M. Ragni

Use of sweet lupin (Lupinus albus L. var. Multitalia) in feeding for Podolian young bulls and influence on productive performances and meat quality traits.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sweet lupin (Lupinusalbus L. var. Multitalia) as a substitute for soybean (Glicinemax [L] Merr.) in feed on the productive performance and meat quality of Podolian young bulls. The steers were divided into 2 homogeneous groups and were fed durum wheat (Triticumdurum L.), straw and a complete pellet feed containing 20% sweet lupin seeds or 16.5% soybean. Productive performances were similar for both groups. The values of pH, measured on Longissimuslumborum and Semitendinosus muscles 24h after slaughter, were similar. No differences were shown between groups regarding the colour characteristics of both muscles or the tenderness of the cooked meat. No statistical differences were found between diets regarding the fatty acid profile of meats, except for a significantly higher incidence of linoleic acid in the meat obtained from animals on soybean feed. In conclusion, comparable results were obtained when soybean was replaced with sweet lupin seeds in complete pellet feed for Podolian steers.

Pig, F1 (wild boar x pig) and wild boar meat quality

Abstract Sixteen carcasses of wild boars, pigs, hybrids F1 (wild boar x pig) and reared wild boar have been examined to study the meat quality and the fatty acid composition. Four carcasses came from hunted wild boars and twelve from animals reared in outdoor pens till nine months of age. The meat produced by the hunted wild animals, although not marketable, offers the best quality and nutritional characteristics. The use of hybrids reared in outdoor pens can approximate or equalize the hunted wild boars meat traits. Reared wild boar meat has, in the complex, better compositional characters than hybrids and domestic groups, but acidic quality of fat is not particularly useful for human feeding.

Fatty acid chain elongation synthesis in eel (Anguilla anguilla) liver mitochondria

The properties of fatty acid chain elongation synthesis have been investigated in liver mitochondria of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). The incorporation of [1-(14)C]acetyl-CoA into fatty acids shows a specific activity of 0.43+/-0.05 nmol/min x mg protein (n=6), which is more than twice higher than that previously reported in rat liver mitochondria. Label incorporation into fatty acids was, in mitochondria disrupted by freezing and thawing, much higher than in intact organelles thus suggesting a probable localization of this pathway inside mitochondria. Only a negligible acetyl-CoA incorporation into fatty acids occurs in the absence of ATP, Mg2+ or reduced pyridine nucleotides; NADH alone seems to be as effective as NADH + NADPH as a hydrogen donor for the reducing steps. CoASH, without effect up to 10 microM, showed a strong inhibition at higher concentrations. From the ratio of total radioactivity and radioactivity in carboxyl carbon it can be inferred that in eel-liver mitochondria only chain elongation of preexisting fatty acids occurs. A significant fatty acid chain elongation activity is also present when, instead of acetyl-CoA, [2-(14)C]malonyl-CoA is used as a carbon unit donor. Moreover, the synthesized fatty acids were actively incorporated into phopholipids, mainly phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphyngomyelin.

Effect of dietary rosemary oil on growth performance and flesh quality of farmed seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Abstract In order to assess the effect of a diet integrated with rosemary oil on growth performance and flesh quality of farmed Dicentrarchus labrax, a feeding trial was carried out. Seabass were fed with two different diets for 200 days, after that they were caught and stored in ice in a refrigerator cell (0-2°C) for 17 days. Then they were examinated on 1, 3, 10 and 17 day for sensory evaluation (fresh whole fish and cooked fillet) according to QIM and Torry Scheme. Specific growth rate (SGR) and feed conversion rate (FCR) were calculated, fillets were subjected to proximate analysis. No statistical differences were found in the final average body weight for both diets as well as SGR and FCR means. The sensory score (QIM) increased linearly with storage time. No significant difference was noticed between two diets. As for cooked fillet, Torry Scheme score decreased with storage time. At day 10 significant differences were displayed between the diets (7.44 vs. 8.67; P<0.05). Overall sensory acceptability for consuming farmed seabass stored in ice was set in corrispondence of day 13 for control diet and day 14 for experimental diet. No difference was showed in the chemical composition.

Effectt of feeding extruded linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) on meat production and quality in Jonica kids

15.30-16.00 Elisabetta Canali, Sara Barbieri, Michela Minero, Valentina Ferrante, Silvana Mattiello, Adroaldo Zanella AWIN project: innovation in animal welfare assessment .......................................................................................................................................C-001 16.00-16.15 Susanna Lolli, Inma Estevez, Lorenzo Ferrari, Tatiane Terumi Negrão Watanabe, Sezen Ozkan, Carlo Tremolada, Valentina Ferrante Protocol development for welfare assessment in commercial turkey farms .....................................................................................................C-002 16.15-16.30 Monica Battini, Sara Barbieri, Guido Bruni, Giorgio Zanatta, Silvana Mattiello Testing the feasibility of a prototype welfare assessment protocol in intensive dairy goat farms ..............................................................C-003 16.30-16.45 Katia Parati, Rossana Capoferri, Livia Moscati, Marco Sensi, Guerino Lombardi, Francesca Battioni, Gianpietro Sandri, Carlo Briani, Andrea Galli The effect of the relaying mode on welfare of the pregnant sow .....................................................................................................................................C-004 16.45-17.00 Marta Brscic, Giulia Vida, Annalisa Scollo, Giulio Cozzi, Flaviana Gottardo Relationship between pig welfare in the pre-slaughter phase and superficial bruises of their carcasses. .................................................C-005 17.00-17.15 Maria Lúcia Pereira Lima, João Alberto Negrão, Claudia Cristina Paro de Paz Corral modification for humane livestock handling can improve cattle behavior and reduce serum cortisol..........................................C-006 17.15-17.30 Isabella Lora, Marta Brscic, Luisa Magrin, Clelia Rumor, Flaviana Gottardo Effects of innovative horizontal fans on beef cattle health, growth and welfare .............................................................................................C-007 17.30-17.45 Miriam Iacurto, Roberto Steri, Germana Capitani, Federico Vincenti Animal welfare in beef cattle: performances and meat quality ............................................................................................................................C-008

Improvement of sheep welfare and milk production fed on diet containing hydroponically germinating seeds.

Abstract Plasma cortisol and milk production responses of 45 lactating Comisana sheeps (4th5th parity), divided into three homogeneous groups of 15 subject each, were used to evaluate the effects of two different levels of partial substitution of a complete feed with hydroponically germinating seeds. Germinated oat was employed after 7 days of hydroponic growth. The three groups received the following diets: Control group (T) received only complete feed. The other 2 groups were fed on diet containing different levels of hydroponically germinating oat (1,5 kg – group A; 3 kg – group B). All the subjects have shown to accept the diets because the per capita ration was always completely consumed. In the second month, the A and B groups showed lower average values of cortisol (P<0.01) and a statistically significant increase in milk production as compared to T (P<0.05 and P<0.001). The obtained data induced to conclude that integration with hydroponically germinating oat in partial substitution of the complete feed does not modify biochemical and hematological parameters and seems to produce an improvement in animal welfare and production of milk.

Meat quality of Kuruma prawn (Marsupenaeus japonicus): preliminary evaluation

Riassunto Qualità delle carni di Marsupenaeus japonicus: valutazione preliminare. Lo studio ha inteso valutare le caratteristiche qualitative delle carni di gamberi tigre, in considerazione della somministrazione di una dieta in parte fornita dall’uomo (Ca), rispetto a quelle che sono le condizioni di vita pressoché selvatiche di un allevamento estensivo (Le). Sui maschi e sulle femmine sono stati rilevati i parametri colorimetrici e la durezza delle carni a 0, 1 e 40 giorni. Inoltre al tempo 0 è stata determinata la composizione chimica delle carni. La sperimentazione ha messo in evidenza l’influenza del sistema di allevamento, del sesso e dei differenti tempi di conservazione sui parametri colorimetrici e sulla tenerezza. Il contenuto proteico era uguale nei due allevamenti, al contrario delle altre componenti chimiche.

Effects of Using Artemisia annua Leaves, Probiotic Blend, and Organic Acids on Performance, Egg Quality, Blood Biochemistry, and Antioxidant Status of Laying Hens

This study was performed to investigate and compare the effects of using Artemisia annua leaves, probiotic, and organic acid on the performance, egg quality, blood biochemistry, and antioxidant status of laying hens. In total, 288 Hy-Line W-36 commercial layers (32 weeks old) were divided into six groups with six replicates per group (eight birds per replicate) and were fed one of six experimental diets. The hens were fed either a corn-soybean meal basal diet (control) or the basal diet supplemented with 2.5% A. annua leaves (AA1), 5% A. annua leaves (AA2), 7.5% A. annua leaves (AA3), 0.1% probiotic (Pro), and 0.005% organic acid (Org), respectively. The experiment lasted 10 weeks. Results showed that there were differences in the feed conversion ratio (FCR) among experimental groups (P<0.05). The highest yolk color index and shell thickness were observed in hens fed AA3 and AA2 diets (P<0.05). Egg yolk cholesterol was decreased (P<0.01) by the diet containing AA3 and Pro compared to the other groups. The atherogenic index was lower (P<0.01) in the plasma of hens fed AA3 than those in other groups. The glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in layers fed AA3 were lower and higher (P<0.05), respectively, than in layers fed the other diets. Moreover, the concentration of plasma cholesterol was decreased (P<0.05) in layers fed AA3 and Pro. In conclusion, feeding laying hens with A. annua leaves positively influenced the plasma antioxidant status, and the dietary inclusion of A. annua leaves plus a probiotic significantly decreased the egg yolk cholesterol, with no adverse effect on the egg productive traits.

Performances, carcass and some meat quality traits in lambs fed with extruded linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and oregano (Origanum vulgare L.)

15.30-16.00 Elisabetta Canali, Sara Barbieri, Michela Minero, Valentina Ferrante, Silvana Mattiello, Adroaldo Zanella AWIN project: innovation in animal welfare assessment .......................................................................................................................................C-001 16.00-16.15 Susanna Lolli, Inma Estevez, Lorenzo Ferrari, Tatiane Terumi Negrão Watanabe, Sezen Ozkan, Carlo Tremolada, Valentina Ferrante Protocol development for welfare assessment in commercial turkey farms .....................................................................................................C-002 16.15-16.30 Monica Battini, Sara Barbieri, Guido Bruni, Giorgio Zanatta, Silvana Mattiello Testing the feasibility of a prototype welfare assessment protocol in intensive dairy goat farms ..............................................................C-003 16.30-16.45 Katia Parati, Rossana Capoferri, Livia Moscati, Marco Sensi, Guerino Lombardi, Francesca Battioni, Gianpietro Sandri, Carlo Briani, Andrea Galli The effect of the relaying mode on welfare of the pregnant sow .....................................................................................................................................C-004 16.45-17.00 Marta Brscic, Giulia Vida, Annalisa Scollo, Giulio Cozzi, Flaviana Gottardo Relationship between pig welfare in the pre-slaughter phase and superficial bruises of their carcasses. .................................................C-005 17.00-17.15 Maria Lúcia Pereira Lima, João Alberto Negrão, Claudia Cristina Paro de Paz Corral modification for humane livestock handling can improve cattle behavior and reduce serum cortisol..........................................C-006 17.15-17.30 Isabella Lora, Marta Brscic, Luisa Magrin, Clelia Rumor, Flaviana Gottardo Effects of innovative horizontal fans on beef cattle health, growth and welfare .............................................................................................C-007 17.30-17.45 Miriam Iacurto, Roberto Steri, Germana Capitani, Federico Vincenti Animal welfare in beef cattle: performances and meat quality ............................................................................................................................C-008

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.