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This study aimed to investigate the combined effects of ascorbic acid (VC) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on broiler health and performance. A total of 200 Ross 308 male broilers were divided into five groups, each receiving different dietary combinations of ASA and VC (ASA: 50 or 100 mg/kg; VC: 200 or 400 mg/kg). The 42-day trial assessed parameters such as feed intake, average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass characteristics, serum parameters, immune response and cecal microbial flora. The results indicate significant treatment effects on feed intake and growth performance, with a higher feed intake of ADG and FCR in treatment groups (p < 0.05). Serum lipid parameters were unaffected, but creatine kinase increased with ASA and VC intake (p < 0.05). Changes in sheep red blood cell titers and influenza antibodies were noted (p < 0.05). The combination of ASA and VC positively influenced carcass traits, reducing abdominal fat and altering the ratio of immune response organs to body weight (p < 0.05). Additionally, the cecal E. coli count decreased with treatment (p < 0.05). This study underscores the intricate interactions between ASA and VC supplementation, growth performance and carcass composition and immune response in broilers. Further research is warranted to explore dosage nuances and variations under specific stress conditions.

Mycotoxin represents a significant concern for the safety of food and feed products, and wheat represents one of the most susceptible crops. To manage this issue, fast, reliable, and low-cost test methods are needed for regulated mycotoxins. This study aimed to assess the potential use of the electronic nose for the early identification of wheat samples contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON) above a fixed threshold. A total of 214 wheat samples were collected from commercial fields in northern Italy during the periods 2014-2015 and 2017-2018 and analyzed for DON contamination with a conventional method (GC-MS) and using a portable e-nose "AIR PEN 3" (Airsense Analytics GmbH, Schwerin, Germany), equipped with 10 metal oxide sensors for different categories of volatile substances. The Machine Learning approach "Classification and regression trees" (CART) was used to categorize samples according to four DON contamination thresholds (1750, 1250, 750, and 500 mu g/kg). Overall, this process yielded an accuracy of >83% (correct prediction of DON levels in wheat samples). These findings suggest that the e-nose combined with CART can be an effective quick method to distinguish between compliant and DON-contaminated wheat lots. Further validation including more samples above the legal limits is desirable before concluding the validity of the method.

The volatile organic compounds (VOC) are the fermentation products and used to assess the quality of ensiled forages. The study aimed to monitor the VOC concentrations in silage and haylage by GC/FID system and to reveal the relationships among these different end-fermentation products by carrying out a multivariate analysis. Forty-six compounds were quantified by GC/FID system in a single chromatographic run. The average repeatability and reproducibility coefficients of variation obtained on standard solutions, composed by 0.1 mL/L of each VOC (solution A) or volatile fatty acids (VFA, solution B), were 0.028 and 0.017 (absolute value), respectively. The average repeatability and reproducibility coefficients of variation obtained on silage samples were 0.026 and 0.027, respectively. Mean values of recovery obtained on the standard solutions at different concentration levels of compounds were in the range 0.95–1.04 (absolute values), and no effect of analyte concentration was observed on recovery. When multivariate analysis was carried out on whole database, 7 factors were retained and they explained 0.50 of the total variability. The factors were interpreted for their biological meanings, based on specific VOC loading on each extracted latent structure. Alfalfa haylage and ryegrass silage were characterized by higher contents of valeric and butyric acids, methyl and ethyl butyrate, 2,3-butaneldiol, 1-butanol, and 2-butanol compared with the other fermented products. Except for mixture crop silage, all the fermented products containing legume crops had higher levels of 2-methyl-1-propanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-phenyl ethanol, and methanol and lower contents of ethanol, ethyl lactate, and ethyl acetate compared with the other fermented products. Silage containing grass crops had higher levels of acetic and lactic acids, and 1,2-propanediol respect to the other investigated products. The most part of the investigated fermented products were charac

This study was conducted to evaluate the benefit of a peat-based additive in reducing the neonatal diarrhoea of piglets, according to sow's parity. From five consecutive batches, a total of 100 Large White x Landrace sows [50 primiparous (PR) and 50 multiparous (ML)] were randomly allocated to the control (CTR) or treated (TRT) group. The peat additive was provided to TRT piglets from the day of birth to day 7 of life (6 g/day/head). Overall, PR group resulted in lower piglets performance with higher enteric disease incidence compared with ML group. Compared with ML, PR sows had lower BCS at weaning (P < .001), fewer total piglets born, lower average piglet weaning weight (P < .01) and higher incidence of deaths due to enteric disease (P < .05). Regardless parity, TRT group showed a fewer number of litters affected by enteric disease (P < .05). No significant interaction between sow parity and treatment was observed.

This study was designed to assess the effects of dietary flaxseed on the proximate composition, fatty acid profile, lipid oxidation, colour and flavour of the longissimus thoracis muscle of double-muscled Piemontese young bulls. Compared to a control diet, the flaxseed diet had no significant effect on the moisture, protein or ether extract content. Flaxseed modified the fatty acid composition of beef. A more than doubled n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content (from 21.1 to 46.7 g/kg of total fatty acids–TFA–in control and flaxseed beef, respectively; p <.001) and a lowered n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio (13.13 versus 5.60; p <.001) were observed. The total trans-octadecadienoic acids were also increased by flaxseed (7.8 vs 12.1 g/kg TFA; p =.001). The total saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids and PUFA contents, as well as the PUFA/SFA ratio, remained unaffected by the treatment. Lipid oxidation stability tended to be negatively affected by flaxseed (p =.096). Such a negative effect was more pronounced as the ageing period advanced. The malondialdehyde content was ≤0.72 mg MDA/kg meat, and was therefore below the threshold values for rancidity. Meat colour was not influenced by dietary treatment. The inclusion of flaxseed in the diet increased beef flavour intensity perceived by consumers and did not negatively affect flavour acceptability. Properly combining the choice of animal breed and diet allows a slight improvement of the nutritional value of meat for human consumption.Highlights Proximate composition, colour and flavour of Piemontese beef are not affected by dietary flaxseed Dietary flaxseed increases ALA and long-chain n-3 PUFA and lowers the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio of Piemontese beef Flaxseed unprotected from ruminal biohydrogenation does not allow labelling Piemontese beef as source of n-3 FA in the European Union.

A study was conducted to evaluate growth performance and blood serum parameters of Japanese quails fed diets containing different supra-nutritional levels of vitamin E and C (600, 800 and 1000 mg/kg). A completely randomised design was adopted and main effects (vitamin E and C) were arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial approach. Throughout the study (1–42 d), the supplementation with 1000 mg/kg vitamin E and C resulted in the highest feed intake, weight gain, and final body weight (p <.01). Serum parameters showed that vitamin E and C at 1000 mg/kg determined the lowest serum concentrations of glucose, uric acid and creatinine (p ≤ 0.01) and the highest of high (HDL, p =.01) and low (LDL, p =.05) density lipoprotein cholesterol and albumin (p <.01). The administering of 1000 mg/kg vitamin E or C reduced triglycerides (p <.01), aspartate amino transferase (E, p <.01; C, p =.02) and alanine amino transferase (E, p <.01; C, p =.01) whereas increased total protein, calcium, phosphorous, thyroid stimulating hormone, red blood cells, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (p <.01). Vitamin C at 800 or 1000 mg/kg level decreased serum total cholesterol (p <.01) whereas vitamin E achieved the lowest alkaline phosphatase and the highest haemoglobin serum concentration (p <.01). The findings showed that these vitamins, used together at 1000 mg/kg, can individually or synergistically act promoting quail health, feed intake and growth.

To investigate the effect of thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) essential oil (TEO) or increasing inclusion of a prebiotic (TechnoMOS® ) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broilers, 400 one-day-old male broilers (43.5 g, as mean of body weight) were placed in 20 pens (2.0 × 1.0 m, with a floor area of 0.10 m2 per bird) in groups of 20, and each pen cage was assigned to a specific dietary treatment (four replicates per each one). The dietary treatments included basic diet (no additive; CTR), basic diet including 0.025%, 0.075%, or 0.125% of TechnoMOS® (MOS025, MOS075, and MOS125, respectively), or basic diet including 0.075% thyme extract (TEO075). All dietary treatments were offered from the beginning of the study until the end of the trial. There were no effects of MOS or TEO on carcass characteristics. No significant effects of treatment on weight gain were obtained on a week-by-week basis; however, CTR birds gained less weight during the grower phase and overall compared with MOS birds. The same contrast for feed intake revealed that CTR birds had greater feed intake than MOS birds during both the grower phase and overall (492.18 g and 486.35 g, respectively). In conclusion, treated groups showed an improved feed conversion ratio.

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different plant extracts (common nettle, coriander, dill and thyme) at various dietary levels (0, 150, 300 and 450 mg/L) on growth performance, carcass traits, blood serum parameters, immune response and ileal microflora of 650 male Ross chickens (13 treatment groups; five replicates/treatment group; 10 birds/replicate) in a 42-day trial. Plant extracts were added to drinking water. Supplementation, except for coriander, increased feed intake (p <.05). Thyme extracts at 300 mg/L improved both weight gain and feed efficiency (p <.05). Thyme or dill (300 mg/L) improved carcass and drumsticks yields (p <.05). Pre-slaughtered body weight was increased by supplementation with plant extracts at 300 mg/L (p <.05). Plant extracts positively affected blood serum parameters decreasing concentrations (p <.05) of total protein, albumin, urea and total cholesterol. Dill extract increased IgG against sheep red blood cells at d 28 (p <.05) and d 42 (IgG; tendency p=.0698), whereas coriander extract (450 mg/L) raised immune response against avian influence within 42 d from vaccination (p <.05). Plant extracts reduced coliforms (except dill at 300 mg/L level; p <.05) and aerobic bacteria (except dill; p <.05). Negative gram bacteria were increased by thyme and dill treatments at 150 mg/L (p <.05) whereas lactobacilli bacteria were raised by thyme at 150 mg/L level (p <.05). In conclusion, supplementation with thyme at 300 mg/L level had the greatest benefits on the evaluated parameters.HIGHLIGHTS Thyme supplementation at 300 mg/L level could improve broiler chicken growth performance, carcass traits and blood serum parameters. Thyme supplementation at 150 mg/L could positively affect ileal microbiota increasing lactobacilli bacteria and reducing coliforms. However, no relevant effects of the thyme treatment were observed on broiler chicken immune responses.

Alternatives to antibiotic treatments are required owing to the ban on the use of these drugs as growth promoters in food animal production. Tributyrin appears to play a role in improving growth performance in pigs, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness. So far, very little is known about its effects on gut microbiota composition. In this study, we investigated the gut microbiota changes of piglets receiving, at weaning, 0.2% tributyrin added to their basal diet. Microbiota composition was assessed through 16S-rRNA gene sequencing on stools collected from tributyrin and control groups. The functional profiles of microbial communities were predicted from amplicon abundance data. A comparison between dietary groups revealed that tributyrin strongly modulated gut microbiota composition in piglets, increasing the relative abundance of a number of bacterial genera such as Oscillospira, Oscillibacter, Mucispirillum and Butyrivibrio. These genera were positively correlated to animal average daily gain (ADG) and/or body weight (BW). Based on the function profile prediction, the gut microbiome of the tributyrin group possessed an enhanced potential for energy metabolism and a reduced potential for carbohydrate metabolism. In conclusion, our results indicated that tributyrin can promote changes to gut microbial communities, which could contribute to improving animal performance after weaning.

Mycotoxins pose a significant threat to the safety of food and its products. A rapid, reliable, and cheap method of testing for the most important regulated mycotoxins would be useful and time saving. This study aimed to evaluate the potential use of an electronic nose (e-nose) for rapid identification of mycotoxin contamination above legal limits in maize samples. A total of 316 maize samples were collect from a commercial field in Northern Italy from 2014 to 2018 and analyzed for contamination with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisins (FBs), both using a conventional method (HPLC-MS) and a portable e-nose “AIR PEN 3” (Airsense Analytics GmbH, Schwerin, Germany) equipped with a 10-metal oxide sensor array. Artificial neural network (ANN), logistic regression (LR), and discriminant analysis (DA) were used to investigate whether the e-nose was capable of separating samples contaminated at levels above or below the legal limits, either for AFB1 or FBs. All the methodologies used showed high accuracy (≥70%) in distinguishing maize grain contamination above or below the legal limit. Notably, ANN performed better than the other methods, with 78% and 77% accuracy for AFB1 and FBs, respectively. This was the first time that five years of data and three different statistical approaches have been adopted to check e-nose performance. Results suggest that the e-nose supported by ANN could be a rapid and reliable tool for the detection of AFB1 and FBs in maize.

Reduction of antibiotic use has been a hot topic of research over the past decades. The European ban on growth‐promoter use has increased the use of feed additivities that can enhance animal growth performance and health status, particularly during critical and stressful phases of life. Pig farming is characterized by several stressful periods, such as the weaning phase, and studies have suggested that the proper use of feed additives during stress could prevent disease and enhance performance through modulation of the gastrointestinal tract mucosa and microbiome. The types of feed additive include acids, minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, yeast, nucleotides, and phytoproducts. This review focuses on commonly used acids, classified as inorganic, organic, and fatty acids, and their beneficial and potential effects, which are widely reported in the bibliography. Acids have long been used as feed acidifiers and preservatives, and were more recently introduced into feed formulated for young pigs with the goal of stabilizing the stomach pH to offset their reduced digestive capacity. In addition, some organic acids represent intermediary products of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), and thus could be considered an energy source. Moreover, antimicrobial properties have been exploited to modulate microbiota populations and reduce pathogenic bacteria. Given these potential benefits, organic acids are no longer seen as simple acidifiers, but rather as growth promoters and potential antibiotic substitutes owing to their beneficial action on the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).

The expected future demand for highly nutrient animal food products will push the animal production system to search for new sources of high-quality protein feedstuffs. In this scenario, economic and environmental issues will have to be considered while reducing the competition with the plant-based human food chains. Legume grains and some oilseed cakes, by-products from the oil industry, are the main protein sources for ruminants and terrestrial monogastrics such as pigs and poultry. Their relevant role will hold in the next decades, but it is necessary to increase the diversification of sources that can be grown profitably throughout the world, including European countries. Microalgae are a promising source of protein and other nutrients for animal feeding. However, an amazing richness of biologically active substances makes these organisms very interesting as feed ingredients, as their role go far beyond the supply of nutrients. Due to the limited usage of microalgae as human foodstuffs or food ingredients, low competition between microalgae-based feed and food chains is predictable. This review aims to synthesise current knowledge on minor pulses and other protein-rich plant products and microalgae, as alternative ingredients to the conventional animal protein sources, focussing on their production, availability, and nutritional values. Points of strength, weakness, opportunity and threat related to the use of these protein sources in animal feeding are separately analysed through a SWOT approach to underlie future needs in terms of research and/or technological development that could help valorise these nutrient sources as feed ingredients.

This paper reviews current knowledge on two feedstuffs, that is, insect meal and fish by-products, as alternatives to conventional animal protein sources. After an introductory part that highlights the need for sustainable development of animal production, the alternative protein sources are discussed. In particular, after providing some indications on their production and supply focussing on EU, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis was performed to identify the key factors that could help or impair the development of both protein sources production sectors. Finally, future perspectives are presented. The use of processed animal proteins derived from insects in farmed fish feeding is recognised by the EU legislation that authorises the use of proteins from seven insect species and the allowed substrates to rear insects. Insects have several advantages in nutritional value and the amino acid composition of their proteins generally meet animal requirements for good growth and health. The SWOT analysis indicated that insect meals can be considered as feed functional ingredients with beneficial properties that depend on the insect species, rearing system adopted, and the substrate used for their growth. Insects are expected to be increasingly used as a replacement for conventional animal-derived proteins, especially in aquafeeds. In the section regarding fishery and aquaculture by-products, the potential use of raw materials obtained during seafood processing is discussed. Peptides and amino acids recovered from as hydrolysed proteins can be used in animal feeds to partially substitute conventional protein feedstuffs thus providing nutrients, bioactive compounds and feed additives for animals. The SWOT analysis identified opportunities and weaknesses. Both the alternative protein sources are promising alternative feed ingredients for livestock production.Highlights The sustainable development of animal production sector needs alternative p

A study was conducted to evaluate growth performance, carcass traits, blood serum parameters, and immune responses of Ross 308 male broilers fed diets containing 2 different CP levels (97.5 and 100%) and 4 Thr levels (100, 110, 120, and 130% of Ross recommendations for starter and grower periods). A completely randomized block design was adopted and main effects (CP and Thr) were arranged in a 2  4 factorial approach. Optimum growth performance were achieved when broiler requirements for CP and Thr were 100% satisfied. The 110% Thr inclusion in 97.5% CP diet increased ADG, ADFI, energy intake, and protein intake (Thr, P < 0.01; quadratic, P = 0.01). The G:F (linear, P = 0.05) and energy efficiency (linear, P = 0.04) tended to decreased (Thr, P = 0.09) by increasing Thr supplementation level, whereas protein efficiency tended to increase (CP, P = 0.06) by reducing CP level. The 110% Thr inclusion in 97.5% CP diet increased eviscerated carcass weight (CP  Thr, P = 0.03) and carcass yield (Thr, P = 0.08; quadratic, P = 0.05). The reduction of CP content promoted fat abdominal deposition (CP, P = 0.05). Incremental Thr raised abdominal fat (Thr, P = 0.01; linear, P = 0.01). The 97.5% CP diets resulted in higher serum concentrations of uric acid (CP, P = 0.02), total and high and low density lipoprotein-linked cholesterol (CP, P  0.01), and alanine amino transferase (CP, P = 0.05) and lower (CP, P = 0.01) concentrations of triglycerides and very low density lipoproteins compared with the 100% CP diets. However, the Thr inclusion improved serum lipid profile. Irrespective of CP content, incremental Thr levels up to 120% increased (Thr, P = 0.01) broiler immune responses against Newcastle disease virus and sheep red blood cells. In order to reduce dietary CP content, strategies to increase synthetic amino acid availability, such as the use of encapsulated amino acids, should be taken into account.

A study was conducted to evaluate growth performance and egg production traits of Japanese quails fed diets containing different supra-nutritional levels of vitamin E and C (600, 800 and 1000 mg/kg). A completely randomised design was adopted and main effects (vitamin E and C) were arranged in a 3 x 3 factorial approach. Throughout the study (42 to 105 d), the highest feed intake (vitamin C, p = .01) and weight gain (vitamin E x C, tendency p = .06) were obtained with vitamin E and/or C at 800 mg/kg whereas the highest dietary efficiency with 600 mg/kg of vitamin E plus 600 or 1000 of C and with 800 mg/kg of E plus 600 or 800 mg/kg of C (vitamin E x C, tendency p = .06). The highest final body weight was achieved with 1000 mg/kg of both the vitamins (vitamin E x C, p = .02). Vitamin E and/or C at 1000 mg/kg increased egg production, weight of produced eggs (vitamin E x C, p = .04), number of produced eggs to feed ratio, weight of produced eggs to feed ratio (vitamin E and C, p < .01), average egg volume (vitamin E x C, p = .03), and egg shape index (vitamin E, p < .01; vitamin C, p = .01). Current findings showed that feeding vitamin E and C at supra-nutritional levels can be a good management practice in Japanese quail nutrition to promote growth performance and egg production traits under thermoneutral condition.

We evaluated the effects of dietary surpluses (100%, 110%, and 120% of Ross recommendations) of methionine (Met) and lysine (Lys) on growth performance, blood serum parameters, immune responses, and carcass traits of broilers using a completely randomized design with a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement. Broilers fed a diet containing Met and Lys according to Ross recommendations had maximal growth performance. During the starter period, higher Lys decreased intake of feed, energy, and protein (linear, P < 0.01) and weight gain (linear, P = 0.01). A diet with 110% Lys decreased feed efficiency (quadratic, P = 0.03) during the grower period and decreased the pre-slaughtered body weight (tendency; quadratic, P = 0.10), and increased serum uric acid (quadratic, P = 0.03). Dietary Lys level had an inverse correlation with serum phosphorus (linear, P = 0.02) and immune response against Newcastle disease virus after the first vaccination (linear, P = 0.03). There were Met x Lys interaction effects on serum glucose (P = 0.01), and relative weights of the rectum (P = 0.02) and liver (P = 0.02). Taken together, our results indicate that dietary surpluses of Met and Lys provided no additional benefits in broiler performance.

E’ stato condotto uno studio per valutare l’effetto di diete basate su varietà di orzo nudo o vestito, normale o a basso contenuto in amilosio sulle performance di crescita di suini tipici italiani. Lo studio è stato effettuato su 40 femmine e 40 maschi castrati (Duroc Italiano x Large White Italiano). Sono state formulate 4 diete: 1) Dieta a base mais (control); 2) Dieta con 80% di una varietà (Cometa) di orzo vestito con normale contenuto in amilosio); 3) Dieta con 80% di una varietà (Astartis) di orzo nudo con normale contenuto in amilosio); e 4) Dieta con 80% di una varietà (Alamo) di orzo nudo con basso contenuto in amilosio). Le diete sono state formulate secondo 3 fasi di crescita (P1, 40 - 80; P2, 80 - 120; e P3, 120 - 170 kg p.v), con lo stesso rapporto Lys:ED (2.60, 2.20, e 1.80, rispettivamente per P1, P2, and P3) secondo i fabbisogni NRC per P1 and P2, e secondo i fabbisogni di suini ad alte performance per P3. Le diete sono state analizzate per la loro potenziale digeribilità dell’amido (predizione indice glicemico, pGI) e per il contenuto in amido resistente (RS). In P1, P2, and P3, le diete Alamo avevano il più basso contenuto in RS ed I maggiori valori di pGI, mentre la dieta di controllo aveva il più alto contenuto in RS ed il più basso valore di pGI. I suini che ricevevano le diete Cometa e Alamo avevano più alte crescite (P < 0.01) rispetto ai controlli con mais, mentre i suini che ricevevano le diete Astartis crescevano in ugual misura rispetto a tutte le altre diete. Gli animali Cometa e Alamo raggiungevano pesi finali più alti (P < 0.01) rispetto ai controlli. Non è stata rilevata nessuna differenza nelle caratteristiche della carcassa tra i trattamenti (P > 0.05). Lo studio dimostra che le diete a base sia di orzo vestito che nudo sia a basso che ad alto contenuto in amilosio possono essere impiegate per l’alimentazione dei suini pesanti in sostituzione totale del mais massimizzando le performances di crescita senza influenzare l

E’ stato valutato l’effetto dell’inclusione di sottoprodotti della pasta secca nelle diete per suini in finissaggio sulle performance di crescita, sulle caratteristiche della carcassa e sulla qualità dei prosciutti. 144 suini sono stati assegnati a 4 diete con differenti livelli di inclusione di pasta: 0 (controllo, dieta a base mais), 30, 60, or 80%. I suini che hanno ricevuto pasta avevano maggiori ingestioni rispetto ai controlli (P < 0.01). La pasta ha aumentato il peso delle carcasse (P < 0.01) e la resa al macello con i migliori risultati con il livello del 30%, ma ha ridotto (P < 0.01) lo spessore del Longissimus d.. La pasta ha diminuito (P < 0.01) i livelli di acido linoleico e dei polinsaturi nel grasso subcutaneo sia nella coscia fresca che stagionata e nel grasso intramuscolare negli stagionati ed ha aumentato gli acidi grassi saturi nel grasso subcutaneo nei freschi (P < 0.01) e negli stagionati (P = 0.03). L’indice di proteolisi, il colore, le perdite di peso e le proprietà sensoriali, (eccetto per una modesta rilevazione nel descrittore “sapori estranei” per il solo trattamento 60% pasta) dei prosciutti stagionati non sono state influenzate dalla pasta; tuttavia il descrittore globale “gradimento” non differiva tra i trattamenti. I sottoprodotti della pasta secca possono quindi essere presi in considerazione come ingredienti nella dieta dei suini tipici italiani.

È stato valutato l’effetto dell’inclusione di sottoprodotti della pasta secca nelle diete per suini sulle performance e sulla qualità dei prosciutti. 144 suini sono stati assegnati a 4 diete: 0 (controllo, con mais), 30, 60, od 80% di pasta. I suini che hanno ricevuto pasta avevano maggiori ingestioni rispetto ai controlli. La pasta ha aumentato il peso delle carcasse e la resa al macello (migliori valori con il 30%). La pasta ha diminuito gli acidi polinsaturi nei prosciutti freschi e stagionati ed ha aumentato gli acidi grassi saturi nei freschi e negli stagionati. L’indice di proteolisi, il colore, le perdite di peso e le proprietà sensoriali – eccetto per una modesta rilevazione nel descrittore sapori estranei solo con la dieta 60% – dei prosciutti stagionati non sono state influenzate dalla pasta; tuttavia il descrittore globale “gradimento” non differiva tra i trattamenti. I sottoprodotti della pasta secca possono quindi essere considerati come ingredienti nella dieta dei suini tipici italiani.

The effect of pasta inclusion in finishing pig diets was evaluated on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and ham quality. Pigs (144) were assigned to 4 diets with different pasta levels: 0 (control, corn-based diet), 30, 60, or 80%. Pigs fed pasta had greater (linear, P < 0.01) feed intakes than controls. Pasta increased (quadratic, P < 0.01) carcass weight and dressing percentage reaching the highest values at 30% inclusion level, and reduced (linear, P < 0.01) the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum thickness. Pasta decreased (linear, P < 0.01) linoleic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in subcutaneous (fresh and seasoned hams) and intramuscular (seasoned hams) fat, and enhanced saturated fatty acid content in subcutaneous fat (fresh hams: quadratic, P < 0.01; seasoned hams: linear, P = 0.03). Proteolysis index, colour, weight losses, and sensory properties (excepted extraneous taste) of the hams were unaffected by the pasta. Pasta could be considered as an ingredient in the diet for typical Italian finishing heavy pigs.

The effect of diets based on two different barley varieties, with or without non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) degrading enzymes was evaluated on growth performance, carcass characteristics and fresh thigh quality in Italian heavy growing-finishing pigs. Pigs (64) were assigned to four diets: two diets based on 85% of hulled normal-amylose barley (Cometa, with or without NSP enzyme complex) and two diets based on 85% of hulless low-amylose barley (Alamo, with or without NSP enzyme complex). The diets were formulated according to three growth phases with same lisyne:digestible energy ratio. The NSP enzyme complex did not improve the Cometa and Alamo diets in terms of pig growth performance, carcass characteristics and fresh thigh quality. Throughout the study, the Alamo group had greater (p<0.05) final body weight, average daily gain and gain per megacalorie of digestible energy than the Cometa group. Higher (p<0.05) carcass and thigh weights, and lower (p<0.01) thigh chilling losses were observed for the Alamo group compared with the Cometa group. The Cometa diet decreased (p<0.01) polyunsaturated fatty acids level, and increased (p<0.01) monounsaturated fatty acid content and saturated fatty acids/polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio in subcutaneous fat of fresh thighs. No appreciable differences were observed in the color of subcutaneous fat and biceps femoris of pigs fed the Cometa and Alamo diets. Feeding hulless low-amylose barley to growing-finishing pigs can be valuable to promote growth performance and carcass characteristics. No NSP enzyme complex is needed when hulled normal-amylose barley or hulless low-amylose barley are used in diets for heavy pigs.

The market for poultry products (egg and meat) is growing worldwide owing also to the absence of cultural or religious obstacles. Dietary protein sources represent the primary production costs. Soybean meal is the most used protein source in the diet formulations for broilers and laying hens. However due to its ever-increasing price, the sustainability of this production chain is becoming critical, in particular in some developing countries. Therefore, alternative feed protein sources, locally available and sustainable are required. The use of insects as an alternative source of protein in animal feeding is becoming globally more appealing, especially for its sustainability. In addition, insects (adult, larval and pupal form) are consumed naturally by wild birds and free-range poultry. The rural poultry farming in the economy and food security of developing countries has been momentous. Studies have shown the feasibility of using insects as an alternative feed source or as complementary feed source for poultry. Grasshoppers, darkling beetle, crickets, cockroaches, termites, lice, stink bugs, cicadas, aphids, scale insects, psyllids, beetles, caterpillars, flies, fleas, bees, wasps and ants have all been used as complementary food sources for poultry. Soybean or fish meal in broiler chicken or laying hen diets have been successfully replaced at low inclusion levels by black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens), housefly (Musca domestica), mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) and silkworm (Bombix mori) pupae. Insect inclusion in poultry diets ranged between 0.2 to 20 % without affecting growth performance or, in some cases, by improving it. An obstacle to the use of insect meals in poultry diets is the lack of information about nutrient digestibility in commercial poultry farms. Recently, Schiavone et al. (2015), have estimated the nutrient and apparent metabolizable energy values for mealworms and black soldier flies pupae used in chickens feeding. The use of insects as sustain

Farmed insects are among novel protein sources for pig feeding. In Europe, insect producers and pig breeders have to comply with rather complex rules and legal requirements, mainly related to the feed (or “substrate) fed to the insects. Annex III of Regulation (EC) 767/2009 lists a number of materials that are prohibited as substrate for insects, such as feces and “household waste”. Substrates have to comply also with EU regulations on animal proteins (Regulation 1069/2009 and the implementing 142/2011): according to these regulations, some (animal protein) sources such as manure, gut content, dead-in-shell poultry, and fallen stock are prohibited as substrate for insects. Insects are expected to be increasingly used in Europe as protein replacers in animal nutrition, and the potential species for use in pig diets are Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly), larvae of Musca domestica (common housefly), and Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm). Black soldiers larvae meal is a suitable ingredient in growing pigs diets, being valuable in particular for its protein, lipid and Ca content and palatability (Newton et al., 1977). The unbalanced aminoacid content of prepupae meal may be a limiting factor in diets for early weaned piglets; additional refinement, such as cuticle removal and rendering, may be necessary to make it more suitable for piglets. The common housefly (M. domestica) maggot is of particular interest because it can grow on a large range of substrates and transform wastes into a valuable biomass rich in protein and fat. Sows and piglets fed maggot meal did not show any adverse effect on performances and health, and on sensorial property of meat (Bayandina and Inkina, 1980). Positive results were observed on weaned pigs fed a soybean based diet supplemented with 10% maggot meal to replace fishmeal (Viroje and Malin, 1989). Also yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) could be suitable in animal feeding due to its high content of crude protein (47-60%) and fat (31-43

Global fish production has grown steadily over the last 5 decades reaching a total of 158 million tons in 2012 with more than 42% coming from aquaculture. From 1980 to 2012, the global aquaculture production grew at an average annual rate of 8.6% and this increasing trend is expected to continue. In order to feed the world population (9 billion in 2050), food production must increase by 70% and aquaculture production will need to increase by 133%. An increased availability of quality aqua feeds is required for sustaining such rates of increase in aquaculture production. Fish meal (FM) is the optimal protein ingredient in fish feeds and still widely used. However, aqua feed production is under increasing pressure due to limited supplies and increasing price of FM. This means that FM will likely continue to be an important ingredient, but it will increasingly be used in combination with other ingredients. Plants already deliver the majority of the protein to diets for farmed fish due to the abundance, potential for increased production and low cost. However, inclusion of vegetable meal in aqua feeds (mainly soybean meal – SBM) is limited since a number of adverse effects are observed. Furthermore, the massive utilization in animal feeding of vegetable meal poses severe environmental issues. Therefore, scientific research must focus on new protein sources able to save biodiversity and to guarantee the sustainability of aquaculture productions. FAO indicates insects as innovative source to be employed in feed, due to their high nutritional value, especially in terms of crude protein (CP) content. In aquaculture, trials have shown that their use is possible with good growth performances even if some amino acid limitations have been highlighted. Insect meal could thus make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry. In this scenario, the Committee on “Using innovative sources of protein in animal feed”, appointed by t