Heavy pig breeding in Italy is mainly oriented for the production of high quality processed products. Of particular importance is the dry cured ham production, which is strictly regulated and requires specific carcass characteristics correlated with green leg characteristics. Furthermore, as pigs are slaughtered at about 160 kg live weight, the Italian pig breeding sector faces severe problems of production efficiency that are related to all biological aspects linked to growth, feed conversion, fat deposition and so on. It is well known that production and carcass traits are in part genetically determined. Therefore, as a first step to understand genetic basis of traits that could have a direct or indirect impact on dry cured ham production, a candidate gene approach can be used to identify DNA markers associated with parameters of economic importance. In this thesis, we investigated three candidate genes for carcass and production traits (TRIB3, PCSK1, MUC4) in pig breeds used for dry cured ham production, using different experimental approaches in order to find molecular markers associated with these parameters. / L’allevamento del suino pesante italiano è principalmente orientato verso la produzione di prodotti stagionati di alto pregio. Particolarmente importante è la produzione del prosciutto crudo, che è strettamente regolata e richiede specifiche caratteristiche della carcassa correlate con le caratteristiche della coscia fresca. Inoltre dato che i suini vengono macellati ad un peso di circa 160kg, il settore dell’allevamento del suino pesante italiano si trova a dover far fronte a numerosi problemi di efficienza di produzione che sono correlati a tutti gli aspetti biologici legati a crescita, conversione alimentare, deposizione di grasso e così via. E’ ben noto che caratteri produttivi e caratteristiche della carcassa sono in parte geneticamente determinate. Perciò come primo step per comprendere le basi genetiche di attributi che possono avere un impatto diretto o indiretto nella produzione del prosciutto crudo, l’approccio del gene candidato può essere usato per identificare marcatori a DNA associati a caratteri di importanza economica. In questa tesi abbiamo investigato tre geni candidati per caratteri produttivi e relativi alla carcassa (TRIB3, PCSK1, MUC4)in razze suine usate per la produzione del prosciutto crudo, utilizzando differenti approcci sperimentali al fine di trovare marcatori molecolari associati con questi caratteri.

The thesis identify CNV structural variants as possible markers for genomic selection and identify QTL regions for Fatty Acid Content in the Italian Brown Swiss population. Additionally it maps the QTL for mastitis resistance in the Valdostana Red Pied cattle.

Pig meat quality is determined by several parameters, such as lipid content, tenderness, water-holding capacity, pH, color and flavor, that affect consumers’ acceptance and technological properties of meat. Carcass quality parameters are important for the production of fresh and dry-cure high-quality products, in particular the fat deposition and the lean cut yield. The identification of genes and markers associated with meat and carcass quality traits is of prime interest, for the possibility of improving the traits by marker-assisted selection (MAS) schemes. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to investigate seven candidate genes for meat and carcass quality traits in pigs. In particular, we focused on genes belonging to the family of the lipid droplet coat proteins perilipins (PLIN1 and PLIN2) and to the calpain/calpastatin system (CAST, CAPN1, CAPN3, CAPNS1) and on the gene encoding for PPARg-coactivator 1A (PPARGC1A). In general, the candidate genes investigation included the protein localization, the detection of polymorphisms, the association analysis with meat and carcass traits and the analysis of the expression level, in order to assess the involvement of the gene in pork quality. Some of the analyzed genes showed effects on various pork traits that are subject to selection in genetic improvement programs, suggesting a possible involvement of the genes in controlling the traits variability. In particular, significant association results have been obtained for PLIN2, CAST and PPARGC1A genes, that are worthwhile of further validation. The obtained results contribute to a better understanding of biological mechanisms important for pig production as well as for a possible use of pig as animal model for studies regarding obesity in humans.

The aim of this work was to identify markers associated with production traits in the pig genome using different approaches. We focused the attention on Italian Large White pig breed using Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and applying a selective genotyping approach to increase the power of the analyses. Furthermore, we searched the pig genome using Next Generation Sequencing (NSG) Ion Torrent Technology to combine selective genotyping approach and deep sequencing for SNP discovery. Other two studies were carried on with a different approach. Allele frequency changes for SNPs affecting candidate genes and at Genome Wide level were analysed to identify selection signatures driven by selection program during the last 20 years. This approach confirmed that a great number of markers may affect production traits and that they are captured by the classical selection programs. GWAS revealed 123 significant or suggestively significant SNP associated with Back Fat Thickenss and 229 associated with Average Daily Gain. 16 Copy Number Variant Regions resulted more frequent in lean or fat pigs and showed that different copies of those region could have a limited impact on fat. These often appear to be involved in food intake and behavior, beside affecting genes involved in metabolic pathways and their expression. By combining NGS sequencing with selective genotyping approach, new variants where discovered and at least 54 are worth to be analysed in association studies. The study of groups of pigs undergone to stringent selection showed that allele frequency of some loci can drastically change if they are close to traits that are interesting for selection schemes. These approaches could be, in future, integrated in genomic selection plans.

Pig meat and carcass quality is a complex concept determined by environmental and genetic factors concurring to the phenotypic variation in qualitative characteristics of meat (fat content, tenderness, juiciness, flavor,etc). This thesis shows the results of different investigations to study and to analyze pig meat and carcass quality focusing mainly on genomic; moreover proteomic approach has been also used. The aim was to analyze data from association studies between genes considered as candidate and meat and carcass quality in different pig breeds. The approach was used to detect new SNP in genes functionally associated to the studied traits and to confirm as candidate other genes already known. Five polymorphisms (one new SNP in Calponin 1 gene and four additional polymorphism already known in other genes) were considered on chromosome 2 (SSC2). Calponin 1 (CNN1) was associated to the studied traits and furthermore the results reported confirmed the data already known for Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), Low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), Myogenic differentiation 1 (MYOD1) e Ubiquitin-like 5 (UBL5), in Italian Large White pigs. Using an in silico search it was possible to detect on SSC2 a new SNP of Deoxyhypusine synthase (DHPS) gene partially overlapping with WD repeat domain 83 (WDR83) gene and significant for the meat pH variation in Italian Large White (ILW) pigs. Perilipin 1 (PLIN1) mapping on chromosome 7 and Perilipin 2 (PLIN2) mapping on chromosome 1 were studied and the results obtained in Duroc breed have shown significant associations with carcass traits. Moreover a study of protein composition of porcine LD muscle, indicated an effect of temperature treatment of carcass, on proteins of the sarcoplasmic fraction and in particular on PGM1 phosphorylation. Future studies on pig meat quality should be based on the integration of different experimental approaches (genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, etc).

SABRY NETO, H. Valor nutricional de flocos microbianos e rações vegetais para o desempenho zootécnico do camarão branco, litopenaeus vannamei. 2015. 95 f. Tese (doutorado em Ciências Marinhas Tropicais) - Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2015. / Submitted by Nadsa Cid (nadsa@ufc.br) on 2015-04-15T13:21:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_tese_hsabryneto.pdf: 937886 bytes, checksum: 917382f1c52acdfbf7a177880c947937 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nadsa Cid(nadsa@ufc.br) on 2015-04-15T13:22:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_tese_hsabryneto.pdf: 937886 bytes, checksum: 917382f1c52acdfbf7a177880c947937 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-15T13:22:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_tese_hsabryneto.pdf: 937886 bytes, checksum: 917382f1c52acdfbf7a177880c947937 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / The aquaculture industry is looking for alternatives to minimize production costs and the impact of wastewater discharge through the replacement of fishmeal by microbial flocs, vegetable ingredients and the effect of feed rate on the performance of juvenile white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, farmed without exchange of water in the presence of microbial flakes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of microbial flocs and vegetable ingredients in the diet of the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. The first phase compared the bioavailability of crude protein and fat from meals with microbial flocs, using shrimp farming water and clean sea water. It was observed that microbial flocs meals contained high content of ash (from 649.2 to 591.0 g / kg) and low crude protein (95.9 - 137,3g / kg). The final survival of shrimp was 93.2 ± 0.8% and the biomass gain of 37.1 ± 1.8 g / tank. The final body weight of shrimp ranged from 9.01 ± 0.15 to 9.45 ± 0.13 g. The microbial flocs produced with waste water from shrimp farming or clean sea water through sequence reactors had low protein content available for juvenile L. vannamei. Despite the low levels of fat were present, they have proven to be highly available for the species. The inclusion of microbial flake meal in the diet seemed to have a growth promoting effect which may be associated with trace minerals or other nutrients. The second phase assessed the effects of the soy protein rate, lipid content and minimum level of krill in meals based on vegetable ingredients on the growth performance and digestibility of L. vannamei. The diets based on plants ranged in soybean meal (SBM) and soy protein concentrate (SPC) and in lipid content in the diet. A salmon by-product meal diet was used as control. The krill meal was included in a new group of diets based on plant ingredients. In clean water tanks, no effect on the SBM:SPC rate and lipid content was detected in the survival of shrimp. However lipid levels in the diet of 80 and 121 g / kg combined with a high SPC SBM resulted in lower final body weight and poorer digestibility of crude protein, respectively. The inclusion of krill meal in vegetable diets improved the feeding only 10 g / kg of diet, while 20 g / kg accelerated the shrimp growth, increased the yield and reduced FCR. The third phase evaluated the growth performance of the white shrimp L. vannamei farmed in a heterotrophic system. The work was carried out in two steps: (1) rainy season and (2) dry season. Shrimps weighing 3.69 ± 0.68 g (n = 240) and 2.13 ± 0.51 g (n = 300) were submmited to progressive increasing in meal of 40%, 54%, 81%, 84 % and 113% and 52%, 77%, 98%, 127% and 153% in steps 1 and 2, respectively. In the culture, the water quality parameters were measured. In this two-step farming, the shrimps were fed with a diet containing 235g / kg of crude protein and molasses. The survival, yield, final body weight, weekly growth and feed conversion factor (FCR) were obtained at harvesting. There was an increase in sedimentary and total solids with the increasing of the feeding rate in the treatments, including the control tanks, suggesting that microbial flakes may have contributed to the better performance of the animals. In both steps of farming, there was a significant increase in the final body weight gain (9.84 ± 1.79 and 10.45 ± 1.55g) and in the growth (0.70 ± 0.01 and 0.82 ± 0.05g), from the gradual increasing of the feed. The FCR increased, however, no statistical difference was observed between the treatments in the rainy season, however, in the dry season, there was statistical difference between treatments of 153% and 52% and with the control. The evaluation of the effect of feed rate on the performance of juvenile of L. vannamei farmed in heterotrophic system and fed with gradual increasing of feed, showed have improved the growth performance of the animals. / O setor aquícola vem procurando alternativas para minimizar os custos de produção e os efeitos da descarga de efluentes através da substituição da farinha de peixe por flocos microbianos e ingredientes vegetais. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o valor nutricional de flocos bacterianos, ingredientes vegetais e o efeito da taxa alimentar sobre o desempenho zootécnico de juvenis do camarão branco, Litopenaeus vannamei, cultivado sem troca d’água, na presença de bioflocos. A primeira fase comparou a biodisponibilidade de proteína bruta e gordura a partir de refeições com flocos microbianos, usando água de cultivo de camarão e água do mar limpa. Foi observado que as refeições de bioflocos continham alto conteúdo de cinzas (649,2 – 591,0 g/kg) e baixa proteína bruta (95,9 – 137,3g/kg). A sobrevivência final dos camarões foi de 93,2 ± 0,8% e o ganho de biomassa de 37,1 ± 1,8g/tanque. O peso corporal final dos camarões variou de 9,01 ± 0,15 a 9,45 ± 0,13g. Os bioflocos produzidos com água residual de cultivo de camarões ou água do mar limpa através de sequencia de reatores apresentaram baixo conteúdo de proteína disponível para juvenis de L. vannamei. Apesar dos baixos níveis de gordura estar presentes, foi provado ser altamente disponível para a espécie. A inclusão da farinha de biofloco na dieta pareceu ter um efeito promotor no crescimento o qual pode estar associado com minerais traços, ou outros nutrientes. A segunda fase avaliou os efeitos da taxa de proteína de soja, conteúdo lipídico e nível mínimo de farinha de krill em dietas baseadas em ingredientes vegetais sobre o desempenho do crescimento e digestibilidade de L. vannamei. As dietas baseadas em ingredientes vegetais variaram na farinha de soja (SBM) e concentrado proteico de soja (SPC) e nos conteúdos lipídicos na dieta. Uma dieta de farinha de subproduto de salmão foi usada como controle. A farinha de Krill foi incluída em um novo grupo de dietas a base de ingredientes vegetais. Nos tanques de água limpa, nenhum efeito na taxa de SBM:SPC e conteúdo lipídico foram detectados na sobrevivência dos camarões. Entretanto os níveis de lipídios na dieta de 80 e 121 g/kg combinada com uma alta SPC a SBM resultou no menor peso corporal final e mais pobre digestibilidade da proteína bruta, Respectivamente. A inclusão da farinha de krill nas dietas vegetais melhorou a alimentação a apenas 10g/kg da dieta, enquanto a 20 g/kg acelerou o crescimento do camarão, incrementou o rendimento e reduziu o Fator de Conversão Alimentar (FCA). A terceira fase avaliou o desempenho zootécnico do camarão branco L. vannamei cultivado em sistema heterotrófico. O trabalho foi realizado em duas etapas: (1) período chuvoso e (2) seco. Camarões com peso de 3,69 ± 0,68 g (n = 240) e 2,13 ± 0,51 g (n = 300) foram submetidos a aumentos progressivos na taxa alimentar. No cultivo foram medidos os parâmetros de qualidade de água. Nas duas etapas de cultivo os camarões foram alimentados com uma dieta contendo 235g/kg de proteína bruta e melaço. A sobrevivência, produtividade, peso corporal final, crescimento semanal e o FCA, foram obtidos na despesca. Houve um aumento dos sólidos sedimentáveis e totais à medida que ocorreu o incremento da taxa alimentar nos tratamentos, incluindo os tanques controle, sugerindo que o biofloco pode ter contribuído para o melhor desempenho dos animais. Nas duas etapas de cultivo houve um aumento significativo no ganho de peso final (9,84 ± 1,79 e 10,45 ± 1,55g) e no crescimento (0,70 ± 0,01 e 0,82 ± 0,05g), a partir do aumento da ração. O FCA aumentou, porém não foi observada diferença estatística entre os tratamentos no período chuvoso, no entanto no período seco houve diferença estatística entre os tratamentos de 153% e 52% e entre o controle. A avaliação do efeito da taxa alimentar sobre o desempenho de juvenis de L. vannamei, cultivados em sistema heterotrófico, e alimentados com aumentos gradativos de ração, mostrou melhoria no desempenho zootécnico dos animais.

Il mais rappresenta una delle colture più diffuse nel Nord Italia. Negli ultimi anni si è assistito ad un notevole incremento della superficie a mais legato soprattutto all'uso dell'insilato di mais come substrato per la produzione di biogas. Per questo motivo è necessario avere il maggior numero di informazioni possibili per migliorare le performance della coltura. In letteratura ci sono molti studi che valutano l’impatto dell’ambiente e del management sulle caratteristiche chimico nutrizionali e sul potenziale metanigeno del foraggio di mais ma non ci sono lavori che considerano entrambi i parametri. L’obiettivo della tesi è stato quello di investigare come il danno da grandine , la genetica e il momento di raccolta possano influenzare la composizione della pianta intera tradotta come potenziale metanigeno e valore nutrizionale del foraggio. / In the Po Valley the maize crop represent one of the most cultivated plant used for cattle feeding but in the last 10 years it is also used as biogas substrate. Considering the importance of this cultivation, there is the continuous need to obtain information about this plant with the aim to improve the crop performance. There are numerous studies investigating the impact of environmental aspects and management practices on chemical and nutritional composition, and methane production in the literature but very few that evaluate those parameters together. The general objective of this thesis is to investigate how hail damage, type of hybrid and the harvesting date affect the whole plant composition. To accomplish this, two specific objectives are posed: i) verify the effects of hail damage levels on yield, chemical and nutritional feature as well as on BMP of maize grown in the Po Valley; and ii) to evaluate the value of different hybrids for animal nutrition and methane production in anaerobic fermenters and as delaying harvesting after the usual stage of maturity affects these features. It was also aimed to verify if chemical composition and in vitro digestibility tests could allow to estimate methane yield potential in maize whole plant.

La tesi ha un filo logico che inizia con la quantificazione e caratterizzazione degli impatti ambientali della produzione del latte. La ricerca prosegue con l'analisi delle opzioni per mitigare questi impatti, tra cui la produzione di biogas da reflui zootecnici. Il passo successivo è stato quello di analizzare la sostenibilità ambientale della co-digestione della biomassa da colture dedicate e reflui zootecnici. La digestione anaerobica dei reflui zootecnici per la produzione di biogas e la sua combustione per produrre energia elettrica è risultata un approccio tecnologico efficace per ridurre le emissioni di gas serra in quanto riduce le emissioni dallo stoccaggio dei liquami e sostituisce la produzione di energia elettrica da combustibili fossili. La produzione di biogas da biomassa da colture dedicate, anche se non fornisce benefici ambientali di per sé, può essere considerata come una opzione per facilitare e incrementare la digestione dei reflui, ma la biomassa da colture dedicate deve essere utilizzato in modeste quantità. I risultati di questa tesi - realizzati utilizzando la metodologia LCA - possono aiutare i responsabili politici nella pianificazione delle misure volte ad aumentare la sostenibilità della produzione del latte e del biogas nelle aziende zootecniche. / The thesis has a logical thread that starts with the quantification and characterization of the environmental impacts of milk production. The research continues with the analysis of the options for mitigating these impacts, among which biogas production from manure results very effective. The next step was to analyse the environmental sustainability of co-digestion of manure and energy crops. The anaerobic digestion of manure to biogas and its combustion to produce electricity resulted as an effective technological approach to mitigate GHG emissions because it reduces the emissions from slurry storage and contributes to the displacement of electricity generation from fossil fuels. Biogas production from energy crops, although not providing environmental benefits per se, may be regarded as an option to facilitate and increase the digestion of manure, if allowed only in small shares. The results of this thesis – achieved using LCA methodology – can assist policy makers in the planning of measures aimed at increasing the sustainability of milk and biogas production from dairy farms.

L'ampia letteratura sul periodo di transizione delle bovine richiama sempre più ai rapporti negativi fra problemi di salute e performance delle bovine. Dimostrazioni sempre più numerose confermano l'instaurarsi, soprattutto nel primo mese di lattazione, di una condizione di “stress da malattia”, non sempre associata a manifestazioni cliniche, ma con le stesse conseguenze: i fenomeni infiammatori. I principali obiettivi dei nostri studi, sono stati quelli di meglio caratterizzare gli stati infiammatori puntando l'attenzione su due aspetti: 1°) le cause di variazione della risposta infiammatoria alla infezione microbica e i suoi rapporti con la produzione di latte, 2°) le conseguenze che i fenomeni infiammatori hanno a livello di ingestione degli alimenti, delle riserve corporee, della produzione quanti-qualitativa e quindi dell'efficienza alimentare. relativamente al primo aspetto, nelle bovine sottoposte ad analoga infezione si è osservata una risposta infiammatoria di intensità diversa e che pare in buona relazione con precedenti fenomeni infiammatori in atto o pregressi; inoltre la risposta più intensa ha portato ad un maggior calo produttivo. Le conseguenze sulla efficienza energetica sono state studiate comparando due gruppi di bovine caratterizzate da minori (Lo-lfi) o maggiori (UP-lfi) valori di un indice di funzionalità epatica (lfi). Da ciò è emerso che, nel primo mese di lattazione, specie dopo avvenuta correzione per l'energia mobilizzata delle riserve corporee, l'efficienza è minore nei soggetti con basso lfi per il probabile aumento dei costi del sistema immunitario, aumento che pare prolungarsi ben oltre il fenomeno infiammatorio. / The extensive literature on transition period of the cows suggests the growing frequency of negative relationship between health problems and performance. Many evidences confirm during the first month of lactation, the presence of a particular condition named “stress disease”, which is not always associated to clinical symptoms but has the same consequences: the inflammatory processes. The principal objective of this study was to better characterize the inflammatory processes with particular attention to: 1) cause of the changes in inflammatory response to a bacterial infection and its relationship with the milk production, 2) consequences of the inflammatory processes on feed intake, body reserves, quantity and quality of milk production and then on feed efficiency. relatively to the first, we have observed a different intensity of the inflammatory response (in bovine submitted at the same infection), and this response seems correlated to previous inflammatory processes, probably not resolved; moreover, the higher intensity in the inflammations response can be responsible of the milk production decline. The consequences on feed efficiency have been studied through the comparison between two groups of cows characterized by higher (up-lfi) or low (lo-lfi) values of the liver functionality index; from that was demonstrated that during the first month of lactation, the cows with low lfi had lower efficiency values, probably caused increased charge of the immunitary system and prolonged beyond the inflammatory status itself.

La valutazione oggettiva del benessere negli allevamenti di bovine da latte, risulta peraltro molto complessa e controversa. I principali problemi riguardano la scelta degli indicatori da utilizzare nel modello e l’aggregazione dei risultati ottenuti con ciascun indicatore in un punteggio globale che sia espressione del benessere reale. Alla luce di queste considerazioni, è evidente che un modello applicativo di valutazione del benessere necessita di una validazione scientifica. I nostri risultati hanno mostrato che sono soprattutto i valori di fruttosamina riscontrati fra la 3a e la 5a settimana di lattazione quelli che maggiormente riflettono la glicemia media delle settimane precedenti, quindi l’entità del deficit energetico e della riduzione delle condizioni nutrizionali degli animali Nella valutazione del benessere animale un altro aspetto fondamentale è rappresentato dall’individuazione di un eventuale status di stress cronico, ricorrendo ad esempio alla cortisolemia plasmatica. Tra gli indicatori di tipo fisiologico che sono sembrati molto importanti per la validazione dei modelli di valutazione del benessere animale, troviamo i parametri relativi a fatti infettivo-infiammatori (proteine positive della fase acuta, tra cui si ricordano l’aptoglobina e la ceruloplasmina, e quelle negative, specialmente le albumine e il colesterolo). Viceversa, l’utilizzo contemporaneo di una serie di indicatori di tipo biochimico-fisiologico, potrebbe fornire indicazioni per una valutazione più completa dei diversi aspetti del benessere. Ciò al fine di accertare se i suddetti parametri possano fungere da indicatori “assoluti” per ottenere indicazioni più oggettive delle reali condizioni di benessere/malessere degli animali allevati, costituendo pertanto un valido “riferimento” per i modelli di campo. Le informazioni prodotte con questo tipo di analisi possono fornire utili indicazioni sia in termini teorici di validazione del benessere (soprattutto per meglio precisare i vari aspetti che lo compongono e che confluiscono nel benessere globale) e sia in termini applicativi di miglior ridefinizione dei pesi relativi con cui aggregare i diversi aspetti del benessere nel modello di campo. Altri parametri fisiologici utilizzati come riferimento, e risultati molto importanti, sono il cortisolo e la fruttosamina. In particolare, i risultati ottenuti con questo approccio multivariato, applicato ai parametri biochimico-fisiologici hanno mostrato un parziale accordo fra la valutazione del benessere ottenuta con il modello SDIB. / The objective assessment of lactating dairy cows welfare is complex and controversial. The main concerns are the choice of the model indicators and the aggregation of obtained results in a global score that represents the effective welfare. According to these considerations, the animal welfare determination needs a scientific validation. Our results shows that the value of fructosamine between the third and fifth week in lactation strongly reflects the average blood glucose in the previous weeks, therefore it shows the energetic deficit and the low nutritional status. The determination of chronic stress is also fundamental to determine the animal welfare, it can be measured by the plasmatic cortisolemic value. Some indicators of inflammators-infective stress, such as the positive proteins of acute phase (aptoglobins and ceruloplasmin) and the negative ones (albumins and cholesterol) are some of the best physiological indicators capable of validating the determination of animal welfare. On the contrary, the contemporary utilisation of different biochemical-physiological indicators could give more comprehensive determination of animal welfare. The latter could be used as “absolute” indicators to obtain more objective indications of the real conditions of breeding animals' welfare, therefore, being a valid “reference” for field models. These kind of analysis can give useful theorical indication to validate the welfare (above all considering the global view of it), and also in practical applications capable of defining the relative scores aggregating several aspects of welfare in field models. Also cortisol and fructosamine are very important physiological indicators. Particularly, the results obtained by this multivariate approach, which was applied to biochemical and physiological parameters, showed partial agreement between the welfare evaluation by SDIB model.