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The fatty acids profile of meat can be influenced by the amount and type of the lipid supplemented in animal feeding with a modulation of the rumen biohydrogenation of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (P UFA). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the nutritional and sensory quality of bovine meat as affected by different oilseeds supplementations. Thirty two Podolian x Limousine young bulls were randomly allocated into four experimental treatments: control diet (CO) with no supplemental fat, linseed diet (LS) with a supplementation of 10% whole linseed; sunflower diet (SS) with supplementation of 10% of sunflower seeds; LS+SS diet: with supplementation of linseeds (5%) and sunflowers (5%). After finishing period (140 days), all animals were slaughtered and fatty acids profile and sensory proprieties were evaluated on meat. The results showed that dietary supplementation with linseed or/and sunflower seeds in the diet decreased the percentage of saturated fatty acids (P

This study aimed to exploit the nutritional and microbiological qualities of Aphia minuta, which are still largely unknown; they are collected from Golfo di Manfredonia (Adriatic Sea). Chemical composition, fatty acids, and amino acid profiles were evaluated during winter, spring, and summer (two samples each season). The protein content was highest in spring, while no significant differences were found for fat and ash contents across all sampling periods. Fatty acid profile analyses revealed that monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were affected by the sampling season. Notably, the value of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids increased in spring and summer compared to the winter season. The highest content of essential amino acids was measured during the spring and summer seasons (P < 0.01), with leucine and lysine being the most dominant. Regardless of the fishing season, from a nutritional point of view, this species is an excellent source of bioactive compounds. This study also focused on the microbiological quality and shelf life of Aphia minuta. Initially, the bioactivity of three different essential oils (thymol, lemon, and citrus extract) was tested on Pseudomonas fluorescens, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. These essential oils were then combined with various packaging materials (conventional, maize starch, and polylactate) and packaging atmosphere (air, vacuum, and a modified atmosphere with reduced oxygen content). The results indicated that combining citrus extract with vacuum packaging significantly reduced the psychrotrophic viable count to undetectable levels after 7 days. This study suggests some important considerations for exploiting and expanding the market of the Aphia minuta.

Milk and its derivatives are included in a balanced diet of humans as excellent sources of proteins, vitamins, and essential minerals that are functional nutrients. Knowledge about the nutritional benefits or harms due to milk consumption has been expanding in recent years. We previously explored, in rodent models, the metabolic effects of isoenergetic intake of milk derived from cows, donkeys, or humans, while the impact of goat’s milk intake has remained unexplored. The aim of this work was to investigate, in an animal model, the effects of dietary supplementation with goat’s milk on energy homeostasis and inflammatory state, focusing on the modulation of mitochondrial functions in most metabolically active organs, such as skeletal muscle and the liver. In addition, we highlighted a link between nutrient intake, substrate metabolism, and the orexinergic system. Our results indicate that goat milk improves mitochondrial oxidative capacity and reduces inflammation and oxidative stress in both organs. Notably, goat milk lowers the circulating levels of Orexin-A, a neuropeptide that plays a crucial role in regulating peripheral energy balance and central nervous system mechanisms. These data provide the first evidence that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of goat milk are mediated by the modulation of mitochondrial functions and orexinergic signaling.

In this study, the effect of hazelnut skin dietary supplementation on antioxidant status and cytokine profile was evaluated in growing lambs. A total of 22 male lambs at the age of 2 months, balanced for their initial live weight (15.33 ± SD 1.79 kg), were selected and allocated into two experimental groups: the control group (CON) receiving a maize-barley-based concentrated diet, and the hazelnut group (HS) receiving supplementation with hazelnut skin (150 g/kg on the dry matter) as a maize substitute for the concentrate diet. The experiment lasted for 56 days. Peripheral blood was collected at 7, 35, and 56 days of the experiment. The free radical scavenging activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, the total antioxidant capacity assay (TAC), the reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) were determined in plasma. The secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 cytokines was also determined by ELISA. The DPPH was affected by the interaction between feeding strategy and time of sampling (p = 0.039) with a higher level of DPPH at 7 days in the HS group than the CON group. The time of sampling affected the levels of plasma TAC (p = 0.016), while the ROS/RNS levels showed a higher value in the HS group (p

Essential oils are bioactive compounds, originating from the secondary metabolism of plants, recognized for their ability to modify rumen fermentation, gut health, and to function as antioxidant molecules in small ruminants. Indeed, small ruminant-derived products, such as milk, dairy, and meat can benefit from the utilization of essential oils, that have demonstrated antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory affects, in the animals’ diet. This review reports on the findings that demonstrates the possible role of essential oils in controlling greenhouse gas emissions from ruminants through the modulation of ruminal microbial populations, in sustaining animal health and welfare by affecting the gut microbiota, and in ameliorating animals’ products through enhancement of their nutritional composition from a human diet perspective. However, the current review highlighting the inconclusive findings related to the use of essential oils in small ruminant nutrition, supports the need of further studies to better understand the administration of how essential oils and to explore their specific actions at the molecular level.

The impact of flaxseed and Ascophyllum nodosum supplementation in ewes during the summer season on the fatty acid and sensory profile and consumer preference for cheese was evaluated. Comisana ewes (n = 32) were divided into four groups: a control (CON) group fed (30 days) with pelleted concentrate, a flaxseed (FS) group fed with whole flaxseed supplementation (250 g/ewe per day), an A. nodosum (AN) group fed with 5% of A. nodosum (into 1 kg/ewe of pelleted concentrate), and an FS + AN group fed with a combination of algae and flaxseed. Pecorino cheeses were analysed after 1 day (curd) and after 45 days (cheese) of ripening. Curd from the FS and FS + AN groups registered higher contents of MUFA, n-3, and n-3/n-6, and lower levels of atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes than curd from the CON and AN groups, as well as a higher content of C18:3n-3, C18:2t9t12, and CLA9c11t, and n-3 and n-3/n-6 fatty acids. Consumers attributed the lowest scores for appearance attributes to AN Pecorino cheese; while Pecorino cheese from FS and FS + AN was judged to have a high-strength flavour attribute and a low rancid, mouldy, and piquant flavour, in comparison with cheese from AN. Flaxseed supplementation could be an effective strategy to improve the nutritional quality of the lipid fraction of cheese without having a detrimental impact on its sensory attributes, especially during the summer season.

The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritional characteristics of Mytilus galloprovincialis cultivated in three sites of the Northern Coastal Area of Gargano. The mussel farms were characterized by different distances of dropper ropes (extensive dropper ropes: EDR; intensive dropper ropes: IDR; semi-intensive dropper ropes: SIDR). Mussels’ chemical composition, fatty acids, and amino acids profiles were investigated at monthly intervals, from April to June. The fat content of mussels from EDR and SIDR sites was lower than values observed for mussels of the IDR in both the April and June sampling months. An increase in the main saturated fatty acids (C15:0; C16:0; C17:0 and C18:0; p < 0.001) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (C18:2c9c12, C18:3n3, C20:2n6, C20:4n6, and C22:6n3; p < 0.001) was found in the mussels collected in June from all farms analyzed. In terms of farming systems, mussels from the EDR and SIDR sites exhibited the greatest content of beneficial molecules like conjugated linoleic acids isomers (p < 0.001), glutamic acid (p < 0.05), serine (p < 0.05), tryptophan (p < 0.001), hydroxyproline (p < 0.05) and proline (p < 0.01). This study revealed that the farming system can affect the nutritional composition of mussels and evidenced that EDR and SIDR are the most effective cultured farming methods in the Gargano area.

Young calves are more susceptible to cold than older animals due to their limited ability to regulate body temperature and lack of fat reserves and may have difficulty consuming the energy needed to cope with the cold by maintaining body temperature and meeting their metabolic needs, especially when fed constant levels of waste milk (WM) with less solids, which can be detrimental to health and future performance. An alternative to overcome this problem is increasing the milk's solids content to the existing volume by using different sources [milk replacer powder (MR) or transition milk (TM)]. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing the total solids of WM via MR (WM+MR) or TM (WM+TM) on the performance, feeding behavior, and health-related variables of cold-stressed dairy calves during pre- and post-weaning. We hypothesized that feeding WM supplemented with MR or TM as potential liquid feed enhancers would improve milk dry matter and energy intake of the calves with a positive impact on body development and have no negative impact on feeding behavior and health. Additionally, we hypothesized that MR would not differ from TM. As a sample size calculation at 80% power using power analysis (PROC POWER) in SAS 9.4, a total of 51 Holstein-Friesian vigorous male calves [vigor score 21-27; 17 per treatment; 4-d old; body weight (BW) = 40.0 ± 0.63 kg (mean ± SD)] were selected, assigned randomly to treatments, and housed in individual pens in an outdoor barn. Irrespective of the type of treatment, all calves were fed 6 kg/d liquid feed from d 1 to d 53 of the experiment. In a step-down weaning program, calves received 0.5 kg liquid feed from d 54 to d 60. All calves were weaned on d 61 and remained in the study until d 101 as post-weaning evaluation. The calves had ad libitum access to starter feed and fresh drinking water across the experiment. Intake, growth, and behavior data were analyzed using a general linear mixed model and health data were analyzed using mixed logistic regression, mixed linear regression, and survival analysis models in SAS. We found that supplementation was responsible for a greater dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.004), superior average BW (P = 0.037), and increased crude protein (CP; P = 0.001) and crude fat (CF; P = 0.001) intakes, with the most favorable outcomes observed for the WM+TM group when compared with WM+MR. Animals fed WM (control group; CON) showed a smaller average daily gain during the first 40-d of life (P = 0.026), showing slight changes during the whole period of evaluation when compared with the supplemented groups (SUP; WM+MR and WM+TM). No difference between MR- and TM-SUP groups, probability of having abnormal appearance (P = 0.032) and pneumonia occurrence (P = 0.022) was reduced in the SUP than in CON animals, with no effect on diarrhea among treatment groups (P = 0.461). Using milk supplements added to WM is an alternative to improve the intake, performance, and health of young calves under cold stress. Our findings showed that SUP animals outperformed the CON group in terms of DMI, average BW, and intake of CP and CF, with the TM-SUP group displaying the most favorable outcomes. Moreover, the SUP groups demonstrated reduced odds of experiencing abnormal appearance and pneumonia, highlighting the positive impact of supplementation on calf health.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their microRNA (miRNA) cargoes have garnered attention in the veterinary field for their regulatory role in various biological processes. This study aimed to (i) evaluate two techniques of EV isolation from sheep peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) supernatants using the ultracentrifugation (UC) and reagent (REA) methods and (ii) characterize the EV-miRNA profiles after an in vitro inflammatory environment mediated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Sheep peripheral blood was collected, and PBMCs were separated using a density gradient reagent. Subsequently, PBMCs were cultured at 37°C for 24 h (5% CO2), and the supernatants were collected to perform the EV isolation. The presence of CD81+ extracellular vesicle marker was determined, and the purity of isolated EVs was calculated as a ratio between the number of isolated EVs and the protein concentration. Moreover, the morphological characterization revealed mainly round-shaped structures with average sizes of 211 nm for EVs isolated by the UC method and 99 nm for EVs isolated by the REA method. Illumina NextSeq sequencing in a single-end mode was used to characterize the miRNA profile, and the differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were analyzed using a combination of bioinformatics tools. The results revealed that the REA method is reliable for EV isolation from sheep supernatants. It was considered an improvement of the recovery rate and purity of EVs with the enhancement of the number and the expression levels of characterized miRNAs. The EVs isolated by the UC method after an LPS challenge showed 11 DE miRNAs, among which eight miRNAs were upregulated and three were downregulated. On the other hand, the REA method revealed an EV cargo in which eight DE miRNAs were upregulated and 21 DE miRNAs were downregulated. The master miRNA regulators of the biological process were identified by performing the MIRNA-mRNA network analysis, showing that, among the higher representative miRNAs based on the centrality and betweenness, the miR-26a-5p could have a crucial role in the resolution of inflammation. Moreover, the identification of the let-7 miRNA family in all the EVs showed potential targeted genes that regulate the inflammation and immune responses.

Recently, the uses of essential oils (EOs) as rumen modifiers, anti-inflammatory agents, and antioxidants were demonstrated in livestock. In the present study, the role of Mentha x piperita L. (MEO), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (REO), and Lavandula angustifolia L. (LEO) EOs in an in vitro sheep model of inflammation was investigated. With this aim, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were treated with incremental concentrations (3, 5, 7, and 10%) of each EO to test their effects on cell viability and proliferation and on interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-8 secretion. The PBMCs were stimulated by Concanavalin A (ConA) alone or in combination with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mitogen. The positive and negative controls were represented by PBMCs in the presence or absence, respectively, of mitogens only. The cell viability and proliferation were determined by XTT and BrdU assays, while the cytokines were analyzed by ELISA. The EO treatments did not affect the viability; on the contrary, the PBMC proliferation increased in presence of all the EOs tested, according to the different percentages and mitogens used. The IL-10 secretion was higher in both the REO and the LEO tested at 3% than in the positive control; furthermore, the IL-8 level was influenced differently by the various EOs. The present data demonstrate that EOs may modulate the immune response activated by inflammation.

The heating process is a crucial step that can lead to the formation of several harmful chemical compounds in red meat such as heterocyclic aromatic amines, N-Nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and acrylamide. Meat has high nutritional value, providing essential amino acids, bioactive compounds and several important micronutrients which can also be affected by heating processes. This review aims to provide an updated overview of the effects of different heating processes on both the safety and nutritional parameters of cooked red meat. The most-used heating processes practices were taken into consideration in order to develop a risk–benefit scenario for each type of heating process and red meat.

Climate change includes different dramatic events, and among them, heat stress exposition is the strongest phenomenon affecting the livestock sector. The effects of heat stress events on animal welfare are complex and the economic impacts for the livestock sector are relevant. Management measures may contribute to improve the resilience to heat stress, but the extent to which they impact on livestock performances and management strategies depend on the magnitude of the stress conditions. Through a pioneering synthesis of existing knowledge from experiments conducted in controlled conditions, we show that management strategies, both adaptation and mitigation measures, halved the negative impacts on the ruminants' performances and welfare induced by heat stress, but the efficacy is low in extreme conditions, which in turn are more and more frequent. These novel findings emphasize the need to deepen research on more effective adaptation and mitigation measures.

Aerobic metabolism produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a natural by-product that can play a significant role in cell signaling and homeostasis. Excessive and uncontrolled production of ROS, however, can lead to oxidative stress that causes damage to immune cells and is related to several diseases in dairy cattle. Endothelial cells are essential for optimal immune and inflammatory responses but are especially sensitive to the damaging effects of ROS. Accordingly, investigating antioxidant strategies that can mitigate the detrimental impact of ROS on endothelial functions could impact compromised host defenses that lead to increased disease susceptibility. The objective of this study was to test the antioxidant effect of different concentrations (20, 40, 60, 80 μg/ml) of pomegranate by-product extract (PBE) on bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). A model of oxidative stress was developed using in vitro exposure of BAEC to 2,2′-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) to induce the formation of ROS. The BAEC were then analyzed for cell viability, ROS production, fatty acids profile, and oxylipids formation. The BAECs viability did not change after different concentrations of PBE and remained up to 80% over control; whereas, intracellular ROS showed a reduction passing from 20 to 50% with increasing PBE concentration from 20 to 80 μg/ml, respectively. The PBE extract clearly demonstrated efficacy in reducing the concentrations of pro-inflammatory oxylipids with a concomitant enhancement of anti-inflammatory oxylipids. In particular, the pro-inflammatory 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid and its derived anti-inflammatory 13-hydroperoxoctadecaienoic acid were found lower and higher, respectively, in PBE+AAPH treated cells than AAPH treatment. Data from the present study support in vivo future experimental use of pomegranate by-product extract to study its potential beneficial effect against oxidative stress conditions in dairy cattle.

In the present study individual milk samples were collected from 80 Garganica goats and the population was genotyped for CSN1S1. Seven different alleles were observed with the A allele found as predominant, followed by the F and B allele, and 14 different genotypes were observed. A proteomic approach was used to classify the individual milk on the basis of protein abundance: four levels of αs1-casein (CN) expression were identified as high (HAS-1), intermediate (IAS-1), low (LAS-1), and null (NAS-1). The present paper aimed to investigate the influence of the level of expression of αs1-casein fraction in milk on proteolytic activities, chemical composition, and renneting properties of individual Garganica goat milk. Results from the present study evidenced that the level of expression of αs1-casein fraction in Garganica goat milk affected chemical composition, curd firmness, and indigenous proteolytic enzymes. In particular, fat, protein, and casein content were higher in HAS-1 and IAS-1 compared to LAS-1 and NAS-1. The SCC decreased passing from the HAS-1 to the NAS-1 and the curd firmness displayed the highest value in HAS-1. The activity of plasmin (PL) was higher in HAS-1 and IAS-1 groups compared to the LAS-1 and NAS-1; whereas, PL plasminogen-derived (PG) activity was the highest in NAS-1 group. On the contrary, the activity of elastase was the highest in LAS-1, intermediate in the IAS-1 group, and the lowest in HAS-1 and NAS-1 groups. Present data demonstrated that the level of synthesis of αs1-CN reflects the efficiency of the mammary gland in the activation of the cellular mechanisms and influences the proteolytic activity in milk, especially the PL-PG system.

The objective of the present study was the evaluation of cytokine patterns in terms of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6, and IL-1β secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) supernatants isolated from blood of children affected by generalized epilepsy and treated in vitro with myofibrillar, sarcoplasmic, and total protein fractions of meat and fish sources. Children with generalized epilepsy (EC group, n = 16) and children without any clinical signs of disease, representing a control group (CC group n = 16), were recruited at the Complex Structure of Neuropsychiatry Childhood-Adolescence of Policlinico Riuniti (Foggia, Italy). Myofibrillar (MYO), sarcoplasmic (SA), and total (TOT) protein fractions were obtained from longissimus thoracis muscle of beef (BF) and lamb (LA); from pectoralis muscle of chicken (CH); and from dorsal white muscle of sole (Solea solea, SO), European hake (Merluccius merluccius, EH), and sea bass fish (Dicentrarchus labrax, SB), respectively. PBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood of EC and CC groups, and an in vitro stimulation in the presence of 100 μg/mL for each protein fraction from different meat sources was performed. Data were classified according to three different levels of cytokines produced from the EC group relative to the CC group. TNF-α, IL-10, and IL-6 levels were not affected by different meat fractions and meat sources; on the contrary, IL-1β levels were found to be significantly affected by the tested proteins fractions, as well as different meat sources, in high-level cytokine group. On average, the protein fractions obtained from LB, BF, and CH meat sources showed a higher level of IL-1β than the protein fractions obtained from EH and SB fish samples. When all cytokine classes were analyzed, on average, a significant effect was observed for IL-10, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Data obtained in the present study evidence that the nutritional strategy based on protein from fish and meat sources may modulate the immunological cytokine pattern of infants with generalized epilepsy.

Neutrophils represent primary mobile phagocytes recruited to the site of infection, and their functions are essential to enhance animals' health performance. Neutrophils have an essential role in innate immunity and are able to kill the pathogens via the synthesis of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The objective of the present work was the study of the in vitro NETosis of peripheral neutrophils isolated from dairy cows supplemented with olive pomace. Dairy cows (n = 16) balanced for parity (3.67 ± 1.5 for CON, 3.67 ± 1.9 for OP), milk yield (24.3 ± 4.5 kg d−1for CON and 24.9 ± 1.7 kg d−1 for OP), the number of days in milk (109 ± 83.5 for CON and 196 ± 51 for OP), and body weight (647 ± 44.3 kg for CON and 675 ± 70.7 kg for OP) were divided into two experimental groups fed with a control diet (CON) and supplemented with 6% of olive pomace (OP). Peripheral blood neutrophils were isolated and stimulated in vitro with phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA) as a marker for activation and reactivity of the neutrophils. After isolation, both the viability and CD11b expression were analyzed by flow cytometry. Both NETosis by neutrophil elastase-DNA complex system and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were evaluated by ELISA. The specific antibodies against MPO and citrullination of Histone-H1 were used for investigating NETosis by immunofluorescence microscopy. The neutrophil elastase-DNA complexes produced during NETosis and MPO activity of neutrophil extracts were affected by OP supplementation. Furthermore, results from immunofluorescence analysis of NETosis depicted a similar result found by ELISA showing a higher expression of MPO and citrullination of Histone-H1 in OP than the CON neutrophils. In addition, all data showed that the OP diet resulted in a better response of neutrophils to PMA stimulation than the CON diet, which did not support the neutrophils' responses to PMA stimulation. Our results demonstrated that OP supplementation can enhance the neutrophil function in dairy cows leading to udder defense and inflammation response especially when an immunosuppression state can occur.

The effects of slaughter age (2 vs. 9 years) and postmortem time (6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h) on the meat quality and protein changes of the longissimus lumborum muscles of the Algerian Sahraoui dromedary were investigated. Muscles of young dromedaries evidenced a slower acidification process and a significantly higher myofibrillar fragmentation index throughout the postmortem time. The SDS-PAGE of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins revealed that meat from young dromedaries was characterized by the lowest percentage of myoglobin (p < 0.001) and the highest percentage of desmin (p < 0.01). During postmortem time, a decrease was found for phosphoglucomutase (p < 0.01), α-actinin (p < 0.05) and desmin (p < 0.01) in meat from young dromedaries. Western blot revealed an intense degradation of troponin T in younger dromedaries, with an earlier appearance of the 28 kDa polypeptide highlighting differences in the proteolytic potential between dromedaries of different ages. Principal component analysis showed that meat from young dromedaries, starting from 24 h postmortem, was located in a zone of the plot characterized by higher levels of the myofibrillar fragmentation index, 30 kDa polypeptide and enolase, overall confirming greater proteolysis in younger animals. Data suggest that the investigation of the muscle proteome is necessary to set targeted interventions to improve the aging process of dromedary meat cuts.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 14-day vacuum aging on the nutritional composition of donkey and horse meat. Longissimus Dorsi (LD), Semimebranosus (SM), and Rectus Femoris (RF), Semitendinosus (ST) muscles were sampled from each left carcass of 12 donkeys and 12 horses, respectively. Each muscle was divided into three sections, vacuum packaged, and stored at 2 °C for different aging times (1, 6, and 14 days). Fatty acids, amino acids, and cholesterol content were determined. SM exhibited higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) both in donkey and horse, whereas LD evidenced higher saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated (MUFA) fatty acids and lower cholesterol content in horse after 1, 6, and 14 days of storage. An aging effect was found only in donkey meat with higher saturated fatty acids and lower PUFA content at the end of the aging period. The highest value of essential amino acids has been displayed in SM an LD muscles from horse and donkey, respectively. Our results highlighted that equine meat, due to an excellent nutritional profile, represents a healthy alternative to traditionally consumed red meat. A different aging method could be used in donkey meat to preserve the high PUFA content.

This paper presents the results of an extensive countrywide investigation performed in 325 dairy sheep flocks and 119 goat herds throughout Greece. The objectives of the study were (a) to investigate fat and protein content in the bulk-tank raw milk of small ruminant farms in Greece and (b) to identify factors potentially influencing that content and factors that can contribute to increased content. The mean fat/protein contents in bulk-tank raw milk of sheep and goats were 6.16 ± 0.05%/4.43 ± 0.01% and 4.77 ± 0.44%/3.23 ± 0.30%, respectively. Significant differences were seen in protein content between farms in the various parts of the country. For sheep, multivariable analyses revealed breed and age of lamb removal from dams as significant for fat content, and somatic cell counts, management system in the farm, administration of anthelmintic treatment during the last stage of pregnancy, and farmer education as significant for protein content. For goats, significant factors were month into lactation period, age of kid removal from dams, and breed for fat content, and somatic cell counts, month into lactation, grazing duration, and % Teladorsagia larvae in faecal samples for protein content. For concurrently high fat and protein content, in multivariable analyses, the following emerged as significant factors: somatic cell counts in milk, numbers of parasite eggs in faeces, and veterinary collaboration (sheep), and month into lactation and somatic cell counts in milk (goats). The results indicate that high somatic cell counts in milk (reflecting the presence of mastitis) and gastrointestinal parasitic infections (mainly Teladorsagia infection) appear to exert a more significant influence on fat and protein content of milk, in comparison to non-infection-related factors.

The control of immune responses is particularly critical when an increase of oxidative stress occurs, causing an impairment of immune cell response and a condition of systemic inflammation, named oxinflammation. Nutritional strategies based on the use in the diet of phytochemicals extracted from plants, rich in antioxidants, could help restore the antioxidant/oxidant balance and obtain a modulation of immune response. Lignin represents a valuable resource of phenolic compounds, which are characterized by a corroborated antioxidant effect. To date, there are no studies reporting the effects of lignin in the diet on immune responses and oxidative stress in ruminants. The objective of the present experiment was the evaluation of the dietary inclusion of Pinus taeda hydrolyzed lignin on the ex vivo immune responses and oxidative stress biomarkers by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from beef steers. In order to test the effect during oxidative stress exposition, cells were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The proliferation test and the viability assay were carried out on cells, whereas, on supernatants, the cytokine profile and the oxidative stress biomarkers were evaluated. The dietary inclusion with P. taeda hydrolyzed lignin resulted in cytoprotection after H2O2 exposition, increasing the number of viable monocytes and decreasing the reactive oxygen/nitrogen species production in supernatants. The cytokine profile indicated the modulatory role of hydrolyzed lignin on immune response, with a concomitant decrease of TNF-α and increase of IL-8 production, which are strictly connected with monocyte activation and antioxidant response pathway. These results demonstrated that hydrolyzed lignin may provide a modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory response in PBMCs; thus, the P. taeda hydrolyzed lignin could be suggested as an innovative phytochemical in ruminant feed.

Abstract Background Diet supplementation with polyphenols is a novel strategy to improve meat quality in livestock, by preventing oxidative deterioration of lipids and protein. Polyphenols have beneficial effects on both human and animal health and can be obtained from several sources, such as olive mill wastewaters (OMWW). These are severe environmental pollutants and therefore may be recycled and utilized in other sectors. The aim of this study was to evaluate growth performance, meat characteristics, fatty acid composition, antioxidant status, different forms of myoglobin and malondialdehyde formation in kids who received a diet supplemented with polyphenols obtained from OMWW. Weaned goat kids (n = 18) were divided into two homogenous groups: control (C) group (n = 9) received a fattening standard diet while the other group (n = 9) received the same diet, supplemented with 3.2 mg/day of polyphenols powder extract (PE group). Average daily gain (ADG) was calculated 10 days apart throughout the study. After 78 days, the kids were slaughtered and pH and carcass yield were evaluated. Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle was collected and utilized for chemical analysis, meat quality evaluation and oxidative stability. Results No differences were recorded in ADG, carcass weight, pH and dressing between the two groups. Furthermore a similar meat proximate composition, texture and color was observed. Dietary polyphenols supplementation significantly (P

In the present study, the evaluation of the carcasses and meat quality, in terms of chemical composition and fatty acid profile, of lambs from five autochthonous sheep breeds (Altamurana, Bagnolese, Gentile di Puglia, Laticauda, and Leccese) reared in continental Southern Italy, were studied. All the carcasses were evaluated according to the EU Mediterranean classification system for carcasses weighing less than 13 kg. Meat chemical composition and fatty acids profile were assessed on both loin and leg commercial cuts. Fatty acid composition of loin resulted in differences among breeds, displaying lower values of saturated fatty acid in Altamurana, Bagnolese, and Leccese breeds and the highest content of polyunsaturated fatty acid in the Altamurana breed. Principal component analysis grouped lamb according to fatty acid content and to conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), omega n-3 and n-6 fatty acids; thus, Altamurana, Bagnolese, and Leccese breeds are characterized by the highest values of CLA content. Our data demonstrated that lamb meat from autochthonous breed has good carcass quality and the content of CLA, n-3, and n-6 was valuable for human consumption; therefore, the valorisation of local meat quality can help to avoid the extinction of the autochthonous breed offering to the market and consumer’s high nutritive products.

Objectives were to investigate somatic cell counts (SCC) and total bacterial counts (TBC) in the raw bulk-tank milk of sheep flocks in Greece, to study factors potentially influencing increased SCC and TBC in the bulk-tank milk of sheep and to evaluate possible associations of SCC and TBC with milk content. Throughout Greece, 325 dairy sheep flocks were visited for collection of milk sampling for somatic cell counting, microbiological examination and composition measurement. Geometric mean SCC were 0.488 × 106 cells mL−1; geometric mean TBC were 398 × 103 cfu mL−1; 228 staphylococcal isolates were recovered form 206 flocks (63.4%). Multivariable analyses revealed annual incidence risk of clinical mastitis, age of the farmer and month into lactation period (among 53 variables) to be significant for SCC > 1.0 × 106 cells mL−1 and month into lactation period at sampling and availability of mechanical ventilators (among 58 variables) to be significant for TBC > 1500 × 103 cfu mL−1. Negative correlation of SCC with fat, total protein and lactose and positive correlation of SCC with added water were found. With SCC > 1.0 × 106 cells mL−1, significant reduction of protein content (2%) was observed, whilst in flocks with SCC > 1.5 × 106 cells mL−1, significantly lower annual milk production per ewe (42.9%) was recorded.

The present research was undertaken to evaluate the sensory profile and consumers’ liking of functional ovine cheese containing probiotic cultures. Ovine cheese was made from ewe’s milk by animals reared in extensive conditions; cheesemaking trials were performed by using rennet paste containing probiotic cells. Experimental cheeses were denoted: cheese manufactured using lamb rennet paste without probiotic (C), cheese manufactured using lamb rennet paste containing a mix of Bifidobacterium lactis and Bifidobacterium longum (BB), and cheese manufactured using lamb rennet paste containing Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA). Ovine cheese containing probiotic strains highlighted a more intense proteolysis and a greater level of short chain free fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid due to the metabolic activity of the adjunct microflora. The sensorial profile of ovine cheese showed lower humidity and gumminess in cheeses containing probiotics as a consequence of differences in the maturing process; furthermore, probiotic cheeses scored higher ratings for salty and pungent attributes. An interaction effect of probiotic, gender, and age of the consumers was detected in the perceived and the expected liking. The higher rate of expected liking in all experimental cheeses is attributed to the information given, regarding not only the presence of probiotic strains but also the farming conditions and cheesemaking technology.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) etiopathogenesis is still unclear and no effective preventive and treatment measures have been identified. Research has focused on the potential role of neuroinflammation and the Kynurenine pathway; here we review the nature of these interactions. Pre-natal or neonatal infections would induce microglial activation, with secondary consequences on behavior, cognition and neurotransmitter networks. Peripherally, higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-brain antibodies have been identified. Increased frequency of autoimmune diseases, allergies, and recurring infections have been demonstrated both in autistic patients and in their relatives. Genetic studies have also identified some important polymorphisms in chromosome loci related to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. The persistence of immune-inflammatory deregulation would lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, creating a self-sustaining cytotoxic loop. Chronic inflammation activates the Kynurenine pathway with an increase in neurotoxic metabolites and excitotoxicity, causing long-term changes in the glutamatergic system, trophic support and synaptic function. Furthermore, overactivation of the Kynurenine branch induces depletion of melatonin and serotonin, worsening ASD symptoms. Thus, in genetically predisposed subjects, aberrant neurodevelopment may derive from a complex interplay between inflammatory processes, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and Kynurenine pathway overexpression. To validate this hypothesis a new translational research approach is necessary.

Donkey milk is receiving increasing interest due to its attractive nutrient and functional properties (but also cosmetic), which make it a suitable food for sensitive consumers, such as infants with allergies, the immunocompromised, and elderly people. Our study aims to provide further information on the microbial variability of donkey milk under cold storage conditions. Therefore, we analysed by high-throughput sequencing the bacterial communities in unpasteurized donkey milk just milked, and after three days of conservation at 4 °C, respectively. Results showed that fresh donkey milk was characterized by a high incidence of spoilage Gram-negative bacteria mainly belonging to Pseudomonas spp. A composition lower than 5% of lactic acid bacteria was found in fresh milk samples, with Lactococcus spp. being the most abundant. The occurrence of microbial species belonging to risk group 2 was found in fresh milk. After three days of cold storage, the bacterial biodiversity of donkey milk was strongly reduced, since about 93% of the bacterial communities were identified as different species of psychrotrophic Pseudomonas. In conclusion, we report a preliminary description of the microbial diversity of donkey milk by using a metagenomic approach and encouraging a correct exploitation of this high-value niche product.

Dairy donkey milking procedures require separating foals from their dams for a few hours a day. Artificial suckling in this species is a good technique for improving milk production and foal welfare. The aim of the work is to compare the effect of two different diets on donkey foals when separated from jennies for milking procedures with and without a milk replacer. Forty newborn Martina Franca donkey foals were subdivided into two experimental groups. Both groups were separated from their respective dams from 8.00to 20.00to allow the jennies to be milked. During the separation, all the foals had access ad libitum to water, hay and feed. During the separation period, one group had the availability of a mechanical milk replacer dispenser, so foals were partially artificially suckled (AS), while the other group had no milk replacer available, and so were totally naturally suckled (NS). The AS group had milk replacer availability until 120±7d of life. Both groups were naturally weaned at 168±7d. Blood samples were collected weekly starting from birth until two wks after weaning (i.e. at 182d), from all the foals included in the trial. Almost all the analytes were influenced by suckling technique and age of foals. Alanine-aminotransferase, aspartate-aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, NEFA, lipid hydroperoxides, serum proteins showed the greatest differences between the two experimental groups. Separating foals from their dams for 12hdaily for 24 weeks does not lead to pathological subclinical and metabolic conditions, thus confirming the high rusticity and resistance of the donkey.

The objective of the present study was to test two extraction methods including solutions with different ionic strengths on the extraction and separation of the myofibrillar proteins from meat and fish muscles of different species. Meat samples from longissimus thoracis muscle of beef and lamb, pectoralis major muscle of chicken, and dorsal white muscle of fish from sole (Solea solea), European hake (Merluccius merluccius), and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were analyzed. The extraction method using nondenaturing solution led to a major extraction of high molecular-weight proteins as myosin heavy chain, α-actinin, and desmin; on the contrary, the denaturing method provided a good protein extractability of proteins and fragments with low molecular-weight as actin, troponin-T, tropomyosin, and myosin light chain 1 and 2 proteins for the most meat and fish samples. The nondenaturing extraction method showed several advantages resulting in time and labour saving and in minimizing the use of toxic and polluting agents.

In this study, we investigated the multifunctionality (microbial starters and probiotics) of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 and Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 8328 strains used as microbial starters for the production of yogurt in combination with Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. The ability of the probiotic strains to survive oro-gastrointestinal stresses was monitored by an in vitro assay simulating the human digestive tract. The transcriptional level of several genes involved in the immune response suggested that the probiotic strains may have a favorable influence on immunomodulation. Overall, this study revealed that the tested Lactobacilli exhibited suitable technological features for yogurt production and might be used to formulate novel food with immunomodulating effects.

The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of the unsaponified fraction (UP), the acetylated unsaponified fraction (AUP), and the total lipid fraction (TL) extracted and purified from Chlorella sorokiniana (CS) on the proliferation and cytokine profile of sheep peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Cells were cultured with 0.4 mg/mL and 0.8 mg/mL concentrations of each extract (UP, AUP, and TL fractions) and activated with 5 μg/mL concanavalin A (ConA) and 1 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 37 °C for 24 h. PBMCs cultured with ConA and LPS represented the stimulated cells (SC), and PBMCs without ConA and LPS represented the unstimulated cells (USC). Cell-free supernatants were collected to determine IL-10, IL-1β, and IL-6 secretions; on cells, measurement of proliferation was performed. All the extracts tested significantly decreased the cell proliferation; in particular, the UP fraction at 0.4 mg/mL showed the lowest proliferative response. Furthermore, at 0.8 mg/mL, the UP fraction enhanced IL-10 secretion. On the contrary, the TL fraction at 0.4 mg/mL induced an increase in IL-10, IL-6, and, to a lesser extent, IL-1β secretions by cells. The AUP fraction did not change cytokine secretion. The results demonstrated that CS extracts could be useful ingredients in animal feed in order to minimize the use of antibiotics by modulating cell proliferation and cytokine response.

In the last years several studies have investigated the strong relation between nutrition and immune response in the livestock production, particularly in dairy cattle and sheep. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation based on linseed, quinoa seeds and their combination on welfare, productivity and quality of meat from merinos derived lambs. 32 weaned lambs were divided into 4 experimental groups: quinoa (Q), linseed (LS) and combination of quinoa and linseed (LS + Q) that received the respective supplementation and control group (C) without supplementation. Lambs from all supplemented groups showed lower plasma urea, creatinine and cholesterol than control. Both linseed and quinoa supplementation enhanced the cell-mediated immune responses of lambs, furthermore, linseed supplementation resulted in the lowest level of cortisol secretion after handling, loading and transport. Meat from lambs supplemented with linseed and LS + Q showed the highest pH, at 1 and 3 h post-mortem, while, meat from all supplemented groups was more tender than meat from control. Results indicated that linseed and quinoa seeds supplementation can help the animal to cope with stressful events due to the close link between stress responses and the immune system and for improving meat quality in terms of better tenderness.

The effects of ventilation regimen on air quality, and on the welfare and production performance of thirty-six Comisanaewes were assessed in a 6-week trial conducted during the summer of 2002. Animals were divided into three groups of12, and subjected to the following treatments: low ventilation regimen providing a mean ventilation rate (VR) of 35 m3/hper ewe, split in 30 min ventilation cycles at an air speed of 2 m/s (LOV-30); moderate ventilation regimen (VR = 70m3/h per ewe) split in 30 min ventilation cycles at an air speed of 4 m/s (MOV-30); moderate ventilation regimen (VR =70 m3/h per ewe) split in 60 min ventilation cycles at an air speed of 2 m/s (MOV-60). Air concentrations of microorganisms,dust, and gaseous pollutants were measured twice weekly. Respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT)were monitored throughout the trial at 0830 and at 1400. Behavioral traits of ewes were recorded twice per week from0900 to 1200 and from 1500 to 1800. Cell-mediated immune response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and humoralimmune response to chicken egg albumin were determined. At d 37 ewes were injected with porcine ACTH, and subjectedto blood sampling for evaluation of cortisol concentrations immediately before and 1, 2 and 4 h after ACTH injection.Milk yield was recorded daily. Individual milk samples were analyzed for composition, renneting parameters, somaticcell count (SCC), and bacteriological characteristics. Averages of maximum THI were about 3 points higher in the LOV-30 and the MOV-30 than in the MOV-60 room, whereas no differences emerged in the air concentrations of dust, gaseouspollutants and microorganisms. Significant interactions of treatment x time (P < 0.05) were found for respiration rate,and for the time the ewes spent lying, idling and eating in the afternoon during weeks 2 and 3 of the study period.Significant effects of ventilation regimen x time (P < 0.05) were also observed for milk yield and milk renneting parameters,the LOV-30 ewes giving smaller volumes of milk with a deteriorated coagulating behavior than those of the MOV-60 group during the second half of the trial. No significant differences emerged in ewe immune and endocrine responses.Results show that ventilation regimen had a moderate impact on ewe behavior, physiology and production performance.This experiment suggests that the length of ventilation cycles and air speed, together with ventilation rate, arecritical for efficient ventilation regimens.

The Podolica cattle breed is autochthonous of Southern Italy and denoted by its particular rusticity. This study presents the preliminary results of the genetic characterization of the Podolica breed using DNA STR markers. A total of 20 microsatellite loci were analysed in 79 individuals reared in the Gargano area. Number of polymorphisms, allele fre- quencies, deviations from Hardy-Weinberg proportions, linkage disequilibrium between loci and genetic similarities between animals were calculated. The results showed a high deficiency of heterozygotes, the observed mean of het- erozygosis being 0.449, whereas the expected mean was 0.766. Many markers showed also deviations from the Hardy- Weinberg proportions and significant linkage disequilibrium between loci. However the genetic similarity within the pop- ulation was low (0.281) and the average number of alleles per locus was high (10), representing a high genetic vari- ability. In order to explain these results, a stratification of the breed in sub-populations with a high interior genetic homo- geneity but markedly differentiated one from each other could be hypothesized; this situation probably derived from non- random mating within each herd (consanguinity) and from the lack of exchange of genetic material between the herds. A further study is needed on a wider sample and extending the analysis to FAO-ISAG microsatellite panel in order to con- firm this hypothesis. This could eventually provide the information necessary for the correct management of the repro- ductive schemes and for genomic traceability of meat production.

The post partum period is characterized by immunosuppression and increased disease susceptibility. Both phytosterols from microalga Dunaniella tertiolecta and dietary supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) influence cell proliferation and cytokine release during inflammation. The objective of this paper was the evaluation of the effects of physterols, extracted and purified from D. tertiolecta, on the in vitro immune responses of ewes supplemented with flaxseed during post partum. Twenty Comisana parturient ewes were divided in two balanced groups, and supplemented with flaxseed (FS, 250 g/day) or fed with a conventional diet (CON). Blood samples (15 mL) were collected for five weeks, starting from lambing, in order to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Stimulated PBMC were treated with a total sterols fraction from D. tertiolecta (TS), a mix of ergosterol and 7-dehydroporiferasterol (purified extract, PE), and a mix of acetylated ergosterol and 7-dehydroporiferasterol (acetylated purified extract, AcPE), extracted and purified from D. tertiolecta at two concentrations (0.4 and 0.8 mg/mL). Results of the experiment demonstrated that n-3 PUFA from flaxseed induced an anti-inflammatory cytokine profile, with an increase of both IL-10, IL-6 and a decrease of IL-1β. TS, PE, and AcPE purified from D. tertiolecta showed an anti-proliferative effect on sheep PBMC regardless their chemical composition and concentration.

Proteins of animal origin represent physiologically active components in the human diet; they exert a direct action or constitute a substrate for enzymatic hydrolysis upon food processing and consumption. Bioactive peptides may descend from the hydrolysis by digestive enzymes, enzymes endogenous to raw food materials, and enzymes from microorganisms added during food processing. Milk proteins have different polymorphisms for each dairy species that influence the amount and the biochemical characteristics (e.g., amino acid chain, phosphorylation, and glycosylation) of the protein. Milk from other species alternative to cow has been exploited for their role in children with cow milk allergy and in some infant pathologies, such as epilepsy, by monitoring the immune status. Different mechanisms concur for bioactive peptides generation from meat and meat products, and their functionality and application as functional ingredients have proven effects on consumer health. Animal food proteins are currently the main source of a range of biologically-active peptides which have gained special interest because they may also influence numerous physiological responses in the organism. The addition of probiotics to animal food products represent a strategy for the increase of molecules with health and functional properties.

Plasmin, plasminogen and plasminogen activator in ewe bulk milk were not significantly affected by stage of lactation probably as a consequence of the good health of the ewe udders throughout lactation as indicated by SCC which never exceeded 600,000 cells/mL. Elastase content increased significantly during lactation whereas cathepsin showed the highest content in mid lactation. Changes in macrophages and neutrophyls levels in ewe bulk milk during lactation were also investigated. Macrophages minimally contributed to leukocyte cell count in milk and had the highest levels at the beginning of lactation. An opposite trend was recorded for polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) that increased throughout lactation showing the highest value in late lactation. The increase of PMNL percentage and elastase content in milk, in spite of relatively low SCC, suggests that PMNL and elastase underwent a physiological increase associated to the remodelling of mammary gland in late lactation.

Lambs were subjected to three different feeding regimes (mother suckling MS, artificial rearing AR, and artificial rearing with 7log10 cfu/ml Lactobacillus acidophilus supplementation to the milk substitute ARLb) and slaughtered at 20d and 40d of age for each feeding treatment. Lambs abomasa were processed to rennet paste and lipases activity was evaluated. Rennet paste was used for Pecorino cheese production. Free fatty acids (FFAs) and conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) were detected in cheese at 60d of ripening. Lipase activity was found higher in ARLb than in MS and AR rennet from lambs slaughtered at an older age. A reduction of all FFAs was observed in all cheeses when passing from 20 d to 40d of slaughtering. CLAs were more abundant in ARLb cheeses at both 20 and 40d. Milk substitute with Lb. acidophilus improves enzymatic features of rennet, and health and nutritional characteristics of ovine cheese.