Beira Baixa Research Articles

Health Status and COVID-19 Epidemiology in an Inland Region of Portugal: A Retrospective Study.

Multiple factors, from socioeconomic development to genetic background, can affect the regional impact of some diseases, and this has also been seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this retrospective study was to characterize a population in the interior of Portugal regarding health status and COVID-19 epidemiology. Between October 2021 and January 2023, 1553 subjects residing in Beira Baixa, Portugal, were included. Using a self-report approach, demographic and clinical data were obtained. Blood group, blood pressure, peripheral oxygen saturation and anti-spike protein immunoglobulin concentration were also analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics. The average age of the participants was 48.95 (±14.43) years, with 64% being male and 36% being female. The most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (19.2%), dyslipidemia (12.6%) and diabetes mellitus (6.6%). Half of the population was overweight, and more than half of the subjects had no history of tobacco consumption. Among the participants, 33% were infected with SARS-CoV-2: 70.1% had mild disease, 14.1% moderate disease and 1.4% severe disease. There was a very significant adherence to vaccination (97%). Previously infected or vaccinated people had higher anti-spike protein immunoglobulin values; this value depended on the vaccine administered (p < 0.001). Patients with autoimmune diseases and smokers had lower levels of anti-S IgG antibodies (p = 0.030 and p = 0.024, respectively). The severity of COVID-19 did not affect the concentration of anti-S IgG (p = 0.430). This study highlights the general health statuses and the impact of COVID-19 on a population in the Portuguese interior. Knowledge of the circulation and impact of the virus in this specific population can alert and assist in better interventions being conducted by health authorities.

Walking in their shoes: an ecological momentary assessment of physical activity and sedentary behaviors among urban and rural older adults

This study examines patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior in individuals aged 65 years and older in the Beira Baixa region of Portugal with the aim of identifying differences between rural and urban settings. We analyzed data from 40 participants, including 19 rural residents (mean age = 74.7 years, SD = 8.5 years) and 21 urban residents (mean age = 70.1 years, SD = 5.2 years), using a retrospective cross-sectional design complemented by an ecological momentary assessment to capture real-time behavior. The thematic analysis revealed that both cohorts were predominantly sedentary, especially in terms of television consumption. Physical activities were mainly limited to tasks such as housework, gardening and occasional walking, with minimal social interactions. Urban participants, in particular, reported meeting more frequently with family at home and in the neighborhood. Both groups primarily used indoor spaces and nearby streets for physical activity. Our findings highlight the urgent need for tailored weekend physical activity programs to improve sedentary lifestyles among older adults in both rural and urban areas. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the specific leisure-time preferences and activity patterns of older Portuguese adults, providing a basis for the development of adaptive, age-appropriate interventions. Keywords: Movement behaviors, ageing, observational study, real-time data capture

Raw milk cheeses from Beira Baixa, Portugal—A contributive study for the microbiological hygiene and safety assessment

Due to specific bacterial microbiota, raw milk cheeses have appreciated sensory properties. However, they may pose a threat to consumer safety due to potential pathogens presence. This study evaluated the microbiological contamination of 98 raw milk cheeses from Beira Baixa, Portugal. Presence and enumeration of Coagulase Positive Staphylococci (CPS), Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., pathogenic Escherichia coli, and indicator microorganisms (non-pathogenic E. coli and Listeria spp.) was attained. E. coli antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was also evaluated. PCR and/or Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used to characterize E. coli, Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes isolates. Sixteen cheeses (16.3%) were classified as Satisfactory, 59 (60.2%) as Borderline and 23 (23.5%) as Unsatisfactory/Potential Injurious to Health. L. monocytogenes, CPS > 104 cfu g−1, Extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) and Salmonella spp. were detected in 4.1%, 6.1%, 3.1% and 1.0% of the samples, respectively. Listeria innocua (4.1%) and E. coli > 104 cfu g−1 (16.3%) were also detected. AMR E. coli was detected in 23/98 (23.5%) of the cheese samples, of which two were multidrug resistant. WGS identified genotypes already associated to human disease and Listeria spp. cluster analysis indicated that cheese contamination might be related with noncompliance with Good Hygiene Practices during cheese production.

Analysis of the suitability for ecotourism in Beira Baixa region using a spatial decision support system based on a geographical information system

Ecotourism can contribute to the conservation of environmental values, as well as to the development of positive synergies between agents in the tourism sector, tourists and the local population. The growing interest in tourism offers with low environmental impact, which support the local economy, translates into a competitive advantage for low‐density territories. On the basis of this principle, the scope of the present study is intended to evaluate the potential of the existing natural and rural features in the Beira Baixa region, located in the central interior of Portugal, which can anchor the creation of sustainable tourism products. Despite the undeniable interest in carrying out studies to determine an aggregate suitability index for the development of ecotourism using spatial multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA), there are still no studies carried out in Portugal. The identification of areas suitable for the development of ecotourism, and their constraints, was carried out on the basis of the integration of nine criteria using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in a geographical information system (GIS) environment. The results obtained reveal that the region has high suitability for the practice of ecotourism activities, given its important natural heritage. This study was innovative as it shows the ecotourism potential based on a diversity of criteria as an aid to public administration agents with functions in planning, territorial management and management of support mechanisms for the tourist sector. The use of the landscape diversity criteria, which had not yet been tested in previous studies, proved to be important in determining the ecotourism potential of the region, together with the landscape value based in the importance of the Montado agrosystem, which supports a variety of sustainable tourist activities. The information produced in the study may be useful for the design of new policies for valuing natural resources through tourism.

Soil Erosion in Extensive versus Intensive Land Uses in Areas Sensitive to Desertification: A Case Study in Beira Baixa, Portugal

The occurrence of long periods of drought followed by extreme episodes of rainfall and ineffective soil conservation practices are the main causes of soil erosion in the Mediterranean region. The objective of this paper is to assess and compare the hydrological and erosional responses related to land use changes in agricultural landscapes that are sensitive to erosion and that are a result of the significant replacement of traditional land uses. Such changes are characterized by the replacement of extensive olive groves associated with pastureland by intensive almond production, where deep plowing and heavy machinery are required. In each sampling site, runoff initiation, runoff coefficient, and soil loss were evaluated under simulated rainfall (55 mm h−1), at plot scale (0.25 m2), at the end of the hot and dry summer period. Slope gradient, soil texture, bulk density, soil organic matter content, soil water content, and plant cover were also determined. The results showed the impact of recently planted intensive almond orchards (IAOs) on accelerating soil erosion risk compared with the extensive traditional olive groves (EOGs), although runoff initiation and discharge are very similar between the studied land uses. The mean values recorded for soil loss and sediment concentration were 118 g m−2 h−1 and 12 g m−2 h−1 and 3.1 g L−1 and 0.7 g L−1, respectively, for IAOs and EOGs. Our results also demonstrated that maintaining a vegetation cover is a determining factor for the prevention and control of soil erosion, especially in IAOs, where retaining high percentages of natural plant-residue mulch layers (&gt;70%) reduced soil loss by about 70% in this study.

Evaluation of gamma-aminobutyric acid content in Portuguese cheeses with protected designation of origin status.

Health-conscious consumers are increasingly paying attention to healthy diets and focusing on natural bioactive compounds in foods and their effects on mental health. This opens new opportunities for the study of artisanal cheeses as biofunctional foods. In the work described in this Research Communication, the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content of seven different Portuguese cheeses produced from unpasteurized cow, sheep, and goat milk and granted with protected designation of origin (PDO) status was analysed. The PDO cheeses made from cow milk analysed in this study were São Jorge (3, 4, 7, 12 and 24 months of maturation) and Pico cheeses. PDO cheeses made from sheep milk were Serra da Estrela, Serpa, Nisa and Azeitão. Cheeses made from sheep and goat milk included Beira Baixa yellow cheese. The GABA content in the Azorean PDO cheeses (made from cow milk) ranged from 1.23 to 2.64 g/kg of cheese. Higher variations in GABA content were observed in cheeses made from sheep and goat milk (0.73-2.31 g/kg). This study provides information on the GABA content in different Portuguese PDO cheeses and shows that hard or semi-hard ripened cheeses are a suitable matrix for GABA production by lactic acid bacteria.

Microbial diversity, morpho-textural characterization, and volatilome profile of the Portuguese thistle-curdled cheese Queijo da Beira Baixa PDO

The aim of the present study was to characterize the bacterial and fungal communities naturally occurring in Queijo da Beira Baixa PDO cheese samples produced in Castelo Branco district (Beira Baixa Region, Portugal) through viable counts and metataxonomic analyses. Physico-chemical and morpho-textural analyses were also carried out, together with the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In the analyzed samples, pH values ranged between 4.72 ± 0.15 and 5.85 ± 0.02, with values of lactic acid content comprised between 0.64 ± 0.00 and 1.95 ± 0.16 g 100 g−1. Specific volume of cheese ranged from 1.09 ± 0.08 to 1.32 ± 0.02 g mL−1. Texture profile analysis showed hardness ranging between 38.3 ± 9.6 N and 68.55 ± 7.5 N. As for lactic acid bacteria, presumptive lactococci, thermophilic cocci, and lactobacilli counts up to 9 Log cfu g−1. Coagulase-negative cocci showed counts up to 7 Log cfu g−1. Enterococci counts were up to 6 Log cfu g−1. Finally, counts of eumycetes showed values up to 4 Log cfu g−1. The results of metataxonomic analysis of bacteria showed the dominance of Lactococcus lactis in all the samples. Moreover, other taxa were detected, including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Loigolactobacillus coryniformis, Lactococcus piscium, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Lacticaseibacillus zeae. Mycobiota was characterized by the presence of Candida sake, Ustilago, Cladosporium variabile, Starmerella, Debaryomyces hansenii, and Pichia kluyveri. In the analyzed Queijo da Beira Baixa PDO cheese samples, carboxylic acids represented the most detected VOCs, followed by esters, carbonyl compounds, and alcohols.

A look to surface water and wastewaters in Beira Baixa, Portugal: wastewater treatment plants and environmental risk

Some PhACs were not eliminated in WWTPs. Some PhACs were detected in upstream and downstream water samples. Some PhACs showed higher sensitivity for specific trophic levels.

Nasalização regressiva heterossilábica (NRH) da vogal /a/ acentuada em PE

According to the autosegmental model adopted by Mateus &amp; Andrade (2000), the nasal vowel in Portuguese, in words such as cinco, lã and campo, is a phonetic form derived from a phonological oral vowel plus a nasal autosegment N in the same syllable. However, we can also notice the nasalization in words such as cãma, cẽna and cũnha in Portuguese, although not often in the standard language. This phenomenon is an heterosyllabic regressive nasalization (NRH), in which the nasal consonant of the onset nasalizes the previous vowel. In Brazilian Portuguese, there are more studies related to NRH than in European Portuguese and most of them treat it as a phonetic phenomenon (Câmara Jr., 1970; Battisti, 1997; Botelho, 2007). Moraes &amp; Wetzels (1992) find NRH more frequently in the stressed syllable and with the palatal consonant /ɲ/, but its frequency varies in different dialects. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze the variation of NRH in Mainland Portugal and the phonological processes that go together with it, focusing particularly on the structure /a/[+ac] .C[+nas] (/m/, /n/, /ɲ/). We collected occurrences that contain the target structure from the corpus Linguistic-Ethnographic Atlas of Portugal and Galicia and our analysis is based on the phonetic transcriptions performed by CLUL dialectologists. By calculating the percentage of NRH in each locality and making dialectal maps, the results show that: i) NRH can be found almost throughout the entire territory; ii) it has a greater frequency in Northwest (mainly with the consonant /ɲ/), Beira Baixa, Alentejo, and Algarve; iii) multiple phenomena transform the phonological segments into different phonetic shapes; iv) in a diachronic analysis, the changing path of /a/ in Portuguese in this structure is: [a] → [ã] → [ɐ̃]→ [ɐ], which shows that the elevation of /a/ follows the NRH. Dialects, then, choose between one of these phonetic variants.

Life-Cycle Assessment of Dairy Products—Case Study of Regional Cheese Produced in Portugal

Nowadays, there is a growing promotion to label products ecologically in European markets. Knowing that daily products have relevant environmental impact associated with their production, it is of utmost importance to analyse all the related production processes for a better understanding of each process impact. The present study analysed the potential environmental impacts of a Portuguese regional product, the Beira Baixa cheese, coming from the largest national sheep milk region. So, a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology is used from -cradle-to -gate, including the supplying of the animal feedstock. Impact calculations are performed using the ReCiPe midpoint 2008 method, allowing an analysis of the environmental impacts contributing to climate change, terrestrial acidification, freshwater and marine eutrophication of all productive processes. The results have shown that the greatest impacts occur within the milk production process for all four selected impact categories. This happens mainly due to the fodder cultivation process, also necessary to produce animal feed, which contain processes of fertilization and land preparation. The enteric fermentation and manure management processes have also shown relevant contributions. The impact assessment also showed that the cheesemaking industry has practically insignificant impacts. Nonetheless, the cheesemaking industry can promote their business with these results, by advertising and marketing their product as environmentally friendly, with production processes causing reduced impacts, and therefore also their products.

Autochthonous Starter Cultures Are Able to Reduce Biogenic Amines in a Traditional Portuguese Smoked Fermented Sausage.

Traditional smoked fermented sausages are highly appreciated in Portugal and are mostly manufactured according to traditional procedures. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of autochthonous starter cultures on the safety and quality of a smoked fermented sausage, Painho da Beira Baixa (PBB), preserving its sensory quality. Physicochemical parameters, namely pH and water activity (aW), microbiological parameters, biogenic amines, colour, texture profile and sensory attributes were assessed. Different starters were selected based on our previous work. Staphylococcus equorum S2M7, Staphylococcus xylosus CECT7057, Lactobacillus sakei CV3C2, Lactobacillus sakei CECT7056 and a yeast strain (2RB4) were co-inoculated in meat batters at defined concentrations. Starters had a significant effect on the reduction of pH. Enterobacteria and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected in inoculated end-product sausages. Moreover, sausages inoculated with S. equorum S2M7/L. sakei CV3C2/yeast 2RB4 showed a significant reduction in the total content of biogenic amines. No significant differences between treatments were observed for colour and texture parameters, except for adhesiveness. The studied starters did not compromise the sensory characteristics of PBB. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study on the quality and safety of this type of smoked fermented sausage from the central region of Portugal.

O falar raiano de Marvão - Valencia de Alcántara : uma variedade linguística em perigo

EnglishThe linguistic border in Marvao / Valencia de Alcantara does not correspond to the geopolitical border between Portugal and Spain. This is explained by the fact that a Portuguese linguistic variety used in the Northeast part of Alentejo expanded to Spain and characterizes a large region in Valencia de Alcantara. The variety of Marvao / Valencia de Alcantara belongs to the Southern Centre Portuguese dialects (Beira Baixa and Alto Alentejo), and therefore shares their main characteristics. However, it differs from the varieties spoken in the surrounding villages due to some particularities at both phonetical-phonological and lexical-semantic levels. As this linguistic variety is vulnerable in Portugal and it is seriously endangered in the Spanish territory, it is urgent to implement some measures to reverse the situation and contribute to its revitalization. This paper aims to describe the linguistic situation of the region, to present the main phonetical-phonological, morphosyntactic and lexical-semantic features of this border dialect, and to show some possible strategies to reverse the disappearance trend that the variety of Marvao/Valencia de Alcantara is facing.The linguistic border in Marvao / Valencia de Alcantara does not correspond to the geopolitical border between Portugal and Spain. This is explained by the fact that a Portuguese linguistic variety used in the Northeast part of Alentejo expanded to Spain and characterizes a large region in Valencia de Alcantara. The variety of Marvao / Valencia de Alcantara belongs to the Southern Centre Portuguese dialects (Beira Baixa and Alto Alentejo), and therefore shares their main characteristics. However, it differs from the varieties spoken in the surrounding villages due to some particularities at both phonetical-phonological and lexical-semantic levels. As this linguistic variety is vulnerable in Portugal and it is seriously endangered in the Spanish territory, it is urgent to implement some measures to reverse the situation and contribute to its revitalization. This paper aims to describe the linguistic situation of the region, to present the main phonetical-phonological, morphosyntactic and lexical-semantic features of this border dialect, and to show some possible strategies to reverse the disappearance trend that the variety of Marvao/Valencia de Alcantara is facing. portuguesNa regiao de Marvao / Valencia de Alcantara, a fronteira linguistica nao corresponde a geopolitica, dai que uma variedade do Portugues usada no Nordeste do Alentejo se tenha expandido para Espanha e caracterizado uma zona consideravel do territorio de Valencia de Alcantara. Integrado nos dialetos portugueses centro-meridionais, na variedade da Beira Baixa e Alto Alentejo, partilha a maior parte das suas caracteristicas, todavia, demarca-se dos falares dos concelhos circundantes por algumas particularidades nos dominios fonetico-fonologico e lexico-semântico. Como esta variedade linguistica se encontra vulneravel em territorio portugues e esta seriamente em perigo em territorio espanhol, e urgente que se deem passos concretos com vista a sua revitalizacao. O presente artigo pretende dar a conhecer o panorama linguistico da regiao, apresentar as principais caracteristicas fonetico-fonologicas, morfossintaticas e lexico-semânticas deste falar raiano, bem como apontar alguns caminhos para inverter a tendencia de desaparecimento.

PENHA DA BARROCA RAILWAY BRIDGE – CONTEMPORANY AESTHETICS, IMPROVED PERFORMANCE

AbstractThe Penha da Barroca Bridge is a railway bridge that is under construction and is within the framework of the Beira Baixa railway line modernization project which itself is a key part of the Atlantic Corridor that concerns Portugal, Spain, France and Germany. All foreseen interventions in this railway line were also identified as priority investments by the National Stategic Plan for Transports and Infrastructures – time‐horizon 2014‐2020 (PETI3+). The bridge is closely to Guarda and is composed by steel latticed columns supporting a steel‐concrete composite deck. The steel component part of deck corresponds to a steel truss and the concrete component part is guaranteed by a concrete slab over which will be settled the rail track (ballasted track).

Counting with the invisible record? The role of LiDAR in the interpretation of megalithic landscapes in south‐western Iberia (Extremadura, Alentejo and Beira Baixa)

AbstractThe megalithic sites from southwest Iberia represent one of the largest clusters of prehistoric monuments in Europe from the Neolithic and Copper Age (fifth and third millennia cal bc). Unlike other regions from western Europe, there has not been a recent effort to map the distribution of these kinds of burials across this vast territory. Therefore, this article aims to collect geographic information from three regions of southwest Iberia (Alentejo and Beira Baixa from Portugal and Extremadura from Spain) and to compare the archaeological evidence between different landscape units. We have mapped already known megaliths (ca 2000) and settlements (ca 1500) in this area. Moreover, through the interpretation of light detection and ranging (LiDAR) datasets, we have identified new walled enclosures and megaliths in the Extremadura region (Spain), the only one of the three where LiDAR data are available. The new data reveals new connections between settlements, burials and other archaeological evidence. Finally, we discuss the impact that these new data have on a new overall interpretation of megalithic landscapes from the Iberian Peninsula, stressing also the potential risks that the massive application of remote sensing can have in the production of archaeological knowledge.

GIS-Based Suitability Model for Assessment of Forest Biomass Energy Potential in a Region of Portugal

This work focuses on developed a decision support system based on multicriteria spatial analysis to assess the potential for generation of biomass residues from forestry sources in a region of Portugal (Beira Baixa). A set of environmental, economic and social criteria was defined, evaluated and weighted in the context of Saaty’s analytic hierarchies. The best alternatives were obtained after applying Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The model was applied to the central region of Portugal where forest and agriculture are the most representative land uses. Finally, sensitivity analysis of the set of factors and their associated weights was performed to test the robustness of the model. The proposed evaluation model provides a valuable reference for decision makers in establishing a standardized means of selecting the optimal location for new biomass plants.

Characterization of aroma compounds in Portuguese extra virgin olive oils from Galega Vulgar and Cobrançosa cultivars using GC–O and GC × GC–ToFMS

Aroma compounds of virgin olive oils extracted from two olive cultivars – Galega Vulgar and Cobrançosa – grown in Beira Baixa region in central Portugal were investigated. Gas chromatography–olfactometry (GC–O) was carried out to select the important odorants for subsequent comprehensive gas chromatography/time of flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC–ToFMS) analysis. By GC–O fifteen odorants were identified. For the quantification of volatile compounds, headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME) technique was optimized. Under optimized conditions, 22 volatile compounds were quantified in all samples. Trans-2-hexenal was the most abundant compound. A discriminant analysis (DA) was used to discriminate among olive oil samples obtained from olives of the two cultivars with different harvest time/ripening stages. Concerning the harvesting time and cultivar, nine volatiles showed to have discriminant power among samples, namely heptanal, trans-2-hexenal, 1-octen-1-ol, nonanal, 2,3-butanedione, ethyl-2-methylbutyrate, hexanal, cis-3-hexenylacetate and 3-methylbuthylacetate.

An Early Ordovician tonalitic–granodioritic belt along the Schistose-Greywacke Domain of the Central Iberian Zone (Iberian Massif, Variscan Belt)

AbstractThe Zarza la Mayor and Zarza de Montánchez tonalites and Arroyo de la Luz granodiorite are part of a tonalitic–granodioritic belt located along the Schistose-Greywacke Domain of the Central Iberian Zone. These intrusions are also part of the Central Extremadura Batholith, a set of plutons ranging from tonalite to leucogranite that have been considered a prime example of Variscan syn-kinematic plutonism. New LA-ICP-MS and CA-ID-TIMS U–Pb dating reveals that the Zarza la Mayor tonalite–granodiorite is an Early Ordovician intrusion. The LA-ICP-MS data show that there is an absence of inherited cores, despite some complex internal zoning with obvious resorption features in some of the zircon crystals. Dating of monazite and zircon by CA-ID-TIMS provides a concordant age of 478.1 ± 0.8 Ma. This age coincides with electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) monazite chemical ages for the Zarza de Montánchez (482 ± 10 Ma) and Arroyo de la Luz (470 ± 15 Ma) intrusions. These new data indicate the presence of an Early Ordovician belt of calc-alkaline tonalite–granodiorite in the Schistose-Greywacke Domain – the Beira Baixa–Central Extremadura tonalite–granodiorite belt – which resembles a continental magmatic arc. This belt is contemporaneous with the Ollo de Sapo magmatic event further north in the Central Iberian Zone.

Doppel gene polymorphisms in Portuguese sheep breeds: Insights on ram fertility

Transgenic knockout of the gene encoding the prion-like protein Doppel leads to male infertility in mice. The precise role of Doppel in male fertility is still unclear, but sperm from Doppel-deficient mice appear to be unable to undergo the normal acrosome reaction necessary to penetrate the zona pellucida of the oocyte. The objective of this study was to characterize Doppel ( Prnd) gene polymorphisms in eight Portuguese sheep breeds and to determine a possible relationship between these polymorphisms and ram fertility. Ovine genomic DNA of 364 animals of different breeds (Bordaleira entre Douro e Minho, Churra Badana, Churra Galega Mirandesa, Churra Mondegueira, Merino da Beira Baixa, Merino Branco, Saloia and Serra da Estrela) were analysed by multiple restriction fragment-single-strand conformation polymorphism (MRF-SSCP). This analysis revealed a synonymous substitution G → A in codon 26 of Prnd gene. Churra Galega Mirandesa and Saloia breeds were more polymorphic ( P = 0.005 and P = 0.04, respectively) than the overall population, while Serra da Estrela and Merino Branco animals were less polymorphic ( P = 0.007 and P = 0.04). No polymorphism was found in Churra Mondegueira breed. Semen from 11 rams of Churra Galega Mirandesa breed (7 homozygous wildtype GG and 4 heterozygous GA) routinely used in the Portuguese Animal Germoplasm Bank was collected and frozen for fertility tests. A classification function was estimated, using data from post-swim-up semen motility and concentration and Day 6 embryo production rate, allowing the identification of the Doppel homozygous GG genotype with 86.7% of accuracy. This preliminary study detected the presence of only one polymorphism in codon 26 of Prnd gene in the Portuguese sheep breeds. In the polymorphic Churra Galega Mirandesa breed, GG genotype could be characterized through a model using three fertility traits, suggesting a relationship with male reproduction. Any future research should investigate not only AA genotype and its influence on ram fertility but also the possible consequences of the European Community selection program to eradicate Scrapie on the Prnd genotypes and indirectly on sheep breed's viability and preservation.

Volatile fraction of DOP “Castelo Branco” cheese: Influence of breed

“Castelo Branco” cheese is a Portuguese DOP cheese made from raw ewe’s milk coagulated with Cynara cardunculus, ripened for at least 40 days. “Merino da Beira Baixa” pure race is frequently used to produce milk for this cheese, however, exotic races such as Assaf and crusade of these two races are also used. The aim of this work has been to compare the volatile profile and sensory characteristics of DOP “Castelo Branco” cheeses manufactured during winter season with milk of breeds from Merino, Assaf and crusade of these two races and identify volatile compounds that can distinguish these cheeses. Volatile compounds profile was assayed by SPME–GC–MS. A total of 67 volatile compounds were separated and identified. The volatile profiles of the three types of cheeses differed significantly. Descriptive analysis and triangle tests confirmed that these cheeses presented significantly different sensory characteristics. Discriminant analysis showed that specific volatile components seemed to distinguish specific cheeses.

Azeites de produção biológica e produção integrada - avaliação de critérios de qualidade

In Beira Baixa, organic and integrated protection olive grove management are considered as true alternatives and are seen by many as offering considerable benefits over other production systems, particularly with respect to sustainable development. Indeed, these agriculture systems can eradicate or minimize local negative environmental externalities and, simultaneously, bring better profits to the farmer and promote olive products safety. This study was undertaken to evaluate olive oil quality from organic and integrated protection agricultural systems. Analytical parameters of Galega olive oils were widely within European Union ruled limits, so the samples could be labelled “Extra virgin”. Olive oil obtained from both agricultural systems, organic and integrated protection, showed high quality standards.