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

In 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 homo…

Heavy metal contamination and bioproductivity record in box-core sediments from the Strait of Sicily, central Mediterranean.

The production of typical cured meats from cattle of Cinisara breed

In recent years consumers prefer genuine, tasty, protein-rich, low in fat and cholesterol products. The Cinisara cow is a dairy Sicilian autochthonous breed, reared in the western part of the isle according to the traditional livestock system, based on grazing natural pastures. The meat of Cinisara cattle could be used to obtain also processed products, among which salami and bresaola, as commercial alternatives to fresh meat, in order to increase the economic profitability of farms. The aim of this research was to produce bresaola and salami with meat from adult cows (AC) and grazing (GB) or housed (HB) young bulls of Cinisara breed, evaluating their physico-chemical and sensory traits. In…

Effect of CSN1S1 G allele on some characteristics of milk produced by Cinisara cows

In bovine milk about 37-40% of total casein is represented by s1-casein. The CSN1S1 G allele is characterised by a less efficient protein synthesis (about 40%) compared with the other known alleles because of the insertion, in the 19th exon, of a Long Interspersed Nuclear Element relict responsible for a reduced mRNA stability. The lower proportion of s1-casein in milk is associated with faster formation, higher firmness and greater resistance to compression of the curd. The purpose of this study was to analyse the G allele distribution at the CSN1S1 locus in Cinisara breed and its influence on some milk traits. The Cinisara is a small Sicilian breed for which, recently, recovery and safe…

Zootecnia, per le pecore da latte alimenti integrati con funghi.

I 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 fungh…

Dehydrated Sulla forage in dairy ewes feeding: effects on cheese properties

Feeding green sulla forage (GSF) (Sulla Coronarium L.), a shortlived perennial legume containing phenolic compounds, especially condensed tannins, showed to increase intake, milk yield and casein level in ruminants, and enhance fatty acid (FA) profile and antioxidant activity of dairy products. To obtain analogous favourable effects using conserved sulla forage, dehydration could be a valid alternative to the haymaking process which causes greater losses of biomass and its nutritional and bioactive compounds. The aim of this research was to evaluate the dairy products from ewes fed with pelleted dehydrated sulla forage (PDSF) in the diet by comparisons with those obtained using sulla hay (S…

Effects of a GH polymorphism on milk production traits in Modicana and Cinisara cows reared in different feeding systems.

Growth 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 2…

Preliminary Results on Recent Calcareous nannofossil Assemblages from the Central Mediterranean

Production, oxidation traits and health of dairy ewes fed diets supplemented with fungus myceliated grains.

Mushrooms contain many bioactive compounds, mainly poly- and oligosaccharides, known to have benefits for human health. Polysaccharides from mushrooms exhibited immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties, as well as antitumor activity. Furthermore, some mushrooms showed to have potent antioxidant properties due to the presence of phenolic acids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, and tocopherols. These beneficial properties of mushrooms bioactive compounds indicate their potential use as performance-enhancing natural feed additives for livestock animals. In this regard, the use of mushrooms and mushroom-derived products has largely been inves…

Tratti di personalità e contesti formativi: Una ricerca sui Valori Professionali in adolescenza

Wheat bran as dietary tool to improve dairy production, oxidative status of lactating cows and food sustainability indexes.

Wheat bran (WB), an inexpensive by-product widely available in southern Italy, is largely used as component of feed for ruminants, contributing to decrease the use of food suitable for human consumption, thus to improve the sustainability of livestock production. However, the potential benefits of WB, due to its content in polyphenolic compounds, mainly consisted of ferulic acid, in improving rumen conditions and the antioxidant balance of animals, and also providing animal products with functional properties, are not yet well known. Accordingly, this experiment was carried out for 100 days with 36 lactating Italian Simmental cows divided into 3 groups receiving one of 3 concentrates includ…

Formaggi tipici siciliani: patrimonio di alimenti funzionali, sani e sicuri

Formaggi 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-culturale