215 research outputs found
Assessment of verbascoside-based dietary supplement on some blood and physio-productive parameters in intensively-reared Lepus Corsicanus hares
No full textOver the past decade, researchers and food manufacturers have significantly focused attention on polyphenols. The key reason for this interest is the recognition of the antioxidant properties of these substances, their great abundance in our diet and the probable role in preventing diseases associated with oxidative stress. The great class of polyphenols consists the phenylpropanoidsglucosides, distributed in many medicinal plants, which are responsible for cytostatic, cardiac and hepatic effects. One of the major representatives of the phenylpropanoidsglucosides is verbascoside, retrieved from different plants belonging to the Verbenaceae family and featured a rhamnose units linked to glucose, which serves as a bridge.The literature on the biological activity of verbascoside is very wide: it possesses an anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, immunomodulatory, antioxidant,cholesterol-lowering, cardiotonic, epato-protective effect, photoprotective, analgesic and neuroprotectiveactivity. The study focused on the evaluation of the dietary verbascoside supplement administration effect on reproductive parameters, on some blood parameters and plasma oxidative status of Lepuscorsicanus hares intensively-reared. In addition, during two-years trial, some productive performance on growing hares were evaluated.
The test wasperformed on 75couples of Italianhare (Lepuscorsicanus) and tookplace in 2 years, of whichitwas210 days for the first yearand260 daysfor the secondyear. At the same time the performance of 300 growinghareswerealsoevaluated, of which 150 the first year and 150 the secondyear.
All animals, couples of hares and growing hares, into 3 homogeneous groups were divided. One was a control group (CON) and the other two experimental which were administered ad libitum during the whole trial period, a feed containing a dietary supplement of verbascoside at 5 mg/kg feed in the LVB group and 10 mg/kg feed in HVB group. The food was specially prepared by adding to the amount of feed natural extract, standardized to 0.5% verbascoside, equal to 1 kg/tonne of feed supplement for the experimental LVB group and 2 kg/tonne of feed supplement for the experimental HVB group. The daily diet was completed by the addition alfalfa hay that was administered ad libitum.
The couples of hares were subjected, during the 2-year-trial period, to the following experimental controls: body weight of hares at the beginning and at the end of each reproductive cycle, feed intake, number of leverets born alive or died at birth, number of leverets weaned/birth, kindling interval, percentage of superfetation and pseudo-gestation for each trial-year, blood samplings for each reproductive cycle.
During the two years of experimentation, animals were tested at the beginning of each reproductive cycle (4 ± 2 days from partum) by blood samplings, for a total of 4 in the first year (0d, 70d, 140d, 210d) and 3 withdrawals during the second year (0d, 130d, 260d) for the determination oftriglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, bilirubin,ROMs, TBARS, vitamin A and vitamin E.
The growing hares were subjected, during the 2-year-trial period, the following experimental controls: born body weight, weaning body weight (28d), half-trial (60d) and final (90d) body weight of growing hares for the determination of growth rate;daily feed intake for the determination of conversion index.
The experimentaltreatment,on blood and in both years of experimentation, a significant (P<0,05) reduction of triglycerides, total cholesterol and bilirubin and an increase in HDL cholesterol in couples of hareshas produced.
The verbascoside also improved the oxidative status and plasma homeostatic stability through an important decrease in concentrations of ROMs (P<0,05) and TBARS (P<0,01)and increase concentrations of vitamin A (P<0,05) and vitamin E (P<0,01); these results were found in both test periods.
Dietary verbascoside supplementation on growing treated hares a higher (P<0,05)average daily gain resulted, in 60-90 d period of the first year. This trend also was found in the 2nd test-year without reaching, however, the statistical significance. Treatment with verbascoside has also resulted, in the second experimental year, an improvement of food conversion index in HVB growing hares.
Therefore,the results of the present research have shown an important role of dietary supplements with antioxidant activity on some blood parameters and plasma oxidative status in couples of hares and on productive performance in growing hares.Negli ultimi dieci anni, i ricercatori e le industrie alimentari hanno notevolmente focalizzato l’attenzione sui polifenoli. La ragione chiave di questo interesse è il riconoscimento delle proprietà antiossidanti di queste sostanze, della loro grande abbondanza nella nostra dieta e del probabile ruolo nella prevenzione di malattie associate allo stress ossidativo. Alla grande classe dei polifenoli appartengono i fenilpropanoidi glucosidi responsabili di avere effetti citostatici, cardioattivi ed epatocitari. Uno dei maggiori rappresentanti dei fenilpropanoidi glucosidi è il verbascoside, estratto da diverse piante appartenenti alle famiglie delle Verbenaceae e caratterizzato da una unità di ramnosio legata al glucosio, che funge da ponte. Le attività biologiche che caratterizzano la molecola di verbascoside sono molteplici: possiede, infatti, attività anti-infiammatoria e anti-spasmodica, immunomodulatrice, antiossidante, ipocolesterolemizzante, antitumorale, cardiotonica, epatoprotettiva, fotoprotettiva, analgesica e neuroprotettiva.
Si è inteso, quindi, valutare l’effetto dell’aggiunta, nel mangime di allevamento, di un integratore alimentare a base di verbascoside sui parametri riproduttivi, su alcuni parametri ematici e sullo stato ossidativo plasmatico di coppie di Lepus corsicanus allevate intensivamente. Inoltre, nei due anni di sperimentazione, sono state valutate le performance produttive di leprotti in accrescimento. La prova è stata eseguita su 75 coppie di lepre italica (Lepus corsicanus) e si è svolta in 2 anni la cui durata è stata, per il primo anno, di 210 giorni e, per il secondo anno, di 260 giorni. Nello stesso arco di tempo sono state valutate anche le performance produttive di 300 leprotti in accrescimento, di cui 150 il primo anno e 150 il secondo anno. Tutti gli animali, coppie di riproduttore e leprotti in accrescimento, sono stati suddivisi in tre gruppi, omogenei tra loro, di cui uno di controllo (CON) e gli altri due sperimentali ai quali è stato somministrato, ad libitum, durante l’intero periodo di prova, un mangime di allevamento contenente un integratore alimentare a base di verbascoside nella misura di 5 mg/kg di mangime nel gruppo LVB e di 10 mg/kg di mangime nel gruppo HVB. L’alimento è stato preparato appositamente aggiungendo al mangime una quantità di estratto naturale, titolato in verbascoside allo 0,5%, pari a 1kg di integratore/t di mangime per il gruppo sperimentale LVB e a 2kg di integratore/t di mangime per il gruppo sperimentale HVB. La razione alimentare è stata completata dall’aggiunta, a tutti i soggetti, di fieno di erba medica che veniva somministrata ad libitum.
Le coppie di lepri sono state sottoposte, durante i periodi di prova, ai seguenti controllo sperimentali:
-peso vivo dei riproduttori all’inizio e alla fine di ogni ciclo riproduttivo;
-consumo alimentare giornaliero delle coppie;
-numero dei figli nati vivi e/o morti al parto;
-numero dei figli portati vivi e vitali allo svezzamento/parto;
-durata interparto;
-percentuale di superfetazione e pseudo-gestazione per ciascun periodo di prova;
-prelievi ematici per ogni ciclo riproduttivo.
Nel corso dei due anni di sperimentazione gli animali sono stati sottoposti all’inizio di ogni ciclo riproduttivo (4±2 giorni dal parto), a prelievi ematici, per un numero complessivo di 4 prelievi, per il primo anno (0d, 70d, 140d, 210d) e 3 prelievi durante il secondo anno (0d, 130d, 260d) per valutare le variazioni di alcuni parametrici ematici e dello stato ossidativo plasmatico: colesterolo totale, colesterolo HDL, trigliceridi, bilirubina, ROMs, TBARS, vitamina A, vitamina E.
Controllo sperimentale sui leprotti in accrescimento.
Gli animali in accrescimento sono stati sottoposti, durante il periodo di 2 anni di prova, ai seguenti controlli sperimentali:
- peso vivo alla nascita;
- peso vivo allo svezzamento (28d), a metà (60d) e a fine sperimentazione (90d) e determinazione dei relativi accrescimenti;
- rilievo del consumo alimentare giornaliero e dei relativi indici di conversione.
Il trattamento sperimentale ha prodotto, a livello ematico e in entrambi gli anni di sperimentazione, nelle coppie di riproduttori, una riduzione significativa (P<0,05) dei trigliceridi, del colesterolo totale e della bilirubina ed un aumento del colesterolo HDL.
Il verbascoside ha fatto evidenziare anche un miglioramento dello stato ossidativo e della stabilità omeostatica plasmatica attraverso un significativo decremento delle concentrazioni dei ROMs (P<0,05) e dei TBARS (P<0,01) ed un incremento delle concentrazioni di vitamina A (P<0,05) e vitamina E (P<0,01); tali risultati sono stati riscontrati in tutti e due i periodi di prova.
L’integrazione alimentare a base di verbascoside ha determinato, nel I anno di prova, sui leprotti in accrescimento, un più elevato incremento giornaliero (P<0,05) nei soggetti dei gruppi trattati nel periodo 60-90d. Tale andamento si è riscontrato anche nel II anno di prova senza raggiungere, però, la significanza statistica. Il trattamento con verbascoside ha, altresì, determinato un miglioramento, solo nel II anno di sperimentazione, dell’indice di conversione alimentare nei leprotti del gruppo HVB.
Dai risultati della presente ricerca, emerge, pertanto, un importante ruolo degli integratori alimentari, ad attività antiossidante, su alcuni parametri ematici, sul controllo dello stato ossidativo plasmatico nelle coppie di lepri e sulle performance produttive dei leprotti in accrescimento.Dottorato di ricerca internazionale in Welfare, biotechnology and quality of animal production (XXIV ciclo
Factors of welfare reduction in dairy sheep and goats
No full textScientific research on factors causing the reduction of well-being in sheep and goats is rather recent, as are studies of strategies to minimize the adverse effects of environmental challenges and improper management practices on flock welfare. Sheep and goats, considered very rustic animals, are reared prevalently under extensive production systems and are widespread mainly in marginal areas. For these reasons, only few studies on the welfare of these species have been carried out in the past. More recently, the scenario has changed, due to a gradual diffusion of intensive and semi-intensive production systems, especially in dairy sheep and goat breeds, to the growing concern of consumers about the life conditions of farmed animals, and to the issuing of a number of rules and laws on the safety of animal products and well-being of farmed livestock. As a consequence, several research groups have turned their attention to the welfare of sheep and goats. Nevertheless, information on this topic is still scarce. This paper reviews major critical points regarding the endangerment of welfare in farmed sheep and goats. Climatic extremes and seasonal fluctuations in herbage amount and quality are discussed as important causes of the reduction of well-being in extensive production systems, which can impair production efficiency of grazing animals and dramatically affect the welfare and health status of sheep and goats. Space allowance and structures of sheep and goat houses are described as the main potential sources of discomfort for housed flocks, together with inadequate control of micro-environment, and inappropriate milking procedures and human-animal interactions. Recent studies on the impact of high ambient temperature, different ventilation regimes, high stocking densities, reduced airspace and poor litter management on behaviour, immune and endocrine response, and on performance of sheep and goats are discussed. The effects of inadequate milking procedures and improper milking technical parameters on welfare and udder health of sheep and goats are also discussed. Finally, some practices aimed at minimizing emotional and nutritional stresses of lambs and kids after early separation from the mother, before the transition to artificial rearing, and at weaning time are described
Behavioural profile during suckling period in Martina Franca breed jennies reared under semi-extensive conditions
No full textBehavioural profiles of maintenance and social behaviours were studied in Martina Franca breed female
donkey (jennies) during the period in which they had suckling foals (1 week to 6 months after foaling). The
animals were reared in Southern Italy (408370N latitude) and were managed in husbandry conditions, with
free access to a natural scrub area and sown pasture all year round. A total of 10 adult, pluriparous jennies,
which had a similar foaling date were used. The behavioural observations in the jennies were performed in
presence of their foals, for 120 daylight hours. A total of 14 activities were recorded using focal animal
sampling (5 min intervals), including maintenance behaviours such as feeding, drinking, walking, resting,
and a whole range of less conspicuous activities relative to eliminative and social behaviour such as
olfactory communication, grooming, play and vocalisations. Meterological data were also recorded
throughout the study.
The results indicated that maintenance behaviours differed significantly as a function of the time since
foaling (0.05 > P P < 0.01),
except for standing. All the activities included in maintenance behaviours were markedly influenced by the
individual (P < 0.01). Among the social ativities considered, the jennies showed a constant proportion of
time spent grooming and there was a tendency for an increase in play between dams and their foals by the
end of suckling period (4th–5th month)
Effect of long term dietary supplementation of lippia citriodora extract on semen quality traits in brown hare (Lepus europaeus).
No full textThere is an internationally growing interest concerning application of natural extract sources in animal production area in order to improve the husbandry welfare and the performance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with a natural extract of Lippia citriodora, containing verbascoside as main component, on some quality traits of semen of hare, monitoring also the welfare status of animals. Hares were randomly divided into four groups of 3 animals each, homogeneous by age and body weight, and fed ad libitum and free access to water until the end of the trial. Animals were fed for 240 days a commercial diet assigned to four dietary treatments: control diet (CON) and the diet supplemented with g.kg- of natural extract (low natural extract – LNE) or .5 g kg- of natural extract (medium natural extract – MNE) or 2 g.kg- of natural extract (high natural extract – HNE). All hares were subjected to the following experimental measurements: weekly relief of feed intake, body weight and blood samples at 0 and at 240 day of trial, and semen collection at 80, 20 and 240 days of trial. The body weight of the hares and their feed intake were not affected by the experimental treatment. At the end of the trial, sperm volume, pH and sperm concentration values were not effected by Lippia citriodora extract treatment, and the mean values recorded were 0.543 ml, 7.4 and 263.25 06 per ejaculate, respectively. The dietary treatment negatively affected (P < 0.05) the sperm motility values in LNE, MNE and HNE groups. In conclusion, the results of the present work underline a possible negative effect of the Lippia citriodora extract on the semen quality characteristics, besides the improvement in welfare status of the treated hares, reflected in a better lipid profile and an improved plasma oxidative markers
Effetto del tipo di latte sulla capacità di adattamento dell'agnello alla tettarella artificiale.
No full textCambiamenti di gruppo nell'allevamento intensivo dell'agnello all'ingrasso. 1. Effetto sulle prestazioni produttive.
No full textInfluenza della densità di allevamento sulle prestazioni produttive e sulle attività comportamentali dell'agnello da macello
No full textMonitoring the on-farm welfare of sheep and goats
No full textSchemes for on-farm welfare assessment in sheep and goats are not yet available. Factors responsible
for this lack of availability are discussed in the first part of this review. Requisites for reliable methods of
welfare assessment to be used in sheep and goat farms are discussed, taking into account the peculiarities
of the small ruminant production systems in terms of flock management and farm location. Some housing
parameters related to structures, design and micro-environment are reviewed and could be included in
schemes of welfare assessment on farm. Human-animal interaction, health status of the animals in terms
of body condition scoring, skin and hair conditions, lameness and injuries, and management practices in
relation to cleanliness, animal handling and moving, milking procedures and abnormal behaviours, are
proposed as potential animal-based indicators. When available, validity, reliability and feasibility of the proposed
parameters are discussed. The voluntary adhesion to welfare standards in Sardinia and the application
of a scientifically validated protocol in Basilicata are reported as examples of practical experiences
The effect of Laurus nobilis on the blood and lenses antioxidant activity in rabbit under fat-enriched diet
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