Zerasca sheep: environment, characteristics and production

The Zeri ewe is an indigenous Italian breed that is spread throughout the homonymous area located in northwest Tuscany. This article presents the history and evolution of Zerasca sheep, describes the breed’s characteristics in terms of somatic and productive traits, managerial and health practices, meat quality; moreover it underlines its contribution to the preservation of the rural land and population of the Zeri district. First documentation on this breed dates back to the 19th Century (Antonelli, 1845). Zerasca breed has a medium-large size with white fleece. Males present horns while in females can be absent. Currently Zerasca ovine population totals more than 2,000 heads. Sheep husbandry is currently predominant in Zeri area thanks to the great availability of woody vegetation (oak, chestnut, hazel, alder and beech trees), meadows and pastures. Animals’ nutrition depends mostly on grazing pastures, infact flocks are generally supported only with a little nutritional supplementation. The first typical production is the heavy lamb that is gaining more and more relevance thanks to its excellent meat quality, unique in taste; infact, Zeri lamb is included in the list of Slow Food Presidia, reflecting the recognized quality of this product in the world.Most of shepherds jointed in a consortium for the valorization and safeguarding of Zerasca sheep and lambs, whose regulation points towards the implementation of extensive farming systems with an optimal exploitation of local pasture resources. One of the most important problem that Zerasca sheep farmers often complain is represented by gastrointestinal parasitism, almost endemic in sheep husbandry and particularly in sheep raised under extensive systems. Today, “Zeri lamb” has a considerable economic impact on its territory, ensuring increasing profits for shepherds. The aim of this review is to collect information about a native breed in endangered status that it is gaining importance thanks to the high-quality of products

Effects of pasture on carcass composition in Cinta Senese pig

The trial was performed to investigate on the effects of different periods of grass pasture in fattening Cinta Senese pigs; growth performances, carcass characteristics and meat quality were studied. Control group was reared in paddock and fed concentrate, while experimental group grazed on grass pasture with an integration of 1.4 kg/pig/d of concentrate. Initial live weight was not different between the two groups and individual weights were periodically recorded. Animals were slaughtered from 36 to 160 days from the trial beginning. Carcass weight, body measures, backfat thickness, pH45 and pH24 were recorded. After 24 hours of refrigeration, each carcass was dissected into lean, fat and bone cuts. Results didn't show differences between the two groups, revealing that Cinta Senese pigs can profitably utilize pasture on grass even in fattening period

THE EFFECT OF SUPRAPHYSIOLOGICAL DOSES OF VITAMIN E ON PERFORMANCE OF BROILER BREEDERS FLOCK

: The effect of supplementary vitamin E levels on the performance of broiler breeder flocks was studied. A completely randomized design with four treatments (100, 500, 1000, or 1500 IU vitamin E/kg) and three replicates per treatment was used. Each replicate included seven females and one male broiler breeder. Rearing conditions, lighting, temperature, humidity, amount of feed, and the amount of other nutrients in the diet were equal for all treatment groups and according to specifications of the management guide for broiler production. Eggs from each replicate were collected up to six times daily for nine weeks. Every three days, eggs were transferred to a hatchery and their characteristics were determined. The results showed 5- to 15-fold Vitamin E levels over the recommended daily dose had significant negative effects on hatchability and related parameters as well as on herd economic index (P<0.05)

Buckwheat bran (Fagopyrum esculentum) as partial replacement of corn and soybean meal in the laying hen diet

The effect of partial substitution of corn (-20%) and soybean meal (-10%) with buckwheat bran (+30%) (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) in the diet of ISA-Brown hens was investigated in sixteen 74-week old hens, housed in couple wire cages and submitted to a 16 h light:8 h dark photoperiod. The following traits were measured: body weight, egg production, egg mass, egg quality, feed intake, feed conversion, comparative palatability of ingredients and digestibility of diet. χ2 and non-parametric tests were used for production rate and yolk color score, respectively. ANOVA was used for all other parameters. Comparative choice of buckwheat, corn and soy was checked under different forms in 3 free choice tests. Results show that egg production rate (43.3% vs 50.5%; P<0.05) and feed intake (78.3±0.68 eggs/hen d vs 87.8±0.68 eggs/hen d; P<0.05) increased with the partial introduction of buckwheat bran in the diet. There was no difference in feed conversion between treatments. Nutrient balance confirmed that AMEn of diet was deeply lowered by the buckwheat bran use (6.5 MJ/kg vs 10.1 MJ/kg ), due to the high fibre content of buckwheat bran (263 g/kg). Maize was always the most preferred ingredient, buckwheat bran was consumed more than expected in absence of any preference, and soybean was the food least chosen. Buckwheat bran can be used as an ingredient feed for low-producing laying hens; it induces a feed-intake increase, partially balanced by improved egg-production rates and a tendency to better albumen Haugh units

Assessment of blood and productive parameters in mid-lactation dairy cows fed different diets: replacement of corn silage with triticale silage

Corn crops require large amounts of resources that affect the environmental sustainability of dairy cow farming systems. The aim of the study was thus to investigate the effects of the replacement of corn silage (CS) with triticale silage (TS) by evaluating blood and productive parameters. The study lasted 7&nbsp;weeks and involved two groups of 20 Italian Holstein Friesian dairy cows that were homogeneous in terms of parity ( 3±1.5 ), days in milk (DIM) ( 150±85.0 ), and daily milk production ( 26±4.6  kg). Chemical analysis of feeds was carried out weekly. Dry-matter intake was estimated daily. At the beginning and end of the trial, haematological, metabolic, and immunological parameters were analysed. At the same, time body weight and body condition score were measured. Milk characteristics were also analysed weekly. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA on data of the second sampling, and a non-parametric test was performed to analyse BCS. Regarding the haematological parameters in the two groups, only lymphocyte values were not in the normal range (2.86 and 2.50×109  L for CS and TS, respectively). Metabolic parameters were in the normal range except for blood ureic nitrogen (BUN; 13.65 and 14.04  mgdL-1 ), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs; 21.40 and 31.93  µmolL-1 ), and Cl (91.99 and 93.50  mmolL-1 ). Hair cortisol was low (0.94 and 0.91  pgmg-1 ), indicating the absence of stress signs, as confirmed by the results of other immunological parameters (serum lysozyme (SL), bactericidal activity (SBA), haptoglobin (HP), and oxygen free radicals (OFRs)). Statistical differences were not found either for haematological or biochemical parameters. The total replacement of CS with TS did not affect milk yield and composition. In conclusion, the replacement of CS by TS did not give rise to significant modifications in the parameters investigated and did not alter the health status of the animals, thus suggesting the feasibility of its introduction into the diet of mid-lactation dairy cows

Gastrointestinal strongyles burden monitoring in a flock of Zerasca sheep treated with homeopathy

Introdution The widespread use of conventional drugs in farm animals has resulted in anthelmintic resistance as well as the contamination of deleterious molecules in animal products and in the environment. Researchers are thus focusing on production systems that rely less on chemicals. The aim of this study was to monitor the gastrointestinal strongyle burden, blood count, body condition scores (BCS), and FAffa MAlan CHArt (FAMACHA) in a local Italian breed of sheep reared in natural conditions. Methods The study was carried out in a farm where homeopathy was utilised. Over a one-year period, faeces were sampled six times from ten Zerasca ewes to evaluate the fecal eggs count using a modified McMaster technique. At the same time, blood samples were collected to evaluate white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and red cell distribution width. BCS and FAMACHA were also recorded. Results Results showed low parasite levels in most of the samples with the highest value in the spring. Blood parameters were within the normal range, with significant fluctuations during the sampling period. BCS values corresponded to an adequate nutritional condition of the animals and FAMACHA scores did not suggest a worrying state of anemia. Conclusions In this farm, a thorough monitoring of the gastrointestinal parasite burden together with a BCS and FAMACHA evaluation allowed the amount of chemical treatments to be limited, normally administered twice a year without laboratory tests

Influenza della parziale introduzione di fonti proteiche alternative alla soia su alcuni parametri metabolici e immunologici in suini all'ingrasso

È stato effettuato uno studio sugli effetti della parziale sostituzione della soia nella dieta di suini pesanti nella fase di ingrasso su alcuni parametri metabolici e immunologici. La prova è stata condotta su 30 femmine omogenee per età e peso, divise in tre gruppi sperimentali: in un gruppo la fonte proteica era rappresentata dalla soia mentre negli altri due questa è stata par- zialmente sostituita con il 20% di pisello (Pisum sativum L.) e il 18% di favino (Vicia faba L. var. minor). Durante la prova, che ha avuto la durata di sei mesi, sono stati effettuati tre prelievi ematici: all’inizio (T0), in una fase intermedia (T1) e prima del- la macellazione (T2). I parametri analizzati sono stati: ALP, ALT, AST, bilirubina totale, colesterolo, glucosio, NEFA, proteine totali, trigliceridi, GGT, albumina, attività battericida del siero, complemento, lisozima. I risultati hanno evidenziato differenze significative imputabili alla dieta solo per i NEFA (p&lt;0,05), mentre più numerosi sono risultati i parametri influenzati dal periodo di campionamento: colesterolo, trigliceridi, battericidia (p&lt;0,05), ALP, glucosio, lisozima (p&lt;0,01). Alcuni dei parametri esaminati risultano fuori dal range di normalità indipendentemente dalla dieta e dal momento di campionamento. Dai risultati ottenuti si può osservare che le diete utilizzate non hanno comportato variazioni nel profilo metabolico e immunologico e dei suini nella fase di ingrasso

Trans-vaginal echographic approach to early pregnancy diagnosis in small ruminants

SUMMARY The A.A. relate about preliminary results from a total of 79 echographic sessions for transvaginal pregnancy diagnoses performed on adult pluriparous sheep (48) and goats (3), in late autumn 2004. Each female was subjected to: a) a simple trans-vaginal examination, b) a transvaginal examination with lifted abdomen and c) a classic trans-abdominal trans-cutaneous pregnancy diagnosis. In many cases a confirmatory echographic follow-up was repeated a week later or more. For trans-vaginal examinations a 5 MHz, lubricated, convex probe was inserted in the vaginal cavity of the sheep, held in a standing position, and the results were always compared with those obtained by trans-cutaneous examination, in the sitting constrained animal (Tab. Ia and Ib). At first TVAL, on the 51 examined animals 28 resulted pregnant; 18 notpregnant (two with pathologic uterine collections) and 5 dubious. In spite of our still limited experience, the method including abdominal lifting resulted rapid, early, safe, reliable and easy, therefore the main target of this preliminary note has been to highlight the possibility of checking early pregnancies in small ruminants by TVAL. Smaller echographic probes and more on field experiences are still required for better evaluation of the method and for its extension to younger nulliparous ewe-lambs. RIASSUNTO Gli autori riferiscono i risultati ottenuti nel corso di 79 esperienze di diagnosi di gravidanza ecografica per via trans-vaginale effettuate nell’autunno 2004 su 51 soggetti (48 pecore e 3 capre adulte e pluripare) mediante una sonda convessa da 5 MHz. La tecnica per via vaginale applicata in soggetti mantenuti in stazione quadrupedale, è risultata più semplice e veloce di quella trans-addominale ed igienicamente più accettabile di quella trans-rettale. Qualche difficoltà diagnostica si è osservata in condizioni di gravidanza avanzata o di rilassamento legamentoso dell’utero, connesso all’età ed alla carriera riproduttiva del soggetto, per cui, nei casi in prima istanza negativi, è apparso sempre indispensabile il ricorso al sollevamento della parete addominale

Influenza di diverse fonti energetiche sulle caratteristiche produttive di agnelli in acrescimento in diete a base di girasole

RIASSUNTO L’obiettivo del presente lavoro è stato quello di studiare l’influenza di diverse fonti energetiche sulle caratteristiche produttive di agnelli in accrescimento in diete a base di girasole. La prova, della durata di 50 giorni, è stata condotta su 25 agnelli maschi di razza Appenninica, dell’età iniziale di 50 giorni, alimentati con cinque diverse diete pellettate. Le diete erano costituite da una base proteica comune, la farina di estrazione di girasole e da una integrazione energetica di mais e orzo in differenti proporzioni tra loro (100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 e 0/100). I risultati hanno evidenziato che la fonte energetica non ha influenzato in maniera significativa i parametri osservati. SUMMARY The research was carried out in order to investigate the effect of different energetic sources on productive performances and carcass characteristics of lambs when sunflower meal was the main protein source. For a 50 days period, starting from 50 days of age, 25 male Apennine lambs were fed on five different pelleted diets, based on sunflower meal, and five ratios of maize and barley (100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75 and 0/100). No significant differences in productive performances and carcass characteristics were found among the five diets