Stelian Daraban

An epidemiological and surveillance overview of brucellosis in Romania

This article reports epidemiological investigations on the occurrence of brucellosis in Romania. Like in other former communist countries, data concerning epidemiology of brucellosis and published articles are very few. The epidemiology and control of brucellosis in Romania was analyzed using data made available by the Office International des Epizooties and Veterinary Service of Romania. Romania, like many other developed countries, has eradicated Brucella abortus from cattle since 1969. Brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis has never been reported. The incidence of brucellosis in swine and sheep is very rare but still there are a few outbreaks in some regions. In 2000, the number of cases was 47 in swine and 270 cases in sheep. Vaccination against brucellosis is prohibited in Romania.

The Romanian Tsigai sheep breed, their potential and the challenges for research

Das einheimische Tsigai-Schaf ist die zweithaufigste Schafrasse in Rumanien. Ihr Anteil betragt 24,3 % aller Schafe in dem Land. Bis 1989 wurde das Tsigai-Schaf vor allem fur die Erzeugung von Wolle gehalten, Milch und Fleisch waren Nebenprodukte. Seit 1989 ist die Anzahl an Tsigai-Schafen aber um 44 % auf ca. 2,1 Millionen Mutterschafe zuruckgegangen, da Wolle an Wert verloren hat. Die Lammfleisch- und Milchproduktion sind heutzutage die wichtigsten Produkte, die Wollproduktion ist praktisch bedeutungslos geworden. In einer empirischen Studie wurde 2011 festgestellt, dass 77 % der befragten Schafhalter in der traditionellen Region der Tsigai-Schafe beabsichtigen, ihre Herden mit neuer Genetik (Ostfriesisches Milchschaf fur Milch, Suffolk fur Fleisch) umzuzuchten und dabei auch zu vergrosern. Damit besteht die Gefahr, dass die traditionelle Rasse im Bestand weiter abnimmt und gefahrdet wird. Unter Beteiligung der Schafer und der Interessenverbande wurden deswegen fur die staatliche Tsigai-Schaf-Forschungsstation Reghin zukunftige Ziele identifiziert und die Schwerpunkte der Arbeit definiert. Es wurde festgelegt, dass fur die Erhaltung der Tsigai-Schafrasse wirtschaftliche Haltungsverfahren insbesonderen durch neue Funktionen (Kulturlandschaftspflege), Nutzung von added values (gefahrdete Rasse) und in der Premiumproduktion (Okologisch) zu entwickeln sind. Hieran arbeitet zukunftig die Forschungsstation in Reghin

Effect of forage preservation method on fatty acid composition and oxidative stability of organic sheep milk

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different forage preservation method in mountainous areas on the relationship between the fatty acid (FA) profile, fat-soluble antioxidants contents and oxidative stability of organic sheep milk. Twenty-four multiparous Turcana ewes were randomly assigned to 3 treatments: grazed grass (G), hay grass (H), and grass silage (GS). Indoor ewes were offered ad libitum grass hay or grass silage. All animals received 300 g DM grain mix (triticale and barley,1:1) per day. Conservation of grass by drying compared with ensiling resulted in lower forage 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3 and fat-soluble vitamin concentrations. Milk from ewes grazed, has a considerably higher concentration of n-3 FA and n-6 FA but and a higher content of nutritionally beneficial trans-fatty acids (e.g. CLA; conjugated linoleic acid, VA; vaccenic acid) than milk from ewes fed hay or grass silage. In spite of lower content, milk fat 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3 content was higher (P < 0.05) for hay than for silage diets (2.34 vs. 1.64 and 2.11 vs. 1.70 % of total FA, for hay, and silages, respectively). Forage conservation method had no clear effects on milk VA or CLA content. Compared with silage, hay diets resulted in milk containing lower (P < 0.001) α-tocopherol and retinol concentrations, but had no effect on γ-tocopherol. There was no clear association between increased levels of the α-tocopherol and retinol in milk and a lower risk of lipid oxidation (lower concentration of alondialdehyde). There was a marked effect of composition of the lipids on the oxidative stability of milk, where high concentrations of PUFA (polyunsaturated FA), especially the concentration of n-3 FA were associated with an increasing risk of lipid oxidation.