Search results for "Ewes"

Receiver-operating characteristic curves for somatic cell scores and California mastitis test in Valle del Belice dairy sheep.

2013

Using receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve methodology this study was designed to assess the diagnostic effectiveness of somatic cell count (SCC) and the California mastitis test (CMT) in Valle del Belice sheep, and to propose and evaluate threshold values for those tests that would optimally discriminate between healthy and infected udders. Milk samples (n = 1357) were collected from 684 sheep in four flocks. The prevalence of infection, as determined by positive bacterial culture was 0.36, 87.7% of which were minor and 12.3% major pathogens. Of the culture negative samples, 83.7% had an SCC < 500,000/mL and 97.4% had <1,000,000 cells/mL. When the associations between SC score (SC…

Contagious agalactiae: a prelimanr study on the impact on milk production of sicilian sheep

2014

Effects of grazing Trifolium subterraneum and Lolium multiflorum in various proportions on forage intake and milk production of dairy ewes

2011

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of grazing Trifolium subterraneum (T) and Lolium multiflorum (L), as pure or associated crops, on forage intake and milk yield and composition in Comisana ewes. The four following fenced subplots, each of 2500 m2, were used for grazing: T, 100% of surface; L, 100% of surface; TL, T and L on 66.6 and 33.3 % of surface; LT, T and L on 33.3 and 66.6% of surface, respectively. Each subplot was divided into two parcels in order to have two replicates. Forty ewes were divided into eight homogeneous groups, with regard to milk yield, days in milk and live weight. In spring for 70 days, each group grazed daily for 8 h one of the fenced parcels. M…

Effect of the inclusion of lemon citrus pulp in the diet of Valle del Belice lactating ewes. Milk production and composition.

2015

Lemon citrus pulp residues from the citrus juice industry; it belongs to the citrus by-product that are more extensively used for livestock feeding. Furthermore, citrus pulp is a source of flavonoids such as hesperidin and naringin, which have antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect of fresh lemon citrus pulp (LP) as natural antioxidant, on feeding behavior, milk yield and milk quality of Valle del Belice lactating ewes in the hot summer season in Sicily. A total of 15 second lambing ewes were individually allocated in 3¥3 m box and fed with 3 diets in a 3 ¥ 3 Latin square design, with 3 phases composed of 21 days. The diets were: LP0, mixed hay ad libitum plus 60…

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

2021

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 feeding diets supplemented with fungus myceliated grains on some production, health and oxidation traits of dairy ewes.

2017

The beneficial properties of mushrooms bioactive compounds indicate their potential use as performance enhancing natural additive for livestock animals. This paper reports the preliminary results of a research on the effects of diets supplemented with fungus myceliated grains (FMG) to lactating ewes in terms of intestinal parasites control, milk production and cheese oxidative stability. During 8 weeks, 21 ewes were divided into 3 groups fed with hay ad libitum and 1.3 kg/day per head of one of 3 concentrates with 0, 10 or 20% of FMG. In front of analogous DM and nutrients intake, the ewes fed FMG at higher levels showed a reduction of intestinal parasite infection, a tendency to improve mi…

L’impiego alimentare di orzo germinato nella produzione di latte ovino biologico

2011

Food use of barley sprouts in organic sheep milk production. Hydroponic forage, used when fresh forage is scarce, represents a good alternative feed for milking ruminants, also in organic farming systems, where it can reduce the forage/concentrate ratio. This study evaluated the effect of barley sprouts (BS) in the diet on nutrients utilization and milk production from organic ewes. Eighteen ewes were divided into 3 groups and fed with 3 diets. Animals was fed with hay ad libitum and supplemented by: 0.6 kg/d of concentrate and 4 kg/d of BS (B100); 0.9 kg/d of concentrate and 2 kg/d of BS (B50); 1.2 kg/d of concentrate (C). Supplied and residual feeds and milk yield were recorded and sample…

Genetic parameters for somatic cell score according to udder infection status in Valle del Belice dairy sheep and impact of imperfect diagnosis of in…

2010

Abstract Background Somatic cell score (SCS) has been promoted as a selection criterion to improve mastitis resistance. However, SCS from healthy and infected animals may be considered as separate traits. Moreover, imperfect sensitivity and specificity could influence animals' classification and impact on estimated variance components. This study was aimed at: (1) estimating the heritability of bacteria negative SCS, bacteria positive SCS, and infection status, (2) estimating phenotypic and genetic correlations between bacteria negative and bacteria positive SCS, and the genetic correlation between bacteria negative SCS and infection status, and (3) evaluating the impact of imperfect diagno…

Transformation of raw ewes' milk applying “Grana” type pressed cheese technology: development of extra-hard “Gran Ovino” cheese

2019

Abstract This work was carried out to pursue a double objective: to improve the hygienic safety of cheeses produced from raw ewes' milk; and to produce a new typology of raw ewes' milk through the application of “Grana” technology for which the name “Gran Ovino” was chosen. With this in mind, raw milk from an individual farm was transformed under controlled conditions at a dairy pilot plant. The production technology included the partial skimming of the evening and morning milk mixture by cream surfacing and the addition of a natural whey starter cultures (NWSC) prepared with four selected Streptococcus thermophilus strains (PON6, PON244, PON261 e PON413). Ten microbial groups were investig…

Identification, typing, and investigation of the dairy characteristics of lactic acid bacteria isolated from 'Vastedda della valle del Belìce' cheese

2013

Traditional cheeses made without starter cultures can be characterised by the attribute of instability. The addition of autochthonous starter cultures can ensure stability without compromising the characteristics of the final product. This study aimed to characterise the autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) population in “Vastedda della valle del Belice” cheeses, which have a protected designation of origin (PDO) status, in order to develop an ad hoc starter culture to be used in its future production. Winter and spring productions were analysed to ensure isolation of specific LAB that had adapted to perform fermentation at low temperatures. Plate counts revealed total microbial numbers…