Search Results (39)

The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of two dietary regimens, characterized by different forage-to-concentrate ratios, on feed intake, milk yield and composition, as well as economic and environmental sustainability in lactating buffalo cows. Group H was fed a high-forage diet, while Group L was fed a diet with a lower forage-to-concentrate ratio. Despite a lower energy value (Unit for Feed Lactation: UFL 0.89 vs. 0.91), the diet of group H met the animals’ nutritional requirements, with similar dry matter intake (DMI) and body condition scores observed in both groups. While there was no significant difference in milk yield, protein, and lactose, group H exhibited significantly higher milk fat content and an enhanced fatty acid profile, characterized by increased oleic acid, conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs), and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids have been linked to potential health benefits in humans, including anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and anticarcinogenic effects. From an economic perspective, the H group’s diet was found to be more cost-effective, resulting in EUR 0.46 savings per head per day and a higher yield of mozzarella cheese. From an environmental perspective, the high-forage diet reduced reliance on imported concentrates and irrigation-dependent crops, aligning with sustainable development goals. In conclusion, increasing the forage content in buffalo diets has been demonstrated to support animal performance, improve milk quality, reduce environmental impact, and enhance economic returns for producers. Full article

Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.), cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) and mango (Mangifera indica L.) are among the most cultivated plants in tropical and subtropical regions due to the high demand around the world. Following the harvesting and processing of pineapple, cashew and mango fruits, a huge amount of waste is generated, which is generally discarded into the environment, contributing to global pollution and water contamination. This study aims to propose alternative feeds for pigs by characterizing cashew, pineapple and mango fruit by-products through an in vitro two-step (gastro-intestinal and caecum) study to provide feeds not competing with humans and promoting eco-sustainable livestock. Ten by-products [i.e., pineapple peel and pomace; cashew nut testa, cashew (var. yellow) whole fruit and pomace; cashew (var. red) whole fruit and pomace; mango peel, kernel and testa] were sampled in Benin. The samples involved chemical analysis and an in vitro two-step digestion method (enzymatic + microbial digestibility). The results report a low dry matter (DM) content specifically in the pomace, peel and whole apple (13.0–27.2%), while higher lipids were observed for cashew nut testa and mango kernel (26.4 and 11.2% DM). The investigated by-products fall within the interval of referenced feeds for structural carbohydrates (NDF: 7.6–47.1% DM) and protein (6.21–51.2% DM), except mango by-products with a low content of protein (2.51–4.69% DM). The total dry matter digestibility, short-chain fatty acid and gas production were low for cashew by-products and stopped after 48 h of incubation. Pineapple pomace, cashew whole apple, pomace and testa can be considered as feedstuff in fattening pigs, presenting characteristics partly similar to beet pulp. Indeed, mango peel and kernel should be combined with a protein feed source to feed pigs. Presently, fruit by-products, such as those from cashew, pineapple and mango, are thrown into the environment, contributing to global warming and water pollution. These problems would be reduced by recycling these wastes in other fields, such as pig nutrition, creating a circular economy to provide feeds promoting eco-sustainable livestock. Indeed, in vivo studies are needed before proposing these by-products for pig diets. Full article

Obesity is a condition of chronic low-grade inflammation affecting peripheral organs of the body, as well as the central nervous system. The adipose tissue dysfunction occurring under conditions of obesity is a key factor in the onset and progression of a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders. Mitochondria, key organelles in the production of cellular energy, play an important role in this tissue dysfunction. Numerous studies highlight the close link between obesity and adipocyte mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in excessive ROS production and adipose tissue inflammation. This inflammation is transmitted systemically, leading to metabolic disorders that also impact the central nervous system, where pro-inflammatory cytokines impair mitochondrial and cellular functions in different areas of the brain, leading to neurodegenerative diseases. To date, several bioactive compounds are able to prevent and/or slow down neurogenerative processes by acting on mitochondrial functions. Among these, some molecules present in the Mediterranean diet, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and omega-3 PUFAs, exert a protective action due to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ability. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the involvement of adipose tissue dysfunction in the development of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, emphasizing the central role played by mitochondria, the main actors in the cross-talk between adipose tissue and the central nervous system. Full article

Botanical and herbal supplements contain diverse compounds that support health and prevent disease by influencing biological pathways. In ruminant nutrition, such supplements are rarely used as most integrations focus on production improvements using synthetic additives. This review explores the potential of Mediterranean herbs, namely, garlic, oregano, and rosemary, in dairy ruminant diets, emphasizing their effects on milk production, antioxidant activity, weaning management, in vitro studies, and economic impacts. Using medicinal plants reduces reliance on synthetic additives, lowers costs, enhances animal health, and boosts productivity. These plants align with sustainable farming practices, enable premium market access, and support local resources to improve performance and reduce livestock’s environmental footprint. Full article

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a versatile and multipurpose crop with a wide range of industrial, commercial, environmental and medicinal applications. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of hemp hay on the oxidative and inflammatory status of grazing goats. The high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids with anti-inflammatory activity makes hemp hay a promising feed that can be used to improve animals’ health by means of its metabolic profile, as well as its oxidative and inflammatory status. Studies on hemp hay suggest that its usage could replace alfalfa hay to obtain beneficial effects in terms of the milk yield and health status of goats. Indeed, because of the various biological compounds in hemp hay, the effects of its administration should be accurately explored. A total of 20 multiparous goats were equally divided immediately after calving (February) into two groups (C: control vs. H: hemp) that were homogeneous in terms of live weight (49 ± 2 kg) and milk yield at the previous lactation (2250 ± 200 g/head/day). The animals remained in the pasture but received 500 g/head/day of a barley and corn meal mixture. In addition, group H received 250 g/head/day of hemp hay, and group C was fed the same amount of alfalfa hay. Blood samples were taken before the trial and four months later and analyzed for clinical biochemistry, oxidative status, and anti-inflammatory profile. Reactive oxygen metabolites, biological antioxidant potential, Interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 10 (IL-10), and TNF-α were determined. In group H, a significant decrease in TNF-α level (22.7 vs. 12.7 pg/mL, p = 0.01) and an opposite but not significant trend for IL-10 was detected. In addition, there was a significant decrease (184.6 vs. 111.4 UCARR, p = 0.001) in d-ROM content and an increase in the biological antioxidant potential (BAP) values (3238.1 vs. 3886 μmol/L). A significant anti-inflammatory effect was only registered for TNF-α, whereas IL6 and IL10 were not affected. Full article

Twenty-one adult crossbreed dogs with chronic pain due to severe osteoarthrosis were enrolled in the study (placebo vs. treatment groups). The dogs in the experimental group received the dietary supplement (Pain Relief^TM, Giantec, Isernia, Italy) for 30 days to evaluate its effects on metabolism and pain relief. During the trial, the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in the experimental group, indicating reduced pain and improved quality of life. Additionally, the treated group showed improvements in oxidative stress, demonstrated by a reduction in reactive oxygen metabolites, and an increase in biological antioxidant potential. Interleukins 6 levels decreased in the treated group, while interleukins 10 levels increased, thus suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect of the supplement. Importantly, no adverse effects were observed. Results suggest that Pain Relief^TM is effective in ameliorating osteoarthritis in dogs, improving their quality of life. Full article

The aim of the trial was to evaluate the influence of diet supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae on nutrient digestibility and milk and mozzarella cheese yield in buffalo cows during the transition period. Twenty buffalo cows in the last month of pregnancy were equally divided into two groups (control, C, and treated, T) homogeneous for parity and milk yield at the previous lactation. The diet of group T was supplemented with 100 g/head/day of a product containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Sc 47- CNCM I-4407) for 4 weeks before and after calving. Dry matter intake and the body condition score were not affected by the dietary treatment. In contrast, organic matter, protein, NDF, and ADF digestibility significantly (p < 0.01) increased. Group T showed a higher milk yield (kg 10.5 vs. 9.2, p < 0.05) but lower milk fat (g/kg 76.0 vs. 80.1, p < 0.05). The buffalo standard milk (FPCM = 740 kcal) yield was higher in the treated group (kg 16.8 vs. 15.0, p < 0.05), whereas the mozzarella cheese yield was not affected by the treatment (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that supplementation of the diet of buffaloes with Saccharomyces cerevisiae during the transition period results in notable enhancements in nutrient digestibility and milk yield. These outcomes are worthy of further investigation. Full article

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a cosmopolitan annual herbaceous plant used in the past as a source of textile fiber. Currently, hemp is receiving great interest as animal feed due to its chemical and nutritional properties. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of supplementing goats’ diets with hemp hay on the milk yield, chemical composition, and fatty acid profile. Twenty multiparous goats, immediately after kidding, were divided into two homogenous groups (C: control vs. H: hemp); the goats had free access to the pasture, and both groups received a supplement of 500 g/head/day of a barley and corn meal mixture (50/50). In addition, group H was given 250 g/head/day of hemp hay while group C received the same amount of alfalfa hay. The milk yield was measured daily, and milk samples were collected monthly 4 times to evaluate the milk composition and fatty acid profile. The milk yield was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the experimental group, while no differences were found in the milk chemical composition. Concerning the fatty acid profile, the milk from group H was characterized by significantly lower concentrations of C11:0, C12:0, C13:0, C14:0, C15:0, and C17:0 and higher C16:0 and C18:0. Among the polyunsaturated FA, C18:2 n6 and C20:4 were significantly (p < 0.001) lower, and C20:5 n3 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the milk from group H than that from group C. The n6/n3, LA/ALA and AA/EPA ratios were significantly (p < 0.001) lower in the milk from group H, while the CLAs were unaffected by the treatment. Full article

The aim of the present trial was to evaluate the growth performance of buffalo calves fed on diets characterized by different forage/concentrate ratios, with or without Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation (CBS 493.94, Yea-Sacc^®). Twenty-four male buffalo calves (mean age of 145.1 ± 16.1 days; mean weight of 108.0 ± 18.7 kg) were assigned randomly to 4 groups, homogeneous in age, that were fed four different diets: diet 1, F:C ratio 50:50; diet 2, F:C ratio 30:70; diet 3, F:C ratio 50:50 + Yea-Sacc^®; and diet 4, F:C ratio 30:70 + Yea-Sacc^®. Buffalo calves were individually weighted before the start of the experiment and the data were used as a covariate, being taken monthly until the end of the trial. Dry matter intake (DMI), daily weight gain (DWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were calculated. The differences in diets composition significantly (p < 0.01) affected all these parameters. In particular, the animals fed diet 1 and diet 3 showed higher values of DWG (0.91 and 0.88 g/d vs. 0.68 and 0.66 for group 2 and 4) and DMI (5.8 and 5.3 kg/d, respectively) compared to the other groups (4.3 and 4.4 kg/d for group 2 and 4), as well as a higher final body weight (370.5 and 334.1 kg for group 1 and 3 vs. 272.8 and 273.1 kg of group 2 and 4, respectively). Indeed, the supplementation with Yea-Sacc^® at the dosage of 1 × 10^E8 did not affect buffaloes’ growth performance. Full article

The Noble Method^® has been successfully introduced in the last few years in Italy and in some foreign countries. This novel livestock management provides, among other rules, a high forage/concentrate ratio, no use of silage and supplements, no GMOs and the availability of outdoor paddocks. One of the goals is to achieve high-quality milk in terms of nutritional properties. Other benefits have been reported; amongst them, the forage/concentrate ratio of the diet was shown to reduce the amount of methane produced by animals, also, the system provides economic benefits, mainly for small breeders, in terms of the sustainability and market placement of milk. Thus, the method represents a sustainable approach to improve the production and the supply chain, from the land to the final product. In this review, the most recent studies on Noble Method^® are depicted, showing that, besides the nutritional proprieties of dairy products, the method is able to improve animal welfare, human health and environmental sustainability, thus falling within a “One Health” approach. Full article

The study aimed to explore how limited human socialization affects the socio-cognitive abilities and interactions with unfamiliar individuals of a selected group of domesticated dogs and goats. These animals were raised and kept under conditions characterized by limited human socialization, and their behavior was assessed using the “impossible task” paradigm. The study found that dogs, with a history of cooperative interactions and human companionship, exhibited more frequent social engagement with human experimenters in the experimental setting than goats, traditionally domesticated for utilitarian purposes. However, differences in interaction duration and latency were not significant, highlighting the complexity of these interactions. The results suggest that domestication history and behavioral ecology play significant roles in shaping animals’ willingness to engage with humans. However, this study acknowledges limitations, such as the specific population studied, and calls for further research with larger and more diverse samples to generalize these findings. Understanding the interplay between domestication history, behavioral ecology, and human socialization could provide insights into the complex factors influencing animal–human interactions and cognitive behaviors, with implications for animal welfare and human–animal relationships. Full article

Determination of digestibility represents the first step for the evaluation of the net energy content of feed for livestock animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo digestibility and in vitro degradability of five diets characterized by different forage/concentrate ratios (F:C) in horses. The in vitro degradability was determined by the Gas Production Technique (GPT), using as an inoculum source the feces of the same subjects used for the in vivo test. Five diets consisting of poliphyte hay, straw and grains of barley and oats with a different F:C ratio [90/10 (Diet 1); 78/22 (Diet 2); 68/32 (Diet 3); 60/40 (Diet 4); 50/50 (Diet 5) were formulated and administered in succession, starting with Diet 1. In the in vivo results, no significant differences emerged, despite the different F:C content. In in vitro fermentation, four diets out of the five (2, 3, 4, 5) presented a similar trend of the curve of gas production, showing good activity of the fecal micro population during the first hours of incubation. An important correlation between gas and Volatile Fatty Acid (VFA) were found, suggesting that the processes linked to the micro population deriving from the horse’s caecum follow metabolic pathways whose products can be modeled in the same way as for the rumen. The GPT could represent the correct method for studying the nutritional characteristics of feed for horses, using feces as the source of inoculum, even if further investigations must be performed to improve the technique. Full article

In this review, the composition, characteristics, and management of dairy buffalo calves were examined and compared with bovines. The neonatal period is critical for buffalo calves and is characterized by a high mortality rate (more than 40%). The early intake of high-quality colostrum (IgG > 50 mg/mL) is the one way to improve the immune system of calves (serum IgG > 10 mg/mL after 12 h), thus increasing their chances of survival. Mainly in intensive farms, the availability of high-quality colostrum is necessary; thus, good quality colostrum is often stored to provide newborn calves which cannot be fed by their mothers. Also, the manipulation of the immunological status of animals through vaccination has been depicted since the quality of colostrum tended to be influenced by vaccination against pathogens. Buffalo breeding is constantly expanding in Italy, mainly thanks to the Mozzarella cheese production that represents the excellence of the “Made in Italy” and is exported worldwide. Indeed, high calf mortality rates directly affect the profitability of the business. For these reasons, the aim of this review was to examine specific research on buffalo colostrum that, compared with other species, are scarce. Improving the knowledge of buffalo colostrum, in terms of characteristics and management, is critical to guarantee buffalo newborns’ health in order to reduce their mortality rate. Importantly, considering the knowledge on cattle valid also for buffalo is a widespread, and often erroneous, habit in several fields, including colostrum feeding. Therefore, the two species were compared in this review. Full article

In formulating balanced rations for ruminants, knowing the chemical composition of forage and feeds in general is crucial to create adequate nutritional plans that meet animals’ feed requirements. From July to December of 2020, a total of 175 samples of corn silage hybrid PR31Y43 grown (135 days of maturity class) in three sites (Piana del Sele, Vallo di Diano and Caserta) of the Campania region (South Italy) were collected and analysed by using a portable Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). The area of cultivation/storage of corn silage highly (p < 0.05) affected the nutritional characteristics of the analysed samples. The silages produced in the Vallo di Diano showed the significantly highest (p < 0.05) DM content compared to those from the other sites (349.3 vs. 323.4 and 328.1 g/kg as feed from Caserta and Piana del Sele, respectively). The structural carbohydrates were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in Piana del Sele feed than those in both Caserta and Vallo di Diano feeds (420.1 vs. 396.7 and 397.6 g/kg as feed), whereas the non-fibrous carbohydrates were significantly higher in Caserta and Vallo di Diano feeds (p < 0.05; 469.6 and 471.8 g/kg as feed); intermediate values were registered in the corn silages produced in Piana del Sele (446.6 g/kg as feed). No differences were detected for protein levels. The NIRS technology could be useful to obtain fast and accurate picture of silage quality. The knowledge of the nutritional characteristics of silages can improve the formulation of balanced rations, contributing to guarantee animal welfare and good productive performances. Full article

In this study, we explored the correlations between circulating levels of oxytocin, cortisol, and different social behaviors toward humans in 26 Italian Red Pied calves (all females, with an average age of 174 ± 24 days) using the impossible task paradigm. This paradigm has proved fruitful in highlighting the effect of socialization on the willingness to interact with humans in several domesticated species. The test consists of the violation of an expectation (recovering food from an experimental apparatus) while a caregiver and a stranger are present. Immediately after the end of the test (less than one minute), blood was collected from the coccygeal vein. Statistics were performed by the Spearman’s rank correlation; significant differences were adjusted according to Bonferroni’s correction. Cortisol correlates positively (ρ = 0.565; p < 0.05) with the latency of behaviors directed at the caregiver, and the duration of behaviors directed at the apparatus correlates negatively with both the caregiver (ρ = −0.654; p < 0.05) and a stranger (ρ = −0.644; p < 0.05). Contrary to what is reported in the literature on cows, no correlations were found between oxytocin levels and direct behaviors toward the caregiver. This highlights a different behavioral strategy between calves and cows when placed in front of an impossible task. Full article