Influence of weaning age (28 vs. 63 d) on quantitative and qualitative carcass traits of rabbits

Nowadays there is an increasing interest towards breeding systems, also for rabbit meat production, that are more mindful of animal welfare through an attenuation of the productive cycles intensity. These particular rearing techniques provide a delaying of the weaning age to reduce young rabbits stress. The present experiment is part of a wider research (Pinna et al., 2004; Marongiu et al., 2004) conducted in a sardinian farm in which rabbits are usually weaned at about 60 days of age. Surely this managerial choice could be considered rather questionable but from a scientific point of view could also represent the occasion to examine the productive performance of rabbits submitted to such a late weaning. The final part of the survey, regarding the carcass composition and the meat chemical-nutritional characteristics, was carried out through the comparison of two groups of rabbits weaned at 28 and at 63 days of age respectively

Effetti nutraceutici di peptidi bioattivi sull'alimentazione di conigli in accrescimento

Nella presente comunicazione vengono riportati i risultati di uno studio, condotto su conigli da 35 a 90 giorni di età . Gli animali sono stati divisi in 3 gruppi, di cui uno usato come controllo e gli altri due hanno ricevuto due differenti livelli di β-casomorfina preparata per via sintetica ed utilizzata come additivo alimentare. Su ciascun animale sono stati controllati l'ingestione di alimento, l'accrescimento e l'indice di conversione alimentare da 35 a 70 giorni e da 71 a 90 e nell'intero periodo di accrescimento (da 35 a 90 giorni)

Effect of two different protein/fat ratios of the diet on meagre (<i>Argyrosomus regius</i>) traits

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two diets with different protein/fat ratios (P/F) (diet A: P/F 2.26; diet B: P/F 3.36) on the chemical composition, fatty acid profile and some somatic indexes of meagre (Argyrosomus regius). The trial was carried out on two groups of meagre raised in two different sea cages during 15 months. At the end of the production cycle biometric measures as well as chemical-nutritional analysis of the fillets were conducted on 25 fishes per group. Diet A, with a lower P/F, furnished animals with higher percentages of mesenteric fat (0.48 vs 0.41%; P&lt;0.01) and of fillet yield (51.21 vs 48.12; P&lt;0.01). Moreover, the fillets obtained with the diet A showed higher percentage of fat (3.60 vs 2.41%; P&lt;0.01), lower moisture (74.10 vs 75.42%; P&lt;0.01), lower losses of water under pressure (16.73 vs 20.20%; P&lt;0.01) and after 48 h of refrigeration (3.08 vs 4.23%; P&lt;0.01). The fatty acids profile of fillets was affected by the diet. Diet A resulted in a higher level of saturated fatty acids (26.44 vs 23.17% of total lipid; P&lt;0.01) and a lower percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (31.56 vs 36.08%; P&lt;0.01) in the fillet, mainly due to the lower content of linoleic acid (13.63 vs 19.77%; P&lt;0.01). The atherogenic (AI) and thrombogenic (TI) indexes, which resulted very low in the fish of Group B (AI=0.48 vs 0.60, P&lt;0.01; TI=0.33 vs 0.37, P&lt;0.01), together with the low lipid content of meat in both groups, confirmed the very high nutritional quality of meagre fillets

Somatic indexes, chemical-nutritive characteristics and metal content in caught and reared sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo)

The aim of this study was to compare some somatic indexes, chemical-nutritive characteristics and the contents of some metals (Pb, Cu, Cr and Zn) in the whole body and fillet from caught and reared sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo). The fish came from three different conditions: reared in marine cages (R), captured in a natural lagoon (L) and in the Mediterranean sea (S). Thirty fish per group, divided into three weight categories (100±15.3, 200±18.7 and 300±20.4g), were used for the trial. Reared sharpsnout seabream showed higher amounts of celomatic fat (3.41%, 2.43%, 0.21%, respectively for R, L and S) and total lipid (13.86%, 11.23% and 5.06% respectively for R, L and S), and lower moisture (64.14%, 65.54%, 71.53%) and protein (17.73, 19.03 and 19.17%) than those caught in the lagoon and sea. The whole body of reared fish contained lower amounts of lead (0.70, 0.75 and 0.97mg/kg, respectively for R, L and S), copper (0.15, 0.38, 0.25mg/kg) chrome (2.19, 3.52, 3.77mg/kg) and higher zinc contents (63.47, 53.42, 47.31mg/kg) than caught fish. Fatty acids from sharpsnout seabream fillets showed a high lipid quality as confirmed also by low values of Thrombogenic index (0.36, 0.30 and 0.22, respectively for L, S, R) and Atherogenic index (0.47, 0.42 and 0.33, respectively for L, S, R). Reared sharpsnout seabream showed lower saturated fatty acid values (26.44%, 32.21%, 34.85%, respectively for R, S, L) and higher oleic acid amount (21.61%, 19.15%, 11.99%, respectively for R, L and S). The subjects captured in the sea had a higher arachidonic acid content (5.44%, 1.76%, 0.59%, respectively for S, L, R). In the weight categories, the 100g subjects, showed higher incidence of viscera (VSI: 4.32%, 3.12% and 2.92%, respectively for 100, 200 and 300g) and liver (HIS: 2.20%, 1.97%, and 1.77%, respectively for 100, 200 and 300g), higher moisture (69.49%, 67.03%, 64.69%) and lower lipid rate (7.64%, 10.18%, 12.32%)

Gender effect on the metabolic profile of ostriches (<i>Struthio camelus domesticus</i>)

In order to better define the effect of the sex on the metabolic profile of young ostriches (Struthio camelus Domesticus), forty birds were divided into two groups by sex (20 males vs 20 females). The animals were fed ad libitum natural pasture and corn silage. The daily ration was completed by administering 1200 g/head of a commercial concentrate with the following chemical composition expressed as a percentage of dry matter: crude protein 18.8, crude fibre 8.4, ether extract 3.6, ash 7.5. After about 12 h of fasting, in the morning the blood was collected from the wing vein. The following biochemical parameters were determined: glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, lactate (LAC), total protein (TP), uric acid, total bilirubin (Tbil), creatinine (CREA), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), natrium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), iron (Fe), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), cholinesterase (ChE); α-amylase (Amyl), lipase (LIPA); γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT). Sex significantly affected only some haematic parameters: in the females total protein and calcium were higher than in the males (TP, 43.3 vs 38.9 g/l, respectively for females and males, P &lt; 0.05; Ca, 2.99 vs 2.59 mmol/l, respectively for females and males, P &lt; 0.01). The other haematic parameters did not show significant differences by sex, and the average values were: glucose (9.87 mmol/l), cholesterol (1.96 mmol/l), triglycerides (1.56 mmol/l), LAC (6.60 mmol/l), uric acid (361 mmol/l), CREA (31.95 μmol/l), Na (144.8 mmol/l), K (3.27 mmol/l), Cl (109.7 mmol/l), P (1.47 mmol/l), Mg (1.10 mmol/l), Fe (9.22 μmol/l), Tbil (9.28 mol/l), AST (341.3 U/l), ALT (11.42 U/l), AP (75.8 U/l), GGT (10.07 U/l), Amyl (6.97 U/l), LIPA (241.2 U/l), ChE (385.1 U/l). The results of our study, in agreement with previous findings, contribute to enhance the knowledge on the metabolic profile of ostriches in function of the sex

Mineral requirements of dairy sheep

This paper reviews the major (Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Chlorine, Sulphur, Magnesium) and the trace elements (Iron, Copper, Cobalt, Iodine, Manganese, Zync, Molybdenum, Selenium) that play an essential role in animal metabolism. For each one the authors indicate not only the function, but also the more recent advances in terms of daily requirements for dairy sheep

Effect of intraperitoneal electronic identification on productive performance of Sardinian suckling lambs

The electronic identification could represent a further step to improve the traceability of meat, considering that, starting from the 1st of January 2008, this method will be compulsory in the whole EU (Reg. CE n. 21/2004). The “Agnello di Sardegna” is a Protected Geographic Identification product (Provv. 13/03/2001) and it has to match up a series of requirements, such as the identification of animals in 20 days time from birth. In a previous work, Pinna et al. (2004) showed the results of a survey carried out for the development of the intraperitoneal identification systems in lambs. In the present work, the effects on the main productive in vivo and post mortem performance are taken into account

Effect of two different protein/fat ratios of the diet on meagre (Argyrosomus regius) traits

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two diets with different protein/fat ratios (P/F) (diet A: P/F 2.26; diet B: P/F 3.36) on the chemical composition, fatty acid profile and some somatic indexes of meagre (Argyrosomus regius). The trial was carried out on two groups of meagre raised in two different sea cages during 15 months. At the end of the production cycle biometric measures as well as chemical-nutritional analysis of the fillets were conducted on 25 fishes per group. Diet A, with a lower P/F, furnished animals with higher percentages of mesenteric fat (0.48 vs 0.41%; P<0.01) and of fillet yield (51.21 vs 48.12; P<0.01). Moreover, the fillets obtained with the diet A showed higher percentage of fat (3.60 vs 2.41%; P<0.01), lower moisture (74.10 vs 75.42%; P<0.01), lower losses of water under pressure (16.73 vs 20.20%; P<0.01) and after 48 h of refrigeration (3.08 vs 4.23%; P<0.01). The fatty acids profile of fillets was affected by the diet. Diet A resulted in a higher level of saturated fatty acids (26.44 vs 23.17% of total lipid; P<0.01) and a lower percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (31.56 vs 36.08%; P<0.01) in the fillet, mainly due to the lower content of linoleic acid (13.63 vs 19.77%; P<0.01). The atherogenic (AI) and thrombogenic (TI) indexes, which resulted very low in the fish of Group B (AI=0.48 vs 0.60, P<0.01; TI=0.33 vs 0.37, P<0.01), together with the low lipid content of meat in both groups, confirmed the very high nutritional quality of meagre fillets

Vitamin and water requirements of dairy sheep

The authors review the physiological role and the daily requirement of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), vitamin C and water in dairy sheep. Regarding the vitamins, classical clinical symptoms and/or non-specific parameters, such as lowered production and reproduction rates are associated with their deficiencies or excesses. Until the last decade, these compounds were considered important only for the prevention of such alterations; currently, there is more emphasis on their function as the vitamins can play a key role in optimising animal health. In this respect, of particular interest is the action of the antioxidant vitamins (especially vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene) in improving the efficiency of the immune system

Somatic indexes, chemical-nutritive characteristics and metal content in caught and reared sharpsnout seabream (<i>Diplodus puntazzo</i>)

The aim of this study was to compare some somatic indexes, chemical-nutritive characteristics and the contents of some metals (Pb, Cu, Cr and Zn) in the whole body and fillet from caught and reared sharpsnout seabream (Diplodus puntazzo). The fish came from three different conditions: reared in marine cages (R), captured in a natural lagoon (L) and in the Mediterranean sea (S). Thirty fish per group, divided into three weight categories (100±15.3, 200±18.7 and 300±20.4g), were used for the trial. Reared sharpsnout seabream showed higher amounts of celomatic fat (3.41%, 2.43%, 0.21%, respectively for R, L and S) and total lipid (13.86%, 11.23% and 5.06% respectively for R, L and S), and lower moisture (64.14%, 65.54%, 71.53%) and protein (17.73, 19.03 and 19.17%) than those caught in the lagoon and sea. The whole body of reared fish contained lower amounts of lead (0.70, 0.75 and 0.97mg/kg, respectively for R, L and S), copper (0.15, 0.38, 0.25mg/kg) chrome (2.19, 3.52, 3.77mg/kg) and higher zinc contents (63.47, 53.42, 47.31mg/kg) than caught fish. Fatty acids from sharpsnout seabream fillets showed a high lipid quality as confirmed also by low values of Thrombogenic index (0.36, 0.30 and 0.22, respectively for L, S, R) and Atherogenic index (0.47, 0.42 and 0.33, respectively for L, S, R). Reared sharpsnout seabream showed lower saturated fatty acid values (26.44%, 32.21%, 34.85%, respectively for R, S, L) and higher oleic acid amount (21.61%, 19.15%, 11.99%, respectively for R, L and S). The subjects captured in the sea had a higher arachidonic acid content (5.44%, 1.76%, 0.59%, respectively for S, L, R). In the weight categories, the 100g subjects, showed higher incidence of viscera (VSI: 4.32%, 3.12% and 2.92%, respectively for 100, 200 and 300g) and liver (HIS: 2.20%, 1.97%, and 1.77%, respectively for 100, 200 and 300g), higher moisture (69.49%, 67.03%, 64.69%) and lower lipid rate (7.64%, 10.18%, 12.32%)