The objective of this work was to evaluate, under indoors and outdoors rearing, the effect of crossing Cinta Senese (CS) with Italian Large White (ILW) and Italian Duroc (ID) breeds. Starting from 72 d of age, 9 CS, 8 ILWxCS and 7 IDxCS were reared outdoors (OUT) in 3 paddocks of 2 ha and 8 CS, 10 ILWxCS and 8 IDxCS pigs were reared indoors (IN) in three pens of 20 m 2 . All pigs, fed the same commercial diets, were weighed and measured periodically and were slaughtered at a target live weight of 150 kg. Indoor-pigs grew faster than the outdoor ones and crossbred pigs showed higher average daily gain than CS breed (476, 437 and 387 g/d for IDxCS, ILWxCS and CS, respectively). Rearing system had moderate or null effect on carcass and sample cut composition whereas the OUT pigs, when compared to IN ones, showed higher moisture and lower IMF in Longissimus L. and Psoas M. muscles and higher cooking loss of meat (22.1 vs 18.4 %) that resulted also less red (a* 10.94 vs 12.04). CS had more fat in carcass and more bone in sample cut than the crossbreeds. ILWxCS showed lower IMF content and higher moisture in muscles and brighter and less red meat than the other breeds, while IDxCS produced the most tender meat after cooking. The use of Italian Duroc could be profitable on Cinta Senese to improve the farming performance without worsening the fresh meat quality.

Subcutaneous fat thickness and fatty acid composition (FAC) play an important role on seasoning loss and organoleptic characteristics of seasoned hams. Dry-cured ham industry prefers meats with low contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) because these negatively affect fat firmness and ham quality, whereas consumers require higher contents in those fatty acids (FA) for their positive effect on human health. A population of 950 Italian Large White pigs from the Italian National Sib Test Selection Programme was investigated with the aim to estimate heritabilities, genetic and phenotypic correlations of backfat FAC, Semimembranosus muscle intramuscular fat (IMF) content and other carcass traits. The pigs were reared in controlled environmental condition at the same central testing station and were slaughtered at reaching 150 kg live weight. Backfat samples were collected to analyze FAC by gas chromatography. Carcass traits showed heritability levels from 0.087 for estimated carcass lean percentage to 0.361 for hot carcass weight. Heritability values of FA classes were low-to-moderate, all in the range 0.245 for n-3 PUFA to 0.264 for monounsaturated FA (MUFA). Polyunsaturated fatty acids showed a significant genetic correlation with loin thickness (0.128), backfat thickness (-0.124 for backfat measured by Fat-O-Meat'er and -0.175 for backfat measured by calibre) and IMF (-0.102). Obviously, C18:2(n-6) shows similar genetic correlations with the same traits (0.211 with loin thickness, -0.206 with backfat measured by Fat-O-Meat'er, -0.291 with backfat measured by calibre and -0.171 with IMF). Monounsaturated FA, except with the backfat measured by calibre (0.068; P<0.01), do not show genetic correlations with carcass characteristics, whereas a negative genetic correlation was found between MUFA and saturated FA (SFA; -0.339; P<0.001). These results suggest that MUFA/SFA ratio could be increased without interfering with carcass traits. The level of genetic correlations between FA and carcass traits should be taken into account in dealing with the development of selection schemes addressed to modify carcass composition and/or backfat FAC.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using dried stoned olive pomace (DSOP) as a feed supplement for dairy cattle on productive performances and milk quality traits. Control (C) and experimental (E) diets were formulated and offered to lactating Italian Holstein cows placed into two groups (five cows each) that were homogenous for liveweight (630.8 vs 667.2 kg) and for the main physiological and productive traits. The E group received 1.181 kg on dry matter (DM) basis of DSOP as a part of the concentrates pool. The C group was fed an isoenergetic (0.90 milk forage units (FU) /kg DM) and isoprotein (161.4 g/kg DM crude protein (CP)) ration but without the inclusion of DSOP. DM intake was 21 kg/day and the experiment lasted 40 days. There were no significant effects of diet on cattle performance (liveweight and body condition score), milk yield and quality (fat, protein, lactose, urea) or coagulation traits (pH, r, K 20 , A 30 ). The results showed that the inclusion of DSOP (5.61% of the total diet on DM basis) is not related to detrimental effects and could represent a valid supplement for dairy cattle.Additional keyword: by-products, dairy cattle, olive oil.

ObjectiveFollowing a previous report, an experiment was conducted to determine the effect of increasing level of dried stoned olives pomaces (DSOP) in the diet of lactating buffaloes on milk and mozzarella cheese yield and characteristics.MethodsSixteen pluriparous buffaloes distributed into two groups were fed an isoenergetic (0.9 milk forage unit/kg) and isoprotein (149 g/kg dry matter [DM] of crude protein) diet, with or without DSOP. Each animal received 17 kg DM/d. Samples of forages and concentrates were weekly collected and used for duplicate chemical analyses. Individual milk samples from each control were analyzed for chemical and coagulating parameters and daily production of mozzarella cheese was estimated. At the end of the trial, bulk milk of each group was processed to produce mozzarella cheese and chemical (fat, protein, ash, pH) composition, fatty acids composition, carotenoids and tocopherols content were determined. A sensory test was also performed. The oxidative stability was measured on mozzarella cheese and on governing liquid.ResultsNo significant differences were observed, neither for milk yield and body condition score, nor for milk characteristics. The fat was higher (p<0.05) in mozzarella of DSOP fed group but, saturated fatty acids were lower and unsaturated higher (p<0.01). Furthermore, lower atherogenic (p<0.01), and thrombogenic (p<0.05) indices were found in mozzarella cheese of DSOP fed group. In addition, the administration of DSOP did not affect the mozzarella cheese oxidative stability and no negative effect was found in the sensory properties.ConclusionNo contraindications appeared for the inclusion of DSOP in the diet of lactating buffaloes. Besides, important effects on mozzarella cheese quality were obtained, such as a modification of fat content and attributes with an increment in the mono-unsaturated. Additionally, a lower saturated/unsaturated ratio and atherogenic and thrombogenic indices suggest an improvement of dietetic and nutritional characteristics of mozzarella cheese.

In the present study, the conformation of the tibia of seven genetic lines of broilers was analyzed by Geometric Morphometrics and correlated to carcass weight and walking ability. The used chicken genetic lines were classified as fast, medium, or slow growing and ranked for their walking ability. Six chicken types were reared in an organic farm and slaughtered at 81 days of age while one slow-growing and highly walking line (Naked Neck) was reared in a commercial farm and used as external reference for moving activity and growth speed. A mixed landmarks and semi-landmarks model was applied to the study of tibia shape. Results of this study showed that: (i) body weight gain was positively correlated to the curvature of the antero-posterior axis of the tibia; (ii) the shape of the tibia and the active walking behavior were significantly correlated; (iii) walking and not-walking genetic lines could be discriminated in relation to the overall shape of the tibia; (iv) a prevalence of static behavior was correlated to a more pronounced curvature of the antero-posterior axis of the tibia. Results of this study revealed that the walking genetic types have a more functional and natural tibia conformation. This easy morphologic method for evaluating tibia shape could help to characterize the adaptability of genotypes to organic and outdoor rearing.

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Yield and grain characteristics of maize plants grown in open-field conditions were evaluated after inoculation with Micosat F ® on two different soils under dry and watered conditions. The mycorrhizal frequency and intensity were higher in inoculated maize (87.8 vs 80.3% and 26.8 vs 17.5%, respectively). The abundance of arbuscules in the root system was also higher in inoculated plants (9.7 vs 5.8%). The treatment did not affect grain yield. Positive effect of Typic Eutrudept soil on grain yield was observed. The irrigation effect on grain yield was evident only under draught conditions. Chemical characteristics of grain did not change substantially according to the experimental treatments; nevertheless, the NIRs indicated some physical differences among mycorrhized and not mycorrhized samples.

The aim of the research reported in this paper was to evaluate plasma concentrations of energy, oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers of Simmental (sire) × Holstein (dam) crossbred cows, in comparison with the two parental breeds during the peripartal and early lactation periods and to estimate the effects of heterosis for these traits. Thirty-three animals, managed under the same conditions, 8 Simmental (SI), 9 Holstein (HO) and 16 crossbred (CR) cows were enrolled in this study. Glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), total protein, albumin, creatinine and urea were determined in blood sampled at six different time points (30 ± 3 and 15 ± 3 d before the expected calving date, at calving and 15, 30 and 60 d after calving). Furthermore, derived reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA) were determined to evaluate inflammatory and oxidative status. Results showed that the CR group had significantly lower average values of glucose and NEFA when compared to HO group; signifcantly lower values of urea than SI group and significantly higher values of creatinine than HO. Furthermore, CR cows showed the lowest average value of d-ROMs with respect to SI and HO parental breeds. Finally, the average value of haptoglobin was significantly lower in CR and HO groups, when compared to SI group. As for the heterosis we found the highest (positive) percentage for CK (98%) and BAP (47%) and the lowest (negative) percentage for OSi (−75%) and d-ROMs (−39%). A negative percentage was also found for the glucose (−11%) and NEFA (−20%) toward the Simmental parental breed. Our results suggest a different response among the three genetic groups during the peripartal and early lactation periods. In particular, CR and SI cows seem more adaptable regarding energy metabolism and oxidative status. Heterosis led to a positive effect on those parameters in Simmental (sire) × Holstein (dam) crossbred cows F1 population (50% Simmental and 50% Holstein).