In order to satisfy the demands of the modern consumer for food of high quality, low in fat but rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, farmers from the inner regions of both Italy and Greece in recent years have started to orient their activity to the rearing of autochthonous animal populations, as in the case of the bovine Podolian (Italy) and Katerini (Greece). As both of these populations (raised in two different countries, but under a similar free-range production system) were derived from Bos primigenius, it was considered interesting to compare their meat characteristics. For this target, eight animals were used, subdivided into two groups: Podolian group (reared in Italy and slaughtered at 18 months of age) and Katerini group (reared in Greece and slaughtered at 18 months of age). All animals were fed only on local pasture and they were slaughtered in licensed slaughterhouses in their country of birth and they were analysed in the laboratories of the University of Bari in Italy. The results show that the raw meat of Katerini bulls is less red, has higher moisture and is leaner. The fat of this meat is richer in C18:0 and ω3 fatty acids. These data seem to indicate that the meat produced by the breeds studied can satisfy the dietary demands of the modern consumer. As the Katerini breed is threatened with extinction, this study can offer a reason to the local authorities to make a possible future rescue programme, which necessarily passes through a chemical and nutritional characterization of its meat.

From February to August 2007 the effect of rearing system (confined (C) v. free ranging (FR)) and season (spring v. summer) was evaluated on behaviour, immune and blood parameters and beef production (experiment 1). From February to August 2008, the effect of rearing system was only evaluated on beef production (experiment 2). A total of 12 Podolian young bulls were used each year. They were slaughtered at 18 and 15 months of age in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Herbage mass and pasture composition were monitored during the 2 years. Pasture availability, in terms of herbage mass and composition, as well as its seasonal development, was similar in the 2 years. In the first experiment, FR animals spent more time walking (P < 0.05), feeding (P < 0.001) and standing (P < 0.01) and showed a lower number of agonistic (P < 0.05) and non-agonistic social interaction than C animals (P < 0.01). Significant lower concentrations of serum urea nitrogen (P < 0.001) and creatinine (P < 0.10) in FR animals indicated a lower protein nutritional status due to inadequate protein availability at pasture. As a consequence, average daily gains (P < 0.05), slaughter weight (P < 0.05) and body condition score (P < 0.01) were lower in grazing animals as compared with C bulls. Cellular immune responsiveness was higher in FR animals (P < 0.05). Similarly, antibody titre to keyhole limpet hemocyanin was higher in FR bulls at the 2nd and 3rd month after antigen injection (P < 0.05), whereas it tended to be higher at the 4th month (P < 0.10). In both experiments, grazing negatively affected meat colour in terms of lightness. Eighteen-month-old bulls also showed lower final weight, weight gain and body conditions when kept outdoor: a possible consequence of nutrient deficits, as suggested by the metabolic status of FR animals. The same animals, however, benefited from FR in terms of natural behaviour expression and immune responsiveness. When the experiment was replicated the subsequent year, on animals slaughtered at 15 months of age, no differences between the performances of FR and C animals were detected. The earlier slaughter age system was also proportionally less dependent on external inputs as grazing was not extended to the dry season when herbage mass availability was lower.