the milk of control and α-linolenic (1.90%) of milk experimental group of sheep were the most prevalent in the winter. The lowest ratio of omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids in sheep's milk was achieved in the period of feeding sheep with old grass (July), 1.46% in the milk of the experimental group of sheep that were fed with concentrates in which omega-3 preparations were added.

This study was intended to determine the effect of adding flax seeds to a concentrate for lamb fattening on the fatty acid composition of the omental fat depot in Pramenka lambs reared indoors. A total of 63 lambs (10±3 kg of live body weight, 30±7 days of age, 30 males and 33 females) were used. They were divided into two groups: a control (CON) fed on hay, ewe's milk, and a 300-g daily ration of a commercial concentrate, and an experimental group (FS) fed on hay, ewe's milk and 300 g/day of the concentrate enriched with 5% of flax seeds. After a 60-day fattening period for each group, 10 lambs (5 males and 5 females) were selected and omental fat samples were analysed for fatty acid composition. Highly significant differences (p⟨0.001) were found between CON and FS in α-linolenic acid, the sum of n-3 fatty acids, and the ratio n-6/n-3 fatty acids. The effect of sex on the fatty acid content in the fat depot was only significant for C20:0 fatty acid (p⟨0.05).

Abstract. Alongside climate change, the introduction of non-native species (NNS) is widely recognized as one of the main threats to aquatic biodiversity and human wellbeing. Non-native species and biodiversity are generally low priority issues on the political agendas of many countries, particularly in European countries outside the European Union (EU). The objectives and tasks of this study were to address the policy regulation, education level, education practices, and socioeconomic perceptions of NNS in the Balkans. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Turkey (Balkan EU candidate and potential candidate members), in Croatia and Greece (Balkan EU Member States) and Italy (non-Balkan EU Member State). The EU Alien Regulation (1143/2014) concerning NNS is implemented in EU Member States and Montenegro, whereas Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey have not reported specific policy regulations for NNS. Permanent monitoring programmes specifically designed for NNS have not yet been established in the EU Member States. Most countries tackle the issue of NNS through educational activities as part of specific projects. Education level is indicative of the implementation of NNS policy regulation, and efforts are needed for the proper development of relative study programmes. Public awareness and educational preparedness concerning NNS in the Balkans were identified as poor. Strong programmes for management and education should be developed to increase public awareness to prevent further biodiversity losses in the Balkan region.

Abstract This research is aimed at determining the impact of supplementing extensively reared lambs with a limited amount of flax seed enriched-concentrate on the fatty acid profile of the lamb meat (omental fat depot). A total of 96 60-day old Pramenka breed lambs (23.85±3.98 kg live body weight; 60±10 days of age; 42 males and 54 females) raised on pasture with their dams were randomly divided in three experimental groups: control (CON) or extensive rearing group, which did not receive any supplementary feed; concentrate (CC) group, receiving 300 g of a conventional commercial concentrate feed per animal daily, and concentrate-flax seed (CC-FS) group, receiving 300 g/day of the concentrate supplemented with 5% of flax seed. After 60 days of experimental period, 10 lambs were selected (5 males and 5 females) from each group and slaughtered. Omental fat samples were taken and analyzed to determine their fatty acid profile. Significant (P>0.05) differences in the fatty acid profile between CON and CC groups were small. However, enrichment of the concentrate with 5% flax seed increased the percentages of PUFA and n-3 PUFA when compared to both CON and CC groups and thus slightly improved the nutritional characteristics of the omental fat. The effect of sex on the fatty acid profile was only observed for C20:4 n-6 and C20:5 n-3 (P < 0.05).

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of treatment with a single injection of GnRH and PGF2α on estrous response, fertility and service period. A total of 120 lactating Simmental cows were divided into four groups of 30 cows each: group PGF2α 40 was treated on the 40th day post partum with a single injection of 2 mL prostaglandin analogue (Estrumate), group PGF2α 50 was treated in the same way on the 50th day, group GnRH was treated on the 40th day post partum with a single injection of 2 mL GnRH analogue (Receptal), and the fourth group (control) was not hormonally treated. Fertility of cows was not significantly different (p>0.05). The difference in the estrous response and service-period between the control group and experimental groups was statistically significant (p<0.01).

The aim of this study was to compare total phenols and sulfur content in ramsons and two garlic species, autumn- and spring-garlic. Harvesting time for ramsons was May and for garlics was June. Total phenol content was determined by the Singleton-Rossi method, which is based on phenol oxidation using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and spectrophotometric quantification of reduced blue-colored products. For total sulfur analysis, all sulfur molecular species were oxidised to the stable sulfate form, which was quantified by ion chromatography (HPIC). The quantity of phenolic compounds (mg phenols/g fresh sample) was the highest for the leaves of autumn-garlic (1.97mg/g), followed by leaves of spring-garlic (1.49mg/g) and ramsons (1.28mg/g). A lower phenol content was found in the bulbs: spring-garlic bulb (0.80mg/g), autumn-garlic bulb (0.48mg/g) and ramson bulb (0.46mg/g). The highest sulfur level (mg sulfur/g fresh sample) was found in spring-garlic leaf (1.10mg/g) while the quantity of sulfur for other samples were: ramsons bulb (0.93mg/g), ramsons leaf (0.74mg/g), spring-garlic bulb (0.70mg/g), autumn-garlic leaf (0.66mg/g) and autumn-garlic bulb (0.63mg/g). Levels of sulfur compounds and total phenol content in the bulbs and leaves correlated with the age of the plant. Garlic leaves can be used as a significant source of organosulfur compounds for middle to late spring.