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…

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…

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…

Prickly pear pulp in the feeding of livestock ruminants: preliminary investigation

In Sicily, the current increasing cultivation of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. corresponds to a availability of prickly pears pulp (PPP) that residues from fruits processing for juice extraction, comprised of peel, pulp and seeds. This investigation aim to evaluate the nutritional traits of PPP for ruminants feeding, and the effect of potassium metabisulfite (PMB) as a natural stabilizer to limit initial rapid PPP fermentation. The by-product, collected in August, included 28% of peel and pulp (PP) and 72% of seeds on dry matter (DM), with seeds higher in ether extract (EE) and NDF and comparable for DM and crude protein (CP) (DM 35.5, 35.9 and 35.6%; EE 6.5, 3.6 and 8.5% DM; CP 6.5, 6.0 …

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…

Bicarbonate sodium oral-rinse in patients with oral mucositis induced by chemotherapy and radiotherapy: does it give a real chance for management?