Antonino Bertino
Tutor: Alessandro Priolo
08/2023-07/2026: PhD Course in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, University of Catania. PhD project title: “Bioactive compounds in animal feeding: Effects on meat quality. Agro-industrial by-products as a source of bioactive compounds.” Supervisor: Prof. Alessandro Priolo.
07/2023: Master’s degree in Agricultural Science at the University of Catania (110/110 cum Laude). Thesis title: “Feeding with hazelnut skins and linseeds: effects on the oxidative stability of lamb meat.” Supervisors: Dr. Antonio Natalello and Dr. Martino Musati.
12/2022-06-2023: Scholarship for research entitled "Effects of dried fruit by-products on lamb performance and meat quality." Supervisor: Prof. Luisa Biondi. Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania.
02/2016-05/2016: Erasmus +, study period abroad. Ceska Zemedelska Univerzita v Praze. Prague, Czech Republic.
11/2014: Bachelor’s degree graduated in Agricultural Science and Technologies at the University of Catania. Thesis title: "The microorganisms involved in wastewater treatment". Supervisor: Prof. Cinzia Caggia
10/2011-11/2012: Certificate of Mycologist according to DM 686/96 - Mycological Association G.R.M.S. ONLUS. Present in the national register of mycologists established pursuant to Ministerial Decree 686/96, under no. 2508, and in the register of the Sicily region at n.79.
07-2010: Scientific high school diploma - Higher secondary education institution VEN. IGNAZIO CAPIZZI
PhD project title: “Bioactive compounds in animal feeding: Effects on meat quality. Agro-industrial by-products as a source of bioactive compounds.”
Antonino Bertino is a PhD student at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment of the University of Catania and conducts research on ruminant nutrition and meat quality, with particular focus on the use of agro-industrial by-products rich in bioactive compounds.
The experimental research is mainly focused on lamb feeding, including dietary supplementation with plant by-products such as hazelnut skins, almond skin, citrus and carob derivatives.
The studies evaluated the effects of several by-products on animal growth, the lipid composition of meat, and oxidative stability during storage.
Recent studies have investigated the use of hazelnut skins and linseed together as replacements for maize and soybean meal, observing improvements in the oxidative stability of lamb meat.
Other studies have evaluated the use of almond skin at varying inclusion levels as a partial substitute for maize in lamb diets. Additional research has examined the inclusion of citrus and carob by-products in feeding rations.
Overall, the results highlight the potential of these by-products to improve the nutritional quality of meat and support more sustainable and circular livestock production systems.
The PhD student participated as an oral speaker in several international congresses, such as the 75th EAAP Annual Meeting held in Florence in 2024 and the 2025 ASAS-CSAS Annual Meeting held in Hollywood, FL. He also participated in the 71st International Congress of Meat Science and Technology (ICoMST) held in Girona in 2025, with a poster presentation.