Search

This study examines whether the photostimulation of sexual activity in young bucks improves the reproductive performance of the "male effect" in comparison to adult males. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 with to variables: age of bucks and photoperiodic treatment of bucks. Ninety-three anoestrous does were distributed into four groups depending on the kind of male used: young bucks (1.26 years old, n = 6) or old bucks (5.15 years old, n = 6). Half of each group of males were subjected to a photoperiodic treatment or a natural photoperiod. After the males were introduced, the sexual behaviour of the bucks was assessed for 10 days, and doe oestrous behaviour was recorded. Ovulation was confirmed from plasma progesterone concentration, and ovulation rate was assessed by transrectal ultrasonography. Fecundity, fertility, prolificacy and productivity were also determined. The females in contact with young bucks showed a higher percentage of ovulation (100% vs 81%, P < 0.01) and oestrous (82% vs 64%, P < 0.05) than females in contact with old bucks. The females in contact with photostimulated bucks showed higher percentages of oestrous (88% vs 60%, P < 0.01), fertility (78% vs 44%, P < 0.01) and productivity (1.08 ± 0.10 vs 0.60 ± 0.12 P < 0.01) than females in contact with control bucks. No interaction between both factors (age and photoperiod treatment) on any studied variable was observed. In conclusion, the response to the "male effect" was higher when using young bucks or photostimulated bucks. These photostimulated bucks produced 48 additional kids for every 100 females in the mating group compared to does exposed to untreated bucks.

Our aim was to characterize the organoleptic and nutritional properties of meat from suckling (one-month-old) and light (around three-months-old) lambs in local breeds on the Spanish Mediterranean islands, using meat from male lambs of the Mallorquina and Roja Mallorquina breeds. The lambs were kept with their mother at all times under an extensive management system and fed on mother’s milk until naturally weaned. In the Mallorquina breed, suckling lambs (n = 20) were slaughtered after weaning and the light lambs were bred using natural pasture (n = 20) or concentrate (n = 20), and the Roja Mallorquina light lambs were fed pasture and concentrate (n = 20). The pH, colour, texture, water-holding capacity, fatty acids, volatile compounds and sensorial attributes of the meat were analyzed. No differences in meat colour or texture were observed. The highest levels of non-desirable fatty acids were observed in lambs raised using concentrate. Light lambs showed a higher aldehydes content than suckling lambs. High notes of lactic acid and milk flavour were detected. Regardless of access to pasture or concentrate, continued access to mother’s milk during rearing influences the sensorial meat traits of these lambs, so we consider this type of management an optimal way of obtaining the traditional ‘Mediterranean lamb meat’.

Two experiments were carried out. Firstly, 54 anestrous females were placed in contact with photostimulated males (Photo; n = 27) or with no photostimulated males (Natural; n = 27). Moreover, a group of bucks treated with artificial photoperiod and a group of bucks subjected to natural photoperiod without contact with females was used (Photo Isolated and Natural Isolated, respectively). In the Natural groups, the testosterone concentrations were similar except for three days after the introduction of the bucks to the does (19.72 ± 4.11 vs. 2.05 ± 0.25 ng/mL for Natural and Natural isolated bucks, respectively, p < 0.05). However, no differences were observed in the Photo groups during the entire experiment. The percentage of females showing estrous was higher in the group of females in contact with photostimulated bucks (96 vs. 74%, respectively, p < 0.05). In the second experiment, a GnRH agonist, deslorelin, was used to regulate the testosterone concentrations of the bucks. Seventy anestrous females were divided into five groups depending on the treatment received by the bucks to which they were exposed: photostimulated bucks (Photo group, n = 14); photostimulated bucks but treated with the agonist at the onset of the photoperiod treatment (Photo-Ago Long group, n = 13); photostimulated bucks but treated with the agonist at the end of the photoperiod treatment (Photo-Ago Short group, n = 15); bucks receiving no photostimulation but treated with the agonist at the end of the photoperiod treatment period (Natural-Ago Short group, n = 13) and bucks receiving no photostimulation nor agonist (Natural group, n = 15). The agonist treatment increased testosterone concentrations after the injection, which remained high for the entire experiment (p < 0.05). Six days after the introduction of the bucks to the does, the testosterone concentrations increased only in the Natural group reaching similar concentrations to the other groups (12.17 ± 6.55, 16.69 ± 4.53, 8.70 ± 0.61

This study examines the effectiveness of the photoperiod treatment (extra light for 88 days) to render the bucks sexually active during the seasonal anoestrous in order to induce a male effect, depending on the reproductive seasonality of the breed of the bucks used. In April, 57 anoestrous Blanca Andaluza does were distributed into four groups with three males each: 13 were exposed to control Murciano–Granadina bucks (lower seasonality); 15 were exposed to photostimulated Murciano–Granadina bucks; 14 were exposed to control Blanca Andaluza bucks (higher seasonality), and 15 were exposed to photostimulated Blanca Andaluza bucks. After male introduction, the sexual behaviour of the bucks was assessed, and harness marks recorded doe oestrous behaviour. Ovulation was confirmed from plasma progesterone, and the ovulation rate was assessed by transrectal ultra sonography. Fecundity, fertility, prolificacy and productivity were also determined. All of the does in all of the groups showed ovulation. Interaction between both sources of variation was observed: the percentage of females showing oestrous (p < 0.01) and productivity (p < 0.05) was the lowest in the Blanca Andaluza control group (50% and 0.36 ± 0.17 goat kids born/female, respectively). In conclusion, photoperiod-treated bucks efficiently induce a male effect, but photostimulation could be more necessary for breeds with deep seasonality.

Dried orange pulp (DOP) can be incorporated into ruminant diets, but no reports have considered this strategy during the entire lactation period in goats. Two experiments were performed using lactating Payoya goats. In experiment 1, to study the effect, over 180 days, of DOP on milk yield and composition, blood metabolites and economic values, 44 primiparous goats were allocated into three groups: control diet (concentrate plus lucerne) and DOP40 and DOP80 diets, in which DOP replaced 40% and 80%, respectively, of the cereals. Nutrient digestibility and rumen fermentation were also studied (experiment 2). The DOP diets did not affect milk yield and composition. DOP triggered lower intake and digestibility of ether extract and crude protein. Ruminal fermentation was unaffected by DOP, except for a decrease in butyrate for DOP80. The energy balance was unaltered by diet while the balance and retention of nitrogen decreased. Regarding plasma biochemistry, DOP supplementation caused changes that could indicate an improvement in hepatic function and reduced muscular damage and oxidative muscular stress. Moreover, DOP80 provided a profit increase of EUR 3.27/goat. In conclusion, the partial replacement of cereals by DOP is a profitable and healthy nutritional strategy in dairy goats and is suitable for the entire lactation period without compromising productivity.

The quality of meat and dairy products can be evaluated from the perspective of the farmer seeking high yields and profits or the consumer for whom sensory characteristics are the most important, although health and ethical aspects, such as animal welfare and the environmental impact of the production system, are increasingly becoming concerns worldwide. Animal nutrition is one of the most important environmental factors that significantly influences the quality of meat, milk, and other dairy products; therefore, emphasis is often placed on improving the quality of feed.

We analysed how replacing cereal concentrates with dehydrated orange pulp (DOP) in the diet of mother goats affects the meat quality of suckling kids. Three experimental diets for mother goats were designed. The DOP-0 diet contained commercial concentrates and alfalfa hay. In the DOP-40 and DOP-80 diets, 40% and 80% (respectively) of the cereal in the concentrate was replaced with pellets of DOP (the alfalfa hay component was unchanged). We evaluated the chemical composition, texture, water holding capacity, colour, fatty acids (FAs) profile, volatile compounds, and sensorial appraisal of the meat from 30 male suckling kids (cold carcass weight 4.74 kg, 4.82 kg, and 4.65 kg for DOP-0, DOP-40, and DOP-80, respectively) of the Payoya breed (n = 10 for each diet). Meat from kids in the DOP-40 and DOP-80 groups exhibited characteristics favourable for human health, including the meat’s thrombogenicity index, PUFA/SFA ratio (0.60 index), and n-6 PUFA/n-3 PUFA ratio (approximately 7.50). The meat also exhibited reduced MUFA content (around 460 mg/100 g fresh meat). An increase in ethyl furan, dimethyl disulphide and heptane was observed in grilled meat from goats that were fed using DOP. The inclusion of DOP in goat feed improved consumers’ sensory appreciation of the kid’s meat.

Traditional meat goat farming systems are characterized by rearing autochthonous breeds and using natural resources through grazing, often within protected natural areas. In a context of reduction of the number of farms, due to the low income derived from the sale of kids, the role of those systems as suppliers of presently non-remunerated ecosystem services becomes more relevant. The objective of this article is to analyze the current situation of those systems, focusing on their connection with human wellbeing, and to formulate proposals that can contribute to guaranteeing their profitability and continuity. A technical-economic and environmental study of a sample of farms and an analysis of the limiting factors affecting the subsector were carried out. As a result, a set of multifactorial problems was identified, with the lack of acknowledgement and remuneration of some services—mainly environmental and cultural—provided by those systems and the low selling price of kids standing as the main threats. The consideration of meat goat farms as “producers of meat of high functional quality and providers of ecosystem services”, which should be properly quantified and remunerated, would contribute to their preservation and guarantee the provision of benefits associated with the activity.

The increased use of concentrates to reduce pasture as a feed source in productive systems like Payoya breed goat farms has made it necessary to decrease feeding costs. The inclusion of agro-industry by-products such as dry orange pulp pellets in goat diets has been suggested as a sustainable alternative to cereal-based concentrates. The aim of this work was to assess the influence of diets including dry orange pulp pellets on the quality of cheeses traditionally made from Payoya breed goat milk. We analysed the physicochemical characteristics, sensory properties and volatile compound profiles of 18 artisanal cheeses made from raw Payoya milk. In this study, goats were fed with different concentrations of dry orange pulp; and cheeses were curdled with animal and vegetable coagulants. Slight differences were detected between some cheeses. However, the use of citrus by-products in the Payoya goat diets did not substantially affect the cheeses’ physicochemical properties, olfactory attributes, or volatile profiles. Therefore, dried citrus pulp can be used as a substitute for cereal concentrates without affecting the distinct properties of these ripened raw goat milk cheeses.

The number of organic farms is growing, but switching from conventional to organic production requires farms continue to produce high quality products. This study compares the carcase and meat quality of Blanca Andaluza goat suckling kids raised under organic and conventional grazing-based stock raising production systems. Twenty-four twin kids (12 males, 12 females) were selected from representative farms of each system. Body weight, dressing percentage, carcase linear measurements, non-carcase components, primary carcase and minor cuts, tissue composition, chemical composition and rheological variables, pH and colorimetric variables, were examined. No significant differences were seen between the production systems or sex with respect to most of the variables studied. However, some non-carcase components and colorimetric variables were affected, with the organic kids’ meat returning lower values for lightness, yellow index, chroma and Hue angle. Indeed, some of the meat colour variables examined easily discriminated between the animals raised under the different production systems. These results show that conventional grazing–based farms raising these goats could easily turn to organic production without carcase or meat quality being affected.

Ante la actual crisis global que vive nuestro planeta, se hace imprescindible promover un desarrollo sostenible en todos los ámbitos, incluido el de la producción agrícola y ganadera. La ganadería extensiva ligada al territorio, en concreto los sistemas pastorales de pequeños rumiantes constituidos por razas autóctonas, desempeñan un papel central en la gestión y conservación de las tierras de Alto Valor Natural. Así mismo, esta actividad ganadera ejerce un importante papel social, pues contribuye a la creación de empleo en zonas desfavorecidas y al desarrollo rural; al mismo tiempo, tiene impacto socio-cultural, mantiene la estética del paisaje y apoya al turismo. Además, diferentes estudios han demostrado que tanto la leche y sus productos derivados como la carne obtenidos de estos sistemas, ofrecen óptimos parámetros de calidad para la salud del consumidor. Sin embargo, estos sistemas están en peligro de desaparecer debido a su falta de rentabilidad y al escaso relevo generacional. Por ello, el objetivo de esta Tesis Doctoral ha sido generar conocimiento sobre el manejo de estos sistemas, su rentabilidad, la calidad de sus productos y su impacto ambiental, así como plantear mejoras que garanticen su conservación, tomando como ejemplo la raza caprina Payoya en Andalucía y la raza ovina Mallorquina en Baleares. Se realizaron dos estudios con explotaciones caprinas pastorales de raza Payoya: un estudio previo con 8 explotaciones durante los meses de junio a octubre de 2010, y un segundo estudio con 16 explotaciones durante el año 2011. En ambos, se recogió información mensual técnica y económica, en especial del manejo alimentario, a la vez que se recogieron muestras del tanque de leche para el análisis de su calidad. En Mallorca, se realizó un tercer estudio con 7 explotaciones de ovino pastoral de raza Mallorquina de las que se recogió información mensual técnica y económica durante el año 2015 y, durante los meses de octubre a diciembre de ese año, se seleccionar, Given the current global crisis, it is essential to promote sustainable development in all areas, including agriculture and livestock production. Extensive livestock farming linked to the territory, in particular small ruminant grazing systems based on autochthonous breeds, plays a central role in the management and conservation of High Conservation Value Areas (HCVA). In addition, this activity is extremely important from a social perspective, because it contributes to the creation of employment, and, at the same time, it has a sociocultural impact, maintains the aesthetics of the landscape and supports tourism. Furthermore, different studies have shown that both milk and meat obtained from grazing systems have optimal quality for consumer health. However, these systems are in risk of disappearing due to the lack of profitability of the activity and the limited generational replacement. Therefore, the aim of this Doctoral Thesis is to generate knowledge about the management of these systems, their profitability, the quality of their products and their environmental impact, as well as to propose improvements that guarantee their conservation, taking as an example the Payoya goat systems at Andalusia and the Mallorquina sheep systems at Balearic Islands. Two studies were conducted with Payoya goat grazing farms: a previous study with 8 farms from June to October 2010, which was extended with a second study with 16 farms during 2011. In both, technical and economic information was collected monthly, especially regarding their feeding management, while milk samples were collected from the tank for quality analysis. In Mallorca, a third study was carried out with seven Mallorquina sheep grazing farms from which technical and economic information was collected monthly during 2015 and, from October to December of the same year, a total of 50 male lambs were selected for quality analysis of carcass and meat. Among the different results obtained in the analysis conducted wi

Las Islas Baleares poseen gran tradición ganadera, pero la intensificación de las producciones y la competencia del turismo por el territorio han hecho que los sistemas tradicionales basados en el pastoreo estén en riesgo de desaparecer, con las consecuencias ambientales negativas que conlleva. Para su conservación, una buena opción sería mejorar la comercialización de los productos derivados del pastoreo a través de una marca de calidad. En Mallorca existe una raza autóctona ovina “Mallorquina” cuyo manejo está basado en el aprovechamiento de los pastos. Se seleccionaron 10 explotaciones ovinas con diferentes sistemas de alimentación. Se diferenciaron 5 grupos de corderos en función del sistema de alimentación y del peso de venta: lechales-leche, recentales medianos-leche, recentales medianos-pasto, recentales medianos-concentrado y recentales grandes-concentrado. Se analizó el perfil de ácidos grasos de la grasa intramuscular del Longissimus dorsi de 10 corderos de cada grupo. No se encontraron diferencias significativas al comparar el perfil lipídico en animales de diferente peso con el mismo sistema de alimentación. Sí se encontraron diferencias significativas entre corderos del mismo peso alimentados con diferentes sistemas. El perfil más favorable para la salud se halló en los corderos alimentados en sistemas pastorales sin concentrado, The Balearic Islands have a long livestock tradition, but because of production intensification and tourism competition for territory, traditional systems based on grazing are at risk of disappearing, with negative environmental consequences. In order to preserve them, one option would be to improve the commercialization of products derived from grazing through a quality mark. In Majorca, there is an autochthonous sheep breed raised on rangeland systems. Management data from 10 farms were collected. Five groups of lambs were differentiated according to feed management and weight: suckling lambs-milk, light lambs-milk, light lambs-pasture, light lambs-concentrate and heavy lambs-concentrate. Fatty acid composition of Longissimus dorsi intramuscular fat was analyzed from 10 lambs of each group. No differences were found comparing animals with the same feed management and different weights. Significant differences were found comparing animals with similar weight and different feed management. The best lipidic profile for human health was observed in grazing lambs fed without concentrate.

En la región Mediterránea la dispersión endozoócora de semillas es una alternativa potencial para recuperar pastizales y matorrales degradados o abandonados. Los objetivos de este estudio fueron determinar si el paso a través del sistema digestivo de cabras afectó la recuperación de semillas, la germinación y emergencia de plántulas de tres leguminosas herbáceas comunes del área Mediterránea (Ornithopus compressus L., Medicago polymorpha L. y Melilotus officinalis L. Pall.). El porcentaje total de recuperación de semillas osciló entre 0,31% y 6,80%. En todas las especies las semillas recuperadas tras la ingestión presentaron una germinación significativa menor que las semillas control, con porcentajes de germinación de 26,7% a 50,0%. La emergencia de plántulas fue menor en las heces intactas que en las disgregadas. No se encontró emergencia de plántulas de las semillas de O. compressus para ninguno de los tratamientos ni tiempos de muestreo. Aunque los porcentajes de recuperación de semillas, la germinación y emergencia de plántulas fueron bajos en términos absolutos, se concluye que las semillas de M. polymorpha y M. officinalis podrían establecerse desde el estiércol y representar una alternativa potencial para recuperar áreas de pastoreo degradadas o abandonadas.

The distribution of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in dairy products commercially available in Chile is poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the content of CLA in dairy cow products from Chile and the effect of processing fresh milk into dairy products. Samples of raw milk were categorized into two groups based on the animal feeding system utilized by the dairy farm: 1) grazing based systems (Los Lagos region); and 2) housing systems using total mixed ration (TMR) diets (Los Angeles region). Simultaneously, commercial samples of condensed milk, powdered milk, butter and Gouda cheese were analyzed. Furthermore, samples of raw milk and processed products (powdered and sweetened condensed milk) were also analyzed. Dairy farms based on grazing systems had higher levels of CLA in raw milk than TMR farms. In addition, average values of CLA were 1.72 g 100 g−1 of total fatty acids, in spring milk in the Los Lagos region, and 0.42 g 100 g−1 in summer milk, in the Los Angeles region. Similarly, the CLA content of dairy products was higher than that of raw milk. Milk processing affected the transferring of CLA from fresh milk into the final products. Sweetened condensed milk presented lower CLA values than raw and powdered milk. In conclusion, this study indicates the importance of the production systems to the CLA content as well as the effects of milk processing into dairy products. To sum up, more research is needed to elucidate the exact effect of the processing conditions of dairy products on the CLA content.

El objetivo de esta tesis doctoral es evaluar la calidad de la canal y de la carne, evaluar la composición de ácidos grasos (FA) del músculo y los depósitos de grasa y evaluar la calidad sensorial de la carne de los cabritos de las razas Blanca Andaluza y Payoya en sistemas de producción ecológicos y convencionales basados en el pastoreo. Veinticuatro cabritos de partos dobles (12 machos y 12 hembras) fueron seleccionados de cada sistema de producción y de cada raza. Se estudiaron la calidad de la canal y de la carne, la composición de FA en el músculo longissimus thoracis y en los depósitos grasos perirenales y pélvicos y la calidad sensorial de la carne. En conclusión, en la raza Blanca Andaluza, se encontraron pequeñas diferencias significativas solamente en algunos componentes del quinto cuarto. Los porcentajes de C17:0, C17:1, C20:1, C20:4 n-6, C22:2 y numerosos n-3 FAs fueron mayores en la carne ecológica; C12:0, C18:1 trans-11, ácido linoleico conjugado (CLA) y C20:5 n-3 fueron menores en la carne ecológica. Los depósitos grasos de los cabritos convencionales mostraron menores porcentajes de C12:0, C14:0, C15:0, C17:0, C17:1, C18:3 n-3, menor índice de aterogenicidad y mayor porcentaje de C18:0. En la grasa pélvica, los cabritos convencionales mostraron menores porcentajes de C16:0, C18:2 n-6 cis, PUFA, n-3 y n-6 FAs, y mayores porcentajes de C18:1 n-9 cis y MUFA. Los cabritos convencionales presentaron una relación n6:n3 mayor en la grasa perirenal. No se observaron diferencias entre sexos. Sólo se encontraron diferencias significativas en algunos porcentajes de FA en el músculo y tejido adiposo de los cabritos lactantes en los sistemas de producción ecológicos y convencionales. Los cabritos del sistema ecológico y los de raza Blanca Andaluza presentaron carnes más jugosas con menos intensidad de olor y aroma. El efecto del sistema fue diferente en cada raza para la intensidad de color, la dureza y la facilidad de masticación. Existen claras diferencias entr, The aim of this study was to evaluate the comparative carcass and meat quality, the fatty acid (FA) composition of longissimus thoracis muscle and kidney and pelvic fat and sensory quality of Blanca Andaluza and Payoya goat kids under organic and conventional grazing–based livestock production system. Twenty-four twin kids (12 males, 12 females) were selected from each system and breed. Carcass quality and instrumental meat quality, the fatty acid (FA) composition of muscle and fat depots and sensory quality were studied. In conclusion, small significant differences were found only in a few offal components and color in Blanca Andaluza breed. The percentages of C17:0, C17:1, C20:1, C20:4 n-6, C22:2 and several n-3 FAs were higher in organic meat; C12:0, C18:1 trans-11, CLA and C20:5 n-3 were lower in organic meat. The fat depots from the conventional kids showed lower percentages of C12:0, C14:0, C15:0, C17:0, C17:1, C18:3 n-3 and atherogenicity index and higher percentage of C18:0. In the pelvic fat, the conventional kids displayed lower percentages of C16:0, C18:2 n-6 cis, PUFA, n-3 and n-6 FAs, and greater percentages of C18:1 n-9 cis and MUFA. The conventional kids displayed a major n6:n3 ratio in the kidney fat. No gender differences were observed. Significant differences were found only in some FA percentages of muscle and adipose tissues of suckling kids raised in organic and conventional livestock production systems. Meats of goat kid under organic grazing-based management system and Blanca Andaluza breed showed less odor and flavor intensity and juicier. System effect on the color intensity, tenderness and ease of mastication was different for each breed. There are clear differences between systems for descriptions of the odor / aroma and basic flavors. In conclusion, these preliminary results would be favorable for transforming conventional grazing-based management system on organic grazing-based management system. In Payoya breed, gender only significantl