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Assignment tests based on multilocus genotypes are becoming increasingly important to cer- tify quality and origin of livestock products and assure food safety and authenticity. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of microsatellites (STR) for determining the breed origin of beef products among cattle breeds present in the market. We typed 19 STR in 269 animals from 4 cattle breeds. Based on Wright's F-statistics, 4 loci were discarded, and the remaining 15 loci (FIT = 0.101, FST = 0.089, and FIS = 0.013) were used to compute the likelihood that each multilocus genotype of the total sample was drawn from its true breed instead of another breed. To avoid occurrence of zero likelihood when one or more alleles were missing from a tested breed, sample allele frequencies were esti

The effect of different sources of energy (lipids and carbohydrates) was studied on 36 Apennine male lambs divided by age, weight and paternity into three homogeneous groups receiving three different diets: lambs on diet 1 received ad libitum lucerne hay + concentrate supplemented with barley flakes (9%) (BC); lambs on diet 2 received ad libitum lucerne hay + concentrate supplemented with maize oil (5%) (MC) while lambs on diet 3 received only the concentrate given in diet 2 (MC). The two concentrates were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. Lambs were slaughtered at 105 days of age. The conversion indices were similar (4.52, 4.77 and 4.61 Meat FU/kg gain) for the three treatments, but the diet 3 led to heavier carcasses (17.57 kg), although with greater adipose covering, and better dressing percentages than the other two diets. The histological dissection of the proximal pelvic limb indicated a good tissue composition (total lean 56.16%) but confirmed the higher fat percentage (total fat 16.24%), particularly subcutaneous (11.44%), of the group receiving only MC. Animals on diet 3 gave carcasses with an adequate commercial weight at the age of 90–95 days and therefore it seems possible to anticipate slaughtering these animals earlier and perhaps obviate the excessive adiposity of the carcass. In general, this study further confirmed the good meat quality of Apennine carcasses slaughtered at 105 days.

Two groups of ten Massese lambs were given free access to a complete diet with or without monensin. Monensin sodium was given at 10 p.p.m. (wet basis) from 7 days of age up to 1 week after weaning (49 days of age), and 20 p.p.m. (wet basis) from this age to slaughter (105 days of age). Growth rate, feed conversion rate, fifth quarter components, linear measurements of full and half carcasses and commercial meat cuts were studied in the two groups. Histopathological examination of the liver, and chemical analysis of the semitendinous muscle were also made and residual traces of monensin were tested in the semitendinous muscle, liver and kidney. Treated-group liveweight was higher than that of controls throughout the trial period (2 weeks old; P < 0.05). Overall feed conversion (expressed as kg DM ingested kg−1 weight gain) in the first 42 days was lower in the monensin group (1.58 vs. 1.67), while the control group produced lower values both overall (days 1–105, 3.79 vs. 3.92) and in the second half of the trial (days 43–105, 5.00 vs. 5.31). A significant reduction in growth was seen in the treated animals in two periods: 2 weeks after solid feed was available (weight check at 21 days of age), and again 1 week after the switch from the weaning ration to a fattening diet (weight check at 56 days of age). Lambs in the experimental group had each ingested a quantity of monensin sodium equal to 0.011 mg from 7 to 42 days of age, and 0.796 mg from 43 to 105 days of age. Monensin sodium had only modest effects on quantitative and qualitative properties of lamb meat. Significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to the head (P < 0.05) and coratella (P < 0.01), which accounted for a greater percentage of BW in controls than treated animals. Upon carcass sectioning, the neck and abdomen of control animals showed a higher degree of development (P < 0.05), and peri-renal adipose tissue was more abundant in controls (P < 0.01). Feed conversion related to warm carcass (kg total ingested DM kg−1 warm carcass) was lower in controls. Linear measurements resulted in differences in trunk length (P < 0.05). The liver of the treated lambs was the only organ found to contain monensin residues, which ranged from 0.022 to 0.067 p.p.m. Owing to the paucity of data in the literature, it is not possible to define the maximum critical level. In conclusion, monensin sodium does not seem to be a good growth promoter in lambs, slaughtered at 105 days of age.

Italy has a long history of sheep breeding and, despite a dramatic number contraction occurred in the last century, still counts several local sheep breeds that may represent a unique source of genetic diversity. Here we present the results from the genetic characterization of seven Italian dairy sheep breeds by 19 STR markers. High levels of polymorphism were generally detected, with 16.2 average alleles per locus and an average gene diversity of 0.79. The within-breed analysis highlighted, in six out of the seven breeds, a remarkable proportion of loci displaying significant heterozygote deficit. Moreover, within-breed percentages of locus pairs with significant genotypic disequilibrium were, for all breeds, markedly higher than expected by chance thus suggesting the presence of population stratification. The subdivision was particularly evident for the Leccese sheep breed and was confirmed by the STRUCTURE analysis. On the contrary, results generally highlighted Sarda as the most homogeneous, but less inbred, population, consistently with its large census size and longstanding effective genetic management practices. Both STRUCTURE analysis and measures of genetic distance, with the exception of those based on allele sharing, suggested the presence of a phylogeographic gradient, with Sarda as the most differentiated breed and continental breeds from the same region tending to group closer to each other.Taken together, the results highlighted that all the Italian breeds display a genetic variability content comparable to other European breeds, thus demonstrating their importance as genetic reservoir for future selection options. However, management actions should be more effectively implemented in local endangered breeds in order to reduce inbreeding and within-breed sub-structuring.

We investigated the genetic variability within and between cattle breeds. The polymorphisms of 17 microsatellites were studied in 220 unrelated animals belonging to four Italian beef cattle breeds (Chianina, Marchigiana, Romagnola, and Piemontese). Variations of allelic frequencies were examined to characterize the breeds and their relationships. Wahlund coefficients, Polymorphism Information Content values, and Haldane exact test for Hardy-Weinberg proportions were calculated. The results show that the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is not always maintained. Moreover, in addition to the classical genetic distances, a new method, based on the consideration of a multilocus genotype of each animal, was set up to measure the genetic similarity between animals or within groups of animals. All the results showed that, whereas Chianina occupies an intermediate position and Piemontese is the most distinct of all four breeds, Marchigiana and Romagnola display the strongest similarity. The new method also provides evidence that average similarities are always higher within breeds than between breeds. By comparing pairwise the multilocus genotypes, it was also possible to discriminate the individuals with higher or lower genetic similarities so that each breed could be subdivided into two groups of animals in relation to their similarity to the average breed multilocus genotype. High similarities between breeds were detected, somewhat surprisingly, when the most homogeneous groups of each breed were compared. The microsatellite multilocus genotype is particularly efficient in evaluating the between- and within-breeds genetic similarities and for subgrouping genetically more homogeneous animals.

In the context of a Special Project financed by the MIPAF, facing the exploitation of the autochthonous ovine breeds from peninsular Southern Italy, an investigation has been carried out on the Altamurana, Bagnolese, Laticauda, Leccese and Gentile di Puglia breeds. The investigation, conducted through specific questionnaires compiled by the owners of the farms registered to the Flock Book, aimed at verifying the problem list of issues concerning the breeding of these populations, in sight of a molecular genetic analysis already programmed. The 52 considered farms are middle and large size, with less than 50 heads in 38.48% of cases and more than 300 heads in 11.53% of cases. The males/females ratio is 1/15-20 in 63.46% of cases. In the whole breeding area, about 65% of farmers raise only one breed, while 35% of them raise more than one breed (pure or cross breed).Most of the farms are single-species (71.18%) while in some cases (28.92%) other farm animals, mainly cattle and goats, are present. Animals are...

The dramatic size contraction of local cattle breeds due to replacement with cosmopolite improved breeds highlights the need for native genetic resources conservation. In 1985, the Anagraphic Register of local cattle breeds and small-size ethnic groups was established by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Calvana, Pontremolese and Garfagnina are among the included breeds. They are all native from Tuscany. Present breeding area covers the provinces of Firenze, Prato, Pistoia and Siena for the Calvana breed (around 280 heads), while it is restricted to the province of Lucca for both Garfagnina (around 180 heads) and Pontremolese. This latter breed consists, nowadays, of less than 40 heads, while being around 15000 in 1940s.The characterization of the genetic structure and variability via molecular markers could provide useful information for breed management and conservation. In the present study, a total of 149 animals, evenly distributed among the three breeds, were genetically char...

The current study presents the results of a preliminary haplotype association analysis at the bovine PRKAG3 locus with meat quality traits in the Chianina breed. No significant association was shown between haploid haplotypes (or diplotypes) and phenotypical traits after applying a Bonferroni correction for multiple comparison. Nonetheless, data from Longissimus dorsi muscle suggest the presence of a statistically non-significant trend toward an influence of the PRKAG3 haploid haplotypes on meat colour (a*) and water holding capacity (M/T) traits, as confirmed also by diplotype-based association analysis. A less clear set of results was observed for the Triceps brachii and Semitendinosus muscles.

To elaborate a methodological approach for the assignment of a breed to a carcass or other animal tissue, DNA microsatellites were utilized. Four Italian beef breeds were studied; examining these breeds is a challenge because they display similar morphological and productive characteristics. As comparison 54 Holstein–Friesian subjects were used. To measure the genetic similarities between animals or between groups of animals we used our method (Ciampolini et al, 1995, Individual multilocus genotypes using microsatellite polymorphisms to permit the analysis of the genetic variability within and between italian beef cattle breeds. Journal of Animal science,73 , 3259-3268.) based on the consideration of a multilocus genotype of each animal, which enabled us to establish breed genomic formulae. Although the results are only preliminary, they show that we can distinguish easily between Holstein–Friesian subjects and beef animals; moreover we can identify, with a high resolution potential, animals from breeds (the four Italian white) with very high genetic similarities. However all the Holstein–Friesian subjects were identified.

Chemical–physical analyses of cholesterol content and fatty acid profile of tissues in various anatomical locations of Apennine lambs fed three different diets and slaughtered at 105 days of age are reported. The three diets were (1) a concentrate with barley flakes (BC) and lucerne hay, (2) a concentrate with maize oil (MC) and lucerne hay, and (3) only concentrate with maize oil. Diets had little effect on the physical traits of meat but Diet 3 (MC without hay) had a higher percentage of ether extract both in M. longissimus lumborum (3.61%) and in M. semitendinosus (3.01%). Cholesterol content (48.33 mg/100 g) was not affected by diet. The fatty acid profile was affected by the different diets: the intramuscular fat from lambs on Diet 3 was more saturated (43.88%) and with less essential fatty acids (ω-3: 0.92% and ω-6: 10.15%) than the fat of the other two diets (Diet 1: respectively, 42.98%, 1.28% and 10.50%; Diet 2: respectively 43.20%, 1.20% and 10.67%). M. longissimus lumborum had a dietetically better acid profile than the semitendinosus muscle. Depot and intermuscular fat in Diet 3 showed a positive increase ( P ≤ 0.05) in the level of unsaturation (52.31% vs. 50.38% in Diet 1 and 50.96% in Diet 2). A comparison between tissues highlighted a similar composition between the subcutaneous and intermuscular fats of the proximal pelvic limb that were different ( P ≤ 0.01) from the subcutaneous fat of the loin. Despite these small differences, the quality of the meat and of the fat of these lambs was dietetically good. The addition of 5% maize oil to the concentrate did not show any unfavourable physiological side effects in the lambs and modified favourably the subcutaneous and intermuscular fat; the total quantity of unsaturates and the good content of stearic acid highlight the good dietetic characteristics.

Faecal Egg Count (FEC) is generally considered a simple but effective parameter for estimating resistance to strongylids, due to its phenotypic relationship to the total number of parasites present...