Technical note: Estimation of real rabbit meat consumption in Italy

[EN] As in other livestock species, the annual per capita consumption of rabbit meat is currently estimated as the ratio of the total weight of carcasses available for consumption to the number of inhabitants of a certain region. The aim of this work was to establish conversion coefficients from carcass to dible lean meat and estimate real rabbit meat consumption in Italy. Accordingly, a total of 24 rabbits were slaughtered at 2 different ages to obtain carcasses representative of the main market categories in Northern Italy: medium-size (carcass weight of about 1.4 kg) and heavy-size (carcass weight of about 1.8 kg). Chilled carcasses were used to determine offal, dissectible fat, bone and meat weights and yields. Experimentally obtained conversion factors from carcass to edible lean meat and estimated meat waste percentage at retail and consumption levels were subsequently used to estimate the real per capita amount of rabbit meat consumed in Italy. The finding of this study revealed that, if compared to the medium-size group, heavy-size carcasses had higher lean meat yield for both intermediate (92.9 vs. 92.4%; P<0.05) and hind parts (84.3 vs. 79.1%; P<0.001). On the contrary, the meat yield of fore part was higher in the medium-size group (66.2 vs. 65.5%; P<0.001) compared to heavy-size carcasses. Eventually, overall meat yield was higher in heavy-size carcasses compared to medium-size ones (64.4 vs. 63.2%; P<0.001). By using these conversion factors and estimated overall losses at retailing and home-consumption (15%), we estimated that real per capita annual rabbit meat consumption is 0.50 kg in Italy, which is only 54% compared to the estimated apparent consumption (0.90 kg).Petracci, M.; Soglia, F.; Baldi, G.; Balzani, L.; Mudalal, S.; Cavani, C. (2018). Technical note: Estimation of real rabbit meat consumption in Italy. World Rabbit Science. 26(1):91-96. doi:10.4995/wrs.2018.7802SWORD919626

The CASPER project: an integrated approach for pollution risk assessment in peri-urban groundwater catchment areas

peer reviewedAbstract. In 2020, the European Union has established a recast of the 1998 EU Directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption, hereafter called Drinking Water Directive – DWD. One of the most significant innovative point in this recast is the introduction of an innovative “complete risk-based approach to water safety, covering the whole supply chain from the catchment area, abstraction, treatment, storage and distribution to the point of compliance” (article 7). In practice, a 3-level risk assessment and risk management is expected: (1) at the level of the catchment area (article 8), (2) at the level of the water supply systems (article 9) and (3) at the level of the domestic distribution system (article 10). In this context, the CASPER project, funded by SPGE in the Walloon Region of Belgium, aims at developing an integrated approach for the evaluation and management of pollution risks for peri-urban groundwater catchments. The approach, which fully complies with the requirements of the DWD recast, consists of several key components. First, point and diffuse pollution sources are identified in the groundwater catchment area based on a mapping of hazardous activities combined with a specific groundwater monitoring survey aiming at identifying specific tracers of such sources of pollution. In a second step, risks associated to each of the identified source of pollution is estimated based on the measurement of pollutant mass fluxes and mass discharges downgradient these sources. Finally, a groundwater flow and transport model is developed at the scale of the groundwater catchment area, with the aim of evaluating the cumulative effect of the multiple sources on groundwater quality deterioration in the catchment and at the abstraction points. The objective here is to describe the CASPER approach and to illustrate it using ongoing investigations in a peri-urban groundwater catchment exploiting groundwater from a chalk aquifer in Western Belgium.CASPE

Evaluating the contribution of antimicrobial use in farmed animals to global antimicrobial resistance in humans

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is currently regarded by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the most significant risks to global public health. The most critical causes of AMR infections in humans are the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans and farmed animals. The rising global demand for food of animal origin encourages the increase of animal production worldwide, especially in developing countries. Simultaneously, current farming practices often extensively use antimicrobials on animals, influencing bacterial AMR incidence. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between antimicrobial use (AMU) in farmed animals and the detection of AMR infections in humans, the effects of enforcing laws in animal farming in a country on AMR situation in the neighbors, and the potential of AMR to spread from one country to another. Using data from 30 largest animal-producing countries in different regions of the world, between 2010 and 2020, and a Spatial Durbin Model (SDM), we found that AMU in farmed animals increases AMR in humans and there is a spatial dependence between countries regarding AMR spreading. Such findings indicate that a globally coordinated strategy regulating AMU on farmed animals may reduce AMR emergence and worldwide spreading

An evaluation of four private animal health and welfare standards and associated quality assurance programmes for dairy cow production

peer-reviewedPrivate standards in animal health and welfare (AHW) and associated quality assurance (QA) programmes are an important instrument for food policy with the potential to substantially improve AHW. However, there are concerns that they do not necessarily do so. In this study, we evaluated four private AHW standards and associated QA programmes for dairy cow production, from Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, using an existing (but adapted) conceptual framework. The framework considers criteria relating to programme goals including relevance to AHW, programme beneficiaries, effectiveness, efficiency and transparency. The current study focused on information that was publicly available online. We found limited objective information to support programme claims, although there were considerable differences between programmes. Across all programmes, problems were identified with respect to transparency, and attempts to scrutinise claims would not be a straightforward process for most consumers. Among the programmes, there were notable examples of best-practice in AHW, relating to science-based evidence, separation of risk assessment and risk management, animal-based measures, farm benchmarking, ongoing programme-level metrics and measurement, and ongoing programme review. There is a need for careful scrutiny of private standards and QA programmes, to provide consumers with assurance with respect to programme effectiveness and transparency. Further, it is important that programme efficiencies are maximised. There is a strong case for regulatory oversight of private standards in AHW and associated QA programmes. This could be within existing or defined policy instruments, both to facilitate the positive impact of these programmes and to build confidence among consumers of the validity of programme claims

Saving temporary exhibitions in virtual environments: The Digital Renaissance of Ulisse Aldrovandi – Acquisition and digitisation of cultural heritage objects

As per the objectives of Project CHANGES, particularly its thematic sub-project on the use of virtual technologies for museums and art collections, our goal was to obtain a digital twin of the temporary exhibition on Ulisse Aldrovandi called “The Other Renaissance”, and make it accessible to users online. After a preliminary study of the exhibition, focusing on acquisition constraints and related solutions, we proceeded with the digital twin creation by acquiring, processing, modelling, optimising, exporting, and metadating the exhibition. We made hybrid use of two acquisition techniques to create new digital cultural heritage objects and environments, and we used open technologies, formats, and protocols to make available the final digital product. Here, we describe the process of collecting and curating bibliographical exhibition (meta) data and the beginning of the digital twin creation to foster its findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability. The creation of the digital twin is currently ongoing

Preliminary stages and studies for the development of a 3D aquifer physical model

Groundwater issues are among the most important sustainability studies related to topics considered as critical point for the future of planet Earth(Gleeson et al., 2010) in the perspective of a sustainable world. Analyses are focused on two complementary aspects: quantity and quality.Thus, once physical behaviour is analysed, it is coupled with chemical characterisation studies, in order to obtain a better view of an investigated site.The work begins with a brief overview of the literature which summarizes the challenges of teaching hydrogeology by theoretical lessons coupled with practical activities. The focus is on laboratory experiments implemented on physical models. In fact, to fully understand the process of groundwater flow and solute transport, and to demonstrate the basics fundamental concepts behind, it is important to visualize them in a lab-scale. This thesis is undertaken in the context of the installation of a 3D physical model at the University of Liège as a support to teaching and research works: dimension, set up, construction and support devices used for system optimal functioning are presented. The global aim of the work is to prepare everything needed to set up the sand tank. This is a fundamental step in order to be able to pre-dimension real experiments, to give ideas about the magnitude order of the expected results and to check the reliability of mathematical results and/or low-dimensionality models. Part of the document is centred on the characterization of porous aquifer materials to implement in the physical model, in particular through sand column one-dimensional lab experiments performed on four distinguished types of quartz sands (differentiated by the particles size) in particular a Constant Head Permeability Test and a Salt Tracer Test(KCl).A numerical model of the 3D tank is also developed by the use of GMS-MODFLOW-MT3DS and few experiments are simulated(gradient variation, pumping test at different pumping rates and tracer test)

Comparative Analysis of Facial Coloration between Introduced and Source Populations of the Red Wood Ant Formica paralugubris

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Animals’ body coloration can be implied in several ecological and behavioral processes, but it is understudied in ants. In this study, we compared the differences between the facial coloration of sixty-year-old imported populations of the red wood ant Formica paralugubris and their source populations, using a shape-based analytical approach for the first time. We found that, except for a case we discuss, the facial coloration is overall similar between introduced and source populations, suggesting a stable genetic background. Interestingly, we found that the large difference in the habitat in which populations naturally dwell or were established—forests dominated by spruce, beech, fir, and a mix of these—has a low effect on shaping this trait, as we might expect from previous studies. However, the within-population variability suggests that facial coloration is probably affected by very localized external factors at the population and nest level. Finally, we found that the ant size affects the trait, a result in line with previous studies. ABSTRACT: The variation in the typical black-reddish color of red wood ants (Formica rufa group) has been recently suggested as a good indicator of habitat quality, being dependent on environmental conditions. However, the relative contribution of external factors and heritability in shaping this trait is poorly investigated. In this study, we compared the facial coloration of workers from four introduced populations of Formica paralugubris with those of the two Alpine populations from which they had been taken. We used a Relative Warp Analysis to describe the variations in the shape of this trait. We expected each introduced population to be more similar to its population of origin if the color pattern was predominantly genetically determined. On the contrary, due to the considerable differences in habitat type and climate between the Alps and the Apennines, we expected to observe differences between the introduced population and their origin population if the coloration was mostly environmentally determined. With one exception that we discuss, the results showed that ants from the two source populations had different phenotypes, and that the introduced populations had a shape similar to the population of origin, suggesting a stable genetic background. Surprisingly, the habitat type seems to have a less clear effect, even if within-population differences suggest the influence of very localized environmental factors. Finally, we found that the facial coloration shape is affected by the ant’s size, a result in line with previous studies

Protection of peri-urban groundwater catchments: a multi-tracer approach for the identification of urban pollution sources

Abstract: Groundwater catchment located in peri-urban areas may be impacted by many pollutants coming from different types of point or diffuse sources such as accidental spills, continuous hidden leaks in drainage networks, old landfills, treated/untreated wastewater and watercourses. In the scope of the CASPER project, a new methodological approach has been developed based on field survey and interpretation of the collected data in order to distinguish between the different sources of contamination and mixtures of pollutants. First, the groundwater catchment area corresponding to the land surface perimeter in which abstracted groundwater is recharged is determined and characterised in hydrogeological terms. The possible sources of pollution are identified. In a second step, a groundwater and surface water monitoring survey is established, and water samples are collected focusing on a combination of physicochemical parameters and set of various hydrochemical indicators. In particular, different stable isotopes are considered. The NO3- and B stable isotopes are used to distinguish between inputs linked to urban effluents, agricultural fertilisers and manure. Stable isotopes of SO42- are used to distinguish between sulphide minerals oxidation, sulphur-carbon compounds mineralisation, lixiviation and human pollution. Moreover, the occurrence of specific molecules like pharmaceutical and lifestyle products (carbamazepine, caffeine, etc.) are used as effective tracers of anthropogenic contamination. Microbiological analyses are also undertaken to identify microbial populations associated with specific sources of pollution or specific biochemical reactions occurring in soil and groundwater. The resulting hydrochemical dataset is then processed using multivariate and clustering analyses. In this context, the objective here is to describe the methodological approach developed for source identification and to illustrate this using a case study corresponding to a groundwater catchment is a chalk aquifer in Western Belgium

Délivrable D02 : Rapport de synthèse sur le contexte environnemental des captages étudiés, les données disponibles et les résultats des campagnes d’échantillonnage dans les zones de captages. Captage de Boussu-Hornu

Développement d’une méthodologie intégrée de protection des CAptageS en zone PERiurbaine6. Clean water and sanitatio

State of the Art of urban pollution sources: their characteristics and signatures for the identification of specific tracers of their occurrence

Développement d’une méthodologie intégrée de protection des CAptageS en zone PERiurbaine6. Clean water and sanitatio