Search

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 present study was to determine the lactation stage effect on the concentration of essential and selected toxic elements in the sheep’s milk of Dubrovacka ruda. The research was conducted with 23 sheep, average age of 4 years, of 3rd lactation, while the milk samples were taken during the early (60th day), middle (90th day) and late (120th day) lactation stage. The sheep were selected according to uniformed body development, adequate health status, body condition, equable age (4 years), parity (3rd lactation), stage of lactation (±7 days) and litter size (single). Sheep were reared on the extensive Mediterranean pastures, reared indoors afterwards, fed with hay ad libitum and feed mixtures in average 0.5 kg/day. Milk sample was collected during morning milking from each sheep. The digested samples were analyzed with continuous flow hydride generation technique using inductively coupled plasma for Ca, Mg, K, P, Na, Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Ni, Mo, Co, Cr, Cd and Pb concentrations. Significant increase of Mg, Na, Se, Mn, Mo and Cd concentrations were found in milk as well as decrease of K concentration during the lactation. Although the concentration of Ca, Cu, Cr and As in milk during the lactation is increased, the differences between the lactation stages were not observed. Concentrations of P, Fe, Ni, Pb and Hg in milk of Dubrovacka ruda did not differ during the lactation. The low concentrations of Cr, Cd, Pb, As, Hg in milk indicate the safety for consumers and preserved environment of Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

The research was carried out on 20 Dubrovnik sheep, divided into two groups. During the day, ewes and lambs were out in pasture and in the evening, after returning to the barn, ewes of group I were fed with only hay, and group II, besides hay, received 200 g corn and 100 g wheat bran. Body measurement, assessment of body condition, weighing and blood sampling were carried out in highly pregnant and lactating ewes. The addition of concentrate feed to the ewes´ diets was justified because it improved the ewes´ production traits (higher body weight, lower ewe weight loss per lamb, better body development indices). The significantly higher concentrations of cholesterol, beta-hydroxybutirate and thyroxine hormone in the blood of group II show that metabolic profile indicators may be considered as a good criterion for assessing their nutritional status. The research showed that the genetic potential of Dubrovnik sheep has not been fully exploited so that improved nutrition may significantly improve the ewes´ production traits, which should guarantee the survival of this, the most endangered native Croatian breed of sheep., Istraživanje je provedeno na 20 ovaca pasmine dubrovačka ruda, podijeljenih u dvije skupine. Tijekom dana ovce i janjad boravili su na pašnjaku, a navečer, nakon povratka u staju, ovce prve skupine hranjene su samo sijenom, dok su one druge skupine uz sijeno konzumirale 200 g kukuruza i 100 g pšeničnih posija. Uzimanje tjelesnih mjera i indeksa tjelesne kondicije, vaganje i uzimanje uzoraka krvi provedeni su u visokogravidnih ovaca i ovaca u laktaciji. Dodatak koncentrirane krme u obroke za ovce opravdan je jer poboljšava proizvodne pokazatelje (veća tjelesna masa, manji gubici tjelesne mase ovaca po janjetu, indeksi tjelesne razvijenosti). Znakovito povećanje koncentracije kolesterola, beta-hidroksibutirata i tiroksina u krvi ovaca druge skupine upućuje na to da se pokazatelji metaboličkog profila mogu uzeti u obzir kao dobar kriterij za utvrđivanje hranidbenog statusa. Istraživanje je pokazalo da genetski potencijal dubrovačke rude nije u potpunosti iskorišten i da poboljšanje hranidbe može znatno poboljšati proizvodne pokazatelje ovaca, što je jamstvo opstanka ove najugroženije izvorne hrvatske pasmine ovaca.

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.

Cilj je ovoga istraživanja ukazati na proizvodna svojstva i biokemijske pokazatelje u krvi sisajuće janjadi hranjene smjesom s dodatkom mananoligosaharida. U istraživanje je uključeno 30 janjadi, pasmine dubrovačka ruda, u dobi od 50 dana. Janjad je zajedno s ovcama bila na ispaši i po povratku u staju hranjena livadnim sijenom i krmnom smjesom istog sastava, u kontrolnoj skupini bez, a u pokusnoj skupini s dodatakom 0,4% manan-oligosaharida (Bio-Moss®). Janjad je vagana na početku i na kraju pokusa (40. dan), kada su uzete tjelesne mjere janjadi. Uzorci krvi janjadi (10 ml) uzeti su ujutro nakon hranjenja na kraju pokusa. Utjecaj dodatka manan-oligosaharida (Bio-Mos®) nije doveo do statistički značajnog (P>0,05) porasta tjelesne mase i dnevnog prirasta, kao niti do promjena tjelesnih mjera janjadi, iako je janjad pokusne skupine ostvarila bolje tjelesne mase i dnevne priraste za 5,12 i 7,96%. U krvi janjadi hranjene s dodatkom manan-oligosaharida utvrđene su značajno niže koncentracije triglicerida i ukupnog kolesterola, kao i značajno viša aktivnost ALP u odnosu na janjad kontrolne skupine. Buduća istraživanja s dodatkom manan-oligosaharida u hrani trebaju biti usmjerena na uključivanje sisajuće janjadi u još ranijoj dobi., The aim of this study was to indicate the production traits and a biochemical indicator in blood of suckling lambs fed a mixture supplemented with mannan-oligosaccharides. The investigation included 30 lambs a Dubrovnik sheep breed aged 50 days. Lambs together with sheep grazed, and after returning to the shed were fed meadow hay and forage mixture of the same composition, in the control group without addition and in the experimental group with the addition of mannanoligoscharides 0.4% (Bio-Moss®). Lambs were weighed 1st and 40th day of the experiment, when the body measurements of lambs were taken. Blood samples of lambs (10 ml) were taken in the morning after the feeding at the end of experiment (40 days). Supplementation of mannan-oligosaccharides had no significant effect (P>0.05) on increase of body weight, daily gain and body measurements of lambs. However, lambs in the experimental group achieved higher body mass and daily gain by 5.12 and 7.96% in comparison with the control lambs. In the blood of lambs fed with the addition of mannan-oligosaccharides significantly lower concentrations of triglycerides, cholesterol were identified as well as higher ALP activity compared to the control group of lambs. Further research with the supplementation of mannan-oligosaccharide in feed should be directed to the inclusion of suckling lamb at the earlier age.

Cilj ovoga istraživanja je utvrditi da li se aktivnost enzima i hormona štitnjače u krvi ovaca i janjadi može uzeti kao pouzdan kriterij u procjeni njihove opskrbljenosti selenom. Istraživanje je provedeno na 30 negravidnih ovaca i 30 janjadi dubrovačke rude, tijekom ljetne sezone hranidbe. Kontrolna skupina ovaca konzumirala je pašu, sijeno i krmnu smjesu (200 g/dan), dok je kontrolna skupina janjadi jela smjesu ad libitum. Pokusnim skupinama ovaca i janjadi je u krmnu smjesu dodan anorganski (natrij selenit) ili organski izvor (Sel-Plex) selena u količini od 0.03% suhe tvari. Nije utvrđeno značajnije odstupanje aktivnosti većine enzima u krvi ovaca i janjadi ovisno o skupini, ali je vidljiv trend povećanja aktivnosti enzima u kontrolnoj skupini u odnosu na pokusne skupine. Statistički značajno (P, The aim of this investigation is to determine whether the activity of enzymes and thyroid hormones in the blood of sheep and lamb can be used as a reliable criterion in assessing their supply with selenium. The research was conducted on 30 nongravid sheep and 30 lambs Dubrovnik sheep, during the summer season of nutrition. The control group of sheep consumed pasture, hay and forage mixture (200 g/day), while the control group of lambs consumed the mixture ad libitum. In the experimental group of sheep and lambs in a mixture of fodder inorganic (sodium selenite) or organic source (Sel-Plex) of selenium was added in the amount of 0.03% dry matter. It is not found significant deviation in the activities of most enzymes in the blood of sheep and lamb, depending on the group, but it is visible trend of increasing activity of enzymes in the control group compared to the experimental group. Statistically significant ((P