Evaluation of the morphometric characteristics of ewe milk fat globules, cheese yield and ripening in the intermediate lactation phase

The study was carried out on twenty ewes kept indoors at 25 days post partum. The experiment lasted 60 days, from 40 to 100 days post partum. The animals were homogeneous in terms of parity, lactation phase and feed. The results show that, as the lactation phase progresses, there is a gradual increase in the percentage of fat and a decrease in the average diameter of the fat globules. In particular, before the 55 days of lactation the milk quality and the cheese yield are lower and the weight loss at 10 days of ripening is higher

Nota preliminare sulle indagini archeologiche presso la grotta “Mora di Cavorso”

Si presentano i dati relativi allo scavo archeologico eseguito per il recupero di reperti umani segnalati nel 2003 presso la grotta Mora Cavorso a Jenne (Rm). Si tratta di varie centiania di ossa umane, fauna e materiale archeologico datati al Neolitico antico e probabilmente relativi a una serie di sepolture intenzionali sconvolte in antico

The macrostructure of milk lipids: the fat globules

The aim of this review article is to summarize the information available related to milk fat globules (MFGs) in order to highlight their contribution to the nutritional and technological characteristics of milk and dairy products. The macrostructure of milk lipids is composed of globules made up of triglycerides with different melting points, enveloped by a biological membrane from the mammary epithelial cell. In milks of different animal species, there are different sized MFGs, ranging from diameters of less than 0.2 μm to a maximum of 15 μm. The average diameter and the number of globules are affected by endogenous, physiological and exogenous factors. The size of the globules in turn affects the qualitative characteristics of milk and cheese. In addition, the average diameter of the globules and their surface that is exposed to the digestive system affect fat digestibility in different ways. Finally, the components of the milk fat globule membranes have been shown to take part in the secretion process of globules and to have a beneficial effect on human health. In conclusion, by acting on factors influencing the dimensions of the fat globules and by increasing the content of the milk membrane could help adapt milk production to specific consumer targets and improve milk nutritional properties

Understanding Intention Toward Animal Welfare Between Iranian Stockperson

Although conventional livestock farming has been successful at production and cost-benefits rate however, besides these successes, modern livestock system, also, created ethical, social and environmental challenge. In other words, it is really unsuccessful at the issues of environmentally friendly production, animal health and animal welfare. In this situation, organic livestock has been introduced as an alternative for conventional livestock. Organic livestock is guided by a set of fundamental goals and ideas. Providing animal welfare can be related to some overall goals for organic. As such understanding how different actors perceive it is a precondition for the successful improvement of animal welfare. To our knowledge, no studies undertake to investigate stockmen’s intention toward animal welfare in Iran and MENA region. As such, the aim of this study is to investigate the intention of stockmen regarding importance and necessity of animal welfare at Sirjan County in Kerman province in the middle of Iran through a psychological perspective. Therefore, 100 industrial stockmen through simple random sampling were selected who, as we assume, will be the key stakeholders, and will contribute to the animal welfare in Iran. Data were analyzed using the SPSS. The results through a multiple regression revealed that attitude toward animal welfare, moral norm, control perceived behaviour and outcome expectations were predictor of stockmen’ intention toward animal welfare. The findings of this study provided preliminary data toward improvement of animal welfare between Iranian stockmen

Anti-allodynic efficacy of NMDA antagonist peptide and noradrenaline alone and in combination in rodent neuropathic pain model

Background: The present experiment was conducted to identify the cooperative effect of serine histogranin (SHG) and noradrenaline in alleviating peripheral neuropathic pain. Methods: Chronic constriction injury of the right sciatic nerve was used to induce chronic neuropathic pain. For drug delivery, a PE10 tube was inserted into the subarachnoid space. Acetone drops and a 44°C water bath were used to evaluate the cold and heat allodynia, respectively. Placing and grasping reflexes were used to assess the locomotor system. Results: SHG at 0.5 and 1 μg significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the thermal allodynia. The cold allodynia was also significantly reduced by intrathecal injections of 0.5 (P < 0.05) and 1 μg (P < 0.001) of SHG. 1 μg of noradrenaline, but not 0.5 μg, significantly alleviated the cold (P < 0.01) and thermal (P < 0.05) allodynia. The ameliorating effect of noradrenaline or SHG disappeared when the two compounds were administrated in equal concentrations. A significant difference (P < 0.01 in the acetone and P < 0.05 in the heat) was observed in the groups under equal doses of the two compounds, with a lower effectiveness of the combination therapy. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the simultaneous administrations of noradrenaline and SHG do not result in synergistic analgesia, and combination therapy may not be a good approach to the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain syndrome. © The Korean Pain Society, 2015

Effects of Cadmium on Rumen Fermentation and Nutrient Digestibility Using Dual Flow Continuous Culture System

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different doses of cadmium on fermentation characterization and nutrient digestibility using dual flow continuous culture system. Eight dual-flow, continuous culture fermenters were used in 2 replicated periods of 10 d (7 d of adaptation and 3 d of sampling). Fermenters were inoculated with a composited ruminal fluid from 3 beef steers fed a high concentrate diet for at least 2 mo before the beginning of the trial. Anaerobic conditions were maintained by the infusion of N2 at a rate of 40 mL/min. Temperature (38.5°C) and liquid (10%/h) and solid (5%/h) dilution rates were kept constant. Fermenters were fed daily with 120 g dry matter in three equal portions. Treatments arranged as complete randomized block design with control and addition three levels of cadmium (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/l) to the high concentrate diet (15:85 forage to concentrate ratio). Organic matter, dry matter, NDF and ADF digestibility significantly decreased with the addition of 1 and 10 mg/l cadmium to the culture media compered to control treatment (P<0.05). Cadmium significantly decreased total volatile fatty acids concentration, acetate proportion and acetate to propionate ratio. Propionate and butyrate proportion increased significantly in response to cadmium addition (P<0.05). Concentration of NH3-N was significantly decreased in 1 and 10 mg/l cadmium treatments compared with control treatment. The results of this study suggest that cadmium in doses of 1 mg/l or more had strong inhibitory effect on mixed rumen microorganisms

Study on chemical and fatty acid modifications of cow's milk in relation to fat globules diameter

Studies regarding the range of values for variations in the size of milk fat globules have been conducted over the years by various Authors, based on objective observation and mathematical extrapolation. In 1969,Walstra calculated the existence of a population of globules smaller than 1 μm and identified a population of larger globules, distributed in a "Gaussian" manner and showing a peak at a diameter of around 3-4 micrometers; later Timmen e Patton (1988) separated the cream from the rest of the milk by centrifugation and classified the fat globules into small and large sizes

A randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating quality of life when using a simple acupressure protocol in women with primary dysmenorrhea

Objective: To evaluate a simple acupressure protocol in LIV3 and LI4 acupoints in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: This paper reports a randomized, single blinded clinical trial. 90 young women with dysmenorrhea were recruited to three groups to receive 20 minutes acupressure every day in either LIV3 or LI4, or placebo points. Acupressure was timed five days before menstruation for three successive menstrual cycles. On menstruation, each participant completed the Wong Baker faces pain scale, and the quality of life short form -12 (QOL SF-12). Results: Intensity and duration of pain between the three groups in the second and third cycles during the intervention (p<0.05) differed significantly. Significant differences were seen in all domains of QOL except for mental health (p=0.4), general health (p=0.7) and mental subscale component (p=0.12) in the second cycle, and mental health (p=0.9), and mental subscale component (p=0.14) in the third cycle. Conclusion: Performing the simple acupressure protocol is an effective method to decrease the intensity and duration of dysmenorrhea, and improve the QOL. Key words: Dysmenorrhea, acupressure, quality of life Registration ID in IRCT: IRCT2016052428038N