The aim of the research was to determine the age-related hematological and biochemical parameters in Croatian white goats in a traditional Mediterranean production system. The 36 lactating Croatian ...white goats were divided into three groups with 12 goats each, according to age: group I (1-2 years old), group II (3-5 years) and group III (>5 years). The mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (334 g/L) and lymphocytes (73.71%), as well as the concentration of iron (Fe 25.17 μmol/L) in the blood were higher, while the concentration of urea (3.86 mmol/L) was lower in group I compared to group III. The results of the present study are the first published blood analysis (hematological and biochemical parameters) for the Croatian white goat breed, and can be useful for understanding the metabolism and health status of this breed of goats, which helps in their conservation, promotion and breeding improvement.
There is an increased production and demand for ewes’ milk in the Republic of Croatia, as well as globally. There is also a growing concern about its quality, since milk from farm animals may become ...contaminated with mercury and other toxic elements. Thus, the aim of this paper is to determine the influence of lactation stage on the ewes’ milk quality in western Croatia by considering concentrations of mercury and other elements in ewes’ milk. The research was conducted on 36 Travnik pramenka sheep during different lactation stages. The digested milk samples were analysed with continuous flow hydride generation technique by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Samples were taken during 40th, 80th and 120th d of lactation. Yield and quality of ewes’ milk was within lactation curve. As lactation progressed, significantly lower concentrations of Hg (on 80th d compared to 40th d) and of Cd (120th d compared to 80th d) were noted, and Hg on 120th d was below the detection limit. Concentrations of Ca and Cu were lower on the 120th d compared to 40th d, while P, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Se were lower on the 80th and 120th d compared to the 40th d. Concentrations of K, Mo, and Cr differed among all stages of lactation. Regarding toxic elements, the observed low concentrations of Hg, Co, Cd and As suggest that ewes’ milk in western Croatia is safe for human or animal consumption.
•Yield and chemical composition of ewes’ milk was within lactation curve.•Hg and Cd decreased in ewes’ milk with lactation progress.•Majority of macro and trace elements in ewes’ milk decreased during lactation.•Hg in Ewes’ milk from W Croatia does not pose a health risk for human consumption.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hempseed cake on production traits, metabolic profile and antioxidant status of lambs. The research was conducted on 20 Merinolandschaf lambs of ...similar live body weight (24.03 kg ± 2.22 and 24.06 ± 1.84 kg in control and experimental group, respectively). The experiment started after the weaning of lambs at their average age of 70 days. Lambs were divided by gender (50% male: 50% female) and then allocated in two groups. The research lasted for 30 days during the fattening period. Lambs in the control group were fed with feed mixtures, where main protein source was soybean meal and extruded soybean (SB), while lambs in the experimental group were fed feed mixtures in which soybean was replaced by hempseed cake (HSC) at 12% of dry matter. Higher values of daily weight gain (P<0.05) compared to SB lambs were observed from days 15 to 30. HSC lambs showed no significant differences in hematology and biochemical blood parameters, except for lower (P<0.001) urea concentrations on days 15 and 30, as well as higher (P<0.05) Mg concentrations in serum on day 30. Hempseed cake in lambs’ diets did not influence (P>0.05) activity of the enzymes like AST, ALT, ALP, GGT and CK, as well as SOD and GPx enzymes, thus not affecting the antioxidant status of lambs’ blood. Concentrations of DHA and n-3 fatty acids were higher (P<0.05) in HSC group than in SB group. The present study confirmed that the inclusion of HSC as soybean replacement up to 12% in the lambs’ diet is justified when considering production traits, metabolic profile and antioxidant status of Merinolandschaf lambs.
The research objective was to examine the influence of the first third of the lactation stage on 18 mineral elements in Alpine goat milk. The research was carried out on 20 goats of the French-Alpine ...breed, which were on average 5 years old and in the fourth lactation. The goats were monitored on the 30th and the 90th day of lactation. Their milk was analysed for chemical composition by the infrared spectroscopy. By means of inductively coupled plasma (ICP), a total of 18 minerals were analysed (Ca, P, K, Na, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, Mn, Mo, Co, Cr, Ni, Cd, Pb, As and Hg). The period of milk sampling in the first third of lactation significantly influenced the changes in concentrations of Na, Se, Mo, Cr, Ni and As. Significantly higher concentrations of Na and As were determined in milk sampled on the 90th day, while lower concentrations of Se, Mo, Cr and Ni were determined in milk sampled on the 30th day of the first third of lactation. Analysis of the correlation coefficients between the investigated trace elements and the selected toxic elements in Alpine goat milk showed a significantly positive correlation between Ca:Mg, Ca:P, Ca:Co, Ca:Ni, Ca:Mo; Mg:P, Fe:As, Pb:Cd and P:Ni. In the first third of lactation, Alpine goat milk contained a very low concentration of heavy metals. The described changes indicate that Alpine goat milk is rich in essential elements, while the concentration of toxic elements is very low in the first third of lactation.
The aim of this paper is to present haematological parameters in the Alpine goats during lactation. The study included 15 goats average age of 5 years in the 4th lactation. The blood sampling of ...goats was conducted on the 30th, 60th, 90th and 120th days of lactation. In the blood of goats, significant decrease in the number of red blood cells was determined, as lactation progressed, and their growth in the latter measure, but with no significant difference. Also, a significant decrease was found in the number of leukocytes as lactation progressed, whereas the 120th day of lactation showed their increase compared to the 90th day. A similar trend was found out for the content of hemoglobin and hematocrit. The mean volume of red blood cells and a significant proportion of monocytes were declining as lactation advance, while the mean concentration of hemoglobin significantly increased, and in the end of the study significantly decreased, compared to the measurement of 90th day. The above mentioned changes in hematological parameters indicate the quality of recovery and adjustment of goats in lactation.
ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of pea and sunflower cake as partial replacement for soybean meal in diet, as well as to assess their effect on milk quality during ...lactation and on blood parameters of ewes kept in organic farming. The research was carried out with 30 ewes of Merinolandschaf breed during 75 days. Ewes were given mixtures based on soybean meal as a protein source in control group (SBM), while in experimental groups, soybean meal was partially replaced with pea grain (P) and sunflower cake (SFC). Biochemical parameters (urea, glucose, total protein, albumin, globulins, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglyceride, β-hydroxybutyrate, and non-esterified fatty acids), as well as enzyme activity (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, and CK) were determined in blood of ewes. Milk composition and concentration of fatty acids in milk fat were also determined. In comparison with control, sunflower cake as a protein source affected the increase of fat content in milk. When compared with pea grain and SBM, it decreased the urea concentration in milk. Oleic acid, total monounsaturated fatty acids, and n-6 increased, while saturated fatty acids, atherogenic, and thrombogenic indices decreased in SFC. Feeding ewes with peas increased the content of n-3 fatty acids in their milk. If compared to SFC, it also improved the n-6:n-3 ratio. Partial replacement of soybean meal with SFC reduced the blood concentration of total protein, globulin, and AST, and GGT enzyme activities and increased the β-hydroxybutyrate. Inclusion of pea grain and SFC can be adequately used as partial replacement of soybean meal in feeding of ewes kept in organic farming.
The aim of present research was to establish the relationship between live body weight and some body measurements in Travnik sheep as a step towards establishing prediction equations to estimate live ...body weight of sheep under field conditions without using weighing scales. The research was conducted on the family farm "Aščić" from Velika Peratovica in the Bilogora area. The body measures from which the indices of physical development were calculated were taken from 39 sheep. The sheep in the present research had more modest body measurements and body weight than the desirable measures and weights listed in the Sheep Breeding Program in the Republic of Croatia, which is most likely due to the way they were kept, nutrition and their production status. Correlation analysis between individual body measures and sheep weights revealed the strongest and significantly positive correlation (P<0.05) for the width of the chest (0.81). The regression analysis determined the equations for estimating the body weight of the sheep as a dependent variable and determined the coefficients of determination. The highest value of the coefficient of determination of 0.86 was determined when all variables (body measures) were included in the equation. The best prediction equation for predicting the body weight from body measurements is by including the chest width variable alone in the equation Y = -7.303 + 2.955 x C.W. Chest width is the best predictor for the estimation body weight of Travnik sheep and this alone contribute 65% variation in the body weight of adult Travnik sheep.
The objective of this study was to research correlations between milk composition and selected blood indicators of liver function in ewes during lactation. The research was conducted with samples of ...milk and blood from Travnik Pramenka ewes (n = 99). Samples were collected in the area of western Slavonia in Croatia from lactating sheep grazing on natural pastures. Chemical composition of sheep milk was analysed as well as biochemical parameters in serum. Positive correlation between ALB: TGC, ALB: ALT, GUK: GGT, CHOL: ALT and AST: GGT was determined, while significant negative correlation was determined between GUK: ALB, GUK: TGC, GUK: ALT, ALB: GGT as well as ALT: GGT. Significant positive correlation was determined between blood and milk indicators, like ALB protein (r = 0.243), ALB: DMNF (r = 0.309) and ALB: SCC (r = 0.249), as well as negative correlation between TGC: MY (r = -0.264), ALT: protein (r = -0.258), lactose: TGC (r = -0.274) and ALT: DMNF (r = -0.234). The relations between indicators of milk composition, milk production and ewes blood indicators as well as their mutual connections indicate the justification of using the analysis of liver status indicators. Accordingly, by using these relations metabolic pathways of liver status indicators could be better monitored, which is important for practice regarding prevention of possible feeding errors and prevention of major production losses while maintaining the health of lactating sheep.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the possibility of modeling the content of fatty acids of milk fat, in order to increase the contents of desirable n-3 unsaturated fatty acids and decrease ...saturated fatty acid with adequate nutrition of goats. Previous studies showed that the milk of goats on pasture increased content of caproic (C6:0), caprylic (C8:0), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA, rumenic acid, cis-9, trans-11 C18:2), linolenic (C18:3), eicosapentaenoic (C20:5) and docosahexaenoic (C22:6) and total content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). In the same group of goats lower content of palmitoleic (C16:1), linoleic (C18:2) and total n-6 unsaturated fatty acids was found, as well as lower n-6/n-3 ratio compared with group of goats kept indoors and fed with alfalfa hay. In milk of goats fed with diets supplemented with safflower oil, content of CLA significantly increased, while goats fed with diets supplement with linseed oil had significantly higher content of C18:3 in milk, compared with group of goats fed without addition of these oils. Goats fed with addition of protected fish oil had significant transfer of eicosapentaenoic-EPA and docosahexaenoic-DHA fatty acids in milk. Protected fish oil reduced the negative impact of long chain fatty acids on the activity of ruminal microorganisms, consumption and digestibility of fiber, as well as inhibition of synthesis of fatty acids in milk gland. When adding unprotected fish oil, increase of stearic (C18:0) and oleic (C18:1) fatty acids occurred, because of the biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in rumen.
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