Trichinella Outbreaks on Pig Farms in Poland in 2012–2020

Trichinella nematodes continue to circulate in various hosts both in the domestic and sylvatic cycles. In the majority of countries in Europe, wild boars have been noticed as a primary source of Trichinella spp. infections in humans. However, in some regions, the meat of pigs containing Trichinella spp. larvae can still be a cause of trichinellosis. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to determine and present actual data on the occurrence of Trichinella spp. on pig farms (Sus scrofa f. domestica) in Poland. In this study, over 194 million pigs, slaughtered for commercial and personal purposes between 2012 and 2020, were tested with a digestion method according to the official rules for Trichinella control. Positive results were noticed in 172 pigs which gives an overall prevalence of 0.000088%. On seven farms, rats (Rattus norvegicus) infected with Trichinella spp. were also discovered. The species identification showed pigs were infected with Trichinella spiralis on 26 farms, and on four farms pigs with Trichinella britovi infections were found. Therefore, it is important to constantly monitor pigs for the presence of these parasites, especially in view of the growing interest in organic meat originated from ecological farms.

Fatty Acids and Nutraceutical Properties of Lipids in Fallow Deer (Dama dama) Meat Produced in Organic and Conventional Farming Systems

The aim of the study was to assess the fatty acid profile and nutraceutical properties of lipids contained in fallow deer (Dama dama) meat produced in organic and conventional farming systems. Longissimus lumborum (LL) and semimembranosus (SM) muscles from 24 fallow deer carcasses were selected for the study. The fallow deer meat from the organic farming system was characterized by significantly lower intramuscular fat content. The fatty acid profile in the organic meat was characterized by a particularly high proportion (p < 0.0001) of conjugated linoleic acid—CLA (LL—2.29%, SM—2.14%), alpha-linolenic acid—ALA (LL—4.32%, SM—3.87%), and docosahexaenoic acid—DHA (LL—2.83%, SM—2.60%). The organic system had a beneficial effect (p < 0.0001) on the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including n-3 PUFAs, which resulted in a more favorable n-6 PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid)/n-3 PUFA ratio. The significantly higher nutritional quality of organic meat lipids was confirmed by such nutraceutical indicators as the thrombogenic index (TI), ∆9-desaturase C16, elongase, and docosahexaenoic acid + eicosapentaenoic acid (DHA+EPA) in the LL and SM and cholesterol index (CI), and the cholesterol-saturated fat index (CSI) indices in the SM. LL was characterized by higher overall quality.

Consumer Behavior and Purchase Intention of Organic Meat: An Overview

The increase of interest in organic meat throughout the world is in response to concerns about the intensive agricultural practices and their effects on consumers’ health and the environment. Several researches have demonstrated that consumers have become increasingly concerned by the health risks posed by food consumption and this is reflected in the growth of organic food market in recent years across all regions, including Malaysia. However, the organic meat sector in Malaysia is still at its “infancy stage”, whereby more supports are needed to create consumer awareness in order to enhance the acceptance and stimulate the organic meat purchase in the country. The purpose of the study was to analyze the Malaysian’s consumer behavior on their purchase intention towards organic meat from various economic and marketing aspects. The overall results of this study reveal the organic meat choice motives of consumers as well as the purchasing pattern of organic meat among consumers in Klang Valley, Malaysia. This study was carried out via a structured survey throughout Klang Valley areas involving 300 respondents. Future research should focus on a similar study with the extended scope to all states in Malaysia so that the findings could be compared and generalized to the entire population in Malaysia.

Gastrointestinal Tract Morphometrics and Content of Commercial and Indigenous Chicken Breeds with Differing Ranging Profiles

Optimal development of the gut is important for nutrient absorption and for poultry to resist diseases. The aim of the study was to compare gastrointestinal tract morphometrics, small intestine microstructure, as well as the amount of pasture matter and feed ingested by the birds with outdoor access presenting either an outdoor-preferring, moderate-outdoor or indoor-preferring ranging profile. Sixty non-beak trimmed birds per strain: broiler hybrid Sasso and Polish indigenous green-legged partridge were housed from week 5 to 10 in groups of 10, under conditions of EU organic meat chicken production. Pens with outdoor ranges were video recorded, to obtain frequencies of the birds’ range use. Statistical analysis was conducted applying generalized linear mixed models, applying the ranging profile as a fixed effect and pen as a random factor. The weight of the pasture matter in bird crops was the highest in moderate-outdoor profiled green-legged partridges, as compared to other ranging profiles (p = 0.04). In Sasso, villi in the small intestines were significantly higher in the outdoor-preferring compared to indoor-preferring profiled birds (p = 0.04), while their area was larger in the outdoor-preferring Sasso birds (p = 0.01). The level of development of the gastrointestinal tract and its content may be a potential indicator of the birds’ ranging profile and forage consumption.

Selected nutrients determining the quality of different cuts of organic and conventional pork

Organic meat products are gaining consumer interest worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of organic and conventional meat origin on nutritional determinants of the following pork meat cuts: loin, ham, and shoulder. Nutritional value of meat was based on selected indicators such as proximate composition, the concentration of cholesterol, vitamin E content and minerals and trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron, and zinc, and the composition of fatty acids. The results of this study demonstrated that higher contents of protein and selected mineral compounds, as well as lower vitamin E concentration and different fatty acids (i.e., C12:0, C17:0, C17:1 n-7, C18:3 n-6, C24:0 and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)) distinguish organic pork meat cuts from the conventional counterparts. The organically meat parts, especially the shoulder, were identified as a better source of copper, calcium, iron and zinc, while organic ham and loin had more potassium. On the other hand, organic hams were shown to have lower content of vitamin E in comparison to their conventional equivalents present. Also, in organic shoulders showed a higher n-6/n-3 ratio compared to meat of conventional origin.

Sustainable Food Consumption: Investigating Organic Meat Purchase Intention by Vietnamese Consumers

Promoting sustainable food consumption contributes to the achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. This study investigated the key determinants of consumer intention to purchase organic meat in an emerging market and a unique model was developed by incorporating environmental concern and guilt with the key components of the Theory of Planned Behavior. This model was then validated by obtaining data from a sample of 402 Vietnamese consumers at five food stores in Ho Chi Minh City, using a paper-based survey. The findings reveal that consumers who are concerned about the environment are likely to formulate favorable attitudes and downplay monetary barriers associated with organic food purchase. In addition, while attitudes and guilt about buying conventional meat have a positive effect on organic meat purchase intention, perceived monetary barriers significantly reduce the intention. These findings highlight both the rational and emotional aspects of organic food purchase intention and have important implications for key stakeholders and the encouragement of organic meat consumption.

Organic livestock in the Republic of Croatia and Europe

The aim of the present study was to analyze the situation in organic livestock farming in Croatia and Europe. In the European countries in the year 2017, around 4.5 million cattle, 5.2 million sheep, 1 million pigs and 50 million poultry were registered in organic farming. The highest share of organically registered domestic animals compared to the total population in Europe and the European Union-28 was in cattle (3.5% and 5.2%) and sheep (3.4% and 5.0%), and the lowest in pigs (0.6% and 0.7%). In Croatia the highest share is in sheep (8.57%) and the lowest in poultry (0.02%) number. The largest increase in recent ten years in the EU has been in the number of poultry (by 103%) and the smallest in the number of pigs (by 47.6%), while the increase was the number of cattle and sheep was around 76% and 74%, respectively. In Croatia organic sheep production increased the most (by 65.0%), while the number of cattle and poultry increased by 62 and 64%, and the smallest increase is in the number of pigs (by 24%). The majority of organic meat of all species of domestic animals is produced in France and in United Kingdom, while organic milk is produced mostly in Germany and France. During the year 2018, most organic beef was produced in the UK and France, organic pork in France and Finland, organic sheep meat in Spain and the UK, organic goat meat in Spain, while most of organic poultry was produced in France and in the UK. A significant increase in the number of livestock in organic farming in Europe and in Croatia indicates an increasing interest in organic livestock farming, not only increase of farmers and processors but also increase of consumers of organic products in European countries.

Consumption of organic meat products in France: An analysis based on panel data (scanner dataset)

The consumption of organic meat products has been characterized using the Kantar Worldpanel data col-lected from 2012 to 2014. Based on the price of the total quantity purchased and the amount spent on each purchase, several indicators were calculated and their values compared between organic households (OHs) and nonorganic households (NOHs). OHs were characterized according to sociodemographic and attitudi-nal variables. Finally, a logit model was constructed to determine the likelihood of belonging to the organic household category. Consumption is low in terms of the proportion of households that purchase organic meat (O-ME) and meat products (O-MPs), the average quantity purchased per year and per purchasing household (2 kg and 0.9 kg respectively), and purchasing frequency. These values are below those reported by questionnaire surveys which can be attributed to an attitude-behavior gap. The main organic meat prod-ucts purchased are bovine meat and pork processed products. Moreover, being part of a family with children and living in a big city increase the probability of purchasing O-ME and O-MPs. ,

Dual use Technology from Prehistoric Era to Modern Age: Utilization of Crossbow as a Lethal Weapon and an Agricultural Cum Research Device

Designed by the Vedic God Shiva, the crossbow has gone beyond mythical lore and became a tool of strategic warfare in helping decimate knights, paladins and armored cavalry by arbalests or men who shoot crossbows. This ancient design has stood the test of time and has still found favor with not only action cinema, but also the hunting community and the special forces across the world. It is interesting to note that the Far eastern as well as Nordic texts term it as a favorite tool of dragon slayers, it had found major applications in hunting whales, sharks and other edible marine harvests. Certain countries in the northern hemisphere issue crossbow licenses to farmers in ensuring crop protection from vermin as well as harvesting organic meat from any overpopulating species in a given area. Additionally, it has been extensively used to build rope based connectivity using hooks when a huge gap needs to be crossed. It has also evolved as a tool to track oceanic activities by pegging sensors on its tips to etch it on whales and thus gather crucial data as they navigate the sea. This evolution from an armor piercing weapon to a civilian application device goes to the next level when a crossbow bolt is used to gain atmospheric and aerial data without fear of gaseous exhaust or electro-magnetic fields of drones. The next progression may be of ‘Cold launch missiles’ that are nearly undetectable and may change the course of military technology in the times to come.