Survey on conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content and fatty acid composition of Grana Padano cheese produced in different seasons and areas

A study was carried out to determine the content of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and fatty acid composition of Grana Padano P.D.O. (Protected Designation of Origin) Italian cheese. Samples were obtained from spring and summer cow’s milk in different areas of Grana Padano production district and from all present dairies. In particular, 253 samples of lowland-hill Grana Padano (LH-GP) were analysed: 137 produced from spring milk, and 116 from summer milk. Forty-three mountain Grana Padano (M-GP) samples were also analysed: 25 obtained from spring milk, and 18 from summer milk. The results were subjected to statistical analysis; a factorial arrangement was used, and the fixed effects in the model included season, the manufacturing area of the Grana Padano cheese, and the first order interaction (season x area). Further, cheese β-carotene concentration was measured in a representative number of summer samples (32), selected according to the CLA level (9 with CLA concentration 7 mg/g total fat), in order to investigate the correlation between CLA content and β-carotene concentration. M-GP had higher levels of CLA, vaccenic (TVA) and α-linolenic (LNA) acid than LH-GP. CLA concentrations increased from spring to summer both in M-GP and LH-GP. This rise was greater in M-GP showing an effect of interaction between season and production area (P<0.001). An effect of first order interaction (P<0.001) was also seen for TVA with values increasing from spring to summer in M-GP, whereas there only was an effect of the manufacturing area on LNA. During summer, M-GP had the highest polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) percentage. An increase in PUFA from spring to summer was observed only in M-GP (first order interaction, P<0.001). The saturated fatty acids (SFA) decreased from spring to summer both in LH-GP and M-GP and with major entity in M-GP (first order interaction, P<0.001). The β-carotene concentration resulted positively correlated with CLA level (r=0.92; P<0.01) in summer cheese. The present results underline the role of mountain cheese obtained from summer milk as a natural source of CLA and beneficial fatty acids for human health

Effect of a low crude protein diet supplemented with different levels of threonine on growth performance, carcass traits, blood parameters, and immune responses of growing broilers

ABSTRACT A study was conducted to evaluate growth performance, carcass traits, blood serum parameters, and immune responses of Ross 308 male broilers fed diets containing 2 different crude protein (CP) levels (97.5 and 100%) and 4 threonine (Thr) levels (100, 110, 120, and 130% of Ross recommendations for starter and grower periods). A completely randomized block design was adopted and main effects (CP and Thr) were arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial approach. Optimum growth performance was achieved when broiler requirements for CP and Thr were 100% satisfied. The 110% Thr inclusion in 97.5% CP diet increased ADG, ADFI, energy intake, and protein intake (Thr,

Anticatabolic activity of alpha-ketoglutaric acid in growing rats

This study evaluated the anti-catabolic effect of α-ketoglutaric acid (AKG) in rats. Thirty Sprague Dowley male rats were divided into 3 groups of 10 animals each and fed ad libitum with protein-free diet (PFD) supplemented with 0, 3, and 6 g/kg feed of AKG for 14 consecutive days. The AKG administration had no effect on the growth performance of rats in the global trial period (0-14 d). After 7 d of excreta collection, the losses of endogenous nitrogen (N), both urinary and total, linearly reduced (P<0.05) following the administration of AKG, ranging from 35.00 mg/d to 28.00 mg/d, and from 45.28 mg/d to 36.36 mg/d, respectively. The villi and microvilli heights were lower when animals received 3 g/kg of AKG respecting to other tested AKG levels. Indeed, enterocytes length linearly increased (P<0.05) as the level of AKG increased in the diet by 25.0% (3 g/kg) and 49.0% (6 g/kg). The AKG levels quadratically influenced (P<0.05) the essential amino acids (EAA) concentrations in the blood, being EAA lower for animals treated with 6 g/kg of AKG (-21.6%) compared to the animals fed the control PFD and the PFD with 3 g/kg of AKG. In conclusion, AKG was effective in reducing catabolism and EAA depletion

Pea (Pisum sativum) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) seeds as protein sources in growing-finishing heavy pig diets: effect on growth performance, carcass characteristics and on fresh and seasoned Parma ham quality

The effect of pea and faba bean inclusion in growing-finishing heavy pig diets was evaluated. The following iso-lysinic and iso-energetic diets offered to the pigs in three phases (40-80; 80-120; 120-160 kg) were compared: CTR, control diet with soybean meal (SBM) as protein source; RP, CTR diet where pea replaced SBM; RF, CTR diet where faba bean replaced SBM. 126 animals were randomly distributed in 3 homogeneous groups with 42 animals each (7 pens with 6 animals each per treatment). The RP and RF diets did not negatively affect the carcass characteristics both of the pigs slaughtered at the conventional weight (127.5 kg) and heavy pigs (158.5 kg). The pigs fed the RP and RF diets ate similarly to the pigs fed the CTR overall the trial but RF pigs grew better than CTR animals. The subcutaneous fat of the fresh hams destined for Parma ham production and obtained from pigs fed RP diet had a higher omega 3 fatty acid percentage. Moreover, the RP and RF diets resulted in fat with better omega 3/omega 6 ratio compared with CTR. All the fat samples had iodine numbers within the limit value (70) reported by the Production Disciplinary of Parma ham. No treatment effect was found on the analytical and sensorial characteristics of the Parma hams, except for the aged taste which was more intense in the hams obtained from pigs fed the RF diet. These results indicate that pea and faba bean may be used as an alternative to imported SBM

Effects of supra-nutritional levels of vitamin E and vitamin C on growth performance and egg production traits of Japanese quails

A study was conducted to evaluate growth performance and egg production traits of Japanese quails fed diets containing different supra-nutritional levels of vitamin E and C (600, 800 and 1000 mg/kg). A completely randomised design was adopted and main effects (vitamin E and C) were arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial approach. Throughout the study (42 to 105 d), the highest feed intake (vitamin C, p = .01) and weight gain (vitamin E × C, tendency p = .06) were obtained with vitamin E and/or C at 800 mg/kg whereas the highest dietary efficiency with 600 mg/kg of vitamin E plus 600 or 1000 of C and with 800 mg/kg of E plus 600 or 800 mg/kg of C (vitamin E × C, tendency p = .06). The highest final body weight was achieved with 1000 mg/kg of both the vitamins (vitamin E × C, p = .02). Vitamin E and/or C at 1000 mg/kg increased egg production, weight of produced eggs (vitamin E × C, p = .04), number of produced eggs to feed ratio, weight of produced eggs to feed ratio (vitamin E and C, p < .01), average egg volume (vitamin E × C, p = .03), and egg shape index (vitamin E, p < .01; vitamin C, p = .01). Current findings showed that feeding vitamin E and C at supra-nutritional levels can be a good management practice in Japanese quail nutrition to promote growth performance and egg production traits under thermoneutral condition.Highlights Supra-nutritional levels of vitamin E and C can promote growth performance and egg production traits of Japanese quails. Vitamin E plus C at high doses (1000 mg/kg) can synergistically act in promoting quail growth. Dietary supplementation with vitamin E at 800 or 1000 mg/kg plus vitamin C at 1000 mg/kg can improve egg production traits

Contents of conjugated linoleic acid isomers cis9,trans11 and trans10,cis12 in ruminant and non-ruminant meats available in the Italian market

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers are considered healthy factors due to their anticarcinogenic, anti-atherosclerotic and lipolytic effect. A recommended daily intake from 0.8 to 3 g CLA/day/person has been proposed to obtain biological effects in humans. The aim of this work was to provide data on cis9,trans11 (c9,t11 CLA) and trans10,cis12 (t10,c12 CLA) contents in meats collected from Italian largescale retail trade and completing a food CLA database. In a first trial, beef loin meats were characterised for label information available for consumers: origin (i.e., Ireland, France- Italy, Piedmont) and sex of animals. No differences were observed for c9,t11 and t10,c12 CLA contents (mg/g fat) of loin meat from male or female. Piedmontese meat showed lower (P<0.05) c9,t11 CLA level (mg/g fat) than Irish and French-Italian meats, whereas similar t10,c12 CLA contents were measured in Piedmontese, Irish and French-Italian meats. Successively, meat samples from different animal species (male and female beef, veal, suckling lamb, belly beef, canned beef meat, pork and horse) were characterised for their contents in c9,t11 and t10,c12 CLA. Lamb meat had the highest (P<0.05) c9,t11 CLA content (mg/g fat). The c9,t11 CLA was lower than 2 mg/g fat in veal, pork and horse meats. Low t10,c12 CLA amounts were found in all analysed meat samples. These data provided information to estimate the average daily intake of CLA from meats in an Italian cohort, which can be used in epidemiological studies

Effects of dietary surpluses of methionine and lysine on growth performance, blood serum parameters, immune responses, and carcass traits of broilers

We evaluated the effects of dietary surpluses (100%, 110%, and 120% of Ross recommendations) of methionine (Met) and lysine (Lys) on growth performance, blood serum parameters, immune responses, and carcass traits of broilers using a completely randomized design with a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement. Broilers fed a diet containing Met and Lys according to Ross recommendations had maximal growth performance. During the starter period, higher Lys decreased intake of feed, energy, and protein (linear, P < 0.01) and weight gain (linear, P = 0.01). A diet with 110% Lys decreased feed efficiency (quadratic, P = 0.03) during the grower period and decreased the pre-slaughtered body weight (tendency; quadratic, P = 0.10), and increased serum uric acid (quadratic, P = 0.03). Dietary Lys level had an inverse correlation with serum phosphorus (linear, P = 0.02) and immune response against Newcastle disease virus after the first vaccination (linear, P = 0.03). There were Met × Lys interaction effects on serum glucose (P = 0.01), and relative weights of the rectum (P = 0.02) and liver (P = 0.02). Taken together, our results indicate that dietary surpluses of Met and Lys provided no additional benefits in broiler performance

Effect of Italian heavy pig diets based on different barley varieties with or without non-starch polysaccharides degrading enzymes on growth performance, carcass characteristics and fresh thigh quality

The effect of diets based on two different barley varieties, with or without non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) degrading enzymes was evaluated on growth performance, carcass characteristics and fresh thigh quality in Italian heavy growing-finishing pigs. Pigs (64) were assigned to four diets: two diets based on 85% of hulled normal-amylose barley (Cometa, with or without NSP enzyme complex) and two diets based on 85% of hulless low-amylose barley (Alamo, with or without NSP enzyme complex). The diets were formulated according to three growth phases with same lisyne:digestible energy ratio. The NSP enzyme complex did not improve the Cometa and Alamo diets in terms of pig growth performance, carcass characteristics and fresh thigh quality. Throughout the study, the Alamo group had greater (p < 0.05) final body weight, average daily gain and gain per megacalorie of digestible energy than the Cometa group. Higher (p < 0.05) carcass and thigh weights, and lower (p < 0.01) thigh chilling losses were observed for the Alamo group compared with the Cometa group. The Cometa diet decreased (p < 0.01) polyunsaturated fatty acids level, and increased (p < 0.01) monounsaturated fatty acid content and saturated fatty acids/polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio in subcutaneous fat of fresh thighs. No appreciable differences were observed in the color of subcutaneous fat and biceps femoris of pigs fed the Cometa and Alamo diets. Feeding hulless low-amylose barley to growing-finishing pigs can be valuable to promote growth performance and carcass characteristics. No NSP enzyme complex is needed when hulled normal-amylose barley or hulless low-amylose barley are used in diets for heavy pigs

Effects of different plant extracts at various dietary levels on growth performance, carcass traits, blood serum parameters, immune response and ileal microflora of Ross broiler chickens

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different plant extracts (common nettle, coriander, dill and thyme) at various dietary levels (0, 150, 300 and 450 mg/L) on growth performance, carcass traits, blood serum parameters, immune response and ileal microflora of 650 male Ross chickens (13 treatment groups; five replicates/treatment group; 10 birds/replicate) in a 42-day trial. Plant extracts were added to drinking water. Supplementation, except for coriander, increased feed intake (p < .05). Thyme extracts at 300 mg/L improved both weight gain and feed efficiency (p < .05). Thyme or dill (300 mg/L) improved carcass and drumsticks yields (p < .05). Pre-slaughtered body weight was increased by supplementation with plant extracts at 300 mg/L (p < .05). Plant extracts positively affected blood serum parameters decreasing concentrations (p < .05) of total protein, albumin, urea and total cholesterol. Dill extract increased IgG against sheep red blood cells at d 28 (p < .05) and d 42 (IgG; tendency p= .0698), whereas coriander extract (450 mg/L) raised immune response against avian influence within 42 d from vaccination (p < .05). Plant extracts reduced coliforms (except dill at 300 mg/L level; p < .05) and aerobic bacteria (except dill; p < .05). Negative gram bacteria were increased by thyme and dill treatments at 150 mg/L (p < .05) whereas lactobacilli bacteria were raised by thyme at 150 mg/L level (p < .05). In conclusion, supplementation with thyme at 300 mg/L level had the greatest benefits on the evaluated parameters.HIGHLIGHTS Thyme supplementation at 300 mg/L level could improve broiler chicken growth performance, carcass traits and blood serum parameters. Thyme supplementation at 150 mg/L could positively affect ileal microbiota increasing lactobacilli bacteria and reducing coliforms. However, no relevant effects of the thyme treatment were observed on broiler chicken immune responses