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Beef meat has exceptional nutritional value that distinguishes it from other types of meat and makes it a highly valued food. However, the meat of cattle as well as other ruminants, is characterized by a more complex fatty acid profile compared to the meat of monogastric animals. This complexity is a consequence of the activity of the rumen microflora. In recent decades, changes in animal breeding, feeding practices, and modern slaughtering techniques imparted significant progress in improving beef's nutritional, sensory and market value. Different proportions of concentrated feed and roughages, as well as their types, affect the composition of intramuscular fat. Excluding genetic factors and production practices, nutrition emerges as the main factor influencing the fatty acid profile of beef meat. Today, numerous studies support the nutritional approach to modifying the fatty acid composition of beef meat by using selected feeding stuffs. Therefore, this review aims to collect and systematize data as a guide for implementing such a nutritional strategy in practice, with the health benefits of the final consumers in mind.

Chemical and physico-chemical parameters of marinated and salted Atlantic mackerel (Scomber Scombrus), with emphasis on the quality and safety parameters in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and vacuum packaging (VP), were investigated. Quality assessment of mackerel stored in MAP (40% CO2+60% N2) and VP for up to 50 days at 4±1 °C was done by the monitoring of pH value, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and histamine. The pH value of fish meat was significantly lower in the marinated samples. The highest concentration of TVB-N was recorded in the salted mackerel stored under VP whereas the lowest TVB-N in the marinated mackerel stored under MAP conditions. The formation of TBA increased with the time of storage and was the lowest in the marinated mackerel stored in MAP. The concentration of histamine increased during storage and its level reached over 10 mg/100 g for the salted mackerel stored under VP conditions. The marinated mackerel packed in MAP had extended shelf life at 4±1 °C compared to that packaged in VP according to physico-chemical analysis.

The most common producers of mycotoxins are fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium. Toxins are of extreme importance because it can be transmitted from animals to humans through milk and animal products, some of which are carcinogenic and teratogenic. Mycotoxins cause a health disturbance of all animals, but the effects are more noticeable in highly productive animals in the farm way of keeping considering the much greater consumption of concentrate feeds, although forages also can be contaminated with mycotoxins in a significant manner. Mycotoxicoses are the most com­mon seasonal illnesses, and are an important diagnostic problem in veterinary practice, because its characteristics often resemble diseases caused by pathogens or nutritional deficiency or imbalance. The degree of health disturbances depends on the amount of toxins in feed and the length of intaking as on types and categories of animals. The presence of mycotoxins in animal feed is inevitable and therefore testing of raw materials and products is necessary so that feed for humans and animals can be safe for use. Damages arising as consequences of mycotoxicosis in poultry and swine production, due to the direct loss because of animals lossor, more commonly, indirectly due to the fall productive and reproductive performances of animals, imposed the need for continuous monitoring of the hygienic quality of feed mixtures for feeding these animals. During a five year period (2007-2012) were analyzed a total of 104 samples from the territory of Republic of Serbia intended for nutrition of all categories of poultry and mixtures for the initial and final fattening broilers (50 samples) and laying hens (54). The analysis included 57 samples of feed mixtures intended for all categories of swine - feed mixture for young (20 samples) and the old categories (37 samples) and 196 of the samples, which are commonly used in formulating rations for listed species (maize, soybean and sunflower meal). For the analysis of the samples was used thin layer chromatography and Elisa test. The results were compared with current Regulations on the quality of the feed (Official Gazette of RS 41/09) in force since 1.05.2010. in the part where the maximum allowable quantities of hazardous substances (Article 99) gives the value of the maximum permitted levels of mycotoxins in animal feed. The number and types of mycotoxins vary depending on the feed, as well as on the year which can be directly related to climatic factors, and the average annual humidity. The fact that in the samples was not detected the presence of aflatoxin indicate that in our conditions toxin producing fungi do not find fertile ground for the production of toxins, as well as the absence of certain nutrients in the production of complete feed mixtures for pigs and poultry, which are the traditional sources of aflatoxin (peanut oil meals). The results are encouraging given the fact a relatively small number of defective mixtures and nutrients. However, the fact that only a limited number of feed sam­ples we received for the analysis suggests further caution and constant monitoring of the presence of mycotoxins in animal feed. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III 46 002 i br. 46 009]

During ten-year period (1995-2004), a total of 756 analyses of pig and poultry feed was performed. Standard methods were used for microbiological determination. Qualitative and quantitative analyze of mycotoxins was performed by TLC technique. Feed for young categories contained from 100 to 3,400,000 CFU/g of feed. In 35.71% of all samples the detected amount was above acceptable levels. Feed for adult categories contained from 800 to 8,000,000 CFU/g of feed. In only 7.54% of samples this amount was over the tolerable level. Species determination revealed great heterogeneity, with the most common findings of Penicillium spp. (28.38%), Aspregillus spp. (26.37%) Mucor spp. (24.67%), Fusarium spp. (11.33%) and Rhizopus spp. (9.22%). The amount and type of mycotoxin varied depending on the feed category as well as on year of detection, implicating a strong influence of climatic factors and average humidity of the specified year. In a total of 320 analyzed feeds for pigs and poultry the characteristic finding was a combined contamination with two or three mycotoxins. In 161 samples of feed for young animals the presence of AFB1, F-2 and OTA was detected in 36, 161 and 161 samples respectively, while in 33, 83 and 71 samples the detected amounts were above tolerable levels. In 159 samples of feed for adult animals the presence of AFB1, F-2 and OTA was detected in 32, 159 and 159 samples, respectively while in 31, 65 and 99 samples the detected amounts were above tolerable levels.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of different feed composition and cultivation on the composition of fatty acids, their relationships, and the cholesterol content in the tissue of rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss). Trout were reared in ponds at two different altitudes and raised on different feeds. The total amount of monounsaturated fatty acids in fillets of both groups showed no statistically significant difference. However, higher levels of n-6 fatty acids were found in Pond I trout fillets than in Pond II fillets, while Pond II fillets contained almost even amounts of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids. Total cholesterol content in Pond I trout fillets was significantly lower ( p < 0.05) than in Pond II fillets. The results indicate that the final composition of the trout fillets was mostly dependent on the feed the live fish had consumed; the altitude of the ponds had less effect. Also, both groups of trout could be used in the human diet as biologically valuable foods. Practical application: Our results show influence of altitude, feed, and fatty acid composition of feed on trout fillets. The average fatty acid level in the trout fillets increased in the order SFA