The effect of water-restriction on various physiological variables in intensively reared Lacaune ewes

The effects of water restriction on rectal temperature, respiratory rate and selected blood variables in intensively reared Lacaune ewes were evaluated. The tests were carried out over the course of 28 days in spring on 30 lactating sheep divided into three groups of 10 animals each, matched by lactation status and body weight and allocated into individual boxes. The animal groups were as follows: control group W100 with drinking water for the whole day (24 h/24 h), while the two experimental groups each received 80% (W80 group) and 60% (W60 group) of the water ration of the control group, respectively. The feed, in according with physiological and production needs of the animals, was administered in three daily meals (08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 h). Water intake was recorded three times per day (at 08:00, 14:00 and 20:00 h) and the daily feed intake at 08:00 h, while the rectal temperature, respiratory rate were measured and blood samplings were carried out on Day 0, Day 14 and Day 28. In water-restriction groups (W80 and W60) a lower (P < 0.01) feed intake of meadow hay, and a lower ingestion of alfalfa hay pellet in the W60 group compared to W100 group were observed. In addition, the water restriction regimen resulted in a significant decrease of respiratory rate (P < 0.05) and an increase in serum total protein, urea, creatinine, sodium, chlorine, reactive oxygen metabolites, cortisol, haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (P < 0.05), red blood cell counts, and haematocrit (P < 0.01). These results show the important role of water, as limiting factor for animal breeding in low-water availability environments. Where possible, the management of low-dairy breeds should be well adapted to support the productive performance

Dietary Lippia citriodora extract in rabbit feeding: Effects on quality of carcass and meat

Due to consumer demand, in recent years considerable attention has been focused on the use of natural compounds in animal feed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary natural extract from Lippia citriodora (commonly named "limoncina"), titrated in verbascoside, on quality, measured as oxidative stability, fatty acid composition, alpha-tocopherol and retinol content and sensory traits of rabbit meat. Forty-five New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to three age- and body-weight-balanced feeding groups of 15 animals each in which a conventional pelleted diet (CON) was supplemented with 1 or 2 kg t-1(low natural-extract (LNE) and high natural-extract (HNE) groups, respectively) of Lippia citriodora extract for 55 days. No influence on carcass characteristics and the chemical composition of meat was observed. A trend for a positive effect on alpha-tocopherol tissue content (P = 0.07) and on thiobarbituric reactive substance (TBARS) values was observed (P = 0.063) in Longissimus Lumborum muscle from the HNE group. The fatty acid profile of the meat was affected by dietary treatment with a significant decrease (P = 0.001) in saturated fatty acids and an increase (P = 0.01) in polyunsaturated fatty acids in both treated groups compared to the CON group. The supplementation with natural extract at the highest dosage improved the tenderness and juiciness of meat, highlighting a better consistency than CON and LNE groups. In conclusion, this study shows that the natural extract used has the potential to improve rabbit meat in order to produce functional food, without altering the chemical and physical characteristics of meat

Dietary Lippia citriodora extract in rabbit feeding: effects on quality of carcass and meat

Abstract. Due to consumer demand, in recent years considerable attention has been focused on the use of natural compounds in animal feed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary natural extract from Lippia citriodora (commonly named "limoncina"), titrated in verbascoside, on quality, measured as oxidative stability, fatty acid composition, alpha-tocopherol and retinol content and sensory traits of rabbit meat. Forty-five New Zealand white rabbits were randomly assigned to three age- and body-weight-balanced feeding groups of 15 animals each in which a conventional pelleted diet (CON) was supplemented with 1 or 2 kg t−1 (low natural-extract (LNE) and high natural-extract (HNE) groups, respectively) of Lippia citriodora extract for 55 days. No influence on carcass characteristics and the chemical composition of meat was observed. A trend for a positive effect on alpha-tocopherol tissue content (P = 0.07) and on thiobarbituric reactive substance (TBARS) values was observed (P = 0.063) in Longissimus Lumborum muscle from the HNE group. The fatty acid profile of the meat was affected by dietary treatment with a significant decrease (P = 0.001) in saturated fatty acids and an increase (P = 0.01) in polyunsaturated fatty acids in both treated groups compared to the CON group. The supplementation with natural extract at the highest dosage improved the tenderness and juiciness of meat, highlighting a better consistency than CON and LNE groups. In conclusion, this study shows that the natural extract used has the potential to improve rabbit meat in order to produce functional food, without altering the chemical and physical characteristics of meat

Effect of dietary Lippia citriodora extract on productive performance and meat quality parameters in hares (Lepus europaeus Pall.)

Three different dietary doses of Lippia citriodora natural extract were tested in order to verify their effect on productive performance and the meat quality of intensively-reared hare (Lepus europaeus Pall.). The 240 day-trial was conducted on 20 male hares, divided into 4 homogeneous groups of 5 animals each. A control group received a basal diet without any supplementation, and the other three experimental groups received a natural extract of Lippia citriodora, titrated in verbascoside, in the following amounts: 1 g, 1.5 g and 2 g of natural extract/kg feed in the low (LNE), medium (MNE), and high natural extract (HNE) groups, respectively. Natural extract enhanced the quality of the meat: there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in saturated fatty acids and a significant increase (P<0.05) in mono-and poly-unsaturated fatty acids. The oxidative stability of the meat improved, thus highlighting a possible link between the decrease (P<0.05) in TBARS values and an increase (P<0.05) in lipid vitamin content. The cholesterol content of the meat decreased markedly (P<0.01) after the dietary verbascoside treatment, thus improving the health benefits of the meat. These results clearly show the important role of Lippia citriodora extract, titrated in verbascoside, in improving the quality of the meat of intensively-reared hares. In addition the present paper underlines how the use of natural antioxidant in the animal feeding system may provide healthier and low-oxidized products to the final consumer

Effect of dietary extruded linseed, verbascoside and vitamin E supplements on selected serum biochemical parameters and plasma oxidative status in Lacaune ewes

Selected serum biochemical parameters and plasma oxidative status were evaluated in Lacaune ewes on a diet supplemented with extruded linseed, verbascoside and vitamin E. A 98 day-trial was conducted on 44 ewes and started 40 ± 2 days post partum. The animals were divided into four homogeneous groups of eleven animals each; one control group (CON) with a basal diet, and the other three experimental groups supplemented with extruded linseed (L group), extruded linseedverbascoside (LVB group) and extruded linseed-verbascoside-vitamin E (LVBE group). All animals individually received an isoproteic and isoenergetic diet, consisting of 700g of concentrated feed and meadow hay ad libitum. Blood sampling of the ewes was performed three times: at the beginning (0 d), midway (49 d) and end of the trial (98 d). The following parameters were determined: triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), vitamin A and vitamin E. Dietary integration in the LVB and LVBE groups resulted in an improvement in the blood profile, characterized by a significant (P=0.001) increase in HDL cholesterol and a marked decrease in triglycerides (P=0.001), total cholesterol (P=0.017), LDL cholesterol (P=0.001) and bilirubin (P=0.035), due to the verbascoside supplementation. In the same groups, there was an increase in blood vitamin A (P=0.002) and vitamin E (P=0.001), and a reduction (P=0.001) in ROMs and TBARS, with an improved plasma oxidative status. The dietary vitamin E integration did not produce a significant improvement in the parameters studied, with no statistical differences between LVB and LVBE groups. Animal feed containing extruded flaxseed, might therefore benefit from the addition of a verbascoside supplement, because of the positive effect showed by this molecule on the blood parameters

Effect of dietary extruded linseed, verbascoside and vitamin E supplements on yield and quality of milk in Lacaune ewes

Milk yield and milk qualitative parameters were evaluated in Lacaune ewes on a diet supplemented with extruded linseed, verbascoside and vitamin E. A 98 d-trial was conducted on 44 ewes and started 40±2 d post partum. The animals were divided into four homogeneous groups of eleven animals each; one control group (CON) without extruded linseed and dietary supplements, and the diet of the other three experimental groups was enhanced with extruded linseed (L group), extruded linseed-verbascoside (LVB group), and extruded linseed-verbascoside-vitamin E (LVBE group). All animals individually received an isoenergetic diet, consisting of 700 g concentrated feed and meadow hay ad libitum. Body weight, body condition score, milk yield and milk qualitative parameters were assessed. LVB and LVBE groups resulted in a significant improvement (P<0·05) in milk yield due to the verbascoside supplementation. The extruded linseed supplementation L, LVB and LVBE groups produced a milk fat increase and a better milk fatty acid profile in terms of a higher monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content and a reduced saturated fatty acid (SFA) content, a lower n-6/n-3 ratio and atherogenic and thrombogenic index. The dietary verbascoside supplementation in the LVB and LVBE group resulted in a better milk quality due to the low cholesterol level and higher vitamin A and E contents, in addition to an increased oxidative stability highlighted by the lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level. Thus, the addition of extruded linseed and verbascoside supplements improved milk yield and quality both from a chemical and nutritive point of view

The effects of fermented wheat powder (Lisosan G) on the blood lipids and oxidative status of healthy rabbits

A number of studies have shown that whole grain products have strong antioxidant effects. Lisosan G, a powder produced from the fermentation of Triticum aestivum, has shown hepatoprotective effects. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects of Lisosan G on the serum lipid profile and oxidative status of healthy rabbits. Forty rabbits were fed either a normal diet or a diet containing 10g, 20g or 30g Lisosan G/kg of feed for 60 days. The supplementation of Lisosan G did not cause any alteration of the aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin or creatinine concentrations, but caused a reduction in triglycerides, in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and an increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The antioxidant activity of Lisosan G has been confirmed on the basis of the reduction in the blood reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) and in the level of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) together with increased vitamin A and E concentrations in the blood. Moreover, Lisosan G also caused the induction of antioxidant enzymes in the liver and kidney of the treated rabbits. This study has shown the ability of Lisosan G to improve the lipid profile and antioxidant status of the blood in healthy rabbits

Dietary effect of fermented wheat powder (lisosan g) on productive performance and meat quality in intensively-reared rabbit

Cereals are basic food for human consumption and for animal feeding containing a wide variety of components with nutraceutical properties. Several dietary nutraceutical supplements were used in rabbit diet to improve the meat quality. The effect of the Lisosan G enrich-feed on the productive performance and meat quality in growing rabbits was evaluated. The trial lasted 63 days and was conducted in an experimental rabbitry on 40-weaned and clinically healthy male rabbits. Animals were fed a commercial diet and randomly assigned to four treatments: control diet (CON group) and diet supplemented with 10 g/kg (LIS1 group) or 20 g/kg (LIS2 group) or 30 g/kg (LIS3 group). Performance parameters, such as body weight, average daily gain, feed intake, feed conversion indices and results relating to slaughter reliefs were not statistically affected by the experimental treatments. The Lisosan G supplementation, at the rate of 20 g/kg feed, produced in rabbits a significant improvement of qualitative characteristics of the meat, characterized by higher oxidative stability, with a lower level of TBARS providing also a positive effect on meat shelf-life. Dietary treatments including fermented wheat powder improved meat the fatty acid profile, highlighted by a significant reduction of saturated fatty acid (SFA) and a marked increase of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), leading to an improvement of the nutritional value of the meat and with positive effects on consumer's health