Former food products safety: microbiological quality and computer vision evaluation of packaging remnants contamination.

The use of alternative feed ingredients in farm animal's diets can be an interesting choice from several standpoints, including safety. In this respect, this study investigated the safety features of selected former food products (FFPs) intended for animal nutrition produced in the framework of the IZS PLV 06/14 RC project by an FFP processing plant. Six FFP samples, both mash and pelleted, were analysed for the enumeration of total viable count (TVC) (ISO 4833), Enterobacteriaceae (ISO 21528-1), Escherichia coli (ISO 16649-1), coagulase-positive Staphylococci (CPS) (ISO 6888), presumptive Bacillus cereus and its spores (ISO 7932), sulphite-reducing Clostridia (ISO 7937), yeasts and moulds (ISO 21527-1), and the presence in 25 g of Salmonella spp. (ISO 6579). On the same samples, the presence of undesired ingredients, which can be identified as remnants of packaging materials, was evaluated by two different methods: stereomicroscopy according to published methods; and stereomicroscopy coupled with a computer vision system (IRIS Visual Analyzer VA400). All FFPs analysed were safe from a microbiological point of view. TVC was limited and Salmonella was always absent. When remnants of packaging materials were considered, the contamination level was below 0.08% (w/w). Of note, packaging remnants were found mainly from the 1-mm sieve mesh fractions. Finally, the innovative computer vision system demonstrated the possibility of rapid detection for the presence of packaging remnants in FFPs when combined with a stereomicroscope. In conclusion, the FFPs analysed in the present study can be considered safe, even though some improvements in FFP processing in the feeding plant can be useful in further reducing their microbial loads and impurity.

Activity of Catmint (Nepeta cataria) essential oil against Anisakis larvae.

Nepeta cataria L.,commonly known as Catnip, is an aromatic plant belonging to the mint family, Limiaceae. Nematicidal activity of Catnip essential oil (CEO), was assayed in vitro against L3 larvae of Anisakis type 1. Anisakidosis is one of the most important fishborne zoonotic diseases related to the ingestion of nematode larvae belonging to the genus Anisakis, Contraceacum and more rarely Pseudoterranova and Hysterothylacium. In vitro tests revealed a complete inactivation of parasites after 6 and 12 h of treatment, at 10 and 5% respectively, in saline solution. In marinating solution a complete inactivation of parasites was observed after 12 and 18 hours at 10 and 5% concentrations respectively. The data obtained showing a significant activity against Anisakis larvae and suggest further investigations on CEO as a larvicidal agent.

Supplementation of Rosemary extract in the diet of Nero Siciliano pigs: evaluation of the antioxidant properties on meat quality.

In the present study, the effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. dietary supplementation on meat quality and oxidative stability of Nero Siciliano pigs was examined. During the growing-fattening period, 32 Nero Siciliano pigs were allotted into two treatment groups consisting of 8 replicates with 2 pigs per pen. For 90 days, the animals received a basal diet: one group (CTR) was not dietary supplemented, whereas the other group received (1 g/kg) rosemary extract (ROX). Supplementation with rosemary extract significantly improved the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of the meat, which showed higher values in the meat of the ROX group compared with the CTR group (P0.05). Color measurement performed in the present study on meat samples from the two dietary treatments showed that redness decreased (P=0.046) and hue values increased (P=0.036), indicating that a deterioration of the initial color occurred and that the rosemary extract was ineffective in preventing color deterioration. Nevertheless, the lightness, yellowness and chroma color descriptors showed similar values in relation to dietary treatment (P>0.05). Considering the nutritional value of meat as an important contributor to the overall quality, the results obtained in this study support the possibility of the dietary supplementation with R. officinalis L. extract in pigs as a functional additive in livestock feeding.

Genetic heterogeneity and selection signature at the KIT gene in pigs showing different coat colours and patterns.

Mutations in the porcine KIT gene (Dominant white locus) have been shown to affect coat colours and colour distribution in pigs. We analysed this gene in several pig breeds and populations (Sicilian black, completely black or with white patches; Cinta Senese; grey local population; Large White; Duroc; Hampshire; Pietrain; wild boar; Meishan) with different coat colours and patterns, genotyping a few polymorphisms. The 21 exons and parts of the intronic regions were sequenced in these pigs and 69 polymorphisms were identified. The grey-roan coat colour observed in a local grey population was completely associated with a 4-bp deletion of intron 18 in a single copy KIT gene, providing evidence that this mutation characterizes the I(d) allele described in the early genetic literature. The white patches observed in black Sicilian pigs were not completely associated with the presence of a duplicated KIT allele (I(p) ), suggesting that genetic heterogeneity is a possible cause of different coat colours in this breed. Selection signature was evident at the KIT gene in two different belted pig breeds, Hampshire and Cinta Senese. The same mutation(s) may cause the belted phenotype in these breeds that originated in the 18th-19th centuries from English pigs (Hampshire) and in Tuscany (Italy) in the 14th century (Cinta Senese). Phylogenetic relationships of 28 inferred KIT haplotypes indicated two clades: one of Asian origin that included Meishan and a few Sicilian black haplotypes and another of European origin.

Organic management of dietary rosemary extract in dairy sheep: effects on milk quality and clotting properties.

The increasing demand for animals from organic breeding systems has increased interest in certain natural substances, called nutraceuticals, to stimulate the organic defenses of the animals. The aim of this trial was to study the effects of dietary rosemary extract in 36 ewes, from 57 to 154 days of lactation, divided into three groups: CTR (basal diet), ROXLD (600 mg extract/head/day) and ROXHD (1,200 mg extract/head/day). A significantly higher quantity of milk and quantitative daily production of protein, casein, fat, and lactose were observed in the milk of animals in the ROXHD group compared with milk from animals in the CTR and ROXLD groups. No significant differences were observed for somatic cell counts, considering that treated groups showed lower values compared with controls. A significant decrease in clotting time (r) and increase in curd firmness (a ( 30 )) were observed in milk of both treated groups (ROXLD and ROXHD) compared with the CTR group. These results could be related to the significantly higher acidity values, pH and SH degrees , observed in the milk of animals from the treated groups. Dietary rosemary extract in dairy sheep enhanced milk yield, quality, and renneting properties due to its "natural, functional ingredients."

Comparison of the performances of Nero Siciliano pigs reared indoors and outdoors: 2. Joints composition, meat and fat traits.

A study on the effect of rearing system on tissue composition of principal joints and chemical-physical traits of meat and subcutaneous fat, was carried out on a local pig breed. A total of 78 Nero Siciliano pigs was used; 41 pigs were reared in woods, 37 pigs were reared in pens and fed a commercial diet. Weight at slaughter was 101.9 and 88.2 kg for indoor and outdoor pigs, respectively. Means were estimated at 77 kg of live weight. At ham dissection outdoor-pigs showed higher percentages of lean (58% vs. 55%) and lower subcutaneous fat (31% vs. 34%). In Longissimus lumborum outdoor-pigs showed a higher intramuscular fat percentage (4.3% vs. 3.3%), a lower protein content (22.2% vs. 23.4%), and higher free water (9.6 vs. 7.9 cm(2)). Outdoor pigs produced more light (L(*)=50 vs. 46.7) and more yellow (b(*)=5.84 vs. 4.88) meat. Subcutaneous fat of outdoor pigs showed higher percentages of MUFA (53.3% vs. 47.2%) and lower percentages of PUFA (10.85% vs. 14.45%), no differences were found for n-3 PUFA. Outdoor-pigs had lower atherogenicity (0.48 vs. 0.53) and thrombogenicity (1.03 vs. 1.21) indices.

Influence of the method of forage conservation on feeding behaviour, intake and characteristics of reticulo-rumen content, in sheep fed ad libitum.

The influence of silage conservation methods on eating behaviour and the characteristics of reticulo-rumen contents was studied in sheep by comparing 3 forages, a silage without additive (WAS), one with additive (FAS) and hay (H), prepared from the same cut green forage. The sheep were rumen fistulated. WAS was very badly and FAS poorly preserved while the hay was dried under favourable conditions. The forages were fed ad libitum and the dry matter (DM) intake was 1,054, 1,241 and 1,469 g/day for WAS, FAS and H respectively. There was a single feeding in the morning. At the main meal, DM intake was 270, 317 and 388 g/day and ingestion rate 4.76, 4.56 and 4.16 g of DM/min for WAS, FAS and H respectively. There was slight recovery in ingestion around 16-19 h with hay and FAS but not with WAS. With hay, rumination lasted much longer than with the silages and began sooner after the end of the main meal. In contrast, overall rumination efficiency was the same for hay and FAS. There were fewer contractions of the reticulo-rumen with both WAS and hay. The amounts of reticulo-rumen contents were comparable for the 2 silages and higher for hay. The amounts of NH3 in the contents were the same with WAS and hay but greater with FAS. With WAS, contents were richer in butyric, valeric and caproic acids. The DM turnover rate of the contents was the same for FAS and hay and lower, but not significantly, for WAS. Accordingly, with silage, satiety seems to be rapidly reached but there was no evidence that organoleptic factors were involved. There were no problems with the digestion rate of silages. However, the factors limiting silage intake persisted throughout the diurnal cycle, and reticulo-rumen fill was affected. The more poorly preserved the silage the more these factors reduced the duration and volume of the meals, or both.