Effect of group size and maize silage dietary levels on behaviour, health, carcass and meat quality of Mediterranean buffaloes

Abstract

The effects of different dietary levels of maize silage (10% v. 36% DM) and group size (7 v. 14 animals) were assessed on growth performance and in vivo digestibility of 28 male fattening buffaloes. In addition, the effects of diet on meat quality and group size on behaviour and immune response were separately evaluated. Animals were weighed and assigned to three groups. The high silage -low size group (HL) was fed a total mixed ration (TMR) containing 36% DM of maize silage and consisted of seven animals (age 12.7 ± 2.6 months; BW 382.2 ± 67.7 kg at the start of the study). The low silage -low size group (LL) was fed a TMR containing 10% DM of maize silage and consisted of seven animals (age 13.0 ± 2.7 months; BW 389.4 ± 72.3 kg). The high silage -high size group (HH) was fed the 36% maize silage DM diet and consisted of 14 animals (age 13.9 ± 3.25 months; BW 416.5 ± 73.9 kg). Total space allowance (3.2 indoor + 3.2 outdoor m 2 /animal) was kept constant in the three groups, as well as the ratio of animals to drinkers (seven animals per water bowl) and the manger space (70 cm per animal). Growth performance, carcass characteristics and digestibility were influenced neither by dietary treatment nor by group size, even if the group fed 36% maize silage diet showed a higher fibre digestibility. No effect of diet was found on meat quality. Group size did not affect the behavioural activities with the exception of drinking (1.04 ± 0.35% v. 2.60 ± 0.35%; P < 0.01 for groups HL and HH, respectively) and vigilance (2.58 ± 0.46% v. 1.20 ± 0.46%; P < 0.05 for groups HL and HH, respectively). Immune responses were not affected by group size.

Diversity of traditional Caciocavallo cheeses produced in Italy

“…The surveyed Caciocavallo varieties were produced mostly from cows’ milk. Two varieties were made with milk from the Mediterranean water buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis ) and were produced in the regions of Campania and Lazio, where about 90% of the Italian buffalo population is concentrated (Sannino et al , ), almost exclusively for milk production (Masucci et al ; Serrapica et al ).…”

Mitigates The Negative Behavioral Effects Of Rut Season In Camels: - Group Size

“…This data might be due to group size is expected to act as a stress modulator (Michelen et al, 2012) so that, small group had higher cortisol level and lower testosterone level due to cortisol was negatively correlated with testosterone (Aubè et al, 2017) and stress response negatively affected sexual behavior (Kirby et al 2009) ; vigilance behaviour is thought to be largely controlled by the threat of predation and decreases with increasing group size Mendl and Held, (2001); vigilance behaviour is in line with the 'many-eyes hypothesis' (Masucci et al, 2016); The presence of conspecifics or social cues reduced stress responses in several species (Kikusui et al ., 2006);…”

Seasonal Variation of Chemical Composition, Fatty Acid Profile, and Sensory Properties of a Mountain Pecorino Cheese

“…Fatty acid values <0.1 were not quantified and atherogenic index was calculated [22]. Cheese color (CIELAB system) was measured on 3 non overlapping areas of a slice of cheese (Minolta colorimeter CR-300, Minolta Camera Co. Ltd., Osaka, Japan), as described elsewhere [23].…”