Search Results (55)

Italian pigs for slaughter weigh between 150 and 170 kg, and their breeding is strictly regulated by the Protected Designation of Origin. Intensive production raises environmental concerns, in particular, nitrogen (N) emissions. To address these issues, low-crude-protein diet strategies have been proposed. However, few experiments have tested the effects of very low crude protein levels on performance and nitrogen efficiency, above all, in heavy pigs. The aim of our study was to explore new feeding solutions, compared to traditional ones, in accordance with PDO regulations, from 50 kg live weight to slaughtering: (1) traditional diet based on soy and maize; (2) iso-protein diet protein that is pea-based; and (3) low-crude-protein (−24.5% vs. C and T1 diets) diet that is cereal-based. Our results show that the use of different protein sources and the very low crude protein levels did not influence the technical efficiency and quality parameters; instead, a highly significant difference (p < 0.01) was recorded in the nitrogen efficiency of the cereal-based diet both in terms of nitrogen excretion and efficiency, achieving −28% and +21%, respectively. These results open up very interesting scenarios regarding the future feeding of heavy pigs and the cropping systems on which this is based. Full article

This study examined the link between traditional practices, water stewardship, and cholera outbreaks in three rural Nigerian communities (Enugu, Delta, and Ondo States) in 2020. A sample of 180 participants, representing different socio-economic backgrounds, was surveyed using a mixed-methods approach. Knowledge-based pre-test and post-test measures were employed to assess changes in the understanding of cholera transmission, prevention, and water infrastructure. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were applied to examine the relationship between socioeconomic status, trust in traditional water sources, and cholera knowledge. Educational seminars were conducted, followed by six months, before administering the post-test to the same population. Key findings revealed that 47% of respondents washed animals in water sources, 42% did not treat their water, and 53% were unaware of cholera-reporting practices. The post-test results showed that 80% of participants could correctly identify cholera symptoms following educational interventions (p < 0.001). Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) program awareness was significantly associated with reduced cholera incidence (p = 0.005), while certain cultural practices, such as washing slaughtered animals in main water sources, were associated with increased cholera (p < 0.002). This study highlights the need for increased awareness of source water quality, better stewardship, and trust-building efforts to provide culturally appropriate interventions in mitigating these outbreaks. Full article

The old Hungarian poultry breeds are the hidden reserves of the Carpathian Basin’s agriculture. The aim of this study was to examine the slaughter weight, carcass merit, and certain meat properties of two of them: the Partridge-colored Hungarian Chicken (PC) and the White Transylvanian Naked-neck Chicken (TN) under semi-intensive and traditional fattening conditions. Test slaughtering of chickens was conducted at 12th and 18th weeks of age. The eviscerated body weight (and the weight of cuts) of the PC (1140 g) and the cockerels of both breeds (1148 g) was larger than that of TN (878 g) and pullets (870 g). The farming system did not influence the carcass composition. At the same time, the pullets were characterized with larger values (p < 0.001) in regards to, for example, the breast–whole leg (0.81:1), breast fillet–thigh fillet (1.29:1), breast fillet–breast bone proportion (2.40:1) in comparison to the cockerels (0.7:1, 1.10:1 and 2.17:1, respectively). Examinations of meat quality revealed that the pH-value of the thigh (5.73 vs. 5.83) and breast meat (6.21 vs. 6.43) of the PC was significantly lower. However, the lightness (L*) of breast fillet was higher (55.2) than that in the TN (49.9). In addition, the yellowness (b*) value of the breast meat and breast skin was significantly higher in the PC, but the redness (a*) of the breast skin was higher in the TN. Results showed that the farming system affects these values, too. Accordingly, the yellowness (b*) of breast meat, breast skin, thigh meat, and thigh skin was significantly higher in the traditional group. The PC showed more satisfactory results in poultry production today. However, the reddish meat of the TN should be emphasized, which is excellent and appropriate in traditional agriculture. It is argued that the indigenous chicken breeds should be supported for the chicken meat trade regardless of their competitiveness. Full article

Among the goals of global environmental policies, one is to achieve a critical rethinking of the agro-industrial production chain aimed at enhancing its sustainability and resilience while addressing its environmental impact. Lentils are widespread worldwide and are consumed as part of traditional dishes, and their health-promoting benefits are currently well recognized. Their industrial processing for human consumption implies the generation of different by-products which can be used as promising alternative feedstuff. Calling for the future sustainable development of rabbit farming, the present study questions the dietary inclusion of red lentil screenings (RLS) as an upcycling strategy for this by-product, as well as to ease the challenges faced by the rabbit-farming system. A total of 120 male Bianca Italiana breed growing rabbits aged 42 days were allotted to three dietary treatments containing different levels of RLS: 0 (RLS0), 5 (RLS5), or 10% (RLS10), respectively, for 6 weeks. At 84 days (slaughter age), meat, plasma, and intestinal samples were collected. The RLS inclusion showed no adverse effects on growth performance. However, significant differences were found in the meat fatty acid profile, where both RLS5 and RLS10 groups showed reduced C18:0 percentage and higher MUFA content owing to an increase in C18:1 n-9; moreover, RLS5 showed a significant increase in C16:1 trans. On the other hand, only RLS10 recorded a significant reduction in the PUFA total content due to decreased single unsaturated fatty acid (C18:2 n-6; C20:3 n-6; C22:5 n-3). Dietary RLS significantly decreased serum total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL, along with an enhancement of the overall serum antioxidant capacity. The results regarding the rabbit caecal characteristics and microbial population were found to be similar among the groups. However, referring to histomorphometric measurements, both RLS5 and RLS10 groups displayed significant increases in villus height and an improved villus height to crypt depth ratio. In conclusion, up to 10% RLS in the diets rabbits can be considered an effort-effective feeding strategy to modulate rabbit meat fatty acid profiles, to enhance the endogenous antioxidant capacity, and to improve the serum lipid profile and intestinal morphology. Full article

Prolactin (PRL) has recently been found to play a role in lipid metabolism in addition to its traditional roles in lactation and reproduction. However, the effects of PRL on lipid metabolism in liver and adipose tissues are unclear. Therefore, we aimed to study the role of PRL on lipid metabolism in goats. Twenty healthy eleven-month-old Yanshan cashmere goats with similar body weights (BWs) were selected and randomly divided into a control (CON) group and a bromocriptine (BCR, a PRL inhibitor, 0.06 mg/kg, BW) group. The experiment lasted for 30 days. Blood was collected on the day before BCR treatment (day 0) and on the 15th and 30th days after BCR treatment (days 15 and 30). On day 30 of treatment, all goats were slaughtered to collect their liver, subcutaneous adipose, and perirenal adipose tissues. A portion of all collected tissues was stored in 4% paraformaldehyde for histological observation, and another portion was immediately stored in liquid nitrogen for RNA extraction. The PRL inhibition had inconclusive effects found on BW and average daily feed intake (ADFI) in goats (p > 0.05). PRL inhibition decreased the hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) levels on day 30 (p < 0.05), but the effects were inconclusive on days 0 and 15. PRL inhibition had inconclusive effects found on total cholesterol (TCH), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), fatty acid synthase (FAS), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) on days 0, 15, and 30 (p > 0.05). Furthermore, hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining of the liver, subcutaneous adipose, and perirenal adipose sections showed that PRL inhibition had inconclusive effects on the pathological changes in their histomorphology (p > 0.05), but measuring adipocytes showed that the area of perirenal adipocytes decreased in the BCR group (p < 0.05). The qPCR results showed that PRL inhibition increased the expression of PRL, long-form PRL receptor (LPRLR), and short-form PRL receptor (SPRLR) genes, as well as the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism, including sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (SREBF1); sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 2 (SREBF2); acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha (ACACA); fatty acid synthase (FASN); 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR); 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7); peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG); and lipase E, hormone-sensitive type (LIPE) in the liver (p < 0.05). In the subcutaneous adipose tissue, PRL inhibition increased SPRLR gene expression (p < 0.05) and decreased the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism, including SREBF1, SREBF2, ACACA, PPARG, and LIPE (p < 0.05). In the perirenal adipose tissue, the inhibition of PRL decreased the expression of the PRL, SREBF2, and HMGCR genes (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the inhibition of PRL decreases the serum HSL levels in cashmere goats; the effects of PRL on lipid metabolism are different in different tissues; and PRL affects lipid metabolic activity by regulating different PRLRs in liver and subcutaneous adipose tissues, as well as by decreasing the expression of the PRL, SREBF2, and HMGCR genes in perirenal adipose tissue. Full article

Antibiotic resistance among pathogenic bacteria in humans and animals poses a critical public health challenge, leading to diminished effectiveness of existing antimicrobial treatments. Notably, animal-derived food products are significant vectors for the transmission of resistant bacteria to humans, with Salmonella species being predominant culprits in foodborne illnesses. This study investigates the prevalence and antibiotic resistance patterns of Salmonella serovars isolated from traditionally sourced pork meat in Romania. Over a four-year period, 208 pork samples were collected using standardized protocols during traditional slaughtering practices. Salmonella spp. were isolated following ISO 6579:2002 guidelines and confirmed using biochemical assays and PCR. Serotyping was performed using specific antisera, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted through the standard disk diffusion method, assessing 11 antibiotics. Results indicated a 23.07% prevalence of Salmonella, with 48 isolates categorized into eight serovars, primarily S. Infantis (n = 15), S. Typhimurium (n = 15), and S. Derby (n = 11). PCR results confirmed the presence of Salmonella by detecting the hilA and ompC genes, with 31.25% of isolates being positive for the Typhimurium-specific sequence. Notably, 93.75% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR), exhibiting high resistance rates against streptomycin (91.66%) (>10 µg), tetracycline (83.33%) (>30 µg), and sulfamethoxazole (68.75%) (>300 µg). More than 60% of MDR isolates displayed resistance to five or more antibiotics. These findings underscore the need for coordinated control measures in the pork production chain to combat the spread of Salmonella and protect public health. Enhanced surveillance and intervention strategies are crucial for addressing antibiotic resistance and reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses linked to contaminated animal products. Full article

Osteomyelitis is a significant cause of total carcass condemnation in pigs at the slaughterhouse. The decision for total condemnation of a pig carcass for osteomyelitis is often based on traditional perceptions of the risk of pyaemia, leading to controversy among Official Veterinarians (OV) in the industry. This review aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the etiopathogenesis of osteomyelitis in pigs, the microorganisms involved, and the risk factors. It also highlights the urgent need for a more uniform method to evaluate osteomyelitis cases, which could significantly reduce economic losses in the industry. Lesions originating from tail-biting, tail docking, castration, teeth resection, and raw management are described as risk factors for osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis is caused by the entry of pathogens into the animal’s bloodstream through an open wound. Trueperella monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus spp. are the most described pathogens. At slaughter, OVs condemn carcasses with osteomyelitis due to pyaemia. Signs of acute disease are essential to identify pyaemia cases. In chronic cases, total carcass condemnation can be avoided depending on the number of lesions and vertebrae affected. A clear overall image of the problem would help authorities in various countries adopt a more homogenous approach. Full article

Many farms have been replacing traditional lighting sources with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs because of technological modernization. We aimed to investigate the effects of incandescent lighting (IL) and LED lighting on Cobb 500 broiler chickens for six weeks. Production parameters (body weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio), calculated slaughter values (yield%, relative breast%, thigh%) and breast meat quality parameters (pH at 45 min and 24 h postmortem, color, drip loss, kitchen equipment losses, shear force, meat composition) were recorded. Non-stop recordings were used to analyze the behavior of the birds during several periods of rearing. The LED group was significantly better in the body weight parameter between week 1 and 5 and the feed conversion ratio between week 2 and 3. The most significant difference in behavior was observed in the middle of the rearing period. The chickens in the LED group spent more time eating, drinking and interacting, and rested less. There was no difference in the meat quality parameters; only shear force was significantly lower in the LED group (1781.9 g/s vs. 2098.8 g/s). According to our results, LED lighting can bring about positive changes in animal production efficiency, behavior and other important characteristics for meat consumers. Full article

In recent years, the potential of insects as a sustainable protein alternative to feed the growing world population has been explored. Differences in the ways insects are processed can affect their proximate composition and digestibility. This work studied the effects of the combination of different types of slaughter methods and drying temperatures on the proximate composition, organic matter digestibility (OMd), hydrolysis degree (DH/NH₂ and DH/100 g DM), total hydrolysis (TH), and hygienic and sanitary characteristics of BSFL (black soldier fly larvae) meal. Four types of slaughter methods were used including freezing (F), blanching + freezing (B), Melacide^® + freezing (M), and liquid nitrogen slaughter (N). Each of these was used with three drying temperatures (50, 70, and 90 °C). A negative correlation between the acid detergent fiber (ADF) and protein digestibility parameters was obtained. The most suitable drying temperature was 70 °C, as it produced higher values of protein digestibility (DH and TH), resulting in hygienic and sanitary conditions suitable for food use. Slaughtering with liquid nitrogen and blanching was more conducive to achieving high protein digestibility results than traditional freezing or the use of Melacide^®. Full article

This review describes the production systems and products pertaining to goats and sheep (GS) in Indonesia. These small ruminant species are found across 38 provinces in Indonesia. Almost 99% of the GS are farmed by smallholders, with the animals either being housed in an enclosure (small shed near the farmer’s house) or in a mix of both grazing and confinement. The livestock are typically fed natural and/or artificial feed. Two sheep types, thin-tailed and fat-tailed are the most popular with smallholder producers, while Bali, Etawah, Boerawa, Jawa Randu Kosta, and Gembrong are the dominant goat breeds. As one of the biggest Muslim countries in the world, Indonesian production and consumption of GS is influenced by culture and religious systems. The Halal slaughter method applied is described, as are the religious/cultural festivals in Indonesia, which have a significant relationship on the GS demand and consumption, such as Eid al-Adha and Aqiqah. The preparation, processing, and consumption of GS meat in Indonesia are strongly influenced by the use of spices, being part of the Moluccas archipelago, also known as the “Spice islands” with over 30,000 species of spices grown. Some traditional meats and meat processing technologies in Indonesia are presented to provide insight into how GS meat is processed. The main challenges in the processing of GS meat in Indonesia and some current research on the development of GS production are presented in this paper. Implications: Goat and sheep belong to the most widely consumed meats in the world after pork, poultry, and beef. There are some reasons why GS meat has become one of the more popular protein choices for many families, of which its low-fat levels are one. GS meat is also considered one of the only meats with minimal religious taboos in the world. For these reasons, GS meat is also favored by Indonesian people in the most populous Muslim-majority country. However, information regarding goat and sheep in Indonesia is still lacking. This review aims to provide information on the distribution of GS in Indonesia over 38 provinces, the breed types that grow there, their production, and Indonesian consumption behavior, highlighting the religious festivals that cause the highest demand for these meats. This review provides information to the stakeholders of goat and sheep production chains. Full article

Every year in the United States, approximately 48 million people are affected by bacterial illnesses that are transmitted through food, leading to 3000 fatalities. These illnesses typically stem from food animals and their by-products, which may harbor dangerous pathogens like Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Campylobacter jejuni. Factors that contribute to contamination include manure used as a soil amendment, exposure to polluted irrigation water, and contact with animals. To improve food safety, researchers are studying pre-slaughter intervention methods to eliminate bacterial contamination in live animals. While small ruminants are vital to global agriculture and income generation for small farms, traditional feeding practices involve supplements and antibiotics to boost performance, which contributes to antibiotic resistance. Hence, researchers are looking for friendly bacterial strains that enhance both animal and human health without impacting livestock productivity. The global trend is to minimize the use of antibiotics as feed supplements, with many countries prohibiting or limiting their use. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive insight on the antioxidant capabilities, therapeutic attributes, and applications of bioactive compounds derived from sweet potato tops (SPTs), rice bran (RB) and radish tops (RTs). This overview provides an insight on plant parts that are abundant in antioxidant and prebiotic effects and could be used as value-added products in animal feed and pharmaceutical applications. This review was based on previous findings that supplementation of basal diets with natural supplements represents a multifaceted intervention that will become highly important over time. By remarkably reducing the burden of foodborne pathogens, they apply to multiple species, are cheap, do not require withdrawal periods, and can be applied at any time in food animal production. Full article

Traditional outdoor pig farming is renowned for its emphasis on animal welfare and the production of highly valued, quality meat. While seasonality is known to impact certain animals, particularly those raised outdoors, there is a lack of research on Bísaro boars, a native Portuguese breed. This research study was conducted on a total of 20 male entire Bísaro pigs, reared in outdoor pens from 4 to 13 months old, and subsequently slaughtered. The animals were divided into two groups: one slaughtered in winter (Wi, n = 9), and the other in summer (Su, n = 11). The objective was to evaluate testicular morphometry, boar taint compounds, and meat quality traits, including sensory analysis and fatty acid profile. Testicles from the Su group exhibited reduced volume, indicating diminished functionality during that season. While no significant differences were observed in the boar taint compound analysis, panelists could discern a more intense aroma and flavor of boar taint in the Su meat. Other meat quality traits showed no significant variations, but the fatty acid profile displayed higher values in the Wi group. This study reveals that Bísaro boars experience reproductive seasonality, leading to variations in boar taint compounds across the seasons. This information is crucial for farm planning. Full article

Artificial-intelligence-based methods are regularly used in the biomedical sciences, mainly in the field of diagnostic imaging. Recently, convolutional neural networks have been trained to score pleurisy and pneumonia in slaughtered pigs. The aim of this study is to further evaluate the performance of a convolutional neural network when compared with the gold standard (i.e., scores provided by a skilled operator along the slaughter chain through visual inspection and palpation). In total, 441 lungs (180 healthy and 261 diseased) are included in this study. Each lung was scored according to traditional methods, which represent the gold standard (Madec’s and Christensen’s grids). Moreover, the same lungs were photographed and thereafter scored by a trained convolutional neural network. Overall, the results reveal that the convolutional neural network is very specific (95.55%) and quite sensitive (85.05%), showing a rather high correlation when compared with the scores provided by a skilled veterinarian (Spearman’s coefficient = 0.831, p < 0.01). In summary, this study suggests that convolutional neural networks could be effectively used at slaughterhouses and stimulates further investigation in this field of research. Full article

A non-invasive automatic broiler weight estimation and prediction method based on a machine learning algorithm was developed to address the issue of high labor costs and stress responses caused by the traditional broiler weighing method in large-scale broiler production. Machine learning algorithms are a data-driven strategy that enables computer systems to make predictions and judgments based on patterns and regularities that they have learned. To estimate the current weight of individual live broilers on farms, machine learning algorithms such as the Gaussian mixture model, Isolation Forest, and Ordering Points To Identify the Clustering Structure (OPTICS) are used to filter and extract data features using a two-stage clustering and noise reduction process. Real-time weight prediction was also achieved by combining polynomial fitting and the gray models and adjusting the model parameters based on prediction accuracy feedback. The symmetric mean absolute percentage error (SMAPE) value is a metric that is commonly used to evaluate the predictive performance of a model by comparing the degree of error between the model’s predicted value on the day of slaughter and the true value measured manually, and the results of the experiments on 111 datasets showed that 7.21% were less than or equal to 0.03, 28.83% were less than or equal to 0.1 and greater than 0.03, and 31.53% were less than or equal to 0.2 and greater than 0.1. This method can be used as a prediction scheme for broiler weight monitoring in a large-scale rearing environment, considering the cost of implementation and the accuracy of estimation. Full article

The consumer’s interest in his/her health and the quality of his/her food has increased as well as in environmental issues such as animal welfare. Consumers believe that organic and similar (traditional) production systems are more advantageous for consumers (providing healthier food) and animals (providing better welfare). The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of different rearing systems (organic, conventional and traditional) on the physicochemical properties and oxidation states of pork meat. The meat samples were obtained from three different rearing systems of pigs: organic, conventional and traditional. The samples (M. biceps femoris) were obtained from producers directly 3 days after slaughtering for analysis. The following physical and chemical parameters were analyzed: color (according to the CIE L * a * b * system), pH, dry matter, protein, collagen, fat and ash. The oxidation state of the meat samples was measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs), free fatty acid (FFA) and antioxidant capacity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). The results indicated that the rearing system affects most of the evaluated parameters. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in color parameters L* and b*, where the conventional pork samples were darker and the organic pork yellower. Total protein content in meat of pigs raised in a conventional system was higher (22.23%) than for organic (20.36%) and traditional (21.21%). The fat content in the meat of organically reared pigs was higher (2.81%) than in pork from conventional and traditional systems (1.43% and 0.37%, respectively). Organic pork was more susceptible to oxidation processes due to its higher TBARS (1.24 mg/kg) and FFA (1.15% fat as oleic acid) values and lower antioxidant capacity (26.42% inhibition), which may result in inferior technological properties of meat. Full article