-The trends of the physicochemical properties, chemical constituents and main nitrogen fractions of Haflinger mare milk were studied. Milk samples were collected at d 4,20,40, 60, 80, 120, 150 and 180 post-partum, by hand-milking from 5 mares, 7-14 years old (4-11 parities) and 400-490 kg live weight. Density, pH, titratable acidity, fat, protein, lactose and ash varied significantly during the first lactation period, while the freezing point showed statistically no significant modifications. The contents of fat, protein and ash diminished. In addition, the gross energy value tended to decrease and the lactose content increased. Total N content decreased significantly (P < 0.0001), especially between d 4 (515 mg) and d 40 (286 mg) and, to a lesser degree, until d 180 of lactation (255 mg . 100 g -1 milk). The casein number varied significantly (P < 0.001), particularly between the beginning (56.32%) and the end (45.40%) of lactation. The trend of non-protein N and globulin N fractions was different; both the 2nd and 3rd month showed the lowest values of the entire lactation (P < 0.05). The non-protein N proportion (NPN × 100 / total N) increased significantly (P < 0.001) from the beginning (7.74% at d 4) to the end (12.37% at d 180) of lactation. The globulin N proportion increased from the end of the 4th lactation month, reaching in the final period an average value of about 10% of total N, but with an irregular trend (P > 0.05).Haflinger horse / nursing mare / lactation stage / milk properties / milk composition / nitrogen fractions Résumé -Propriétés physico-chimiques, composition chimique, valeur énergétique et fractions azotées du lait de jument de race Haflinger pendant 6 mois de lactation. L'évolution des propriétés physico-chimiques, des constituants chimiques et des principales fractions azotées du lait de jument de race Haflinger a été étudiée. Les prélèvements de lait ont été effectués à 4,20,40, 60, 80, 120, 150 P. Mariani et al. 416

The effects of dietary nucleotide supplementation from 9 days of age until the end of post-weaning on piglets hormonal and immune responses and on growth performance were investigated. During lactation (days 9 to 21) and post-weaning (days 22 to 55) 10 [HBI Fomeva11 3 (Large White 3 Landrace)] litters (n 5 108 piglets) had ad libitum access to two standard diets, both supplemented with 0% (T0 group) or 0.1% (T1 group) of yeast extract nucleotides. BW of piglets at days 21 (P , 0.10), 35 and 55 (P , 0.05) was greater in T1 compared with T0. Feed intake was not different between groups (P . 0.05). Cortisol content was lower in T1 than in T0 at days 28 and 35 (P , 0.05), whereas growth hormone was lower at day 35 (P , 0.05). Levels of IGF-1 were similar across groups (P . 0.05). Nucleotide-supplemented diets increased lymphocyte subpopulation CD42CD81 high at days 21 and 35 (P , 0.05), whereas CD41CD82 cells were higher in T1 than in T0 at day 21 (P , 0.05). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells cytokine expression was influenced by dietary nucleotide supplementation. At weaning, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1b expression was lower (P , 0.05) in T1 compared with T0, whereas the expression of interferon (IFN)-g and IL-10 was higher (P , 0.05). At day 28, piglets in T1 showed higher values of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a expression than T0 and lower values of IL-10 expression (P , 0.05). Dietary nucleotide supplementation had a suppressive effect on IL-6 and IL-10 expression (P , 0.05) at day 35. On the contrary, the expression of IFN-g, TNF-a and IL-1b was enhanced (P , 0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that starting a dietary nucleotide supplementation before weaning can improve the adaptive capabilities of weaned piglets to the stressors, enhancing the growth performance.

The aims of the study were to identify microbial flora in boar semen under field conditions in northern Italy, to investigate antibiotic resistance and sensitivity of isolated bacteria, and to evaluate elimination of bacteria after storage in two types of extenders added with different antibiotics (amikacin vs gentamicin). A total of 60 boars were collected in 13 pig farms. Bacteriological and mycological investigations were performed immediately on raw semen samples, then at 48 and 120 h of storage on semen diluted randomly in a new short-term modified extender (ME-S) or in a commercial one (CRONOS TM ). Bacterial contamination was found in 63% of raw semen samples and different bacterial species were isolated: E.coli, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus epidermidis and aureus, Proteus spp., Streptococcus spp. and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. E. coli was the most isolated contaminant (53%); Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found only in one semen sample. The analysis of variance of factors affecting contamination levels was significant for the farm of origin (P<0.05) and not significant for the breed. Antibiotic resistance of these bacteria was assessed using different antibiotics. Significant differences (P<0.05) between observed and expected frequencies of bacterial isolates resistant or not to the antibiotics contained in the extenders were found. At 48 h of storage a reduction of aerobic contamination was found after ME-S dilution by 85.3% and after CRONOS TM by 63.8%. This paper proved the presence of pathogenic bacteria in semen. We thus believe it is highly advisable to perform periodic microbiological screening of boar semen in the swine industry to avoid the use of low sperm quality.

A total of 72 animals from Cornigliese sheep breed were reared under homogeneous conditions, with the aim to assess the effect of sex (males, females) and age-class (heavy lambs, adults) on carcass and meat parameters. A model with fixed effects of herd, sex, slaughtering session, ageclass and interaction (sex*age-class) was used; for slaughter data, the carcass weight was used as a covariate. The age-class effect was significant for most of the carcass measurements, indicating a late development in animals. Also, slaughter performance was significantly affected by ageclass, with higher values (p<0.05) of hot carcass yield shown by heavy lambs than by adults. Carcass compactness index was lower in heavy lambs than in adults (p<0.001), and the lowest value (0.283; p<0.05) appeared in female heavy lambs. The percentage of fat trimmings in carcass and the tissue composition of sample cut were influenced by a significant interaction between age-class and sex (p<0.05): in males the age-class never affected the tissue composition of sample cut, as in females the muscle and fat percentages increased with age while the bone percentage decreased. The fat content of loin meat increased with age in females (p < 0.05) and decreased in males (p < 0.05). The poly-unsaturated fatty acids (FA) content of loin meat was higher in males than in females (p < 0.001), with saturated FA and mono-unsaturated FA revealing significant interactions between age-class and sex (p < 0.05). In conclusion, future implementation of genetic selection, oriented towards the improvement of meat production characteristics that are potentially present in the breed, is important. ARTICLE HISTORY

Sedation facilitates the ocular examination in horses. Alpha2adrenoceptor agonists are commonly used in equine practice. If the eye is painful, the combination of an a2adrenoceptor agonist and butorphanol provides a greater analgesic effect. Unfortunately, little is known about the effects of a2-adrenoceptor agonists on equine Schirmer tear test I (STT I) values. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of intravenous romifidine, detomidine, detomidine combined with butorphanol, and xylazine on the STT I values in horses. Forty healthy client-owned Italian saddle horses were enrolled. Horses received 0.04 mg/kg bwt of romifidine or 15 lg/kg bwt of detomidine or 10 lg/kg bwt of detomidine combined with 10 lg/kg bwt of butorphanol or 0.7 mg/kg bwt of xylazine intravenously. The Schirmer tear test strip was inserted into the lateral third side of the inferior conjunctival fornix for 1 min in each eye. The STT I measurements were performed before sedation and at 5, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after the administration of sedation. The data were analysed by ANOVA. Romifidine did not affect the STT I values. Detomidine significantly reduced the STT I values at 15 min (18.17 AE 0.97 mm/min). The combination of detomidine and butorphanol significantly reduced the STT I values at 30 and 60 min (17.44 AE 0.99, 15.81 AE 0.99 mm/min). Xylazine significantly increased the STT I values at 5, 15 and 30 min (25.17 AE 0.99, 26.72 AE 0.99, 28.07 AE 0.99 mm/min). The STT I values at 180 min were similar to those before sedation. These results suggest that the administration of xylazine or detomidine alone or combined with butorphanol is associated with significant changes in aqueous tear production, whereas romifidine does not affect the STT I values. Romifidine is therefore suitable for chemical restraint to measure tear production in horses.