Anatomical competences within studies aimed to the conservative management of the natural grasslands respecting the animal welfare

The use of ovine in the study of climatic and seasonal environmental modifications affecting grassland productivity is presented. Body Condition Score (BCS) was previously validate as representative parameter of morpho-functional changes strictly associated with ecological-productive modifications of grassland systems correlating summer rainfall, grassland productivity and anatomical modifications, in particular rumen epithelium keratinization degree and Surface Enlargement Factor. Successively, rumen keratinization and BCS were monitored into two applied researches. The first evaluated ovine effectiveness in wood fire prevention setting the length of animal stay on Brachipodium rupestre high covered pasture, without negatively affects their wellbeing. Evaluating body weight, BCS and Keratinization degree of rumen, it was established that animals should not remain in that environment for more than 10-12 days. The second was intended to achieve a sustainable environmental and economic management of grassland productive ecosystems. Between pasture maximum flowering and maximum dryness, two grazing ovine flocks, provided or not with food supplementation (600g/day/head of barley and corn 1:1), were monitored. Supplemented group showed lower rumen keratinization degree, higher milk production and faster recovery of body status after lactation period respect to the control one. For the first time, apelin (APLN)/apelin receptor (APLNR) system in sheep mammary glands was investigated by Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemistry. APLN and APLNR were detected in alveolar and ductal epithelial cells. Pasture maximum flowering group showed significant difference in APLN expression compared with supplemented and control groups. APLNR expression significantly differed among the three groups. The reduced APLNR expression and immunoreactivity levels during parenchyma involution enables to hypothesize that it plays a modulating role in the mammary system control. The application of the correlation between BCS monitoring and the rumen keratinization degree in specific economic studies could be helpful to implement farm income, that represents a key tool for the biodiversity conservation of grassland ecosystems.