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

Luigi Marfè, Introduzione alle teorie narrative. Gli autori e i testi

Review of the book Introduzione alle teorie narrative. Gli autori e i testi by Valentina Martemucci. Introduzione alle teorie narrative. Gli autori e i testi di Luigi Marfè ripercorre le tappe principali dello sviluppo della narratologia e ne fornisce, antologizzando, i testi degli autori più importanti, tanto che a lettura ultimata si ha un quadro piuttosto completo delle questioni riguardanti lo statuto e gli elementi della narrazione

Fatty Acid Composition and Hedonic Ratings of Meat from Light Lambs of Leccese Breed in Relation to Slaughter Age

Twenty lambs from Leccese local breed were used to investigate the effect of two slaughter ages (45 vs 60 d) on fatty acid composition and hedonic ratings of meat. The lambs, born as singles in spring, were subdivided into two groups (n. 10) corresponding to the slaughter ages of 45 and 60 d. The animals received their mother’s milk and a supplementation of hay and concentrate from 30 d to slaughter. The increase to 60 d of slaughter age resulted in higher proportion of lauric acid (C12:0; P&lt;0.05), pentadecanoic acid (C15:0; P&lt;0.01) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; P&lt;0.05), and lower proportion of stearic acid (C18:0; P&lt;0.05) and linoleic acid (C20:3 n-6; P&lt;0.05). Using a none-point hedonic scale, consumer test showed that meat from lambs slaughtered at 60 d received a higher hedonic scores (P &lt; 0.01) as well as higher scores for tenderness (P &lt; 0.05), flavour (P &lt; 0.05), and juiciness (P &lt; 0.001) than meat from lambs slaughtered at 45 d. These findings might be useful to characterise lamb meat of local origin in relation to its nutritional traits and market perspectives connected to consumer acceptability

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

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..

Fatty acid composition of light lamb meat from Leccese and Comisana dairy breeds as affected by slaughter age

Forty lambs of two Italian dairy breeds were used to study the effects of slaughter age and breed on meat fatty acid composition. Lambs were subdivided into four groups (n. 10) according to a factorial scheme of two breeds (Leccese and Comisana). ×. two slaughter ages (45 and 60 days). The lambs were fed maternal milk supplemented with hay and concentrate from the 30th day to the slaughter. Leccese lambs at 45 days exhibited a FA profile more compatible to nutritional requirements for human health. They displayed a lower SFA proportion, a higher UFA/SFA and MUFA/SFA ratios than Comisana. The delay of slaughtering age at 60 days improved FA composition in Comisana lambs which had lower SFA content, AI and TI indexes and higher UFA/SFA and MUFA/SFA ratios and n-3 PUFA content than in Leccese. In both the breeds, the slaughter age at 60 days improved the CLA content

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