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“Jben” is an Algerian traditional fresh cheese produced from raw or pasteurized milk of cows, goats and sheep, on a small scale during the period of milk abundance in a restricted area of the North-east and -West of Algeria. In this study, four Jben-type cheeses were produced: cheeses made from cow’s milk subjected to 82 °C/10 sec treatment or without heat treatment, and its analogue goat’s milk cheeses. We investigated the effects of “Heat treatment: raw or pasteurized” and “Species: cow or goat” on microbiological characteristics, pH and acidity of “Jben” cheese. Milk samples were collected across five breeding of cows and three breeding of goats in the northeastern Algeria and “Jben” cheeses were made. Results showed that more than 40% of raw and pasteurized milk have poor hygienic quality. However, in both species, “Jben” produced from pasteurized milk has better sanitary quality than “Jben” produced from raw milk. All cheese samples were safe according to the criteria of the regulation (EC) 1441/2007. Pasteurization did not affect acidity in both species. Data from this study may contribute to improve the cheese-making process in small scale, using milk from different species (cow and goat).

The aim of this study was the detailed characterization of the existing zootechnical and financial management applied in broiler poultry farms in the Region of Epirus, Greece. The current situation was captured through the formation of a typology on the structural characterization of broiler farming system. The variables were recorded based on data from a stratified random sample according to Neyman’s methodology of 110 poultry farms. In the typology, hierarchical cluster analysis was applied to identify differences between farms and to support most of this differentiation. Chebyshev distance was used to maximize the effect of the cluster elements distance, as well as Ward’s clustering method, which aims to achieve greater homogeneity within the clusters. Bonferroni multiple comparison tests were used to evaluate the differences. Four clusters of different farm types were identified from the hierarchical cluster analysis. In conclusion, the production system of broiler farms in Epirus is intensive, especially in large farms that have made significant investments in fixed capital and implement successful management. However, the poultry sector in Epirus has further margin for improvement in both its productivity and profitability.

Sustainability in livestock farming requires monitoring of autochthonous breeds which are well adapted to the local environment. The morphometric measurements seem to be the first approach which can provide useful information on the suitability of animal genetic resources for selection. In this work, thirteen morphometric variables were used for the phenotypic characterization of 130 adult autochthones cattle randomly selected from 30 local farms in Guelma. There were cases from four commonly accepted and traditional ecotypes: Guelmois, Cheurfa, Sétifien and Fawn. The results showed several and significant positive correlations between the different variables. Correlations were analyzed using Varimax orthogonal rotation PCA and three factors were extracted, which explain more than 75% of the total variation in the four ecotypes. Stepwise discriminant analysis showed that 6 of the 13 variables had discriminatory power to define the phenotypic profile of the ecotypes. Canonical discriminant analysis indicated that the Sétifien ecotype is separate from the other three ecotypes. Mahalanobis distances were significant between the different ecotypes except for the distance between the Guelmois and Fawn ecotypes. The cross-validation procedure assigned 91.42% of the Sétifien animals to their genetic group, while the percentages of animals assigned to the Cheurfa, Guelmois and Fawn ecotypes were 80.00%, 65.71% and 53.33% respectively. The multivariate approach has proven to be effective in differentiating the four ecotypes, with clear morphological differences from the Sétifien ecotype that may benefit from a genetic improvement program for more sustainable genetic resources preservation.

Camelina sativa seeds are rich in bioactive compounds such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and antioxidants, thus, their supplementation in ewes’ diets, may be an effective way to develop high nutritional dairy products. Therefore, the present study investigates the effect of the dietary inclusion of Camelina sativa seeds in ewes’ oxidative status and milk quality. Forty-eight dairy Chios ewes were divided into four homogenous groups and were fed individually. The concentrate of the control group (CON) had no inclusion of Camelina seeds, while the treatment groups (CSS6, CSS11, CSS16) were supplemented with 6%, 11%, and 16%, respectively. Including Camelina seeds in 6% and 11%, had no impact on milk performance, while in the CSS16, milk fat was significantly decreased compared to the CON. Supplementing Camelina seeds improved milk quality from a human health perspective by modifying the content of saturated fatty acid, the proportions of α-linolenic (C18:3 n-3), and C18:2 cis-9, trans-11 (CLA), and the ω6/ω3 ratio. Furthermore, the activity of catalase (CAT) was significantly increased in the CSS11 and CSS16, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity also significantly upsurged in the CSS16. Still, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly increased in the CSS11 compared to the CON and CSS6, and in the CSS16 compared to the CSS6. In CSS16, protein carbonyls were significantly increased. Finally, in the CSS-fed ewes, milk oxidative stability was fortified, as suggested by the modifications in the activities of SOD, CAT, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), in the antioxidant capacity, and the oxidative stress biomarkers. Consequently, the incorporation of 6% Camelina seeds in the concentrates of ewes improves milk’s fatty acid profile and oxidative status. However, more research is required regarding the possible negative effects of the constant consumption of Camelina seeds by ewes.

In order to deal with the effects of globalization, urbanization, increase in world population, global warming, and climate change; and according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2 targets, which aim to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, it is urgently needed to transform our agriculture and livestock farming systems by taking into account the environmental considerations. The Breeding and management practices of indigenous bovine breeds: Solutions towards a sustainable future (BOVISOL) project is a scientific cooperation between three Mediterranean countries (Greece, Tunisia and Algeria) supported and funded by the European Commission under the European Research Area Networks (ERA-NET) scheme of the 7th Framework Programme. This project has been formed around the hypothesis that the local bovine breeds must be preserved since they possess a valuable genetic pool, and they are a part of the landscape and the biodiversity of rural areas. Moreover, their products (milk, cheese, meat, etc.) could contribute significantly to the local economies as they could easily be associated with recent food trends like “local” and “slow food”, which are considered today, as, not only a mean of nutrition, but also a way of living and a part of people’s identity. BOVISOL project aims to: (i) identify the local breeds and populations in a national level, (ii) describe the existing farm and breeding practices, (iii) analyze the quality of the main local animal products, (iv) propose solutions that will promote the sustainability of the traditional farming systems, especially nowadays that climate change proposes new challenges on animal production, and (v) disseminate the solutions on all the levels of the sector (farmers, scientists, local communities, governmental agencies).

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of feed restriction during pregnancy on reproductive performance of rabbit does and growth performance and meat quality of their offspring. A total of 26 primiparous non lactating does were equally divided into two treatment groups: the control group (C, n=13) that was fed ad libitum throughout gestation and the feed restricted group (R, n=13) that was fed to 75% of maintenance energy requirements from the 7th to the 26th day of gestation. Rabbit offsprings were weaned at 35 days of age and grown until the 72 days of age when they were slaughtered for meat quality assessment. Meat quality traits measured were pH24, colour (L*, a*, b*), percentage of released water, cook loss, shear values and intramuscular fat. At kindling, R does produced smaller litter weights compared with those of does from group C, 447.8 and 591.4 g, respectively, and smaller individual kit birth weights, 56.2 and 71.5 g, respectively (P0.05). Performance and meat quality characteristics of fattening rabbits at 72 days of age were not influenced by gestational feed restriction of their mothers (P>0.05). Taking into consideration that, simultaneous gestation and lactation in rabbit does may be simulated by gestational feed restriction, results of the present study suggest that lactating does can support a simultaneous gestation without any adverse effect on the offsprings’ quantitative and qualitative performance at the expense of increased mortality rates at parturition and until weaning.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with cinnamon oil on growth performance, behaviour, carcass traits and meat quality of broilers. One hundred and thirty-five Cobb 700 day-old broiler chickens were randomly assigned into three equal treatment groups with three replicates (pens) of fifteen chickens each. The dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet as control (C) and basal diet supplemented with 0.5 (C1) or 1.0 (C2) ml of cinnamon oil per kg of feed. On day 49, 5 birds from each pen (15 per treatment) were slaughtered and the pectoralis major muscle samples were collected for meat quality evaluation. No effect of cinnamon oil supplementation on the probability of a bird standing at the feeder or the drinker was observed until the age of 17 days. Moreover, cinnamon oil supplementation did not affect body weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. No significant differences were also found in internal organs’ weights and carcass characteristics among the treatments, although cold carcass weight was the lightest in the C1 group. At the same time, colour parameters, pH24, cooking loss, intramuscular fat and shear values were not affected by diets. The extent of lipid oxidation in raw pectoralis major muscle stored at 4ºC for up to 9 days or at -20ºC for up to 6 months was also not influenced by the dietary treatment. The present findings suggest that cinnamon oil at the selected concentrations may not have the potential to improve broiler growth performance, carcass and meat quality characteristics.

[EN] An experiment was conducted to examine the dose effects of hesperidin dietary supplementation on fattening rabbits’ growth performance, as well as carcass and meat quality characteristics. Forty-eight Hyla hybrid male weaned (35 d old) rabbits were purchased and randomly assigned to 3 dietary groups of 16 rabbits each and fed diets supplemented with the antioxidant hesperidin at 0, 1 and 2 g/kg feed. At 80 d of age, the rabbits were slaughtered and samples of Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle were used to estimate meat quality traits. No significant differences were observed in body weight at the age of 80 d, feed conversion rate (35 to 80 d), or organ weights among the 3 groups. The pH, colour, percentage of released water, shear force values and intramuscular fat content of LL muscle were not significantly influenced by the dietary treatment. Hesperidin dietary supplementation at both levels reduced the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), mainly arachidonic (C20:4n-6), docosapentaenoic (C22:5n-3) and eicosapentaenoic (C20:5n-3) (only at 2 g/kg), and PUFA/SFA ratio (P

The present experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the effects of caponization on growth, carcass composition and meat quality of males of a layer line reared until the 34th week of age. Two hundred and fifty males of a layer line were purchased and randomly divided in two equal groups: intact males and capons. Caponization was conducted at 45 days of age. Three slaughters were performed at the ages of 26, 30 and 34 weeks of age. Caponization did not affect feed intake and final live weight. Capons had a heavier breast and lighter leg than intact males. Lipid accumulation was enhanced by the caponization and fat was stored mainly at the fat pad and the skin of the commercial parts excluding the drumstick. The Pectoralis major muscle of capons had higher intramuscular fat content, lightness (L) and yellowness (b*) values and lower redness values (a*). In conclusion, caponization could be applied to a layer genotype in order to produce commercial chicken meat.

International audience; 1. Capons and intact male broilers were used to investigate the effects of caponisation on intramuscular fat and abdominal adipose tissue lipid classes' content and fatty acid profile. 2. Capons had significantly higher total lipid content (P

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary oregano essential oil supplementation on growth and breast meat quality of female broilers. Experimental groups consisted of controls (M, n = 30) and two levels of supplemented diet (R1 = 100 mg kg-1, n = 30 and R2 = 250 mg kg-1, n = 30). Live weight and feed conversion ratio were not affected. There was a partial effect on the R2 group color, shear values and cooking loss at 9, 12 and 15 wk of age. A consumer panel failed to detect differences on the acceptability of samples. Different inclusion levels should be investigated, and interactions with rearing conditions and/or diets cannot be ignored.Key words: Broiler, oregano, growth performance, meat quality

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of supplementing broiler feed with hesperidin or naringin, on growth performance, carcass characteristics, breast meat quality and the oxidative stability of breast and thigh meat. Two hundred and forty 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 6 groups. One of the groups served as a control (C) and was given commercial basal diets, whereas the other five groups were given the same diets further supplemented with naringin at 0.75 g/kg (N1), naringin at 1.5 g/kg (N2), hesperidin at 0.75 g/kg (E1), hesperidin at 1.5 g/kg (E2) and a-tocopheryl acetate at 0.2 g/kg (E). At 42 days of age, 10 chickens per treatment group were slaughtered for meat quality and oxidative stability assessment. No significant differences were observed among groups in final body weight, carcass weight and internal organs weights (P>0.05) apart from liver that decreased linearly with increased levels of naringin (P-linear0.05). Measurement of lipid oxidation values showed that after hesperidin and naringin dietary supplementation, malondialdehyde values decreased in tissue samples in a dose depended manner (P-linear

An experiment was conducted in order to evaluate the effects of gestational undernutrition of rabbit does on growth, carcass composition and meat quality of the offsprings. Thirty primiparous non lactating rabbit does were artificially inseminated and randomly divided in three treatment groups: Control (C; fed to 100% of maintenance requirements throughout gestation, n = 10), early undernourished (EU; fed to 50% of maintenance requirements during days 7–19 of gestation, n = 10) and late undernourished (LU; fed to 50% of maintenance requirements during days 20-27 of gestation, n = 10). During the 4th week of the gestation period, LU does significantly lost weight compared to C and EU groups (P

A 2-trial experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of caponization on growth performance, carcass composition, and meat quality of medium growing broilers. Male chicks were caponized at 3 wk of age and reared until either 18 (trial 1) or 24 (trial 2) wk of age. In trial 1, the experimental groups included intact males, sham-operated chickens, and capons, whereas trial 2 comprised only intact males and capons. The concentration of testosterone was drastically reduced by caponization but remained detectable (trial 1). In both trials, BW was lower for capons during 4 to 9 or 10 wk of age when contrasted to intact males (P0.05). In trial 1, capons had heavier livers than intact males and sham-operated chickens. In addition, they had lighter hearts than sham-operated chicks (P0.05). In trial 2, capons displayed smaller drumstick and heart weights (P0.05). There was a tendency for increased fat pad weight in capons (P0.10). Caponization resulted in increased skin-fat weights of the thigh and the breast of 24 wk of age. This was also valid for carcass fat, when expressed as a percentage of the cold carcass weight, and intramuscular fat. Caponization had no effect on pH 24 h postmortem and cooking loss. Capons' breasts had lower shear values and displayed lighter, more yellow, and less red meat than that of intact males. Conclusively, caponization, without affecting growth performance, altered meat quality characteristics, resulting in special quality chicken meat.