Academic literature on the topic 'Bovini da latte'

IRRIGAÇÃO COM ÁGUA SALINA NA CULTURA DO GIRASSOL (Helianthus Annuus L.) EM SOLO COM BIOFERTILIZANTE BOVINO KRISHNA RIBEIRO GOMES1; GEOCLEBER GOMES DE SOUSA2; FRANCISCO ALDIEL LIMA3; THALES VINICIUS DE ARAÚJO VIANA4; BENITO MOREIRA DE AZEVEDO4 E GIOVANA LOPES DA SILVA6 1 Engenheira Agrônoma, Doutoranda, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos y de Montes, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Ctra. de las Peñas, km 3,2, krishnaribeiro@yahoo.com.br2 Engenheiro Agrônomo, Doutor em Engenharia Agrícola, Professor Adjunto I, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Rural, Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira, Redenção, CE, e-mail:sousagg@unilab.edu.br3 Engenheiro Agrônomo, Doutorando, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos y de Montes, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, e-mail: aldiel_metal@hotmail.com4 Engenheiro Agrônomo, Prof. Titular, Departamento de Engenharia Agrícola, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Ceará, e-mail: benitoazevedo@hotmail.com; thales@ufc.br6 Engenheira Agrônoma, Profa. do curso de Engenharia Ambiental e Sanitária, FANOR, Campus das Dunas, Fortaleza, CE, e-mial: gisolos@hotmail.com 1 RESUMO Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar o crescimento inicial e as trocas gasosas da cultura do girassol (Helianthus annuus L.) irrigada com diferentes níveis de salinidade em solo com e sem biofertilizante bovino. O experimento foi conduzido na área experimental da Estação Agrometeorológica, UFC, Fortaleza-CE, no período de setembro a novembro de 2012. Os tratamentos foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente aleatorizado, em esquema fatorial 5 x 2, com cinco repetições, referente aos valores de cinco condutividades elétricas da água de irrigação: 0,8; 1,5; 3,0; 4,5 e 6,0 dS m-1, em solo sem e com biofertilizante bovino, aplicado de uma única vez, ao nível de 10% do volume do substrato, três dias antes da semeadura. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: número de folhas, altura de plantas, diâmetro do caule, área foliar, fotossíntese, condutância estomática, temperatura da folha, concentração interna de CO2, transpiração das plantas, matéria seca da parte aérea, da raiz e total. O estresse salino afetou o diâmetro do caule, a área foliar e o número de folhas de plantas do girassol, sendo em menor intensidade no solo com o biofertilizante bovino. O biofertilizante bovino diminuiu os efeitos negativos das concentrações crescentes de sais na água de irrigação na matéria seca da parte aérea, matéria seca da raiz e matéria seca total de plantas de girassol. Palavras-chave: estresse salino, índices fisiológicos, insumo orgânico GOMES, K. R., SOUSA, G. G., LIMA, F. A., VIANA, T. V. A., AZEVEDO, B. M., SILVA, G. L.SALINE IRRIGATION OF SUNFLOWER (Helianthus Annuus L.) IN SOIL WITH BOVINE BIOFERTILIZER 2 ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate initial growth and gas exchanges of sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L.) irrigated with different salt concentrations in soil treated with and without bovine biofertilizer. The experiment was conducted at the experimental area in the Agrometeorological station, UFC, Fortaleza-CE, from September to November 2012. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized 5 x 2 factorial design, with five replicates referring to five electrical conductivity values of irrigated water.: 0.8;1.5;3.0;4.5 and 6.0 dS m-1, in soil with and without bovine biofertilizer. The latter was applied only once, at 10% substrate volume, three days before sowing. The following parameters were evaluated: number of leaves, plant height, stem diameter , leaf area, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, leaf temperature, internal CO2 concentration, plant transpiration, shoot, root and total dry matter. Salt stress affected stem diameter, leaf area and number of leaves of sunflower plants, and in a lesser degree, in the soil with bovine biofertilizer. Bovine biofertilizer also reduced the negative effects of increasing salt concentrations in the irrigation water observed in shoot, root and total dry matter of sunflower plants. Keywords: salt stress, physiological indices, organic fertilizer.

Tooth whitening can be performed at the dental office, at-home or upon the use of OTC (Over-the-Counter) products. Among the latter, there are whitening toothpastes that promise to bleach and to prevent tooth staining. Objectives: (1) to investigate the bleaching and abrasive potential of different whitening dentifrices to enamel; and (2) to evaluate the effect of Oral-B 3D White Perfection® (Oral-B) toothpaste in preventing staining. Materials and Methods: Bovine enamel samples were stained and brushed for 14 days with water (negative control) or with different products: Colgate Total 12® (control), Oral-B, Sensodyne Branqueador Extra Fresh® (Sensodyne), and Colgate Luminous White Advanced® (Colgate). Oral-B was also tested before and after staining. The samples were tested by their color (spectrophotometer) and surface roughness (profilometer). Color change (ΔDE00) was calculated using the CIEDE2000 color system. The data were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, SNK, and Mann-Whitney tests (ɑ=5%). Results: The negative control showed the lowest ΔE00 (p

The purpose of this research project was to determine knowledge of the Rhipicephalus microplus tick among seventy cattle ranchers in the Caçapava do Sul and Lavras do Sul municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul State, through completing a structured questionnaire. The replies to the questions on the land areas covered by the properties show that 27%, 26%, 21.5%, 20% and 5.5% cover more than 500 hectares, between 150 and 300 hectares, between 300 and 500 hectares, between 50 and 150 hectares, and under 50 hectares, respectively; 75% of the ranchers are raising more than 100 head of cattle; 84.3% have cultivated grazing pastures and 15.7% have only native grasslands; 87.14% of the ranchers rated bovine babesiosis as the main tick-borne disease, and 76% checked out tick control products recommended by veterinarians. They mentioned 13 formulations and/or associations of tick control products. The tick control biogram test is a new tool for 58.6% of these cattle ranchers. Producers use late control, based on tick control chemicals.

Abstract Introduction Convencional resin cements can be used in combination with a total-etch system in a conventional mode or as self-adhesive resin cements. The latter are less technique sensitive and able to bond to dental tissues without previous treatment or adhesive layer and requires only a single step to be applied to dental structures. Objective To compare qualitatively the adhesive interfaces of two self-adhesive resin cements and one conventional resin cement after different tooth surface treatments under scanning electron microscopy. Material and method 42 crowns of bovine incisors were sectioned and flattened exposing enamel (E) or dentine (D) substrate. Subgroups were defined according to conditioning type and time: E1—no treatment, E2—37% phosphoric acid for 15 seconds, E3—37% phosphoric acid for 30 seconds; D1—no treatment, D2—37% phosphoric acid for 5 seconds; D3—11.5% polyacrylic acid for 15 seconds. A resin block was bonded to each substrate using the self-adhesive resin cements RelyX U100 (3M ESPE) and RelyX U200 (3M ESPE). As a reference hybrid layer, six resin blocks were luted with RelyX ARC and Scotchbond Multi-Purpose adhesive system (3M ESPE) (enamel—EA; dentine—DA). After aging for 7 days in a moist environment at 37±1°C, samples were prepared for microscopy analysis. Result and Discussion In the ARC specimens, there was hybrid layer formation in both EA and DA. U100 E1 showed gaps at the adhesive interface, while E2 and E3 showed interaction for both self-adhesive cements. There was superficial interaction with bothU100 and U200 in D1, while in D2 and D3, resin tags were only observed in the case of U100. Conclusion It was concluded that substrate conditioning may enhance the interaction between self-adhesive resin cements and dental tissues, although this is not the case for RelyX U200 and dentine.

As intervenções arqueológicas em várias ocupações rurais datadas do 1º milénio a.C. na margem direita do curso médio do rio Guadiana, em Portugal, levadas a cabo no âmbito do plano de salvaguarda da Barragem de Alqueva, permitiram a recolha de cinco conjuntos zooarqueológicos provenientes da Rocha do Vigio 2, Espinhaço de Cão 1, Monte dos Musgos 10, Malhada dos Gagos 13 e Malhada das Mimosas 2. O estudo arqueofaunístico demonstrou uma marcada dependência dos animais domésticos, como o gado bovino e ovino/caprino. A actividade cinegética está presente no Bronze Final, mas mal documentada nos momentos mais antigos da Idade do Ferro, para de novo emergir no final do 1º milénio a.C. Ainda que os vestígios marinhos estejam ausentes dos conjuntos estudados, estes deveriam ser conhecidos e utilizados pela população que, no início da Idade Ferro, parece manter contactos com o litoral, como indicado pela presença de moluscos e peixes marinhos em alguns dos sítios, como no Castro da Azougada. Os conjuntos faunísticos estudados inserem-se num modelo económico rural de subsistência e de gestão animal característico dos momentos anteriores aos contactos orientalizantes e que parecem perdurar até ao dealbar da romanização. The reluctance of rural populations to foreign influences in the 1st millennium B.C.: Zooarchaeological evidences from the right side of the middle-course of the river Guadiana, PortugalRescue archaeological works conducted in several rural sites dated from the 1st millennium BC in the right bank of the middle-course of river Guadiana, Portugal, motivated by the construction of the Alqueva Dam, allowed the recovery of five zooarchaeological assemblages from Rocha do Vigio 2, Espinhaço de Cão 1, Monte dos Musgos 10, Malhada dos Gagos 13 and Malhada das Mimosas 2. The zooarchaeological study of such assemblages showed a strong dependence on domestic animals, such as cattle and ovicaprines. Hunting practices were identified in the Late Bronze Age, but they were rarely recognised in the Early Iron Age. However, hunting becomes more frequent by the end of the 1st millennium BC. Despite the absence of marine resources within the studied faunal assemblages, they should have been known and used, considering that contacts with the littoral were kept since the Early Iron Age, as shown by the presence of marine molluscs and marine fishes in sites such as Castro da Azougada. The zooarchaeological assemblages here presented are part of an economic model of rural subsistence and animal management that are typical of the moments prior to oriental influence, and that seem to last until the beginning of Romanization.

Since the first proposal to use spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) as an animal-based protein source feed additive for piglets in the late 1980s, a large number of studies have been published on the promotion effect of SDPP on piglets. SDPP contains biologically active components that support pig health during weaning stress and may be more economical to use compared to similar bovine-milk-derived protein sources. Unfortunately, animal blood proteins have been suspected as a source for African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) spread in China. Furthermore, there are no offcially recognized methods for quantifying SDPP in complex feed mixtures. Therefore, it is essential to develop rapid, high-effciency analytical methods to detect SDPP. The feasibility of detecting SDPP using an electronic nose and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was explored and validated by a principal component analysis (PCA). Both discrimination experiments and prediction experiments were implemented to compare the detect feature of the two techniques. On this basis, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS–DA) under various preprocessing methods was used to develop a qualitative discriminant model for estimating the prediction performance. Before selecting a specific regression model for the quantitative analysis of SDPP, a continuum regression (CR) model was employed to explore and choose the potential most appropriate regression model for these two different types of datasets. The results showed that the optimal regression model adopted partial least squares regression (PLSR) with the Savitzky–Golay first derivative and mean-center preprocessing for the NIRS dataset (Rp2 = 0.999, RMSEP = 0.1905). Overall, combining the NIRS technique with multivariate data analysis methods shows more possibilities than an electronic nose for rapidly detecting the usage of SDPP in mixed feed samples, which could provide an effective way to identify the use of SDPP in feed mixtures.

Metallocarboxypeptidases are zinc-dependent peptide-hydrolysing enzymes involved in several important physiological and pathological processes. They have been a target of growing interest in the search for natural or synthetic compound binders with biomedical and drug discovery purposes, i.e., with potential as antimicrobials or antiparasitics. Given that marine resources are an extraordinary source of bioactive molecules, we screened marine invertebrates for new inhibitory compounds with such capabilities. In this work, we report the isolation and molecular and functional characterization of NpCI, a novel strong metallocarboxypeptidase inhibitor from the marine snail Nerita peloronta. NpCI was purified until homogeneity using a combination of affinity chromatography and RP-HPLC. It appeared as a 5921.557 Da protein with 53 residues and six disulphide-linked cysteines, displaying a high sequence similarity with NvCI, a carboxypeptidase inhibitor isolated from Nerita versicolor, a mollusc of the same genus. The purified inhibitor was determined to be a slow- and tight-binding inhibitor of bovine CPA (Ki = 1.1·× 10−8 mol/L) and porcine CPB (Ki = 8.15·× 10−8 mol/L) and was not able to inhibit proteases from other mechanistic classes. Importantly, this inhibitor showed antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum in an in vitro culture (IC50 = 5.5 μmol/L), reducing parasitaemia mainly by inhibiting the later stages of the parasite’s intraerythrocytic cycle whilst having no cytotoxic effects on human fibroblasts. Interestingly, initial attempts with other related proteinaceous carboxypeptidase inhibitors also displayed similar antiplasmodial effects. Coincidentally, in recent years, a metallocarboxypeptidase named PfNna1, which is expressed in the schizont phase during the late intraerythrocytic stage of the parasite’s life cycle, has been described. Given that NpCI showed a specific parasiticidal effect on P. falciparum, eliciting pyknotic/dead parasites, our results suggest that this and related inhibitors could be promising starting agents or lead compounds for antimalarial drug discovery strategies.

O Grupo de Estudos Pro Latte foi iniciado em maio de 2016, no IFC campus Concórdia,com o intuito de contribuir para o aprendizado discente na área de BovinoculturaLeiteira, com ênfase na prevenção e controle da mastite bovina e melhoria daqualidade do leite. O grupo conta com a participação voluntária, principalmente dealunos da área de Ciências Agrárias, e também é aberto à comunidade externa docampus. No presente trabalho, são apresentadas as atividades realizadas pelo grupo,de 2016 a 2019, como forma de divulgação e incentivo aos demais campi do IFC.

ABSTRACT: Treatment with prostaglandin F2α (PGF) induces ovulation and increases conception rates in cows, while improving embryo production in buffalos. However, its effect on superovulated cows is unknown. This study verified whether single PGF administration concurrent with artificial insemination (AI) improves fertilization and embryo production rates in superovulated cows. In each replicate, embryo donor cows were equally allocated to two groups: the untreated control and PGF groups. The latter of which received 482 µg of cloprostenol concurrent with the first AI. Each cow (n = 35) was subjected to two superovulations (SOV) in a crossover design (total = 70 embryo collections). In the control and PGF groups, respectively, the observed responses were [median (95% CI)]: 12 (10-18) and 15 (12-18) total structures, 9 (7-11) and 7 (6-10) viable embryos, 1 (0-1) and 1 (1-3) degenerated embryos, and 1 (0-3) and 2 (0-5) oocytes (P > 0.05). In conclusion, single PGF treatment concurrent with the first AI did not affect embryo production in superovulated cows.

Dairy farms have greatly evolved in recent years with the acquisition of new knowledge and the development of innovative technologies, with particular consideration to animal welfare and comfort. The housing for dairy cows, with their equipment, facilities and farm management have become a real production factor that can affect the results of enterprise. In this context, the study of animal behavior is considered an important indicator for the evaluation of the welfare animal in different types of housing and for the development of farming systems that allow combining high levels of production and animal welfare. The purpose of this research was to explore some relevant aspects of the influence of dairy housing and operational conditions on the comfort of dairy cows and livestock production efficiency. The activities performed during the research period were oriented to assess the behavioral reaction of different groups of dairy cows to environmental, structural and operational conditions and to evaluate several methodologies and technologies for monitoring the behavioral activities of dairy cows. In some of the case studies examined we analyzed the effects of feeding frequency and environmental conditions, and the influence of dimension and layout of functional spaces in free-stall housing. For this purpose, methods of analysis, based on video recording and post-image analysis have been developed. Moreover, some devices for automatic recording of behavior have been developed and validated. The main results confirm that the feeding frequency seems to affect in limited way the time spent on the different daily behavioral activities (lying, standing, and feeding) of dairy cows, but, the distribution of activities throughout the day was modified. It has also been confirmed as the most significant changes in behavior arise from the environmental conditions, especially related to THI, and the adequacy of functional spaces layout. The influence of the rest area layout has provided valuable indications for the design criteria to increase the time that the cows are lying down and to improve comfort and welfare of animal. The development of a simulation model, based on fuzzy logic, has allowed providing an integrated assessment tool of design solutions for free-stall dairy cow barns. This tool could help to verify the design criteria also considering the behavior of dairy cows and support the analysis of existing housing to assess the critical structural factors. The methods investigated, based on video recording and image analysis, have confirmed that reliable estimates of the daily behavior of individual animals, or the average behavior of the herd, can be generated using hourly scan sampling interval. The data loggers investigated, based on accelerometer sensors, have accurately measured lying and standing behaviors in lactating dairy cows kept in a highly automated loose-housing barn, confirming the validity of use of these devices to improve awareness of cow comfort. Moreover, the methodologies and technologies investigated have improved the level of automation of recording of the behavioral activities. In conclusion, the results obtained from the various research activities have provided useful information on criteria design and management operations in different farm conditions, highlighting the importance of these aspects in helping to create the optimum conditions to design dairy housing more appropriate to the needs of animals, improving their welfare.

Questo elaborato di tesi si occupa di una delle principali razze bovine da latte: la razza Jersey, originaria dell’isola omonima, situata nel canale della Manica. Nonostante la piccola taglia di questa razza, la qualità del latte risulta molto elevata in relazione soprattutto al tenore proteico e lipidico, collocandola fra le migliori razze per la produzione di prodotti caseari. Queste peculiarità sono legate sia ai meccanismi di secrezione del latte, fortemente influenzati dall’azione degli ormoni ed in particolare, quello dell’accrescimento (GH) la cui concentrazione risulta maggiore nelle bovine di razza Jersey rispetto ad altre razze bovine da latte, sia alla presenza di peculiari geni quali quello DGAT1 che regola il contenuto di grasso e la tipologia di proteine presenti nel latte. A livello proteico le caseine sono quelle presenti in maggior quantità, tanto da influenzare la conversione del latte in formaggio, mentre a livello lipidico questo latte presenta un alto quantitativo di acidi grassi saturi. Tali caratteristiche hanno favorito anche in Italia la progressiva diffusione delle vacche di razza Jersey all’interno di aziende sia per la produzione di latte fresco che risulta dotato di proprietà nutrizionali idonee per l’alta qualità, che per la produzione di latte destinato alla caseificazione, tanto da essere impiegato anche per la produzione di Parmigiano Reggiano. In futuro si prospetta pertanto un aumento del numero di capi di vacche Jersey in tutto il Mondo, perché non solo il suo latte risolve molte problematiche aziendali, ma anche perché la sua piccola mole permette di essere introdotta in allevamenti di altre razze bovine da latte, senza dover sconvolgere l’intera struttura. La notevole qualità di questo latte, trasmessa poi ai formaggi, ha dato nascita al World Jersey Cattle Bureau, una rappresentativa che ha il compito di mettere in luce la razza Jersey, rendendola la migliore scelta sostenibile per gli allevatori.

Dalla panoramica dei sistemi di valutazione del Benessere Animale (BA) si evince che si basa su molteplici indicatori diretti ed indiretti, ma per tutti i sistemi esaminati non vi è mai la possibilità di confermare la stima di benessere con metodi di riferimento oggettivi ed indipendenti. Inoltre, i vari sistemi, pur volendo stimare un dato oggettivo del BA, rispondono a specifiche categorie sociali: opinione pubblica (es. Welfare Quality), politica amministrativa (es. IBA), allevatori (es. FARM, IBS e SDIB), consumatori (FARM, Welfare Quality). Un sistema realmente olistico al momento non esiste, in quanto in relazione all’esigenza principale che deve soddisfare, si tende a semplificare la valutazione omettendo alcuni aspetti significativi. Lo scopo generale di questa attività di ricerca è stato quello di evolvere un sistema di valutazione del BA (modello SDIB) realizzato presso il Dipartimento DIANA di Piacenza, rivolto agli allevamenti in prima istanza, quale strumento di innovazione dell’impresa zootecnica, ma nel pieno rispetto delle normative, della sensibilità sociale e delle istanze etiche. L’obiettivo principale è stato quello di sviluppare un software, denominato IDEAL, dedicato al modello di valutazione SDIB. È stata valutata l’eventuale ridondanza degli indicatori di benessere inclusi nel modello, entro una adeguata popolazione di allevamenti della pianura padana e dello stato dell’Oregon. Inoltre, SDIB ha mostrato incoraggianti risultati circa il suo utilizzo come strumento di valutazione di fattori sovra-aziendali, sono infatti state eseguite valutazioni in gruppi di allevamenti caratterizzati da differenze produttive, e gestionali (es. sistema biologico vs convenzionale; adesione al disciplinare del Grana Padano vs Parmigiano Reggiano; sistema padano vs sistema Oregon) per valutare l’eventuale incidenza sul livello di BA. Applicando questa metodologia l’investigazione di tali fattori esula dalle mode del momento; al contrario, privilegia la risposta degli animali per tali fattori. Nei confronti eseguiti, è stata riscontrata per tutti i gruppi di aziende una elevata variabilità relativa al livello di BA, dimostrando come disciplinari o sistemi di allevamento diversi, non siano da soli, sufficienti a garantire un ottimale livello di BA. Un secondo obiettivo del progetto si è concentrato sullo studio di valori di riferimento ematici nelle varie fasi di lattazione, per fornire una maggiore oggettività ai sistemi di valutazione del BA con dati indipendenti. Pertanto, si sono eseguiti prelievi ematici nelle categorie di allevamento più rappresentative delle bovine durante il ciclo produttivo (asciutta, immediato post-parto, fine del primo mese di lattazione e lattazione avanzata) appartenenti ad allevamenti con un buon livello di benessere in tutti i cluster di SDIB, una adeguata alimentazione in tutte le fasi ed ottimi standard di strutture ed attrezzature, con lo scopo di identificare i livelli di riferimento di vari indicatori fisiologici. Per le 4 fasi sono pertanto stati individuati nuovi range di riferimento che potranno essere usati per validare i vari sistemi di valutazione del BA.
The overview of Animal Welfare (AW) assessment systems shows that it is based on multiple direct and indirect indicators, but for all systems examined, there is never the possibility of confirming the welfare estimate with objective and independent reference methods. Even though the various systems want to estimate an objective data of animal welfare, they respond to specific social categories: public opinion (e.g., Welfare Quality), administrative policy (e.g., IBA), breeders (e.g., FARM, IBS and SDIB), consumers (FARM, Welfare Quality). At the moment, there is no truly holistic system; in relation to the main need to satisfy, there is a tendency to simplify the evaluation by omitting some significant aspects. The general aim of this research activity was to evolve an animal welfare evaluation system (SDIB model), that has been carried out at the DIANA Department of Piacenza. Firstly, this system is suggested for farms as a tool for innovation of the livestock enterprise, but in full compliance with the regulations, social sensitivity, and ethical requirements. The main objective was to develop a software, called IDEAL, dedicated to the SDIB evaluation model. The possible redundancy of the welfare indicators included in the model was evaluated within an adequate population of farms in the Po Valley and in the State of Oregon. In addition, SDIB has shown encouraging results about its use as a tool for the evaluation of extra company factors. In fact, some evaluations have been carried out in groups of farms characterized by differences in production and management (e.g., biological system vs. conventional, adherence to Grana Padano Disciplinary vs. Parmigiano Reggiano Disciplinary, Po Valley system vs. Oregon system) to assess the possible impact on the level of AW. Applying this methodology, the investigation of these factors goes beyond the current trends. On the contrary, it favors the animals' response to these factors. With regard to the comparisons carried out, a high variability relative to the level of animal welfare has been found for all groups of farms, demonstrating how different disciplines or farming systems are not sufficient to ensure an optimal level of AW, if not related to something else. A second objective of the project was to study blood reference values at the various stages of lactation in order to provide greater objectivity to the AW assessment systems with independent data. Therefore, blood samples were taken from the most representative categories of cows during the production cycle (dry, immediate post-partum, end of the first month of lactation and advanced lactation) belonging to herds with a good level of welfare in all SDIB clusters, adequate feeding at all stages and excellent standards of facilities and equipment, with the aim of identifying the reference levels of various physiological indicators. For the 4 phases, new reference ranges have been identified, and they can be used to validate the various assessment systems of the AW.

Dalla panoramica dei sistemi di valutazione del Benessere Animale (BA) si evince che si basa su molteplici indicatori diretti ed indiretti, ma per tutti i sistemi esaminati non vi è mai la possibilità di confermare la stima di benessere con metodi di riferimento oggettivi ed indipendenti. Inoltre, i vari sistemi, pur volendo stimare un dato oggettivo del BA, rispondono a specifiche categorie sociali: opinione pubblica (es. Welfare Quality), politica amministrativa (es. IBA), allevatori (es. FARM, IBS e SDIB), consumatori (FARM, Welfare Quality). Un sistema realmente olistico al momento non esiste, in quanto in relazione all’esigenza principale che deve soddisfare, si tende a semplificare la valutazione omettendo alcuni aspetti significativi. Lo scopo generale di questa attività di ricerca è stato quello di evolvere un sistema di valutazione del BA (modello SDIB) realizzato presso il Dipartimento DIANA di Piacenza, rivolto agli allevamenti in prima istanza, quale strumento di innovazione dell’impresa zootecnica, ma nel pieno rispetto delle normative, della sensibilità sociale e delle istanze etiche. L’obiettivo principale è stato quello di sviluppare un software, denominato IDEAL, dedicato al modello di valutazione SDIB. È stata valutata l’eventuale ridondanza degli indicatori di benessere inclusi nel modello, entro una adeguata popolazione di allevamenti della pianura padana e dello stato dell’Oregon. Inoltre, SDIB ha mostrato incoraggianti risultati circa il suo utilizzo come strumento di valutazione di fattori sovra-aziendali, sono infatti state eseguite valutazioni in gruppi di allevamenti caratterizzati da differenze produttive, e gestionali (es. sistema biologico vs convenzionale; adesione al disciplinare del Grana Padano vs Parmigiano Reggiano; sistema padano vs sistema Oregon) per valutare l’eventuale incidenza sul livello di BA. Applicando questa metodologia l’investigazione di tali fattori esula dalle mode del momento; al contrario, privilegia la risposta degli animali per tali fattori. Nei confronti eseguiti, è stata riscontrata per tutti i gruppi di aziende una elevata variabilità relativa al livello di BA, dimostrando come disciplinari o sistemi di allevamento diversi, non siano da soli, sufficienti a garantire un ottimale livello di BA. Un secondo obiettivo del progetto si è concentrato sullo studio di valori di riferimento ematici nelle varie fasi di lattazione, per fornire una maggiore oggettività ai sistemi di valutazione del BA con dati indipendenti. Pertanto, si sono eseguiti prelievi ematici nelle categorie di allevamento più rappresentative delle bovine durante il ciclo produttivo (asciutta, immediato post-parto, fine del primo mese di lattazione e lattazione avanzata) appartenenti ad allevamenti con un buon livello di benessere in tutti i cluster di SDIB, una adeguata alimentazione in tutte le fasi ed ottimi standard di strutture ed attrezzature, con lo scopo di identificare i livelli di riferimento di vari indicatori fisiologici. Per le 4 fasi sono pertanto stati individuati nuovi range di riferimento che potranno essere usati per validare i vari sistemi di valutazione del BA.
The overview of Animal Welfare (AW) assessment systems shows that it is based on multiple direct and indirect indicators, but for all systems examined, there is never the possibility of confirming the welfare estimate with objective and independent reference methods. Even though the various systems want to estimate an objective data of animal welfare, they respond to specific social categories: public opinion (e.g., Welfare Quality), administrative policy (e.g., IBA), breeders (e.g., FARM, IBS and SDIB), consumers (FARM, Welfare Quality). At the moment, there is no truly holistic system; in relation to the main need to satisfy, there is a tendency to simplify the evaluation by omitting some significant aspects. The general aim of this research activity was to evolve an animal welfare evaluation system (SDIB model), that has been carried out at the DIANA Department of Piacenza. Firstly, this system is suggested for farms as a tool for innovation of the livestock enterprise, but in full compliance with the regulations, social sensitivity, and ethical requirements. The main objective was to develop a software, called IDEAL, dedicated to the SDIB evaluation model. The possible redundancy of the welfare indicators included in the model was evaluated within an adequate population of farms in the Po Valley and in the State of Oregon. In addition, SDIB has shown encouraging results about its use as a tool for the evaluation of extra company factors. In fact, some evaluations have been carried out in groups of farms characterized by differences in production and management (e.g., biological system vs. conventional, adherence to Grana Padano Disciplinary vs. Parmigiano Reggiano Disciplinary, Po Valley system vs. Oregon system) to assess the possible impact on the level of AW. Applying this methodology, the investigation of these factors goes beyond the current trends. On the contrary, it favors the animals' response to these factors. With regard to the comparisons carried out, a high variability relative to the level of animal welfare has been found for all groups of farms, demonstrating how different disciplines or farming systems are not sufficient to ensure an optimal level of AW, if not related to something else. A second objective of the project was to study blood reference values at the various stages of lactation in order to provide greater objectivity to the AW assessment systems with independent data. Therefore, blood samples were taken from the most representative categories of cows during the production cycle (dry, immediate post-partum, end of the first month of lactation and advanced lactation) belonging to herds with a good level of welfare in all SDIB clusters, adequate feeding at all stages and excellent standards of facilities and equipment, with the aim of identifying the reference levels of various physiological indicators. For the 4 phases, new reference ranges have been identified, and they can be used to validate the various assessment systems of the AW.

La messa in asciutta sta diventando una fase sempre più importante del ciclo di lattazione. Rappresenta un evento stressante per la bovina da latte perché comporta diversi cambiamenti nella gestione e nella fisiologia degli animali. Eventi infiammatori in questa fase possono avere anche sulla lattazione successiva. Inoltre, l'elevata produzione di latte che viene raggiunta dalle vacche moderne in tarda gestazione può influenzare l'adattamento al periodo di asciutta e potrebbe compromettere la futura produttività e lo stato di salute degli animali. Inoltre, le forti richieste di ridurre l'uso di antibiotici nell’allevamento e la diffusione della terapia selettiva all’asciutta sollevano ulteriori preoccupazioni riguardo a questa fase. Nella presente tesi è stato indagato l'effetto di condizioni infiammatorie sistemiche alla messa in asciutta sull'adattamento al successivo periparto. Quindi, è stato valutato un approccio di messa in asciutta selettiva, concentrandosi in particolare sulle risposte immunometaboliche e sulle implicazioni sulla successiva lattazione. Inoltre, è stata valutata con un approccio simile l'integrazione con un nutraceutico (Aloe arborescens Mill.). Successivamente, è stata analizzata l'espressione genica dei leucociti circolanti all’asciutta, per capire cosa accade a livello molecolare, confrontando vacche con diversa produzione di latte, e confermando gli effetti negativi dell'elevata produzione sulla risposta infiammatoria. Negli anni sono state proposte diverse strategie per ridurre gradualmente la produzione di latte prima dell'asciutta, favorendo l'avvio del processo di involuzione mammaria. Pertanto, sono stati valutati gli effetti della restrizione alimentare su produzione e metabolismo.
The dry-off is an important phase of the lactation cycle. It represents a stressful event for dairy cows because it includes several changes in animal management and physiology. Inflammatory events in this phase seem to have a carryover effect on the ensuing lactation. Moreover, the high milk yield still achieved by modern cows in late gestation can affect the adaptation to the non-lactating period and might impair future performance and health. Furthermore, the public demand to reduce antibiotic use in livestock and the spread of selective dry-cow therapy raise additional concerns about this phase. In this thesis, the effect of systemic inflammatory conditions at dry-off on the adaptation to the subsequent calving has been investigated. Then, a selective dry-cow therapy approach was evaluated, particularly focusing on the immunometabolic responses and the implications on the ensuing early lactation. Moreover, to optimize this strategy, the supplementation of a nutraceutical (Aloe arborescens Mill.) has been tested with a similar approach. Furthermore, circulating leukocyte gene expression was analyzed at the turn of the dry-off, to understand what happens at a molecular level, comparing cows with different yields, and confirming the detrimental effect of high yield on the inflammatory response. Several strategies have been proposed over the years to gradually reduce milk yield before dry-off, promoting the beginning of the mammary involution process. Thus, we evaluated the effects of feed restriction on performance and metabolism.

I ruminanti sono altamente specializzati nella digestione della fibra. In condizioni di ottima funzionalità digestiva, sono le particelle di foraggio ad essere trattenute per lungo tempo nel rumine dove possono essere degradate dai batteri cellulosolitici. Nonostante queste conoscenze, la stima della degradabilità ruminale delle porzioni potenzialmente degradabili delle fibre è stata notevolmente sottostimata da taluni modelli dinamici di razionamento. Studi più recenti realizzati da Krizsan, Ahvenjarvi e Huhtanen, hanno sostanzialmente rivisto gli assunti relativi alle percentuali di fibra digerita nel rumine. Le tecniche di valutazione in vivo della digeribilità della pdNDF utilizzando come marker l’uNDF240 hanno consentito di valutare in campo questo parametro. Gli studi fatti si sono proposti di valutare come la digeribilità della fibra della razione potesse essere modificata in funzione di una diversa granulometria della dieta e di diversi tassi di degradazione oraria (kd, %/h) di foraggi di medica. I risultati hanno evidenziato che: -l’utilizzo di razioni ricche di foraggi a granulometria ridotta non compromette lo stato di salute delle manze e consente comunque che la pdNDF sia ampiamente digerita; ciò avvalora l’ipotesi che la granulometria dei foraggi giustifica solo in parte la capacità di ritenzione selettiva del rumine che è legata anche ad altri fattori (peso specifico e capacità di galleggiamento); - nelle bovine in lattazione l’utilizzo di foraggi con un contenuto di fibra rapidamente degradabile e meno ricchi di uNDF consente di esaltare l’ingestione di sostanza secca oltre che la produzione di latte; la digeribilità complessiva della fibra non è invece sostanzialmente mutata in funzione del parametro “costante di degradabilità oraria” della pdNDF del foraggio; ancora una volta il risultato può essere spiegato alla luce della grande capacità di ritenzione selettiva del rumine nei confronti della fibra; - le equazioni proposte dal sistema di razionamento NorFor appaiono più adeguate nel predire la digeribilità della fibra.
It has been known that ruminants are highly specialized in fiber degradation. In normal conditions, the forage particles are the ones that are retained, more than others, for a long time in the rumen to be digested by the bacteria. However the prediction of the rumen digestibility of potentially digestible fiber has been underestimate in some models. More recent studies made by Krizsan, Ahvenjarvi e Huhtanen, have modified the values related to fiber digestibility in the rumen. The introduction of uNDF240 as internal marker to evaluate the pdNDF digestibility, allowed studying the digestibility in the field. The studies conducted in this thesis had the aim to evaluate the factors that can affect digestibility of the diet such as fiber particle size and the use of forages with different digestibility (kd, %/h). The results of this thesis showed that the reduction in fiber particle size increase the DMI without affect rumen health of growing heifers. Diet with short fiber particle size reached high level of digestion; this evaluation confirms the hypothesis that forage particle size is only one of the factor affecting the retention time in the rumen, and that other factors like particle density and buoyancy can be involved. In lactating cows the inclusion of highly digestible fiber and low in uNDF allows to increase the intake and performances; however the total digestibility didn’t change significantly. Again, these results can be justified by the different retention time in the rumen that can compensate the slow digestibility of some forage. Evaluating the pdNDF digestibility observed in this research with the models available, NorFor equations appears to predict the fiber behavior in the rumen.

Milk bacterial quality at farm gate has gradually improved in the last decades in Italy, and in Lombardia. Further more raw milk consumption is raising public concern about the risk of foodborne disease by emerging pathogens. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the real presence of such bacteria in different dairy herds. Two groups of dairy were analized: 22 were located in Milano-Lodi area, and chosen based on bulk milk total bacterial count registred during the last 3 years; they were visited 3 times in different seasons. The second group were 42 dairy located in Como-Lecco area. In all of these herd cows are housed in cubicles and milked in herringbone parlours. The following samples were taken: bulk milk, milk machine filters and 3 environmental samples. Each samples was microbiologically tested for the presence of S.aureus, Salmonella spp., L.monocitogenes, Campyloacter spp.,EHEC,Yersinia enterocolitica and MAP. The presumptive isolation was confirmed by PCR.The presence of MAP was investigaqted by Real-Time PCR. Only S.aureus positive milk samples was higher in the herds. MAP showed similar frequency, but a random distribution. With the exeption of Y.entercolitica, that was isolated in 1 herd, all the other pathogens were never detected in the milk or in the filter. Frequentely we isolated EHEC and MAP in environmental samples, while neither Salmonella spp. Nor Campylobacter spp.. were demonstrated. When proper hygienic procedures during milking are applied, the risk of milk contamination by foodborne pathogens in very low.

Il benessere degli animali è uno dei temi più discussi temi delle scienze animali. Molti ricercatori hanno provato a darne una definizione e a sviluppare strumenti utili alla sua valutazione negli allevamenti di vacche da latte. Nel presente lavoro viene discussa la possibilità di valutare il benessere degli animali, attraverso sistemi di innovazione da diversi punti di vista: scientifico, economico e zootecnico. Quattro differenti ricerche sono state sviluppate per confrontare i risultati sulla valutazione del benessere degli animali negli allevamenti da latte ottenuti con: indici fisiologici, modello SDIB e un sistema di monitoraggio della ruminazione.
Animal welfare is one of the most discussed topic in the animal science. Many researchers have been proving to define animal welfare and to develop tools useful to assess its levels in dairy farms. In the present issue it is discussed with different point of view (scientific, economical and zootechnic) the opportunity to assess the animal welfare through innovations system. Our different research was develop to compare the results about animal welfare in dairy herds obtained by physiological indices as well as blood variables, a model for animal welfare assessment as well as IDSW model, a rumination monitoring system.

Il benessere degli animali è uno dei temi più discussi temi delle scienze animali. Molti ricercatori hanno provato a darne una definizione e a sviluppare strumenti utili alla sua valutazione negli allevamenti di vacche da latte. Nel presente lavoro viene discussa la possibilità di valutare il benessere degli animali, attraverso sistemi di innovazione da diversi punti di vista: scientifico, economico e zootecnico. Quattro differenti ricerche sono state sviluppate per confrontare i risultati sulla valutazione del benessere degli animali negli allevamenti da latte ottenuti con: indici fisiologici, modello SDIB e un sistema di monitoraggio della ruminazione.
Animal welfare is one of the most discussed topic in the animal science. Many researchers have been proving to define animal welfare and to develop tools useful to assess its levels in dairy farms. In the present issue it is discussed with different point of view (scientific, economical and zootechnic) the opportunity to assess the animal welfare through innovations system. Our different research was develop to compare the results about animal welfare in dairy herds obtained by physiological indices as well as blood variables, a model for animal welfare assessment as well as IDSW model, a rumination monitoring system.

Several studies in women indicate that precocious ovarian aging is a disorder characterized by an accelerated decline of reproductive potential. We demonstrated that ovaries recovered from 4-8 years old dairy cows with a low antral follicle count generate oocytes with low developmental competence, high aneuploidy rate after maturation, a reduced amount of active mitochondria and a lower glutathione synthesis capability. Interestingly, these ovaries have a reduced volume, show a low proportion of healthy primordial follicles and an increased stromal tissue. Moreover this is accompanied by reduced perifollicular vessels and endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase concentration. Interestingly, the administration of NO donor molecules partially reverse the defective oocyte developmental capability in vitro. Finally, follicular fluids recovered from these ovaries have a high progesterone concentration, low estrogen/progesterone ratio and low Anti-Mullerian hormone concentration, which accounts for a low follicle reserve. Altogether, morphological changes, ovarian and endocrine functions consistently indicate a condition of precocious ovarian failure in young adult dairy cows and validate the use of this population as an animal model to study the accelerated decline of fertility in women.