Aggregation and Innovation in rural tourism: tourist destination of the "hundred country houses"

This paper aims at analyzing particular network organizational systems which consider strategic aggregation as the core of the value generation processes. It will analyze the new organization of the rural area in a macro dimension through a “cultural-tourist route” realized with the cooperation of public and private operators, strongly stimulating and innovative, formed by ancient country houses, woods, ravines, archeological parks and rupestrian settlements. For the analysis on desk, the search for theoretical models and managerial tools useful to the territory operators will take place in studies of Destination Management; while on field analysis will be conducted by questionnaire in order to investigate about the advantages of country houses aggregation and multistakeholders offer systems. The questionnaire will be administered to a sample of ten country houses, most of which are agricultural and zootechnical firms, located in the rural tourist destination of Crispiano and Grottaglie, with more than a hundred country houses, in the Ionian area. Following the Destination Management literature, this research will highlight the attitude towards cooperation among local operators, rural communities, country houses, public institutions, which aims to enhance the tourist system made of attractors, tangible and intangible resources for the purpose of competitiveness of the destination

The use of alternative energies in hatcheries: an application of Life Cycle Analysis

Fish production requires great efforts and energies and causes different impacts/effects on the ecosystems. The development of aquaculture is possible, in the medium and long term, only if this is done responsibly, and if the production is reached from both an economic and environmental point of view. In our study we have worked on fry production using 1.5 g sized Dicentrarchus labrax obtained rearing larvae for 120 days after the hatching of the eggs

effect of dimethylacetamide and n methylacetamide on the quality and fertility of frozen thawed chicken semen

ABSTRACT The aim was to compare the effect of dimethylacetamide (DMA) and N-methylacetamide (NMA) concentrations on the quality and fertility of post-thaw chicken semen. Ejaculates were obtained from 30 Hi-Line White roosters and processed according to the following treatments: lake pre-freezing extender + 0.1M trehalose (LPF-T) + 6% DMA (control treatment), LPF-T + 9% DMA, LPF-T + 6% NMA, and LPF-T + 9% NMA. Sperm quality (viability, motility, and kinetic traits) was assessed before and after cryopreservation. A total of 15 laying hens per treatment were inseminated to assess fertility and embryo viability. Sperm cryopreserved in presence of DMA had significantly better in vitro quality compared to NMA, showing the highest proportion of viable and progressive motile sperm recovered after thawing. Furthermore, proportion of progressive motile sperm and the VCL, LIN, ALH, and WOB mean values were significantly improved in semen samples frozen/thawed with 6% compared to 9% cryoprotectant concentration. However, the best cryoprotective action on sperm quality played by DMA and the lowest cryoprotectant concentration did not translate into a concomitant advantage in in vivo semen fertility that showed no differences between cryoprotectant and cryoprotectant concentration treatments. Finally, the cryoprotectant DMA and NMA showed an opposite effect on embryo viability in comparison with the effect played on in vitro semen quality, being NMA more efficient than DMA on preserving viable embryos. The present results suggest the urgency to further decrease the cryoprotectant concentration in poultry semen freezing procedures and to assess the specific toxic effect of cryoprotectant on sperm integrity, fertility, and embryo development

The role of semen cryobanks for protecting endangered native salmonids: Advantages and perspectives as outlined by the LIFE Nat.Sal.Mo. project on Mediterranean brown trout (Molise region – Italy)

The Mediterranean brown trout is one of the most endangered freshwater results clearly showed the efficiency of the freezing procedure used, both in vitro and in vivo. In fact, we recorded satisfactory values of post-thaw sperm motility and viability that ranged from 40% to 80%, and excellent fertilization rate in vivo, which ranged from 64% to 81% species. A complicated network of climate and human influences has severely harmed its biodiversity. The introduction of alien trout is one of the most serious threats to native populations’ intraspecific diversity. In Molise region (south-Italy) an important conservation program (LIFE Nat.Sal.Mo project) has recently been proposed to preserve the genetic integrity of native Mediterranean trout. This project, alongside safeguarding and re-establishing the habitats’ usefulness aims to restore the genetic integrity of the autochthonous population. This is one of the major goals, and it is accomplished by employing frozen wild breeder semen in conjunction with proper fertilization techniques to carry out artificial reproduction to enhance genetic diversity in the progeny and maintain fitness within self-sustaining populations. In this regard, the implementation of the first European semen cryobank has played a strategic role for conserving extant genomic diversity of native population. The goal of this review is to outline the procedures developed and guidelines established for the creation of a Mediterranean trout sperm cryobank. Here, we specifically provide an overview of some of the main challenges associated with the implementation of semen cryobank, the results achieved, the prospects for restoring genetic integrity in native populations, and lastly, future views for hatchery management to preserve the wild biodiversity of native salmonid species. During the project timeframe 1,683 semen doses, from 150 native breeders were stored inside the cryobank. Our results clearly showed the efficiency of the freezing procedure used, both in vitro and in vivo. In fact, we recorded satisfactory values of post-thaw sperm motility and viability that ranged from 40% to 80%, and excellent fertilization rate in vivo, which ranged from 64% to 81%

The Use of Ovarian Fluid as Natural Fertilization Medium for Cryopreserved Semen in Mediterranean Brown Trout: The Effects on Sperm Swimming Performance

In the context of the “Life—Nat.Sal.Mo” project, obtaining an effective semen cryopreservation protocol was an important milestone that allowed the implementation of the first European cryobank of native Mediterranean brown trout (S. cettii) inhabiting Molise rivers (Italy). The main use of our semen cryobank is represented by its practical application in artificial reproduction practices aimed at maximizing the genetic variability of the offspring and reducing the genetic introgression in the native trout populations in the project area. Thus, the choice of the most suitable activation/fertilization medium represents the last key step in the development of artificial reproduction protocols using cryopreserved semen. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ovarian fluid as a natural activation media of spermatozoa on the post-thaw sperm swimming performance of Mediterranean trout, comparing it with D-532 and a mixed solution of 50% D-532 and 50% ovarian fluid. Our results suggest that the presence of ovarian fluid alone or in combination with D-532 in the artificial microenvironment of reproduction represents a key factor to increase the success of fertilization when the frozen semen of Mediterranean brown trout is used

Overview of Turkey Semen Storage: Focus on Cryopreservation – A Review

Abstract This review updates the current state of technologies available for turkey semen storage (hypothermic- liquid storage and cryopreservation), with special attention paid to cryopreservation. Liquid semen can be stored for up to 24 or 48 h at temperatures around 5°C, while cryopreservation allows long-term storage at -196°C. The possibility of using frozen turkey semen for artificial insemination (AI) would have practical benefits for turkey production. Reported fertility rates in response to AI using frozen/thawed semen range from 15.8 to 84.3%. Unsatisfactory fertility may be attributed to an inability of turkey spermatozoa to successfully survive the freezing/thawing process, and this, along with the high variability observed, makes this technique unacceptable for commercial breeding programs. There is therefore a need to standardize the whole freezing and thawing process to improve the post-thaw quality of turkey semen and minimize variability in results. Finding an efficient freezing protocol for turkey semen will allow for the creation of a sperm cryobank, improving current prospects for the commercial use of frozen turkey semen and also for the long-term conservation of the genetic diversity of this bird

Zootechnical Brown Trout (Salmo trutta L. 1758) Ovarian Fluid Fails to Upregulate the Swimming Performances of Native Mediterranean Brown Trout (Salmo cettii Rafinesque, 1810) Sperm in the Biferno River

In external fertilizer fish, ovarian fluid (OF) seems to play a key role in fertilization success, improving spermatozoa swimming performance. These OF/sperm interaction mechanisms are frequently species-specific and/or population-specific and could decrease the risk of genetic introgression of wild populations from introduced or escaped zootechnical individuals. The Mediterranean brown trout (Salmo cettii) is threatened by genetic introgression with strains of domestic brown trout (Salmo trutta) that were introduced for recreational purposes. The aim of our study was to test if native S. cettii females, rather than zootechnical S. trutta, produce OF with a greater ability to upregulate the sperm motility of conspecific males. Thus, we compared the sperm swimming performances of males inhabiting the Biferno River (Molise region—Southern Italy) activated in native S. cettii vs. zootechnical S. trutta female’s OFs. In our study, native females’ OFs (20% diluted), compared to spring water, has the ability to significantly boost the sperm performance of the autochthonous males, while zootechnical S. trutta fails. These preliminary results suggest that OF-sperm interactions could potentially influence or direct the hybridization mechanisms involving the native Mediterranean trout inhabiting the Biferno River and the domestic lineage of brown trout introduced in the past

Semen cryopreservation for the Mediterranean brown trout of the Biferno River (Molise-Italy): comparative study on the effects of basic extenders and cryoprotectants

This study was designed to optimize the semen freezing protocol of the native Mediterranean brown trout inhabiting the Molise rivers through two experiments: an in vitro analysis of the effects of two basic extenders combined with three cryoprotectants on post-thaw semen quality; and an in vivo test to assess the fertilization and hatching rate. Semen was diluted at a ratio of 1:3 in a freezing medium composed of a glucose extender (A) or mineral extender (B). Each basic component contained 10% dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylacetamide or methanol. The post-semen quality was evaluated considering motility, duration of motility, viability and DNA integrity. The basic extender and cryoprotectant were shown to have significant effects on these variables, and the best results were obtained using extender A or B combined with dimethylsulfoxide (P < 0.05). These freezing protocols were selected for fertilization trials in vivo. Fertilization and hatching rates were significantly higher in fresh semen. No significant differences were observed in frozen semen using extender A or B, although higher percentages of eyed eggs and hatching rates were recorded using extender A. According to our in vitro and in vivo results, the glucose-based extender and dimethylsulfoxide emerged as the best combination for an effective cryopreservation protocol for semen of this trou

Free-range rearing density for male and female Milanino chickens: carcass yield and qualitative meat traits

SUMMARY The Milanino is a heavy Italian chicken breed and represents an important genetic resource for alternative production systems. In order to support its promotion in the market according to consumer expectations on healthy nutrition and animal welfare, this trial aims to study the slaughter performance and the meat quality in male and female Milanino chickens kept at different rearing density in a separate-sex free-range system. A total of 140 birds (70M:70F) were reared in outdoor pens from 75 to 235 d of life according to the following experimental groups (35 birds/group): M2) males in 2 m2/bird; F2) females in 2 m2/bird; M10) males in 10 m2/bird; F10) females in 10 m2/bird. At 235 d of age, 6 birds per group were slaughtered. Slaughter performance and meat quality were assessed. The Milanino chicken is characterized by high carcass weight and carcass yield among local chicken breeds, and a rearing density of 10 m2/bird is recommended for male birds to obtain heavier carcasses. Milanino meat appears bright and intensely colored, and it is characterized by high protein and low fat contents compared with the standard broiler meat. Total lipids of Milanino meat are characterized by a healthy fatty acid composition, corresponding to a high PUFA/SFA ratio. Milanino breast meat is a good supply of nutraceutical PUFA with a positive low n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. The ability of the Milanino breed either to synthesize or to transfer to tissue a high quantity of PUFA relevant for human health could be a key factor for its economic valorization