Showing papers by "Antonello Cannas published in 2017"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the need to offer affordable, high-quality protein food to people in the developing world by ensuring food security to prevent excess of nutrient intake by humans and working with genetic-engineered organisms.
Abstract: If the world population continues to increase exponentially, wealth and education inequalities might become more pronounced in the developing world. Thus, offering affordable, high-quality protein food to people will become more important and daunting than ever. Past and future challenges will increasingly demand quicker and more innovative and efficient solutions. Animal scientists around the globe currently face many challenging issues: from ensuring food security to prevent excess of nutrient intake by humans, from animal welfare to working with genetic-engineered [...]
24 citations
TL;DR: Despite the evidence of compensatory behaviour, restricting access time to 2 h d−1 constrained intake and performance of dairy ewes rotationally grazing berseem clover.
Abstract: The effects of restricted access time to pasture (2, 4 or 6 h d−1; 2H, 4H or 6H) on ingestive behaviour and performance were assessed on four occasions per target grazing day (D1, initial day; D4, intermediate day; and D7, final day) in dairy ewes rotationally grazing berseem clover with a 7-day grazing period and a 21-day recovery period. A randomized block design with two replicates per treatment was used. All ewes were supplemented daily with 700 g per head of concentrates and 700 g per head of ryegrass-based hay. Pasture subplot and animal group data were analysed by a factorial model including access time (AT), grazing day (D) and their interaction as fixed factors. Sward height decreased from D1 (P < 0·001) and green leaf mass from D4 (P < 0·001) onwards during the grazing period. Grazing time as a proportion of AT was higher in 2H than in 4H and 6H ewes on D1 and D4 but not on D7 (P < 0·05 for AT × D). Herbage intake rate was higher in 2H than in 4H and 6H ewes (P < 0·001). Herbage and total intakes were higher in 4H and 6H than in 2H ewes (P < 0·001), with herbage intake varying non-linearly during the grazing period (P < 0·05). Milk yield was higher in 4H and 6H than in 2H ewes (P < 0·01). To conclude, despite the evidence of compensatory behaviour, restricting access time to 2 h d−1 constrained intake and performance of dairy ewes rotationally grazing berseem clover.
14 citations
TL;DR: Thermal stress caused reductions in milk yield in winter and spring, emphasizing the importance of adopting proper management practices to relieve the negative effects of stressful weather conditions on milk yield of grazing dairy sheep in the Mediterranean region.
10 citations
TL;DR: Sardinian adult antlers have a more simple structure with lower values in morphological features, mechanical properties and structural characteristics than Iberian deer, which has greater values in adults than in sub-adults.
Abstract: The deer population present in Sardinia and Corsica represents an endemic subspecies Cervus elaphus corsicanus . We describe for the first time the characteristics of cast antlers of Sardinian red deer from the forest complex Sette Fratelli, south-east part of the island. Moreover, we describe the material mechanical properties, the structural ones, and the mineral profile of antlers from adults, comparing them with the antler characteristics of the subspecies C. e. hispanicus examined exactly with the same methodology. Sixty-one deer casted antlers were collected and classified as belonging to adults (35) or sub-adults (26). A first part of the study described the common features of the antlers of sub-species C. e. corsicanus through the analysis of morphology in all deer antlers. Subsequently, a more detailed study used 12 adult deer antlers for a destructive analysis. Statistical comparisons were conducted using ANOVAs between characteristics of the two age subgroups, and using Pearson´s correlation coefficients between the antlers morphological variables. In general, morphological antler measures had greater values in adults than in sub-adults. In comparison with Iberian deer, Sardinian adult antlers have a more simple structure with lower values in morphological features, mechanical properties and structural characteristics.
5 citations
17 Aug 2017
TL;DR: It appears that small ruminants are more responsive to the action of EO, as shown in studies on lactating goats and ewes, but none of those on cattle.
Abstract: This review gives an overview of several experiments conducted in vivo on the effects of plants rich in essential oils (EO) or of EO extracts on dry matter intake, milk production and composition. Based on in vivo studies on the effects of EO or whole plants rich in EO in lactating ruminants, it was possible to conclude that: i) milk yield was often positively affected after the first part of the lactation, in long-term studies, at high dosages of EO, and in sheep and goats rather than in dairy cows; and ii) milk composition was marginally affected, except for milk fatty acid composition, for which all studies on lactating goats and ewes, but none of those on cattle. In general, it appears that small ruminants are more responsive to the action of EO.