Clara Sargentini

Productive performances of Maremmana young bulls reared following organic rules and slaughtered at 18 and 24 months of age

Fourteen Maremmana young bulls fed on pastures supplemented with mixed hay and concentrates, according to an organic method, were slaughtered at 18 and 24 months of age to evaluate in vita and post-mortem performances. At slaughter, carcass yield was determined and carcass evaluation according to EU rules was made. Physico-chemical characteristics of Longissimus thoracis (LT) and Caput longum triceps brachii (TB) muscles were determined. No differences for both carcass yield and quality were found between the two age groups. Animals of 24 months of age presented lighter and more yellow meat as well as higher hue angle and drip loss. TB muscle showed lower protein content and higher shear force, moisture, total lipids and ash than LT. The latter presented a higher percentage of C15:0iso, whereas TB showed higher values of C18:2n6, C20:3n6, C20:4n6, C18:3n3 and C22:5n3. Maremmana animals, irrespective of age, showed a low percentage of saturated fatty acids, good PUFA/SFA ratio and a great amount of unsaturated fatty acids of the n3 and n6 series, as well as a favorable atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes.

Reproductive responses and progesterone levels of postpartum oestrus synchronization in goats with different body reserves

Thirty adult goats were classified at parturition into two body condition score (BCS) groups: BCI (n=16) with a score of 2.7 and BCII (n=14) with a score of 2.0. On the fiftieth day postpartum, oestrus was synchronized by CIDR for 5 days. Upon CIDR removal (Day 0), they received 1 mL of PGF2α IM and mated for 72 hours. Kids were kept with does and weaned at 40 days of age. Blood samples were taken at 0, 1, 4, 8 and 21 days after CIDR removal for progesterone assay. The BCI group showed a greater weight loss compared to the BCII group, and BCS before synchronization was 1.9±0.08 and 1.6±0.07 for the BCI and BCII groups, respectively (P<0.05). The weaning weight of BCI kids was greater when compared to BCII (P<0.001). After CIDR removal, all females were marked and mated. Pregnancy rate was higher in BCI goats (87% vs 36%; P<0.05), as well as prolificacy (1.65 vs 1.25; P<0.05) and twinning rate (0.62 vs 0.25; P<0.05). Progesterone concentration was higher in pregnant does in BCI. A positive relationship was found between progesterone level at CIDR removal and BCS at parturition (0.57; P<0.01), also between progesterone level at 21 days after CIDR removal and BCS at parturition (0.47; P<0.05), or BCS before synchronization (0.51; P<0.05). We conclude that oestrus response to postpartum CIDR synchronization appeared to be slightly dependent on BCS. However, goats with low BCS at oestrus synchronization exhibited a reduction in pregnancy rate.

Preliminary studies on hoof characteristics in Amiata donkey

In this work the biometrical, physical and chemical characteristics of Amiata donkey hoof were studied. The Amiata donkey is a local endangered breed and derives from the homonym mountain in Tuscany. This donkey, which was once used as pack animal in farms and in mines, is now involved in trekking, onotherapy and milk production. The mean hoof biometrics and its standard deviation were calculated. The physical and chemical characteristics were also estimated, through ANOVA, considering the hoof region as fixed effect: wall, white line and sole for hardness, wall and sole for chemical characteristics. The small size and healthy hoof, was basically cylindrical (crown cir./Foot plantar circ. ratio=0.9) and it showed higher hardness in wall (H=126.5± 3.3), followed by sole (H=105.2±3.3), and white line (H=74.0±3.3). The wall has shown the lower moisture content (%=11.7±3.2) and the higher content in Al, Mn, Li, Ni, Pb, Se. The positive correlation between Al, Li, Pb and Hardness has shown the hoof high resistence to toxic elements. Very interesting has seemed the negative correlation between K vs Li and Pb, to indicate the tendency of K to remove potentially harmful elements.

Morphological characteristics of Amiata donkey reared in Tuscany

Abstract In this work were studied morphological characteristics and biometric parameters of the Amiata donkey. The Amiata donkey is a local endangered breed and derives from the homonym mountain in Tuscany. This donkey, which was used, over the past, like pack animal in farms and in mines, is now involved in milk production, onotherapy and trekking. The averages and the standard deviations of the biometric parameters and the frequency of the morphological characters of foals, adult females and stallions were calculated. The measures of the adult females were estimated by ANOVA considering three different classes of age: 3-4, 5-6, over 6 years old. The average sizes were: height at withers of 129.8±4.7 and 125.8±5.6 cm, thorax circumference of 145.6±7.8 and 145.0±7.8 cm, front shank circumference of 18.3±0.8 and 16.9±1.5 cm, for stallions and adult females respectively. All the observed donkeys presented dark grey coat with the shoulder stripe. The zoometric indices of the adult females did not differ between the classes and showed that the somatic adult proportions had already reached in 3-4 years old donkeys. This breed showed the features of the ancestors: the shoulder stripe of the Equus asinus africanus and the legs stripes of the Equus asinus somaliensis.

Morphological characteristics of “Monterufoli horse”

Abstract Monterufoli horse is a local endangered breed of the Tuscany and derives from the omonym area in province of Pisa. This horse derives from local wild and extinct equines and has Maremmano, Tolfetano and Oriental ancestors. The mean and the standard deviation of biometric characters, and the absolut and percentage frequency of morphological characteristics were calculated. The measures of the adult females were estimated by ANOVA considering three different class of age. The average sizes were: height at withers of 135.4±6.3 and 129.2±5.9, thorax circumference of 166.4±8.3 and 163.4±8.9, frontshank circumference of 17.7±1.5 and 17.5±0.9, for males and females, respectively. All the observed horses presented dark coat. Monterufoli horses showed the physical characteristics of local extinct ancestors (Selvena pony), but also the characteristics of other breeds that contributed to improve the local population. This horse, which was once used in agriculture and for light draught, is now involved for saddle use.

Onset of puberty in Maremmana heifers

Abstract The Maremmana breed is characterised by rusticity, resistance to harsh environments and good growth ability and it could be considered as one of the most suited breeds for extensive rearing in Italy. Moreover, Maremmana presents high fertility and good fostering ability but, on the other hand, the age at first calving appears quite high. This could probably be due to reduced feed availability to which animals are frequently subjected. The aim of this paper was to determine the age at puberty in Maremmana heifers, the repeatability of the reproductive cycles along the seasons and to verify the possibility to anticipate the age at first service. Haematic levels of progesterone and 17-β-estradiol were determined weekly in 6 heifers raised in pens and fed with 0.70 Milk FU/kg DM and 121 g of gross protein/kg d.m, starting from 9 up to 25 months of age. Metabolic profile was determined monthly to highlight possible metabolic unbalances that could affect reproductive activity. Plasma was submitted to RIA analysis in order to measure steroidal hormones. Puberty was considered reached when two subsequent measures of progesterone resulted higher than 1 ng/ml of plasma. This happened in 5 out of 6 heifers at an average age of 17 months. The fluctuation of the hormonal levels throughout the year seems to exclude the seasonality of the oestrous cycle. The results showed that the level of the most important metabolites is within the normal range and it does not seem to interfere with the choice to anticipate the first service by one year. Possible periods of anoestrus noticed in some herds could be linked to the reduced availability of pastures in a few months of the year.

Growth of Cinta Senese piglets as affected by location of the suckled teat

The experimental animals were 18 Cinta Senese sows (7 primiparous and 11 multiparous) and relative purebred offspring. Individual weight of piglets was recorded at birth (or shortly afterwards) to the nearest 50 g and subsequently every 3-5 days up to weaning. At each recording, piglets were ranked in decreasing order according to weight within their respective litters. The behavior of a subsample of 8 sows and litters was observed during suckling, by recording the teat–piglet coupling. The sows had 12 functional teats, equally distributed in the two symmetric rows, that were numbered as pairs in the antero-posterior direction. Starting from the third week, piglets of multiparous sows showed a faster growth rate than those of the primiparous ones. Repeatability of the piglets’ weight during the suckling period was high (r = 0.56) and repeatability of rank was even higher, but decreased up to weaning. Anterior teats were the most occupied and showed the highest suckling fidelity (consistency of suckling position). Various statistical analyses about the dependence of piglet weight (or weight rank within litter) on teat order indicated the highest milk productivity of the first teats and the lowest of the 5th & 6th teat pairs.

Hoof quality of Anglo-Arabian and Haflinger horses

Abstract Introduction: Foot quality is essential to the horse’s movement. The barefoot approach favours the animal’s welfare. Environment and selection determine hoof characteristics. Material and Methods: Hoof characteristics of eight Anglo-Arabian (AA) and nine Haflinger (HA) horses were studied. After a preliminary visual analysis of feet, nail samples were collected after trimming for physico-chemical analysis. The parameters were submitted to analysis of variance. A principal component analysis and a Pearson correlation were used to compare mineral contents. Results: The hooves of both breeds were healthy and solid. The hooves of HA horses were longer than those of AA horses (14.90 ±0.30 cm vs 13.10 ±0.60 cm), while the AA hoof was harder than the HA hoof both in the wall (74.55 ±2.95 H vs 60.18 ±2.67 H) and sole (67.00 ±5.87 H vs 43.0 ±4.76 H). In comparison with the sole, the AA hoof wall also had a lower moisture percentage (12.56 ±0.67% vs 20.64 ±0.76%), while crude protein and ash contents were similar in both regions. The AA hoof showed a higher Se content, while the HA hoof had a higher level of macroelements. The negative correlations of K with Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the AA hoof may indicate osmoregulation activity. Conclusion: The hoof morphology of AA and HA horses met the literature parameters for mesomorphic horses. Both breeds had healthy and well-conformed hooves, useful for sport and recreation activities.

Quality characteristics of the Musculus longissimus dorsi from Pecora dell’Amiata reared in Tuscany

Pecora dell’Amiata sheep is registered in the Regional population register of the autochthonous endangered sheep and goat breeds, and it is a double purpose breed (meat and milk). It derives from the mount Amiata area in Tuscany. In Tuscany the sheep meat consumption occurs in particular in Easter and in Christmas time. Because of the new markets, ewe meat has shown in the last years a consumption increase. In Italy, the more consumed ovine meat is the suckling lamb meat. In the last years, this kind of meat production and consumption decreased in Italy, but the ewe meat consumption has been slowly increased, because of the spread of typical regional food, and the new market needs. The trial was performed with ewes and lambs deriving from the local breed Pecora dell’Amiata. In this work, the Musculus longissimus dorsi ( M. longissimus thoracis + lomborum ) physical-chemical and nutritional characteristics of 23 ewes and 20 lambs were compared. The ewes of the trial were over 7 years old while the lambs were on average 80 days old. Ewe meat has shown lower drip loss (4.14 vs 2.71%) and lightness (L* 38.6 vs 45.3) values, and higher PH (6.15±0.07), shear force (8.4 vs 2.31 kg), fat content (5.9 vs 2.0%). The lamb meat lipids had higher polyunsaturated fatty acid content (PUFA: 14.58 vs 9.25%) and higher PUFA/Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA) ratio (0.31 vs 0.20). The PCA analysis identified two distinct groups regarding ewe and lamb meat respectively for the fatty acids composition and the health indices. Ewe meat showed dietetic and nutritional characteristics similar to that of lamb meat. These characteristics may allow in the future, to the ewe meat valorisation, now not appreciated by Tuscan and Italian market.

Haematic parameters of Maremmana breed

Abstract The haematic pattern of Maremmana cattle of Grosseto area was studied, to investigate the causes of the often found low reproductive efficiency. The provided data are related to some haematic parameters measured in different seasons in Maremmana cattle fed three different diets: Standard diet (pasture + hay in critical periods): diet A; standard diet integrated with mineral salts: diet B; standard diet + mineral salts + concentrated mixed feed): diet C. The season influenced all parameters, while no difference was found among diets. Among the mineral elements, phosphorous showed values always above norm.