Francesco Toteda

A “Traffic” Light approach for the assessment of the Broadtail shortfin squid Illex coindetii Verany, 1839 in the Southern Adriatic Sea (Central Mediterranean)

A multi-indicator system and the Traffic Light methodology (TL) to provide the first description of the Illex coindetii (Verany 1839) stock in the GFCM geographical sub-area (GSA) 18 (southern Adriatic Sea; Central Mediterranean) were applied using independent fishery data (“Mediterranean Bottom Trawl Survey”, “Medits”, programme, years 1996–2004). The trajectories of nine population indicators of Frequency of Occurrence (F), Biomass (BI), Density (DI), Recruit Strength (RS), Spawner Strength (SS), Mean Body Weight (MBW), Mantle Length (ML), Mantle Length Excluding Recruits fraction (MLER), Mean mantle Length-Females Length at maturity ratio (MLLm), were analysed using statistical estimators as arithmetic and geometric mean, median, and 75th percentile. The TL methodology was applied to analyse the resulting multiple-indicator panel. Results describe a significant trend of the I. coindetii stock (in number) in the GSA 18 related to a shift within its structure due to a greater proportion of small specimens in the population. Factors that may be contributing to the observed changes are sea temperature, the reduction of possible predators, the recovery of some prey species mostly due to the fishing pressure occurring in the area, and the fast growth and short life span of I. coindetii. In a dynamic system like the Adriatic Sea, the capability to respond quickly to the “environmental” or “ecosystem” changes seem to give I. coindetii an advantage in competition with the long lived finfish species. Accordingly, there is potential to use squid population dynamics as recorders to track environmental and ecological changes, as well as overexploitation. The adopted methodology drew attention to changes occurring within the stock of I. coindetii, and could provide an opportunity for managers to consider action at an early stage. The multi-indicator system and the TL methodology are illustrated as means to follow dynamic changes within squid stock, and to provide useful information for the assessment of the resource.

Effect of type of suckling and polyunsaturated fatty acid use on lamb production. 1. Productive performances and quanti-qualitative characteristics of the carcass

Abstract The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of artificial rearing and of the addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) to an acidified milk replacer on the productive performances and on the quanti-qualitative characteristics of the carcass. Fifty one twin-born Gentile di Puglia lambs were subdivided into three homogenous groups (9 females and 8 males) assigned the following feeding treatments: maternal milk (MM); acidified milk replacer (MR); acidified milk replacer + 10 ml/l of a mixture of linseed and fish oil rich in PUFA (MR+PUFA). Milk consumptions and live weights were recorded weekly. Seven males from each group were slaughtered at 45 days of age and the net warm dressing percentage, the composition of the carcass and the colorimetric characteristics of the Longissimus lumborum muscle were estimated. Artificial rearing improved the daily weight gain (0.182-0.172 vs 0.128 Kg; P<0.01) of lambs, provided fatter carcasses and meat with a better red index (6.16-6.43 vs 8.03; P<0.01). The addition of omega-3 fatty acids to the diet did not influence the weight gain, the feed conversion index, the net warm dressing percentage and the incidence of the different meat cuts of the half carcass. However, it significantly increased the half carcass length (37.86 vs 35.0 cm; P<0.05), the thoracic depth (19.71 vs 16.50 cm; P<0.01) while, it compared to the MR group reduced the proportion of lean (63.21 vs 53.98 %; P<0.01) in favour of bone (20.94 vs 29.40 %; P<0.01) in the lumbar region.

Raw and extruded field beans (Vicia faba var. minor) as alternative protein sources in heavy lamb diets

Abstract The possible risk connected to GMO use in animal breeding leads to reconsider animal production processes with special reference to the use of alternative protein sources able to replace soy bean, whose production accounts for about 60% GMO. The aim of the trial was to evaluate the possibility to replace soy bean with field bean for the heavy lamb diet and to study the effect of the processing treatment (extrusion) on the productive performances, the energy and protein metabolism parameters and on the quanti-qualitative characteristics of the carcass and the meat. Twenty-four male Gentile di Puglia lambs were divided, when 42 days old, into three homogeneous groups according to live weight (12,0 ± 0,5 kg) and assigned to the following feeding treatments: a) soy bean (control); b) raw field bean; c) extruded field bean. Food consumptions and live weights were recorded weekly in order to calculate the daily weight gain and the feed conversion index; blood samples were collected every 21 days and plasma concentration of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol (energy metabolism), and BUN, total proteins, protein electrophoresis (protein metabolism) were measured. At 90 days of age, after 12 hours of fasting, lambs were slaughtered and the dressing percentage was calculated. After refrigeration at 4 °C for 24 hours, the carcasses were sectioned into cuts, and the pelvic limb and lumbar region were dissected into tissue components (lean, fat and bone) (ASPA, 1991). The pH values were measured at slaughtering and 24 h later on the Longissimus dorsi (Ld) and Semimembranosus (Sm) muscles. Meat colour features (L, a, b) were assessed by using a spectrophotometer (Hunter Lab, D65/10° illuminant). Data were analyzed by ANOVA using the GLM procedure of SAS and means were compared using the Student’s t test.The use of raw field bean showed better daily weight gain (250 g) when compared to c) group (220 g) and, especially, a) group (200 g, P<0.05). The blood indexes characterizing the energetic and protein metabolism were affected by lambs’ age but not by their feeding treatment. The pH of both the muscles, Ld and Sm, were not influenced by the feeding treatment at the slaughtering time, while 24 hours later the pH value of the Ld was significantly higher in the control group (6,10 ± 0,18) when compared to c) group (5.71 ± 0.02; P<0.01) and b) group (5.78±0,05; P<0.05). No statistical differences with regards to the incidence of the different cuts of the half carcass were detected among treatments. As for the tissue components of the pelvic limb cut, the percentage of lean in the control group (62.44±1.39) was lightly lower compared to the field bean groups, either extruded (63,28±2,15) or raw (64.44±0.67 %). The percentage of fat was lower for the extruded field bean treatment (9.03±0.78) with respect to that recorded with the use of soy bean (11.23 ± 0.60; P<0.05) or of raw field bean (12.83±0.78; P<0.01). With concern to the colorimetric characteristics of the Ld muscle, the index of redness was greater in the group fed with raw field bean when compared to control (10.39±0,42 vs 9.33±0.29; P<0.05). On the other hand, the brightness (37.90±1.44) and the yellowness (7.81±0.47) of the Sm muscle were significantly lower (P<0.05) in b) group when compared to a) and c) groups. It is concluded that field bean may represent a valid alternative to soy bean as a protein feed for growing lambs in so-called “organic” animal production systems where transgenic soy is banned.

Cashmere production from Scottish Cashmere kids and crossbreed Scottish Cashmere x Jonica kids

Abstract This study is part of a much wider research programme to evaluate the possibility of producing valuable textile fibres, such as cashmere, from goat breeds reared in Italy. In order to achieve this, we have used crossbreeding. The first stage of the programme consisted of evaluating cashmere production in F1 kids obtained by crossing white-haired Jonica does, which have no secondary fibres, with Scottish Cashmere bucks. The trial lasted one year starting in March 2007, and took place in the Department of Animal Production of the University of Bari (Italy). We used 14 male kids: 7 Scottish Cashmere (SC group), and 7 F1 (SC x J group) derived from crossing Scottish Cashmere bucks with does of the Jonica breed, commonly reared in southern Italy. All the parameters considered (live weight, number and active percentage of primary and secondary follicles, S/P ratio, patch weight, growth and length of guard hair and down, yield, down production and diameter, blood protein and T3 and T4) were significantly influenced (P<0.01) by age. Genotype also had a significant effect (P<0.01) on all parameters except for the active percentage of primary follicles and the blood protein level. The factors which influence down production showed the heterosis effect to a varying extent in F1, but they still produced significantly less than the SC group kids (38.5±4.04 vs 68.5±9.16 g; P<0.01). These results are largely due to both their low number of secondary follicles (30.0±1.46 vs 39.3±1.02; P<0.01), which also have a lower percentage of activity (64.7±2.47 vs 90.0±1.53; P<0.01), and also to the down length which was 28% shorter than in SC group. This genetic combination is clearly unsatisfactory so others must be sought, probably by using more rustic local breeds, as well as more productive breeds for crossbreeding.