Biometrical approach to evaluate the relationship between roe deer body parameters and winter feeding resources

Introduction: The study is aimed to analyze the biometrical data referred to animals pertaining to class age 0 (0-11 months), in roe deer population of central Italy Apennine, in order to evaluate the relationship between size/shape of body structure/parameters and feeding resources available during the autumn-winter period. Materials and Methods: The analysis of the size was performed on 56 roe deer obtained by selective shooting. For the mandible shape analysis 27 samples were treated with the GeoGebra’s program. To evaluate the relationship between size/shape of body structure/parameters and the feeding resources, an environmental category, derived from the carrying capacity of forest ecosystems relative to the hunting zone, was attributed to each animal. Statistical analysis of size was performed by ANOVA. Shape variables were generated using a Generalized Procustes Analysis program. Results: The analysis of the size showed no significant differences for analyzed parameters between sex, while five parameters showed significant differences among environmental categories. As mandible concerns, it showed an increasing size trend linked to the available feeding resources. This is also supported by the fact that the shape analysis showed a more open mandibular angle (for the mandibular dorsal view) in those animals living in the hunting zone characterized by highest feeding resources, in particular in subjects pertaining to the sub-class 0-8 months. Conclusion: Data analysis suggests that the mandible seems to be the element whose development is mainly affected by the winter feeding resource availability. In the roe deer, the mandible reaches the definitive size during the first living year. So, the food availability during the first winter season could represent a critical factor for the development of this bone. This approach applied to a wider database could be useful to define body marker parameters related to environmental carrying capacity to planning the roe deer selective shooting

Immunohistochemical identification of resistin in the uterus of ewes subjected to different diets: Preliminary results

Resistin is a polypeptide hormone of the adipokine-family, primarily, but not exclusively, produced by the adipose tissue. Recent studies suggested that resistin may affect the male and female reproductive activity. The study aim was to immunohistochemically evaluate the presence and distribution of resistin in the ovine uterus. Uterine samples were collected from two groups of ewes at the end of an experimental trial during which the animals of the first group (CTRL) were fed only by grazing while those of the second one (EXP) were supplemented with barley and corn. Using a monoclonal antibody against resistin, tested by Western Blot, the immunopositive reaction was identified in the cytoplasm of epithelial lining cells and uterine glands. The endogenous production of resistin seemed to be affected by different diet, as evidenced by staining differences between the CTRL and EXP groups. Our findings support the existence of a peripheral resistin system in the sheep uterus. It is possible that this system is involved in the functionality of the uterus, which is also affected by the animal’s nutritional status.

Grado di cheratinizzazione dell'epitelio ruminale e valutazione dello stato corporeo in ovini tenuti su pascoli di Brachypodium rupestre

L'articolo valuta e mette in correlazione i cambiamenti del grado di cheratinizzazione della mucosa ruminale con lo stato corporeo di ovini tenuti a pascolare per 20 giorni in un'area ad elevata copertura di paléo rupestre (Brachypodium rupestre). Il pascolo degli ovini in queste aree riduce il rischio di incendi boschivi. Tuttavia, l'assunzione di Brachypodium rupestre protratta per lunghi periodi può compromettere la salute generale degli animali. Lo scopo di questo studio è di determinare il periodo massimo di permanenza degli animali in queste aree. Ovini mantenuti su un pascolo semi-mesofilo sono stati utilizzati come gruppo di controllo. Nei giorni 1, 10 e 20 della sperimentazione, 5 animali di ogni gruppo sono stati sacrificati per la valutazione delle modificazioni del grado di cheratinizzazione dell'epitelio dell'atrio e del sacco ventrale del rumine. La valutazione dello stato corporeo, o body condition score (BCS), e il peso vivo (PV) sono stati monitorati su altri 10 soggetti per gruppo. Il gruppo di controllo ha mostrato piccole variazioni del grado di cheratinizzazione del rumine che non hanno inciso negativamente sul BCS o sul PV. Il gruppo sperimentale ha mostrato un significativo incremento del grado di cheratinizzazione, già entro i primi dieci giorni, che ha portato ad un graduale abbassamento del BCS e ad un calo di peso tra il decimo e il ventesimo giorno. I dati ottenuti suggeriscono che al fine della prevenzione degli incendi boschivi gli ovini dovrebbero essere utilizzati a turno con periodi di permanenza nei pascoli ad alta copertura di Brachypodium rupestre non superiori ai 10-12 giorni

Keratinisation degree of rumen epithelium and body condition score in sheep grazing on Brachypodium rupestre

This article describes the result of a study focusing on the keratinisation degree of rumen mucosa and changes in the body condition of sheep that had grazed for 20 days in a pasture densely covered with Brachypodium rupestre. Grazing in this type of pasture can reduce the probability of fires in a Mediterranean mountain setting. However, foraging in areas with a prevalence of Brachypodium rupestre can affect animals' welfare. In this respect, it is essential to determine the length of time during which the animals can remain in this environment before their welfare is compromised by this type of pasture. Ewes grazing on a semi-mesophilic pasture were included as a control. On days 1, 10, and 20, five ewes from each group were sacrificed to evaluate the variations of the epithelial keratinization degree of the rumen atrium and ventral sac. Body weight (BW) and body condition scores (BCS) were assessed in ten ewes per group. The control animals showed little variation in the keratinisation degree of rumen mucosa without any detrimental effects on the BCS and BW. The experimental animals showed a significant increase in the epithelial keratinisation degree within 10 days and a decrease of BCS and BW within 20 days. The data collected suggest that animals should not remain for longer than 10-12 days on pasture highly covered with Brachypodium rupestre