RESUMO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho no abate de bezerros, novilhos e touros da raça Maremmana, e comparar, por meio de Análise de Variância (ANOVA) e Análise de Componentes Principais (PCA), a composição de ácidos graxos e as características da carne das diferentes categorias: bezerro, novilho e touro. Os animais deste estudo foram criados nas mesmas condições em pastagem com suplementação de feno e concentrado. Foram utilizados 18 vitelos abatidos aos 12-14 meses, 27 novilhos abatidos aos 18 meses e 14 touros abatidos aos 20-24 meses. Sucessivamente foi analisado o desempenho ao abate e as características nutricionais e físico-químicas do Musculus longissimus dorsi. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância. Os parâmetros de abate foram melhores em novilhos e touros. A idade ao abate não afetou as características químicas da carne. Não houve diferença em relação à porcentagem de ácidos graxos saturados (SFA), mas a carne de vitela apresentou menor teor de monoinsaturados (MUFA) e poliinsaturados (PUFA). Os ácidos graxos desejáveis e os índices de saúde foram melhores na carne de vitela. A composição de ácidos graxos foi utilizada também, na análise multivariada dos componentes principais e no mapa de calor, como variável discriminatória para os três categorias de carne; essas análises confirmaram que o produto cárneo de vitela é diferente de outros tipos. A carne de Maremmana proveniente de animais de diferentes faixas etárias mostrou boas características gerais, adequadas para a dieta da população do país ocidental.

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the performance at slaughtering of calves; young bull and bull of Maremmana breed, and compared, through Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on fatty acid composition, the characteristics of the resulting meat categories: veal, young bull meat and bull meat. The Maremmana cattle is a local endangered breed deriving from Tuscany and Latium. The animals of this study were raised under same conditions in pasture with hay and concentrate supplementations. Eighteen calves of 12-14 months, 27 young bulls of 18 months and 14 bulls of 20-24 months were slaughtered in this trial. The performances at slaughtering were considered, and on the meat samples, the chemical analysis and the fatty acid composition were carried out. Results were submitted to ANOVA and PCA, and a Heat map that considered the fatty acid distances among meat typologies was built. Slaughtering performances were better in young bulls and bulls. Chemical composition didn’t differ among meat categories. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were similar among meats, but Monounsaturated (MUFA) and Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were lower in veal. Desirable fatty acids and Healthy Indices were better in veal. The results of PCA and Heat map confirmed that veal was quite different from other meats. Maremmana meat deriving from animals of different age has shown overall good characteristics, suitable for the diet of western country population.

ABSTRACT. Maremmana is a local Italian breed reared in southern Tuscany and northern Latium. Twenty-two young bulls were reared in pasture system with concentrate supply (PSCS), whereas 20 young bulls were reared in feedlot intensive system (IS) in order test differences between meat typologies. The bulls were slaughtered at 18 months old. The performances at slaughtering were similar between finishing systems. IS bull meat has shown higher cooking loss than PSCS bull meat (p < 0.001), higher moisture content (p < 0.01), and fat (p < 0.001), and lower crude protein (p < 0.001). The SFA, MUFA and PUFA percentage were similar between meat typologies; whereas if considered in mg per 100 gr of muscle MUFA and SFA content was higher in PSCS meat (p < 0.05). Among the Healthy Indices, C18:2/C18:3 was higher in IS System (14.08 vs. 9.77; p < 0.001); the results of the PCA (Principal Component Analysis) of fatty acids composition showed that PSCS meat was characterized by MUFA and SFA, while IS meat was identified by C18:2/C18:3, and ω6/ ω3.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the morphology and biometrics of female Amiata donkeys reared in four different areas of southern Tuscany, Italy, to determine the differentiation degree of animals. Four southern Tuscan areas were investigated: two mountainous zones (East and West Amiata) and two flatter areas (Coastal area and Siena surrounding). Morphology and biometrics of adult female Amiata donkeys were collected to determine the homogeneity of the population. Primitive coat markings typical of the breed (shoulder and leg stripes) were found in Amiata donkey. Jennets from Siena surrounding were more dolichomorphic, while West Amiata individuals were smaller. The Principal Component Analysis and the Discriminant Analysis separated the Siena surrounding jennets from the other populations. This result was confirmed through the heatmap representation. The biometrics found in this research confirm that Amiata donkey is a small-medium sized breed suitable for different purposes.