Mirco Corazzin

Short communication:Hair cortisol concentrations in Holstein Friesian and Crossbreed F1 heifers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity of Holstein-Friesian and crossbreed F1 heifers by analysis of the cortisol concentrations in hair samples. Cortisol, the primary hormone of the HPA axis, is the biological endpoint for the investigation of the HPA response. The study was conducted on 290 prepubertal heifers; 142 heifers were pure Holstein-Friesian and 148 were crossbreed F1 heifers obtained from the 3-way rotational system with Swedish Red and Montbéliarde breeds. Extraction was performed on the hair using methanol, and cortisol concentrations were determined by a radioimmunoassay method. Cortisol concentrations measured in regrown hair of crossbreed F1 heifers were significantly lower than those in hair of Holstein-Friesian heifers. This result helps us to better understand the differences in HPA activity and allostatic load between Holstein-Friesian and crossbreed F1 heifers and allows us to better assess the adaptability of these animals to the environment and the importance of crossbreed traits for profitability in dairy farming.

Volatile compounds and sensory properties of Montasio cheese made from the milk of Simmental cows grazing on alpine pastures.

The aim of this study was to analyze the volatile compounds, physicochemical characteristics, and sensory properties of Montasio, a semicooked pressed cheese, produced from the milk of the dual-purpose Italian Simmental cows grazing on alpine pastures. A total of 72 cows grazing on 2 pastures, which differed in botanical composition (nutrient-rich pasture vs. nutrient-poor pasture), received 2 different levels of supplementation (3.0 vs 1.5 kg/head per day). The experimental cheeses were produced from whole, raw milk and ripened for 60 d. Sixty-one volatile compounds, including alcohols (11), aldehydes (6), ketones (10), lactones (2), esters (6), hydrocarbons (3), carboxylic acids (6), phenolic compounds (4), monoterpenes (7), sesquiterpenes (1), sulfur compounds (4), and amines (1), were detected. The main families in terms of relative weight appeared to be carboxylic acids, esters, and alcohols. A panel of trained assessors described the experimental cheeses as having an intense color; small and evenly distributed eyes; an intense odor and flavor of milk-sour, milk, and cow; and a tender and creamy texture. The pasture type affected the volatile fraction, particularly ketones, phenolic compounds, and terpenes, which are overall higher in nutrient-poor pastures. A slight effect on the sensory analyses, in particular the effect of the cow attribute on odor and flavor, was perceived by the panelists. The cheeses produced on nutrient-rich pasture had higher b* (yellowness) index. These results were consistent with the color evaluation of the sensory panel. In addition, the pasture affected some textural attributes (adhesivity, creaminess, and granules) as perceived by the panelists. Concentrate supplementation, which is required to meet the feeding requirements of grazing cows, had no clear effect on either the volatile compounds or the sensory properties of the cheeses. Thus, at least within levels of integration adopted, it is expected not to alter the organoleptic characteristics of this product.

Variability in the characteristics of fresh meat and thighs in relationship to genetic type of the heavy pig

Abstract The variability in the characteristics of fresh meat and thighs in relationship with genetic type was studied on 22 lots of heavy pigs, comprising 615 female and castrated males, randomly chosen during slaughtering in groups of 20 to 30 animals per lot. Four different genetic types reared for the production of the San Daniele dry-cured ham PDO were considered: two traditionals (Large White or Duroc x (Landrace x Large White) and two industrial hybrids (GOLAND and DANBRED). Fresh meat samples from longissimus dorsi muscle were collected to perform chemical and physical analysis. The right trimmed thighs were used to evaluate some morphological parameters along with weight losses during seasoning. The genetic type confirmed its important influence on pig carcass, meat and ham quality. The two industrial types, DANBRED in particular, tended to present a lower back fat values and a leaner carcass than the two Italian genetic types. Within the most important characteristics for the production of dry cured hams (subcutaneous fat thickness and seasoning losses) the highest differences were found among the industrials genetic types, which cannot be simply considered as an undifferentiated homogenous group.

Welfare assessment in traditional mountain dairy farms: above and beyond resource-based measures

The Welfare Quality® project was one of the largest research undertakings into animal welfare. Despite animal-based measures (ABMs) being increasingly preferred over resource-based measures (non-ABMs), the Welfare Quality® protocol (WQ) for dairy cattle has a non-ABM, Ease of Movement that classifies housing systems using a threshold of 100 days of access to pasture or, inversely, of 265 days tethered. Since traditional transhumance to alpine pastures lasts for approximately 90 days most farms tend to be classified as having a year-round tie-stall system by the WQ. The aim of this study was two-fold: to discuss the appropriateness of using nonABMs and related thresholds in welfare scoring and to classify mountain dairy farms using ABM records. Initially, a comparison was made with scores obtained using the WQ protocol in farms where cows were: i) tethered all year; and ii) tethered but having regular exercise or reared in loose-housing systems. No difference in terms of welfare was detected between groups of farms regarding their housing systems, thus we investigated welfare focusing on ABMs. Therefore, farms were grouped into four clusters, according to their ABMs. The results indicated that good ABM scores can be obtained in most traditional mountain farms where cows are tethered for around 275 days a year and have access to highland pasture for the remaining 90 days. In this study, ABMs were effective tools for classifying mountain farms according to their welfare status and for informing targeted action to improve dairy cow welfare.

Supplementary feeding of farmed fallow deer: effect on milk composition and fawn performance

The aim of this trial was to study the effect of supplementary feeding offered to farmed fallow deer does on milk characteristics and on male and female fawns performance. During two years, 40 females were divided in two groups and assigned to two homogeneous paddocks of the same pasture: SUP group received 0.5 kg/d per female of supplement that was raised to 0.7 kg/d from the third month of fawns age, while HER group was fed only on herbage. Herbage availability and composition were monitored by exclusion cages. Female performance (body weight, body condition score and milk composition) was recorded. Further, during the first year, performance and hematological parameters (non-esterified fatty acids and urea nitrogen) were assessed. Fawns were weighed every 45 days until the end of the experiment, when the characteristics of their carcasses were recorded. Supplementary feeding reduced herbage gathering and quality, but allowed a full recovery of body weight and condition of does. The milk provided by the HER does to their female offspring was richer in fat (16.1 vs 14.2 g/100 mL) and protein (8.76 vs 8.04 g/100 mL) than that furnished to male fawns; the opposite condition happened for SUP does (12.6 vs 13.3 g/100 mL for fat and 8.04 vs 8.35 g/100 mL for protein). At slaughter, SUP fawns showed higher carcass weight (14.10 vs 11.26 kg), greater conformation score (2.1 vs 1.6 points) and higher fat score (2.0 vs 1.2 points) than HER ones, moreover male fawns presented higher carcass weight than female (13.62 vs 11.74 kg).

Towards an integrated index for sustainability in multifunctional dairy farms: a case study

Carbohydrates are not the only macronutrients triggering insulin release following food intake. Besides other components, leucine (Leu) has been demonstrated to induce insulin secretion in humans and in laboratory rodents. We hypothesized that Leu stimulates the release of insulin in dairy cows, and thus our objective was to test the effects of a single-dose of Leu infused intraduodenally on the concentrations of insulin, glucose and free amino acids (AA) in blood plasma as compared to infusions with either glucose or saline. Six duodenum-fistulated Holstein cows were studied in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 3 periods of 7 d, in which the treatments were applied at the end of each period. The treatments were duodenal bolus infusions of Leu (DIL; 0.15 g/kg BW), glucose (DIG; at Leu equimolar dosage) or saline (SAL). Blood samples were taken at -15, 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75, 90, 120, 180, 210, 240 and 300 min relative to the infusion and the concentrations of insulin, glucose and AA were determined in plasma. In DIG, insulin and glucose concentrations peaked at 30-40 and 40-50 min after the infusion, respectively. Insulin concentrations were greater (P<0.05) from 30-50 min in DIG than DIL and SAL. In DIG, glucose concentrations were greater (P≤0.01) from 30-75 and 40-50 min than in DIL and SAL, respectively. In DIL, Leu concentrations peaked 50-60 min after infusion, reaching 20 and 15-fold greater values than that in DIG and SAL, respectively. The plasma concentrations of total AA minus Leu were affected by treatment (P<0.0001), resulting in lowest mean concentrations of total AA minus Leu in DIL, followed by DIG and SAL. The data suggest that Leu infusion did not elicit an apparent insulin response, but may stimulate the tissue uptake of AA by mechanisms yet to be elucidated.Breeding goals of Holstein dairy cattle in New Zealand (NZL) focus on traits reflecting adaptation to pasture-based systems. Due to high prices for concentrates, and advantages for cattle health and welfare, low input grazing systems become important in regions of North-West Germany. The present study addresses the hypothesis that progeny of NZL-Holstein sires are superior in 30 German grassland farms compared to offspring of Holstein sires being progeny tested in German indoor systems. A research design was implemented to create three different genetic groups (F1 generation) within herds on the basis of a German Holstein cow (GHC) population: Group 1=GHC x NZL sires, group 2=GHC x GH sires, group 3=GHC x GH_pasture sires. GH_pasture sires represent bulls of German origin with high breeding values for the traits being important in NZL. Group comparison focused on the full set of production and functional traits from official recording systems, and in addition on further novel traits reflecting cow health and welfare: Scores for body condition (BCS), locomotion (LOCS), hock lesions (HLS), and total hygiene (THS). Linear and generalized linear mixed models were applied to estimate group differences for a longitudinal data structure (2998 observations). In parity 1, daughters of NZL sires had the highest LSMean for BCS (2.56), and lowest LSMean for LOCS (0.10), HLS (0.25) and THS (3.67), reflecting an enhanced robustness of HF strains from NZL. Within breed genetic analyses simultaneously considering all genetic groups revealed a moderate genetic background with the following heritabilities: BCS (0.25), LOCS (0.12), HLS (0.04), and THS (0.17). Genotype by environment interactions between pasture-based and indoor systems were studied by applying multiple trait models. For all traits, rg were smaller than 0.80, especially indicating GxE interactions for low heritability functional traits.