Climate change is one of the greatest global concerns regarding livestock production. The indigenous Pramenka sheep is well known for its ability to survive in difficult environmental conditions, although there is insufficient scientific evidence. This study aimed to evaluate the seasonal variations in some hematological and blood biochemical parameters in two strains of Pramenka sheep – Hercegovačka and Dubska, under natural thermal stress conditions. The calculated Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) data indicated mild to severe heat stress in the localities where the Hercegovačka Pramenka strain was being held, while cold stress was found in all the examined localities. Numerous statistically significant differences in hematological parameters were found between seasons, and within and between the two Pramenka strains. The Dubska strain exhibited significantly higher levels of red blood cells (RBC) and packed cell volume (PCV) compared to Hercegovačka, whereas the Hercegovačka strain displayed significantly higher white blood cells (WBC) and platelet (PLT) levels in comparison to Dubska. Similar patterns were noticed in the blood biochemical parameters - the Dubska strain had more seasonal variations compared to the Hercegovačka Pramenka. During the winter, the Hercegovačka strain demonstrated significantly higher levels of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), urea (UREA), and creatine kinase (CK) compared to Dubska. Conversely, during the summer, the Hercegovačka strain exhibited significantly higher globulin (GLO) levels, whereas the Dubska strain showed higher levels of ALB and chlorine (Cl). On the basis of our results, both Pramenka strains showed a high adaptive capacity to harsh environmental conditions, the Hercegovačka Pramenka being more adapted to heat stress, and Dubska to cold stress conditions.

Amina HRKOVIĆ-POROBIJA*, DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor (Corresponding author, e-mail: amina. hrkovic@vfs.unsa.ba), Aida HODŽIĆ, DVM, PhD, Full Professor, Husein OHRAN, DVM, Teaching Assistant, Nejra HADŽIMUSIĆ, DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor, Dinaida TAHIROVIĆ, DVM, MSc, Research Fellow, Almira SOFTIĆ, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor, Lejla VELIĆ, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor, Aida KUSTURA, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Sarajevo, Veterinary faculty of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Vinko BATINIĆ, DVM, PhD, Teaching Assistant, University of Mostar, Faculty of Agriculture and Food technology, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina Abstract The indigenous Travnik (Vlasic) cheese is produced in central Bosnia in the area of Mt. Vlasic. This cheese belongs to the group of white soft cheeses, ripened in brine under anaerobic conditions, and made from raw, thermally untreated sheep’s milk. The production technology is very simple and is adapted to mountainous conditions. Cheese is an important source of essential nutrients, in particular proteins, fat, vitamins and minerals. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of macroelements (Ca, Na, K, Mg, P) and microelements (Zn, Fe, Cu) in 15 samples of Travnik sheep cheese using the atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and ultraviolet–visible spectrometry (UV-VIS) methods. A tendency of increasing Mg and K, Fe and Ca, Fe and Mg, and Fe and P was determined in the examined samples, but without statistical significance. The correlation coefficient values showed statistical validity at the level of high significance of differences (P<0.01).

Milk of Kupres, Privor and Stolac dairy ewe breeds is used for the production of the fine cheese varieties. To the best of our knowledge there are no information about milk production and milk composition of these pasture-based dairy ewes. The aim was to determine the best lactation curve model in autochthonous pasture-based dairy ewes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Milk production was recorded and milk composition sampled (milk fat and protein) during early, mid and late lactation in 129 Kupres, 141 Privor and 129 Stolac pramenka ewes. Four lactation models (Wilmink, Cubic, Ali-Shaeffer and Guo-Swalve) were compared and selected based on the lowest coefficient of determination and root mean square error. The Guo-Swalve model described all of the measured variables most successfully. Kupres pramenka dairy ewe was the highest producing breed with 139 kg of milk during 175 days of lactation (0.79 kg/d; between lactation day 50 to 225) and showed the standard lactation curve. Privor pramenka produced 118 kg of milk during 175 days of lactation (0.67 kg/d) and Stolac pramenka 101 kg of milk during 175 days of lactation (0.58 kg/d). Both showed atypical constantly decreasing shape of the lactation curve common in low producing dairy ewes. The prediction of milk yield and milk composition from the Guo-Swalve model could be used by the national breeding program for the Kupres, Privor and Stolac pramenka sheep breeds. Additional research during a more stable management conditions is recommended for Privor and Stolac pramenka.

The aim of this paper is to explain microclimatic indicators in the winter inside buildings for of goat housing in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Data processed in this paper were collected from ten goat farms which are deployed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the housing facilities for goats for whose were determined the microclimate status, the average temperature was in the range of optimal values. Average airflow in facilities for goats in Bosnia and Herzegovina was below the 0.2 m/s during the winter period. The average relative humidity in the goat barns in Bosnia and Herzegovina ranged permitted values. The average determined concentration of ammonia in the air barn goat farm is located above the allowable limit. On based of established levels of CO 2 in goat barns in Kozara region of Bosnia and Herzegovina could be concluded that there is above the allowable limit. Reducing the levels of harmful gases in the facilities may be required in increasing the air change in buildings either natural or artificial ventilation.

Nuclear genetic diversity and differentiation of 341 sheep belonging to 12 sheep breeds from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were examined. The aim of the study was to provide the understanding of the genetic structure and variability of the analysed pramenka sheep populations, and to give indications for conservation strategies based on the population diversity and structure information. The genetic variation of the sheep populations, examined at the nuclear level using 27 microsatellite loci, revealed considerable levels of genetic diversity, similar to the diversity found in other European indigenous low-production sheep breeds. Population-specific alleles were detected at most loci and in breeds analysed. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.643 (in Lika pramenka) to 0.743 (in Vlasic pramenka), and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.646 (in Lika pramenka) to 0.756 (in Dalmatian pramenka). Significant inbreeding coefficients were found for half of the populations studied and ranged from 0.040 (Pag island sheep) to 0.091 (Kupres pramenka). Moderate genetic differentiation was found between the studied sheep populations. The total genetic variability observed between different populations was 5.29%, whereas 94.71% of the variation was found within populations. Cres island sheep, Lika pramenka and Istrian sheep were identified as the most distinct populations, which was confirmed by the factorial analysis of correspondence and supported through a bootstrapping adjustment to correct for the difference in the sample sizes. The population structure analysis distinguished 12 clusters for the 12 sheep breeds analysed. However, the cluster differentiation was low for Dalmatian, Vlasic, Stolac and Krk pramenka. This systematic study identified Lika pramenka and Rab island sheep as those with the lowest diversity, whereas Istrian sheep and Pag island sheep had the highest. Conservation actions are proposed for Istrian, Rab and Cres island sheep, Lika and Kupres pramenka because of high estimated coefficients of inbreeding.

Summary Th e objective of this study was to determine the diff erences in milking characteristics between Simmental, Holstein-Friesian and Brown Swiss cow breed, when 0, 30 or 60 s of prestimulation was applied. Th e experiment was conducted on the commercial farm Kovažik, where 12 cows (four cows per breed) were randomly assigned to three prestimulation treatments. Each treatment was performed during two days and followed by a one day of rest. Milking characteristics (main milking phase duration, milking time, milk yield, peak fl ow rate and average fl ow rate) were measured. Additionally, bimodality of milk fl ow curves was evaluated. Th e results of this experiment show that the highest number of bimodal curves was observed in the treatment without prestimulation. Prestimulation duration did not infl uence observed milking characteristics. However, treatment without prestimulation had numerically the largest number of bimodal curves, longest duration of main milking phase and total milking time with the lowest peak and average fl ow rate. Milk yield was the highest in Holstein-Friesian breed. Th e highest peak and average fl ow rate with the shortest main milking phase duration and total milking time was observed in Brown-Swiss breed. Breed specifi c premilking teat preparation routine should be performed to remove highest milk yield in shortest time.

U sklopu projekta "Eksterijerne i genetske odlike kupreske pramenke", financiranog od strane Federalnog ministarstva obrazovanja i znanosti BiH, provedena su istraživanja kojima je cilj bio komisijskom prosudbom vanjstine i određenim tjelesnim izmjerama utvrditi eksterijerne odlike razlicitih spolnih i dobnih kategorija kupreske pramenke. Istraživanja su provedena na cetiri obiteljska gospodarstva: dva s podrucju Kupresa i po jedno s podrucja Tomislavgrada i Livna. Mjerenja ovaca obavljena su Lydtin-ovim stapom, mjernom vrpcom i pojedinacnim vaganjima. Ukupno su izmjerena 204 grla, od toga: 18 silježica prosjecne dobi 13, 5 mjeseci, 68 mladih ovaca u dobi između 2 i 3, 5 godine, 109 odraslih ovaca od 4 do 8 godina i 9 ovnova u dobi od 1, 5 do 3, 5 godine. Prosjecna visina do grebena odraslih, tjelesno potpuno razvijenih ovaca kupreske pramenke bila je 65, 30 cm, dužina trupa 68, 82 cm, sirina prsa 21, 67 cm, dubina prsa 32, 28 cm, opseg prsa 94, 57 cm, opseg cjevanice 8, 44 cm i tjelesna masa 58, 94 kg. Istraživanja pokazuju da je danasnja kupreska pramenka tjelesno razvijenija u usporedbi s rezultatima istraživanja vanjstine iste pasmine od prije tri-cetiri desetljeca. Silježice su imale 97, 83 % visine grebena, 97, 59% dužine trupa, 94, 56% sirine prsa, 97, 23% dubine prsa, 95, 75% opsega prsa, 95, 72% opsega cjevanice i 95, 18% tjelesne mase odraslih ovaca kupreske pramenke. Sve istraživane tjelesne mjere ovnova kupreske pramenke bile su znatno vece od onih u ovaca, a osobito je bila velika razlika u prosjecnoj tjelesnoj masi (36%).