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The aim of the present study was to characterise milk of Burlina local cattle breed for traits of technological and nutritional relevance, such as milk coagulation properties (MCP), and protein, major mineral and fatty acid (FA) composition. Burlina is mainly reared in mountain areas of Veneto Region (Italy) and it has been inserted in conservation plans aiming to avoid biodiversity loss and marginal pasture areas abandonment. Eighty-one individual milk samples were collected in four farms. Milk coagulation properties were determined using Formagraph, and protein, mineral and FA composition were analysed in high performance liquid chromatography, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and gas chromatography, respectively. Results evidenced good protein percentage (3.38%) and considerable casein content (28.89 mg/mL), as well as a desirable FA profile, with x-6 to x-3 ratio of 4.04. Somatic cell score, averaging 3.13, is a trait that should be enhanced through the improvement of farm management. This would have positive effects on MCP. Among milk minerals, the most and less abundant were K (1493.53 mg/kg) and Mg (110.07 mg/kg), respectively. Overall, herd, parity and lactation stage explained moderate to low variation of the studied traits. Results of the present study could be useful to valorise Burlina local breed and preserve biodiversity in marginal areas. ARTICLE HISTORY

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BACKGROUND: The new European Regulation 1169/2011 concerning nutrition declaration of food products compels the addition of saturated fatty acids, whereas the declaration of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids remains voluntary. Therefore, the industry is interested in a more rapid, easy and less cost-effective analysis method for accomplishing this labelling regulation. The present study aimed to evaluate the ability of near infrared transmittance spectroscopy (wavelengths between 850 and 1050 nm) to predict the fatty acid (FA) composition of commercial processed meat samples (n = 310).

Near infrared transmittance (NIT, 850 to 1048 nm) spectroscopy was used to predict groups of fatty acids (FA), namely saturated FA (SFA), monounsaturated FA (MUFA) and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), in commercial ground meat samples aiming to develope a fast and reliable method for their determination in support of label declaration by the new EC Regulation 1169/2011. Dataset was built using 81 samples of commercial ground meat from different species: beef, pork, chicken and turkey. In some samples, meat was mixtured with different ingredients such as bread, cheese, spices and additives. Samples were first analysed by NIT instrument for spectral information and reference FA values were obtained by gas chromatographic analysis. Prediction models for SFA, MUFA and PUFA expressed on total FAexhibited coefficients of determination of calibration of 0.822, 0.367 and 0.780 on intact samples, and 0.879, 0.726 and 0.908 on minced samples, respectively. Good results were also obtained when FA groups were expressed as g/100g of fresh meat: the coefficient of determination of calibration increased to values larger than 0.915. Moreover, comparing the slightly lower coefficient of determination in crossvalidation of intact compared with minced meat suggested that equations developed for minced samples were more accurate than those built for intact products. Results highlighted the effectiveness of NIT spectroscopy to predict the major FA groups in commercial meat products.