V. Fedele

The effect of hot season and nutrition on the oxidative status and metabolic profile in dairy goats during mid lactation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the hot season and nutrition on the oxidative status and metabolic profile of lactating goats during mid lactation. Twenty-four Red Syrian goats were allocated into three groups that were offered the following diets: natural pasture (P), pasture+500 g/h per day of concentrate (PC) and hay plus 500 g/h per day of concentrate (HC). Blood samples were taken in spring (85±7 days in milk (DIM)) and summer (120±7 DIM) and assayed for reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), α-tocopherol, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids, total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations and glutathione peroxidase (GHS-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Milk yield and milk composition were also measured. SOD, GSH-Px and ROMs levels increased during summer when temperature humidity index values were high. The increase in ROMs in the PC and HC groups could be ascribed to the improved nutritional regime and to their higher production level. The markers of the oxidative status and of the metabolic profile measured in this study indicate that goats may have experienced moderate oxidative stress. It seems that, seasonal rather than nutritional factors have a more pronounced effect on oxidative status markers. Concentrate supplementation sustained milk yield and may represent a useful means to extend the lactation period in dairy goats during late spring and summer.

Grazing behavior and diet selection of goats on native pasture in Southern Italy

In Expt. 1, 48 goats from two breeds (Maltese and Rossa Mediterranea) received two levels of concentrate supplements (150 and 550 g/head/d) in a 2×2 factorial design. In Expt. 2, the concentrate levels were the same, but with two CP levels for each concentrate level (150 g/head/d of concentrate: 18 and 38% CP; 550 g/head/d: 12 and 18% CP). At low or high concentrate level, the ratio of NE: CP was the same. Goats had a high preference for grasses, mainly Lolium perenne and Avena barbata, and, in summer, for forbs, especially Daucus carota, Foeniculurn sp. and Borago officinalis. Legumes were less preferred, with the exception of Vicia sativa and Lotus corniculatus. Differences between the chemical composition of pasture herbage and of ingesta were noticed. The percentage of crude fiber of the selected diet had seasonal variation opposite that of pasture. CP content of the selected pasture diet was often higher than the pastures. The two breeds had a different behavior in selecting plant species: Maltese goats preferred grasses, while Rossa Mediterranea goats preferred forbs. Intake level was influenced by breed, by amount of concentrate and its CP content. With a high level of concentrate the Maltese reduced grass intake more than the Rossa Mediterranea (54% vs. 18%). Low level of concentrate (150 g) resulted in increased CP and quantity of herbage intake by 43 and 39% in 1987, and 17 and 15% in 1988, respectively. Low CP content of concentrates increased CP and DM intake. DM intake was positively correlated with total legumes in the pasture (0.24∗∗), with legumes in the diet (0.33∗), DM production of the pasture (0.39∗∗∗), and negatively, with fiber of the diet (−0.46∗∗∗). Several regression equations for intake were proposed.

Milk production of goats grazing native pasture under different supplementation regimes in southern Italy

Abstract In Experiment 1, 48 goats from two breeds (Maltese and Rossa Mediterranea) received two levels of concentrate supplements (150 and 550 g per head day −1 ) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. In Experiment 2, the concentrate levels were the same, but with two levels of crude protein (CP) for each concentrate level (16.7% and 38.5% CP, and 11.6% and 16.7% CP, respectively). At low or high concentrate level, the net energy ( NE ) CP ratio was the same. There was no significant difference between Maltese and Rossa Mediterranea breeds in milk yield and composition, although fat content tended to be higher in Rossa Mediterranea. Energy and N balance, body condition and blood parameters did not differ between breeds. Concentrate levels did not alter milk production significantly: 40 kg and 30 kg in Experiment 1 and 2, respectively, i.e. 1 kg and 0.7 kg milk were produced per kilogram of concentrate. Protein supplements did not improve milk production. The group at high protein level had a trend towards reduced milk production as a consequence of reduced ingestion from pasture. In grazing conditions of southern Italy, concentrates supplied at the level of 550 g might be economical depending on their price compared with that of milk and cheese. However, protein supplementation did not increase milk yield, and was therefore of no economic value.

Influence of four single fresh forages on volatile organic compound (VOC) content and profile and sensory properties of goat Caciotta cheese

Abstract Aim of the trial was to evaluate the effect of fresh single-species herbage on the VOC and sensory properties of cheese, in order to individuate specific descriptors linked to the use of fresh herbage in pureness. Two groups of Siriana housed goats were fed alternately with 2 grasses: Avena sativa (AS) and Lolium perenne (LP) and 2 legumes: Medicago sativa (MS) and Trifolium incarnatum (TI) in pureness. The milk was processed as Caciotta cheese and ripened for 20 days. The VOC analyses (by GC-MS) showed the highest VOC total content in AS cheeses (226.55a.u.), where alcohols was the dominant class; the lowest value (79.96a.u.) was found in TI cheeses, and the dominant class was hydrocarbons. The panel test (for colour, odour, taste and final acceptability) showed that cheeses from grasses’ groups were described with astringent and blue taste, those from legumes with acidic, bitter and light goaty taste. All cheeses showed goaty taste, except LP cheeses. Grasses’ cheeses showed higher final acceptability than those from legumes. The results showed that each meadow’s species, with its specific content of secondary metabolites, at specific phenological stage, was able to characterise the derived cheese products at sensorial level.

DYNAMICS OF ACCUMULATION AND PARTITIONING OF DRY MATTER AND FRUCTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES IN PLANT FRACTIONS OF FORAGE CEREALS

During growth, several cereals store significant amounts of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), which have important prebiotic properties. Cereal forage crops are also essential components of many Mediterranean agricultural systems, although little information is available on their dynamics of accumulation and partitioning of dry matter and FOS during growth. Oat ( Avena sativa L., cv . ‘Flavia’ and cv . ‘Genziana’), emmer wheat ( Triticum dicoccum Schrank, cv . ‘Giovanni Paolo’), barley ( Hordeum vulgare L., cv . ‘Diomede’) and triticale ( xTriticosecale Wittmack, cv . ‘Rigel’) were investigated for their synthesis of FOS, with a view to development of management approaches for harvesting high-quality forage, and to determine whether these species can be used as natural sources of FOS for commercial use. The study was conducted at Foggia (Italy) and Bella (Potenza, Italy) over two growing seasons (2008–2009; 2009–2010). Dry-matter accumulation and FOS contents were determined for plant fractions from heading to kernel-hard stages. There were large variations across these species for dry-matter partitioning and dry-matter yield (greatest for triticale: 1.24 kg m −2 ), and for FOS levels of total plants and plant fractions. Emmer wheat and triticale showed greater FOS production (52.0, 41.1 g m −2 , respectively). Barley, emmer wheat and triticale showed higher FOS levels in total plants (4.11%, 5.93%, 4.33% dry matter, respectively). Barley, emmer wheat and triticale appear to be the most interesting species for production of forage biomass rich in FOS and as natural FOS sources for industrial use.

Effect of two aflatoxin level treatments on contamination of Mozzarella di Bufala cheese

Abstract An experiment was carried out using Buffalos to study the transfer of aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) from feeds to Mozzarella cheese. Two groups of four buffalos were assigned to two AFB1 doses: 100 and 150 μg/day. Total daily milk produced by each animal was individually collected at -2, 1, 3, 5 and +2 days, during and after experimental treatment, and separately, daily processed into Mozzarella cheese. The mean M1 and B1 aflatoxin content was significantly affected by the AFB1 doses. The AFM1 increased linearly from the first day of treatment to the last one in both groups, but in that treated with low dose the concentration was 4 time lower.