Abstract
Simple SummaryThe study aims to compare physiological and productive responses of five Mediterranean heritage goat breeds with a high production breed, spread worldwide, the Saanen breed. The overall objective of the paper was to highlight that in difficult environmental conditions, although not so extreme, a high production breed does not actually represent the best solution, both from animals’ welfare conditions and for production. Mediterranean breeds showed better milk quality than Saanen, and tended to recover earlier from negative energy balance. However, no differences were observed on long-term oxidative stress markers. This paper contributes to increase interest towards animal biodiversity and valorization of local breeds, which are characterized by a long selective pressure linked to the environmental adaptation and less selected for productive traits.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 (p < 0.05) than the Mediterranean breed clusters. Blood analysis revealed that stage of lactation had a greater impact than breed cluster, except for uric acid, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase. Plasmatic non-esterified fatty acids indicated a greater negative energy balance in Saanen than the other breed clusters during early and medium lactation stages (p < 0.05). Serum Cl, Mg, and Ca increased in all the breed clusters from early to the following stages of lactation (p < 0.05). No significant prooxidant/antioxidant imbalances were detected in any of the three clusters during the entire lactation. In conclusion, Mediterranean breeds tended to recover earlier from negative energy balance than Saanen, but effects of breed or stage of lactation on long-term oxidative stress indicators were not evident.
Highlights
Animal genetic resources are the primary biological capital for livestock development and adaptability to altered conditions, such as climate change and consumer demands, and it is essential for sustainable rural development
Milk yield and composition were affected by breed cluster and lactation stage
In late lactation goats tend to produce less milk and less constituents, but more concentrate with higher percentage values
Summary
Animal genetic resources are the primary biological capital for livestock development and adaptability to altered conditions, such as climate change and consumer demands, and it is essential for sustainable rural development. Studies have been mainly conducted in breeds that are spread worldwide because, for many years, the milk industry has focused on increasing milk production. Farmers have often replaced heritage breeds with worldwide spread ones to increase farm profitability. The characterization of local breeds in terms of physiology and production is crucial to make informed decisions on their management and strategies for their preservation. Three breeds are classified as international, one breed as regional, and 55 breeds as local. From those local breeds, 60% are at risk of extinction, including the Girgentana (GI), Jonica (JO), and Rossa Mediterranea (RM); and 29% breeds are of unknown risk for extinction, including the Garganica (GA). GI, JO, RM, and GA are within the most important breeds reared in South Italy. A general description of the five breeds is available in Currò et al [3], as well as milk yield, composition, and somatic cell score (SCS), milk mineral content [4], and milk fatty acids profile [4]
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