Influence of milking number and frequency on milk production in Martina Franca breed asses

Two experiments were carried out in Martina Franca asses in order to study milk yield and udder healthy conditions in relation to daily milking number and frequency. Experiment I - A total of 15 asses were subdivided into three groups (N.5) corresponding to: one milking per day, after a 3 hour interval from foal separation by dams (Group A); three milkings per day with 3 hour frequency (Group B); three milkings per day with 2 hour frequency (Group 3M). Experiment II - Evaluation was made of the effect of a schedule of 6 milkings per day with frequency of 2 hours on milk yield (Group 6M; N. 5), compared to Group 3M). Healthy udder conditions in relation to the number of milking per day was monitored in 3M) and 6M) Groups, by somatic cell count. Average yield per milking was highest (P<0.01) following 3 rather 1 milkings per day and with milking frequency of 3 hours rather than 2 hours (P<0.01). A schedule of six milkings per day did not improve mean milk yield and determined an increase in somatic cell count compared to 3 daily milkings regimen (63.2 vs 17.5 x 1000/mL; P<0.05)

Post-thaw survival and acrosome integrity of spermatozoa of Leccese rams frozen in different seasons with a milk-egg yolk extender

The influence of the period of semen collection on post-thawing survival, motility and acrosome integrity of spermatozoain Leccese rams was studied throughout an entire year. The year was divided into the seasons: winter and spring (firstsemester) and summer and autumn (second semester). Semen from 5 adult rams was collected every two weeks by artificialvagina and frozen according to a freezing system based on milk-lactose egg yolk to constitute semen doses of 400x 106 spermatozoa. At thawing, survival and acrosomal status of cells were assessed and the motility of the sperm andtheir kinetic rating (scale 0 to 5 score) were determined at thawing (0 h), and after 1 and 3 h incubation (37° C).Semen collected during the first semester (winter – spring) of the year showed the highest (P<0.01) proportion of postthawlive spermatozoa, with the maximum value in winter (P<0.01), and the best acrosomal status of spermatozoa, consideredas both total proportion of spermatozoa with acrosome break down and spermatozoa without acrosomes.Acrosome integrity was positively correlated (r = 0.32; P<0.01) with post-thaw sperm viability.Motility of spermatozoa at thawing was not influenced by the period of semen collection. However, after 3 h incubationsperm motility was higher (P<0.01) during the first semester of the year, without a difference between winter and spring.A marked individual ram effect was found on freezability of semen.The results provide evidence that the period of semen collection can influence freezability of spermatozoa in Lecceserams. The best characteristics of spermatozoa were observed during the first semester of the year, corresponding to thesexual hypoactivity season for this breed

THE EFFECT OF PRODUCTION SYSTEM INFORMATION ON CONSUMER EXPECTATION AND ACCEPTABILITY OF LECCESE LAMB MEAT

Twenty lamb meat’s habitual consumers (eight females and twelve males, from 25 to 62 yrs of age) took part in a centrallocation test, organised to assess consumers’ expectations generated by information on animal feeding system, lambs fedwith maternal milk from mothers reared on grass (T1) versus lambs fed with maternal milk from mothers reared on stall(T2), and to assess the effect of this knowledge on the hedonic ratings of lamb meat from the Leccese breed. Using anone-point hedonic scale, first blind and then informed scores were collected on two types of Leccese meat. The blind testprovided information which was different from informed test; in fact, T2 meat receiving higher hedonic scores than T1 meat. Onthe contrary, with the label information on animal feeding system, meat from T1 lambs was liked more than meat from T2lambs. The lamb meat’s habitual consumers showed a higher interest in extrinsic quality attributes which referred to the origin orproduction system

Yield and quality of milk and udder health in Martina Franca ass: effects of daily interval and time of machine milking

Twenty asses of Martina Franca breed, machine milked twice a day, were used to assess the influence of milking interval (3-h, 5-h, and 8-h; N=5) and time (700, 1200 and 1900) on milk yield and udder health. Individual milk samples were taken to determine fat, protein and lactose con- tent. Sensory analysis profile was also assessed. Milk's total bacterial count (TBC), somatic cell con- tent (SCC) and udder's skin temperature were considered to assess udder health. Milk yield increases by 28.4% (P<0.01) with a milking interval from 3-h to 8-h and is higher (P<0.01) at morning milking. The maximum milk yield per milking corresponds to 700 milking (1416.9 mL) thus indicating a circa- dian rhythm in milk secretion processes. Milking intervals of 5 and 8 hours cause a decrease (P<0.01) in milk fat and lactose content. The 8-h interval leads to an increase (P<0.01) in SCC but without any significance for the health udder. No alterations about CBT, clinical evaluation and temperature of ud- der were observed. Milk organoleptic characteristics were better in the 3-h interval milking

Behavioural aspects in ass during the end of pregnancy and ass and their foal during the first week post–partum in Martina Franca breed

AbstractThe study was carried out to investigate behavioural pattern in ass during the end of pregnancy and in asses and their foals during the first week after foaling. The study was performed on a total of 17 asses and 8 foals of Martina Franca breed reared outdoors free- ranging over the natural scrub area. In particular, for the behavioural observations on ass before the foaling 9 asses on the last month of pregnancy were considered, while, during the first post-partum week the observations were performed on 8 couples of dams and their foals. The behavioural observations were performed in a fenced area (4000 m2) from 08:00 to 20:00 using scan sampling with 5 min intervals. The data were collected by trained observers and recorded on a protocol form which considered the following main behavioural aspects: eating, drinking, walking, resting up, standing, and other behaviours. Within the class of other behaviours it was included secondary behaviours as grooming, vocalisation, playing, defecation, sniffin..

ESTROUS AND FERTILITY RESPONSES OF DAIRY EWES SYNCHRONIZED WITH COMBINED SHORT TERM GnRH, PGF2α AND ESTRADIOL BENZOATE TREATMENTS

The objective of this study was to asses the effectiveness of short term protocols (5–7 days) for the synchronization of oestrus in lactating ewes during the non-breeding season, using combinations of GnRH, PGF2 and estradiol benzoate treatments. One hundred and six adult cross-bred Altamurana ewes were divided into the following six treatment groups: (i) Group NT (N= 30), which served as the control, was exposed to fertile rams for a 20 days period; (ii) Group Fe (N= 15) received FGA intravaginal sponges (14 days) + eCG i.m. (Day 14); (iii) Group GP (N= 15) received a GnRH agonist (Day 0) and PGF2 (Day 5) i.m. treatment; (iv) Group GPG (N= 15) received a GnRH (Day 0), PGF2 (Day 5) and a second dose of GnRH (Day 7) i.m.; (v) Group GPE ewes (N= 16) treated with GnRH (Day 0), PGF2 (Day 5) and estradiol benzoate (EB; Day 6, 24 h after PGF2) i.m. treatment; (vi) Group EPE (N= 15) treated with EB (Day 0), PGF2 (Day 5) and EB (Day 6, 24 h after PGF2) i.m. treatment. Ewes were checked for oestrus and hand mated using fertile rams. Upon return to service the ewes were mated again. A definite effect of the treatments on the occurrence of oestrus was recorded, with a higher percentage of ewes (P < 0.01) exhibiting oestrus in the Fe (93.3%) and EPE (100%) groups, compared to the GPG (33.3%), GP (46.7%) and GPE (62.5%) groups. The interval to oestrus was shorter and more synchronized in the long term treated Fe group (P < 0.01). The fertility rates recorded were 36.7% (11/30) in the NT or control ewes, and 60.0% (9/15), 33.3% (5/15) and 26.7% (4/15) (not significant) in the Fe, GP and GPG groups, respectively. In the GPG group the fertility and prolificacy rates recorded were higher (80% and 175%), than in any of the other treatment groups. In the GPE group, 10 of the 16 ewes (62.5%) exhibited oestrus, but the fertility rate was significantly lower (20%, P < 0.01), compared to the other groups (GPG, 80%; GP, 71.4%; Fe, 64.3%). In Group EPE, despite having the highest percentage of ewes exhibiting oestrus (100%), none of the ewes lambed. The fertility achieved in all the short term treatment groups following natural service and oestrous synchronization indicate that the protocols used do not seem to interfere with the ewes natural cycle or with their fertility. Results indicate that between the short term treatments studied, the GP and GPG methods offer a potential alternative to the conventional long term protocol (Fe) for oestrous synchronization in dairy ewes. Further research is required regarding the use of estradiol benzoate to synchronize oestrus