Comparative analysis of buffalo, local and continental cattle carcasses with the European Union classification system in Greece.

The carcasses produced in Greece from Greek Buffalo, indigenous and local crossbred cattle were evaluated using the European Union (EU) bovine classification system and compared with carcasses of continental breeds reared in the country. The main carcass production (67.8%) came from animals born in Greece with a relatively low percentage from local breeds (17%). The lightest carcass weight was found in Greek Brachyceros [145.2 ± 2.3 kg (males); 146.0 ± 3.1 kg (females)], while among locals the Greek Blonde rendered the heaviest carcass weights [303.2 ± 2.9 kg (males); 265.3 ± 3.5 kg (females)]. Muscle conformation scoring was the lowest in Buffalo [4.1 ± 0.1 (males); 4.9 ± 0.0 (females)] and the highest for males of Charolais and Blonde d'Aquitaine (11.2 ± 0.0 and 10.7 ± 0.0, respectively). The meat-purposed breeds produced carcasses of higher quality than dual-purposed, local breeds and dairy Holstein-Friesian. With the discriminant analysis, the correct classification of carcasses varied from 53.4% (males) to 47.8% (females) with high assignment percentage of Greek Buffalo males (81.6%), Simmental males (80.7%) and Holstein-Friesian females (98.5%).

The effect of dietary supplementation with rumen-protected methionine alone or in combination with rumen-protected choline and betaine on sheep milk and antioxidant capacity.

This study investigated the effects of dietary inclusion of rumen-protected methionine alone or in combination with rumen-protected choline and betaine on: (i) milk yield, chemical composition and fatty acids (FA) profile and (ii) blood plasma glutathione transferase (GST) activity of periparturient ewes. Furthermore, the oxidative stress indicators for measuring total antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity [ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays] were also determined in plasma and milk of ewes. Thus, 45 ewes were divided into three equal groups. Each animal of the control group fed daily with a basal diet. The same diet was offered also in each animal of the other two groups. However, the concentrate fed to M group was supplemented with 2.5 g/kg rumen-protected methionine, while the concentrate fed to MCB group with 5 g/kg of a commercial product which contained a combination of methionine, choline and betaine, all three in rumen-protected form. The results showed that the M diet, compared with the control, increased significantly the ewe's milk fat and the total solids content. Likewise, a tendency for higher milk fat and total solids content in ewes fed the MCB diet was also observed. Both M and MCB diets had not noticeable impact on ewes milk FA profile. Significantly higher FRAP values in the blood plasma of ewes fed the MCB and in the milk of ewes fed with the M diet compared with the control were found. Additionally, significantly higher GST activity in the blood plasma of ewes fed the M diet, compared with the control, was observed. Moreover, a significant increase (by 20%) and a tendency for increase (by 16.72%) in the growth rate of lambs nursing ewes fed with M and MCB diets, respectively, compared to controls, were found.

Short communication: Associations between blood fatty acids, ß-hydroxybutyrate, and α-tocopherol in the periparturient period in dairy cows: An observational study.

The objective of the present study was to examine the relationships between blood concentrations of fatty acids, ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and α-tocopherol during the periparturient period in dairy cows. Blood samples were collected from 131 cows belonging to 4 different commercial dairy farms in southeastern Europe (Greece and Italy). We determined blood concentrations of fatty acids, BHB, and α-tocopherol at dry-off, at calving, and 30d postpartum. Results indicated that fatty acid concentrations were low at dry-off, reached maximum value at calving, and then declined at 30d postpartum. In fact, fatty acid concentrations at 30d postpartum were 50% lower than at calving. In contrast, BHB concentrations were low at dry-off, increased by 27% at calving, and continued to increase by another 20% at 30d postpartum. Overall, we found a weak correlation between fatty acids and BHB throughout the periparturient period. Concentrations of α-tocopherol were lowest at calving, and we detected no differences in α-tocopherol concentrations at dry-off or 30d postpartum. Negative correlations between fatty acids and α-tocopherol were highly significant at 30d postpartum and approached the level of significance at dry-off. However, both correlations became nonsignificant following the adjustment of α-tocopherol with cholesterol, indicating that the correlations were a reflection of changes in lipid transport. We found significant negative correlations (strong at dry-off and weak at 30d postpartum) between BHB and α-tocopherol after adjustment with cholesterol. The physiological basis for the negative correlations between BHB and α-tocopherol, especially that at dry-off, is not known and should not be taken to imply a cause-effect relationship. However, it opens the door to investigating the effects of vitamin E on liver function in dairy cows.