Effect of castration age on carcass traits and meat quality of Simmental bulls

RiassuntoEffetto dell'eta di castrazione su caratteristiche della carcassa e qualita della carne di tori Pezzati Rossi. Il posticipo dell'eta di castrazione sembra limitare la riduzione delle performance produttive, mantenendo gli effetti positivi sulla qualita della carne. In proposito, su 24 tori di razza Pezzata Rossa, lo studio ha valutato l'effetto della castrazione a 10 o 12 mesi (Anticipata vs. Tardiva; periodo di ingrasso: 191 vs. 151 giorni) sulle caratteristiche qualitative della carcassa e del Longissimus thoracis. Sulla carne sono state analizzate composizione chimica, colore, tenerezza e gusto, con tecniche strumentali e sensoriali. La castrazione anticipata comporta l'ottenimento di carne a piu elevato tenore lipidico che migliora la tenerezza, aumenta la luminosita e riduce le perdite di cottura. Nel caso degli animali castrati tardivamente, la minor marezzatura sembra invece favorire la produzione di carne con un piu elevato valore dell'indice del rosso e dal gusto piu apprezzato alla valu..

Effect of decreasing dietary crude protein on growth performance, feed efficiency and meat quality of finishing Charolais bulls

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of decreasing dietary crude protein (CP) on the performance of finishing Charolais bulls in the Italian rearing system. Animals were fed two diets, differing only in the CP level (low protein (LP), 13.5% CP versus control (CON), 15.0% CP). Dry matter (DM) intake (DMI) and animals\u2019 weights were recorded to obtain average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion rate (FCR). Feed and fecal samples were collected to evaluate digestibility of diet components. Daily cost of the ration (DRC), feed cost per kg of daily weight gain (CDG) and daily gross margin (DGM) were calculated to analyze the possible benefits of decreasing the protein level. Meat quality analyses were also conducted. Higher DMI (10.6 versus 10 kg/d; p < 0.05) and ADG (1.47 versus 1.36 kg/d; p < 0.05) were observed for CON. No differences in FCR or digestibility were found. Even if the DRC was lower (p < 0.05) for the LP diet (2.26 versus 1.97 \u20ac; CON versus LP), no difference was reported for CDG and DGM. Meat lightness and redness were significantly lower and higher in the LP, respectively. To conclude, the CP requirement in these rearing conditions appeared to be higher than 13.5%

ALPINE FARM SCALE INVESTIGATIONS OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PRODUCTIVE SYSTEM AND QUALITY OF DAIRY PRODUCTS

Alpine dairy farming is shifted from an extensive activity based on pasture and low genetic merit cow to an intensive system with specialized breeds and increasing level of concentrate as a supplement in the diet. As a main consequence, a lower echo-compatibility could determine adverse externalities on environment and quality of dairy products. Considering 18 dairy farming located in the mountain area of Veneto Region (Italy), the Environmental Summarizing Indicator (ESI) was estimated by using agronomic and dairying variables. Results indicated that variability of ESI was manly due to productive performance of dairy cows probably because there was a lack of information in the assessment of pasture characteristics. However, higher level of ESI were closely related to the increase of N-phile species and/or less attractive vegetation for grazing cows, even if the indicator seems to explain only a limited part of the variability of the phenomenon. The increase of ESI values seemed to lead to a loss of nutritive value of milk because of the incidence of health favourable fatty acids was reduced

Effect of period of milk production and ripening on quality traits of Asiago cheese

After 6 and 12 months of ripening, samples of Asiago d'Allevo were analyzed for quality traits. Cheeses were produced during 3 periods using milk from cows fed a total mixed ration (TMR, May) or grazing on alpine pasture (AG) in early (July) and late (Sept.) summer. Data were submitted to ANOVA considering ripening, milk production period and farm as main effects, and whole cheese weight as covariate. During ripening, pH of AGcheese was significantly lower than that of TMR-cheese; crude fat and protein significantly increased. According to period, July-samples showed the significantly lowest value of dry matter (DM), maybe due to a lower crude fat content; however, variability in skimming method could have altered proximate composition. No texture differences were found, although increasing weight of whole cheese significantly reduced max shear force as result of a lower DM content. Lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) significantly decreased during ripening. AG feeding system caused a lower L* and higher b* than TMR one, probably as a consequence of a different amount of milk pigments. Cheese varied also within AG season: Sept.-samples showed the lowest L* value and the highest b*

Una procedura per la valutazione dei limiti di utilizzo di O-Ring sottoposti ad intensi fasci di neutroni

Si presenta una procedura per la previsione della durata di utilizzo di O-ring in materiale polimerico impiegati nei bersagli per la produzione di fasci di ioni radioattivi. Si sono dapprima condotte prove di tenuta a vuoto e analisi a elementi finiti di un O-ring di riferimento operante con diversi livelli di interferenza con la cava, identificando la precompressione limite per la tenuta e la corrispondente pressione di contatto con la cava. Si sono poi effettuate prove di trazione e di Compression Set su campioni di O-ring in EPDM, preventivamente sottoposti a diversi livelli di irraggiamento in campi misti di neutroni e gamma, analizzando l’effetto della dose assorbita sul comportamento meccanico del materiale e sulle corrispondenti proprietà resistenziali, e definendo opportune leggi costitutive. Si sono infine simulate le progressive modifiche di comportamento della guarnizione indotte dall’irraggiamento, prevedendone la durata in esercizio in termini di tenuta e di resistenza strutturale

Remote handling of radioactive targets at the SPES facility

SPES (Selective Production of Exotic Species) is a new facility being developed by Legnaro National Laboratories of INFN. Once operational, it will be able to generate high-intensity RIB (Radioactive Ion Beams) for research in the field of nuclear physics, and investigate medical applications through the ISOLPHARM project. The interaction of a 40 MeV 200 μA primary beam produced by a cyclotron proton driver with a multi-foil uranium carbide target leads to the production of the radioactive isotopes of interest. Collisions take place within the Target Ion Source (TIS) unit, which is the core of the SPES project. During the operation, a periodic replacement of the TIS unit is required to maintain process efficiency. Automated systems can perform critical tasks under such highly radioactive conditions, including handling, transporting, and storing the TIS unit without human intervention. For this reason, a remote handling framework is currently being developed to meet the functional and safety requirements of the project. In this paper, the SPES target area is presented. Here, remote handling systems ensure the proper operation of the facility, preventing staff from being exposed to high dose rates or contamination problems