Impatto economico di tecniche alternative nei processi produttivi olivicoli in Toscana

After analysing market and structural features of olive-growing in Tuscany, this study reports management models, with particular reference to harvesting, and assesses their economic efficiency and sustainability. Key factors for profitable management are yield per tree and per hectare and the amount of labour needed for pruning and harvesting. A viable olive-growing industry can develop provided farms invest in new, highly-productive orchards or rejuvenate old ones, and introduce mechanization in the different cultural practices quality

Feed efficiency of Italian Holstein dairy heifers in the genomic era – preliminary results

Genetic selection of dairy cattle has classically been based on fertility and productivity (kilograms of milk, protein, fat). In recent years a growing interest in characters related to health and efficiency of the animals has taken hold. The selection of animals with a high feed efficiency can bring benefits in terms of health, productivity and environmental impact. A first batch of 16 Holstein heifers (mean age 12.63 ± 2.90 months) was selected and housed in a tie-stall of the Centro Zootecnico Didattico Sperimentale (CZDS) of Lodi for the whole length of the trial (35 days). Blood samples were collected and sent to the lab to perform genotyping of the animals. Heifers were fed a composed ration of sorghum silage and total mixed ration, delivered daily on individual feeders to ensure each animal continuous access to the feed. Animals had free access to the water. Feed intake was obtained weighing the supplied ration and the residual the day after. Individual body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS), hearth girth (HG) and height at the wither (W) were measured weekly. Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and Residual Feed Intake (RFI) were calculated using Dry Matter Intake (DMI) data. Fecal samples were collected weekly to assess any relation between feed efficiency and acidic profile of the feces. Preliminary results show an average daily gain of  941 ± 206 grams, an increase of mean BW from 374.63 ± 17.06 (day 0) to 407.56 ± 17.06 kilograms (day 34), an increase of mean BCS from 3.97 ± 0.11 (day 0) to 4.19 ± 0.11 (day 34), an increase of mean HG from 169.25 ± 2.83 (day 0) to 177.41 ± 2.83 centimeters (day 34), an increase of mean W from 127.28 ± 1.23 (day 0) to 132.69 ± 1.23 centimeters (day 34)

La valutazione dell'agricoltura biologica: un modello aziendale economico-ambientale

Sempre più la PAC pone il problema di favorire lo sviluppo di un settore agricolo realmente multifunzionale, sostenibile e competitivo. Il lavoro presentato fornisce un contributo metodologico per facilitare la valutazione in termini monetari della compensazione da attribuire, agli agricoltori con produzioni di tipo biologico, per i servizi ambientali, al fine di assicurare loro il mantenimento della competitività. La ricerca ha posto a confronto, attraverso l’uso di un modello di Programmazione Lineare Parametrica, due simulazioni relative ai sistemi di produzione “convenzionale” e “biologico” in una azienda con allevamento di bovini da latte. Si è studiato l’andamento dei costi marginali dei servizi ambientali in funzione del decremento dell’impatto ambientale degli inquinanti azotati, del consumo di energia e dell’erosione del suolo

Effects of Fat Supplementation in Dairy Goats on Lipid Metabolism and Health Status

Fat supplementation has long been used in dairy ruminant nutrition to increase the fat content of milk and supply energy during particularly challenging production phases. Throughout the years, advances have been made in the knowledge of metabolic pathways and technological treatments of dietary fatty acids (FAs), resulting in safer and more widely available lipid supplements. There is an awareness of the positive nutraceutical effects of the addition of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to fat supplementation, which provides consumers with healthier animal products through manipulation of their characteristics. If it is true that benefits to human health can be derived from the consumption of animal products rich in bioactive fatty acids (FAs), then it is reasonable to think that the same effect can occur in the animals to which the supplements are administered. Therefore, recent advances in fat supplementation of dairy goats with reference to the effect on health status have been summarized. In vivo trials and in vitro analysis on cultured cells, as well as histological and transcriptomic analyses of hepatic and adipose tissue, have been reviewed in order to assess documented relationships between specific FAs, lipid metabolism, and immunity