Search

Pig livestock was influenced by several global concerns that imposed a re-thinking of the farming system, which included the reduction in chemical dependency and the development of antimicrobial alternatives. Post-weaning diarrhea and enterotoxaemia caused by Escherichia coli, are serious threats that are responsible for the economic losses related to mortality, morbidity and stunted growth in weaning piglets. The aim of the study was to set up experimental conditions to simulate the simultaneous outbreak of post-weaning diarrhea and enterotoxaemia in weaned piglets, through verocytotoxic O138 Escherichia coli challenge, with a multidisciplinary approach. Eighteen piglets susceptible to F18 VTEC infection were selected by polymerase chain reaction for polymorphism on the fucosyltransferase 1 gene and randomly divided in two experimental groups, non-infected controls (C, n = 6) and infected ones (I, n = 12) and housed into individual pens at the same environmental conditions for 29 days. At day 20, I pigs were orally inoculated with Escherichia coli O138 and fed a high protein ration for 3 days. Zootechnical, clinical, microbiological, histological and immunological parameters were evaluated along the follow up (3 and 9 days). Experimental infection, confirmed by bacteria faecal shedding of the I group, significantly affected the clinical status. The I group showed significantly higher total scores, corresponding to medians of the sum of daily scores from days 1 to 3 (Σ3) and 1 to 9 (Σ9) post infection, epiphora, vitality, hair irregularity, oedema and depression. Histological examination showed evident inflammatory infiltrate of lymphocytes, and follicular hyperplasia in I pigs, in the same group, the immunohistochemical and immunological assays revealed an increase in IgG in the intestinal crypts and CD3-positive T cells in intestinal epithelium. The experimental Escherichia coli infection in controlled conditions is crucial for both the evaluation of innovative compounds and the elucidation of the mechanisms associated with the persistence of antibacterial resistant strains. In conclusion, the adopted infection model, carried out on receptor-mediated susceptible piglets, allowed us to identify a discriminative panel of clinical symptoms related to Escherichia coli O138 infection, and could be used to assess the protective effect of antibiotic alternatives.

For the economic sectors, the need to address the challenges posed by natural disasters due to climate change is an outstanding issue. To date, according to the European Commission (2019), there is still a gap in the estimation of the costs of flood in all European countries and the direct impact that these floods have on agricultural activities. More specifically, the damage to livestock has been minimally studied. The aim of this study is is therefore to identify the flood damage that affects dairy cattle farms, focusing on the damage to herds caused by a flood event, in fact, poor welfare conditions of dairy cattle directly affect production and thus farm revenue. To accomplish the aim of this study, a framework was first developed to identify possible damage types. Then, scientific literature focusing on the identification of flood damage to dairy herds was reviewed, and to quantify this damage to herds, literature sources providing information on the magnitude of variation in the identified damage types were used. Thus, our results provide relevant information on the variables that should be taken into account when assessing of the direct damage affecting the overall welfare of a dairy herd after a flood event. This evidence could then contribute to the development of tools aimed at assessing damage to dairy cattle on flood-affected farms.

The debate on climate change arose several concerns on the impacts of floods on agriculture and, consequently, on food security. At the same time, the European Floods Directive asks Members States to implement suitable measures to mitigate flood damage on economic activities, including farms. Still, while several analyses were developed to estimate potential flood damages on crops, a gap exists for livestock productions. The purpose of this study is to develop a conceptual model for the assessment of flood economic damages on dairy farms. Results propose a static and a dynamic model of farms recovery actions to re-establish the farming activity, which takes into account all farm components, as well as their interaction. Facing the destruction caused by floods, a first reaction of farmers could be closing the activity, with repercussion on this well-being as well as on farm workers’, and on the economy of rural areas. From this perspective, this study wants to provide a first methodological pathway to support farmers in restoring their activity., Aestimum, Aestimum 75 (2019)

Even though the European Union has imposed a mandatory labeling system for conventional meats, there is no mandatory labelling scheme for the so called ‘minor meats’ – such as hunted wild game meat (HWGM). Thus, some European countries have implemented voluntary labelling programs certificating the origin of wild game meat. This study uses a discrete choice experiment to: (1) assess consumer preferences for processed meat products (including wild game meat bearing a HWGM label); and (2) investigate whether consumers’ attitudes towards animal welfare affects their food choice behavior for alternative meat products. Data was collected through an online survey conducted in Italy and consumer preferences for HWGM was estimated through a latent class logit model. Overall, results suggest that, even though HWGM label does not exist yet on the Italian market, it is appealing to Italian consumers and it will likely be accepted by the majority of them. However, consumers who are particularly concerned about animal welfare issues and animal rights showed the lowest level of the interest in the hunted game meat product and thus the presence of the HWGM label does not provide any benefit to them. Our findings have important implications for the development of successful marketing strategies and policy intervention in the HWGM sector at a national and European level.

Currently in Italy, in contrast to other EU countries, a supply chain for hunted game meat does not exist. Nevertheless there are the conditions for its development (Gaviglio et al., 2017); in fact game meat dishes’ has always been part of Alpine area’s culinary tradition and furthermore, management measures aimed at reducing the overpopulation of large wild ungulates leaded to an increase in the availability of their meat. In this context, the present research aims at analyze the dynamics of the value in the local non-existent supply chain of the large wild game meat by the application on the case study of the Valle Ossola (Piedmont, Italy). Due to its representativeness among Italian wild ungulates, the research focus on red deer meat. The data has been collected in 2016 through in-depth interviews and focus groups with the stakeholders involved in the supply chain: hunters, transformers and restaurateurs. Results show that for the hunter the red deer reach a hypothetical price of 6,00 €/kg. From a meat processing targeted at the maximum enhancement of the carcass, without any waste, the transformers can reach a hypothetical price of 9,80 €/kg. Whereas for the restaurateur, the red deer meat can reach a final price range between 22,88 and 51,47 €/kg (hypothesizing maximum sales of high value-added course). Through the maximization of the meat’s quality, hunter and transformers profits can increase significantly, with a redistribution of the added value throughout the supply chain. A limitation of this study is that the calculated values does not take into consideration the stakeholders’ production costs (that increasing along the supply chain). Considering our findings, the development of sustainable supply chain of the local game meat could be economically interesting. Thus, wild ungulates could represent an economic resource for the population rather than an environmental and social cost for the mountain areas., International Journal of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, V. 4, N. 1s (2017)

The paper aims at isolating factors affecting farmland rents and estimating their effect using hedonic pricing model. Unlike the majority or similar analysis, based on Census aggregated data or surveys, we used a sample of microdata based on land rent contracts signed in the Province of Mantova over the period 2010-2014, matched with other territorial or census databases. We focused on the effect of farmland use on rent price, estimating their implicit values, i.e. the shadow prices. The research findings may help stakeholders and researchers interested in rental market dynamics, in particular at local level. Empirically grounded and transparent information on rental market may provide a new tool for contract negotiation among owners and tenants, improving, at the same time, farmers’ choices., Aestimum, Aestimum 69 (2016)

Despite the population of wild ungulates is rapidly growing (Ramanzin et al., 2010) and the Italian production has the predisposition to the high quality food, there is no food supply chain for hunted game in the Italian territory. Consequently, the customers’ demand is met by relevant amount of imported meat from other nearby markets such as the Austrian, Hungarian and Slovenian ones. Because of the presence of these established markets, the creation of a new supply chain would be recommended even in Italy for several economic, social and environmental factors. With the purpose of understand its potentialities, the present research aims at the collection of information about hunters and their behavior in order to assess the food safety of their product. The survey was carried out on the Hunting District of Verbania (Piedmont-Italy). Data were collected using self-compiled questionnaire. Subsequently, a descriptive analysis was performed in order to analyze the territorial context. Results show the interesting potentialities of the area in terms of quantity of salable product. On the other hand, the hunted meat still does not reach adequate hygienic and quality standards to be traded. The wrong behaviors of the hunters are related to their cultural background, which probably represents the most important barrier for a change. Our findings are able to provide important inputs for the development of a real market for this type of meat. Therefore, the research seems to be relevant at both scientific and practical level. It proposes a new conceptual and practical option for a more sustainable development of Italian (and others) mountain areas., International Journal of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety, Vol 3, No 1s (2016)

Operators and policy makers are concerned about Italian fisheries sector?s economic trend. This research is focused on the market of a broad group of fish species called ?blue fish?. The term identifies little pelagic fishes traditionally captured in Mediterranean Sea dorsally blue and ventrally silver coloured. Indeed, data show that anchovies (Engraulis encrasicolus), sardines (Sardina pilchardus) and mackerels (Scomber scombrus), which are the most important species of the group, result relevant in volumes captured, but sold at low price. The analysis shows the strengths of blue fish, perceived as tasty, traditional, natural, inexpensive and healthy. However, some of these attributes show a weak counterface. The taste may represents a constraint for consumption, low cost is often related to the idea of a "poor" food and, finally, we should consider that fish is generally a health food, so that analysis highlights that some species are perceived healthier than blue fish itself. Furthermore, blue fish is difficult to be innovated in term of service or sale channels and denomination resulted little known. Considering the first problem as a weakness of the product, operators should take advantage form the second one. ?Blue fish? definition is still unofficial, but culturally widespread, which could be the basis for a new quality labeling strategy. Indeed analysis revealed a positive correlation between knowledge and level of consumption of blue fish and the presence of a wide range of consumers which loves seafood, but is unfamiliar with the name, highlights a potentially lucrative market segment.

Positive Mathematical Programming represents a useful tool for agri-environmental policy planning. This paper estimates the consequences of the application of the Regulation (EC) 1095/2007, relating to the ban on the use of the active agent Tricyclazole, which is normally employed to combat rice blast. The main objective is to quantify the variation in farmers’ revenues and the change in use of land, in response to variations in the yield of rice produced and its production costs. The research has been focussed on the rice-farming sector in the Parco Agricolo Sud Milano (PASM), a sub-urban agricultural area of the regional capital of Lombardy that, since 1990, has been a protected area and has been under the management of the Province of Milan. The data for the case study was collected in situ and combined with the data from the Agriculture Databank of Lombardy Region considering a sample of farms representative of the rice-farming sector in the PASM. The study present the results of simulations of ten different sce-narios with a view to evaluating the overall sustainability of the cautionary measures introduced.

Authors suppose the amounts of fraudulent seafood sales reported in recent years to be somehow correlated to the problems of Italian commercial fish-naming policy. However, given the lack of data and studies, the work has an exploratory nature focusing on three main issues: the seafood labeling policy framework, the evolution of lists of fish species’ trade names and the spread and type of fraudulent sales. According data authors believe that the fish-naming system is improving, however that lack of studies estimating the right amount of diversification in trade names for marine species seems so to be a weakness for a winning policy. Furthermore, seafood retailers seems to assume an important role on fraud management and government should support research for innovative species detection methods to be applied directly in retailers quality insurance systems. This would be a win-win strategy, preventing fraudulent behaviour and reducing the costs for public inspections.

Positive Mathematical Programming represents a useful tool for agri-environmental policy planning. This paper estimates the consequences of the application of the Regulation (EC) 1095/2007, relating to the ban on the use of the active agent Tricyclazole, which is normally employed to combat rice blast. The main objective is to quantify the variation in farmers’ revenues and the change in use of land, in response to variations in the yield of rice produced and its production costs. The research has been focussed on the rice-farming sector in the Parco Agricolo Sud Milano (PASM), a sub-urban agricultural area of the regional capital of Lombardy that, since 1990, has been a protected area and has been under the management of the Province of Milan. The data for the case study was collected in situ and combined with the data from the Agriculture Databank of Lombardy Region considering a sample of farms representative of the rice-farming sector in the PASM. The study present the results of simulations of ten different sce-narios with a view to evaluating the overall sustainability of the cautionary measures introduced.

To ensure the sustainable development of mountain livestock farming, the adequate remuneration of high-quality dairy products is fundamental. In this sense, communication strategies aimed at promoting mountain products and ensure better positioning and higher market prices are fundamental. The present research seeks to expand the literature regarding consumers’ willingness to pay for mountain foods by using an online real auction experiment aimed at evaluating the premium price that consumers are willing to pay for summer over winter mountain cheese, depending on the information provided concerning the taste anticipation or animal welfare. The results showed an overall small premium price given to the higher quality summer cheese, this could be, partially, due to a generally low degree of consumer knowledge about mountain dairy farming. With reference to communication strategies, the results provide evidence about the effectiveness of the rational messages founded upon sensorial characteristics and the anticipated taste of cheese. In addition, this study explored that adding a logo had no main effect on the price premium participants were willing to pay. This may be due to the fact that logos and claims, having a lower information content, are more indicated to lead the choice of consumers with a higher level of awareness. In the conclusion section, policy and agribusiness implications of the findings are provided.