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grazing systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of faecal extract from the yak (Bos grunnienes) as an alternative microbial inoculum to rumen fluid for estimation of digestibility of several forage species. Forage samples produced at high altitude were tested in this study: four legumes (Lathyrus sativus L., Lotus corniculatus L., Onobrychis viciaefolia L. and Trifolium pratense L.), three forbs (Achillea millefolium L., Potentilla reptans L. and Teucrium flavum L.) and one grass (Brachipodyum pinnatum L.) were incubated with yak rumen fluid or faecal extract. A large variability in chemical composition was observed among the species collected. Rumen liquor and faecal samples were collected from adult healthy yak. The Daisy II incubator was used to evaluate the nutrient digestibility of forages using rumen liquor as control and faecal extract as alternative microbial inoculum sources. Filter bags containing samples of browse species were added to the four digestion vessels along with their respective inoculum and then incubated for 48 h and dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral and detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility was determined. There was a significant relationship between estimates, indicating that faecal liquor has the potential to be used instead of rumen fluid for estimation of in vitro digestibility of plants. It is concluded that the Daisy II incubator results are appropriate for the determination of in vitro digestibility of nutrients using faecal liquor to define the potential for adaptation of yak to new pastures.

The present study aimed to determinate beef meat shelf-life packaged in modified atmosphere (MAP). The experiment was carried out on young bulls Longissimus dorsii muscle and considered 2 thesis (meat portioned and conserved in MAP after 3 days “NA” and after 7 days “7A” of ageing), 2 types of packaging (with or without water absorbent pad) and 3 different conservation times (3, 7 or 11 days). The analysis regarded: water loss, colour, TBArs and protein ossidation. Liquid loss showed higher value in packaged meat with absorbent pad than the other (10.38% vs 2.42% P<0.001), while the evaporate liquid was highest in no absorbent pad samples. The positive effect of pad was found in metmyoglobin percentage (13.98 vs 15.10 % respectively for its presence and absence) and protein oxidation (67.32 vs 79.26 nmol thiol/mg protein P<0.05). TBArs increased with conservation times from 0.88 to 2.57 mg/100g, while it didn’t show differences between the two thesis and the two different packaging methods. In conclusion the use of absorbent pad improved meat nutritive quality despite produced more water loss

The aim was to investigate the effect of two different diets on buffalo meat aging. The trial was carried out on 14 male buffaloes subdivided in two groups. During the finishing period the first group was fed mainly on alfalfa hay (AH), while the second group on maize silage (MS). The animals were slaughtered at 16 months of age and at 3 hours from slaughter the longissimus thoracis muscle was removed and stored at 2+1 °C until 14 days, to evaluate the effect of aging times on meat quality. The animals fed on maize silage, because of thicker fat layer, showed slower temperature fall and faster pH fall (5.53 vs 5.56 respectively for MS vs AH on 48 hours). Shear force value was higher for the animals fed on alfalfa hay during whole aging period (from 5.78 kg to 3.32 kg for AH and from 4.70 kg to 2.63 kg for MS) and their meat showed lower lightness particularly at 48 hours from slaughter (39.0 vs 41.2) and higher percentage of oxymyoglobin. Diet affect on aging performances, particularly for tenderness and also if the MS meat showed lower shear force it appeared more degraded and not very bright