instrumental objective measurement of veal calves carcass colour at slaughterhouse

A total of 6700 veal calves were used to compare the ability of chromameter CR300 in measuring the veal meat colour on-line at slaughterhouse and to develop a prediction equation of colour score based on relationship between instrumental and visual assessments. A total of 5000 carcasses were used to develop equation of prediction while 1700 were used to test it. The meat colour was assessed subjectively in 3 different slaughterhouses by the slaughterhouse's judges 10h post mortem and objectively by chromameter CR300 45 post mortem on the Rectus abdominis. The prediction equation classified correctly 79% of carcasses and was characterized by an R2 of 78%. Furthermore it has to be underlined that the chroma contributes to the total R2 with a 0.21 partial R2. This data confirmed that chromameter CR300 can be used on-line to measure objectively veal meat colour at the end of the slaughter line

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Algal and Cyanobacterial Extracts: An In Vitro Study

Algae and cyanobacteria, other than their nutritional value, possess different beneficial properties, including antioxidant and antimicrobial ones. Therefore, they can be considered functional ingredients in animal feed and natural substitutes for antibiotics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity against porcine O138 E. coli of Ascophyllum nodosum, Chlorella vulgaris, Lithotamnium calcareum, Schizochytrium spp. as algal species and Arthrospira platensis as cyanobacteria. The antioxidant capacity was determined by ABTS Radical Cation Decolorization Assay testing at three different concentrations (100%; 75%; 50%). The growth inhibition effect of the extracts at concentrations of 25%, 12.5%, 6%, 3% and 1.5% against porcine O138 E. coli was genetically characterized by PCR to detect the presence of major virulence factors; this was evaluated by following the microdilution bacterial growth method. The ABTS assay disclosed that Ascophyllum nodosum was the compound with the major antioxidant properties (57.75 ± 1.44 percentage of inhibition; p < 0.0001). All the extracts tested showed growth inhibition activity at a concentration of 25%. Among all extracts, A. nodosum was the most effective, showing a significant growth inhibition of E. coli; in particular, the log(10) cells/mL of E. coli used as a control resulted in a significantly higher concentration of 25% and 12.5% after 4 h (8.45 ± 0.036 and 7.22 ± 0.025 log(10) cells/mL, respectively; p < 0.005). This also suggests a dose-dependent relationship between the inhibitory activity and the concentration. Also, a synergistic effect was observed on antioxidant activity for the combination of Ascophyllum nodosum and Lithotamnium calcareum (p < 0.0001). Moreover, to determine if this combination could affect the viability of the IPEC-J2 cells under the normal or stress condition, the viability and membrane integrity were tested, disclosing that the combination mitigated the oxidative stress experimentally induced by increasing the cell viability. In conclusion, the results obtained highlight that the bioactive compounds of algal species are able to exert antioxidant capacity and modulate O138 E. coli growth. Also, the combination of Ascophyllum nodosum and Lithotamnium calcareum species can enhance their bioactivity, making them a promising functional feed additive and a suitable alternative to antibiotics

Malate supplementation to beef cattle: effects on growth performance and rumen fermentation products

Two trials were performed to evaluate the effects of malate supplementation on the growth performance as well as on ruminal pH and fermentation products of beef cattle. A total of 80 Charolaise bullocks were randomly allotted to one of the four experimental groups which included two experiments. The first experiment involved a control group (C) fed with a corn silage based diet and a treated group (T) fed the same diet supplemented with 20 g/head/day of malate. The second experiment involved a dry control group (DC) fed with a dry diet (without corn silage) and a treated group (DMS) fed with the same diet supplemented with 20 g/head/day malate. Bullocks fed diets with corn silage and supplemented with malate demonstrated higher live weight in the transition, fattening (P<0.05) and finishing periods (P<0.10), and higher average daily gain in the fattening and finishing period (P<0.10) than the control group. In the second experiment no difference in growth performance were highlighted. In both trials no statistical difference was highlighted for ruminal fluid pH. In regards to fermentation products, the supplemented animals exhibited a higher propionic acid proportion, lower acetate:propionate ratio, and higher N-NH3 concentration than the controls for both trials

The Effect of Different Sources of Selenium Supplementation on the Meat Quality Traits of Young Charolaise Bulls during the Finishing Phase

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of sodium selenite (SS), selenium yeast (SY), and hydroxy-selenomethionine (OH-SeMet) on the meat quality and selenium (Se) deposition of finishing beef cattle. Sixty-three bulls were distributed over 3 treatments and fed SS, SY, or OH-SeMet at 0.2 mg kg−1 dry matter (DM) for 60 d. None of the Se sources affected the growth performance or carcass characteristics. OH-SeMet showed a higher Se transfer to the meat than SS or SY (p &lt; 0.01). SY and OH-SeMet reduced the shear force of the meat (p &lt; 0.0001), improved pH (p &lt; 0.001), and reduced the drip losses (p &lt; 0.001) and the lipid oxidation of the meat (p &lt; 0.001). During 8 d of storage, OH-SeMet showed higher levels of meat lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) than SS (p &lt; 0.001), while the SY meat showed a higher L* than SS, albeit only on d 6. OH-SeMet improved b*, compared to SS, and also compared to SY on days 4, 7, and 8 (p &lt; 0.001). Supplementing beef with SY and OH-SeMet improved several meat quality parameters. OH-SeMet appears to be the most effective strategy to improve the Se content and color stability of beef cattle meat

Effect of a Blend of Essential Oils, Bioflavonoids and Tannins on In Vitro Methane Production and In Vivo Production Efficiency in Dairy Cows

Two trials were performed to evaluate the efficacy of a blend of essential oils, bioflavonoids and tannins on methane (CH4) emissions (in vitro) and on the production efficiency of dairy cows (in vivo). The in vitro trial tested the production of total gas and CH4 at 16, 20 and 24 h of incubation, and volatile fatty acids (VFA) at 16 and 24 h, through biochemical methane potential (BMP) assays. In the in vivo trial, milk yield, dry matter intake (DMI), feed conversion rate (FCR), milk quality and apparent total tract digestibility (aTTD) were evaluated in 140 lactating Holstein Friesian cows. Animals were allocated into two groups: (i) Control, standard diet; (ii) Treatment, standard diet plus 10 g/head/d of a powder with a 10% concentration of a blend of essential oils, bioflavonoids and tannins. Statistical analysis was performed using the mixed procedure of SAS either for single or repeated measures. For all the parameters a p-value &le; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The blend significantly reduced the in vitro total gas and CH4 emissions at 16, 20 and 24 h of incubation (p &lt; 0.001). In addition, acetic acid was reduced (p &lt; 0.001), while propionic acid concentration was increased (p &lt; 0.001) at 16 h and 24 h. In the in vivo trial, the Treatment group showed significantly raised milk yield, DMI, FCR (p &lt; 0.001), and of the aTTD of cellulose and starch (p &le; 0.002), while the milk quality traits were not affected. Overall, the results from the study indicated that the blend of essential oils, bioflavonoids, and tannins significantly reduced in vitro total gas and CH4 production and improved the production efficiency of lactating dairy cows in vivo

Effects of Heated Drinking Water on the Growth Performance and Rumen Functionality of Fattening Charolaise Beef Cattle in Winter

The effects of heated drinking water on growth performance and rumen functionality in fattening beef cattle during winter were evaluated. Newly received Charolaise bulls (n = 224) were allocated to two experimental groups: (i) water at room temperature (RTW) (weight 408 ± 34 kg); (ii) constantly heated water (25 °C) (HW) (weight 405 ± 38 kg). Growth performances, feed intake, feed conversion rate, water intake and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Internal reticuloruminal wireless boluses were used to collect rumen pH and temperature values every 10 min. Bodyweight was not affected by the water temperature, but the overall average daily gain (ADG) was significantly higher in the HW group (1.486 vs. 1.438 kg/head/day in the RTW; p = 0.047). Dry matter intake was significantly higher in the HW group (p = 0.001), even though the final feed conversion rate (FCR) was not influenced. There was also a tendency for better cold carcass weight (CCW) and carcass yield (CY) in the HW group. Drinking heated water reduced the time (min/day) during which the ruminal pH was below pH 5.8 or 5.5, and the time during which the temperature was lower than 37 or 39 °C (p &lt; 0.001). The use of heated drinking water is a plausible a strategy for enhancing ruminal stability and the overall production efficiency in fattening beef cattle, which will lead to both better growth performance and higher ruminal stability

Repurposing Hazelnut Waste Products for a Sustainable Economy: A Metabolomic Analysis of Cuticles and Shells to Highlight Their Antioxidant Potential and Inhibitory Activity against Verocytotoxic <i>Escherichia coli</i>

This study evaluated the functional components of hazelnut waste products (cuticles and shells) for potential use in the circular economy. HPLC-HRMS and ABTS assay were used to determine the molecules of waste products with functional properties and antioxidant capacity, respectively. The antioxidant capacity of hazelnut cuticles and shells was tested using two different methods of extraction (EtOH 50/50 and acetone 40/70) by ABTS radical cation decolorization assay. The growth inhibition effect of different extracts against porcine O138 E. coli F18+ was evaluated by the microdilution bacterial growth method and confirmed with the determination of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). The results showed that acetone extraction produced a higher yield of metabolites compared to ethanol extraction, and the cuticles exhibited higher antioxidant and antimicrobial potential. The acetone/water extraction led to the identification of 738 signals compared to 453 detected after EtOH/water extraction. Through metabolomic analysis, it was found that the cuticles presented a much higher quantitative and qualitative polyphenolic profile than did the shells. In addition, the ABTS assay revealed that the cuticles had a higher antioxidant capacity than did the shells. Thus, we believe that hazelnut-derived waste products show a high potential for use in a circular and sustainable economy

Evaluation of Tannin Extracts, Leonardite and Tributyrin Supplementation on Diarrhoea Incidence and Gut Microbiota of Weaned Piglets

The effects of the dietary administration of a combination of Quebracho and Chestnut tannins, leonardite and tributyrin were evaluated in weaned piglets. A total of 168 weaned piglets (Landrace × Large White) were randomly allotted to two experimental groups (6 pens/group, 14 piglets/pen). Animals were fed a basal control diet (CTRL) and a treatment diet (MIX) supplemented with 0.75% tannin extracts, 0.25% leonardite and 0.20% tributyrin for 28 days. Individual body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly. Diarrhoea incidence was recorded by a faecal scoring scale (0–3; considering diarrhoea ≥ 2). At 0 and 28 days, faecal samples were obtained from four piglets/pen for microbiological and chemical analyses of faecal microbiota, which were then assessed by V3-V4 region amplification sequencing. At 28 days, blood from two piglets/pen was sampled to evaluate the serum metabolic profile. After 28 days, a reduction in diarrhoea incidence was observed in the MIX compared to CTRL group (p Prevotella and Fibrobacter genera presence (p p < 0.05). In conclusion, a combination of tannin extract, leonardite and tributyrin could decrease diarrhoea incidence and modulate the gut microbiota

Effect of Slow-Release Urea Administration on Production Performance, Health Status, Diet Digestibility, and Environmental Sustainability in Lactating Dairy Cows

The effects of partially replacing soybean meal (SBM) with a slow-release urea source (SRU) on production performance, feed efficiency, digestibility, and environmental sustainability of dairy cows were evaluated. A total of 140 lactating Holstein Frisian cows were allocated into two study groups: (i) control (diet entirely based on SBM), and (ii) treatment (diet of 0.22% on dry matter basis (d.m.)) of SRU. Milk yield, dry matter intake (DMI), feed conversion rate (FCR), body condition score (BCS), reproductive parameters, and milk quality were evaluated. The chemical composition of the feeds and feces were analyzed to calculate the in vivo digestibility of the two diets. The carbon footprint (CFP) and predicted methane (CH4) emissions were evaluated. The inclusion of SRU significantly increases milk yield, DMI, and FCR (p &lt; 0.0001), whereas milk quality, BCS, and reproductive indicators were not affected (p &gt; 0.05). In the treatment group, the digestibility of crude protein (CP) (p = 0.012), NDF (p = 0.039), and cellulose (p = 0.033) was significantly higher, while the other nutritional parameters weren’t affected. All the environmental parameters were significantly improved in the treatment group (p &lt; 0.0001). Replacing SBM with SRU can be a strategy to enhance dairy cows’ sustainability due to improved production efficiency, reduced feed CFP, and predicted CH4 production