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Publications (63)
The objective of this study was to develop formulas based on milk composition of individual goat samples for predicting cheese yield (%CY) traits (fresh curd, milk solids, and water retained in the curd). The specific aims were to assess and quantify (1) the contribution of major milk components (fat, protein, and casein) and udder health indicator...
The aims of this study were to explore the variability of milk composition, coagulation properties, and cheese-making traits of the Sarda goat breed, and to investigate the effects of animal and farm factors, and the geographic area (Central-East vs. SouthWest) of an insular region of Italy, Sardinia. A total of 570 Sarda goats reared in 21 farms w...
Milk traits and coagulation properties (MCP) were investigated in a population of 960 Sarda ewes distributed in 21 farms, in order to propose a limit of somatic cells (SCC) by using the statistical analysis of milk traits and MCP from a large population of ewes. At each farm, from 20 to 80 ewes were individually sampled (one sampling day for each f...
Goat milk and cheese production is continuously increasing and milk composition and coagulation properties (MCP) are useful tools to predict cheesemaking aptitude. The present study was planned to investigate the extension of lactodynamographic analysis up to 60 min in goat milk, to measure the farm and individual factors, and to investigate differ...
The aim of this research was to assess the effect of serological response at SRLYs and PTB on milk yield, composition and renneting properties in sheep milk.
The aim of this study was to compare milk yield, composition, coagulation properties and cheese yield (%CY) in Sarda and Maltese goats reared in the Sardinian semi-extensive system.
The aim of this study was to apply Bayesian models to the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy spectra of individual sheep milk samples to derive calibration equations to predict traditional and modeled milk coagulation properties (MCP), and to assess the repeatability of MCP measures and their predictions. Data consisted of 1,002 individual mil...
Sheep milk is an important source of food, especially in Mediterranean countries, and is used in large part for cheese production. Milk technological traits are important for the sheep dairy industry, but research is lacking into the genetic variation of such traits. Therefore the aim of this study was to estimate the heritability of traditional mi...
Dairy goat farming is practiced worldwide, within a range of different farming systems. Here we investigated the effects of environmental factors and morphology on milk traits of the Sardinian goat population. Sardinian goats are currently reared in Sardinia (Italy) in a low-input context, similar to many goat farming systems, especially in develop...
Dairy goat farming is practiced worldwide, within a range of different farming systems. Here we investigated the effects of environmental factors and morphology on milk traits of the Sardinian goat population. Sardinian goats are currently reared in Sardinia (Italy) in a low-input context, similar to many goat farming systems, especially in develop...
Individual milk samples from 169 Sarda sheep were collected to characterise the cheese-making potential through the use of a laboratory bench-top model cheese-manufacturing procedure. As the milk samples were not standardised before processing, the data collected at laboratory level fully reflected the great variability of milk from individual anim...
Regulatory variation at the ovine casein genes could have important effects on the composition and coagulation properties of milk. Herewith, we have partially resequenced the promoters and the 3'-UTR of the four casein genes in 25 Sarda sheep. Alignment of these sequences allowed us to identify a total of 29 SNPs. This level of polymorphism (one SN...
Zinc supplementation is recommended to prevent scours and improve weight gain of weaned piglets but the effects are variable
and they may be influenced by many housing and weaning techniques, the hygienic status of the housing and climatic factors.
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of zinc oxide supplementation at a dose of 2400 mg/k...
Two clones, Bt1 from Bos taurus and Om1 from Ovis orientalis musimon, were used as probes for hybridization on genomic DNA and on metaphase chromosomes in members of Bovini and Caprini tribes. Bt1 and Om1 are sequences respectively belonging to the 1.715 and 1.714 DNA satellite I families. Southern blots and fluorescence in situ hybridization exper...
The 5′ flanking region and 3′ UTR of the caprine LALBA gene were analysed by SSCP and sequencing. A total of nine SNPs were detected: three in the promoter region, two were synonymous coding SNPs at exon-1, and four SNPs were in exon-4, within the 3′UTR. The nucleotide changes located in the promoter region (c.−358T>C, c.−163G>A, c.−121T>G) were ge...
Growth hormone (GH) is encoded by the GH gene, which may be single copy or duplicate in sheep. The two copies of the sheep GH gene (GH1/GH2-N and GH2-Z) were entirely sequenced in one 106 ewes of Sarda breed, in order to highlight sequence polymorphisms and investigate possible association between genetic variants and milk traits. Milk traits inclu...
This study investigated the modeling of curd-firming (CF) over time (CFt) of sheep milk. Milk samples from 1,121 Sarda ewes from 23 flocks were analyzed for coagulation properties. Lactodynamographic analyses were conducted for up to 60 min, and 240 CF individual observations from each sample were recorded. Individual sample CFt equation parameters...
The aim of this study was to evaluate a three-minutes assay (Betastar® Combo 3.0) for the detection of Penicillin G, Amoxicillin, Cefazolin and Oxytetracycline hydrochloride in individual ewe milk. Antibiotics-free samples were obtained throughout three trials from three Sarda ewes and, at the laboratory, spiked with the four antimicrobial molecule...
In this study, milk-coagulation properties (MCP) were characterized in the Sarda sheep breed. Milk composition and MCP [rennet-coagulation time (RCT), curd-firming time [time to reach a curd firmness of 20 mm (k20)], and curd firmness (a30), (a45), and (a60)] were obtained extending the lactodynamographic analysis from 30 to 60 min from a populatio...
This study was conducted, in a extensive farm, to assess the effects of artificial feeding with an acidified milk replacer on productive performance of goat kids. Thirty-two Sarda kids, randomly divided into two feeding groups of 16 kids, (NM, naturally milk fed by their dams, and AR, artificially bottle-fed with an acidified milk replacer) were we...
Italy is known for its tradition in goat farming and the Sarda autochthonous goat from Sardinia is one of the most important breeds of the Mediterranean Basin. The suckling kid from this breed is a traditional meat product and, despite the good acceptance by the consumer, it is not recognised with a protected geographical indication or designation...
The aim of the current work was to analyze, in the Sarda breed goat, genetic polymorphism within the casein genes and to assess their influence on milk traits. Genetic variants at the CSN1S1, CSN2, CSN1S2 and CSN3 gene loci were investigated using PCR-based methods, cloning and sequencing. Strong alleles prevailed at the CSN1S1 gene locus and defec...
Cold storage is a well-known strategy to limit concerns about seasonality for sheep dairy productions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term freezing on milk renneting properties from the Sarda sheep, an autochthonous breed from Italy. Two-hundred milk samples from 50 pluriparous Sarda ewes were collected at monthly inter...
The purpose was to analyze the growth hormone GH1/GH2-N and GH2-Z gene copies and to assess their possible association with milk traits in Sarda sheep. Two hundred multiparous lactating ewes were monitored. The two gene copies were amplified separately and each was used as template for a nested PCR, to investigate single strand conformation polymor...
The aim of this research was to investigate variability in each of the five exons of the caprine growth hormone (gGH) gene, in order to establish the possible relationships with milk traits in Sarda breed goat. The general linear model procedure was used to analyse the effects of the single strand conformation (SSCP) profiles on milk traits of 100...
The effect of CSN1S1 genotype and lactation stage on milk yield and composition were investigated in 80 extensively reared goats. Milk yield was recorded in early, mid and late lactation and individual milk samples were collected to determine: fat, protein, lactose and casein content, pH, freezing point, somatic cell count (SCC) and total microbic...
This study investigated the influence of polymorphisms at casein genes on renneting properties of milk from Sarda goats. Milk yield and composition, and renneting properties (rennet coagulation time RCT, firming time k20 and curd firmness a30) were achieved from 200 multiparous goats in three farms, at a monthly interval from March to July. Animals...
The aim of the study was to detect polymorphism in the POU1F1 gene in Sarda breed goat, as well as to establish if SNPs could be associated with milk productive traits. The research was conducted on 129 Sarda breed goats from 4 to 5 years old, multiparous, lactating and in their third to fifth lactation. We report nine exonic and seven non-coding r...
The aim of the study was to develop a reliable method for the RNA extraction from milk of Sarda sheep breed and to highlight if the extracted RNA can be used for expression study on mammary genes involved in milk fat synthesis using RT-qPCR. The main result is that a sample of 150 ml of milk provides an optimal amount of RNA (73.5 μg/ml). The highe...
A melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) gene polymorphism in adult buffaloes has been reported to affect reproductive seasonality. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to assess whether this polymorphism can affect age at first conception and the interval between first and second calving in Mediterranean Italian buffaloes. The allelic frequency...
The ovine POU1F1 gene is localized on chromosome 1 and it contains five introns and six exons. In different mammalian species some mutations in different exons are associated with different production traits. The aim of our research was to study the POU1F1 gene nucleotide sequence to detect possible polymorphisms and their relationships with milk p...
Laws of different countries regarding SCC of goat milk are not in agreement with each other and sometimes they fix a threshold for the enhancement of dairy products. The aim of this study was to assess if renneting properties of goat milk are influenced by higher somatic cell count (SCC) measured by an electronic cell counter. Milk samples, taken t...
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among milk urea, blood plasma urea, milk yield and body condition score (BCS) in primiparous goats fed at pasture. Ninety goats of Sarda breed were used and, on the basis of their yield level, divided in three groups of 30 animals each, low (LY), intermediate (IY) and high milk yield (HY)....
Th e solute carrier family 11 member A1 (SLC11A1) gene is associated with resistance to infectious diseases. Genetic variability at the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of this gene is due to the presence of a polymorphic microsatellites that contain a (GT) n dinucleotide repeat. Th e microsatellite variability and relationships with milk yield and...
This study evaluated the effect of storage on renneting properties of goat milk investigated using the Formagraph method. Milk samples from 169 goats in three farms (F1, F2 and F3) were analysed during an entire lactation (45, 75, 105, 135 and 165 days in milking DIM), to obtain renneting parameters, both from fresh milk and after storage with Bron...
Reproductive activity of the sheep bred at temperate latitude is conditioned by photoperiodic trend. Melatonin haematic levels are considered the biological informer of photoperiodic trend. The action of melatonin on reproductive activity is carried on through receptors present at hypothalamic level. Polymorphism of receptor MT1 gene in several she...
The solute carrier family 11 member A1 (SLC11A1) gene is associated with resistance to infectious diseases. Chromosomal localisation, genomic regions corresponding to functional domains and the genetic variability of microsatellites in the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of this gene were investigated in 427 goats (Capra hircus) of six breeds. Usin...
To provide useful knowledge on goat breed origin and history, we studied the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of 69 goats from five different breeds, Camosciata delle Alpi, Maltese, Nubian, Saanen and Sarda, and one population, the Tunisian. All goats analysed displayed a moderate haplotype and nucleotide diversity. The highest was in the Sarda - the auto...
To determine milk yield and composition, total microbic count (TMC) and somatic cell count (SCC) of browsing goats throughout the first lactation, 100 goats of Sarda breed, equally distributed in four flocks (F1, F2, F3 and F4), were selected. They were exclusively fed pasture and hand-milked once daily. Individual milk samples and daily milk yield...
The aim of this research was to investigate the genetic structure at BMPR 1B, BMP15 and GDF9 prolificacy genes in five sheep breeds reared in Tunisia: Barbarine, Queue Fine de L’Ouest, Noire de Thibar, Sicilo-Sarde and D’man. Genomic DNA of 204 sheep was investigated for the FecB<sup>B</sup> (BMPR 1B), FecX<sup>R</sup>, FecX<sup>H</sup>, FecX<sup>I...
The growth hormone (GH) gene can be utilized as a major gene because in various domestic livestock its polymorphisms have been associated to milk traits. The aim of this research was to investigate single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) in the exon 3 of gGH (goat GH) gene and to evaluate the possible association with milk traits in Sarda go...
The aim of this study was to compare the allele frequency of 3'-UTR NRAMP1 (Natural Resistance-Associated Macrophage Protein) microsatellite between local and specialized dairy cattle breeds reared in Sardinia, Italy. Blood samples were collected and DNA was extracted from 97 Sarda, 55 Italian Brown and 36 Italian Friesian cattle and analysed by me...
The goals of the present research were to characterize
the MT1 gene in mouflon, identify possible polymorphisms,
and facilitate a better understanding of their relationship with reproductive activity.
The aim of the study was to assess allele frequencies at the CSN1S2 locus in the Sarda goat and the effects of the genotype on milk composition. Two hundred twenty Sarda goats from 20 farms were selected. Individual blood and milk samples were collected during the middle of lactation and daily milk yield was registered. Fat, protein and lactose per...
The aim was to study the polymorphisms of the melatonin receptor 1A gene (MTNR1A) and its relationship with seasonal reproduction in the Sarda sheep breed. Four-thousand multiparous ewes reared under natural photoperiod were randomly chosen. Genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to PCR for the amplification of the main part of exon II of the ovin...
The objective was to obtain a description of genetic diversity at the four casein genes in the Arbi goat, the native goat breed from Tunisia. DNA from 111 Arbi goats (71 females and 40 bucks) was analysed using PCR-based methods. The most frequent allele at the CSN1S1 locus was B, followed by A, F, N, E and 01. The most frequent allele at CSN2 locu...
Goat αs1-casein, coded by the CSN1S1 gene, is a highly polymorphic protein. The E allele is characterized by the insertion of a long interspersed nuclear element (LINE) in the 19th exon of the gene. This insertion is probably responsible for the reduced levels of αs1-casein found in milk from animals expressing the E allele. The present study aimed...
The reproductive activity of goats bred in temperate latitude follows a seasonal pattern, influenced by annual variation in day length. Daily variation in pineal melatonin secretion is the neuroendocrine signal recognized by animals through the link between this hormone and melatonin receptor 1a (MTNR1A). A total of 345 goats of different breeds (2...
The objective of this study was to compare slaughtering performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in lambs of two different genotypes. Sixteen crossbred Mouflon × Sarda (M × S) and sixteen pure Sarda breed (S × S) suckling lambs were analysed. Chemical and fatty acid composition were determined on semitendinosus and longissimus dorsi m...
The aim of this research was to investigate how growth hormone (GH) cortisol and some haematochemical parameters could be modified by the stress caused by the stages of shearing in Sarda breed sheep. Five groups of 10 sheep each were formed. Group A, only separated from the flock; Group B, only tied; Group C, both tied and shorn (animals in these t...
The objective of this study was to determine the fatty acid composition of semitendinous muscle and perirenal adipose tissue of Sarda and crossbred Mouflon x Sarda lambs. Lambs were slaughtered at 40 clays of age. Fatty acid composition was similar for S x S and crossbred SxM lambs. n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was 2.30 in pure lambs and 2.90 in crossbred. I...
In order to assess the correlation between body condition score (BCS), milk yield and milk
fatty acid (FA) composition, 25 lactating Sarda breed goats were studied. BCS and milk yield
were measured monthly, and milk samples for fat, protein, lactose and fatty acid profi le analysis
were collected. Statistical analysis showed signifi cant correlatio...
The authors describe several phases of a project aiming at the production, evaluation and enhancement of a new meat foodstuff, the suckling lamb obtained by crossing Ovis aries with Ovis g musimon. This crossbred was mentioned since the first century A.C., and nowadays its birth is still possible in natural environment, where sheep farms are close...
The aim of this research was to evaluate the state of some haematochemical parameters in dry and lactating Sarda sheep breed. Twenty lactating sheep (Group A) and twenty dry sheep (Group B) were selected for this study; all the sheep were pluriparous and non-pregnant. Blood samples were collected from each animal of Group A on days 7 th and 30 th o...
Milk lamb is the most appreciated meat product of Italian ovine breeding. It is naturally fed and slaughtered at the age of about one month; lamb's meat value is recognized for its excellent organoleptic characteristics. It is obtained from dairy breeds and, sometimes, by crossbreeding with meat breed rams, in order to improve productivity and qual...
The research was carried out in order to
evaluate α<sub>s1</sub>-casein allele frequency and the possible correlations between its genotype and milk quanti-qualitative
productions in Sarda goat. 600 Sarda goats were utilized, belonging from 24 flocks located in three distinct areas of
Sardinia: Central (Zone 1), South-East Coast (Zone 2) and South-...
