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The Body Condition Score (BCS) is an important tool for the evaluation of the horse's nutritional status during the welfare assessment [1]. However, its main limitation is its subjective nature [2]. This problem could be overcome with the use of objective techniques. Microwave human body imaging technique is applied to analyse reflections from skin, fat and muscle tissue borders. Therefore, the aims of the present study are: (i) to obtain preliminary results on the feasibility of the use of microwave frequencies on different ex vivo horse tissue samples; (ii) to characterize the complex permittivity of the horse tissues

Over the last decade the scarcity of protein sources in the modern world lead to increased research studies on the use of insect meal in animal (De Marco et al. 2015; Biasato et al. 2016) and human nutrition (Payne et al. 2016, Stoops et al. 2016).The aim of this study was to assess the response of intestinal mucosa in poultry to dietary Tenebrio molitor (TM) meal supplementation.

To define mean herd size, structural traits, animal sourcing and use, management and aspects related to the milk production, 118 dairy herds, involved in a FAO dairy development project were studied. The mean herd size after allocation to clusters: Small (≤38 heads), Medium (>38, ≤61 heads) and Large (>61 heads) was 52.8±25.8, ranging from 7 to 134 heads of cattle. The following genotypes: Cross bred (CR) 58.8%, Zebu (ZB) 23.2% and Taurine cattle (TA) 18.0% which were not uniformly distributed neither across nor within herds were identified. Sex ratio was two thirds of females (70.6%), one third of males (28.1%) and a low proportion (1.3%) of castrated males. No mature TA males compared to 53.3% of the male ZB and 31.4% of the male CR, were indicated as potential sires. Investments in purchase of animals were higher in Small than in Medium and Large herds; of all purchased sires 53.8% were found in Small herds vs. 28.2% and 18.0% in Medium and Large. Herd property was equally distributed between single (56.8%) and multi property (43.2%). There was more manpower available per 100 cows in Small, being almost double and triple than in Medium and Large herds. Although milk extracted, was similar in all clusters averaging 2.4±0.5 litres/day/cow, milk off take rate, due to higher proportion of lactating cows, appeared higher in Small herds.

Veal calves breeding holds an important of bovine meat production part over all our country, as for the appreciation by the consumers for its pale coloured flesh, believed to be more digestible, than for favourable use of Frisian males that are slaughtered because they exceed the restocking of beef (Balasini, 2000)...

Scopo di questo lavoro è stato quello di determinare il valore nutritivo di orzo trattato tecnologicamente per migliorarne l'assimilabilità da parte del cavallo. Sono state pertanto effettuate sei prove di digeribilità, di cui tre realizzate nel 2004 con razioni costituite da solo fieno, da fieno più orzo schiacciato e da fieno più orzo fioccato e tre svolte nel 2005 con razioni costituite una da solo fieno e due da fieno più orzo fioccato di due differenti ditte. Il periodo sperimentale di ciascuna prova è stato di 6 giorni, preceduto da un periodo di adattamento di 14 giorni. La digeribilità apparente di sostanza secca, sostanza organica, energia grezza, proteina grezza, fibra resistente al detergente neutro (NDF) e fibra resistente al detergente acido (ADF) è stata determinata attraverso il metodo delle ingesta/excreta utilizzando una sacca con imbracatura (horse diaper) per la raccolta totale delle feci. La digeribilità apparente dell'orzo è stata calcolata a partire dalle digeribilità dei due fieni e delle quattro razioni impiegate. I risultati mostrano che l'impiego di orzo tecnologicamente trattato migliora la digeribilità della razione rispetto ad una dieta a base di solo fieno di prato stabile al primo taglio ed in particolare la fioccatura aumenta la digeribilità dell'orzo rispetto alla semplice schiacciatura. Esistono tuttavia sensibili differenze nella digeribilità dei tre orzi fioccati esaminati, dovute probabilmente alle diverse condizioni, in particolare di temperatura, impiegate nel processo di fioccatura.

A properly running gut is a key point for the welfare of the horse. In particular the use of prebiotics and probiotics for the modulation of the large intestine fermentations is very important in many field situations. Structural carbohydrates such as cellulose and hemicelluloses cannot be digested by the horses digestive enzymes, but can be fermented by fermentative micro organisms in the large intestine, thus providing volatile fatty acids (VFA) that are used as a fuel source by the horse. The use of prebiotics and probiotics association increases the beneficial effects of these compounds in the gut, thus obtaining a symbiotic effect: in this way there is an increase of the fermentative microorganisms survival with an important positive effect on the fermentations. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new symbiotic supplement, containing prebiotics, probiotics, L-glutamine and herbal extracts, on the digestibility of a poor quality hay, typical feeding basis of Italian stables. The supplement we tested, fed at a 48 g/horse/day level to horses fed hay only, increased the apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, energy and fiber fractions (NDF and ADF).

The management of horses in the post-surgical phase involves many aspects concerning stress reactions and the recovery of the intestinal functions in the case of surgical treatments of colics, enteritis and dismicrobial problems. During this period it is necessary to keep horses in quiet conditions and, if possible, without loss of muscular tonus. At the same time, it is necessary to fight against the loss of minerals, vitamins and electrolytes that occurs during illness. Recently the industries producing dietetic feeds are more and more involved in the research of special formulae concerning mixed feeds for the recovery of horses from the post-surgical phase. Rough materials generally characterized by high digestibility together with probiotics are often employed to satisfy these exigencies. In fact they promote the development of enterophilous bacteria in opposition to pathogens with a consequent re-establishment of healthy physiological functions. The apparent digestibilities of meadow hay or meadow hay plus dietetic feed rich in probiotics, inulin, minerals and vitamins were determined by means of three in vivo digestibility trials, each performed on 6 adult healthy horses weighing about 450 kg over a 6 days faeces total collection period with a previous 14 days adaptation period. The dietetic feed was tested at two different amounts: 0.5 and 0.8 kg/100 g live weight as fed basis (75:25 and 62:38 on DM basis, respectively). These increasing amounts were studied with the aim of verifying if the digestibility of the dietetic feed in suggested amounts by the producer were optimal for the claimed in clinical nutrition. Faeces and feed dried samples were analysed to determine dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre, fibrous fractions and gross energy. The results showed that the addition of the dietetic feed to the hay improves the CP digestibility of the 75:25 and 62:38 rations, while the crude fibre and fibrous fractions digestibilities of 62:38 ration were statistically lower than those of hay alone. These results could mainly be ascribed to the decreasing digestibility of the fiber with the increasing of the inclusion of the dietetic feed.

The aim of this research, carried out in an enclosure for hares restocking practice, was to study the evolution of dry matter, chemical composition, and gross energy of pasture mainly composed by Lucerne (Medicago sativa) and Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) during summer period and to evaluate food preferences using acid insoluble ash (AIA) as marker. The evolution of the quality of both Lucerne and Johnson grass is related to the ageing of the plant, with a progressive increase of the fibrous fraction (NDF and ADF) and a decrease of the crude protein content. The same trend was found in the faeces. In this study the AIA level in lucerne was not detectable whereas the AIA content of the faeces was lower than that on Johnson grass. The progressive reduction of AIA in the faeces can be induced by a progressive higher consumption of lucerne that it is preferred by hares because it maintains a higher nutritional value during the season. In conclusion, the feeding preferences of the hare varies with the season, according to our data. This could be of the utmost importance because feeding is a major point for the survival of restocking hares.

National audience

National audience