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The increased availability of sunflower cake, a by-product of oilseed extraction for biodiesel production, prompted us to test the scope of its utilization in the diet of Quarter Horses employed in equestrian shows. We substituted 600 and 1200 g of feed with 300 and 600 g of sunflower cake, respectively, so as to obtain isoproteic and isoenergetic diets. Digestibility evaluation by the AIA method evidenced generally improved nutrient utilization with the lower cake diet (300 g sunflower). The higher cake diet was associated with a reduction in organic matter, protein and ether extract digestibility coefficients. In particular, the trend of the protein coefficients (88.5 - 91.5 - 87.7 for control, 300 and 600 g sunflower cake, respectively) was confirmed by higher plasma urea levels.

Identifying alternative dietary protein sources and new types of outdoor rearing techniques that enhance animal welfare, thus optimising costs and production performance, are among the main objectives of nutritionists and breeders. The aim of this study was to compare two types of rations where pea and potato concentrate completely substituted soybean in intensively and extensively bred swine. Forty Large White × Duroc piglets weighing about 40 kg were divided into 4 groups of 10 sex- and weightmatched individuals: Indoor rearing + Control diet, Indoor rearing + Experimental diet, Outdoor rearing + Control diet, Outdoor rearing + Experimental diet. Different diets were formulated for the growing phase (40-100 kg) and the fattening period (100-slaughter); pigs, weighed individually every 40 days to estimate the average daily gain and feed conversion rate, were slaughtered when they reached the weight for Italian ham production. The following measurements were obtained: carcass weight, slaughtered yield, weight of lean cuts, pH 45 minutes and 24 hours post mortem. 40 semimembranosus muscle samples were analysed for colour parameters (L*, a* and b*), moisture, fat, protein and ash while the energy values were calculated. Semimembranosus intramuscular fat and ham backfat were analysed for fatty acid profile. Statistical analysis of performances data was conducted using design with repeated measures and the slaughterhouse, meat and fat composition data were subjected to ANOVA. The results show that soybean can be completely substituted with other protein crops. Rearing and slaughterhouse performances were not affected by the diet, whereas significant differences emerged with the rearing system. Diet composition significantly affected lean meat proportion (50.0 vs 48.2) and fat thickness of 3/4 Thoracic Vertebra (25.3 vs 28.3 mm), while the rearing system significantly affected all carcass quality measures. Some parameters were better in outdoorthan indoor-subjects. Meat colour was also significantly influenced by the rearing effect, being less light and yellow in the former subjects (L* 49.9 vs 37.3; b* 3.7 vs 2.3). Chemical analysis demonstrated that the meat of outdoor-reared subjects was leaner (1.96% vs 1.38% fat) and had a lower water content (72.8% vs 71.8%). The complete replacement of soybean is thus compatible with a strong characterization and an enhancement of the value of swine products. In addition, the rearing system can result in distinctive quality features, such as ham colour and fat content, allowing products from outdoor rearing to be clearly recognized from those obtained from intensive rearing.

Two groups of jumping horses in activity were used for the research in order to evaluate the nutritive value and the digestibility of diets. The Group P (4 horses) was fed with a daily ratio containing pellet plus a roughage that changed in 3 subsequent trials: in the first trial traditional hay, in the second haylage and in the third dehydrated alfalfa. For the Group C (4 horses) the roughages were the same but the complete feed was a crushed feed. After an adaptation period (15 days) faeces’ samples, collected individually twice a day for 5 days, were analysed to determine the digestible utilisation coefficient (DUC) with AIA method. The results obtained with supply of three different roughages are similar for digestibility coefficient of crude protein, in particular for dehydrated alfalfa plus pellet or crushed. Both diets, pellet or crushed plus haylage, show a lower coefficient of digestibility for crude protein and ether extract; while the diet crushed plus haylage shows the better digestibility for crude fibre and cell wall fractions (NDF and ADF) determined according to Van Soest. The same result is underlined with pellet and traditional hay. The Energy coefficient of digestibility is higher with pellet plus the three different roughages in comparison with crushed and different roughages, even if the greater amount of feed, increasing the rate of transit, reduces the coefficient of utilisation. These results underline the importance to analyze the quality of diets and to evaluate the treatment and the associative effect of different feeds.

On a 766 heads sample of Marchigiana bullocks slaughtered in 2004-2006 at Senigallia’s Slaughterhouse main performance at slaughtering were recorded: identity, personal data, live weight, right hoof, right fore and hind limbs, head, tongue, skin, head skin, gross stomachs, empty rumen, gross intestines, stomach fat, thickness of skin, carcass and half weights, limb girth, SEUROP carcass and fatness scoring (using 3 subclasses). Avarage daily gain (ADG) and percentages were computed. All statistics were performed on 726 males: means, correlations, multivariate analysis, variance components, heritability. Average slaughtering data were: age 598.8 ± 78.6 d, live weight 681.6 ± 81.1 kg, live ADG 1.154 ± 0.175 kg/d, carcass weight 424.9 ± 54.9 kg, gross dressing 62.29 ± 2.08%, net dressing 68.89 ± 1,89%, carcass ADG 0.719 ± 0.116 kg/d. Phenotypic correlations of live weight with SEUROP carcass evaluation and fatness have been equal to 47% and 26% while the correlations between ADG, SEUROP and fatness carcass evaluation have been equal to 41% and 37%. Following heritabilities were estimated: carcass weight 0.29, skin 0.62, head 0.34, SEUROP carcass evaluation 0.48.

The aim of these studies was to evaluate the in vivo and post-mortem performances of Marchigiana and Romagnola cattle. The results provide updated information that suggest that the selection index of some parameters should be revised to improve the dressing, which is one of the limitations of these breeds.

The effects of a sunflower cake supplement on the quantity and quality parameters of Marchigiana carcasses and meat were assessed. Live-animal and post-mortem performances were not significantly different in the animals receiving the supplement, whereas significant differences were noted in conformation and fatness. The colour parameters were also influenced by the diet, which resulted in a more brilliant red colour, greatly appreciated by consumers, in the subjects fed sunflower cake.

The increased availability of sunflower cake, a by-product of oilseed extraction for biodisel production, prompted us to test the scope for its utilization in the diet of Quarter Horses employed in equestrian shows. We substituted 600 and 1200 g of feed with 300 and 600 g of sunflower cake, respectively, so as to obtain isoproteic and isoenergetic diets. Digestibility evaluation by the AIA method evidenced generally improved nutrient utilization with the lower cake diet (300 g sunflower). The higher cake diet was associated with a reduction in the protein digestibility coefficient that was confirmed by higher plasma urea levels.

The recent commercial availability of near infrared spectrometric instruments for the transmittance analysis of solids makes it possible to analyse solid drugs in their finished form. Application of the method to the control of the assay of the active ingredient in diphenhydramine tablets gave results comparable to those obtained in reflectance mode with whole and milled tablets.

Water buffalo milk reproductive and productive traits are fundamental to evaluate farm efficiency and dairy economy. Due to the buffalo cows’ long life these aspects are also important to assess the improvement of genetic animal potential and to reach optimal productive performance. Currently this knowledge is critical since the Italian cattle population is decreasing whereas the national buffalo sector is expanding; this trend is partially depending on the reconversion of some dairy cattle’ farms into buffalo cows’ farms. The present investigation was undertaken to study non-genetic factors affecting reproductive parameters and milk production traits in a farm located in a not traditional area for buffalo farming.

The sunflower meals is a by-product obtained by technology drawing used for the production of biodiesel. The cost of biodiesel actually is high and represents an obstacle of its diffusion. The use of sunflower meal allows the reduction of costs that concerns the production of biodiesel.

The EU ban on meals of animal origin and the rejection by some States, including Italy, of genetically modified organ- isms (e.g. soybean), have resulted in the need for novel protein sources. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the digestibility of rations where soybean was partially replaced with Lathyrus sativusL. Twelve hybrid growing pigs were fed three diets formulated to be isoenergetic and isoproteic according to a Latin square design, each for 22 days. In the two experimental diets soybean was replaced by 10% or 20% L. sativus.Subjects were about 78 kg live weight at base- line. After 10 days of adaptation to each diet, faeces samples were collected from the rectum at the same time of day for 3 days. At the end of the administration of each diet, animals were weighed and blood was collected to determine some protein metabolism parameters. Feed and faeces were analysed for nutrients and AIA in order to calculate the coef- ficients of digestible utilisation of nutrients. Results were analysed by ANOVA using JMP (SAS system). The growth per- formance data (ADG and FCR) did not demonstrate differences attributable to the substitution of soybean with L. sativus. The coefficients of digestible utilisation indicate that soybean can be replaced with this legume seed. Low plasma urea in animals receiving 20% L. sativusconfirmed the good metabolic efficiency of protein.