V. Dell’Orto

Rumen-protected choline and vitamin E supplementation in periparturient dairy goats: effects on milk production and folate, vitamin B 12 and vitamin E status

We investigated the effects of rumen-protected choline (RPC) and vitamin E (VITE) administration on milk production and status of folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin E during the periparturient period of dairy goats. Forty-eight Saanen multiparous goats were selected for the 72-day experiment, being moved to a maternity pen 30 days before expected parturition and assigned to one of the four experimental groups: control (CTR), no choline or vitamin E supplementation; choline (RPC), supplemented with 4 g/day choline chloride in rumen-protected form; vitamin E (VITE), supplemented with 200 IU/day vitamin E in rumen-protected form; and choline and vitamin E (RPCE), supplemented with 4 g/day RPC chloride and 200 IU/day vitamin E. Supplements were administered individually before the morning feed to ensure complete consumption, starting 30 days before kidding and continuing for 35 days after. During the experiment, milk yield and 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield were, respectively, 210 and 350 g/day higher in RPC-supplemented goats than in non-supplemented goats. Milk fat concentration and fat yield were also increased by RPC treatment. Milk yield and composition were unaffected by vitamin E supplementation. There were no significant interactions between RPC and VITE for any of the variables measured. Plasma metabolites did not differ between treatments before and after kidding except that plasma folate at parturition was higher in RPC-supplemented goats. Neither choline nor vitamin E affected vitamin B12 plasma concentrations, while a time effect was evident after the second week of lactation, when B12 levels in each treatment group started to increase. Vitamin E administration resulted in plasma α-tocopherol levels that were 2 to 2.5 times higher than in non-supplemented goats. Overall, these results suggest that greater choline availability can improve milk production and methyl group metabolism in transition dairy goats.

Mycotoxins in silage: checkpoints for effective management and control

Silage has a substantial role in ruminant nutrition. Silages as a source of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxins merit attention. Fungal growth and mycotoxin production before and during storage are a well-known phenomenon, resulting in reduced nutritional value and a possible risk factor for animal health. Mycotoxin co-contamination seems to be unavoidable under current agricultural and silage-making practices. Multi-mycotoxin contamination in silages is of particular concern due to the potential additive or synergistic effects on animals. In regard to managing the challenge of mycotoxins in silages, there are many factors with pre- and post-harvest origins to take into account. Pre-harvest events are predominantly dictated by environmental factors, whereas post-harvest events can be largely controlled by the farmer. An effective mycotoxin management and control programme should be integrated and personalised to each farm at an integrative level throughout the silage production chain. Growing crops in the ...

Evaluation the of PL-PG-PA system in relation to quality of bovine milk.

Evaluation the of PL-PG-PA system in relation to quality of bovine milk L. Rossi & F. Galante & E. Fusi & M. Luini & V. Dell’Orto & A. Baldi Published online: 17 July 2009 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2009

Former food products safety: microbiological quality and computer vision evaluation of packaging remnants contamination

ABSTRACT The use of alternative feed ingredients in farm animal’s diets can be an interesting choice from several standpoints, including safety. In this respect, this study investigated the safety features of selected former food products (FFPs) intended for animal nutrition produced in the framework of the IZS PLV 06/14 RC project by an FFP processing plant. Six FFP samples, both mash and pelleted, were analysed for the enumeration of total viable count (TVC) (ISO 4833), Enterobacteriaceae (ISO 21528-1), Escherichia coli (ISO 16649-1), coagulase-positive Staphylococci (CPS) (ISO 6888), presumptive Bacillus cereus and its spores (ISO 7932), sulphite-reducing Clostridia (ISO 7937), yeasts and moulds (ISO 21527-1), and the presence in 25 g of Salmonella spp. (ISO 6579). On the same samples, the presence of undesired ingredients, which can be identified as remnants of packaging materials, was evaluated by two different methods: stereomicroscopy according to published methods; and stereomicroscopy coupled with a computer vision system (IRIS Visual Analyzer VA400). All FFPs analysed were safe from a microbiological point of view. TVC was limited and Salmonella was always absent. When remnants of packaging materials were considered, the contamination level was below 0.08% (w/w). Of note, packaging remnants were found mainly from the 1-mm sieve mesh fractions. Finally, the innovative computer vision system demonstrated the possibility of rapid detection for the presence of packaging remnants in FFPs when combined with a stereomicroscope. In conclusion, the FFPs analysed in the present study can be considered safe, even though some improvements in FFP processing in the feeding plant can be useful in further reducing their microbial loads and impurity. Graphical Abstract

Administration of Essential Oils Cinnamaldehyde, Eugenol, and Capsicum to Beef Cattle: Effects on Health Status and Growth Performance

A 53-day field trial was performed to evaluate the effects of the essential oils of cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and capsicum on the health status and growth performance of 45 Charolais beef cattle (average arrival weight: 422.0 ± 29.3 kg; control: n = 21; treated: n = 24). Each animal was weighed, and blood samples were collected on days 0, 25, and 53. The average daily gain of the treated group was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of the control. The treated group showed a significant increase in antibody for BHV-1 after vaccination (P < 0.05 at day 25 and day 53) and significantly higher serum bactericidal activity (P = 0.01). No differences between groups were observed for serum content of haptoglobin or reactive metabolites of oxygen. The observed improvement in growth performance and health status is due to the capacity of essential oils to optimize rumen fermentations, to increase dry matter intake, and probably to the positive interaction between essential oils and immune system components.

Pattern of protein production by mammary epithelial cells cultured on membrane inserts

Protein and plasminogen activator (PA) production by bovine mammary epithelial cells cultured on inserts and the effect of calcium were studied. The cells cultured on inserts coated with a bovine extracellular matrix established a stable trans-epithelial resistance, and secreted apically αs1-casein and PA. Extracellular calcium increased (P < 0.01) αs1-casein and total proteins, but not PA activity. Key words: Bovine mammary epithelial cells, inserts, differentiation

Review: Nutritional ecology of heavy metals

The aim of this review is to focus the attention on the nutrition ecology of the heavy metals and on the major criticisms related to the heavy metals content in animal feeds, manure, soil and animal-origin products. Heavy metals are metallic elements that have a high density that have progressively accumulated in the food chain with negative effects for human health. Some metals are essential (Fe, I, Co, Zn, Cu, Mn, Mo, Se) to maintain various physiological functions and are usually added as nutritional additives in animal feed. Other metals (As, Cd, F, Pb, Hg) have no established biological functions and are considered as contaminants/undesirable substances. The European Union adopted several measures in order to control their presence in the environment, as a result of human activities such as: farming, industry or food processing and storage contamination. The control of the animal input could be an effective strategy to reduce human health risks related to the consumption of animal-origin products and the environmental pollution by manure. Different management of raw materials and feed, animal species as well as different legal limits can influence the spread of heavy metals. To set up effective strategies against heavy metals the complex interrelationships in rural processes, the widely variability of farming practices, the soil and climatic conditions must be considered. Innovative and sustainable approaches have discussed for the heavy metal nutrition ecology to control the environmental pollution from livestock-related activities.

Determination of malonaldehyde in bovine plasma during the receiving period and effects of phytoderivative diet supplementation

Malonaldehyde (MA) is one of the terminal products of polynsatured fatty acid peroxidation that is considered a useful indicator both in food inspection (Fernandez et al., 1997) and in the chemical-clinical area (Steiner et al., 1996). It is used especially as a marker both of lipid peroxidation and of stress in health field. The receiving period is the most critical period for beef cattle because of the high incidence of diseases, especially those due to stress. Diet administration of natural substances with immunostimulating, tonic and antistress activities, is an efficacious adjuvant in the management of new arrival beef cattle. Such substances can reduce the negative effects of stress which, as is well-known, reduces natural defences against pathogenic agents exposing animals to the risk of considerable microorganism reproduction. The availability of proved stress chemical markers allows reliable evaluation of the efficiency of specific strategies. This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of phytoderivative supplementation on health status in Charolaise beef cattle during the receiving period, using MA as a chemical marker of stress.

Olfactometric techniques in feed analysis: preliminary calibration of DON in durum wheat

Riassunto Approcci olfattometrici nell’analisi dei mangimi: calibrazione preliminare per il rilievo di DON nel grano duro. Le analisi olfattometriche, attraverso l’uso del naso elettronico, trovano sempre più spazio nella valutazione della qualità e sicurezza in campo alimentare. I principali vantaggi di tale approccio risiedono nella sua flessibilità di impiego. Una volta messi a punto adeguati protocolli d’analisi e modelli statistici di tipo multivariato, infatti, il naso elettronico si può rivelare uno strumento adatto alle realtà di campo in quanto caratterizzato da rapidità e basso costo d’esercizio. Lo scopo di questo lavoro è stato quello di verificare, a livello preliminare, l’efficienza del naso elettronico nel riconoscere la presenza di micotossina deossinivalenolo (DON) in 10 campioni di grano duro (Triticum durum) di diversa provenienza geografica. I risultati hanno dimostrato che il protocollo applicato consente di riconoscere la presenza di DON nonché di discriminare i diversi campioni in funzione del loro livello di contaminazione.

Application of FT- NIRS to estimate chemical components of freeze-dry herbages of Tuscany natural pasture

than that caused by recognized “enterohaemorrhagic” STEC serogroups such as O157 and O111. More widespread use of PCRor enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based screening tests for the presence of STEC of any serogroup in animal samples will undoubtedly result in increased detection of similar non-O157 outbreaks in the future. This will provide more accurate data on the epidemiology of human STEC disease.