Moving Buffalo Farming beyond Traditional Areas: Performances of Animals, and Quality of Mozzarella and Forages
An observational case study was designed to highlight issues associated with a possible expansion of dairy buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) farming outside the traditional coastal plains of southern Italy. Twenty pregnant buffaloes were transferred to a hilly inland farm. After calving, production and repr...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Agriculture |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/8/1219 |
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| author | Francesco Serrapica Felicia Masucci Giuseppe De Rosa Ada Braghieri Fiorella Sarubbi Francesca Garofalo Fernando Grasso Antonio Di Francia |
| author_facet | Francesco Serrapica Felicia Masucci Giuseppe De Rosa Ada Braghieri Fiorella Sarubbi Francesca Garofalo Fernando Grasso Antonio Di Francia |
| author_sort | Francesco Serrapica |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An observational case study was designed to highlight issues associated with a possible expansion of dairy buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) farming outside the traditional coastal plains of southern Italy. Twenty pregnant buffaloes were transferred to a hilly inland farm. After calving, production and reproduction data were collected monthly throughout lactation. From 4 to 6 months of lactation, buffaloes were enrolled in a feeding trial to evaluate the effects of locally grown forages (maize silage vs. hay) on milk production and in vivo digestibility. Sensory properties of mozzarella cheese produced at a local dairy were also evaluated. No obvious effects of diet were found. Compared to the data recorded in the previous lactation completed in the farm of origin, milk yield was reduced by 37.2%, and milk protein by 6.1%, whereas milk fat improved (+4.5%). A lower pregnancy rate (−13.3%), increased days open (+122%), and a prolonged intercalving period (+26.9%) were also observed. Lactation length was shorter than the standard value of 270 d. The results showed that peculiar reproductive characteristics, lower environmental temperatures, and the specificity of the mozzarella production process are the main problems to be addressed in an expansion of buffalo farming outside traditional areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:51:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9ce7edcb2d88476a9416fb4dedb314ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:51:09Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-9ce7edcb2d88476a9416fb4dedb314ef2023-12-03T13:10:49ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-08-01128121910.3390/agriculture12081219Moving Buffalo Farming beyond Traditional Areas: Performances of Animals, and Quality of Mozzarella and ForagesFrancesco Serrapica0Felicia Masucci1Giuseppe De Rosa2Ada Braghieri3Fiorella Sarubbi4Francesca Garofalo5Fernando Grasso6Antonio Di Francia7Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalySchool of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, ItalyInstitute for the Animal Production System in the Mediterranean Environment, National Research Council, 80055 Portici, ItalyIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, ItalyAn observational case study was designed to highlight issues associated with a possible expansion of dairy buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) farming outside the traditional coastal plains of southern Italy. Twenty pregnant buffaloes were transferred to a hilly inland farm. After calving, production and reproduction data were collected monthly throughout lactation. From 4 to 6 months of lactation, buffaloes were enrolled in a feeding trial to evaluate the effects of locally grown forages (maize silage vs. hay) on milk production and in vivo digestibility. Sensory properties of mozzarella cheese produced at a local dairy were also evaluated. No obvious effects of diet were found. Compared to the data recorded in the previous lactation completed in the farm of origin, milk yield was reduced by 37.2%, and milk protein by 6.1%, whereas milk fat improved (+4.5%). A lower pregnancy rate (−13.3%), increased days open (+122%), and a prolonged intercalving period (+26.9%) were also observed. Lactation length was shorter than the standard value of 270 d. The results showed that peculiar reproductive characteristics, lower environmental temperatures, and the specificity of the mozzarella production process are the main problems to be addressed in an expansion of buffalo farming outside traditional areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/8/1219dairy buffaloesfarming environmentreproductive and productive performancesfeeding trialmozzarella cheesesensory properties |
| spellingShingle | Francesco Serrapica Felicia Masucci Giuseppe De Rosa Ada Braghieri Fiorella Sarubbi Francesca Garofalo Fernando Grasso Antonio Di Francia Moving Buffalo Farming beyond Traditional Areas: Performances of Animals, and Quality of Mozzarella and Forages Agriculture dairy buffaloes farming environment reproductive and productive performances feeding trial mozzarella cheese sensory properties |
| title | Moving Buffalo Farming beyond Traditional Areas: Performances of Animals, and Quality of Mozzarella and Forages |
| title_full | Moving Buffalo Farming beyond Traditional Areas: Performances of Animals, and Quality of Mozzarella and Forages |
| title_fullStr | Moving Buffalo Farming beyond Traditional Areas: Performances of Animals, and Quality of Mozzarella and Forages |
| title_full_unstemmed | Moving Buffalo Farming beyond Traditional Areas: Performances of Animals, and Quality of Mozzarella and Forages |
| title_short | Moving Buffalo Farming beyond Traditional Areas: Performances of Animals, and Quality of Mozzarella and Forages |
| title_sort | moving buffalo farming beyond traditional areas performances of animals and quality of mozzarella and forages |
| topic | dairy buffaloes farming environment reproductive and productive performances feeding trial mozzarella cheese sensory properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/8/1219 |
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