Boro Mioč

Genetic diversity measures of the Croatian Spotted goat.

In the present study, microsatellite data of 20 loci were generated and utilized to evaluate genetic variability of the Croatian Spotted goat. Genetic variability was high, with means for expected gene diversity of 0.771, observed heterozygosity of 0.759, and 8.1 for the total number of alleles per locus. There are no indications for deviations from random breeding within the population. Level of inbreeding was only 2% and non-significant. The population was found to deviate significantly under infinitive allele model (IAM) and two phase model (TPM), while stepwise mutation model (SMM) and qualitative mode-shift test of allele frequencies indicate the absence of genetic bottleneck in the recent past in the population of the Croatian Spotted goat. High level of genetic diversity, as it is presented in this study, may be seen as an initial guide for conservation decisions in the future.

Effect of breed on mineral composition of meat from light lambs

Abstract The proximate composition and mineral content of light lambs muscle (derived from Istrian and Dalmatian Pramenka breeds) were studied. The M. Longissimus dorsi (MLD) samples of 30 carcasses were analysed and the effects of breed and sex were studied. Although lambs of investigated breeds were similar for slaughter age (2.5 months), Dalmatian Pramenka had significantly higher carcass weights (CW; P<0.05). Breed had a significant influence on moisture and fat contents, whilst mineral composition (with the exception of selenium) was scarcely affected by breed and sex. Fat and moisture contents were significantly correlated with cold CW. The magnesium, calcium, manganese and selenium contents were significantly correlated (r=0.50, -0.46, 0.44, 0.54; P<0.05 respectively) with CW. This study contributes to characterization of lamb carcasses from Istrian Sheep and Dalmatian Pramenka breeds and provides new data on the composition of the MLD of light lambs.

Influence of different selenium sources on performance, blood and meat selenium content of fattening lambs

Abstract An investigation was conducted to evaluate the bioavailability of different Se sources on fattening lambs. Forty-eight lambs, divided in 3 groups, were ad libitum fed the same diet without Se addition (control, C), or with a supply of 0.03% sodium selenite (IS) or 0.03% of organic selenium (OS; Sel-PlexTM). Growth performances were not affected by treatment. With respect to C, OS significantly increased Se content of blood (P<0.01), liver (P<0.01) and GSH-Px enzyme activity (P<0.01). OS also significantly increased blood (P<0.01) and liver (P<0.05) Se content with respect to IS. It was concluded that Se in organic form had a better bioavailability compared to the inorganic form.

Estimation of genetic parameters and genetic trends for reproductive traits in Saanen goats.

The study was conducted on Saanen goats raised in Croatia. The object of the study was to determine the average litter size (LS), birth weight (BW) and total litter weight (TLW). The study included a total of 2 500 goats among which 1 786 were phenotyped. A total of 6 349 records for BW and 4 256 records for LS and TLW were used in descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. Determined averages for LS, BW and TLW were 1.74 lambs, 3.27 kg and 5.65 kg, respectively. Twinning and tripling rates were 36.9% and 6.2%. Single-trait analysis under repeatability animal model was used in estimation of variance components and prediction of breeding values. Season (as year-month interaction), age at lambing (as quadratic regression) nested within parity and type of birth were treated as fixed, while herd-year, additive genetic, permanent environmental and residual were treated as random effects, respectively. Investigated environmental effects significantly affected all reproductive traits (p<0.001). The largest phenotype variability among investigated traits was determined for TLW. Additive genetic effect accounted for 7%, 5% and 4% in total variability for LS, BW and TLW, respectively. Genetic trends of reproductive traits were estimated for the period from year 2000 to 2010. A positive genetic trend was determined for LS, a negative genetic trend for BW and genetic stagnation for TLW.

The farm model production in Mediterranean Croatia

Models of farm production in the Mediterranean part of Croatia are special because they use traditional technologies and breeds at a significant level, respect consumer behaviour, and take care of the environment and its biodiversity. According to economic importance and impact on the environment, sheep production is dominant, followed by cattle production, while pig and poultry production are slightly present. Autochthonous sheep breeds of a smaller body frame are dominant and their main product is lamb meat. They produce from 70 to 300 kg milk per year. Dairy cattle production uses moderate levels of production intensification, modern technology and allochthonous genotypes. In beef production profiling of recognizable types of beef with the principles of organic production in the autochthonous breeds is noticeable. The main food sources for sheep and cattle production are Mediterranean pastures and grasslands, which partially limit the production, but on the other hand enrich the final product. Numerous recognizable animal products are part of the rural, gastronomic and touristic offer, and preserve their way of production in accordance with traditional heritage. Farm production does not distort the ecological harmony of the region, thanks to the traditional production technologies. Awareness of the need to maintain the tradition, recognition, economic vitality of rural areas, habitat quality and entire biodiversity is growing. Experiences in animal production in the Mediterranean part of Croatia point to effective models which combine traditional and new technological experiences in autochthonous breeds, with respect to consumer demands.

Relationship of litter size with milk yield, udder morphology and udder health of East Friesian sheep

The aim of this study was to determine relationship between litter size and milk yield, udder morphology, and udder health of East Friesian ewes. For that purpose a total of 80 East Friesian ewes, from 2nd to 4th lactation, with symmetrical udders, without visible (clinical) signs of mastitis were involved in this study. Until weaning at average age of 60±5 days lambs suckled their mothers exclusively. During milking period regular milking controls (on a monthly basis) were carried out (AT method) and, on these occasions, individual milk samples for chemical composition analysis were taken. Three times per lactation (1st, 3rd and 5th milking control), prior to the milking, evaluation and measuring of udder morphology traits were performed. Also, during above-mentioned test-day controls (three times per lactation) one sample of half udder milk was taken with purpose of bacterial and somatic cell counts (SCC) tests. Ewes with twin and triplet lambs had significantly (P 0.05) and depth (P>0.05). Besides that,udders of ewes with twins and triplets had higher cistern, greater teat angle and larger teat dimensions than ewes with singles, although those differences were not statistically significant. Ewes with single lamb had teats more (P<0.05) cranially oriented than ewes with twins and triplets. Significant (P<0.05) differences in somatic cell count (log10SCC) between ewes of different litter sizes were determined, regardless of the health status of mammary gland. The higher (P<0.05) prevalence of subclinical mastitis was observed in ewes with twin and triplet lambs than in ewes with singles. In 46% of mammary glands (udder halves) of sheep with twins and triplets a subclinical mastitis was established and even 65.8% of them undergone an infection of one or both halves of the udder during the milking period.

Some dairy traits of Istrian ewes kept in semi-intensive farming conditions

Istrian sheep has the highest milk yield among indigenous Croatian sheep breeds though originally belongs to a group of sheep of combined production traits. Since milk of Istrian sheep is traditionally processed into cheese and that processing possibilities of milk, among other things, are defined by its chemical composition and hygienic quality, the aim of this study was to determine the influence of some environmental factors (year, parity, stage of lactation, season (month) of lambing) on daily and lactation milk yield, lactation length, milk chemical composition and the somatic cell count (SCC) in the milk of Istrian ewes. A total of 83 purebred, dairy Istrian sheep, during three consecutive lactations (from 2012 to 2014), were involved in this research. Due to conditions of feeding, care and housing, all ewes were kept in identical (semi-intensive) farming conditions throughout the whole study period. During milking period of lactation regular milking controls were carried out (AT method) and, on these occasions, individual milk samples for chemical composition analysis and determination of somatic cell count were taken. During average lactation length of 206 days Istrian ewes produced on average 190.77 kg of milk, or 1.1 kg of milk per day. Milk of Istrian ewes on average contained 6.81% fat, 5.90% protein, 4.32% lactose, 18.08% total solids and 11.31% non-fat solids. The geometric mean of SCC was 316*103*mL-1 of milk (log 5.50±0.02). A significant (P < 0.001) effect of the year is determined on the milk yield and the lactation length, as well as the chemical composition of milk (with the exception of protein) and SCC. Ewes in the fourth lactation achieved the highest average daily (P < 0.001) and lactation milk yield (P < 0.05), while the first-lambing ewes produced milk with the highest content of total solids, milk fat and proteins. Stage of lactation significantly (P < 0.001) affected the daily milk yield, milk chemical composition, as well as the somatic cell count in ewe’s milk. Ewes born in December produced significantly (P < 0.001) more milk than ewes born in January and February. There was a negative correlation between SCC (log10) and daily milk yield (P < 0.001), while the SCC (log10) was positively correlated (P < 0.001) with the contents of total solids, milk fat and proteins.

Changes in macroelements, trace elements, heavy metal concentrations and chemical composition in milk of Croatian spotted goats during different lactation stages

The research was conducted on days 60, 90, 120 and 150 during the lactation with the aim to determine the effect of lactation stage on the concentration of crucial elements and chemical composition in Croatian spotted goats’ milk. Milk yield significantly decreased (from 1.15 to 0.76 kg/day), while the concentration of Ca, Mg, P, Zn and Mo in the milk of the goats significantly increased during lactation. The concentrations of Cr, Cd and Pb in milk were very low, with no significant deviations during lactation. The quality of milk from Croatian spotted goats is adequate compared with other breeds in the surrounding area of Croatia.

Effect of sex on slaughter traits and carcass measurements of Travnik pramenka sheep lambs

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi utjecaj spola na klaonicke pokazatelje i razvijenost trupova janjadi travnicke pramenke. U tu svrhu, u mjesecu travnju 2017. godine, zaklano je ukupno 70 janjadi travnicke pramenke, od toga 48 muske i 22 ženske. Janjad je uzgojena na obiteljskom poljoprivrednom gospodarstvu u Velikoj Peratovici – Bjelovarsko-bilogorska županija. U dobi između 90 i 100 dana janjad je pojedinacno izvagana i podvrgnuta klanju. Neposredno nakon klanja i klaonicke obrade obavljenja su mjerenja trupova i pojedinih organa. Prosjecna tjelesna masa janjadi izmjerena neposredno prije klanja bila je 21, 85 kg s tim da je muska janjad bila statisticki znacajno (P<0, 05) teža od ženske (22, 47 kg : 20, 38 kg). Utvrđena je prosjecna masa janjeceg trupa od 11, 04 kg koja je bila statisticki znacajno veca (P<0, 05) u muskih (11, 32 kg) u odnosu na trupove ženske janjadi (10, 42). Iako je randman ženske janjadi (51, 04%) bio veci od onog utvrđenog u muske travnicke janjadi (50, 33%) razlika nije bila statisticki znacajna. Dubina prsa i duljina stražnje noge bile su znacajno razlicite ovisno o spolu janjadi (p<0, 05 ; p<0, 01). Temeljem utvrđenih mjera klaonicki obrađenih trupova, trupovi istraživane janjadi travnicke pramenke pripadaju kategoriji lakih janjecih trupova.

Proximate and mineral composition of M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum of suckling lambs from three Croatian indigenous breeds reared in outdoor conditions

Abstract Lamb meat represents an important source of nutrients for humans worldwide. However, nutritional value of lamb meat, and particularly that obtained from suckling lambs, has been scarcely investigated in comparison to other categories of meat. The study aimed to provide some basic insights into proximate and mineral composition of lamb meat and to disclose some important sources of its variability. Three Croatian indigenous insular sheep breeds were included in the study: Rab sheep, Cres sheep, and Krk. The lambs were reared in outdoor insular environment where lambs were fed exclusively by suckling their mothers and by grazing wild grown vegetation. It has been determined that gender significantly affected fat (p < .001) and moisture ratio (p < .05), and had no effect on concentration of the examined minerals, except Zn (p < .01). The factor composed of breed and environment significantly affected moisture ratio (p < .001), fat ratio (p < .01), and concentrations of Ca, Na, Cu, and Mn (p < .001), Zn (p < .01), and K (p < .05). The concentrations of Mn and Ca were by far the most influenced by breed-environment effect. The results of the study evidenced that factor composed of breed and environment represents important source of variability of nutritional value of lamb meat produced in extensive rearing systems.