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In this study, Caciocavallo, a typical cheese produced in Sicily Island (Italy), was obtained from the milk of dairy cows fed with and without enriched olive cake (ECO and CTR, respectively) in order to evaluate nutritional, microbiological, volatile, and sensory differences in cheeses. ECO cheese showed greater (p < 0.05) MUFA and PUFA and polyphenols content and lower SFA content than CTR cheese. Microbiological analyses revealed the absence of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and E. coli O157, and no significant differences in the viable counts of the remaining microbial groups analyzed, between samples. Thermophilic lactococci were more prevalent in ECO cheese. The implementation of a culture-independent method, such as PCR-DGGE analyses, revealed the presence of a more diverse microbial population in both cheeses. Regarding the volatile compounds profile, long-chain free fatty acids were more abundant in the ECO cheese, resulting in a healthier free fatty acid profile. This study also showed that, especially for their appearance and taste, consumers mostly appreciated the ECO cheese. The results show that using enriched olive cake could enhance the sustainability and the quality of Ragusano cheese, improving not only the health of its consumers but also positively influencing tastes and acceptability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study was conducted to determine the effects of the incremental temperature humidity index (THI) on oxidant and antioxidant plasma markers in mid-lactating dairy cows. Results showed a significant increase in oxidative markers and a significant decrease in antioxidant defence; this balance results in oxidative stress. Heat stress significantly modulated fat milk content, blood cell number, and plasma metabolite concentration. Animal health is affected during heat stress as a result of impaired immune responses, increased production of reactive oxygen species, and/or a deficiency of antioxidants. This leads to an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants and results in oxidative stress. Heat stress is usually measured in dairy cattle via the temperature-humidity index (THI). In the present study, we aimed at assessing the influence of incremental THI on the balance between oxidative markers and the antioxidant defence system in the plasma of Modicana cows. Twenty-four multiparous, mid-lactating dairy cows were divided into two groups on the basis of different levels of mean THI reached in the period of the previous week up until the day of blood and milk sampling (April THI1:55, May THI2:68, June THI3:71, July THI4:80). The blood samples were collected to measure reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) on the one hand, and antioxidant defense markers (ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), paraoxonase (PON), plasma thiol groups (SHp)), as well as lipid-soluble antioxidant pro-vitamin (β-carotene) and vitamins (tocopherol and retinol) on the other hand. Milk characteristics, haematological values, and plasma biochemical metabolites were also evaluated. Results showed a significant increase in ROM (p < 0.05) and a significant decrease in PON (p < 0.05), AOPP (p < 0.05), and β-carotene (p < 0.001). Incremental THI significantly decreased levels of milk fat content, red and white blood cells, plasma glucose, and non-esterified fatty acids, while significantly increasing monocytes and the concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate and creatinine, but not fructosamine. The results of the study show that heat stress significantly affects reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant parameters. Carotenoid supplementation should be considered to alleviate the impact of these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pistachios, a delicacy food product produced mostly in Sicily, generate significant amounts of skins during processing. This by-product has been incorporated in growing/finishing rabbit diet formulations. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6% pistachio skin inclusion in rabbit grower/finisher diets on the meat characteristics. One hundred and fifty healthy Martini rabbits (male and female) were weaned at 30 d of age and body weight (IBW) of 0.82±0.05 kg. The animals were assigned to one of the two treatment groups to be homogeneous for weight and sex. Diets were as follows: (1) a treatment diet (TRMT) with a 6% incorporation of pistachio skin meal, and (2) a control diet (CTRL) without the integration of pistachio skin meal. During the experimental period (from 30 to 63 d of age), rabbits were weighed individually on day 30, day 42 and day 63 of the trial. Weight gain, daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio were calculated. The loin and hind leg were carefully deboned and the Biceps femoris (BF) and Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscles were minced and homogenised. The treatment group fed a diet with 6% pistachio skins showed no adverse effects on the growth performance or carcass characteristics and did not trigger any physiological or clinical changes or show deleterious effects on the rabbits. Overall, while the total fat quantity did not register as significant in any of the muscles from either diet, significance was recorded with regard to the quality of the fatty acids profile between the two diets and between both muscles. The analysis of the BF and LL muscles of the TRMT group showed a significant increase in monounsaturated fatty acids (3.2, and 3.0%, P=0.008 and 0.041, respectively) and in the polyunsaturated fatty acids groups (4.8 and 3.8%, P=0.032 and 0.023, respectively), and a decrease in the saturated fatty acids group (-7.2 and -6.1%, P=0.014 and 0.020, respectively) compared with the CTRL group. In particular, both linoleic and a linolenic fatty acids registered a significant increase in the BF muscle, while only the linoleic acid registered a significant increase in the LL muscle of TRMT compared with the CTRL group (P<0.05). Although rabbit meat offers excellent nutritional and dietetic properties in itself, this study confirms that it can be further enhanced to be considered as functional through diet manipulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Preweaning nutrition plays a crucial role in the growth of dairy calves, determining their future productivity and overall health. Researchers are still studying the most appropriate dietary strategies in the preweaning and early post-weaning periods. In particular, the effect of different levels of forage inclusion in the diet of young cattle is not yet clear. Our study evaluated the effects of starter restriction and ad libitum inclusion of the total mixed ration on intake, growth performance, rumination time, and health status of Holstein dairy calves during preweaning and in the immediate post-weaning period. The results obtained from the present study indicate that providing TMR (high fiber content, with or without concentrate restriction) does not impair growth performance and health of calves, and at the same time it leads to a greater time spent for ruminating when calves are weaned. The latter indicates a better rumen development and likely a better rumen fermentation efficiency in post-weaning. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of the starter restriction and of the ad libitum TMR (total mixed ration) inclusion on intake, growth performance, rumination time (RT), and health condition of Holstein dairy calves during weaning. We randomly assigned thirty female Holstein calves (with an average weight of 38.5 ± 1.96 kg at birth) to one of three treatments. From 21 days of age, the calves were fed one of three treatments as follows: a control diet (CTR) with an ad libitum calf starter but without TMR; Treatment 1 diet (TRT1) with both an ad libitum calf starter and ad libitum TMR; Treatment 2 diet (TRT2) with ad libitum TMR and a restricted amount of a calf starter (50% of the intake recorder in the control group day by day). Calves in the TRT2 group, between 56 and 63 days of age, had a lower body weight (80.1; 79.5; 75.6 kg for the CTR, TRT1, and TRT2 groups, respectively) compared with CTR and TRT1 calves. This outcome is ascribed to the average daily gain (0.759; 0.913; 0.508 kg/day for the CTR, TRT1, and TRT2 groups, respectively), resulting also in TRT2 being lower than CTR or TRT1 calves. The inclusion of ad libitum TMR increased the rumination time, especially after weaning (15.28 min/h, 18.38 min/h, and 18.95 min/h for the CTR, TRT1, and TRT2 groups, respectively). Concerning the rumen metabolism and inflammometabolic response, overall, no differences were observed between the three dietary treatments. In conclusion, the results indicated that a TMR could partially replace a calf starter in weaning dairy calves, since neither growth performance nor health status were impaired. In addition, providing TMR (with or without concentrate restriction) led to a better rumen development and likely a better rumen fermentation efficiency in post-weaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to compare quality, macro, and micro constituents of milk between Talesh buffalo, Talesh sheep, Talesh cow, Talesh-Mediterranean buffalo, Talesh goat and Saanen goat. Milk samples were collected during 2021. The main characteristics and constituents of milk including colour, odour, taste, freezing point, dry matter free of fat, acidity (lactic acid), density (in 15 °C), pH, fat and protein were determined according to the standard methods. Macro and micro elements of milk were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Data were subjected to the two-way ANOVA analysis to determine the significant differences between species/breeds. The acidity, density and fat in Talesh sheep's milk was higher than milk from other species/breeds (P<0.01). Also, the amount of protein in Talesh sheep's milk was significantly higher (P<0.05) than all animals tested with the exception of Talesh buffalo milk. The pH of Saanen goat's milk was higher than the pH of milk from all other species/breeds (P<0.01), whereas the pH of milk from Talesh-Mediterranean buffalos was lowest (P<0.01). Talesh sheep's milk had the lowest freezing temperature (P<0.01). The results of the present study also demonstrated significant differences among species for most macro and micro elements including Al, Ba, Ca, Co, Cs, Fe, In, La, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, P, Pd, Pt, Re, Rn, S, Sc, Sr, Se, Ta, B, Li, and Zn (P<0.01). Significant differences were observed for As, Ce, He, Ir, Nb, Sb and Th in sheep's milk (P<0.05), and K and Rb (P<0.05) in Talesh goat's milk compared with other species/breeds. In conclusion, buffalo milk is richer in most nutrients compared with cow's and goat's milk and should perhaps be considered a stronger candidate to meet human nutritional needs in regions of the world where they can be properly managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-six multiparous Holstein mid-lactating cows were housed in 6 pens (6 cows/pen) and allocated in two groups (3 pens/group), receiving a control total mixed ration (CTR), or the same diet supplemented with a feed additive (TRT). Between 15 and 35 days from enrolment (DFE) the dry matter intake (DMI) of each pen, and the individual milk yield (MY), rumination time (RT), the compositions of milk and rumen fluid and the metabolic profile of plasma were monitored regularly. At 35 DFE, cows started a 1-week wash-up period prior to the changeover. Data were analysed with a mixed model using repeated measures. Cows receiving the additive had higher DMI and MY (p <.01), a longer RT between 22 and 29 DFE (p <.05), a higher total VFA concentration and a lower pH in the rumen fluid (p <.01 and p =.04, respectively). At 15 DFE, TRT cows had a higher concentration of lactose in their milk, and lower concentrations of BHB, ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin, paired with higher concentrations of albumin, paraoxonase and aspartate aminotransferase in their plasma (p <.01). These outcomes suggest a positive effect of the additive on increasing DMI and MY, possibly reflecting that it had a combined action on the rumen and the liver. The additive increased feed intake, rumination time and milk yield. It improved rumen fermentations and liver activity, and mitigated ketogenesis and inflammatory conditions. Beneficial actions of the active components on rumen and liver functions could be hypothesised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]