Influence of gas mixture on quality and shelf life of veal calf meat

The paper investigates the effect of two different gas mixtures on chemical, physical and microbiological quality of veal meat packed in modified atmosphere during chill storage. Experimental gas atmospheres tested were O246 (46% O2, 31% N2 and 23% CO2) and O270 (70% O2, 8% N2 and 22% CO2). Samples were stored at 4°C for 14 days and tested at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 days after packaging. The different O2 concentration influenced many parameters. Lower O2 concentration showed a greater increase of a* values (P<0.01) from the 2nd to the 8th packaging day, and a lower increase in drip loss values, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and protein oxidation (P<0.001). Total aerobic mesophilic and psychrophilic count showed a gradual increase in bacterial load over storage time in both the experimental treatments. Results obtained showed that O246 is better than O270 in calf meat packaging because of a belated decline of meat quality, particularly about oxidative parameters

Volatile organic compounds, oxidative and sensory patterns of vacuum aged foal meat

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of 14-day vacuum aging on the volatile compounds (VOC) profile, oxidative profile, antioxidant enzymes activity, and sensory evaluation in the Longissimusthoracis muscle of foal meat under vacuum aging. Longissimusthoracis (LT) was sampled in 20 mm thick slices, vacuum packed, and stored at 4 °C. Samples were randomly assigned to different aging times (1, 6, 9, 14 days after slaughtering). VOCs, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs), hydroperoxides, carbonyl proteins, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase were analyzed, and a sensory test was performed. A nested one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed for aging time as an independent variable. Significance was set at p 0.05), instead, protein carbonyls showed higher values at the 14th day (p < 0.01). Catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase showed increasing values during aging time (p < 0.01). Vacuum aging slowed down lipid oxidation, and protein oxidation was shown to be present. However, the best vacuum aging duration is in the range of 6–9 days from slaughtering, with an improvement of sensory evaluation.CYTED | Ref. 119RT0568AxenciaGalega de Innovación | Ref. IN607A2019/01Department of Veterinary Medicine of Bari | Ref. DR 3681Italian Ministry of Education | Ref. 183989

Litter Management Practices and House-Soiling in Italian Cats

There are about 10.1 million domestic cats in Italy, but information on cats’ litter management and house-soiling prevalence is scant. This study described cats’ and cat owners’ profiles, litter management practices, and whether cats show house-soiling, also comparing between professionals (i.e., breeders) and amateurs (i.e., pet owners). A cross-sectional online survey sought respondents’ housing, family, and cat details, as well as other pet details, litter details, and whether the cats showed house-soiling. Data for a total of 3106 cats were obtained. Italian cats lived mainly in apartments, along with other cats or dogs. Italians owned mostly adult European breed cats, to whom they provided covered litter boxes filled with clumping substrates, scooped daily, and completely replaced weekly. Litter cleaning was more frequent when cats were owned for financial purposes (i.e., breeders) rather than for companionship, but more space was provided for pets than for breeding cats. The recalled prevalence of elimination problems (16.7%) was lower compared to other studies, with cats mainly eliminating urine (54.6%) on objects in squatting posture (35.2%). Overall, this research increased our understanding of cat litter management in Italy. These findings could fill a gap in the knowledge regarding litter management and house-soiling incidences in Italy. Further studies to investigate possible risk factors for house-soiling are needed

ATP Sensitive Potassium Channels in the Skeletal Muscle Function: Involvement of the KCNJ11(Kir6.2) Gene in the Determination of Mechanical Warner Bratzer Shear Force

The ATP-sensitive K-channels (KATP) are distributed in the tissues coupling metabolism with K ions efflux. KATP subunits are encoded by KCNJ8 (Kir6.1), KCNJ11 (Kir6.2), ABCC8 (SUR1), and ABCC9 (SUR2) genes, alternative RNA splicing give rise to SUR variants that confer distinct physiological properties on the channel. An high expression/activity of the sarco-KATP channel is observed in various rat fast-twitch muscles, characterized by elevated muscle strength, while a low expression/activity is observed in the slow twitch muscles characterized by reduced strength and frailty. Down-regulation of the KATP subunits of fast-twitch fibers is found in conditions characterized by weakness and frailty. KCNJ11 gene knockout mice have reduced glycogen, lean phenotype, lower body fat, and weakness. KATP channel is also a sensor of muscle atrophy. The KCNJ11 gene is located on BTA15, close to a QTL for meat tenderness, it has also a role in glycogen storage, a key mechanism of the postmortem transformation of muscle into meat. The role of KCNJ11 gene in muscle function may underlie an effect of KCNJ11 genotypes on meat tenderness, as recently reported. The fiber phenotype and genotype are important in livestock production science. Quantitative traits including meat production and quality are influenced both by environment and genes. Molecular markers can play an important role in the genetic improvement of animals through breeding strategies. Many factors influence the muscle Warner-Bratzler shear force including breed, age, feeding, the biochemical, and functional parameters. The role of KCNJ11gene and related genes on muscle tenderness will be discussed in the present review

TRIGLYCERIDES VARIABILITY IN DONKEY MILK

The distribution of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in donkey milk and of fatty acids in the glycerol backbone affect assimilation and lipolysis, so the utility of analytical methods to characterise fat fractions is proved. In this study an optimised gas chromatography/oncolumn injector method was used to study the TAG variability of various milk species. This method is useful for quality control aimed at standardising formulated donkey milk and was used to compare the TAG composition of lyophilised donkey milk distributed on the Italian market. Three TAG groups, based on variability degree, were detected and the most characterising TAG fraction was identified