1,721,143 research outputs found
Formaggi tipici siciliani: patrimonio di alimenti funzionali, sani e sicuri
No full textFormaggi tipici siciliani: patrimonio di alimenti funzionali, sani e sicuri. I prodotti della tradizione regionale sono espressione del legame tra razza, territorio e tecnica di caseificazione e rappresentano per questo una preziosa eredità storica e socio-cultural
Zootecnia, per le pecore da latte alimenti integrati con funghi.
No full textI funghi contengono numerosi composti bioattivi, in prevalenza poli- e oligosaccaridi, che sono in grado di svolgere azioni benefiche per la salute umana e li rendono, per questo, veri e propri alimenti funzionali. Questi polisaccaridi, tra i quali il gruppo dei -glucani, hanno mostrato di possedere proprietà immunomodulanti, antibatteriche, antivirali e antifungine, oltre che una certa attività antitumorale. Inoltre, alcuni funghi hanno rivelato spiccati effetti antiossidanti dovuti alla presenza di composti fenolici, inclusi flavonoidi e acidi fenolici, -carotene e vitamine come acido ascorbico e -tocoferolo. Studi recenti riguardanti l’impiego dei funghi e dei prodotti a base di funghi in alimentazione animale hanno dimostrato analoghi effetti positivi sul sistema immunitario, sul controllo microbico e parassitario a livello intestinale, sulla protezione antiossidante e, nel complesso, sullo stato di salute e sulla produttività degli animali. Tali risultati hanno, in definitiva, lasciato intravedere le interessanti potenzialità dei funghi nel ruolo di additivi naturali promotori di performance. Partendo da tali presupposti, sono stati studiati gli effetti della somministrazione di diete integrate con granella miceliata a pecore in lattazione, valutandoli in termini di controllo dei parassiti intestinali, risposta immunitaria, produzione e qualità del latte, stabilità ossidativa e capacità antiossidante dei formaggi. I concentrati somministrati sono stati sempre interamente consumati dalle pecore, fatto che certamente denota la buona appetibilità della granella miceliata, e non hanno modificato l’ingestione del fieno. Gli effetti della granella miceliata sono risultati evidenti nel controllo dei nematodi gastrointestinali. Infatti, dopo 8 settimane di trattamento alimentare, il numero di pecore che mostravano la presenza di uova di nematodi si è ridotto maggiormente con la dieta contenente la dose massima di granella miceliata. Tali risultati, di indubbio interesse e potenzialità, meritano di essere ulteriormente approfonditi per ottenerne conferma e chiarire il meccanismo con cui la granella miceliata agisce su tali parassiti. La produzione di latte individuale ha mostrato una tendenza all’aumento nelle pecore alimentate con la dieta contenente la granella miceliata somministrata alla dose più elevata. Tali animali hanno prodotto anche un latte con una maggiore dotazione di caseina, aspetto che denota una maggiore efficienza di utilizzazione della proteina della dieta per la sintesi di caseina. Il profilo in acidi grassi del latte è stato poco influenzato dal trattamento alimentare e, comunque, i polinsaturi, inclusi quelli ad effetto salutistico per l’uomo, non hanno subito variazioni per effetto della dieta, dimostrando come la granella miceliata non abbia inibito l’attività di bio-idrogenazione dei batteri ruminali a carico degli acidi grassi polinsaturi assunti con gli alimenti. Inoltre, la presenza dell’acido eicosapentaenoico (EPA) è stata rilevata solo nel latte delle pecore alimentate con la granella miceliata; quest’ultimo rappresenta un risultato interessante che, in considerazione degli importanti effetti che l’EPA svolge nell’uomo ai fini della riduzione dei rischi di insorgenza di patologie cardiovascolari, merita i dovuti approfondimenti. La granella miceliata sembra avere interferito, inoltre, sul colore dei formaggi, inducendo una maggiore luminosità, un più elevato indice del rosso e, al più alto dosaggio, una colorazione gialla meno intensa. Questo effetto potrebbe essere legato al trasferimento di pigmenti carotenoidi contenuti nei miceli fungini, e di β-carotene in particolare che, presente nei funghi in elevata quantità, avrebbe conferito una colorazione rosso aranciata ai formaggi.
L’ossidazione lipidica secondaria ha mostrato una progressiva e significativa riduzione all’aumentare della granella miceliata nel mangime, come indicato dai valori di TBARs ottenuti sui campioni sperimentali. Pertanto, il maggiore apporto di granella miceliata con la dieta è stata responsabile di una ridotta ossidazione a carico della componente grassa. In linea con i dati di TBARs, i formaggi ottenuti dalle pecore alimentate con il più alto livello di granella miceliata, hanno pure mostrato un significativo aumento della capacità antiossidante, misurata mediante saggio TEAC. Tali risultati fanno presupporre che la granella miceliata abbia determinato un miglioramento della stabilità ossidativa del grasso del formaggio, e quindi della sua conservabilità, presumibilmente per effetto dell’arricchimento del latte in composti ad attività antiossidante presenti nel micelio che ne hanno aumentato il potere antiossidante. In definitiva, la granella miceliata sembra possedere effetti antiparassitari e attività antiossidante; la sua somministrazione, infatti, è apparsa in grado di influenzare positivamente la produzione di latte e lo stato generale di salute delle pecore, e di arricchire i prodotti lattiero caseari di molecole antiossidanti che ne aumentano la stabilità ossidativa e le proprietà funzionali
Granelle locali alternative a mais e soia nella dieta dei ruminanti allevati in biologico
No full textTra le granelle di leguminose, la fava, il favino, il pisello e il cece, per il loro contenuto in proteine possono sostituire anche integralmente la soia del concentrat
A 3-week post-weaning restricted feeding as alternative to an ad libitum antibiotic-medicated feed: Effects on growth, carcass and meat of rabbits differing in genotype and slaughter age
No full textIn this investigation, the impact of a 3-week post-weaning restricted feeding (RF) using an antibiotic-free feed, applied to rabbits from 36 to 56 days of age to preserve their health status as alternative to an ad libitum medicated feed with antibiotics (AMF), was verify in relation to rabbit genotype and slaughter age (SA). The RF and AMF treatments were compared evaluating their effects on feed intake, growth, mortality, carcass and meat quality of rabbits of two genotypes, Italian White purebred (IWP) and hybrid Hycole×IWP crossbred (HIWC), slaughtered at 78 or 92 days of age to obtain light or heavy carcasses. At 36 days of age, 256 weaned rabbits of both sexes were divided into 4 homogeneous groups based on feeding treatment (FT) and genotype: RF-IWP, RF-HIWC, AMF-IWP and AMF-HIWC. The RF treatment was performed offering to each rabbit 70, 80 and 90 g/day of feed in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd week. After the 3-week RF and AMF treatments, all rabbits received the same ad libitum antibiotic-free feeds until their slaughter. For each group, 24 rabbits were slaughtered, 12 at 78 days and 12 at 92 days. On the whole feed intake with RF was equal to 63% of that with AMF. Regardless of genotype, RF was associated with a lower feed intake until 78 days and a compensatory growth from 58 to 78 day, whereas from 79 to 92 days intake was not affected by FT and genotype. Despite the compensatory growth, the lower intake of restricted rabbits resulted in lower live weight at 78 and 92 days, but in more favourable feed conversion than with AMF. The growth potential allowed the crossbred rabbits to reach higher body and carcass weights with more efficient feed utilization. Mortality for enteropathies occurred mainly during the post-weaning phase from 36 to 56 days of age, with no difference due to FT, whereas HIWC rabbits showed a lower resistance to enteropathies. Heavier and fatter carcasses were obtained from AMF rabbits, at both SA, whereas the heavier HIWC carcasses showed a lower fat content than IWP ones. Carcass yield was influenced by FT and SA, being lower in RF rabbits and at earlier age. The restriction affected some colour indexes of meat and induced lower adiposity. Collagen was higher in meat of 92-day rabbits and in males, with no relationship to shear force. No particular effect of genotype emerged for meat quality. On the whole a 3-week post-weaning RF with antibiotic-free feed is confirmed to be a suitable method to replace an ad libitum feed containing antibiotics. In addition, RF appeared more suitable for rabbits of high-growth genotype slaughtered at 92 days which were more effective to recover the growth slowing due to the post-weaning feed restriction
Technical solutions for better storage of Prickly pear fruit by-products
No full textTake home Message Prickly pear fruit by-products hold promise as an alternative feed source for livestock.
Introduction The use of agro-industrial by-products as animal feed represents an important component of the global
strategy to reduce the environmental impact of agro-industrial and to increase livestock production. The use of some byproducts
as animal feed has been explored and could represent a socio-economic advantage in order to reduce the
competition for food directly consumable by humans. By-products are commonly used in the animal feed industry due to
their high nutritional value, being rich in fiber or protein, and bioactive molecules. Prickly pear by-product (PPB), obtained
from processing of juice extraction of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) fruits, could be an interesting by-product for ruminant
feeding. However, PPB, as several by-products, are subject to seasonality and some of these are difficult to store. This
paper reports the results obtained from two preliminary investigations with the aim to enhance the PPB storage aptitude.
Material and methods The aim of the first study was to evaluate the nutritional characteristics of PPB and its stability
during a 21-days of outdoor storage. The potassium metabisulfite (PMB), as natural stabilizer, was added to the PPB at
different doses (0, 50, 100, and 150 g/kg). Samples of treated PPB were analysed at days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 for chemical
composition and microbiological profile (Todaro et al., 2020). In the second study, PPB was ensiling with different levels
of wheat straw (0, 5, and 10% as fed). After 35 days of storage, from 4 micro-silages for each thesis, samples were collected
and analysed for composition and fermentation kinetics using the in vitro gas production technique (Vastolo et al., 2020).
Results and discussion The fractioning of PPB
showed that it contained 28% of peel and pulp
and 72% of seeds on a DM basis. This new byproduct
is low in moisture and protein when
compared to other fresh by-product available in
Sicily for ruminant feeding, such as fresh lemon
pulp. Overall, PPB was low in crude protein (CP,
5.3% DM), high in fiber (51.4%, 41.2% and
14.6% DM for NDFom, ADFom and ADL,
respectively), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC,
29.7% DM), and soluble sugars (13.3% DM),
with a moderate level of net energy for lactation
(4.59 MJ/kg DM). In the first study, the storage
time was responsible for the decline, during the
first week, of NFC and soluble sugars, mainly due
to fermentation activity, and then it stopped. The same trend was observed for the pH values during the first week, which
subsequently showed a substantial increase at day 21, presumably due to a deacidification following the use of acid lactic
for microbial growth. On this basis, the use of PMB at doses of 100 and 150 g/kg was able to slightly slow down the early
phase of the acidification process and limit the presence of spoilage microorganisms, coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae
after a three-weeks storage period. The second study showed that PPB silage with the addition of wheat straw guaranteed
the preservation of NFC and CP, indicating a potential reduction in losses due to leachate. PPB silage showed good ensiling
parameters (Table 1), especially when 5% of straw is added: significantly lower pH and ammonia nitrogen concentration.
Furthermore, comparing the three PPB silages, the inclusion of 5% of straw seems to guarantee higher fermentability
(organic matter disappearance, OMD, and cumulative volume of gas related to incubated organic matter, OMCV) and
volatile fatty acids production.
Conclusion Prickly pear fruit by-product could be a very interesting diet ingredient for ruminants. PPB seems to be an
important nutrients’ resource suitable to increase the economic value and the environmental sustainability of livestock
farming as well as giving added value to dairy products. The results obtained with the use of PMB showed that this byproduct
is able to control the fermentation process and the presence of alterative microorganisms, but also the difficulty to
obtain a homogeneous distribution in the by-product mass. Instead, ensiling PPB with wheat straw is an appropriate storage
technique to preserve the nutritional characteristics of PPB. Further studies are necessary to evaluate alternative
conservation methods
Effects of a GH polymorphism on milk production traits in Modicana and Cinisara cows reared in different feeding systems.
No full textGrowth hormone, a polypeptide encoded by the GH gene, is a member of the somatotropin/prolactin family of hormones, which plays an important role on milk production and metabolism. In bovine, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 5 changes leucine to valine (CTG to GTG) in the mature GH molecule. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, in Modicana and Cinisara cows, the effects of genetic polymorphism at GH locus and its interaction with feeding system on milk traits. A total of 97 individual Modicana blood samples were collected, 65 from a semi extensive and 32 from an extensive farm. A total of 58 Cinisara individual milk samples were collected, 32 from 7 extensive farms and 26 from 6 semi-extensive farms. In the extensive farms the cows were fed exclusively with pasture; in the semi-extensive farms cows were fed with pasture, hay and concentrate. DNA was extracted from Modicana white blood cells and from Cinisara milk somatic cells. Bovine Growth Hormone (bGH) was analyzed at the 5th exon according to Komisarek et al (2011). In Modicana farms, monthly, individual milk yield was recorded and individual milk samples collected. In Cinisara farms milk production was recorded once, the day of samples collection. Fat and protein were determined (Combi-foss 6000, Foss Electric, Hillerød, Denmark). In Modicana, milk yield, fat and protein were analysed using the GLM procedure for repeated measures of SPSS (SPSS for Windows, SPSS Inc., Chicago IL, USA). In Cinisara, milk yield, fat and protein were analysed using the univariate GLM procedure of SPSS. The analyses included main effects of GH genotype, feeding system and the interaction genotype × feeding system. Three genotypes were found:: LL (236, 132, 36bp), LV (236, 185, 132, 51, 36 bp) and VV (185, 132, 51, 36 bp). Genotype frequencies, respectively in Modicana and Cinisara breeds were: LL, 0.61 and 0.34; LV, 0.37 and 0.57; VV, 0.02 and 0.09. Milk production and gross composition were not influenzed by GH genotype (respectively in Modicana and Cinisara: milk yield, LL 9.06 and 12.3, LV 9.24 and 11.4, VV 7.61 and 8.33; fat, LL 4.08 and 3.32, LV 3.91 and 3.13, VV 4.04 and 3.62; protein, LL 3.67 and 3.51, LV 3.66 and 3.56, VV 3.64 and 3.71). These results are in line with different authors. The higher energy level of the diets offered in the semi extensive farms did not interfere with GH genotype effect on milk traits: no significant interaction was found between genotype and feeding system
Neuroendocrine responses in neonatal mother-deprived rabbits
Full text linkTo study both short- and long-term adaptation mechanisms activated by rabbits which were separated from their mothers (DLS) for 48 h between postnatal days 9 and 11, we examined plasma corticosterone concentrations before, during, and after DLS as well as the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the hippocampus and the adrenal axis responses to a mild stress stimuli or exogenous ACTH injection. At postnatal day 10, plasma corticosterone concentration of DLS rabbits was similar to that of controls, but rose two-fold at day 11 (17.7 ± 1.3 vs. 9.3 ± 1.2 μg/dl, P < 0.01) and then decreased at day 12, when suckling was allowed again, to match those of controls with no difference thereafter. At postnatal day 14, both control and DLS rabbits had similar basal corticosterone concentrations (2.2 ± 0.4 vs. 2.3 ± 1.1 μg/dl, respectively) as well as at day 120 (8.8 ± 3.2 vs. 9.7 ± 2.8 μg/dl, respectively). After the standardized stress stimulus, plasma corticosterone concentrations were lower in DLS rabbits than controls at postnatal days 14 (P < 0.01) and 120 (P < 0.05). At day 120, corticosterone levels rose similarly seven-fold (P < 0.01) within 30 min after ACTH administration and remained sustained thereafter in both control and DLS rabbits. Positive immunoreactivity for GR was detected in the hippocampus and in the dorsal medial hypothalamic region at postnatal day 14. The present data suggest that 48 h DLS from postnatal days 9 to 11 results in a modified hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis reactivity later in life
Effect of substitution of barley and tickbean to maize and extruded soybean in the diet on milk and cheese from ewes grazing under two different stocking rates
No full textThis experiment aimed to investigate the effects of a concentrate supplement based on barley and
tickbean (BT), compared with a concentrate of maize and extruded soybean meal (MS), on milk and cheese
yield and composition of ewes grazing with different stocking rates (SR). Thirty two Comisana ewes, divided into
four groups, for 50 days in spring were allowed to graze plots of a mixed sward of Italian ryegrass and berseem
clover with a low (LSR, 23 ewes/ha) or a high SR (HSR, 38 ewes/ha) and fed BT or MS. Herbage allowance per
ewe was more than double at LSR compared to HSR (P < 0.001), and daily milk yield was 10 to 15% higher (P
< 0.01) in the LSR-BT ewes than in the other groups. Milk composition, cheese yield and composition were not
influenced by treatments. Curd firming time (k20) was higher (P < 0.05) for LSR-BT milk. Milk fatty acid
composition of ewes fed MS, compared to BT, had a higher level of C18:0 and a lower level of C16:0 and C18:3
n-3. Milk trans-10 C18:1 and trans-13 C18:1 fatty acids were higher (P < 0.05) at HSR and with BT, while trans-
12 C18:1 was higher at LSR (P < 0.05). LSR increased (P < 0.05) the cheese content of odd and branched
chain fatty acids compared to HSR. The results suggest that both concentrate type and pasture availability
influenced milk and cheese composition, whereas milk yield was positively affected by the interaction LSR × BT
Formaggio al cioccolato, promettente abbinamento sensoriale e salutistico
No full textIl formaggio al cioccolato ottenuto combinando due alimenti tradizionali, il pecorino ed il cioccolato di Modica IGP, può rappresentare un prodotto lattiero caseario innovativo e funzional
Fatty acids as biomarkers of the production season of caciocavallo palermitano cheese
Full text linkThis experiment aims to evaluate the potential of fatty acids (FA) of Caciocavallo Palermitano cheese as biomarkers of production season and pasture-based diet. A total of 48 cheeses were made in the four seasons with milk from two farms that raised cows of Cinisara breed. The animals were fed on pasture with supplementation of wheat bran and wheat straw in the barn, and in summer also with Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes. The chemical composition and FA profile of cheese were influenced by the season and not by the farm. In particular, cheeses produced in spring were characterized by higher protein and lower fat, and showed higher contents in trans-vaccenic acid, α-linolenic acid, rumenic acid, n-3 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), and total PUFA. In winter, the lower availability of grazing forage, requiring a higher level of feeding integration, was responsible for an increase of saturated FA (SFA). The multivariate analysis distinguished clearly the cheeses made in winter and spring, while those produced in autumn and summer showed some overlapping points. Further investigations should be carried out to evaluate the effects of type and level of feeding integration on the presence of FA more suitable to be used as biomarkers of period and diet
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