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Food labels are the main method to ensure that consumers are appropriately informed as regards the food they consume. In Europe, the provision of food information to consumers is regulated by specific laws, including (i) the European Regulation (EU) no 1169/2011, which regulates the mandatory food information including a list of mandatory particulars and nutritional declarations and (ii) the European Regulation (CE) no 1924/2006, concerning the voluntary nutrition and health claims (NHC) made on foods. Nutrient profiling involves the classification and ranking of foods according to their nutritional composition to prevent disease and promote health. For this purpose, the following 14 cheeses were selected (Ager cheese selection) among the Natural Historic Cheeses of Southern Italy: Ragusano PDO; Provola dei Nebrodi PDO; Piacentinu Ennese PDO; Pecorino Siciliano PDO; Vastedda della Valle del Belìce PDO; Caciocavallo Palermitano PAT; Maiorchino PAT; Caprino Nicastrese; Casizolu del Montiferru PAT; Pecorino di Filiano PDO; Canestrato di Moliterno PGI; Pecorino di Carmasciano PAT; Caciocavallo Podolico PAT; Cacioricotta PAT. A total of 173 cheese samples were analysed for moisture, protein, fat, ash, salt and fatty acid (FA) composition. On the basis of moisture content, the Ager cheeses may be classified into semi-hard, with moisture content varying between 35% and 45% (from Provola dei Nebrodi with 35.5% to Vastedda del Belice with 45.6%) and hard-cheese, with moisture content below 35% (from Pecorino di Carmasciano with 27.6%, to Maiorchino with 34.5%). Fat is an important component of cheeses and according to the general standard of cheese, the Ager cheeses can be classified as full fat, with a content of fat in dry matter above to 45% and less than 60% (from Pecorino di Carmasciano with 45.5% to Canestrato di Moliterno and Cacioricotta both with 46.5%) and medium fat, with content above to 25% and less than 45% (from Provola dei Nebrodi with 38.1% to Caciocavallo Podolico with 44.6%). As the saturated FA content, the AGER cheeses show the lowest content in Maiorchino cheese (65.4%) and the highest in Cacioricotta (73.3%). The chemical characteristics of each cheese are strongly linked to the milk species and breed, feeding system, production season and ripening stage. This nutritional information has been made available to producers for the labeling of their cheeses.

The complex polysaccharides of Aloe have been reported to improve immunity and oxidative status either in vitro or in vivo studies. Further, β-carotene has been shown to influence immune function and health in the cow. In this study, the effects of VigoorsanTM, a commercial supplement containing Aloe arborescence and β-carotene, on biochemical profile and oxidative/inflammatory status, were evaluatedin pregnant buffalo cows. VigoorsanTM was supplied (50 g/day/head) to pluriparae buffalo cows for 30 days before delivery. A significant increase of BAP and OXY and a decrease of d-ROMs (P

Nell’allevamento ovino da latte di tipo estensivo, molto diffuso nelle regioni del meridione d’Italia, lo svezzamento dell’agnello viene praticato al raggiungimento del peso di macellazione. Per la razza Comisana, secondo le richieste del mercato (Gambacorta et al., 2005), esso è pari a circa 10 kg di PV e viene raggiunto a 5-6 settimane di età. L’inizio della mungitura, pertanto, ha luogo non prima di 30-40 giorni dall’agnellatura. Con il presente studio si è inteso valutare la fattibilità tecnica e la convenienza economica di una tecnica di svezzamento precoce e graduale applicata a partire dal 12° giorno di vita dei redi. L’indagine è stata svolta nel periodo novembre-dicembre 2009 presso un allevamento estensivo di ovini di razza Comisana situato in Soveria Simeri (prov. CZ). Per la ricerca sono stati arruolati 12 agnelli di entrambi i sessi, nati da parto singolo e da madri clinicamente sane e omogenee per età e per ordine di parto (2° o 3° parto). Al 4° giorno di vita (t4), i soggetti sono stati pesati ed assegnati con criterio casuale ai due gruppi: svezzamento precoce (SP, n = 6); controllo (C, n = 6). La prova è durata 42 giorni e si è conclusa con la macellazione di tutti gli animali. La valutazione dei parametri di macellazione ha evidenziato un peso della carcassa a caldo significativamente superiore per il gruppo C (8,1±1,6 kg vs 5,4±0,3 kg; P=0,0043) e analogo risultato per la resa netta a caldo (62,1±0,8% vs 58,6±0,9%; P=0,0022). La valutazione delle carcasse del gruppo C ha collocato il 33% delle stesse nella categoria A (≤ 7 kg) e le restanti nella categoria B (7,1-10kg), mentre quelle del gruppo SP sono risultate tutte di categoria A. Per entrambi i gruppi le carcasse sono state giudicate di prima qualità. L’anticipo dell’entrata in mungitura delle 6 pecore del gruppo SP, ha consentito di ricavare un totale di 163 litri di latte (composizione media: grasso% 6,9±0,78, proteine% 5,4±0,36, lattosio% 4,8±0,07). L’analisi economica ai prezzi correnti dei fattori (mangime, carni, latte), ha rivelato un aumento del guadagno grazie allo svezzamento anticipato (SP = 32,2 €/capo, C = 28,4 €/capo) e sembrerebbe incoraggiare verso un anticipo dell’entrata in mungitura delle pecore in accordo con quanto stabilito da Palazzo et al. (2005). Ulteriori verifiche, attualmente in corso, riguarderanno la valutazione dell’impatto di tale tecnica sul benessere animale.

The performances of fattening rabbits in different housing systems were investigated. Two hundred and twelve rabbits, 32 days old, were raised in three housing conditions: conventional bicellular cages, groups of 15 in wire netted pens and groups of 30 in wire netted pens, at the same density (15 rabbit/m2). The trial lasted 50 days. Differences in weight gain among rabbits pen housed at the higher number (30) and those traditionally or at the lower number (15) appeared significantly (P

Aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of different transport densities (15 rabbits or 10 rabbits per cage) and transport duration (1h vs 2h vs 4h) on rabbit slaughtering data. While transport density did not influence post-mortem performances, transport duration significantly affected the results obtained, mainly reducing hot carcass weight (1487 vs 1525 and 1500 g, for 4, 2 and 1h respectively; P

A nutritional supplement (Ecotrofin™, by Vetoquinol Italia S.r.l) recommended in ruminants feeding to strengthen the physiological condition and improve digestive performance was tested in 20 pluriparae grazing goats divided in two groups (control and treated) to assess its possible effects on milk yield and quality and to assess eventual adverse effects. Animals from both groups also received 400g/day of corn meal, and the treated group was supplemented with 20g/head/day of the nutritional supplement. At the doses suggested by the manufacturer, despite a transient increase after 30days of supplementation, Ecotrofin™ did not show significant effects on milk yield and, although some changes were found in the fatty acids profile, no significant improvement of MUFA and PUFA, as well as of omega-6:omega-3 ratio and CLA content were seen. Therefore, in our experimental conditions the supplementation of diet with Ecotrofin™ did not appear useful to improve goat's performance. A significant effect on kidney health markers (27 vs. 22.5 for urea and 0.83 vs. 0.76 for creatinine, p&nbsp

Edible flowers consumption has increased in recent years due to their rich content of healthy phytochemicals. The aim of this study was to analyse the chemical profile of Cucurbita pepo L. flowers, and to explore their antioxidant and hypoglycaemic properties. Moreover, in order to assess in vivo effects, biochemical analysis, Reactive Oxygen Metabolites (d-ROMs) and Biological Antioxidant Potential (BAP) tests were performed on mice serum. High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detection (HPLC-DAD) analyses revealed the presence of (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, rutin, and syringic acid as main constituents. 2,2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) tests showed interesting results. The extract exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase (IC50 of 144.77 μg/mL). In vivo results confirmed the hypoglycaemic effects, also affecting lipid metabolism but did not revealed benefits on ROS production. These results may add some information supporting the use of C. pepo flowers as functional foods and/or nutraceuticals.

A phytocomplex composed by Schizochytrium limacinum, a species of marine alga, Galega officinalis, an herbaceous plant of the Faboideae subfamily, and linseeds, was administered to lactating grazing goats in order to evaluate its effects on milk yield and quality, and to investigate possible effects on goat health status. The hypothesis was that, by using a phytocomplex including plants known to exert an improvement of milk yield and milk quality, a synergism should be possible in order to obtain such effects using low doses, thus avoiding adverse effects. Milk fat was significantly (p

A feeding strategy that requires a forage:concentrate ratio equal to 70:30, with at least five different herbs in the forage and the use of silages prohibited, has recently been introduced in Italy. Despite the benefits in terms of human health (lower ω6:ω3 ratio, higher conjugated linoleic acid level) of the obtained milk, little information regarding the possible effects on cows’ health is available. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of such a feeding strategy in dairy cows (90 days in milk at the beginning of the trial) on milk yield and composition, and blood metabolic profile, including the evaluation of oxidative stress. The proposed feeding strategy, compared with a semi-intensive strategy, resulted in an improvement of animal oxidative status (lower levels of reactive oxygen metabolites, higher levels of antioxidant potential and anti-reactive oxygen metabolites) and a significant increase of milk urea only in the first part of the trial. No differences in milk yield and composition were detected throughout the trial.

A clarification method was proposed to ameliorate the technological quality of fruit juices by preserving bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities and the in vivo effects of Punica granatum L. natural (NJ) and clarified (CJ) juice by polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membrane. CJ was more active as an antioxidant and as a &alpha, glucosidase inhibitor than NJ. Mice were orally gavaged with water (Control), NJ, and CJ for 28 days. NJ group showed significant decrease of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate amino transferase, and creatine-phosphokinase. CJ administration was associated with urea, creatine-phosphokinase, and triglycerides values significantly lower with respect to the control. Oxidative status was ameliorated with CJ administration, showing a reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) reduction of 32% and a biological antioxidant potential (BAP) boosting of 23% compared to the control, whereas NJ did not show a similar effect. Results confirmed the beneficial properties of pomegranate juice, showing that membrane clarification may enhance such effects in terms of antioxidant activity.

The effect of pasture on the stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) and miRNA 103 expression was evaluated on dairy goats divided into two homogeneous groups (G, grazing, and S, stable). Group S was housed in a stall and received alfalfa hay as forage, while group G was led to pasture. The goats of both the groups received the same amount of concentrate. Milk yield did not differ statistically between the groups. Group G showed significantly higher fat (4.10% vs. 2.94%, p &lt, 0.01) and protein percentage (3.43% vs. 3.25%, p &lt, 0.05) than group S. Among milk fatty acids, group S showed significantly higher levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and lower values of mono-unsaturated fatty acid (MUFA). The percentages of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) were not different between groups even if pasture significantly affected the percentages of C18:3 and total omega 3. In group G, total CLAs were twice than in group S (0.646% vs. 0.311%, 0.01) mainly due to the differences in CLA cis9 trans 11 (0.623% vs. 0.304%, 0.01). Milk total CLA in grazing group was significantly (p &lt, 0.01) higher in August according to the highest value of both linoleic and &alpha, linolenic acids in the pasture. In grazing animals, SCD expression decreased from April to June, increased in July and decreased again in August, while it was almost unvaried along the trial in group S. By contrast, the expression of miRNA 103 showed a similar trend for both groups, decreasing from April to June, increasing in July and falling down in August. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of the effects of pasture on miRNA expression in milk from ruminant species.

The influence of replacing silage with sorghum silage in the diet of dairy buffalo cows on metabolic status and on milk yield, chemical characteristics, and fatty acid profile was studied. Forty dairy buffalo cows were included in the trial and divided into two homogeneous groups (SS, sorghum silage and CS, corn silage). Blood was collected at the end of the trial (120 days), individual milk yield was registered daily. Samples of milk were monthly collected and analyzed for fat, protein, and lactose. Moreover, fatty acid profiles of silages and milk were determined. Buffalo cows fed sorghum silage showed an average milk yield higher than group CS (kg/d 10.120 vs. 9.270, p &lt, 0.05), probably due to the lower lignin content of sorghum silage (31.0 g/kg dry matter (DM)) compared to corn silage (47.0 g/kg DM) and, by consequence, to the higher digestibility of SS diet. The percentage of linoleic acid was significantly higher in milk of group CS (C18:2: 1.27 vs. 2.05%, 0.01) due to the higher content of these acids in corn than in sorghum silage. The omega 6/omega 3 ratio was significantly lower in milk from buffalo cows fed sorghum than those fed corn silage (7.8 vs. 12.9, 0.01). Serum biochemistry showed no negative effects of the corn replacing with sorghum.