Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in Female Lidia Cattle Slaughtered at Different Ages.

The aim of this study was to assess the carcass and meat quality of female Lidia cattle slaughtered at different ages, in order to deepen our understanding of the breed's unique characteristics. The effect of slaughter age on carcass traits and meat quality attributes of m. Longissimus was investigated in Lidia heifers (n = 200) and cows (n = 100) reared and finished in an extensive system. The animals were slaughtered at 24-36 months (Heifer I), 36-48 months (Heifer II) or >48 months (Cull cow). The carcasses (~120 kg) presented poor conformation (O, O+) and medium fatness (2, 2+). The dissection of the 6th rib yielded mean values of 58.6%, 14.3% and 24.8% for lean, fat and bone, respectively. The cows had a higher proportion of dissectible fat (p < 0.05). Subcutaneous fat was classified as dark and yellowish, and meat (aged for 21 days) as dark (L* = 25.5), reddish (a* = 14.4) and moderately yellowish (b* = 12.9), with acceptable water-holding capacity (TL = 5.34%; DL = 0.97%; PL = 8.9%; CL = 22.1%) and intermediate tenderness (WBSF = 4.6 kg/cm2). The b* value of meat was higher (p < 0.05) in cull cows. The meat of cull cows was more yellowish (p < 0.05) and obtained higher scores for flavor (p < 0.05), juiciness p < 0.01), overall tenderness (p < 0.001) and overall acceptance (p < 0.001).

Analysis of the Sustainability of Fattening Systems for Iberian Traditional Pig Production through a Technical and Environmental Approach.

At present, two types of fattening are carried out in Iberian traditional pig production. The montanera is the fattening system where fatteners are fed on acorns and pasture in the dehesa, and cebo de campo is the fattening where the pigs are fed on compound feed and natural resources, mainly pasture. The aim of this paper is to analyze Iberian fattening production from an economic and environmental approach in order to identify fattening strategies to increase the sustainability of this traditional livestock activity. Based on technical-economic and environmental variables, the differences between Iberian farms according to the types of fattening were determined using discriminant analysis techniques. The model based on environmental variables showed a greater predictive ability than that found in the model based on technical-economic variables. Consequently, environmental variables can be used as reference points to classify the Iberian farms according to the type of fattening. Furthermore, canonical correlation analysis allowed to study the relationships between both sets of variables, showing that environmental values had a strong correlation with technical-economic variables. The results of this study show that it is possible to improve the sustainability of Iberian traditional pig production through fattening strategies in both types of fattening.

Beef from Calves Finished with a Diet Based on Concentrate Rich in Agro-Industrial By-Products: Acceptability and Quality Label Preferences in Spanish Meat Consumers.

Conjoint analysis was used to estimate the relative importance of some of the main extrinsic attributes and quality labels of beef in three Spanish cities (Córdoba, Marbella, and Santa Pola) in a study performed with 300 individuals. Consumers were segmented according to their frequency of consumption. Willingness to pay for different meats was also calculated from the conjoint analysis results. Consumer liking of beef that had been finished with an alternative concentrate rich in agro-industrial by-products and aged for three different durations as compared to conventionally finished beef was also evaluated using the same consumers. The most important attribute for Spanish consumers was the price (28%), followed by origin (25%), animal welfare certification (19%), protected geographical indication (14%), and organic agriculture certification (14%). Most consumers preferred beef from Spain at the lowest possible price and with the highest number of quality labels. Consumers were willing to pay a premium of 1.49, 3.61, and 5.53 EUR over 14 EUR/kg for organic certification, protected geographical indication, and animal welfare certification, respectively. Sensory analysis revealed that, for regular consumers, beef finished with an alternative concentrate rich in agro-industrial by-products offered several hedonic advantages (color, flavor, and tenderness) when compared to beef finished using a conventional diet, while occasional consumers did not find any difference between the two kinds of meat.

Influence of Environmental and Productive Factors on the Biodiversity of Lactic Acid Bacteria Population from Sheep Milk.

Milk is a typical and satisfactory medium for the growth of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These microorganisms are of vital importance in the quality of the milk since they contribute to its preservation and give differential organoleptic properties to the final product. Furthermore, LABs can act as biocontrol agents in the dairy industry by inhibiting the growth of undesirable bacteria present in milk and by improving the quality of dairy products such as cheese. In this context, knowing the transfer routes used by LABs from the livestock environment to the milk is of great importance within the dairy industry. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to expand the knowledge of the LAB population present in the milk of Manchego ewe by means of DNA sequencing techniques and to evaluate the possible transfers of LAB species based on the management of each dairy farm. Samples of bulk tank milk, air (from the milking parlour and from the livestock housing), animal feed and teat surface (taken from 10 sheep per farm) were collected in 12 traditional livestock farms in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain), where each farm presented differences regarding their farming practices. A mixed-effects model was used to evaluate the effects of livestock practices on the distribution of LAB species. Results showed that the vast majority of species identified in the milk had an isolate that was also found in other matrices, which could indicate a microbial transference via the livestock environment to the milk. In addition, the mixed model showed that the factors that positively influence the LAB count were the low-line milking system and the daily use of acid detergent in cleaning the milking machine.

Farming Practices Influence Antibiotic Resistance and Biogenic Amine Capacity of Staphylococci from Bulk Tank Ewe's Milk.

Staphylococci are one of the main microorganisms responsible for intramammary infections in sheep, causing important economic losses for farmers and eventually health problems in humans, especially by the consumption of dairy products made with raw milk containing toxic compounds, such as biogenic amines or antibiotic resistant bacteria. This study aimed to check the presence and safety of staphylococci in bulk tank ewe's milk from different farms, and to determine the relationship between the presence of these staphylococci and farming practices, by applying nonlinear canonical correlation models (OVERALS). Two-hundred and fifty-nine staphylococci from milk samples from eighteen farms were genotyped and representative isolates of the major clusters were identified as belonging to Staphylococcus (S.) aureus, S. epidermidis, S. arlettae, S. lentus, S. simulans, and S. chromogenes species. Identified isolates were assayed in terms of their safety, by evaluating resistance to antimicrobial drugs and the aminobiogenic capacity, using both phenotypic and genetic assays. Antibiotic resistance phenotypic assay revealed that 82.9% were resistant to some antibiotics, although in the genotypic assay only the genes tetM, ermB, ermC, and grlA were detected. Fifty-three percent were high biogenic amine (BA) producers, being putrescine the most produced amine. A lowered risk of finding antibiotic-resistant and BA-producing staphylococci is related to some farming methods such as enrolling in a breeding program, use of good farming practices, postdipping teat disinfection, hygienic livestock housing, or periodic check of the milking machine.

Dominant Yeast Community in Raw Sheep's Milk and Potential Transfers of Yeast Species in Relation to Farming Practices.

Yeasts are always present in any type of cheese, as well as in the factories where it is produced. However, the role of the yeast community in the cheese making process, as well as the routes of contamination used by yeast species to contaminate milk from the dairy farm environment, are not well known. The objectives of this study were to broaden the knowledge of the dominant yeast community in Manchega sheep's milk and to assess the contamination routes of the yeast species depending on the farm practices. Milk, teat surface (collected from ten ewes per farm), feed, and air (collected in milking parlours and livestock housing) samples were collected from 12 typical farms in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain with differences in farming practices, and the yeast species were identified using DNA sequencing methods. To evaluate whether certain farming practices have an effect on the distribution of species of yeast in the milk samples, a mixed model was used. The results showed that most of the dominant yeast species (mainly belonging to the genus Candida) found in milk were also found in the other samples, indicating a microbial transfer from the farm environment to the milk. Furthermore, the statistical model showed that factors influencing yeast counts in milk were the presence of yeasts in the milking parlour, the use of silage, and the frequency of acid treatment for cleaning the milking machines. In conclusion, milk contamination from the yeast species present in the dairy farm environment is related to certain farming practices such as the use of silage and the daily use of acid in the cleaning of the milking machines, which favours the presence of desirable microbiota in milk.

Actualización del papel de la enzima MAO-A en la regulación de la conducta agresiva / Update of the role of the MAO-A enzyme in regulating aggressive behavior

La monoaminooxidasa A (MAO-A) es una enzima que regula la degradación metabólica de serotonina y noradrenalina en el sistema nervioso. Ambos neurotransmisores han sido claramente involucrados en la modulación de la agresión. De hecho, el sistemas erotoninérgico representa uno de los principales sistemas de neurotransmisión relacionado con la aparición de conductas impulsivas y violentas. En este trabajo se presenta una revisión actualizada del papel de la enzima MAO-A en la regulación de la conducta agresiva, tanto en animales de experimentación como en humanos (AU)

Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) is an enzyme that regulates the metabolic degradation of serotonin andnoradrenaline in the nervous system. Both neurotransmitters are clearly involved in modulating aggression. Indeed, the serotonergic system is one of the main neurotransmission systems related to the appearance of impulsive and violent behaviors. The present article provides an updated review of the role of the MAO-A enzyme in regulating aggressive behavior in experimental animals and humans (AU)

Utilización de tubos para recuento hematológico de polipropileno con edta 2k como anticoagulante en un servicio de hematología / The use of polypropylene tubes with EDTA 2K as an anticoagulant for hematologic count in a Department of Hematology

Para realizar los recuentos hematológicos, nuestro centro dispone de tubos de cristal con EDTA 3K, preparados para extracción al vacío. No obstante, diversas consideraciones nos hacen pensar en la posibilidad de cambiarlos por otros, también preparados para extracciones por sistema de vacío, pero fabricados en polipropileno (plástico) y con EDTA 2K como anticoagulante. El objetivo de este estudio es comprobar si el cambio en el sistema de tubos empleado puede hacer resentir la calidad en el servicio prestado. Para ello se seleccionó un total de 101 pacientes tomados al azar que fueron divididos en dos grupos. A los pacientes del primero (grupo 1, n = 57) se les extrajeron 2 tubos para recuento sanguíneo, uno de cristal con EDTA 3K y otro de polipropileno con EDTA 2K, siendo estas muestras procesadas en el transcurso de las 2 horas siguientes a la extracción y también a las 24 y a las 48 horas de la misma, conservándolas a 4 °C. En el segundo grupo (grupo 2, n = 44), se realizó idéntico procedimiento, aunque las muestras se conservaron a temperatura ambiente. Se analizaron estadísticamente los resultados del hemograma y las alarmas morfológicas leucocitarias, junto con los tests intra e interensayo. Así mismo, se realizó una investigación cualitativa con los profesionales que colaboraron en la extracción de las muestras. Concluimos que el tubo de plástico para hemograma con EDTA 2K como anticoagulante ofrece resultados fiables, aunque se han detectado ciertos problemas en la manipulación de las muestras que merecen ser estudiados más profundamente (AU)