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The physicochemical characteristics and sensory traits of Cinisara bresaola were investigated, to explore a new commercial opportunity for autochthonous dairy cattle farms. Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus and Biceps brachii muscles, from adult cows (AC) and grazing (GB) or housed (HB) young bulls of Cinisara breed, were processed to made bresaola. Differences due to animal category and muscle type were observed. Bresaola from AC was richer in fat and volatile organic compounds. The bresaola from Semitendinosus showed higher colorimetric parameters, fat and, when from grazing animals, Warner-Bratzler shear force than those made from other muscles. In general, all bresaola were well appreciated. The principal component analysis performed using selected physicochemical and sensory traits was able to discriminate bresaola produced from different animal categories, effect of muscle type was relevant only for AC. These results evidenced the possibility to obtain bresaola from the meat of different animal categories, comparable for sensory properties and appreciable by consumers. El presente estudio se propuso investigar las características fisicoquímicas y los rasgos sensoriales de la bresaola de ganado Cinisara, con el propósito de explorar nuevas oportunidades comerciales para las granjas autóctonas de ganado lechero. Con el fin de elaborar la carne bresaola se procesaron los músculos Semimembranosus, Semitendinosus y Biceps brachii de vacas adultas (AC), de toros jóvenes que pastan (GB) y de toros jóvenes confinados (HB) de la raza Cinisara. El estudio constató la existencia de diferencias atribuibles a la categoría de los animales, así como al tipo de músculo empleado. La bresaola de AC resultó ser más rica en grasa y compuestos orgánicos volátiles. La bresaola de Semitendinosus mostró parámetros colorimétricos más intensos, mayor contenido de grasa y, cuando provenía de animales de pastoreo, [mayor] fuerza de cizallamiento de WarnerBratzler que las bresaolas elaboradas con otros músculos. En general, todas las bresaolas fueron bastante apreciadas. El análisis de los componentes principales, realizado utilizando rasgos fisicoquímicos y sensoriales seleccionados, fue capaz de discriminar la bresaola producida a partir de diferentes categorías de animales; el efecto del tipo de músculo sólo fue evidente en el caso de las AC. Estos resultados ponen de manifiesto la posibilidad de obtener varias bresaolas a partir de carne de diferentes categorías de animales, las cuales son comparables por sus propiedades sensoriales. Todas ellas son apreciadas por los consumidores.

Simple Summary The Cinisara is a Sicilian breed raised on pasture to produce the Caciocavallo Palermitano cheese. Even if it is penalized by competition with meat breeds, characterized by higher growth rate and yield, the production of fresh meat represents a considerable added value for the smallfarms. The meat of Cinisara is not appreciated, despite having a high content of iron, vitamin E, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and low content of lipids and cholesterol, above all due to incorrect management of the supply chain phases that negatively affects the quality of the final product. Alternative production such as bresaola and salami could contribute to the enhancement of Cinisara meat. The present study investigated the fatty acid profile of salamis produced by processing the meat of young bulls and adult cows with the addition of lard pork to provide additional information to that reported in a previous experiment on physicochemical and sensory properties. The results suggest the possibility of producing cured meats with Cinisara meat, even if the addition of pork lard mitigates some favorable effects deriving from the livestock system of this breed, based on grazing. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the possibility of making cured meats with beef only. Abstract In autochthonous dairy cattle farms, the production of salami could represent an alternative commercial opportunity. Therefore, a study was carried out to investigate the fatty acid (FA) composition of salami made using the meat from grazing (GB) or housed (HB) young bulls and grazing adult cows (AC) of Cinisara breed. The products were manufactured by adding 20% of pork lard. Animal category influenced the FA composition, although the addition of lard mitigated the differences found in fresh meat. The salami from GB showed higher polyunsaturated FA content (p ≤ 0.01) and, in particular, a higher level of linoleic acid (p ≤ 0.05), than from other animal categories. Salami made from AC meat showed lower polyunsaturated/saturated FA ratio (p ≤ 0.05), but a better n-6/n-3 ratio compared to HB (p ≤ 0.05), due to the lower content of linoleic acid. Multivariate analysis showed an important influence of animal category on FA composition due to age, feeding system and meat fat content of animals, despite the addition of lard.

Simple Summary The question of sustainability of animal nutrition has become a popular topic. The gains made by recycling safe, yet otherwise valueless, by-products and wastes from human food and fiber production (green feeds) may lessen the competition between humans and animals for crops and decrease the environmental impact of food production. In this context, prickly pear by-product, which results from Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. fruits processed for juice extraction, could be an optimum by-product to ruminant feeding. This study evaluates the nutritional characteristics and its stability during storage using potassium metabisulfite as a preservative agent. This preliminary investigation showed this by-product could represent, for its chemical composition, an interesting and suitable feeding source to be used to increase the environmental and economic sustainability of ruminant livestock. On the basis of the results, the use of preservative was able to slightly slow down the early phase of the acidification process and limit the presence of spoilage microorganisms after a three-week storage period. The high content of soluble sugars in the prickly pear by-product suggests that a likely storage technique could be ensiling the mass with straw. Abstract In Sicily, the current increasing cultivation of Opuntia ficus-indica corresponds to an availability of prickly pear by-product (PPB) that results from fruit processing for juice extraction. This investigation aims to evaluate the nutritional traits of PPB for ruminant feeding and its stability during a 21-day outdoor storage, using potassium metabisulfite (PMB) as a preservative agent, added to the PPB mass at different doses (0, 50, 100, and 150 g/kg). The fractioning of PPB showed that it included 28% of peel and pulp and 72% of seeds on a dry matter (DM) basis. On the whole, this by-product was low in crude protein (5.32% DM), high in fiber content (51.38%, 41.15% and 14.64% DM for NDFom, ADFom and ADL respectively), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC, 29.68% DM), and soluble sugars (13.3% DM), with a moderate level of net energy for lactation (4.59 MJ/kg DM). Storage was the main factor of alteration of PPB chemical composition with the exception of ether extract. A decline of NFC and soluble sugars, due to microbial fermentation, was observed with all PMB treatments, especially during the first week of storage, probably due to evolution of both coccus (M17) and rod LAB (MRS), which increased their loads at the seventh day of storage.

The beneficial properties of mushrooms’ bioactive compounds indicate their potential for use as performance-enhancing natural additives for livestock animals. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of diets supplemented with mushroom myceliated grains (MMGs) fed to dairy ewes on intestinal parasite load, milk production, milk fatty acid (FA) composition, and cheese oxidative stability. During an 8-week experimental period, 21 lactating Valle del Belice ewes were divided into 3 groups named MMG20, MMG10, and MMG0. Ewes in each group were fed hay ad libitum and 1.3 kg/day/head of 1 of 3 concentrates with MMGs at 20% (MMG20), 10% (MMG10), or 0% (MMG0). The ewes fed MMG20 had comparable dry matter (DM) and nutrients intake, fewer intestinal parasite infections, a tendency toward higher milk yield, and higher milk casein content (4.78% in MMG20 vs. 4.32% in MMG10 and 4.27% in MMG0; P < 0.05), and they produced cheese with less intense yellow color and a lower secondary lipid oxidation, than the ewes in the MMG10 and MMG0 groups. A higher antioxidant capacity was observed (17.83 mmol Trolox equivalent/kg DM in the MMG20 group vs. 9.97 and 9.18 mmol Trolox equivalent/kg DM in the MMG10 and MMG0 groups, respectively; P < 0.001), suggesting a higher oxidative stability of cheese fat and a probable enrichment of cheese with antioxidant compounds inherent in or induced by MMGs. The inclusion of MMGs in the diet did not affect the amounts of health-promoting polyunsaturated FAs in milk, with the exception of n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid, which was found only in milk from the MMG-treated ewes. These promising results merit further investigation into the potential use of medicinal mushrooms to enhance animal health and production.

With the aim to find protein sources that are free of genetically modified organisms, the effects of legume grain-based concentrates, used as alternatives of a mixed concentrate feed containing soybean, were evaluated on sheep milk production. Twelve lactating ewes were divided into four groups, fed hay and, according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design, supplied with 800 g/day of a commercial mixed concentrate feed (MCF) containing maize and soybean, or the same amount of isoprotein concentrates consisting of chickpea (CH), faba bean (FB), or pea (PE) mixed with barley. The ewes ingested more of the concentrates with legume grains than the MCF (702, 702, 678 vs 587 g/day DM for CH, FB, PE and MCF; P ? 0.001). Compared with CH, FB and PE resulted in greater (P ? 0.05) milk yield (710, 718 vs 654 g/day for FB, PE and CH, respectively), and led to a greater (P ? 0.05) efficiency of dietary protein utilisation for milk casein synthesis (94, 97 vs 87 g casein/kg crude protein intake for FB, PE and CH, respectively), whereas MCF resulted in intermediate levels of milk yield (677 g/day) and milk casein/crude protein intake (88 g/kg). Chickpea increased the milk content of trans-vaccenic and rumenic acids in comparison with FB and PE and, similarly to MCF, increased the milk content of linoleic acid, as well as total unsaturated fatty acids (24.3, 23.9 vs 17.2, 16.8 g/100 g fatty acid methyl esters for MCF, CH, FB and PE; P ? 0.001), thereby improving the potential health-promoting index. Legume grains can replace soybean in diets of dairy ewes, as they do not adversely affect milk yield and composition.

The Cinisara is an autochthonous Sicilian bovine breed reared mainly for production of Caciocavallo Palermitano, a typical stretched-curd cheese. The distribution of A and B alleles at both the β-lactoglobulin (LGB) and κ-casein (CSN3) loci in Cinisara cows and their influence on milk traits and cheese yield and composition were analysed. The LGB alleles are associated with significantly different effects on whey protein level (lower for BB genotype, P < 0.01), and casein index (higher value for BB genotype, P < 0.001), while CSN3 alleles were associated with significantly different effects on milk yield and coagulation properties; the BB genotype showed higher values for milk yield (P < 0.01) and curd firmness (a30 P < 0.01 and a2r P < 0.01) and lower values for coagulation and curd firming time (P < 0.01) than the AA genotype. Cheese made with LGB BB milk showed higher percentage protein recovery (P < 0.01); cheese made with CSN3 BB milk showed higher percentage fat recovery (P < 0.05).

A novel dairy product, namely “chocolate cheese”, was produced with two typical Sicilian food products: Pecorino cheese, processed from ewe's milk, and Modica chocolate. The cheese, manufactured with 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% (w/w) solid or molten chocolate, was evaluated after 0, 2, 4, and 6 weeks of vacuum storage for its nutritional and health properties. The addition of chocolate reduced the pH, protein, fat, and ash; the addition of 5% or 10% molten chocolate reduced hardness (N/mm2). The addition of either solid or molten chocolate resulted in a slight increase (P

Feed restriction after weaning is widely used in meat rabbit farms to promote health and reduce mortality, but this practice impacts negatively on rabbit growth and slaughter performance. This study compared a 3-week post-weaning feed restriction with ad libitum medicated feeding, evaluating effects on feed intake, growth, health, carcass and meat quality of rabbits of two genotypes: Italian White pure breed and Hycole hybrid×Italian White crossbred. A total of 512 rabbits at 36 days of age, of both sexes and two genotypes, were divided into four homogeneous groups assigned, from 36 to 57 days of age, to different feeding programmes (FP): restricted non-medicated (R-N), ad libitum non-medicated (L-N), restricted medicated (R-M) and ad libitum medicated (L-M). The diets were medicated with oxytetracycline (1540 mg/kg) and colistin sulphate (240 mg/kg). The restriction, performed by giving 70, 80 and 90 g/day of feed for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd week, was followed by ad libitum feeding in the successive 5 weeks, up to slaughter at 92 days of age. Restricted feeds were ingested at a level of 64% of the feed intake recorded in the ad libitum fed rabbits; it was significantly associated, regardless of medication and rabbit genotype, with a lower feed intake (−22 to −24 g dry matter/day) during the entire experiment, compensatory growth and a lower feed conversion ratio in the ad libitum period, and a lower final live weight (−150 g) than ad libitum feeding (P

Sulla (Sulla coronarium L.) forage is valued for its positive impact on ruminant production, in part due to its moderate content of condensed tannin (CT). The duration of daily grazing is a factor affecting the feed intake and milk production of ewes. In this study, the effects of grazing sulla pasture compared with annual ryegrass, and the extension of grazing from 8 to 22 h/day, were evaluated with regard to ewe forage intake and milk production, as well as the physicochemical properties and fatty acid (FA) composition of cheese. During 42 days in the spring, 28 ewes of the Comisana breed were divided into four groups (S8, S22, R8 and R22) that grazed sulla (S) or ryegrass (R) for 8 (0800 to 1600 h) or 22 h/day, and received no feeding supplement. In six cheese-making sessions, cheeses were manufactured from the 48 h bulk milk of each group. Compared with ewes grazing ryegrass, those grazing sulla had higher dry matter (DM) intake, intake rate and milk yield, and produced milk that was lower in fat and higher in casein. Ewes grazing for 22 h spent more time eating, which reduced the intake rate, increased DM and nutrient intake and milk yield, and reduced milk fat. Due to the ability of CT to inhibit the complete ruminal biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), the FA composition of sulla cheese was more beneficial for consumer health compared with ryegrass cheese, having lower levels of saturated fatty acids and higher levels of PUFA and n-3 FA. The FA profile of S8 cheese was better than that of S22 cheese, as it was higher in branched-chain FA, monounsaturated FA, PUFA, rumenic acid (c9,t11-C18:2), and had a greater health-promoting index. The effect of short grazing time on sulla was attributed to major inhibition of PUFA biohydrogenating ruminal bacteria, presumably stimulated by the higher accumulation of sulla CT in the rumen, which is related to a higher intake rate over a shorter eating time. Thus, grazing sulla improved the performance of ewes, thereby increasing, especially with short grazing time, the nutritional properties of cheese fat.

This study investigated the effects of fresh lemon pulp (FLP), as a natural antioxidant in the diet, on the intake of feed and the production of milk and cheese of Valle del Belice lactating ewes during the hot summer in Sicily. A total of 15second-lambing ewes, kept individually in 3×3m pens, were divided into 3 homogeneous groups fed with 3 diets in a 3×3 Latin square design, with 3 experimental phases of 21days each. The diets were: mixed hay ad libitum plus 600g/day of concentrate (FLP0); mixed hay ad libitum plus 400g/day of concentrate and 1kg/day of FLP (FLP1); and mixed hay ad libitum plus 200g/day of concentrate and 2kg/day of FLP (FLP2). Nine experimental Pecorino cheeses were manufactured with bulk milk collected at the end of each phase from each group. The ewes of each group showed the same dry matter (DM) intake (2kg/day/head), but the FLP2 group received lower (P=0.001) net energy for lactation (NEL) than other groups (2.13, 2.36, and 2.31 Mcal/day per head for FLP2, FLP0, and FLP1, respectively). The FLP constituted 9% and 16% of the total DM intake in the FLP1 and FLP2 groups, respectively. In general, the daily milk yield was low, reflecting the effect of the high environmental temperatures, and was lower (P=0.001) in the FLP2 group than in the other groups (323, 355, and 369g/day for FLP2, FLP1, and FLP0, respectively), probably due to the lower daily energy intake. Milk protein (P=0.046) and casein (P=0.033) percentages were higher in the FLP2 group than in the FLP1 group; the FLP-fed groups had higher levels of (P=0.011) milk urea than the FLP0 group, due to a higher (P=0.001) CP/NELratio in the ingested diet (96.4, 95.8, and 95.3g/Mcal for FLP2, FLP1, and FLP0, respectively). The fatty acid composition of milk from FLP2-fed ewes was higher in vaccenic (10.6 vs. 7.96mg/g fat; P=0.031) and rumenic acids (6.21 vs. 5.30mg/g fat; P=0.048) than that in milk from FLP0 ewes. The characteristics of the cheeses were not influenced by the diet, with the exception of the total content of phenolic compounds (P=0.011) and antioxidant activity (P=0.051), both of which were higher in cheeses made with milk from FLP-fed ewes.

In their first 150 days of lactation, nine Ragusana jennets were investigated at the ‘Istituto Sperimentale Zootecnico per la Sicilia’ (ISZS) in Palermo, to study the effects of different milking typologies on milk production. The jennets were kept in a paddock and were fed hay ad libitum and concentrate (3.5 kg jennet/day). From post-foaling day 21, every 3 weeks individual milk amounts were recorded, and individual milk samples were collected and analyzed for the main qualitative parameters. The compared theses were: two daily milking times with 6- and 3-h intervals; and two, three and eight daily milking times with 3-h interval. The jennets were manually milked. The foals were separated from the jennets at 0800 h, and after the last milking the foals were housed with the jennets. During the day with eight milkings, the milk yield from the jennets was fed to their respective foals, through bottles. The 6-h milking interval produced more milk (+19%) per session than the 3-h interval (P ⩽ 0.01). The fat content per session, with the eight-time milking frequency (P ⩽ 0.001), was greater than the others. For each milking typology, the lactation stage had a similar effect on almost all the considered variables. When observing the eight-milking times, the fat content (%) increased from 1100 to 0500 h (P ⩽ 0.001). The milk yield and the fat percentage produced by two-, three- and eight-milking times were positively correlated.

In Italy, the interest for jennet milk production has recently developed. An 18-month-long experiment was carried out on a jennet farm near Milo (CT), where 24 jennets, which derived from the Ragusana breed, were tested for milk yield and composition over an entire lactation period. The jennets were fed with hay and concentrate in a large paddock. From the 28th post-foaling day to the end of the lactation, the jennets were machine-milked twice a day with an in-between milking interval of 5 h. The milk amount from each jennet was recorded every 3 weeks and individual samples were collected and analyzed for fat, protein, casein, non-proteic nitrogen, lactose and somatic cell count. This study showed that jennets at Sicilian latitudes are not seasonal polyestrous. The daily milk yield, the length of lactation and the milk characteristics varied depending on the foaling season. The total average milk production was 490 ± 36 kg in 295 ± 12 post-foaling days, considering two milking records per day. During the lactation, milk yield decreased constantly from 1.98 to 1.28 kg/jennet per day. When looking at the jennet milk quality during lactation, the percentage of fat and protein decreased, while the lactose percentage increased, according to a tendency apparently unique for equines when compared to the ruminants. When looking at the productive season, spring generally gave the best qualitative and quantitative results. Based on these results, jennet milk yield and quality could be improved; furthermore, jennet milk production may turn out to be a profitable business.

The aim of the research was to produce salami manufactured with meat of three different commercial categories of bovine breed: cow on retirement, beef and young bull. A total of six experimental productions, at small-scale plant, were carried out with and without starter culture inoculums. The evolution of physico-chemical parameters in all trials followed the trend already registered for other fermented meat products. Several LAB species were found during process with different levels of species diversity and frequency of isolation among inoculated (mainly Pediococcus pentosaceus and Staphylococcus xylosus) and uninoculated (mainly Enterococcus devriesei, Lactobacillus curvatus and Lactobacillus sakei) trials. Enterobacteriaceae were found at very low levels during the entire ripening period and no pathogenic bacteria were found in any samples. The multivariate analysis showed that starter inoculums and meat affected significantly the physico-chemical and the microbiological composition of salami. The sensory analysis evidenced the highest overall acceptability was displayed by salami produced with meat from cow on retirement.

With the aim to find protein sources that are free of genetically modified organisms, the effects of legume grain-based concentrates, used as alternatives of a mixed concentrate feed containing soybean, were evaluated on sheep milk production. Twelve lactating ewes were divided into four groups, fed hay and, according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design, supplied with 800 g/day of a commercial mixed concentrate feed (MCF) containing maize and soybean, or the same amount of isoprotein concentrates consisting of chickpea (CH), faba bean (FB), or pea (PE) mixed with barley. The ewes ingested more of the concentrates with legume grains than the MCF (702, 702, 678 vs 587 g/day DM for CH, FB, PE and MCF; P ≤ 0.001). Compared with CH, FB and PE resulted in greater (P ≤ 0.05) milk yield (710, 718 vs 654 g/day for FB, PE and CH, respectively), and led to a greater (P ≤ 0.05) efficiency of dietary protein utilisation for milk casein synthesis (94, 97 vs 87 g casein/kg crude protein intake for FB, PE and CH, respectively), whereas MCF resulted in intermediate levels of milk yield (677 g/day) and milk casein/crude protein intake (88 g/kg). Chickpea increased the milk content of trans-vaccenic and rumenic acids in comparison with FB and PE and, similarly to MCF, increased the milk content of linoleic acid, as well as total unsaturated fatty acids (24.3, 23.9 vs 17.2, 16.8 g/100 g fatty acid methyl esters for MCF, CH, FB and PE; P ≤ 0.001), thereby improving the potential health-promoting index. Legume grains can replace soybean in diets of dairy ewes, as they do not adversely affect milk yield and composition.

To prevent the weight loss of litters, and the distress of both rabbit does and their litters due to doe-litter separation (DLS), without losing its beneficial effects on fertility, the DLS, lasting 48 h before artificial insemination (AI), was split into two periods of 24 h with a short controlled suckling. Initially, 105 does of different parity were divided into three groups. During the post partum, the free-nursing does were treated as follows: regular DLS (R-DLS), the nest-box was closed for 48 h, from days 9 to 11, before AI; split DLS (S-DLS), the nest-box was closed for 24 h and, after suckling, for other 24 h before AI; control, does had free access to the nest-box. Fertility improved (PV0.05) in both R-DLS (60.9%) and S-DLS (59.4%) does compared to control does (44.1%). R-DLS and S-DLS does showed lower rabbit losses from days 14 to 35 (PV0.001) and higher litter sizes at weaning (PV0.05) than control does. Whereas the S-DLS did not affect the growth-rate and the weight of nursed rabbits until the weaning, the R-DLS reduced growth from days 9 to 14 (9.3, 13.2 and 14.0 g/day for R-DLS, S-DLS and control, respectively; PV0.001) and the weaning weight of rabbits (732, 777, 780 g for R-DLS, S-DLS and control, respectively; PV0.01). Productivity improved by 35.4% and 44.2% with R-DLS and S-DLS, respectively. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[EN] The effects of three different bio-stimulation methods, namely change of cage (CC), 44-hour mother-litter separation (MLS) and a combination of the two (CCMLS), for inducing oestrus in nonreceptive lactating does, were compared to the peñormance of receptive lactating does (RO). From March to July, 215 lactating does were taken to males for mating on day 9 after kindling. The 155 RO immediately mated. The does refusing to mate were divided in a balanced manner based body weight and parity and subjected to one of the three bio-stimulations. Receptivity in MLS does (72.7%) was higher than in ce (50.0%) and CCMLS groups (55.5%), and appeared more frequently (45.5%) on day 11, just after the stimulus. The fertility rate of mated does and the total number of kits born per litter were 75.0, 70.0, 60.0, 88.4% and 7.8, 6.7, 6.6, 8.2, respectively for MLS, CC, CCMLS and RO. In comparison with RO, the 44-hour mother-litter separation reduced the weaning weight of young rabbits (-30 g MLS; -50 g CCMLS, P, [FR] Afin d'induire l'oestrus, des lapines allaitantes non réceptives ont été soumises a trois méthodes de biostimulation (changement de cage: ce ; séparation de la mére et de sa portée pendant 44 heures: MLS ; et combinaison des deux: CCMLS) et leurs peñormances ont été comparées a celles de lapines réceptives (RO). De mars a juillet, 219 lapines ont été présentées au male 9 jours aprés la mise bas. 11 y eut 155 lapines réceptives immédiatement saillies. Les lapines ayant refusé la saillie, réparties de fa9on homogéne en fonction du poids vif et de la parité, ont été immédiatement soumises a l'une des trois biostimulations. La réceptivité des lapines MLS (72,7 %) a été plus élevée que celle des groupes CC (50,0 %) et CCMLS (55,5 %) et observée le plus fréquemment au jour 11, juste aprés la stimulation. Le taux de fertilité des femelles saillies a été de 75,0 - 70,0 - 60,0 et 88,4 % et le nombre de lapereaux nés par portée de 7,8 - 6,7 - 6,6 et 8,2 pour les groupes MLS, CC, CCMLS et RO respectivement. Comparé a celui du groupe RO, le poids au sevrage des lapereaux du groupe MLS et du groupe CCMLS a été réduit respectivement de 30g et 50g (P

TwelveRagusanajennetswerestudiedtoinvestigatetheeffectsof dietaryextra Twelve Ragusana jennets were studiedtoinvestigatetheeffectsof dietaryextra studied to investigatetheeffectsof dietaryextra the effects of dietaryextra dietary extra virgin olive oil and thepresenceofthefoal duringmilkingonmilkfattyacids(FA)profile.At20, 50 thepresenceofthefoal duringmilkingonmilkfattyacids(FA)profile.At20, 50 he presence of the foal during milking on milk fatty acids (FA) profile. At 20, 50 and 90 days post-foaling, each jennet was milked 4 times per day. The feeding system and the milking procedures are given by Alabiso et al. (2009). FA profiles of the composites from milkings without foals (1MNF+3MNF) and with foals (2MYF+4MYF) were analyzed by gas chromatography. Dietary oil had no significant effect on milk yield or fat content but increased the proportion of C18:1 (n-9) in milk. Jen- net milk had a beneficial FA profile compared to bovine milk and thus would be suitable for consump- tion by infants suffering from cows milk protein allergy, however, augmentation of the long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated FA content warrants further study.

[EN] Using data from three different experiments, the effects of oestrus synchronisation by doe-litter separation (DLS), applied 48 hours befare artificial insemination from day 9 to day 11 post partum, on productive performance of free nursing rabbit does and their litters in relation to parity and number of successive DLS treatments were evaluated. lnitially, 200 New Zealand White does of different parity were homogeneously and definitively distributed in two groups (DLS and Control). On the whole, DLS improved fertility (+23.9%, Ps0.001 ), but reduced the growth of young rabbits from day 9 to weaning (-1.7 g/d, Ps0.01) and their weaning weight (-38 g, Ps0.01) at day 35. DLS also increased by 19.2%, 32.5% and 35.0% (Ps0.01) the fertility rate of does from parity 1 to 3, respectively. but was ineffective on does of parity, [FR] En utilisant des données de trois expériences différentes, nous avons évalué J'effet de la synchronisation de l'oestrus par séparation mere-jeune (SMJ), réalisée 48 heures avant insémination artificielle, du 9eme (J9) au 11 eme jour (J11) apres la mise bas, sur la productivité de lapines en allaitement libre et de leurs portées, en fonction de la parité et du nombre de SMJ successives. Deux cents lapines Néo Zélandais Blanc, de parité variable, ont été réparties de fa9on homogene et définitive en deux groupes (SMJ et témoin). Globalement, SMJ a amélioré Ja fertilité (+23.9%, P, This work was supported by a grant from "Ministero per l'Istruzione, l'Università e la Ricerca"

[EN] The effectiveness of delayed artificial insemination (DAI) of non-receptive (R-) does, with or without oestrus synchronisation by doe-litter separation (MLS), was studied and compared with receptive (R+) does. During 10 months, 105 NZW does, in three homogeneous groups (A, B, C), were artificially inseminated (Al) according to a 42-day reproduction rhythm in two batches. Every 21 days, two Al were effected, the second 48 hours alter the first. The R+ does of ali groups were inseminated al the first Al, while the R- does were treated, in relation to theirgroup, as follows: inseminated at the first Al (A); 48-hour DAI (B); 48-hour MLS by closing the nestbox before Al, when lactating, and 48- hour DAI (C). The lactating does were subjected to systematic controlled nursing from littering until Al. The R+ does had a significantly higher fertility rate than the R- does of all groups. Receptivity was improved by DAI, especially on the non-lactating does (+60.6%), while an importan! increase was caused by MLS in the lactatingdoes (+ 15.7%, P, [FR] L'efficacité d'une insémination différée (DAI) de lapines non réceptives (R-) avec ou sans synchronisation de l'oestrus par séparation mereportée (MLS) a été étudiée en comparaison avec l'insémination immédiate des lapines réceptives (R+). Pendan! 10 mois, 105 lapines NZW, repartiesen 3 groupes homogenes (A, B, C) ont été inséminées artificiellement (Al) selon un rythme de reproduction de 42 jours en deux groupes. Chaque 21 jours, deux séries d'inséminations ont été effectuées, la seconde 48 heures apres la premiare. Les lapines R+ de tous les groupes ont été inséminées lors de la premiere série, tandis que les lapines R- l'ont été, selon le groupe dont elles dépendent, comme suit: A: insémination immédiate, B : DAI de 48 heures, C : MLS de 48 heures avant l'insémination, par fermeture du nid en période de lactation et DAI a 48 heures. Les lapines allaitantes ont été soumises a un controle systématique de l'allaitement de la mise bas jusqu'a l'insémination. Les femelles R+ ont eu un taux de fertilité significativement supérieure, dans tous les groupes, a celui des femelles R- lors de l'IA effective. La réceptivité a été améliorée par le report de l'IA spécialement chez les lapines non allaitantes ( + 60,6%), et la séparation mere-portée a permis une amélioration chez les lapines allaitantes (+ 15,7%; P

The effects of the foal at the milking and the extra virgin olive oil supplementation in the diet, on the milk obtained by 12 Ragusana jennets were studied. The jennets were each fed 3.5+1.5 kg/d of concentrate+bran, and hay ad libitum. They were divided into 2 equal groups with one group receiving an additional dietary supplement of 100 ml/d of olive oil. Milk was collected at day 20 post foal- ing and every 15-18 d for 5 times. At each collection period jennets were milked 4-times per day. At 07:30 h foals were separated from the jennets and after a 4 hour interval were milked manually (1MNF;1st milking, foal absent). At the end of the 1MNF, each jennet was milked again, with the foals kept near the udder, but prevented from suckling (2MYF; 2nd milking, foal present). After 2MYF, foals were removed a second time and the sequence repeated after another 4 hour interval for the 3rd (3MNF) and 4th (4MYF) milkings. Milk yield was recorded at each milking and samples analyzed for qualitative variables. The milk yield was 26% higher than that reported by Giosue et al. (2008) in similar conditions. The milk fat content were positively influenced by the presence of the foal at the milking but was not effect by the dietary supplement of olive oil.

Over the last few years, bio-stimulation methods have aroused interest as an alternative ways of employing exogenous gonadotropins to improve the sexual receptivity of lactating does and, consequently, the overall productivity of rabbit farms (Theau-Clement, 2000). Among the possible stimulation methods, the so called “buck effect” has been little investigated. The buck effect, understood as the visual, auditory, olfactory and tactile contact between female and male, following a period of separation from the male, is known to be effective in ewes and sows in stimulating and synchronizing oestrus. The existence of stimulus of an olfactory nature has also been established in rabbits. In fact, the pheromones secreted by the sebaceous glands in males have been shown to induce sexual maturity in young female rabbits (Frank, 1966). Moreover, in nulliparous rabbit does, the presence of males contributes to an increased acceptance to mating.......