The aim of the present work was to investigate the consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for dairy products obtained by grazing animals or fed with a high forage/concentrate ratio diet. To this aim, a survey was carried out on Italian consumers in the Campania Region and data collected were analyzed both by simple descriptive statistics and by an econometric model. Our results highlight that young age, knowledge of milk properties, and a healthy lifestyle are extremely important components in determining a higher WTP.

The influence of replacing silage with sorghum silage in the diet of dairy buffalo cows on metabolic status and on milk yield, chemical characteristics, and fatty acid profile was studied. Forty dairy buffalo cows were included in the trial and divided into two homogeneous groups (SS, sorghum silage and CS, corn silage). Blood was collected at the end of the trial (120 days), individual milk yield was registered daily. Samples of milk were monthly collected and analyzed for fat, protein, and lactose. Moreover, fatty acid profiles of silages and milk were determined. Buffalo cows fed sorghum silage showed an average milk yield higher than group CS (kg/d 10.120 vs. 9.270; p < 0.05), probably due to the lower lignin content of sorghum silage (31.0 g/kg dry matter (DM)) compared to corn silage (47.0 g/kg DM) and, by consequence, to the higher digestibility of SS diet. The percentage of linoleic acid was significantly higher in milk of group CS (C18:2: 1.27 vs. 2.05%; p < 0.01) due to the higher content of these acids in corn than in sorghum silage. The omega 6/omega 3 ratio was significantly lower in milk from buffalo cows fed sorghum than those fed corn silage (7.8 vs. 12.9; p < 0.01). Serum biochemistry showed no negative effects of the corn replacing with sorghum.

Dietary particle size is one of the most relevant factors influencing rumen function and the selection of the most palatable components of the total mixed ration (TMR) by cows. The aim of this study was to evaluate the particle size distribution (PSD), homogeneity, sorting level, physically effective NDF (peNDF) content of TMRs, and production performances in Calabrian commercial dairy herds in southern Italy. The research was conducted in 13 farms, including 8 with hay-based TMR and 5 with silage-based TMR. All herds delivered fresh feed once a day. At each farm, the TMRs were examined with the Penn State Particle Separator (PSPS) to determine PSD, homogeneity, and feed sorting at two time points (i.e., at fresh feed delivery = T0 and 24 h after feed delivery = Tf). None of the diets that were evaluated met the recommended PSD, showing an excess of long fraction, very short fraction, or both. The homogeneity was good except for three diets, but particle selection raised some concerns in 85% of the farms due to the preferential consumption of the very short fraction by the cows, with rejection of the long fractions. All the diets analyzed met the Penn State University recommended neutral detergent fiber (NDF) values (>28%) except for one farm’s diet. In three of the TMRs observed, however, the content of peNDF > 8 mm was less than 15%. NDF and peNDF > 8 mm values of TMRs showed statistically significant correlations with milk fat content. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the chemical and physical properties of TMR to provide a consistent diet and prevent feed sorting.

Research on diet effects on buffalo meat quality may be critical to assess its possible consumption benefits in human nutrition. This study investigated, in growing buffalo bulls, the effects of two diets differing in total fat content and fatty acid profile on the activity and gene expression of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase (SCD) in the adipose tissue and on meat quality. Twenty buffalo bulls, 6 months old, were randomly assigned to the two dietary treatments until slaughtering (about 400 kg body weight). No significant difference between the groups was observed for chemical composition, fatty acid profile and CLAs content of Longissimus thoracis as well as for the SCD gene expression. Such results seem to be in contrast with similar studies performed on other ruminant species, but confirm that important differences occur between buffalo and bovine species, such as the lower content in fat of buffalo meat. Our results also confirm that specific studies should be performed on buffalo, also in terms of the metabolic pathways activated by different diets.