Dietary supplementation with algae and polyphenols in lactating sows: effects on sows and piglets' performance.

The decrease of the use of antibiotic has promoted the scientific research towards the identificationand study of natural substances able to improve animal performance and welfare (Hashemi et al.,2011; Daglia, 2012; Maghin et al., 2014). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mixtureof algae plus polyphenols (Algatan Mater®) on piglet and sow performance when used as dietarysupplements to the sows. Eighty-four sows (42 per batch) were divided in two groups fed a controland Algatan Mater® supplemented diet. Feed intake, backfat thickness and blood samples at entry infarrowing room and at 21 days of lactation, and sows’ reproductive data until the next service werecollected. Haematochemical parameters and antioxidant status of sows were analysed. Weight atbirth, after cross-fostering and at 21 days of lactation were recorded to each litter. Backfat losstended to be lower (P=0.07) in sows treated than control. The administration of algae pluspolyphenols in sows improved (P<0.05) the piglets average daily gain and body weight at 21 days oflactation (P=0.014, Figure 1a.). Haematochemical parameters and antioxidant activity of blood wasnot affected by dietary treatment. The total number of piglets born at the next farrowing fromtreated group was higher (P=0.04) than controls (Figure 1b). The inclusion in lactating sows ofAlgatan Mater® improves lactating sows and piglets’ performance. Further research is needed toexplore the mechanism of action of this natural mixture

Antioxidant supplementation in pig nutrition: effects on shelf life of longissimus dorsi muscle and consumers’ preferences for smoked cured ham.

The effects of dietary supplementation with antioxidant mixture in medium-heavy swine on oxidative status, nutritional and sensory characteristics of longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle and smoked cured ham were evaluated. Seventy-four pigs (PIC x Max Grow), were assigned to two experimental groups: control (CT) and treated supplemented with antioxidant mixture (AOX) for 45 days before slaughter. The total antiradicalic activity of blood (KRL test) and carcass dressing percentage was positively affected (P<0.05) by AOX supplementation. Chemical composition of LD was not affected by dietary treatment. Oxidative stability and colour indices were significantly affected (P<0.05) by dietary treatment and storage time (0, 6, 12, 15 days under modified atmosphere packs - MAP). Sensory analysis revealed that at 12 and 15 days of storage a loss of colour beside presence of off odors was higher (P<0.05) in CT than AOX group. The seasoning losses of smoked cured ham tended to be lower (P=0.06) in AOX group than CT. Physical and chemical composition was not affected by dietary treatment. Sensory analysis revealed a difference between CT and AOX (P<0.05) in salty and sweet taste. Furthermore, the consumer test revealed that smoked cured ham from AOX were preferred (P<0.05) than CT. Dietary supplementation with antioxidant mixture improves total antioxidant status, carcass dressing percentage and smoked cured ham seasoning losses. The oxidative, colour stability and sensory parameters of LD muscle was improved in AOX groups during refrigerated storage in MAP. Antioxidant mixture positively affect the consumer preference of smoked cured ham, without affecting other quality parameters

Introduction of the nudging method in penitentiary facilities in Italy in view of food waste reduction: Preliminary data

The aim of this study was to analyze different aspects of food waste in the specific context of prisons by introducing the nudging method, thanks to the collaboration of District House and Prison of Larino (Italy) involving staff and guests of the penitentiary structure, providing them with the knowledge of the topic and encouraging them to propose creative and effective solutions to prevent and reduce food waste. The study involved n. 50 participants out of total of about 200 prisoners. Data were collected using n.3 questionnaires related to the knowledge of food waste food, the second related to the origin of consumed and food waste and the third collected the participants’ proposals how to reduce food waste. The results show that effects of nudging has awakened the prisoners’ conscience about the social, ethical and economic importance of reducing food waste and a proactive attitude in providing proposals for the reduction of food waste. The most wasted food is bread (35%), pasta (27%) and fresh fruit (20%), provided by the administration because they are considered of inferior quality or prepared and cooked badly. The overwhelming majority (96%) of the participants showed sensitivity about the ethical and economic reasons behind the fight against food waste, making themselves available to contribute to its reduction and suggesting some initiatives. The data collected from the questionnaires related to the causes of waste indicate the need to implement actions aimed at the correct conservation of food and the promotion of good hygiene practices

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements