Sheep and goat organic meat production in the mediterranean region

All animal livestock of the South Mediterranean Countries suffer from climatic condition of mild region characterised by moist winter and hot dry summer. Crop resources in the majority of the countries cannot cover the animal need, so farmer has two solutions feeding his flock under than necessary with effects on yield of production or adding in the animal ration a concentrate with high energy value but this is costly. Also the majority of small ruminants breeds in Mediterranean countries are local breeds which are well adapted to the local conditions but with low level of production . For this reasons organic animal production appears the most suited solution to solve these problems because organic agriculture with its specific techniques uses less quantities of inputs (minimum of concentrated aliments) and valorises pasture resources with good management of grazing. As to organic production it is preferable to have local animal breed, the most important criterion is the quality of the product and not the quantity. Consumers start now to give more importance to quality of meat consumed because of the problems of BSE , toxins and brucellosis. They aim at healthy products with traceability and without any use of OGM crops or animal powder in animal ration. This condition can be easily realised with organic techniques. Many Mediterranean countries like Tunisia start to make policies supporting the organic agriculture sector and write their own regulation based on IFOAM Basic Guidelines and EU-Regulation. In Tunisia legislation for organic animal production is in preparation now and must be effective before the end of 2001 but the analysis of draft standards shows that there is a copy of UE-Regulation 2092/91 for animal production. This legislation may present some problems in terms of application because of the wide differences between European conditions and Tunisian conditions, for instance techniques of flock conduct are different because of the climatic conditions, traditional farm habits and nature of animal breed. Other problems for Mediterranean countries concern the lack of local markets for organic meat, so all the production is for exportation towards European market and here it seems impossible to export living animal because of European restriction in terms of processing. In the case of Tunisia there is no slaughterhouse which respond to international standards that’s why nowadays southern Mediterranean countries cannot export their meat (organic or conventional) towards developed countries. The only solution is to develop local market and to have at international level slaughterhouses , means of storage and meat processing

Etude et évaluation du compostage de différents types de matières organiques et des effets des jus de composts biologiques sur les maladies des plantes

L’étude des paramètres de compostage d’un mélange de différentes matières organiques formant les quatre traitements suivants : • 1er traitement :100% de fumier bovin. • 2ème traitement : 80% de fumier bovin + 20% fumier ovin. • 3ème traitement :70% de fumier bovin+20%fumier ovin+10%fiente de volaille. • 4ème traitement :50% fumier bovin+20%fumier ovin+20%fumier de volailles+10%paille broyée. A montré une différence de comportement au niveau des températures qui ont été plus importantes pour le T4 riche en carbone que pour les autres traitements. Le pH basique de départ a diminué pour tous les traitements pour s’approcher de la neutralité en fin du processus du compostage surtout pour le traitement T1. Il est aussi à noter une baisse de la concentration en azote probablement par le lessivage à cause du rapport C/N de départ qui était faible. A partir de ces différents traitements et au stade de maturité des composts on a extrait le jus de compost après 5 jours d’incubation. Ces extraits utilisés sur des champignons ( Rhizoctonia solani,Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium roseum, Fusarium graninearum et Phytophtora erythroseptica) in vitro et in vivo ont démontré une bonne efficacité des traitements surtout le T4 qui a inhibé considérablement le développement de la pourriture sèche du Fusarium solani sur les tubercules de pomme de terre destinées au stockage. Le Fusarium solani étant le principal champignon contaminant les sols Tunisiens d’où l’importance des résultats obtenus. Néanmoins, d’autres études doivent être conduites pour fixer le meilleur mode d’extraction ( aérobie ou anaérobie), ainsi que la période optimale d’extraction et les doses de traitements

Study and assessment of compost of different organic mixtures and effect of organic compost tea on plant diseases

Four compost treatments representing different organic mixtures were studied: - Treatment T1: 100% cattle manure - Treatment T2: 80% cattle manure and 20% sheep manure - Treatment T3: 70% cattle manure, 20% sheep manure and 10% poultry manure. - Treatment T4: 50% cattle manure, 20% sheep manure, 20% poultry manure and 10% crushed wheat straw. The results showed that the temperature was higher for the 4th treatment which was richer in carbon than the other treatments. The initial alkaline pH decreases for all treatments and approaches neutrality at the end of composting process, essentially for the first treatment. There is also a decrease in the carbon / nitrogen ratio. At the maturity stage, a compost tea was prepared from different composts after five days extraction period. The four compost teas were tested on different plant pathogens: Fusarium roseum var sambucinum, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani var coeruleum, Phytophtora erythroseptica and Rhizoctonia solani. All the treatments were efficient against these pathogens and especially the 4th treatment which considerably reduces also the dry rot of Fusarium solani in potato tubers during storage. This is considered an important result since Fusarium solani seems to be the most important pathogen in Tunisian soils. Our studies should be carried out in order to determine the better combination of organic mixtures, the better method of compost tea extraction (aerobic or anaerobic), the optimal period of extraction and doses to be used

Effet du type de pâturage sur la qualité de la viande des agneaux élevés en mode biologique

La réglementation de l’élevage ovin en mode biologique (MB) limite l’incorporation du concentré à un maximum de 40% avec un accès obligatoire au parcours. En Tunisie, la viande d’agneau de race Barbarine élevé sur parcours est reconnue par une meilleure qualité nutritionnelle (MajdoubMathlouthi et al., 2010). Néanmoins, la qualité du parcours est très dépendante de la pluviométrie, et il parait bien impératif de trouver d’autres types de pâturage pour réussir l’élevage en MB. L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer la qualité de la viande d’agneaux élevés sur deux types de pâturage: le parcours naturel et une prairie d’orge en vert

Effet des extraits de compost sur la croissance mycélienne et l'agressivité du Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici

Effect of compost tea on mycelial growth and disease severity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici. Simultaneous addition, on culture media, of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici and compost teas revealed that the latest induced the inhibition of the mycelial growth of the pathogen. This inhibition, noted after an incubation period of about six days at 25°C, was more important when compost teas were enriched in PDB (Potato Dextrose Broth), where it may reach 70% compared to the control. Transplantation of tomato seedlings, previously inoculated by a conidial suspension of F. oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, in a container media (peat, perlite or the mixture of the two substrates) treated by compost teas has signifi cantly reduced Fusarium crown and root rot incidence compared to inoculated and untreated control seedlings. Disease incidence is more reduced when tomato inoculated plants are transplanted in peat treated by compost teas; indeed, these plants donʼt show any wilting and present a vigorous root system and a better vegetative growth

Effects Of Organic Substrates Nature On The Composting Process Parameters AndCompost Extract Efficiency On Soil-Borne Plant Diseases

Four Composting windrows were carried out by the wastes (about 8 000 kg) in pyramidal form (height 1.5 m with base of 8m x 2 m) which constitute four different treatments: 1st treatment : 100% Cattle manure, 2nd treatment : 80% Cattle manure + 20% Sheep manure, 3rd treatment : 70% Cattle manure + 20% Sheep manure + 10% Poultry manure and 4th treatment : 50% Cattle manure + 20% Sheep manure + 20% Poultry manure+ 10% crushed wheat straw. Windrows were watered every time is necessary and turned over after 15 days. Temperature rased every two days and samples rased in every turned over. The physicochemical parameters of composting process revealed that the highest temperature of windrows was in thermophilic phase and has reached 66°C for T4 rich in carbon than for other treatments. The basic pH in the beginning decrease for all treatments and approachs the neutrality at the end of composting process, essentially for T1. A decrease of nitrogen percentage during composting probably due to a low level of C/N ratio in the beginning.The second part of this study starts in the maturity stage, a compost extract were prepared from different composts one volume of compost in 5 volume of water and 5 days of extraction period. The four obtained compost extracts, were experimented on different plants pathogens (Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium roseum, Fusarium graninearum and Phytophtora erythroseptica) in vivo and in vitro

Pomological, Physico-Chemical And Organoleptic Characterization Of Organic And Conventional Pomegranates (Punica Granatum L.)

This work aims to assess the pomological, physico-chemical and organoleptic characteristics of organic and conventional pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) and to determine the effect of organic farming system on the quality of pomegranates production. The trial was set up in the South-East of Tunisia and more precisely in the region of “Gabès” which is well known by the pomegranate variety “Gabsi”. The production of this variety was monitored under the organic and the conventional farming systems with the same pedoclimatic conditions.Quality of pomegranates’variety “Gabsi” was assessed in the two production systems by the pomological parameters (fruit weight, fruit size, peel thickness, juice yield ...), the physicochemical characteristics of the juice (pH, titrable acidity, soluble solids content (°Brix) reducing sugar content, polyphenols, anthocyanin content, antioxidant activity ...) and by the sensory aroma profile.Results have revealed significant differences between organic and conventional pomegranates in several parameters. In fact, pomological descriptors have shown that organic pomegranate fruits were characterized by a thicker and a redder peel than those of the conventional ones. Physico-chemical characteristics were also influenced by the farming systems except for the parameter of reducing sugar content. Acidity, total soluble solids (°Brix) and dry matter content were higher in organic pomegranate juice than in the conventional one respectively with the values (0.61 vs 0.48, 16.17% vs 12.83% and 28.93% vs 25.73%). In addition, polyphenols and anthocyanins were more present in the Organic pomegranate juice compared to the conventional one (1287.63 vs. 1089.53 mg gallic acid / L and 52.88 vs 40, 04 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside / 100 ml respectively). For consumer panel test, descriptive sensory analysis have shown that organic pomegranate juice was bitter and more acid than the conventional one due to its higher richness on antioxidants, but not different in the other organoleptic parameters

Assessment of Meat-Type Sheep Welfare Using Animal-Based Measures

This study aimed to assess the welfare of Tunisian sheep in extensive sheep production systems using animal-based measures of ewe welfare. This study encompasses the first national survey of sheep welfare in which animal-based outcomes were tested. Animal-based welfare measures were derived from previous welfare protocols. Fifty-two Tunisian farms were studied and a number from 20 to 100 animals by flock were examinated. The whole flock was also observed to detect clinical diseases, lameness, and coughing. The human-animal relationship was selected as welfare indicators. It was evaluated through the avoidance distance test. The average avoidance distance was 10.47 ± 1.23 and 8.12 ± 0.97 m for a novel person and farmer, respectively. The global mean of body condition score (BCS) was 2.4 with 47% of ewes having a BCS of two, which may be associated with an increased risk of nutritional stress, disease, and low productivity. Ten farms had more than 7% of lambs with a low body condition score, which may be an indication of a welfare problem. The results obtained in the present study suggest that the used animal-based measures were the most reliable indicators that can be included in welfare protocols for extensive sheep production systems