Stato e consistenza della meccanizzazione agricola nella VIII Comunità montana

Nella presente relazione si vuole cercare di definire gli elementi ed i fattori condizionanti la meccanizzazione e, nel contempo, evidenziare il tipo di evoluzione e le carenze della meccanizzazione nella VIII Comunità montana «Marghine-Planargia». Tutto ciò con l'intendimento di meglio delineare le caratteristiche e le potenzialità del territorio in studio ed offrire, quindi, maggiori elementi di analisi per definire un' efficiente pianificazione aziendale e territoriale che, consentendo il superamento delle cause di marginalità dell'area, ne consenta un effettivo rilancio, in termini produttivistici e sociali

Periodo utile per la raccolta meccanica delle olive in Sardegna, con e senza cascolanti

Results are given of three years of testing on: - the dynamometric resistance when the drupes are detached; - the ripening index; - the percentage of falling fruit, useful indications are given for defining the correet times for mechanical olive harvesting in Northern Sardinia

Rilievi sulla mungitura meccanica della pecora sarda e realizzazione di una nuova strumentazione

Through the remark of the transfer lines of the milk of two hals udders during the mechanical milking of the Sard sheep, the AA. show the advantage attainable working at an hollow level of 44,0 kPa instead of 50,5 kPa. They are then explained the characteristics of a new instrumentation for telemeasure, purposely prepared, that allows to record contemporaneously the activity motor of the udders and the parameters of working of the mechanical milking

Effect of vacuum level on milk flow traits in Mediterranean Italian buffalo cow

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of six different working vacuum levels (range from 37 to 52 kPa) on the milk production, milk flow rate and milking times in Mediterranean Italian buffalo. A total of eight hundred and one milk flow curves were recorded at random from all of the four hundred and fifty animals in different parity and stage of lactation over a period of 12 weeks, with electronic milk flow meters (Lactocorder®). The different vacuum levels tested did not affect significantly the individual milk production per milking (on average 4.02±0.06 kg). When diminishing vacuum level, a decrease in average and peak flow rate occurred (P<0.001), as well as an increase in effective milking time between attaching the teat cup and reaching the value of 0.20 kg/min at the end of milking (P<0.001). The vacuum levels of 37 and 40 kPa showed good milkability conditions, at which plateau phase was longer than decline phase and lag time was not affected by vacuum level

Thermographic study of the ovine mammary gland during different working vacuum levels

Thermography is a non-contact, non-invasive technique that detects surface heat emitted as infrared radiation. Because skin temperature reflects the status of underlying tissue metabolism and blood circulation, abnormal thermal patterns can signify areas of superficial inflammation or circulatory impairments (i.e. congestion). In sheep different methods have been adopted to measure udder blood circulation and the effect of cold exposure and lactation on the distribution of blood flow. The effect of milking procedures on udder and teat skin temperature was investigated in cows through thermographic scanning. Thermography results in a very useful tool to evaluate, estimate and differentiate short and longer-term tissue reactions to machine milking. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of working vacuum level on udder and teat temperature changes during milking procedures and the recovery by indirect monitoring of the circulatory impairments of teat tissue via infrared thermography. Two groups of six lactating Sarda ewes were milked experimentally at two vacuum levels (28 and 42 kPa) and same pulsation parameters (120 cycles/min and 60% ratio). Thermographic images (Flir System, ThermaCam P25, sensitivity of 0.08 °C) of posterior udder area (PUA) and teats (teat base – TB; mid teat – MT and teat tip – TT) were taken pre-milking (PM), during milking (M) (only for PUA), and immediately after milking (IAM) up to 2 minutes after milking (AM+). Temperatures were recovered by processing the thermographic images in ThermaCam Researcher Basic 2.8 SR-1 Software (Flir System). The PUA showed a drop of 1°C in both treatments between PM and M. After milking, values did not show remarkable changes. The vacuum level effect on teats temperature results to be different between treatments. Results during IAM indicate a general drop of the teats temperatures and specifically for high vacuum level (from 39.82 to 37.92°C and from 39.71 to 37.75°C for low and high vacuum level respectively). During AM+ (monitored up to 60 sec - AM +30; up to 90 sec - AM+60 and up to 120 sec – AM+90) the increase of teat temperatures were different (P&lt;0.05) between vacuum levels (AM+30: 38.12 vs 37.54°C; AM+60: 38.19 vs 37.96°C and AM+90: 39.02 vs 38.58°C for low and high vacuum level respectively). Differences among TB, MT and TT were evident also at AM+90 only for the high vacuum level while in low one, at the same time, it was persistent only the difference between TT and TB. The higher teat temperature for the low vacuum level could be attributable to a faster return to a normal condition of the blood flow in all teat locations. Teat circulation impairments due to milking procedures need further surveys

Factors of welfare reduction in dairy sheep and goats

Scientific research on factors causing the reduction of well-being in sheep and goats is rather recent, as are studies of strategies to minimize the adverse effects of environmental challenges and improper management practices on flock welfare. Sheep and goats, considered very rustic animals, are reared prevalently under extensive production systems and are widespread mainly in marginal areas. For these reasons, only few studies on the welfare of these species have been carried out in the past. More recently, the scenario has changed, due to a gradual diffusion of intensive and semi-intensive production systems, especially in dairy sheep and goat breeds, to the growing concern of consumers about the life conditions of farmed animals, and to the issuing of a number of rules and laws on the safety of animal products and well-being of farmed livestock. As a consequence, several research groups have turned their attention to the welfare of sheep and goats. Nevertheless, information on this topic is still scarce. This paper reviews major critical points regarding the endangerment of welfare in farmed sheep and goats. Climatic extremes and seasonal fluctuations in herbage amount and quality are discussed as important causes of the reduction of well-being in extensive production systems, which can impair production efficiency of grazing animals and dramatically affect the welfare and health status of sheep and goats. Space allowance and structures of sheep and goat houses are described as the main potential sources of discomfort for housed flocks, together with inadequate control of micro-environment, and inappropriate milking procedures and human-animal interactions. Recent studies on the impact of high ambient temperature, different ventilation regimes, high stocking densities, reduced airspace and poor litter management on behaviour, immune and endocrine response, and on performance of sheep and goats are discussed. The effects of inadequate milking procedures and improper milking technical parameters on welfare and udder health of sheep and goats are also discussed. Finally, some practices aimed at minimizing emotional and nutritional stresses of lambs and kids after early separation from the mother, before the transition to artificial rearing, and at weaning time are described

Strutture e impianti adeguati per il benessere dei piccoli ruminanti

Negli animali d’interesse zootecnico la difficoltà di adattamento alle condizioni ambientali può portare allo sviluppo di patologie che si ripercuotono anche sulla qualità delle produzioni. La presenza in allevamento di strutture ed impianti che permettono una buona ed agevole gestione degli animali è un aspetto fondamentale nella determinazione del benessere degli ovini da latte. La stabulazione deve garantire ad ogni animale il continuo accesso all’alimento e all’acqua, un’area di riposo confortevole e asciutta, e spazio a sufficienza per muoversi e comportarsi secondo la normale gamma di comportamenti caratteristici della specie. In tema di benessere animale la mungitura rappresenta l’operazione critica nell’azienda zootecnica da latte. Il vuoto, la pulsazione ed il gruppo prendicapezzoli sono i principali elementi che influiscono sul benessere animale. Soltanto attraverso l’equilibrato rapporto di questi tre fattori si possono garantire le migliori prestazioni della mungitrice. Lo scopo del lavoro è quello di valutare con attenzione le strutture e gli elementi climatici ad esse connessi, nonché i principali aspetti tecnologici ed operativi dell’impianto di mungitura che possono influenzare la qualità del latte e il benessere animale. In quest’ottica, si è realizzato un prototipo di impianto che consente la mungitura ad un basso livello di vuoto operativo

integrating the rfid identification system for charolaise breeding bulls with 3d imaging for virtual archive creation

The individual electronic identification (EID) of cattle based on RFID technology (134.2 kHz ISO standard 11784) will definitely enter into force in European countries as an official means of animal identification from July 2019. Integrating EID with 3D digital images of the animal would lead to the creation of a virtual archive of breeding animals for the evaluation and promotion of morphology associated with economic traits, strategic in beef cattle production. The genetically-encoded morphology of bulls and cows together with the expression in the phenotype were the main drivers of omic technologies of beef cattle production. The evaluation of bulls raised for reproduction is mainly based on the conformation and heritability of traits, which culminates in muscle mass and optimized carcass traits in the offspring destined to be slaughtered. A bottom-up approach by way of SWOT analysis of the current morphological and functional evaluation process for bulls revealed a technological gap. The innovation of the process through the use of smart technologies was tested in the field. The conventional 2D scoring system based on visual inspection by breed experts was carried out on a 3D model of the live animal, which was found to be a faithful reproduction of live animal morphology, thanks to the non significant variance (p > 0.05) of means of the somatic measures determined on the virtual 3D model and on the real bull. The four main groups composing the scoring system of bull morphology can easily be carried out on the 3D model. These are as follows: (1) Muscular condition; (2) Skeletal development; (3) Functional traits; (4) Breed traits. The 3D-Bull model derived from the Structure from Motion (SfM) algorithm displays a high tech profile for the evaluation of animal morphology in an upgraded system

Tipologie impiantistiche

Il capitolo mostra alcuni tipi di serbatoi refrigeranti per il latte, spiegandone le caratteristiche di costruzione e le prestazioni

Gruppo prendicapezzoli

Il capitolo esamina, all'interno di un impianto di mungitura meccanica, l'architettura e il funzionamento del gruppo prendicapezzoli, la guaina di mungitura che lo compone e il movimento del latte al suo interno