An Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract and a Saccharomyces cerevisiae culture product were added to a pelleted calf starter, respectively, at 6.0 and 26g/kg of dry matter (DM) to determine effects on faecal score, DM intake, body weight (BW) gain and in vivo digestibility. Treatments were control groups with the control starter alone (CSt) or with free access to ryegrass hay (CStH) and combinations with the fungal supplemented starter (ExpSt and ExpStH). Forty buffalo calves (12 male, 28 female; 10 calves per treatment) were started on the experiment at 10 days of age and for 12 weeks. Faecal scoring was conducted twice weekly, and DM intake was measured weekly. Every 2 weeks, BW gain was recorded and grab faecal samples were collected to examine for the presence of intestinal parasites and Salmonella. At the end of the experimental period, on a subset of 20 calves (i.e., five per treatment), nutrient in vivo digestibility was measured by using acid-insoluble ash as internal indigestibility marker. Starter DM intake was unaffected by fungal supplementation, but inclusion of fungal additives in the starter resulted in increased apparent total tract digestibility, regardless of the presence of hay in the diet. Calves fed ExpStH diet versus the CStH and ExpSt diets had improved faecal consistency, higher average daily gain and higher total tract digestibility of fibre. Supplementation of starter with A. oryzae fermentation extract and S. cerevisiae culture may improve calf digestive efficiency if forage is in the diet.

The effect of dietary supplementation with Enterococcus faecium strain SF68 on growth performance, faecal consistency and in vivo digestibility in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves was evaluated. Forty calves were randomly assigned at 10 d of age to one of four treatments: (A) milk replacer with no additive, (B) milk replacer supplemented with 0.17 g/l of viable (2 x l09 cfu/g) E. faecium bacteria daily for 3 days with an interval of 7 days throughout 11 weeks, (C) milk replacer supplemented with E. faecium daily for 4 weeks, (D) milk replacer supplemented with E. faecium daily for 11 weeks. A total mixed ration was offered ad libitum from 5th week of the experimental period. Faecal score was significantly better in E. faecium-treated calves than control ones. The use of E. faecium had no effect on average daily gain at any stage, total body weight (BW) gain, dry matter intake or total tract digestibility. Therefore, E. faecium supplementation may be able to act favourably on the health of the gastrointestinal tract.

The feeding management, milk yield and milk composition were investigated in two adjacent buffalo farms, one organic certified (on average, 220 lactating buffalo cows) and one conventional (on average, 314 lactating buffalo cows) located in the Sele Plain (southern Italy). Milk samples from the two farm were collected twice a month during the period from June to November 2006. Milk production was also recorded. The investigated milk components were the content of protein, fat, lactose, urea and the number of somatic cells. The following features about the feeding management of lactating buffalo cows were recorded during monthly farm visits: feed used, herbage utilization, ration composition. Fat and protein correct milk yield was higher in conventional farm than in organic one, but milk components were similar between the farms. The greatest differences were found in the somatic cell count, lower in organic milk than in conventional one, and the urea content, which was higher in organic milk than in conventional farm, but still within the normal range reported for buffalo milk.

The purpose of this research was to investigate the variation in fatty acid composition of milk fat from four buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) herds under different feeding management and ration composition. Changes in milk fatty acid composition were monitored on a weekly basis. Saturated fatty acids (65.5%) predominated in buffalo milk fat; monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were 27.0% and 4.5%, respectively. Of saturated fatty acids, the content of palmitic acid was the highest (30.6%) followed by stearic acid (12.0%) and myristic acid (10.7%). Of the unsaturated fatty acids the content of oleic acid was the highest (26.6%). The average content of conjugated linoleic acid (0.76±0.33) was higher than the maximal values generally reported for dairy cow.

The effect of feeding lupin seeds (Lupinus albus L.) as an alternative protein source in ewe diets was investigated. Two groups of 18 Sarda ewes were fed two different isonitrogenous diets: with lupin (L) seed, given after 12h soaking, or soybean meal (SBM) as the main protein source. DMI, variations of body weight and milk production were unaffected by the treatment. Although not statistically significant, in the group fed L diet the production of milk fat and protein was higher. Clotting properties of milk were similar for the two treatments, probably due to the small differences in the milk protein contents. The fatty acid profile of milk was affected by treatment with a larger content of short (14.19wt% versus 12.26wt%)- and medium (49.37wt% versus 47.76wt%)-chain fatty acids in milk from ewes fed the L diet. CLA content was unaffected by treatment. Triglyceride content of fat from the two diets reflects the milk fatty acid composition. Indeed, milk from L diet showed a higher level of medium-chain triglycerides, which are of particular interest to consumers with concerns over health and heart disease. The inclusion of lupin seed in the diet of lactation ewes can be a means of achieving a more desirable triglyceride profile in milk fat. Milk with enhanced nutritive quality may promote wider market penetration of sheep dairy products.

Urea is the primary form in which N is excreted in ruminants. Milk urea (MU) content was introduced as a means to monitor the efficiency of protein utilisation in dairy cattle (Baker et al., 1995; Roseler et al., 1993; Bertoni, 1995). In this study the effect of some nutrition factors on MU content in buffalo herds was analysed in order to examine the possibility that protein nutrition could be monitored by means of milk urea at herd level........

Total viable counts, proteolytic, ureolytic, cellulolytic and NH+4 utilizing anaerobic bacteria in caecal contents, soft and hard faeces of rabbits were studied. No significant differences between the bacterial counts from the caecum and soft faeces were observed (P < 0·05) but there were significant differences between the bacterial counts of the soft and hard faeces (P < 0·01).