Variability in the characteristics of fresh meat and thighs in relationship to genetic type of the heavy pig

The variability in the characteristics of fresh meat and thighs in relationship with genetic type was studied on 22 lots of heavy pigs, comprising 615 female and castrated males, randomly chosen during slaughtering in groups of 20 to 30 animals per lot. Four different genetic types reared for the production of the San Daniele dry-cured ham PDO were considered: two traditionals (Large White or Duroc x (Landrace x Large White) and two industrial hybrids (GOLAND and DANBRED). Fresh meat samples from longissimus dorsi muscle were collected to perform chemical and physical analysis. The right trimmed thighs were used to evaluate some morphological parameters along with weight losses during seasoning. The genetic type confirmed its important influence on pig carcass, meat and ham quality. The two industrial types, DANBRED in particular, tended to present a lower back fat values and a leaner carcass than the two Italian genetic types. Within the most important characteristics for the production of dry cured hams (subcutaneous fat thickness and seasoning losses) the highest differences were found among the industrials genetic types, which cannot be simply considered as an undifferentiated homogenous group

Effect of information about organic production on beef liking and consumer willingness to pay

The present study was aimed to assess the effect of information about organic production on beef liking and consumer willingness to pay. Mean scores of perceived liking were higher for organic beef (OB) as compared to conventional beef (CB). Expected liking scores were higher for OB than for CB. For OB the expected liking was significantly higher than the perceived liking expressed in blind conditions (negative disconfirmation), whereas for CB no difference was observed. Consumers completely assimilated their liking for OB in the direction of expectations. Consumers showed a willingness to pay for OB higher than the suggested price (P < 0.001), the latter corresponding to the local commercial value for organic beef. We conclude that the information about organic farming can be a major determinant of beef liking, thus providing a potential tool for meat differentiation to traditional farms

La crisi dell'industria tessile. Considerazioni sulla situazione del Veneto

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Estimation of PCDD/F and PCB detoxification rates in contaminated Tapes philippinarum in the Lagoon of Venice. Chemosphrere

a b s t r a c t This work presents the results of a short-term natural detoxification experiment carried out with the contaminated Manila clam (Tapes philippinarum), an edible bivalve species subjected to intense exploitation in the Venice Lagoon. The concentrations of seventeen PCDD/F congeners and twelve dioxin-like PCBs were determined in sediments as well as T. philippinarum specimen sampled in a lagoon area contaminated by industrial pollution. Clam specimen were then transplanted and reared in an area of low contamination. Concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in clam flesh were determined from samples collected after 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 and 120 days from redeployment. The results show a very rapid decrease of pollutant concentrations towards asymptotic values. Due to rapid decrease, the estimated first-order decay constants were statistically significant (p 6 0.05), for ten out of 29 congeners, namely: 2, 3,7, 1,2,3,7, 1,2,3,4,7, 1,2,3,6,7, 1,2,3,7,8, 1,2,3,4,7,8,9-HpCDF, PCB#114, PCB#167, PCB#157 PCB#189. Estimated detoxification half-lives for the five PCDD/F congeners, which accounted for approximately 40% of the Total Toxicity, were very consistent and ranged between 5 and 6 days. Although preliminary, these findings indicate that the redeployment of young clam specimen collected in productive but polluted areas and reared in areas of low contamination may be taken into consideration as a management solution for a safe exploitation of the resource