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Description of the subject. The growth of new antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogens represents a huge problem in poultry rearing. There is evidence that dietary yeast could be effective in the protection against a variety of pathogens that can affect poultry health and cause foodborne diseases in humans. Since still few or contradictory information are available for this topic. Objectives. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of live yeast supplementation in broiler chickens on Salmonella enteritidis and Campylobacter jejuni content in feces, cecum, and skin. Method. Supplemented yeast consisted of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Levucell® SB20, type boulardii I-1079, Lallemand, France) and was administered at a rate of 1 x 106 CFU·g-1 of feed. On day ten of life, birds were orally challenged with S. enteritidis (1 x 105 CFU/bird) and C. jejuni (3 x 105 CFU/bird). Growth performance, and coliforms, yeasts and lactobacilli enumeration were evaluated on day 0, 10, 20 and 38. Ten and eighteen days post infection (PI), 10 animals per replicate were slaughtered and pooled ceca content were analyzed for yeast enumeration and Salmonella and Campylobacter frequency and enumeration. The presence and the enumeration of Salmonella and Campylobacter in neck and breast skin were performed on one subject per replicate. Results. Dietary S. cerevisiae increased yeast and lactobacilli (p = 0.01) count, while Salmonella enumeration and frequency significantly decreased in neck (p = 0.03) and tended to decrease in cecum (p = 0.06), feces (p = 0.06), and breast (p = 0.08). On 10d PI Campylobacter presence was decreased in cecum (p = 0.01), feces (p < 0.01), breast skin (p = 0.04) and neck skin (p < 0.01), while the enumeration was found to be lower in feces (p < 0.01) and neck skin (p = 0.05). At the end of the trial the frequency of this pathogen was decreased in feces (p < 0.01), and breast skin (p = 0.02), while the enumeration was diminished in cecum (p < 0.05) and feces (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The present study shows that the inclusion of Levucell® SB20 can significantly control Campylobacter carriage in chickens with some positive effects also on Salmonella presence, thus reducing the contamination of carcasses at slaughtering and preventing human foodborne diseases.

Des scientifiques et des représentants de la filière « viande bovine » en Europe se sont réunis les 1er et 2 octobre à Milan à l’occasion d’un congrès intitulé « Qualité durable de la viande bovine en Europe – un congrès pour les professionnels et les scientifiques ». Le but de ce congrès était de faciliter les échanges et de consolider les liens entre les acteurs de la filière viande bovine et les chercheurs en viande. De courtes présentations ont eu lieu sur 15 sujets relatifs à la qualité, la compétitivité et la durabilité de la production de viande bovine en Europe. Ces présentations ont traité de la qualité gustative en bouche de la viande bovine produite en Europe, et des applications pratiques par les acteurs de la filière des résultats scientifiques afin d’améliorer la qualité et la durabilité de la production de la viande bovine en Europe. Les présentations ont également porté sur les outils disponibles ou en préparation pour aider à la production de viande bovine de bonne qualité. Les congressistes ont participé à deux réunions de travail pour réfléchir aux questions suivantes : « Comment l’Europe peut-elle valoriser au mieux sa production de viande bovine ? » et « Que faut-il faire pour assurer la durabilité de la production de viande bovine en Europe durant les 10 prochaines années ? ». Cet article présente un résumé des présentations et des réflexions issues des deux réunions de travail., Beef industry representatives and scientists from across Europe met on 1-2 October 2015 in Milan for a workshop entitled "Sustainable beef quality for Europe – a Workshop for Industry and Scientists". The aim of the workshop was to facilitate knowledge exchange and strengthen links between scientists and industry across Europe. Short presentations were given on 15 topics of relevance to the quality, competitiveness and sustainability of European beef. These covered the eating quality of European beef, the practical application of science by the beef industry to improve quality, sustainability of European beef production and the tools available or in preparation to assist the industry in the delivery of quality beef. Participants also contributed to two workshops which asked "How can Europe get the best value from its beef?" and "What is needed to ensure sustainability of the European beef industry for the next 10 years?". This article presents a summary of these articles and the outcomes of the workshops.

Processed animal proteins (PAP) detection and identification in feedstuffs can be difficult in distinguishing among land animals, i.e. poultry and mammals. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential application of image analysis in PAP identification. For this purpose four reference samples containing poultry meals and four reference samples containing mammalian meat and bone meals were used. Each sample was analyzed using the microscopic method (98/88/EC). Bone fragments are characterized by similar morphological features (colours, shape, lacunae shape, lacunae distribution, etc.) that make it diff i c u l t to distinguish between poultry and mammals. Through a digital camera and an image analysis software a total of 30 bone fragment lacunae images at X400 were obtained. For each image 29 geometric parameters related to the lacunae and 3 geometric parameters related to the canaliculae of lacunae, were measured using the image analysis software obtaining 960 observations. Of the 32 descriptors used two, the area of the lacunae and their perimeter, were able to explain 96.15% of the total variability of the data, even though their contribution was different (83.97% vs. 12.18%, respectively). Through these two descriptors it was possible to distinguish between mammalian and poultry lacunae, except in two cases (6.6%), in which poultry lacunae were wrongly classified as mammalian. This latter can be related with higher variability in the lacunae area recorded for mammals compared to poultry. On the basis of the present study, it can be concluded that image analysis represents a promising potential tool in PAP identification, that may provide accurate and reliable results in feedstuffs characterisation, analysis and control.

Dietary supplementations with L-glutamine and/or nucleotides were screened for their effects on intestinal mucosa in 16 female weaning piglets. The animals were transported to the university’s facilities 24 hours after weaning. They were grouped four to a pen in controlled environmental conditions and fed one of the following four diets for 28 days: control diet (C); C+0.5% L-glutamine (G); C+0.05% “nucleotides” (N); and C+0.5 % L-glutamine+0.05% “nucleotides” (GN). Individual body weights and feed intake per group were recorded at the beginning and the end of the study as well as weekly during it. There were no significant performance differences among the groups. After 28 days the animals were slaughtered and the distal ileum and liver were examined histologically. Antiproliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as well as antihuman macrophage immunostaining, and a modified TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling technique (TUNEL) were performed, and intraepithelial lymphocyte percentage was evaluated to assess morphofunctional aspects of the ileum. Histometry was performed by assessing cell indices and counts of immuno-reactive structures. Feeding G and/or N resulted in an increase in villi (V) height, crypt (C) depth, and a decrease in V:C ratio P