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During feed restriction, changes in metabolism occur and often result in the mobilization of energy from the adipose tissue. The objective of this work was to evaluate changes in the fatty acid (FA) profile of milk fat during short-term feed restriction in dairy ewes. Six ewes (3 at low-body condition score and 3 at high-BCS) were fed a complete pelleted diet (CPD) ad libitum (average intake of 2.5 kg/head per d) for 7 days, followed by 3 days of feed restriction of 50% of their previous intake (feed restriction group, FRG). Other 6 ewes (control, C group), divided into 3 low-BCS and 3 high-BCS sheep, were always fed CPD ad libitum (average intake of 2.5 kg/head per d). The CPD composition was (on a DM basis) 38.3% NDF, 16.0% CP and 4.5% EE (of which 2% of palm oil). The data of the 3-d treatment were analysed by a mixed model using BCS, group and their interaction as fixed factors and ewe as random factor. Milk fat content was higher in the FRG than in the C group (5.92 vs 4.67%), whereas fat yield was similar between groups. No effects of short-term feed restriction on C4-C14 fatty acids were observed. The FRG showed a lower content of C16:0 (26.46 vs 29.59%; P≤0.05) and cis9,cis12 C18:2 (4.42 vs 5.38%; P≤0.10) and a higher content of cis9 C18:1 (20.81 vs 17.56%; P≤0.05) than the C group. The content of total CLA (1.47 and 1.27 in the FRG and C group, respectively) was not influenced by the feed restriction treatment. The extent of variation in milk fatty acid profile in FRG group (expressed as percentage respect to C group) was influenced by BCS of ewes. The results suggest that feed restriction for a 3-d period is enough to cause changes in the FA profile of milk fat. The different responses observed in animals with high and low BCS was probably due to a different extent of body store mobilization when feed restriction occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of short-term feed restriction on milk yield and milk composition of Sarda dairy ewes were studied in a 17-d experiment. Twenty sheep were housed in individual pens and divided in two isoproductive groups. Ten ewes (feed restricted group, FRG) were fed a total mixed ration pelleted diet (TMR-PD) ad libitum (average intake of 2.5 kg/head per day) for 7 days (preliminary period), followed by 3 days of feed restriction of 50% of their previous intake (1.25 kg/head per day of TMR-PD) and 7 days of recovery. The other ten ewes (control, C group) were fed TMR-PD ad libitum during all the experimental period (average intake of 2.5 kg/head per day). There were no differences in milk yield between the two groups during the preliminary period (1485 and 1493 g/d for FRG and C group, respectively). Milk yield for the FRG decreased during the feed restriction period and averaged 72% of the values of the C group (1009 vs 1389 g/d, P≤0.001). Milk yield of the FRG was not completely restored during the 7-d recovery period, remaining lower than that of the C group (1278 vs 1451 g/d, P=0.12). Fat percentage tended to increase in FRG during the feed restriction period (5.87% vs 5.27%, P=0.08), and remained higher than that of the C group during recovery (6.04% vs 5.20%, P≤0.01). No effects of feed restriction on protein percentage (5.52% vs 5.53% for FRG and C group, respectively) were observed. SCC was lower in the FRG than in the C group during the preliminary period (Ln SSC 4.51 vs 4.71, P=0.06), increased by more than 4 fold during the feed restriction period (Ln SSC 5.34 vs 4.76, P=0.02) and remained higher during the recovery period (Ln SSC 5.4 vs 4.8, P=0.10). Short-term feed restriction caused a permanent drop in milk production and an increase in SCC on dairy ewes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visfatin is an adipokine with mediatory effects on inflammation. It is expressed at low levels in the pig stomach, but its role in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is not well understood. This study explored visfatin expression and localisation in the stomach and duodenum of piglets fed varying levels of polyphenols derived from olive mill waste extract, known for their antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Twenty-seven piglets were assigned to three dietary groups: control (commercial feed), low polyphenol (120 ppm), and high polyphenol (240 ppm) groups. After 14 days of feeding, samples from the glandular stomach and duodenum were collected from 13 piglets. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), digital image analysis (DIA) using QuPath software, and double-labelled immunofluorescence were performed to detect visfatin-positive cells and co-localise them with serotonin. Additionally, relative gene expression of visfatin was assessed via RT-qPCR. Visfatin-positive cells were identified in 5 out of 13 piglets, localised mainly in the basal portion of gastric and intestinal glands. The morphology of those cells was consistent with neuroendocrine cells and confirmed by co-localisation of visfatin and serotonin. No significant differences were found in cell positivity or morphology between dietary groups or between tissues. However, visfatin transcript levels increased with the dose of polyphenolic extract. These findings suggest that dietary polyphenols may modulate visfatin gene expression in the GI tract. The study also highlights the value of digital anatomy for enhancing the accuracy and reproducibility of anatomical research. Further studies are needed to elucidate the functional role of visfatin transcript and protein in the porcine GI tract., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Several scientific publications have highlighted the importance of feeding management practices in improving the nutritional properties of milk from dairy ewes. Meat production quality from suckling lambs is based on the use of milk as exclusive or near exclusive dietary component. There is considerable evidence that lamb meat contains many important nutrients and bioactive compounds that play an important role in consumer health. This paper examines the different quality characteristics of lamb meat from ewes fed different diets to improve milk quality. To conduct this research, we consulted different scientific databases and acquired relevant documents that studied the relationships between the dietary treatment of lactating ewes and the performance of their suckling lambs (growth and carcass traits) as well as the meat quality in terms of nutrient content (fat and protein in particular), bioactive compounds content (fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidant molecules), color, odor and flavor. The extent of change in meat carcass traits and meat quality of suckling lambs due to different feeding strategies applied to ewes was evaluated and discussed. This overview of the knowledge on the relationship between the milk quality and suckling lamb quality can be useful for production and communication strategies development for the lamb meat industry., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests or personal relationships that could influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The increase of meat production in dairy sheep farms, has been evaluated by the extension of the suckling period from the traditional 28 days to 75 days to obtain a new product, the heavy suckling lamb. Nineteen single-born Sarda (S) lambs (10 male, 9 female) and 20 single-born Dorper x Sarda (DS) lambs (9 male, 11 female), randomly selected from autumn lambing season, were fed exclusively with maternal milk until slaughtering at 20 ± 0.28 kg of body weight (BW, mean ± standard deviation, SD) and approximately 11 weeks of age. Body weight were recorded at birth and every 15 days until slaughter to estimate average daily gain (ADG). At slaughter, carcass measurements, pH and colour traits were recorded from the left side of the carcass. Proximate composition, fatty acid (FA) profile, cooking and drip losses were evaluated using the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle. In addition, Visual Panel Test (VPT) and Taste Panel Test (TPT) were performed. Experimental results evidenced that ADG did not differ between pure and crossbreed lambs and between sexes. The S lamb carcasses showed a higher fat content and rib fat thickness compared to that of crossbreed. No significant differences were found between genetic types and sex for colour and pH determinations, cooking and drip losses, whereas LTL fat of DS displayed a higher nutritional FA profile with higher content of 22:5n-3, 22:6n-3, branched-chain FA, and odd- and branched chain FA. No differences emerged during VPT and TPT, demonstrating that both DS and S lamb meats present no distinguishable visual and eating quality characteristics. The production of heavy suckling lambs from Sarda and Dorper crossbreed by the extension of suckling period appeared a promising strategy for producing meat of high quality, well appreciated by the consumers., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests or personal relationships that could influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this quantitative review is to highlight the effects of feeding strategies using some mineral, vitamin, marine oil, and vegetable essential oil supplements and some agri-food by-products to reduce SCCs in the milk of sheep and goats. According to the results, only specific dietary factors at specific doses could reduce SCCs in the milk of dairy sheep and goats. The combination of Se and vitamin E in the diet was more effective in sheep than in goats, while the inclusion of polyphenols, which are also present in food matrices such as agro-industrial by-products, led to better results. Some essential oils can be conveniently used to modulate SCCs, although they can precipitate an off-flavoring problem. This work shows that SCCs are complex and cannot be determined using a single experimental factor, as intramammary inflammation, which is the main source of SC in milk, can manifest in a subclinical form without clinical signs. However, attention to mineral and vitamin supplementation, even in the most difficult cases, such as those of grazing animals, and the use of anti-inflammatory substances directly or through by-products, can improve the nutritional condition of animals and reduce their SCCs, offering undeniable benefits for the milk-processing sector as well.

Individual dry matter intake (DMI) is a relevant factor for evaluating feed efficiency in livestock. However, the measurement of this trait on a large scale is difficult and expensive. DMI, as well as other phenotypes, can be predicted from milk spectra. The aim of this work was to predict DMI from the milk spectra of 24 lactating Sarda dairy sheep ewes. Three models (Principal Component Regression, Partial Least Squares Regression, and Stepwise Regression) were iteratively applied to three validation schemes: records, ewes, and days. DMI was moderately correlated with the wavenumbers of the milk spectra: the largest correlations (around ±0.30) were observed at ~1100-1330 cm -1 and ~2800-3000 cm -1 . The average correlations between real and predicted DMI were 0.33 (validation on records), 0.32 (validation on ewes), and 0.23 (validation on days). The results of this preliminary study, even if based on a small number of animals, demonstrate that DMI can be routinely estimated from the milk spectra.

The aim of the study was to compare odd and branched-chain fatty acids (OBCFA) of milk from sheep, goat, cow, buffalo, donkey, human, and formula milk. Ruminant, monogastric, and human milks have different concentrations of these fatty acids (FA). To highlight the differences on OBCFA, a total of 282 individual milk samples were analyzed by gas chromatography. The OBCFA were found higher in ruminant than non-ruminant milks (p < 0.05). Among ruminants, sheep milk had the highest OBCFA (4.5 g/100 g of total FAME), whereases the lowest values were found in formula milk (0.18 g/100 g of total FAME). Regarding individual linear odd-chain FA (linear-OCFA), C11:0 was found higher in donkey milk than others, while sheep and buffalo milks had the greatest concentration of C15:0. Among BCFA, the iso-BCFA were higher than anteiso-BCFA in all considered milks. The isoC17:0 showed the highest concentration in all milks except for donkey and buffalo, which showed higher concentration of isoC16:0 than others. In conclusion, ruminant milks are different in terms of these FA compared to human milk and its substitutes. However, the greatest differences were found with formula milk, suggesting that this product needs the implementation of these FA to be more similar to human milk composition.

Colostrum is a major source of immunity in ruminants. It allows the transfer of antibodies from the mother to the fetus, and it is the exclusive source of nutrients for the newborn. The objectives of this study were (i) to characterize the macro and the micro composition of colostrum; (ii) to analyze the antioxidant capacity, fatty acid profile, and essential and toxic mineral content of colostrum; and (iii) to compare FA profiles and the amount of trace elements between colostrum and mature milk. For these purposes, samples of colostrum and milk were collected from a representative sample of animals from eight sheep dairy farms in the north of Sardinia (Italy). Fat, proteins, and seven essential and toxic minerals were measured in all samples of colostrum and milk. Furthermore, the FA profile was also measured in both matrices, while total antioxidant capacity was measured only in colostrum samples. The average amounts of fat and protein (TP) concentration in colostrum were 7.8% and 16%, respectively. Additionally, an average amount of 40 ± 20 g dm -3 was found for immunoglobulin G (IgG). As regards the antioxidant capacity of colostrum, a large variation was observed between samples from different farms for test 2, 2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), which was 30 ± 10% (mean ± standard deviation). High levels of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) were found in colostrum (200 µg kg -1 , 25,000 µg kg -1 , and 1200 µg kg -1 , respectively). A strong positive correlation between TP and IgG was observed (r = 91%). In colostrum, the amount of IgG is positively correlated with Se and Zn, as they are essential minerals to the immune system. The FA profile demonstrated higher levels of medium and long chain fatty acids in colostrum than in mature milk, and this is mainly true for arachidonic acid (ARA), ecosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This study provided new information on the quality of colostrum in Sarda dairy sheep and showed the different composition of fatty acids between colostrum and mature milk.

The aim of this study was to estimate the methane-linked carbon footprint (CF) of the suckling lamb meat of Mediterranean dairy sheep. Ninety-six Sarda dairy ewes, divided into four groups of 24 animals each, were assigned to 2 × 2 factorial design. The experiment included the suckling lamb feeding system: traditional (TS), in which lambs followed their mothers on pasture during grazing time, vs. separated (SS), in which lambs remained indoors, separated from their mothers during the grazing time. Each group was divided into high (HS) and low (LS) supplemented ewes (600 g/d vs. 200 g/d of concentrate). The estimated CH 4 emission of the ewes, calculated per kg of body weight (BW) gain of the lamb during the suckling period, was then converted to CO 2 eq with multiplying factor of 25. The TS lambs showed lower methane-linked emissions than SS ones ( p < 0.05). The sex of lambs affected their methane-linked CF, with males having lower ( p < 0.05) values than females. Twins displayed much lower methane-linked CF than singles (4.56 vs. 7.30 kg of CO 2 eq per kg of BW gained), whereas the level of supplementation did not affect greenhouse gases (GHG) emission. Interaction displayed lower and not-different GHG emissions for both indoor- and outdoor-reared twins. In conclusion, the methane-linked CF of the suckling lamb meat can be reduced by maintaining the traditional lamb rearing system and by improving flock prolificacy.

The effects of the dams and suckling lamb feeding systems on the fatty acid (FA) profile of lamb meat are reviewed in this article. The suckling lamb can be considered a functional monogastric, and therefore, its meat FA composition is strongly influenced by the FA composition of maternal milk. The major source of variation for ewe milk FA composition is represented by pasture amount and type. In the traditional sheep breeding system of the Mediterranean area, the main lambing period occurs in late autumn-early winter, and ewes are able to exploit the seasonal availability of the natural pastures at their best. Therefore, lambs start suckling when maternal milk concentrations of vaccenic, rumenic, and n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated FA in maternal milk are the highest. When maternal diet is mainly based on hay and concentrates, the use of vegetable oils can be considered a good strategy to improve the meat FA profile of suckling lambs.

Surgical castration of piglets without pain relief is still common practice in many countries. Possible alternatives for surgical castration are application of pain relief or anaesthesia or production of boars (entire males) and immunocastrates. Each of these alternatives faces advantages and disadvantages which may result in different citizen attitudes and consumers acceptability. Understanding which practice is acceptable to whom and why may further stimulate implementation. Consumer ( n = 3251) and stakeholder ( n = 1027) attitudes towards surgical castration without pain relief, surgical castration with anaesthesia, immunocastration, and production of boars were surveyed from April to June 2020 via an online questionnaire in 16 countries (>175 respondents per country). Surgical castration without pain relief was separated from each of the alternatives due to animal welfare and showed the lowest acceptability (32%). Within the alternatives, a further partitioning between the alternatives was based on perceived quality and food safety, with an acceptance of 85% for applying anaesthesia, 71% for immunocastration, and 49% for boar production. Differences depending on professional involvement and familiarity with agriculture could be observed, mainly for the acceptance of surgical castration without anaesthesia, immunocastration, and boars. Castration with anaesthesia was highly accepted by all types of respondents.

This bibliographic review presents and discusses the nutritional strategies able to increase the concentration of beneficial fatty acids (FA) in sheep and goat milk, and dairy products, with a particular focus on the polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), and highlights differences between the two species. In fact, by adopting appropriate feeding strategies, it is possible to markedly vary the concentration of fat in milk and improve its FA composition. These strategies are based mostly on the utilization of herbage rich in PUFA, or on the inclusion of vegetable, marine, or essential oils in the diet of lactating animals. Sheep respond more effectively than goats to the utilization of fresh herbage and to nutritional approaches that improve the milk concentration of c9,t11-conjugated linoleic acid (c9,t11-CLA) and α-linolenic acid. Dietary polyphenols can influence milk FA profile, reducing or inhibiting the activity and growth of some strains of rumen microbes involved in the biohydrogenation of PUFA. Although the effectiveness of plant secondary compounds in improving milk FA composition is still controversial, an overall positive effect has been observed on the concentration of PUFA and RA, without marked differences between sheep and goats. On the other hand, the positive effect of dietary polyphenols on the oxidative stability of milk fat appears to be more consistent.

Recently, the interest in industrial by-products produced at the local level in Mediterranean areas, resulting from fruit and vegetable processes, has increased because of their considerable amounts of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols. In this review, we analyze the most recent scientific results concerning the use of agro-industrial by-products, naturally rich in polyphenols (BPRP), in the diets of small dairy ruminants. Effects on milk production, milk and rumen liquor fatty acid profile, metabolic parameters, and methane production are reviewed. The feed intake and digestibility coefficients were generally depressed by BPRP, even though they were not always reflected in the milk yield. The main observed positive effects of BPRP were on quality of the milk's FA profile, antioxidant activity in milk and blood, a reduction of rumen ammonia, and, consequently, a reduction of milk and blood urea. The expected beneficial effects of dietary polyphenols in small ruminants were not always observed because of their complex and variable matrices. However, owing to the large quantities of these products available at low prices, the use of BPRB in small ruminant nutrition offers a convenient solution to the valorization of residues arising from agricultural activities, reducing feed costs for farmers and conferring added value to dairy products at the local level, in a sustainable way., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The fatty acid (FA), polyphenol content and evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of exhausted Myrtus communis berries (EMB) resulting from the production of myrtle liqueur were assessed. All parts of the exhausted berries exhibited high concentrations of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and phenolic compounds. The lipid fraction contained a high amount of poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), mainly represented by linoleic acid (>70%). Of the phenolic acids evaluated by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, ellagic acid was the most predominant (>50%), followed by gallic and quinic acids. Quercetin and quercetin3-O-rhamnoside were the most abundant flavonoids. The seed extracts showed a higher antioxidant potential than the pericarp extracts; the same trend was observed for total phenolic compounds evaluated by spectrophotometric assay. The overall high content of bioactive compounds and the high antioxidant potential of this byproduct sustain its suitability for a number of industrial applications, such as a food ingredient in novel foods, an additive in cosmetic formulations or a component of animal feed formulations., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Unlabelled: Lamb meat, when used in the weaning diet of children, is presumed to have a lower allergenicity than other forms of red meat. In children with atopic dermatitis and multiple food hypersensitivities, consumption of lamb meat has also resulted in significant clinical improvements in the severity of the eczematous lesions. Lamb meat is also of special interest in infant nutrition because it provides a somewhat unique fatty acid (FA) profile that mirrors what is thought to be optimal for neonatal growth and development. However, very little is known about how the processing of fresh meat (FM) into prepared infant foods influences its FA composition. In this study, we compared the FA profile of FM from suckling lambs with those of homogenized (HO) and lyophilized (LIO) baby foods prepared primarily with lamb meat. The results show that the content of total omega-3 polyunsaturated FAs was the highest in FM (more than 3-fold) compared to commercial baby food, due to largely higher contents of α-linolenic acid (1.5-fold higher), eicosapentaenoic acid (6-fold higher), and docosahexaenoic acid (10-fold higher). Furthermore, arachidonic acid was more than 6-fold higher in FM compared to LIO and HO. Results from this study suggest the possibility of enhancing the FA profile of commercial baby food based on meat by using lamb meat, but care should be taken during processing so that important FAs are not lost., Practical Application: In this article, we have documented that meat from the suckling lamb is an interesting and potentially important source of omega-3-FAs, especially some of the long-chain polyunsaturated FAs (LC-PUFAs) that are essential for optimal neonatal growth and development. These results may have special implications to the infant food industry, in that products made using meat from suckling lambs may provide not only exceptional amounts of these FAs, but also other limiting essential nutrients such as iron. This may be especially important in regions of the world, such as Italy, where use of lamb meat as a weaning food is common during infancy.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination often causes large economic losses on livestock production. The intake of feed contaminated by OTA also represents a potential risk for animal health and a food safety issue due to the transfer of the toxin through the food chain to humans. The aim of this paper is to review the available literature on: (1) the frequency and degree of occurrence of OTA in different feedstuffs; (2) the toxicological effects of OTA intake on the performance of the main livestock (i.e., poultry, swine, cattle, goats and sheep); and (3) the transfer of OTA, or its metabolites, from animal feed into animal products such as milk, meat and eggs.