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In the production of some traditional cheeses from vegetable rennet, raw extracts of Cynara cardunculus flowers are used as the coagulant. During the preparation of this rennet, there are many factors that can influence its coagulation activity. We studied the flowers of Cynara cardunculus var. altilis to evaluate the effects of some of these factors: ripening stage of the flower at harvest, type of drying, part of the flower subjected to drying, toasting of the pistils, and maceration time of the pistils. The results show that it is possible to improve the coagulation activity of the traditional preparation of Cynara cardunculus flowers through some practices such as the rapid drying of the flowers/pistils at a controlled temperature, the toasting treatment of the pistils carried out after the slow drying of the flowers, and the extension of the extraction time to 24 h.

The oxidative stability of milk and dairy products is a very interesting topic for the dairy industry due to the growing demand for foods containing bioactive compounds with positive health effects. The aim was to evaluate the oxidative stability of milk intended for cheese production. The effect of storage time, heat pre-treatment, and milk pasteurization temperature on the characteristics of milk and cheese was investigated. The cheese samples were produced with pasteurized milk at both 72 and 77 °C for a time of 15 s using three types of milk: raw fresh milk processed within 48 h of milking, raw stored milk processed within 96 h, and thermized milk that was heat-treated upon arrival at the dairy and processed within 96 h of milking. In total, three repetitions were carried out for each type of milk and pasteurization. Samples of milk before and after pasteurization and cheese at 14 days of storage were analyzed. Antioxidant activity decreased from starting milk to milk after pasteurization to final cheese. The longer storage time of the milk had significant effects on the antioxidant stability of the cheese (64.95 vs. 59.05% of antioxidant activity). Thermization of the milk further reduced the stability of the cheese (54.05% of antioxidant activity). The greater antioxidant stability of fresh milk and cheeses produced with fresh milk is the first result that encourages the production of cheese from a milk that best preserves its original characteristics.

Milk and dairy products can have variable contents of antioxidant compounds that contribute to counteract the oxidation of lipids and proteins during processing and storage. The content of active antioxidant compounds is closely linked to their protection by oxidation. Freezing is one of the factors that can reduce antioxidant activity. Freezing of milk or curd is frequently used in case of the seasonality of milk production and/or seasonal increased demand for some products. In this paper, the effect of using frozen curd on the oxidative stability of buffalo Mozzarella cheese was evaluated. Samples of buffalo Mozzarella with different frozen curd content (0%, 5%, 20%, and 50%) were produced and analyzed at one and nine days. Mozzarella cheese with higher frozen curd content had a significant increase in redox potential parallel to the decrease in antioxidant activity, showing less protection from oxidation. Lipid and protein oxidation, expressed respectively by malondialdehyde and carbonyl content, increased significantly with increasing frozen curd. At nine days, carbonyls significantly increased while malondialdehyde content did not vary, showing that during storage, fat was more protected from oxidation than protein. The average carbonyl levels were comparable to those of some cooked cheeses, and the malondialdehyde levels were even lower. The results of this study stimulate the investigation of new strategies to decrease the oxidative damage in cheeses produced in the presence of factors decreasing oxidative stability.

The objectives of this study were to compare the effectiveness of different indicators of mammary inflammation in buffalo and to evaluate the association of the indicators with buffalo milk yield, composition, and rennet coagulation properties. This study was carried out at four buffalo farms in central Italy using a total of 50 lactating buffalo. Milk from each buffalo was tested at the beginning, middle, and end of lactation. To evaluate the relationship between mastitis markers and milk components, three classes were defined for each of the following markers: total somatic cell count (TSCC), differential somatic cell count (DSCC), and bacteriological results The regression coefficient for the reference method and the alternative method of determining TSCC was 0.81, indicating that the method routinely used to analyze buffalo milk consistently underestimated actual TSCC. The milk samples positive for udder-specific bacteria also had higher TSCC values than the samples that were negative for bacteria (/ml vs. /ml). In samples that were positive for udder-specific bacteria, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) made up greater than 50% of the cells. Moreover, only 1% of the samples in the lowest TSCC class were positive for bacteria. The correlation between TSCC and PMN was stronger (0.70), and PMN values in buffalo milk increased significantly when the TSCC class changed from low (38%) to medium and high (56% and 64%). Milk yield was negatively related to TSCC. Significant changes in lactose (4.87%, 4.80% and 4.64%) and chloride content (0.650 mg/ml, 0.862 mg/ml and 0.882 mg/ml) were also observed with increasing TSCC values. Higher TSCC was associated with impaired rennet coagulation properties: the clotting time increased, while the curd firming time () and firmness decreased. We concluded that in buffalo as in dairy cows, TSCC is a valid indicator of udder inflammation; we also confirmed that a value of cells/ml should be used as the threshold value for early identification of an animal affected by subclinical mastitis. In addition to its association with significantly decreased milk yield, a TSCC value above this threshold value was associated with changes in milk composition and coagulating properties.

The trial was carried out using 14 multiparous buffaloes divided into two groups according to yield in the previous lactation (2653 vs. 2625 kg), number of lactations (4.8 vs. 4.1), live weight (670.6 vs. 657.1 kg), days post-calving (21.6 vs. 23.6 days) and average yield at the on-set of the trial (11.18 vs. 10.90 kg/day). The effects of both feed intake and the quanti–qualitative parameters of the milk yield were evaluated following the ad libitum administration of two diets containing two different forage/concentrate ratios, diet 1 = 48 : 52 (0.94 Milk FU/kg DM, 158.3 g/kg DM of crude protein); diet 2 = 55 : 45 (0.85 Milk FU/kg DM, 144.4 g/kg DM of crude protein). The trial lasted for 114 days, on average from day 23 to 137 of lactation. The dry matter intake for diet 1 was 16.37 kg/day, for diet 2 it was 16.53 kg/day. No significant differences were found with live weight of the animals; however, the buffaloes in group 1 showed gains of 35.0 kg compared to 54.2 kg of those in group 2. A significant difference ( P r = 18.35 min, K 20 = 3.88 min, A 30 = 47.00 mm), than group 1.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether housing conditions allowing the animals to lie in the mud and perform more physical exercise can negatively affect reserve mobilization and milk production. In addition, the effect of calving distance on blood metabolites was assessed. The experiment was conducted on twenty-eight lactating buffalo cows, equally allocated to two treatments. Fourteen cows were group-housed in a loose open-sided barn with a concrete floor and equipped with self-locking stanchions, where they received 10 m2/head of space allowance, as in intensive systems (Group IS). Fourteen others were group-housed in a similar barn but they also had the benefit of an outdoor yard with 500 m2/head as space allowance, including spontaneous vegetation and potholes for bathing and wallowing, as in traditional systems (Group TS). Animals were included in the experimental groups 5 days after calving. Daily milk yield, and milk fat, protein and somatic cell content were determined 4 weeks after grouping (about 35 days after calving) and then at monthly intervals (5 recordings). Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein in vacuum tubes 10 days after grouping (i.e. 15 days after calving) and then at 10 day intervals (17 collections). After centrifugation, plasma and serum aliquots were frozen stored until metabolite determinations (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, NEFA, urea, creatinine, albumins, total proteins, calcium, phosphorus, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and γglutamyl transferase). Treatment did not affect daily milk yield and milk fat, protein or somatic cell count content. Blood metabolite levels were not affected by treatment and interaction treatment x time. Conversely, as expected, calving distance had an influence on most of these variables (P

The monitoring was carried out for one year on 20 farms of Mediterranean buffalo situated in central Italy. The milk yield, the somatic cell count, the coagulating properties and some components were determined. The average value of somatic cells was 221.28 n×10 3 /ml. Milk production decreased when somatic cell numbers increased. The rennet clotting time increased significantly when somatic cells were higher than 300.00 n×10 3 /ml, the curd firming time was significantly higher when somatic cells were more than 1,000.00 n×10 3 /ml and the curd firmness increased up to 200.00 n×10 3 /ml, then gradually decreased. Protein and casein decreased when somatic cells increased and the same trend was shown by casein/protein ratio. Both for these components and the coagulating properties the threshold limit of somatic cells to obtain better results was 200.00 n×10 3 /ml. The somatic cell number did not show a trend which was strictly influenced by the lactation stage, contrary to what happened in the other species. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2003. Vol 16, No. 5 : 738-742)

The work concerned 20 buffalo farms situated in central Italy; these were divided in three categories: farms with low, intermediate and high milk yield ( 9 kg/day). Samples of all forages (146) and feeds (134), used by the farms, were taken and analysed; the net energy was calculated and 258 lactating buffaloes were utilised for the experiment (≈20% were primiparae). The milk yield was controlled monthly as also was the number of somatic cells. In 2258 milk samples, protein (N×6.38), fat, pH and coagulation parameters were determined. To estimate the requirements of the lactating herd, regression equations were drawn up between the daily milk yield (X) and the daily net energy, crude protein, carbohydrates both structural and non-structural (Y) intake. The diets of the lactating buffaloes were administered ad libitum, a significant difference was evident relative to the energy level (0.82, 0.77, 0.73 Milk FU/kg DM; P

Background: Because infant formulas containing hydrolyzed cow milk protein are used to reduce feeding intolerance and to improve gastric emptying, the effect on gastrointestinal motility of a hydrolysate formula was compared with that of a standard preterm formula. Methods: Thirty-six preterm newborns with a gestational age of 32.2 ± 2.3 weeks were assigned randomly to standard formula or hydrolyzed formula. Cutaneous electrogastrography and ultrasound examination of gastric emptying were performed simultaneously to evaluate gastrointestinal motility before and after the test meal. All recording sessions were performed 1 week after infants had reached full enteral feeding. Results: No significant difference in gastrointestinal symptoms was noted in the newborns fed the different formulas. In particular, regurgitation and vomiting were observed in 78% versus 64% of preterm newborns after standard and hydrolyzed formula, respectively (Fisher exact test, not significant). No differences were found in terms of gastric electrical activity and gastric emptying time between the two groups. Conclusions: It seems unnecessary to use hydrolysate formulas to improve motility in preterm infants.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the gastric electrical activity and gastric emptying in preterm and term newborns and to assess the development of gastric motility by comparing newborns of different gestational ages. The cutaneous electrogastrography and the ultrasonographic study of the gastric emptying were performed before and after milk formula in three groups of infants: 12 preterm newborns with a gestational age of 28-32 weeks, 11 preterm newborns with a gestational age of 32-36 weeks, and 10 full-term newborns with a gestational age of 36-40 weeks. All recording sessions were performed 1 week after infants had reached full enteral feeding. The percentage of normal slow waves was similar in the three groups but it was not predominant compared to tachygastria in the earliest premature infants (59.3% (12.7-92.3) vs. 29.6% (3.7-78.8); P < 0.05). In addition, a progressive increase in the normal slow wave percentage (59.3% (17.4-87.4), 60.9% (38.1-89.7), 77.8% (66.4-84.8); P < 0.05) was observed as gestation advanced. As regards gastric emptying parameters, the antral area was greater and T(1/2) was longer in the preterm newborns of 28-32 weeks than preterm newborns of 32-36 weeks and full-term newborns (fasting antral area: 0.96 cm2 (0.6-1.5), 0.63 cm2 (0.4-1.2), 0.55 cm2 (0.1-0.9) respectively, P < 0.05; T(1/2): 83.4 min (76.0-108.5), 70 min (57.5-89.5) and 71.8 min (54.9-81.2), respectively P < 0.05). The comparisons of gastric emptying curves made among the three groups showed a reduced antral dilatation in preterm newborns of 28-32 weeks compared to full-term newborns at 30 and 60 min after a meal. In conclusion, although enteral feeding is important for the development process of gastrointestinal motility, gastric electrical activity and gastric emptying show an intrinsic maturation depending on the gestational age.

Taurine, considered a `conditionally essential amino acid' and the profile of free amino acids in milk from four different goat breeds bred in Italy ( Garganica, Maltese , Saanen and Derivata di Siria ) were determined by using a new physico-chemical purification system. The trial involved three different stages of lactation: beginning, middle and final. Taurine was the most representative free amino acid in goat milk, followed by glycine, glutamine and glutamic acid. Taurine was significantly the highest in the Maltese breed milk (90.90 vs. 55.21, 49.59 and 36.80 μmol/100 ml in Garganica , Derivata di Siria and Saanen , respectively). Also, the total amino acid content in the Maltese breed was significantly higher (252.10 μmol/100 ml vs. 200.62 in Derivata di Siria , 200.45 in Garganica and 174.42 in Saanen ). As far as the trend during lactation was concerned, the Tau amount was the highest at the final stage, but a significant difference was found only between the second and the final stages. The multivariate analysis of variance showed a highly significant difference ( P =0.0001) for breed factor, lactation stage factor and for their interaction. This investigation showed also that the milk from goats, bred in Italy, and especially from the Mediterranean breeds, had a high content of taurine in all stages of lactation, and new-borns and infants fed goat milk do not need any addition of this amino acid. Further investigations are needed to verify if Maltese milk has higher taurine contents than other breeds.

The polymorphisms detected in the DNA region containing milk protein genes in sheep and goats, α-s1 and α-s2 casein, β-casein, κ-casein, β-lactoglobulin and α-lactalbumin are described, and the current knowledge of their effects on manufacturing properties of cheese and milk production traits. Other genes showing polymorphisms related to milk production performance are also examined. Sheep genome research and the usefulness of other polymorphic loci, such as microsatellites, for mapping and marker-assisted selection, are also discussed. Current exploitation of the detected polymorphisms in sheep and goats involves the early identification of the animal carriers of the non-wanted alleles, exclusion from mating, as well as parentage verification, which is highly desirable in sheep- and goat-breeding systems. Future exploitation will consider the possibility for the genetic modification of milk composition, fulfilling nutritional requirements and manufacturing properties.

In consideration of the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on promoting and supporting breast feeding, a measurement of breast feeding rates was planned within Vercelli's Province (ASL 11, Piedmont, Italy) in order to compare the local situation to the national and international one, and to promote ideas and strategies for increasing the practice of breast feeding up to six months or beyond.During Diptheria Tetanus whole cell Pertussis vaccination (DTP) vaccination a questionnaire about their children's feeding was handed out to all mothers. Preliminary outcomes were elaborated after a follow-up of six months.So far 1591 questionnaires have been collected. During the first DTP immunizations 31.63% of the children were exclusively breastfed and 15.81% were partially breastfed. At the second vaccination, 11.14% and 37.68% of infants were completely and partially breastfed, respectively. A 36.11% of partially breast feeding still emerged during the third DTP vaccination.The outcomes of this study are inferior compared to WHO expectation and to national statistics. Increasing breast feeding rates should consequently become a priority aim, pursuing it through the health workers training, the support of mothers who encounter difficulties during their hospital stay or at home, and making the public aware of breast feeding practices.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different diets on fertility rate in 64 Mediterranean buffalo cows. The animals were divided in two groups: Group S (n=32) received a total mixed ration based on haysilage of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), hay and concentrates, whereas group H (n=32) was fed only hay and concentrates. Both diets consisted of 50-55 % forages and 45-50 % concentrates and contained 0.91 MFU/kg dry matter (DM) and 16% crude protein/DM. From February until September the cows were located together with bulls and pregnancy diagnosis was performed monthly. Furthermore, blood and milk samples were monthly collected on 20 animals in each group. Statistical analysis was performed by χ2 and t Student tests. A higher fertility rate was recorded in group H vs. group S (100 vs. 78.1%, respectively; P

The aim of this study was to evaluate the repeatability of some animal related variables, which could be used in proto- cols developed for assessing animal welfare at farm level. Recordings were performed in seven dairy farms (four for cat- tle and three for buffaloes). The animals were observed on three occasions at three-week intervals. The variables col- lected for each animal were the following: behaviour during milking (stepping and kicking), avoidance distance, lame- ness and cleanliness. For each farm and each variable repeatability was computed using the Kendall coefficient of con- cordance (W). In buffalo farms avoidance distance may be considered highly reliable (W > 0.64), whereas in dairy cat- tle its reliability ranged from medium (W = 0.43 to 0.59) to high (W = 0.64). Behavioural recordings at milking showed that the reliability of stepping was either medium or high for both buffaloes and cattle (W = 0.51 to 0.66 and W = 0.52 to 0.76 for buffaloes and cattle, respectively). Conversely, kicking was less reliable. In cattle farms the reliability for cleanliness ranged from medium (W = 0.51) to high (W = 0.62 to 0.71), whereas, it was not reliable in the sole buffalo farm where this variable was monitored. In cattle farms, the concordance for lameness score was high in two farms (W = 0.62 and 0.66) and moderate in one farm (W = 0.43), whereas no animals displayed lameness in the fourth farm. In all buffalo farms no animals showed lameness. For each species, the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance with one factor (farm) was performed to evaluate the effect of farm on recorded variables. For cattle, avoidance distance (P stepping (P nificantly different between farms. In buffaloes a significant effect of farm was observed only for avoidance distance (P that avoidance distance was lower in buffaloes than cattle (P criminate among farms. Lameness and cleanliness scores were able to discriminate only cattle farms, whereas these two parameters, albeit feasible, seem to have low significance for buffaloes. Although stepping during milking was reliable and different among cattle farms, its use in on-farm assessment may be difficult because it is more time consuming, thus less feasible.&nbsp

Twenty-eight buffalo cows were used to evaluate the effect of housing system on a range of behavioural and physiological variables. Fourteen cows were group-housed in a loose open-sided barn with a concrete floor and 10 m2 per head as space allowance (group IS). Fourteen others were group-housed in a similar barn but they could also benefit from an outdoor yard with 500 m2 per head as space allowance, free access to potholes for wallowing and spontaneous vegetation (group TS). Animals were subjected to six sessions of instantaneous scan sampling at 10-day intervals. Behavioural variables were expressed as proportions of subjects observed in each category of posture and activity. Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was used to perform a skin test based on non-specific delayed type hypersensitivity, whereas 20 mg of ovalbumin were injected subcutaneously to evaluate humoral immune response. Blood samples for evaluation of cortisol concentration were collected immediately prior to exogenous porcine ACTH injection and 1, 2 and 4 h after. The metabolic status of the animals and milk production were also monitored. The proportion of idling animals was higher in group IS than in group TS (P < 0.001). More IS buffalo cows were observed eating at the manger than TS animals (P < 0.001). A higher proportion of TS animals were observed in the sun (P < 0.001). Grazing and bathing activities were recorded only for TS animals. Our findings suggest that buffalo cows kept in intensive conditions and having no access to ample yards and potholes may extend their periods of idling with negative effects on the state of welfare. Immune responses, metabolite concentrations and milk production were not affected by treatment, whereas cortisol levels were higher in IS animals (P < 0.05). The provision of a housing system similar to natural conditions was able to improve the welfare of buffalo cows as indicated by the expression of some species-specific natural behaviours. Such conditions were also associated with lower adrenal cortex response to ACTH injection, possibly as a consequence of the higher degree of initiative allowed to TS cows.