This study deals with the biomonitoring of cadmium (Cd) heavy metal in the three selected Tricholoma mushroom species collected from wild habitats of central and coastal Croatia. For this, mushroom ...(T. columbetta: n = 38, T. portentosum: n = 35, and T. terreum: n = 34) and surface soil samples were collected from nine forest localities of Croatia and analyzed for Cd concentration using inductively coupled plasma−optical emission spectrometry (ICP−OES) through the acid digestion method. The findings revealed that Cd was present in Tricholoma spp. and surface soil. However, the maximum mean Cd concentration (mg/kg dry weight) was recorded in T. portentosum (cap: 0.98; stipe: 0.72), followed by T. columbetta (cap: 0.96; stipe: 0.73) and T. terreum (cap: 0.81; stipe: 0.63). The bioconcentration factor (BCF) value (>1) revealed that the selected Tricholoma spp. had the potential for Cd accumulation. Moreover, the principal component (PC) and hierarchical cluster (HC) analyses were used to derive the interactions and similarities between Cd levels Tricholoma spp. and sampling localities. The multivariate analysis suggested that central sampling localities had higher Cd levels as compared to coastal localities. However, the daily intake of metals (DIM < 0.426) and health risk index (HRI < 1) showed that there was no potential health risk associated with the consumption of selected Tricholoma spp. The findings of this study are helpful to understand the Cd accumulation behavior of wild edible Tricholoma spp. collected from Croatia.
The objective of this study was to determine the influence of housing system on the physical, morphological, and mechanical properties of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) eggs. A total of ...240 eggs were collected from Japanese quails kept in two different housing systems: cage housing and aviary housing system (120 eggs from each housing system). Eggs from cage housing system were significantly (P<0.05) heavier than eggs from aviary housing system (11.85 g vs. 10.93 g), and were also longer, wider and had significantly (P<0.05) larger geometric mean diameter, surface area and volume. No statistically significant difference in albumen and yolk content was observed between eggs from cage and aviary housing system. Eggs from aviary housing system had significantly higher shell content and shell strength and required greater force to eggshell breaking. The average force required to breaking the shell of Japanese quail eggs from cage and aviary housing system in all three axes was 14.36 N and 12.70 N, respectively.
This research aimed to determine the meat production indicators and carcass traits of Posavska crested hen, which is the Croatian indigenous chicken breed. The research was carried out on five ...strains of the Posavska crested hen breed: yellow vetch, vetch, red colourful, light gray, and golden brown. Feeding was ad libitum for the whole time, adapted to the age of the chickens from a nutritional point of view. Separation by sex was carried out at the age of four weeks, while slaughter of roosters and determination of carcass traits was done at the age of 18 weeks. The highest average body weight was achieved by roosters of light gray and yellow vetch strain (3542.63 and 3430.38 g, respectively) and light gray pullets (2562 g) at the age of 18 weeks. The lowest feed conversion ratio was achieved by the light gray strain (2.39) at four weeks of age, and by the the roosters of the light gray strain (4.07) and pullets of the light gray and golden brown strain (4.08) at 18 weeks of age. The average dressing percentage was 71.54%, while the highest average dressing percentage was established in the red colourful strain (72.48%). Regarding the proportion of individual parts of the carcass, a significant (P < 0.05) influence of the strain can be seen in the proportion of drumsticks in the carcass, the proportion of which was the highest in the yellow vetch strain (18.69%). A significant influence of the strain was also found regarding L* (P < 0.01) and a* (P < 0.05) skin color indicators. Considering the established differences between the strains, it is necessary to carry out further selection and work on the uniformity of the breed.
The aim of this study was to compare physical, morphological and mechanical characteristics of eggs collected from two duck breeds (Pekin duck and Cherry Valley duck). A total sample of 120 eggs (60 ...eggs of each duck breed) was collected from one-year-old free range raised ducks. The Cherry Valley duck eggs were significantly heavier (94.23 vs. 71.91 g) than Pekin ducks (P<0.01), had larger dimensions and higher shape index (73.80 vs. 70.16). There was no statistical difference between egg specific gravity. According to egg components proportion, the Cherry Valley duck eggs had higher percentage of albumen, while the Peking duck eggs had higher percentages of yolk and shell. The Pekin duck eggs had significantly higher yolk to albumen ratio and Haugh unit value (P<0.01). The average force required to rupture Cherry Valley duck eggs in all three axes (50.32 N) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than average force required to rupture Pekin duck eggs (42.64 N). The highest egg rupture force at both duck breeds tested in this study was determined in loading along the X-front axis, while the least resistance to rupture force was determined along the Z-axis.
In order to facilitate the broilers feed mixture production, it is tends to replace corn component, with a new, cheaper but high quality component. As an alternative, it is possible to use the old ...bread, which would enable its remediation. Its use in broiler feeding is possible only after thermal treatment. Following this work will include the possibilities of using 5 and 10% of the old white and brown bread share in broilers feed mixture after thermal processing by extrusion. Feeding with both types of old extruded bread proved to be satisfying and did not affect on broilers performance so generaly dried bread can be used in chicken feed by as a partial replacement for maize component. Although both breads have proved good feeding quallity, slightly better results were obtained in feeding with 10% share of brown bread.
The objective of this study was to determine the influence of housing system on the physical, morphological, and mechanical properties of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) eggs. A total of ...240 eggs were collected from Japanese quails kept in two different housing systems: cage housing and aviary housing system (120 eggs from each housing system). Eggs from cage housing system were significantly (P<0.05) heavier than eggs from aviary housing system (11.85 g vs. 10.93 g), and were also longer, wider and had significantly (P<0.05) larger geometric mean diameter, surface area and volume. No statistically significant difference in albumen and yolk content was observed between eggs from cage and aviary housing system. Eggs from aviary housing system had significantly higher shell content and shell strength and required greater force to eggshell breaking. The average force required to breaking the shell of Japanese quail eggs from cage and aviary housing system in all three axes was 14.36 N and 12.70 N, respectively.
This study was conducted to evaluate mechanical properties of ten-egg boxes, which are the most commonly used egg boxes in many countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe. Six ten-egg boxes were ...tested, two made of cardboard, two made of expanded polystyrene and two made of general purpose solid polystyrene, each from a different producer. There were no significant differences in basic dimensions between tested boxes of various materials, while the significant differences were occurred in weight and box wall thickness. Test included measuring of vertical forces required for deforming complete box and at particular place for each egg in a box till contact with eggs. According to the obtained results, cardboard boxes can provide the best mechanical protection for eggs. The average force required for deforming complete cardboard box was 83.6% higher than for solid polystyrene box, and even 289.5% higher than for expanded polystyrene box. The average force required for deforming cardboard box at particular place for each egg in a box was 60.8% higher than for polystyrene box, and 74.0% higher than for expanded polystyrene box. The disadvantage of cardboard boxes is that they are not resistant to the impact of moisture as polystyrene boxes and in the case of an increase in box moisture due to storage in inappropriate conditions their mechanical resistance decreases.
The most important aspect of broiler production is feeding, whose costs represent about 70% of total costs. Thus, the growth of poultry production has been based on a strong consumer demand for ...products that are cheap, safe, and healthy. That kind of product is old bread, whose return from the store represent a problem for its remediation. For the use of the old bread as a feed, the European Union has promulgated a series of regulations and directives, which order a ban on its utilization without prior treatment. The most common treatments are pelleting and extrusion. In poultry, the upper limit for the use of the old bread in feedstuff is often prescribed and amounts to 15%. The aim of this paper was to determine a possibility to use 5 and 10% old brown pelleted bread in feed mixtures for broilers fattening. The study has shown that the addition of old bread significantly improves broiler production indicators. The best results and a more favorable ratio of omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids in the chicken muscles were obtained in the group fed with a 10‐percent share of old brown bread (p<0.05). Such a processed old bread can be used as a new ingredient in animal feed production as a partial replacement for maize component.