Efecto del sexo y del peso al sacrificio sobre las características del lomo y de la grasa de cerdos destinados a la producción de Jamón curado de Teruel

A total of 200 Duroc × (Landrace × Large White) pigs intended for Protected Designation of Origin Teruel dry-curedham manufacture was used for the study. The objective was to investigate the effect of gender (barrows and gilts) andslaughter weight (SW; 120, 125, 130, 135 or 140 kg) on Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle characteristics and the fatty acid (FA) profile of the subcutaneous fat. The LD from barrows had higher intramuscular fat (P<0.01), b* value (P<0.01),colour intensity (P<0.01 for c* and P<0.05 for Hº) and tenderness (P<0.05) than the LD from gilts. Fat from barrows had a higher saturated FA content (P<0.01) a lower polyunsaturated (P<0.001) and unsaturated FA content (P<0.01) than fat from gilts. On the other hand, intramuscular fat was increased (P<0.05) but moisture and L* (P<0.05), thawing (P<0.001) and cooking losses (P<0.01) decreased as SW increased. Polyunsaturated FA content decreased (P<0.001) and saturated FA proportion tended to increase (P<0.10) as the SW increased. It was concluded that barrows and gilts were adequate for both fresh meat and dry-cured ham production. An increase in SW from 120 to 140 kg impairs subcutaneous fat quality but improves some loin characteristics which are desirable for Teruel dry-cured pork production.Un total de 200 cerdos Duroc × (Landrace × Large) destinados a la Denominación de Origen Protegida Jamón de Teruelfueron usados para el estudio. El objetivo fue estudiar el efecto del sexo (machos castrados y hembras) y el peso al sacrificio (120, 125, 130, 135 y 140 kg) sobre las características del músculo Longissimus dorsi (LD) y el perfil de ácidos grasos de la grasa subcutánea. El LD de los castrados presentó mayor contenido en grasa intramuscular (P<0,01), valor de b* (P<0,01), intensidad del color (P<0,01 para c* y P<0,05 para Hº) y terneza (P<0,05) que el LD de las hembras. La grasa de los castrados tuvo mayor porcentaje de ácidos grasos saturados (P<0,01) y menor de poliinsaturados (P<0,001) e insaturados (P<0,01) que la grasa de las hembras. El aumento del peso al sacrificio incrementó el contenido en grasa intramuscular (P<0,05), pero redujo la humedad y el valor L* (P<0,05) y las pérdidas por descongelación (P<0,001) y por cocinado (P<0,01) del lomo. Asimismo, el contenido en ácidos grasos poliinsaturados disminuyó (P<0,001) y la proporción deácidos grasos saturados tendió a aumentar (P<0,10) a medida que el peso al sacrificio aumentaba. Concluimos que machos castrados y hembras son adecuados para carne fresca y para la elaboración de productos curados. El incremento del peso al sacrificio empeora la calidad de la grasa, pero mejora algunos aspectos de la carne que son deseables para la industria de carne curada de cerdo de Teruel

Effect of the dietary supplementation with sunflower oil and incremental levels of marine algae on the rumen bacterial community in dairy sheep

1 page.-- Contributed to: 7th Rowett-INRA Symposium. Gut microbiology: new insight into gut microbial ecosystems (Aberdeen, Reino Unido, Jun 23-25, 2010).In lactating ruminants, the dietary supplementation with lipids rich in linoleic acid, such as sunflower oil (SO), and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)...Peer reviewe

Effects of maternal subnutrition during early pregnancy on cow hematological profiles and offspring physiology and vitality in two beef breeds

This experiment evaluated the effects of subnutrition during early gestation on hematology in cows (Bos Taurus) and on hematological, metabolic, endocrine, and vitality parameters in their calves. Parda de Montaña and Pirenaica dams were inseminated and assigned to either a control (CONTROL, 100% requirements) or a nutrient‐restricted group (SUBNUT, 65%) during the first third of gestation. Dam blood samples were collected on days 20 and 253 of gestation, and calf samples were obtained during the first days of life. Pirenaica dams presented higher red series parameters than Parda de Montaña dams, both in the first and the last months of gestation. During early pregnancy, granulocyte numbers and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were lower in Pirenaica‐SUBNUT than in Pirenaica‐CONTROL cows. Calves from the SUBNUT cows did not show a physiological reduction in red series values in early life, suggesting later maturation of the hematopoietic system. Poor maternal nutrition affected calf endocrine parameters. Newborns from dystocic parturitions showed lower NEFA concentrations and weaker vitality responses. In conclusion, maternal nutrition had short‐term effects on cow hematology, Pirenaica cows showing a higher susceptibility to undernutrition; and a long‐term effect on their offspring endocrinology, SUBNUT newborns showing lower levels of IGF‐1 and higher levels of cortisol.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Business and the European Union Regional Development Funds (INIA RTA 2013‐00059‐C02 and INIA RZP 2015‐001) and the Government of Aragon under the Grant Research Group Funds (A14_17R). A. Noya received a PhD grant from INIA‐Government of Aragon

The effect of transport time, season and position on the truck on stress response in rabbits

[EN] The present study analyzed the effect of transport time, season and position on the truck on physiological stress response of commercial rabbits in Aragón (Spain). A total of 156 animals were sampled in a 2x2x3 factorial design testing two transport times: short, 1 hour (1hT) and long, 7 hours (7hT), in two different seasons: hot, during summer (HT) and cold during winter (CT), and three different positions on the truck: upper, middle or lower decks in multi-floor cages on rolling stands (MFRS-top, MFRS-middle and MFRS-bottom). Three replicates were performed per treatment. Blood samples were taken at sticking during slaughter to compare hematocrite, corticosterone, glucose, lactate and Creatine Kinase (CK) levels as well as the ultimate pH of the carcass (pH24). Corticosterone and CK levels were highest in 1hT rabbits. With respect to season, colder temperatures increased corticosterone, while warmer temperatures increased CK (P<0.001). Regarding position on the truck, MFRS-middle and bottom rabbits had higher levels of glucose, corticosterone and CK. The pH24 values were within normal ranges for all treatments but slightly higher for animals transported in winter. In general, transport time and season were significant stressors for commercial rabbits, due to the effects on their physiological states. Position on the truck seems to have an effect on stress response to transport in rabbits. However, pH24, which is considered one of the main parameters of welfare measurements, was not affected by transport time or position on the truck.Our project was financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (CICYT AGL-2002-01346). The authors wish to thank CUIN S.L. in Villanueva de Gállego and the associations MADECUN and ASESCU for their collaboration.Liste, M.; María, GA.; García-Belenguer, S.; Chacón, G.; Gazzola, P.; Villarroel, M. (2008). The effect of transport time, season and position on the truck on stress response in rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 16(4). doi:10.4995/wrs.2008.618SWORD16

Oral administration of cobalt acetate alters milk fatty acid composition, consistent with an inhibition of stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase in lactating ewes

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Tratamiento con nicergolina de dos casos de disfunción cognitiva en perros geriátricos

Dos perros con signos de disfunción cognitiva fueron tratados con nicergolina. El objetivo era poder mejorar el aporte sanguíneo al cerebro y retrasar los efectos propios del síndrome. En ambos casos se observó una mejora ostensible de su conducta. La nicergolina puede se útil en el tratamiento sintomático del síndrome.

Comparison of ruminal lipid metabolism in dairy cows and goats fed diets supplemented with starch, plant oil or fish oil

16 páginas, 5 tablas, 1 figura.Direct comparison of cow and goat performanceand milk fatty acid responses to diets known to inducemilk fat depression (MFD) in the bovine revealsrelevant species-by-diet interactions in ruminal lipidmetabolism. Thus, this study was conducted to inferpotential mechanisms responsible for differences in therumen microbial biohydrogenation (BH) due to dietand ruminant species. To meet this objective, 12 cowsand 15 goats were fed a basal diet (control), a similardiet supplemented with 2.2% fish oil (FO), or a dietcontaining 5.3% sunflower oil and additional starch(+38%; SOS) according to a 3 × 3 Latin square designwith 25-d experimental periods. On the last day of eachperiod, fatty acid composition (by gas chromatography)and bacterial community (by terminal-RFLP),as well as fermentation characteristics, were measuredin rumen fluid samples. Results showed significant differencesin the response of cows and goats to dietarytreatments, although variations in some fermentationparameters (e.g., decreases in the acetate-to-propionateratio due to FO or SOS) were similar in both species.Main alterations in ruminal BH pathways potentiallyresponsible for MFD on the SOS diet (i.e., the shiftfrom trans-11 to trans-10 18:1 and related increases intrans-10,cis-12 18:2) tended to be more pronounced incows, which is consistent with an associated MFD onlyin this species. However, changes linked to FO-inducedMFD (e.g., decreases in 18:0 and increases in totaltrans-18:1) were stronger in caprine rumen fluid, whichmay explain their unexpected susceptibility (althoughless marked than in bovine) to the negative effect ofFO on milk fat content. Altogether, these results suggestthat distinct ruminal mechanisms lead to eachtype of diet-induced MFD and confirm a pronouncedinteraction with species. With regard to microbiota,differences between cows and goats in the compositionof the rumen bacterial community might be behindthe disparity in the microorganisms affected by theexperimental diets (e.g., Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae,and Succinivibrionaceae in the bovine, andPseudobutryrivibrio, Clostridium cluster IV, Prevotella,and Veillonellaceae in the caprine), which hinderedthe assignation of bacterial populations to particularBH steps or pathways. Furthermore, most relevantvariations in microbial groups corresponded to as yetuncultured bacteria and suggest that these microorganismsmay play a predominant role in the ruminal lipidmetabolism in both cows and goats.This study was supported by INRA (UMR1213; France) and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO; AGL2014-54587). P. G. Toral was granted a postdoctoral fellowship from Fundación Alfonso Martín Escudero (Madrid, Spain) and a research contract from the MINECO (Juan de la Cierva program).Peer reviewe

OPA1 functions in mitochondria and dysfunctions in optic nerve

OPA1 is the major gene responsible for Dominant Optic Atrophy (DOA), a blinding disease that affects specifically the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which function consists in connecting the neuro-retina to the brain. OPA1 encodes an intra-mitochondrial dynamin, involved in inner membrane structures and ubiquitously expressed, raising the critical question of the origin of the disease pathophysiology. Here, we review the fundamental knowledge on OPA1 functions and regulations, highlighting their involvements in mitochondrial respiration, membrane dynamic and apoptosis. In light of these functions, we then describe the remarkable RGC mitochondrial network physiology and analyse data collected from animal models expressing OPA1 mutations. If, to date RGC mitochondria does not present any peculiarity at the molecular level, they represent possible targets of numerous assaults, like light, pressure, oxidative stress and energetic impairment, which jeopardize their function and survival, as observed in OPA1 mouse models. Although fascinating fields of investigation are still to be addressed on OPA1 functions and on DOA pathophysiology, we have reached a conspicuous state of knowledge with pertinent cell and animal models, from which therapeutic trials can be initiated and deeply evaluated

Effects of alternative bedding substrates on lamb welfare, productive performance, and meat quality during the finishing phase of fattening

The study analyzed the effect of using sawdust, cellulose, straw, and rice husk bedding on the welfare, performance and meat quality of lambs during the finishing phase of fattening. Ninety-six lambs (fed ad libitum with concentrate) were assigned to pens containing 1 of 4 bedding materials in groups of 12 for 14 days. Live weight and feed consumption were recorded to estimate daily gain and conversion index, and carcass and meat quality variables were measured. Stereotypies, exploratory interactions with bedding material, and agonistic and affiliative interactions between animals were recorded by continuous sampling techniques using video recording. The substrates affected behavior and stress response variables. There were more stereotypies and agonistic interactions at the beginning of the experiment in all treatments (P ≤ 0.05). The lambs fattened on cellulose bedding interacted more with the substrate throughout the finishing stage (P ≤ 0.05), where there were also more affiliative interactions (P ≤ 0.05). Stress levels were lower in lambs on straw, followed by cellulose. No significant differences in production or carcass and meat quality traits were observed between treatments. The results suggest that all substrates evaluated could be efficiently incorporated into the system as bedding material without affecting productivity or product quality