Lactation Characteristics in Alpine and Nera di Verzasca Goats in Northern Italy: A Statistical Bayesian Approach

Abstract

In the last three decades, we assisted in a shift in the dairy product preferences in developed countries, with an increase in goat-derived products consumption. As already seen in the bovine sector, the diffusion of goat milk consumption has led to an abandonment of the local breeds in favor of the more productive cosmopolitan breeds, with an intense reduction in the livestock biodiversity. However, in several studies, it has been shown that local breeds present unique features such as a robust behavior towards the local climate and a high quality of their dairy products. This study aims to assess the differences between the basic lactation variables (milk yield, fat %, protein %, lactose % and somatic cell count) in the Alpine goat and the local breed Verzasca goat from a Bayesian point of observation. Results indicate that the Nera di Verzasca goat has overall lactation characteristics similar toa cosmopolite breed such as the Alpine goat, except for the milk daily yield reduced with respect to Alpine goats (1.68 ± 0.84 and 2.14 ± 1.03, respectively). Moreover, the Verzasca goat showed a tendency to maintain a lower level of somatic cell count along with lactation (798 ± 1734 and 1216 ± 2828, respectively). These findings help to increase the knowledge about the Italian local goat breeds and are important in the optic of biodiversity conservation.

Comparison of Female Verzaschese and Camosciata delle Alpi Goats’ Hematological Parameters in The Context of Adaptation to Local Environmental Conditions in Semi-Extensive Systems in Italy

“…On the same day of blood collection, milk samples from each goat were collected and analyzed for basic lactation variables (milk yield, fat percentage, protein percentage, lactose percentage, and somatic cell count). The data derived from the milk analysis are reported and discussed in previous work by Agradi et al [49]. Moreover, data about the parasitic load of the same goats included in our study and during the same period analyzed, are discussed in another study by Zanzani et al [50].…”

Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) Hair as a Bioindicator for the Environmental Presence of Toxic and Trace Elements

“…For example, production strategies were prompted to reduce water and energy consumption. Moreover, the sustainability of food production, in particular, food of animal origin, has been a big challenge because it is strictly linked to the competition between humans and zootechnical animals for food sources [ 2 , 3 ]. Furthermore, after two years of the pandemic and the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the challenges for agriculture and animal breeding have suddenly changed again because of the dramatic increase in raw materials’ prices, especially cereals, putting intensive farming in crisis.…”