GWP* metric reduced the warming impact of CH4 emissions of Italian dairy cattle, non-dairy cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and rabbits. The reduction of CH4 emission from the major ruminant species is the major contributor to the positive effect on climate change detected over 2010–2020 time frame. The application of GWP* metric to CH4 emissions of all Italian livestock supply chains allowed to better identify the role of Italian livestock on climate change
Phenotypic and genetic characterization of the occurrence of noncoagulating milk in dairy sheep
No full textMilk coagulation ability is of central importance for the sheep dairy industry because almost all sheep milk is destined for cheese processing. The occurrence of milk with impaired coagulation properties is an obstacle to cheese processing and, in turn, to the profitability of the dairy companies. In this work, we investigated the causes of noncoagulation of sheep milk; specifically, we studied the effect of milk physicochemical properties on milk coagulation status [coagulating and noncoagulating (NC) milk samples, which do or do not coagulate within 30 min, respectively], and whether mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIR) could be used to assess variability in coagulation status. We also investigated the genetic background of milk coagulation ability. Individual milk samples were collected from 996 Sarda ewes farmed in 47 flocks located in Sardinia (Italy). Considered traits were daily milk yield, milk composition traits, and milk coagulation properties (rennet coagulation time, curd firming time, and curd firmness), and MIR spectra were acquired. About 9% of samples did not coagulate within 30 min. A logistic regression approach was used to test the effect of milk-related traits on milk coagulation status. A principal component (PC) analysis was carried out on the milk MIR spectra, and PC scores were then used as covariates in a logistic regression model to assess their relationship with milk coagulation status. Results of the present work demonstrated that the probability of having NC samples increases as milk contents of proteins and chlorides and somatic cell score increase. The analysis of PC extracted from milk spectra that influenced coagulation status highlighted key regions associated with lactose and protein concentrations, and others not associated with routinely collected milk composition traits. These results suggest that the occurrence of NC is mostly related to damage of the epithelium secretory mammary cells, which occurs with the advancement of a lactation or due to unhealthy mammary gland status. Genetic analysis of milk coagulation status and of the extracted PC confirmed the genetic background of the milk coagulability of sheep milk
Effects of grape seed supplementation, alone or associated with linseed, on ruminal metabolism in Sarda dairy sheep
Full text linkGrape seed is a by-product of the winery and distillery industry which could be used in animal nutrition. To test the hypothesis that dietary supplementation with this by-product can decrease the biohydrogenation (BH) of healthy fatty acids (FA), the present study evaluated the effects of grape seed supplementation, alone or combined with linseed, on ruminal BH processes in dairy sheep. In this 60-d trial, 24 lactating Sarda dairy ewes were assigned to four homogeneous groups and fed as follows: (1) control diet (CON), (2) a diet supplemented with 300. g/d per head of grape seed (GS), (3) a diet supplemented with 220. g/d per head of extruded linseed (LIN), (4) and a diet supplemented with a mix of both grape seed and linseed (300 and 220. g/d per head, respectively) (MIX). Ammonia, pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA) and FA composition were determined in rumen liquor at three sampling dates (20, 40 and 60 d). Rumen pH was not influenced by diet (P>0.05). The ammonia content was increased (P<0.05) in GS and MIX compared with LIN and CON. The molar proportions of acetate and propionate and their ratio were not affected by the diet (P>0.05), whereas the molar proportion of butyrate was the lowest in MIX. Rumenic acid (RA; CLA cis-9,. trans-11) concentration increased in GS compared with CON (0.78 vs. 0.45. mg/100. mg FA; P<0.05), whereas the percentage of vaccenic acid (VA; C18:1 trans-11) tended to increase (P<0.10) in GS compared with CON. The concentration of VA was higher in MIX than in CON (8.18 vs. 3.77. mg/100. mg FA; P<0.05), whereas RA did not differ between the same groups. The concentration of linoleic acid (LA; C18:2 n-6) decreased and stearic acid (SA; C18:0) increased in all supplemented groups, whereas linolenic acid (LNA; C18:3 n-3) decreased in the two groups receiving grape seed compared with CON and LIN. The concentration of total odd- and branched-chain fatty acids (OBCFA) decreased in all supplemented groups compared with CON (P<0.05), evidencing that grape seed and linseed supplementation influenced the ruminal BH processes. Grape seed was able to increase the accumulation of RA when supplemented alone, and of VA when combined with linseed; however, the rumen accumulation of SA in both groups supplemented with grape seed evidenced that this by-product was not effective in decreasing the BH of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). © 2014 Elsevier B.V
Study of the Fatty Acid Profile of Milk in Different Sheep Breeds: Evaluation by Multivariate Factorial Analysis
Full text linkA multivariate analysis was used to investigate the fatty acid (FA) profile in three different Italian sheep breeds: Comisana, Massese, and Sarda. A sample of 852 animals was considered: 118 Massese, 303 Comisana, 431 Sarda. Sarda sheep were divided into two groups, based on their breeding origin (298 and 133 reared in Sardinia and Tuscany, respectively). Sarda sheep, bred both in Sardinia and in Tuscany, were considered in different groups, both because in these two regions most of the sheep of this breed are reared, and because they differ in geographical characteristics and in the farming system. The individual milk FA composition of dairy ewes was analyzed with multivariate factor analysis. The extracted factors were representative of the following eight groups of fatty acids or functions: factor 1 (odd branched fatty acids and long-chain fatty acids), factor 2 (sn3_position), factor 3 (alternative biohydrogenation), factor 4 (SCD_1), factor 5 (SCD_2), factor 6 (SCD_3), factor 7 (fat secretion) and factor 8 (omega-3). A factor analysis suggested the presence of different metabolic pathways for de novo short-and medium-chain fatty acids and ∆9-desaturase products. The ANOVA of factor scores highlighted the significant effects of the breed. The results of the present study showed that breed is an important factor in defining the fatty acid profile of milk, combined with the effect of the diet. Breeds reared in the same farming system (Comisana, Massese and Sarda reared in Tuscany) showed significant differences for all the factors extracted. At the same time, we found differences between the Sarda sheep reared in Sardinia and Tuscany, two different regions of Italy
Can agro-industrial by-products rich in polyphenols be advantageously used in the feeding and nutrition of dairy small ruminants?
Full text linkRecently, the interest in industrial by-products produced at the local level in Mediterranean areas, resulting from fruit and vegetable processes, has increased because of their considerable amounts of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols. In this review, we analyze the most recent scientific results concerning the use of agro-industrial by-products, naturally rich in polyphenols (BPRP), in the diets of small dairy ruminants. Effects on milk production, milk and rumen liquor fatty acid profile, metabolic parameters, and methane production are reviewed. The feed intake and digestibility coefficients were generally depressed by BPRP, even though they were not always reflected in the milk yield. The main observed positive effects of BPRP were on quality of the milk’s FA profile, antioxidant activity in milk and blood, a reduction of rumen ammonia, and, consequently, a reduction of milk and blood urea. The expected beneficial effects of dietary polyphenols in small ruminants were not always observed because of their complex and variable matrices. However, owing to the large quantities of these products available at low prices, the use of BPRB in small ruminant nutrition offers a convenient solution to the valorization of residues arising from agricultural activities, reducing feed costs for farmers and conferring added value to dairy products at the local level, in a sustainable way
Assessment of microbiological quality and physicochemical parameters of fruhe made by Ovine and Goat Milk: A sardinian (Italy) cheese
No full textFruhe (Casu axedu) is a fresh cheese, traditionally manufactured in Sardinia (Italy) from sheep or goat milk, characterized by a compact coagulum obtained from raw or heat-treated whole milk. The objective of this study was to investigate the microbiological quality and physicochemical parameters of the sheep and goat Fruhe types of cheese at 21 days of cold storage. Chemical analyses showed that all Fruhe cheese samples were characterized by a pH below 4.4 and a variable content of total solid (22.75-21.06 g/100 g) proteins (5.4-10 g/100 g) and fat (3.9-15.7 g/100 g). The average residual lactose content was 2.6 g/100 g, while lactic acid content was 1.8 g/100 g. Microbial analyses revealed a high number of Lactic Acid Bacteria for both thermophilic and mesophilic streptococci (9 log CFU/g), and no pathogenic bacteria were found. The content of Free Amino Acids and Free Fatty acids point out that a good activity of rennet and microbial enzymes occurred, although Fruhe cheese is not subject to a ripening process. The present research reports the microbiological and nutritional characteristics of the sheep and goat Fruhe cheese that could represent the basis for further investigations, needful to improve its nutritional quality and to preserve its peculiarities
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Grape, Pomegranate, Olive, and Tomato By-Products Fed to Dairy Ruminants Improve Milk Fatty Acid Profile without Depressing Milk Production
No full textThe continuous increase in the cost of feeds and the need to improve the sustainability of animal production require the identification of alternative feeds, such as those derived from the agro-industrial sector, that can be effectively used for animal nutrition. Since these by-products (BP) are sources of bioactive substances, especially polyphenols, they may play an important role as a new resource for improving the nutritional value of animal-derived products, being effective in the modulation of the biohydrogenation process in the rumen, and, hence, in the composition of milk fatty acids (FA). The main objective of this work was to evaluate if the inclusion of BP in the diets of dairy ruminants, as a partial replacement of concentrates, could improve the nutritional quality of dairy products without having negative effects on animal production traits. To meet this goal, we summarized the effects of widespread agro-industrial by-products such as grape pomace or grape marc, pomegranate, olive cake, and tomato pomace on milk production, milk composition, and FA profile in dairy cows, sheep, and goats. The results evidenced that substitution of part of the ratio ingredients, mainly concentrates, in general, does not affect milk production and its main components, but at the highest tested doses, it can depress the yield within the range of 10–12%. However, the general positive effect on milk FA profile was evident by using almost all BP at different tested doses. The inclusion of these BP in the ration, from 5% up to 40% of dry matter (DM), did not depress milk yield, fat, or protein production, demonstrating positive features in terms of both economic and environmental sustainability and the reduction of human–animal competition for food. The general improvement of the nutritional quality of milk fat related to the inclusion of these BP in dairy ruminant diets is an important advantage for the commercial promotion of dairy products resulting from the recycling of agro-industrial by-products
- …
