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Simple Summary: Behaviour indicators of animal welfare were studied in yearling beef belonging to different genetic types (Limousines, Sardo-Bruna (SRB), and crossbred Limousine × Sardo-Bruna) and sex and reared in the same "optimal" environmental conditions, as prescribed in the Classyfarm® manual. Two trained operators evaluated behavioural activities by the scan and focus samplings and feeding behaviour by evaluating video recording. Behaviour indicators of animal welfare did not evidence substantial differences among animals of different genetic types or sexes reared in the same "optimal" environmental conditions, except for some indicators which were mostly expressed in females and in SRB yearling beef. Female beef and the autochthon's cattle breed of Sardinia, although typically hardy, showed a wide behavioural repertoire, suggesting a high ability to cope with the environment. The aim of this study was to monitor the behaviour of purebred and crossbred beef cattle reared in the same optimal environmental conditions according to Classyfarm®. Thirty-yearling beef 11.5 months old, including 10 Limousines (LMS), 10 Sardo-Bruna (SRB), and 10 crossbred Limousine × Sardo-Bruna (LMS × SRB), balanced for sex and body weight, were used. Animals were evaluated for five months by two trained operators by SCAN ("sternal resting", "lateral resting", " central or peripheral position in the pen", standing", "walking", "feeding", "drinking", and "ruminating) and FOCUS ("displacement for space", "displacement for feed or water", "play-fighting", "self-grooming", "allo-grooming", "stereotyping", and "mounting") protocols. Feeding behaviour was monitored by a CCTV system. The application of the SCAN sampling evidenced that SRB animals preferred the "standing" activity over the LMS animals, while the LMS × SRB did not differ from them. The "standing" and " ruminating "activities were observed mostly in females than males (p < 0.05). For behaviour parameters assessed by the FOCUS methodology, the n-events of "allo-grooming" were higher (p < 0.05) in SRB than in LMS and LMS × SRB genetic types. Males showed higher (p < 0.05) n-events than females for "play-fighting". For feeding behaviour, the "eating concentrate" activity (expressed as n-events) was higher (p < 0.05) in SRB than LMS × SRB and LMS being intermediate (p < 0.05). The duration of "eating concentrate" (expressed in minutes) was higher (p < 0.05) in females than males. In conclusion, behaviour indicators of animal welfare did not evidence substantial differences among genetic types and between sexes reared in the same "optimal" environmental conditions. Female beef and the autochthon's cattle breed of Sardinia, although typically hardy, showed a wide behavioural repertoire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The warming impact of methane (CH4) emissions calculated using the metrics proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which measure its global warming potential in 100 years (GWP100) expressed as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e), accounts for the greatest impact in animal production chains. This work uses the new metrics, proposed to consider the difference between short living climate pollutants (SLCP), such as CH4, and long living climate pollutants (LLCP), such as carbon dioxide (CO2), which measure the warming equivalent (we) effect relative to that of CO2 in a given time frame (GWP*) and expressed as CO2we. The GWP* was applied to CH4 emissions from all Italian livestock supply chains and compared with GWP100 for annual and cumulative assessment from 2010 to 2020 of the impact of this gas on climate change. Using official data published by Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) from 1990 to 2020, almost all species, except for buffalo (+272.6% of emissions calculated with the new metrics), revealed lower CH4 emissions with the greatest re-dimensioning for non-dairy cattle (-53786 kt of CO2we of calculated with GWP* compared to +66437 kt of CO2e estimated with the GWP100 method). The total cumulative contribution of Italian livestock production to global warming over the past 10 years, including the nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, has been greatly negative (-48759 kt of CO2we) compared to the data calculated using the GWP100 method (+206091 kt of CO2e). In conclusion, the application of GWP* metric to CH4 emissions of all Italian livestock supply chains allowed to better identify the role of Italian livestock on climate change. Over the 2010–2020 time frame, the Italian animal supply chains reduced the warming impact related to its CH4 emission, with the ruminants (expect buffaloes) being the major contributor to this positive effect. The application of GWP* metric reduced the warming impact of CH4 emissions of Italian dairy cattle, non-dairy cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and rabbits. The reduction of CH4 emission from the major ruminant species is the major contributor to the positive effect on climate change detected over 2010–2020 time frame. The application of GWP* metric to CH4 emissions of all Italian livestock supply chains allowed to better identify the role of Italian livestock on climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that a substantial share of households contributes their own labour to the acquisition of their main residence. These contributions help households faced with credit constraints, since they reduce the need for external financing. We develop a simple theoretical model and show that own labour contributions decrease with the level of financial resources available, while they increase with the mortgage interest rate. These theoretical results are supported by empirical analysis, which also shows that own labour contributions vary by household characteristics (age, gender, profession) and by type of dwelling (house, apartment). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Milk somatic cells are a sign of udder discomfort and constitute a problem in the process of making cheese from sheep and goats' milk. Their control, which can be carried out through veterinary means, is also possible through food by administering mineral and vitamin supplements to the animals or by using substances with anti-inflammatory effects, such as polyphenols, or antimicrobial effects, such as essential oils. The purpose of this quantitative review is to highlight the effects of feeding strategies using some mineral, vitamin, marine oil, and vegetable essential oil supplements and some agri-food by-products to reduce SCCs in the milk of sheep and goats. According to the results, only specific dietary factors at specific doses could reduce SCCs in the milk of dairy sheep and goats. The combination of Se and vitamin E in the diet was more effective in sheep than in goats, while the inclusion of polyphenols, which are also present in food matrices such as agro-industrial by-products, led to better results. Some essential oils can be conveniently used to modulate SCCs, although they can precipitate an off-flavoring problem. This work shows that SCCs are complex and cannot be determined using a single experimental factor, as intramammary inflammation, which is the main source of SC in milk, can manifest in a subclinical form without clinical signs. However, attention to mineral and vitamin supplementation, even in the most difficult cases, such as those of grazing animals, and the use of anti-inflammatory substances directly or through by-products, can improve the nutritional condition of animals and reduce their SCCs, offering undeniable benefits for the milk-processing sector as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]