Fabio Napolitano

Fatty acid profile, cholesterol content and tenderness of ostrich meat as influenced by age at slaughter and muscle type.

Ten Blue Neck ostriches were used to study the effect of age at slaughter (10-11 and 14-15 months) and muscle on fatty acid profile, cholesterol content and texture of meat. Fatty acid profile of ostrich meat was significantly affected by age at slaughter (P<0.001) and muscles (P<0.001). Different age at slaughter (10-11 vs. 14-15 months) produced an increase of P/S ratio (P<0.001), total saturated (P<0.05) and monounsaturated (P<0.001) fatty acids. The highest percentage of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were found in M. iliofibularis (P<0.001), whereas M. gastrocnemius showed the highest content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (P<0.001). Analysis of variance of data on cholesterol content (mg/100 g of meat) showed no significant effects of age at slaughter and muscle location. No effect of age on shear values was observed, whereas sensory panellists scored meat from younger birds as more tender (P<0.001). Both instrumental and sensory evaluation indicated that meat from M. iliofibularis was more tender (P<0.001).

Effect of information about animal welfare on consumer willingness to pay for yogurt.

This study aimed to verify whether consumers confirm their willingness to pay extra costs for higher animal welfare standards in a situation where a potential purchase performed by consumers, such as the Vickrey auction, is used. A 104-member consumer panel was asked to rate its willingness to pay (WTP) for plain and low-fat yogurts in 3 information conditions: tasting without information (blind WTP), information about animal welfare without tasting (expected WTP), tasting with information about animal welfare (actual WTP). Information was provided to the consumers under the form of labels indicating the level of animal cleanliness and freedom of movement (5-point scale, from poor to very good). Consumers were influenced by information about low standards of animal welfare (low cleanliness and low freedom of movement) and moved their willingness to pay in the direction of their expectations. However, the discrepancy between expectancy and actual WTP was not totally assimilated, indicating that WTP was also expressed in relation to other aspects (e.g., the sensory properties of the products). Conversely, the information concerning high standards of animal welfare (high cleanliness and high freedom of movement) was able to affect expectancy but had an effect on actual WTP only when the most acceptable yogurt was offered to the consumers. In the case of discordant information on animal welfare, partly indicating high levels of welfare (freedom of movements) and low levels of welfare (cleanliness), expected WTP was always lower than blind WTP. However, when the least acceptable product was presented, they completely assimilated their actual WTP to the expectations. Conversely, with the most acceptable yogurt, no assimilation occurred and sensory properties prevailed in orienting consumer WTP. Within each product, consumers expressed a higher WTP for products with labels indicating high welfare standards as compared with yogurts with labels reporting intermediate and low welfare standard. These results show that information about animal welfare, if given to the consumers, can be a major determinant of consumer WTP for animal-based food products. However, information about high standards of animal welfare should be paired with products presenting a good eating quality.

Fatty acid profile, cholesterol content and tenderness of meat from Podolian young bulls

Fatty acid profile, cholesterol content and sensory properties of meat from Podolian young bulls were evaluated. The percentage of saturated fatty acids was higher for LD and lower for SM and ST muscles (P<0.001). Oleic and stearic fatty acids constituted more than 50% of the total fatty acids in all muscles studied. The meat produced by Podolian young bulls showed a favourable percentage content of polyunsaturated fatty acids and a beneficial ratio P/S. Conversely, the ratio n-6/n-3 exceeded the recommended value in the human diet. Changing the time of ageing from 8 to 15 days produced an increment of MDA (P<0.01). The differences in MDA content observed between meat samples aged 8 and 15 days were still detectable after 4 and 8 months of frozen storage. The extension of the ageing period from 8 to 15 days produced an increase in tenderness (P<0.05) and flavour intensity (P<0.01).

Effect of artificial rearing on lamb welfare and meat quality

Twenty male Comisana lambs were equally divided into two groups. Ten subjects were artificially reared, 10 others were ewe reared and used as control. Unseparated control animals displayed increased cellular immune response to a percutaneous injection of phytohemagglutinin (P<0.001). During the open field test, ewe-reared lambs showed a higher number of flight attempts (P<0.01). Carcass yield were higher for artificially reared animals (P<0.05). Conversely, legs of ewe-reared animals had significantly more fat (P<0.05) and a higher content of saturated fatty acids (P<0.001). Polyunsaturated fatty acid content was higher in artificially reared lamb meat (P<0.01), although the ratio n-6/n-3 was well above the recommended values. The triangle test showed a significant difference in sensory analysis between the two products (P<0.05). Finally, for both rearing systems legs without subcutaneous fat showed a higher percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids and a corresponding lower content of saturated fatty acids (P<0.001).

Effect of age at slaughter on carcass traits, fatty acid composition and lipid oxidation of Apulian lambs

Abstract Twenty Apulian ram lambs were used to study the effect of the age at slaughter (45 and 90 days) on carcass traits, fatty acid composition and lipid oxidation. Carcasses were dissected in commercial cuts and stored frozen (−20°C) for 6 months. Carcass yield was higher for animals slaughtered at 45 days (P

Measurement of meat color using a computer vision system

The limits of the colorimeter and a technique of image analysis in evaluating the color of beef, pork, and chicken were investigated. The Minolta CR-400 colorimeter and a computer vision system (CVS) were employed to measure colorimetric characteristics. To evaluate the chromatic fidelity of the image of the sample displayed on the monitor, a similarity test was carried out using a trained panel. The panelists found the digital images of the samples visualized on the monitor very similar to the actual ones (P<0.001). During the first similarity test the panelists observed at the same time both the actual meat sample and the sample image on the monitor in order to evaluate the similarity between them (test A). Moreover, the panelists were asked to evaluate the similarity between two colors, both generated by the software Adobe Photoshop CS3 one using the L, a and b values read by the colorimeter and the other obtained using the CVS (test B); which of the two colors was more similar to the sample visualized on the monitor was also assessed (test C). The panelists found the digital images very similar to the actual samples (P<0.001). As to the similarity (test B) between the CVS- and colorimeter-based colors the panelists found significant differences between them (P<0.001). Test C showed that the color of the sample on the monitor was more similar to the CVS generated color than to the colorimeter generated color. The differences between the values of the L, a, b, hue angle and chroma obtained with the CVS and the colorimeter were statistically significant (P<0.05-0.001). These results showed that the colorimeter did not generate coordinates corresponding to the true color of meat. Instead, the CVS method seemed to give valid measurements that reproduced a color very similar to the real one.

Lambs prevented from suckling their mothers display behavioral, immune and endocrine disturbances.

The aim of the experiment was to assess the effects of either maternal deprivation or prevented suckling on lambs. Thirty Comisana lambs were assigned to a control dam-suckled group (DS) and two test groups of 10 each. Test lambs were maintained with their mothers 24 to 30 h after parturition and subsequently offered ewe milk from buckets: EM lambs were separated from their mothers, while EM+D animals were reared with their dams but suckling was denied by covering ewe udders with juta bags. Behavioral, immune and cortisol responses of lambs were assessed throughout the experiment. EM+D lambs spent less time (P<.001) on investigative behavior compared to the two other groups. When isolated in a novel environment, EM+D lambs exhibited a shorter duration of movement (P<.01) and a longer latency time compared to DS and EM lambs (P<.001 and P<.05, respectively) as well as a higher number of bleats (P<.01) than EM lambs. EM+D lambs also displayed higher (P<.001) plasma cortisol levels than the other two groups when isolated at 4 days of age. When subjected to discrimination tests, EM+D lambs spent less time near their companions (P<.01) than EM lambs and took a longer time to reach their pen mates (P<.01) than DS and EM lambs. EM+D lambs displayed reduced growth (P<.001) compared to DS animals during the 0-7 and 8-14-day periods. We conclude that frustration arising from maternal feeding deprivation results in altered endocrine and behavioral responses and reduced growth suggesting emotional disturbances of lambs.

Sensory evaluation of young goat meat

Loins from 12 young goats (three extensively reared-entire males, EE; three extensively reared-castrated males, EC; three intensively reared-entire males, IE; four intensively reared-castrated males, IC) were assessed by a trained panel of eight assessors for odour, flavour and texture using 100 mm unstructured scales. Procrustes analysis was used to produce the spatial configuration of the samples. The first principal axis explained 44.9% of the variation and was mainly based on textural attributes. The second principal axis accounted for 21.3% of the variation and was mainly related to odour and flavour. Samples obtained from groups EE and EC were more tender and juicy, whereas, IE animals produced a more cohesive meat. Groups IE and IC produced a more stringy meat, with a higher meaty odour and flavour. The rearing system affected texture more than odour and flavour, whereas sex had little effect on textural attributes compared with odour and flavour.

Influence of artificial rearing on behavioral and immune response of lambs

The influence of artificial rearing at different ages was evaluated in Comisana lambs. Animals were assigned to three test groups (2d, 15d and 28d) on the basis of age (2, 15 or 28 days, respectively) at the time of their separation from the ewe, and three corresponding control non-separated groups (2c, 15c and 28c). On the day of separation from their dam, animals were injected i.m. with 250 μg of keyhole limpet hemocyanin in complete Freunds adjuvant. Antibody titers and surface leukocyte antigens were determined at weekly intervals. Group 2d showed a lower antibody response than the corresponding control group (F = 8.0, P < 0.01), whereas groups 15d and 28d did not differ from the control. No significant difference between test and control groups was found in the proportion of cells bearing different surface antigens. Furthermore, lambs were subjected to a behavioral test (isolation from tactile and visual contact with other animals). Younger animals showed reduced duration of movement (162.8 vs. 272.1 and 221.1 s for 2d, 15d and 28d, respectively; U = 21.0, P < 0.01 and U = 30.5, P < 0.05, respectively; Mann-Whitney U test) and enhanced latency time (15.8 vs. 3.4 and 2.3 s for 2d, 15d and 28d, respectively; U = 28.0, P < 0.01 and U = 14.5, P < 0.001, respectively; Mann-Whitney U test) in comparison with older animals. Cortisol concentration was evaluated immediately before the separation from the mother and 15, 45, 90, 150, and 225 min after. An increased cortisol level was observed in group 2d 15 min after removal from the dam (LSD: P < 0.001), whereas the other two groups did not show any significant increase. In addition, during the first 28 days of age all the animals were weighed at birth and at weekly intervals. When the animals were removed from the mother either at 2 or 15 days of age, the daily weight gain decreased significantly in comparison with the corresponding control groups (107.1 vs. 157.1 g for 2d and 2c, respectively, F = 4.8, P < 0.05; 37.3 vs. 126.8 g for 15d and 15c, respectively, F = 5.8, P < 0.05). In conclusion, early separation from the ewe affects humoral immune response and post-separation performance of lambs as a possible consequence of a reduced ability of young animals to cope with emotional and nutritional stresses.

Organic label as an identifier of environmentally related quality: A consumer choice experiment on beef in Italy

This paper uses a hypothetical choice experiment to investigate Italian consumer preferences and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for organic, conventional and genetically modified (GM)-fed beef, utilizing intrinsic, search cues (price, color and visible fat) and extrinsic, credence cues. Data are gathered from three different locations in northern, central and southern Italy using a sequential Bayesian approach. Results showed that consumers attach higher value to organic meat. WTP for GM-fed beef, which is not yet sold in Italy, is well below current conventional beef prices. Organic beef is attractive to consumers because it is associated with higher animal welfare standards and environment-related issues (food miles and biodiversity preservation). No differences are found in marginal WTP estimates by gender, age, education, being a parent or having a higher level of knowledge about organic production. Ethical/environmental issues (credence cues) appear to be more relevant in explaining variation in WTP for organic beef than ordinary product characteristics (search cues).