Faba bean (Vicia faba minor) and pea seeds (Pisum sativum) as protein sources in lactating ewes' diets.

18 Massese lactating ewes, divided into 3 homogeneous groups for parity and milk yield, were used to evaluate the replacement effects of soybean meal by Faba bean (Vicia faba minor) and Pea (Pisum sativum) seeds. During a 70 days trial (beginning after weaning: 30±1.5 days after lambing) animals were fed three isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets. Each diet was characterised by the presence of only one protein feed. The diets consisted of alfalfa hay (1.1 kg/head/d) and a decreasing amount of mixed feed (from 1.1 to 0.7 kg/head/d) to fit animals' requirements. Milk yield, milk chemical composition, animals live weight and BCS, health state and hematochemical parameters were regularly monitored. No diets palatability problems were detected. No significant differences resulted for live weight, BCS, milk yield and milk chemical composition, except for milk protein: higher for faba bean (6.54%) and soybean (6.39%) respect pea (5.66%) diets, P<0.05. No differences resulted for blood parameters too and no clinical signs of illness were observed. Therefore faba bean and pea seeds seem to be able to replace the soybean well

Apparent digestibility of three diets in the Amiata breed donkey during lactation

The aim of the trial was to evaluate the apparent digestibility of three isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets for lactating donkeys: a diet with 8 kg of hay and 1.5 kg of commercial flaked mixed feed (CM) (Diet 1); a diet with 7 kg of hay and a 2.2 kg of CM (Diet 2) and a diet with 7 kg of hay, 1.5 kg of CM, 200 ml of corn oil and 0.2 kg of soybean meal (Diet 3). Four pluriparous donkeys (309±12 kg BW) at approximately 2-4 months of lactation were used. The trial was conducted according to a 3x3 Latin Square design with 1 or 2 subject per each cell. Feed and faeces samples were analysed for DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NDF, ADF and gross energy. Acid insoluble ash was used as marker to calculate the apparent digestibility. The apparent digestibility of the main dietary components showed not significant differences among the three diets but generally they were lower in Diet 3. DM intakes of every diet exceeded the esti- mated energy requirement, whereas protein requirements were not significantly satisfied by Diet 1

Effect of different oils administration on oleic and linoleic serum profile in horses during standardised exercise test on treadmill

Because of its energy density, fat is often added to the diet for exercising horses; however, little attention has been given to the effect of dietary fatty acid composition. The aims of this study were to compare the effect of two diets containing different oils on the fatty acids haematic profile during and after an aerobic exercise test on treadmill. Four adult trained gelding Standardbred (mean BW=481±27 kg) were used in a two replicated 2x2 Latin Square design. Mixed hay-concentrate diets contained corn oil (CORN) or a mix of mono-di and triglycerides of olive oil (MDTO) were administrated. The horses received the diets for a period of four weeks. At the end of the adaptation period an aerobic exercise test on treadmill (30-min long) was carried on. Blood samples were collected at rest, after 15' and 30' of exercise and during recovery period (at 10', 30' and 60'). Serum fatty acid concentration was determined. MDTO supplemented horses showed an higher percentage of Oleic acid during and after the exercise test; whereas Linoleic acid showed a significant difference (P<0.05) between groups with the highest value at 10' and 30' after exercise in the CORN supplemented group

Total mixed ration in exercising horse: digestibility and nitrogen metabolism

The aim of this study was to evaluate the apparent digestibility of a total mixed ration (TMR) versus a traditional mixed hay/cereals diet. Four adult trained Standardbred geldings – BW = 478±37 kg - were used. The two diets consisted of 20 kg of a commercial TMR - corn silage, alfalfa hay, wet brewers' grain, oat, apple pomace, molasses cane, soybean oil and mineral/vitamin supplement - (Diet 1) or 7 kg of meadow hay and 4.5 kg of cereal-mix - corn, oat, barley and protein/mineral/vitamin supplement - (Diet 2). The trial was conducted according to a Latin Square design (2x2). After an adaptation period of four weeks, total faeces and urine were collected for 6 days. Both feed and faeces samples were analysed for DM, OM, CP, EE, CF, NDF, ADF, cellulose, hemicellulose, ADL and GE. Data were analysed by ANOVA. The apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance of the two diets were compared. DM, OM, CP and GE apparent digestibility were significantly different between the diets, with higher values for unifeed diet than traditional diet. Energy requirement was satisfied by both diets (96.54 vs 95.55 MJ). Nitrogen balance showed negative values in both diets (- 61.67 vs - 9.05), but the hay/cereals supplemented diet showed the best protein utilisation

Caratteristiche produttive di una popolazione locale di conigli allevati con sistema biologico e convenzionale

Aim of the research was to test the effect of different housing systems, or-ganic and intensive, on meat quality of a rabbit local breed/population, characterized by low growing and choosen for organic production. Rabbits of the local breed/populations were housed in colony cages, at open air (Group A) with organic system, according to an official organism of certification (states the esclusive use of breeds or local strains). Rabbits of the local breed/populations (Group B) and hybrids (Group C) were housed in colony cages with conventional system. All rabbits were ad libitum fed with the organic diet (alfa-alfa hay and pellet). 90 animals were slaughtered at the same weight (2500 g) but at different ages (local rabbits: 100 days; hybrids: 90 days). At weaning the hybrids showed higher live weight than local breed (Group C=887g vs GroupB=737g vs Group A=664g; P<0,01). At slaughtering age the local breed reared with organic system showed higher live weight than the other groups (Group A=2298g vs Group C=2069g, GroupB=2199g; P<0,01). Local breed reared with organic system showed the better weight gain, higher feed intake and conver-sion (Weight gain: Group A=25,8g. vs Group B=23,2g e Group C=21,5g; Feed in-take: Group A=117,3g vs Group B=76,3g e Group C=76,3g; Feed conversion: Group A=4,6 vs Group B=3,2 e Group C=3,5, P<0,01). The genotype, reared with organic and conventional systems, showed better slaughtering results than hybrids: carcass percentage 60% and 60% vs 58%, (P<0,01), full gastrointestinal tract 19% and 18 % vs 22% (P<0,01), loin 23% and 22% vs 21%, (P<0,01). The meat:bone ratio of hind leg was significantly lower in local rabbits than the others ones (Group A=4 and Group B=3,8 vs Group C=4,7, P<0,01). In conclusion, group reared with organic system showed better productive performance, while the hybrids fed with organic diet showed relevant problems, par-ticularly concerning reduced growing and pathology problems

Living in Islands of Forests: Feeding Ecology of Alouatta palliata in Forest Fragments at La Suerte Biological Field Station, Costa Rica

Facets of habitat quality which allow species persistence in forest fragments are an important aspect for primate conservation. Mantled howler monkeys (A. palliata) seem to be tolerant of habitat fragmentation, though the limits of this flexibility are not yet clear. In some areas, howler monkey densities in small, primary forest fragments are among the highest ever recorded for the species. We hypothesize that if high density is also determined by habitat carrying capacity; primaryvegetation should provide higher quality resources. Alternatively, if density is just the consequence of crowding, this would decrease the quality of the diet compared to that of monkeys living in non-crowded forests. To test these hypotheses, we studiedfour howler monkey groups at La Suerte Biological Field Station, North-eastern Costa Rica. Two groups occurred in a small primary forest with high howler density, while two groups lived in a large secondary forest with lower density. We collected behavioural data via a 5-min Focal Animal Sampling to estimate activity, habitat use and diet. Food samples were also collected and then analyzed to evaluate their nutritional contents. Moreover, we registered GPS coordinates and estimated home-ranges and mean inter-location distances. Our results show that primary forest food samples contained a significantly lower amount of fiber and a higher protein/fiber ratio than samples from the secondary habitat. Also, primary forest groups used larger feeding trees and moved substantially less than secondary forest groups. Our results support the hypothesis that the primary forest provides higher quality resources than the secondary habitat and, as a possible consequence, howler monkeys living in the latter have to move more to meet their energy requirements