Marika Vitali

What Foods are Identified as Animal Friendly by Italian Consumers

In the Italian market, voluntary certifications implying higher levels of animal welfare generally fall into wider production schemes. Despite of the results of EU surveys indicating that about 50% of Italian consumers can easily identify and find animal-friendly products, they still are distributed scarcely or discontinuously in the main retail chains. To assess the apparent contradiction between the intricate information consumers receive from labels and their declared awareness about animal welfare, a survey was conducted in Emilia Romagna region on 355 Italian consumers (face-to-face interviews based on a structured, semi-close-ended questionnaire). Overall, consumers showed a low degree of knowledge about animal welfare attributes, animal farming conditions and animal protection policies (about 30% of correct answers), and a low level of awareness of the effects of their purchasing choices on the welfare of farmed animals (22%). The respondents also showed difficulties in identifying animal-friendly products and often confused them with other certified foods, having sometimes a weak connection (or none at all) to animal welfare (e.g., Protected Designation of Origin products). However, most consumers declared to be ready to pay a premium price in name of animal welfare. In conclusion, a labelling system for the welfare content of animal-derived foods is confirmed to be an effective strategy to compensate the efforts of farmers in improving animal welfare, provided that the information given is clear and able to fill the substantial lack of consumer knowledge.

Growth parameters, behavior, and meat and ham quality of heavy pigs subjected to photoperiods of different duration

To attain a good level of animal welfare, pigs require a sufficient environmental illumination. Therefore, minimum levels for light duration and light intensity have been set up by the European legislation (Directive 2008/120). An experimental trial was designed to determine whether an increased duration of the photophase (up to 16 h of light per day) could modify the behavior, productive parameters, and meat and ham quality of Italian heavy pigs. Forty crossbred (Large White × Landrace) castrated males pigs (26 kg initial average BW) intended for Protected Designation of Origin (according to European Union Regulation 1151/2012, ) dry-cured ham production were raised according to Parma ham production rules up to the weight of 160 kg. Pigs were homogeneously allotted to 2 experimental groups, each comprising 20 pigs. The short photoperiod (SP) group received the minimum mandatory number of hours of light per day (corresponding to 8 h/d), whereas the long photoperiod (LP) group was subjected 16 h of light per day during the whole production cycle. Light intensity was maintained at 40 lux (i.e., the minimum mandatory level) for both the experimental groups. Growth and slaughtering parameters, carcass traits, fatty acid composition, meat and dry-cured ham quality, and animal behavior were assessed. Pigs in the LP group showed a greater live weight and carcass weight compared to the SP group ( = 0.005 and = 0.007, respectively). Similarly, hams obtained from the LP group were significantly heavier and their weight losses during the dry-curing period were reduced ( < 0.01) when compared to the SP group. No significant differences were detected between the experimental groups as concerns meat and ham quality or fatty acid composition of the subcutaneous fat. Pigs in the LP group spent more time resting and less time pseudo-rooting ( < 0.01). Our results indicate that, given an appropriate dark period for animal rest, an increased duration of the photoperiod, even at the lower mandatory light intensity level, can favorably affect growth parameters of heavy pigs without any negative effect on animal behavior, carcass traits, or meat or long-cured ham quality. Therefore, rearing pigs in semidarkness should be considered as a baseless practice, contrary to animal welfare.

Evaluation of pre-slaughter losses of Italian heavy pigs

A retrospective observational study evaluated the risk factors for pre-slaughter losses (i.e. animal deaths occurring during transport and lairage) and their economic impact in Italian heavy pigs (~160 kg bodyweight). Of the 3 344 730 pigs transported, 1780 (0.053%) died before slaughter, with most losses occurring during transport (56.6%). The estimated economic impact was of 424 000 €. The percentage of batches with at least one animal lost pre-slaughter increased during summer (P < 0.001). The proportion of pre-slaughter losses was higher when journey lasted more than 90 min (P < 0.001) and was positively correlated with transport duration (P < 0.01). Losses were higher (P < 0.01) in batches transported at low stocking densities (i.e. when heavier pigs were transported). Batches with lower slaughtering order (i.e. longer lairage time) had higher proportions of losses (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of a given batch to have at least one animal lost pre-slaughter were 1.32 times higher for batches slaughtered in summer, 1.54 times higher if journey durations exceeded 90 min, 1.25 times higher for batches with low slaughtering order, and not significantly influenced by stocking density during transport.

A case-study on profiling Italian consumers of animal-friendly foods

Abstract Our research is based on 335 consumer interviews, conducted near and within supermarkets and hypermarkets in Bologna (North-Italy) and in its province. A multiple correspondence analysis followed by a cluster analysis were carried out in order to profile consumers based on their knowledge of farming conditions, their knowledge of “animal friendly” products and their willingness to pay for them. The analysis identified four groups of consumers (clusters). Groups were called: (1) “sensible and aware consumers” (36%); (2) “unconcerned consumers” (33%); (3) “the insiders” (6%) and (4) “uninvolved consumers” (25%). The first group represents an important market segment for “animal friendly” products. However, a diffused lack of knowledge was observed towards the issues of animal welfare and animal protection. These results urge a reflection on the needs and the risks that may underlie the creation of a shared European label for animal-friendly foods in order to minimize the risk of a failure of the certification scheme.

Enrichment devices for undocked heavy pigs: effects on animal welfare, blood parameters and production traits

Abstract Two independent trials were carried out to test the effectiveness of different environmental enrichments in improving Italian heavy pigs’ welfare. Eighty undocked Landrace × Large White barrows (body weight range: 27.1–158.4 kg) were used. In Trial 1, group C1 received a metal chain and group WL wooden logs (placed inside a specifically designed metal rack). In trial two, the enrichments proposed were a hanging chain (C2), and a vegetal edible block (EB) inside the metal rack. General health, animal behaviour, hair cortisol, blood parameters and growth performance were recorded. In Trial 1, WL pigs interacted with the enrichment at a lower extent than C1 (p < .01) and walked less (p < .05). In Trial 2, EB pigs spent less time in lateral recumbency and rooting/exploring the pen floor (p < .05 and p < .01, respectively), and interacted more with the enrichment (p < .001) than C2. Motivation to explore both WL and EB was maintained over time, conversely to what happened to C1 and C2. No differences were observed in hair cortisol concentration, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, skin lesions and growth parameters. Tail lesions were higher in WL than in C1 (p < .05) Minor, transient differences were found in plasma biomarkers. Overall, WL had limited effect on behaviour, whereas EB might have reduced floor over-exploration when compared to the chains. It is concluded that, although from an animal behaviour standpoint EB might be promising, regardless of the device used (C, WL or EB), all experimental groups showed similar welfare parameters levels, stimulating the necessity for wider research on enrichment design and function.

Enrichment tools for undocked heavy pigs: effects on body and gastric lesions and carcase and meat quality parameters

Abstract Two independent trials were carried out to assess the effect of two enrichment tools on the prevalence of skin and tail lesions recorded prior of slaughtering, lesions of the pars oesophagea (OGL) of the stomach, and on carcase and meat quality traits in Italian heavy pigs (body weight range: 25–160 kg). Eighty undocked barrows (Landrace × Large White) were used in two trials (20 pigs/experimental group, 5 pigs/pen). In Trial 1, the control group received a hanging metal chain (C1), while the other group received wood logs (WL) placed inside a metal rack. In Trial 2, the control group was provided with hanging chain (C2), while the pen of the other group was enriched with a vegetal edible block (EB) placed inside the metal rack. In both trials, no differences were observed in the prevalence and severity of skin, tail and gastric lesions (p > .05). In Trial 1, WL pigs presented lower backfat (p = .01), higher lean meat percentage (p = .03) and higher drip loss in the loin muscle (p = .02) than C1 pigs. Tail score and gastric lesions showed a moderate correlation (r = 0.42; p = .01) in Trial 1. Treatments had no effect on carcase or meat quality traits in Trial 2 (p > .05). In conclusion, the two enrichments provided did not affect body and gastric lesions, carcase and meat quality of Italian heavy pigs, if compared to the metal chains.