Publications by authors named "Salvatore Claps"

Traditional agri-food products (TAPs) are closely linked to the peculiarities of the territory of origin and are strategic tools for preserving culture and traditions; nutritional and organoleptic peculiarities also differentiate these products on the market. One such product is Caciocavallo Podolico Lucano (CPL), a stretched curd cheese made exclusively from raw milk from Podolian cows, reared under extensive conditions. The objective of this study was to characterise CPL and evaluate the effects of ripening (6 vs.

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In the last decades, western Countries increased their interest in innovative products like donkey milk and other activities carried out with donkeys (onotherapy, onotourism). Donkey milk is considered a high-added-value food and is very similar to human breast milk. It is also used as an ingredient in cosmetics.

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Article Synopsis
  • The rind of certain cheeses protects against bacterial contamination and exhibits different maturation processes compared to smear cheeses.
  • The study assessed the microbial diversity on wooden shelves used for ripening PDO Pecorino di Filiano and PGI Canestrato di Moliterno cheeses, and the associated microorganisms on their rinds.
  • Results showed that while no major dairy pathogens were found, a diverse range of beneficial bacteria and fungi dominated both wooden shelves and cheese rinds, indicating that these surfaces actively contribute to the cheese ripening process without compromising safety.
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Sulla ( L.) is a Mediterranean biannual anthelmintic forage. Due to its high productivity, nutraceutical value, and suitability for harsh environments, interest in this crop is growing.

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This study aimed to recover the phenols from olive oil mill wastewater, a major pollutant of the oil industry, by using spray-drying technology to produce a new feed with a nutraceutical value for animal feed supplementation and to evaluate its effect on the productivity and nutritional quality of ewe milk. Forty-five Sarda ewes in late lactation (150 ± 2 d) and with homogeneous live weight (52 ± 1.5 kg) were randomly allotted into three groups and fed with three dietary treatments containing increasing levels of polyphenols: 0% (C), 0.

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The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of neem oil on caprine pediculosis and on kids' growth performances. The neem () belongs to the Meliaceae family, and in Eastern countries it is mainly considered for the insecticidal activities of the kernel oil. The neem seeds contain bioactive principles, such as azadirachtin A, salannin, nimbin, and nimbolide.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of different amounts of ensiled olive cake, a major pollutant from olive oil production, in the fattening diets of 30 Apulo-Calabrese pigs as a strategy to partially substitute the traditional cereal-based diet and improve animal performance and meat fatty acid composition. The animals, during a fattening period of 120 days, were fed with three dietary treatments containing increasing levels of ensiled olive cake: 0% (C), 20% (OC20) and 40% (OC40) on dry matter. No effect of the dietary treatment was found on the animal performance and proximate meat analysis results.

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A total of twenty-seven Rossa Mediterranea lactating goats, consisting of nine homozygous for strong alleles (), twelve heterozygous () and six homozygous for weak alleles () at the locus, were used to evaluate the effect of genotype, diet and genotype × diet interaction on goat milk traits and casein profile. The goats were used in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments, with three genotypes (, and ) and three different energy intake levels: high (H), medium (M) and low (L). The diets supplied a complete pelleted feed containing 65% of alfalfa hay, respectively, at 150%, 100% and 70% of the total energy requirements.

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In this study, Caciocavallo Podolico Lucano (CPL) cheese was deeply characterized for its bacterial community, chemical composition and sensory aspects. The entire cheese making process (from milk collection to ripened cheese) was performed by strictly applying the traditional protocol for CPL production in four dairy factories (A-D) representative of the production area. The vat made of wood represents the main transformation tool for CPL cheese production and the biofilms hosted onto the internal surfaces of all vats analyzed in this study were dominated by lactic acid bacteria.

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The processing of olives for oil production generates the most abundant agro-industrial by-products in the Mediterranean area. The three-phase olive oil extraction process requires the addition of a large amount of water to the system, which is difficult to dispose of for its load of toxic pollutants. On the other hand, olive mill wastewater is a rich source of bioactive substances with various biological properties that can be used as ingredients in the food industry for obtaining functional and nutraceutical foods as well as in the pharmaceutical industry.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Results indicated that most cheeses exhibited varying levels of beneficial compounds like fatty acids and vitamins depending on the month, with many showing higher nutritional quality in spring.
  • * The research concluded that the unique characteristics of each cheese are tied to their production area, emphasizing that spring production enhances the presence of healthy compounds due to better feeding practices.
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At present the olive oil industry produces large amounts of secondary products once considered waste or by-products. In this paper, we present, for the first time, a new interesting olive by-product named "dried destoned virgin olive pomace" (DDVOP), produced by the pomace oil industry. The production of DDVOP is possible thanks to the use of a new system that differs from the traditional ones by having the dryer set at a lower temperature value, 350 °C instead of 550 °C, and by avoiding the solvent extraction phase.

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  • Neutrophils are crucial immune cells that help fight infections in animals, playing a key role in innate immunity and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) to kill pathogens.
  • The study focused on the effects of olive pomace supplementation on neutrophil NETosis in dairy cows, comparing two groups: one with a control diet and another supplemented with 6% olive pomace.
  • Results indicated that the olive pomace diet enhanced neutrophil activity and response to stimulation, leading to improved immune responses compared to the control diet.
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Goats have important social and economic roles in many countries because of their ability to survive and be productive in marginal areas. The overarching aim of this study was to compare the application of Wood's model to different test-day milk recording protocols for estimation of total milk, fat, and protein yield in dairy goats. A total of 465 goats were used (Garganica, 78; Girgentana, 81; Jonica, 76; Maltese, 77; Red Mediterranean, 76; Saanen, 77).

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This study evaluates the animal performance and meat characteristics of 60 Saanen suckling kids daily fed a red orange and lemon extract (RLE), rich in anthocyanins. In our methodology, after colostrum administration, animals are randomly assigned to two treatments: Treatment group (Group RLE; = 30) that received RLE (90 mg/kg live body weight) as oral food additive, and a control group (Group CON; = 30) that received a standard diet. Animals are slaughtered after 40 days.

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The literature indicates that grazing small ruminants, when adequately managed, contributes to grassland biodiversity maintenance. On the other hand, milk and cheese from grazing animals show higher nutritional and aromatic quality than those from stall-fed animals. The relationship between the two issues has rarely been addressed.

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The effect of crocin in the semen extender before cryopreservation was evaluated on sperm parameters of 20 bucks of five different breeds: Garganica (GA), Jonica (JO), Maltese (MA), Mediterranean Red (MR) and Saanen (SA). Semen samples were centrifuged, to remove seminal plasma, divided in two aliquots and diluted with Tris-egg-yolk-based extender, containing 0 (control group) and 1 mM crocin. Crocin concentration was established after a preliminary dose trial.

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This study aimed to describe metabolic, oxidative, and mineral blood profiles of Saanen does through lactation compared with Mediterranean breed clusters (Maltese and Rossa Mediterranea, and Jonica, Garganica, and Girgentana). Milk and blood samples of 57 dairy goats (9-10 goats per breed) were collected from the 2nd to the 30th week of lactation every 2-3 weeks. Saanen showed greater milk yield and somatic cell score, and lower fat and protein percentage through lactation ( < 0.

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Background: Milk sialylated oligosaccharides (SOS) play crucial roles in many biological processes. The most abundant free SOS in goat's milk are 3'sialyllactose (3'-SL), 6'sialyllactose (6'-SL) and disialyllactose (DSL). The production of these molecules is determined genetically by the expression of glycosyltransferases and by the availability of nucleotide sugar substrates, but the precise mechanisms regulating the differential patterns of milk oligosaccharides are not known.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated the milk yield, composition, and somatic cell score (SCS) of five local Italian goat breeds compared to the cosmopolitan Saanen breed, focusing on biodiversity and local cheese production.* -
  • Saanen goats produced more milk (0.27 to 0.62 kg/day) and had the highest SCS (6.81) and lowest fat content (3.26%) compared to local breeds, with Maltese and Jonica being the most productive among them.* -
  • Despite lower milk yield, local breeds had lower SCS and higher fat and lactose content, indicating potentially better milk quality compared to the cosmopolitan breed.*
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Fatty acid (FA) profile plays an important role on human health and on sensory quality of dairy products. There is few information about breed influence on milk FA profile of local goat breeds. This study aimed to characterize and compare the milk FA profile of 5 local endangered goat breeds (Garganica, Girgentana, Jonica, Maltese, and Mediterranean Red) and a cosmopolitan breed (Saanen) reared in the same farm during a complete lactation.

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Very little information about local breed goat milk is available, which is relevant for biodiversity preservation and local cheese production. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of breed and week of lactation on milk mineral profile of five Italian local breeds (Garganica, Girgentana, Jonica, Maltese and Mediterranean Red) and a cosmopolitan breed (Saanen). Sixty goats (10 per breed) from an experimental farm were enrolled in the study and sampled every 2 weeks for milk gross composition analysis.

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We aimed to verify whether Continuous Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (10 observers used a list of six qualitative descriptors) paired with Temporal Dominant Behavioural Expression (the same observers were asked to select the dominant descriptor and to score its intensity level) was able to monitor fluctuations of animal behaviour expression over time. We applied these techniques to three groups of juvenile goats either weaned (group C), or un-weaned (groups WOM and WM). Each animal was separated from its group, moved to group C and tested for 30 min either while their mothers were at pasture, or while their mothers were in an adjacent pen (group WOM and WM, respectively).

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Background: Diet supplementation with polyphenols is a novel strategy to improve meat quality in livestock, by preventing oxidative deterioration of lipids and protein. Polyphenols have beneficial effects on both human and animal health and can be obtained from several sources, such as olive mill wastewaters (OMWW). These are severe environmental pollutants and therefore may be recycled and utilized in other sectors.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Scamorza is a semi-hard cheese similar to low-moisture Mozzarella with a quick ripening period of under 30 days, made using either 100% Italian Friesian milk or a mix of 90% Friesian and 10% Jersey cow milk.
  • - The study tested different starter bacteria and found that while the adjuncts didn't significantly impact the primary starter's acid production, certain strains thrived and affected the cheese's pH, microbial composition, and flavor profile.
  • - Results show that using peptidolytic adjuncts can notably modify key characteristics of Scamorza, highlighting potential for product differentiation in the market, even with a short ripening time.
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