The aim of this research was to investigate the slaughter indicators, carcass measures, and meat quality of lambs fattened with spelt. Lambs consumed various feed mixtures (1000 g day
lamb
): ...I-control group; II-group with 10% dehulled spelt; III-group with 20% dehulled spelt. In the blood, the concentrations of minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and iron), biochemical parameters (urea, glucose, total proteins, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, ß-hydroxybutyrate, non-esterified fatty acids, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase), and hepatic enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and creatine kinase) were determined. After slaughter, carcass development was measured. Samples of musculus semimembranosus were taken, of which the physical properties were analyzed. By analyzing the production properties of the lambs, we found that the slaughter characteristics of the lamb carcasses and the physical properties of the lamb meat as well as most biochemical indicators and enzymes did not significantly differ. The concentrations of albumin were increased in the groups with 10% and 20% spelt, as was the activity of alkaline phosphatase in the group with 20% spelt. The presented results indicate that spelt is an appropriate ingredient in the diet for weaned lambs.
Around 10.5 million tonnes of sheep milk are produced worldwide, and around 3.1 million tonnes in Europe. In Europe, sheep milk production has stagnated slightly in recent years and currently ...accounts for around 1/3 of the global production. Due to its high content of dry matter, milk fat, total protein and casein, sheep milk is an excellent raw material for cheese production. Milk processing and cheese making are not only economically important, but also part of the cultural heritage based on a long tradition, often taking place in rural and less developed areas. Milk production and quality are very complex and are influenced by numerous factors, the most important of which are breed, feeding and body condition, parity and stage of lactation, milking and udder health, and environmental factors. In addition, different types of stress such as heat stress, nutritional stress, weaning stress, shearing stress, stress of regrouping, etc. have a significant impact on the welfare and health of the sheep as well as on the quantity of milk produced, its chemical composition, processing characteristics and the economic efficiency of the flock. In recent years, due to climate change, there has been an increasing number of studies on the effects of heat stress on the reproductive and production characteristics of sheep, as well as on their welfare and health. In addition, heat stress is often associated to the feed and the lack of water. The effects of stress are particularly pronounced in extensive sheep farming and milk production, which are prevalent in sheep farming. The aim of this paper is to describe the effects of the main types of stress on the quantity and chemical composition of sheep milk and on animal welfare.
The research objective was to determine haematological and biochemical parameters in blood of 30 Lacaune dairy sheep during different stages of lactation (early: 60th, medium: 120th and late: 180th ...days). The sheep were on average 4 years old, in 3rd lactation. Haematological parameters were determined in whole blood (white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB) concentration, haematocrit (HCT) value, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and platelet (PLT) count), and a blood smear was used for determination of differential blood cell count. Determined biochemical parameters in blood serum were: concentration of minerals (Ca, P-inorganic, Mg and Fe), concentration of total proteins (TP), albumin (ALB), globulins (GLOB), urea, glucose (GUK), cholesterol (CHOL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TGC), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), enzyme activities (aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), creatine kinase (CK), activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total superoxide dismutase (SOD). With progression of lactation stages, sheep blood tests proved significant increase in WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT, monocytes, Fe, urea, TP, ALB, CHOL, HDL, LDL, BHB, AST, GGT and ALT as well as a decrease in lymphocytes, Mg, GUK and SOD. Determined changes in haematological and biochemical blood parameters of Lacaune dairy sheep during different lactation stages proved good quality nutrition of sheep and indicate the need to include this dairy breed/genotype in prospective schemes for definition of referential values for these indicators in sheep.
The aim of the present research was to determine the blood metabolic profile and acid-base status of Istrian goats in a Mediterranean production system. The research was carried out on 28, non-gravid ...Istrian goats divided into four groups: group I - < 6 month old kids; group II - < 2 year old goats; group 3 - from 2 to 5 year old goats; group IV - >5 year old goats. The goats were grazing on extensive Mediterranean pastures, but when in the stall, they were fed with hay and approximately 0.2 kg corn per day, as well as water and salt. Haematological parameters were determined in whole blood. The concentrations of biochemical parameters and enzyme activities were determined in the blood serum, while indicators of acid-base balance were determined in the blood plasma. The number of erythrocytes and lymphocytes decreased, while segmented neutrophils and eosinophils increased with age in the Istrian goats. Furthermore, concentrations of Fe, albumin/globulin ratio, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, inorganic phosphate- and the activity of alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly. An increase was determined in concentrations of urea, total proteins and globulins, as well as the activity of aspartate aminotransferase, weak anions and cations based on total protein calculations. The data obtained on the metabolic profile and acid-base status of Istrian goats are useful for understanding this breed's parameters, which will help in monitoring health and nutritional status, as well as for improving the management and conservation of this critically endangered breed. Key words: metabolic profile; acid-base status; Mediterranean production system; Istrian goat
The aim of this research was to monitor the metabolic profile of blood and the quality of ewes’ milk during lactation in organic farming. Biological investigations were carried out on 32 clinically ...healthy Merinolandschaf ewes during the 3th lactation on the 20th, 60th and 100th day of lactation. Ewes’ milk was analyzed for the non fat dry matter, milk fat, protein, lactose, urea, the somatic cells count (SCC) and te total viable cell number (CFU), as well as for the concentration of fatty acids, atherogenic (AI), thrombogenic (TI) and Δ9-desaturase activity index. Concentrations of minerals (Ca-calcium, P-phosphorus-inorganic, Mg-magnesium, and Fe-iron), biochemical parameters (urea, glucose, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, globulin, NEFA-non-esterified fatty acids, BHBA-beta-hydroxybutyrate) and enzyme activity (ALT-alanine aminotransferase, AST-aspartate aminotransferase, ALP-alkaline phosphatase, CK-creatine kinase and GGT-γ-glutamyl transferase) were analyzed in blood serum. Chemical composition of milk differed among different stages of lactation, which was marked by the increased content of milk fat, the decreased urea concentration, as well as by numeorus changes of fatty acid concentration observed along with lactation progression. Number of SCC and CFU in milk increased during lactation. AT and TI were appropriate in all stages of lactation, which resulted in satisfactory quality of ewes’ milk from organic farming. Determined concentrations of certain biochemical parameters (NEFA, triglycerides, VLDL-cholesterol, Ca and Fe) in blood of ewes originating from organic farming indicated lower deficit of energy during the 20th day of lactation, as well as a lack of Ca and Fe concentrations in blood, which most likely occurred due to higher loss through milk. Accordingly, the blood metabolic profile can be considered as an indicator for feeding and health status of ewes during lactation in organic farming.
The aim of the present research was to determine the haemato-biochemical profile and blood acid–base status of Croatian spotted goats in a traditional Mediterranean production system. The 60 ...non-gravid female Croatian spotted goats of different ages were included in the research. They were divided into four groups of 15 goats according to age: group I – ≤1 year old; group II – 2–3 years; group III – 3–6 years; and group IV – 7–10 years. Haematological parameters were determined in whole blood, biochemical parameters in serum and acid–base status in plasma by automatic analyser. Total leukocyte number (WBC), haemoglobin (HGB) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in the blood were the highest, while mean haemoglobin concentration in erythrocytes (MCHCs) was the lowest in yearlings compared to other groups. Concentrations of urea, Mg, Cl, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and lactate were the highest in yearlings. Concentrations of Ca, Na, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB) as well as the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were higher in older goats compared to yearlings, while the opposite was determined for the activities of creatine kinase (CK) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Values of pH, the strong ion difference (SID), anion gap (AG) and z values as well as the content of HCO3 and total pressure of carbon dioxide (ctCO2) were higher in older goats compared to yearlings. The results obtained may help in monitoring the health and nutritional status and improve the management of Croatian spotted goats. Based on the results of the present study, the effect of age needs to be included in the model when preparing the reference values for the haemato-biochemical profile and acid–base status of goats.
The aim of the study was to investigate the activity of slow-release non-protein nitrogen compound with the enzymatic activity (SENPN) and to compare it with the activity of slow-releasing ...non-protein nitrogen compound (SNPN) in beef cattle feeding. The following indicators were monitored: body weight (BW), average weight gain (AWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), trunk weight at slaughter (TWS) and dressing percentage (DP). Beef cattle were divided into two groups of uniform body weights; control group (CG) and experimental group (EG). The feed ration of the CG contained SNPN, while the feed ration of the EG contained SENPN. During the trial, three weights were performed to measure BW. The trial consisted of two parts: (i) the first part of the trial refers to the period between the first and second weighing, in which the feed ration of the EG contained 4.81% less starch per kg of dry matter (DM) compared to the feed ration of the CG, and (ii) the second part of the trial was conducted in the period between the second and third weighing, in which the feed ration contained equal starch levels. After the third weighing, the beef cattle were transported to the slaughterhouse, where they were sacrificed, and subsequently the values of TWS and DP were measured. There were no statistically significant differences found for each of the measured parameters. In conclusion, the usage of SENPN positively affects the utilisation of nutrients in the mixture, e.g. feed ration.
Cilj je ovoga rada istražiti mogućnost upotrebe konoplje (Cannabis sativa L.) u hranidbi domaćih životinja. U hranidbi domaćih životinja mogu se koristiti sjemenke, pogača od sjemenki konoplje i ulje ...konoplje kao dodatak krmnim smjesama. Sjemenke konoplje su bogate sirovim bjelančevinama i sirovim mastima s odgovarajućom koncentracijom nezasićenih masnih kiselina, osobito linolnom (LA, C18:2 n-6) i linolenskom (ALA, C18:3 n-3) kiselinom. Dodatak ulja konoplje u obroke koza u laktaciji povećao je udio masti u mlijeku te je doveo do povećanja koncentracije konjugirane linolne (CLA) kiseline i polinezasićenih masnih kiselina (PUFA). Pri hranidbi ovaca krmnim smjesama s dodatkom sjemenki konoplje (180 g/dan) ili pogače sjemenki konoplje (480 g/dan) utvrđeno je povećanje količine mliječne masti, kao i povećanje koncentracije LA, CLA i ALA. Pogača sjemenki konoplje (143 g/kg ST) u obrocima krava povećala je količinu proizvedenoga mlijeka u usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom i skupinom krava koje su konzumirale više razine pogače sjemenki konoplje (233 ili 318 g/kg ST). Hranidba kokoši nesilica pogačom sjemenki konoplje u obrocima (10 i 20%) rezultirala je obogaćivanjem žumanjka ALA-om, pri čemu nije utvrđen negativan utjecaj na pokazatelje nesivosti. Navedeno ukazuje na mogućnost upotrebe konoplje u obrocima domaćih životinja bez većih promjena u proizvodnji, uz mogućnost povećanja poželjnih masnih kiselina u animalnim proizvodima.
The widespread selenium (Se) deficiency in soil and in feedstuffs from such soil, needs to be prevented by various methods. Recently, biofortification of Se has been carried out by soil fertilization ...and foliar application of crops. The aim of this study was evaluate the productive traits, Se status and blood metabolic profile in fattening lambs affected by Se biofortified corn. The research was conducted with 20 Merinolandschaf lambs of the average age of 70 days, during 30 days of fattening. The feed mixture of the control group contained corn (0.014 mg Se/kg dry matter, DM); in the experimental group (Se-BC), corn was biofortified (0.278 mg Se/kg DM). The feed mixture, hay and water were offered to lambs
ad libitum
. Blood was collected from the jugular vein on days 0 and 30 of experiment. Haematological indices were determined in whole blood, whereas concentrations of biochemical indices, enzyme activities, and concentrations of metabolic hormones were determined in serum. After the slaughter, samples of musculus semimembranosus, liver, kidney, lungs, spleen, peritoneum and heart tissues were taken. No significant differences were obtained in productive traits when feeding lambs with Se-BC. Higher concentrations of Se in lungs and liver (control: 0.26 and 0.75 mg/kg, respectively; Se-BC: 0.33 and 0.92 mg/kg, respectively) was determined in Se-BC compared to control. Higher activity of glutathione peroxidase enzyme in serum, higher erythrocyte count, higher content of haemoglobin and haematocrit in whole blood of Se-BC lambs were determined. The results of the study indicate the posibility of using Se-BC in lambs’ diets.
The largest increase was also found for sheep meat, beef and pork, while in dairy production the largest increase was in goat milk, as well as production of cheese. According to the data of the ...Croatian Chamber of Economy, cited in the Ministry of Agriculture's Annual Report on the State of Agriculture in year 2018, it was pointed out that the annual value of the Croatian market of organic products is around 100 million EUR, which is certainly not negligible, while the share of consumption of organic products in total consumption is 2.2%. ...the aim of this paper is to present the state and perspectives of the development of organic livestock farming in the Republic of Croatia, by analyzing the period of the recent five years. (2016) limiting factors in the development of organic agriculture are depopulation of rural areas, unfavorable educational structure, insufficient education of farmers and consumers of organic products, problems with unresolved land ownership along with numerous cropped and scattered land areas as well as mined areas. According to the analysis of production over the past five years, the largest increase was recorded for maize (dry grain) by 395.36%, soybeans by 395.05% and wheat and spelt by 380.28%.
PDF
