Simple Summary Innovations in the value chain of traditional meat products, leading to higher quality or healthier products, can support the niche market for local pig breeds and contribute to their more sustainable conservation. In this context, the present study investigated whether the quality traits of smoked dry-cured ham derived from the local Turopolje pig could be improved by including acorns in the animal’s diet or by innovations in processing methods, such as smoke reduction. The results show that feeding acorns to pigs increased the processing yield but had a limited effect on the quality of the dry-cured ham, as only a few differences in the physicochemical, textural or colour parameters and volatile profile were observed. However, some sensory attributes, such as odour typicality, were affected by the acorn diet. Conversely, this innovation in processing led to a significant reduction in smoke-derived volatile compounds and an improved texture to the lightly smoked hams, as shown by both instrumental and sensory analysis. Abstract The Turopolje pig (TP) is a local Croatian pig breed that almost became extinct in the second half of the 20th century. Today, the TP is still endangered, and a new conservation strategy based on products with higher added value is needed to preserve the breed. There is little information on the quality of TP meat products such as smoked and dry-cured ham, including the impact of natural feeds or processing innovations such as smoke reduction. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of the animal’s diet (either conventionally fed or acorn-supplemented) and the processing method (standard or lightly smoked) on the quality traits of dry-cured TP ham. Twenty hams, evenly distributed among the treatments, were processed for 15 months and then analysed for physicochemical and textural traits, volatiles and sensory profile. The hams from acorn-supplemented pigs lost less weight during processing (p ≤ 0.05). Otherwise, the diet had no significant effect on most examined ham traits. The exceptions were protein content and the texture parameter hardness, which decreased (p ≤ 0.05), and the degree of proteolysis and colour parameters, which increased (p ≤ 0.05) as a result of acorn supplementation. However, these effects were generally small and varied between the inner (m. biceps femoris) and outer (m. semimembranosus) muscles. Furthermore, acorn supplementation was associated with less typical ham odour and lower sensory scores for sweetness and colour uniformity (p ≤ 0.05). The smoke reduction had no effect on the physicochemical and colour properties but resulted in a significant reduction (p ≤ 0.05) in the volatile phenolic compounds and an improved texture to the hams. This was reflected both in reduced (p ≤ 0.05) hardness, identified in the instrumental analysis, and in an increased (p ≤ 0.05) softness, solubility and moistness, identified in the sensory evaluation. To summarize, the quality of the TP ham under the conditions studied was only slightly affected by acorn supplementation, whereas reduced smoking had a more significant effect, which was mainly reflected in an improved texture.

SUMMARY Maize, the most common energy feed ingredient in poultry diets, has a high starch proportion in the grain endosperm, ranging from 65 to 75% in various hybrids. The rate and extent of digestion are major determinants of maize starch nutritive value. Starch digestion follows the first-order kinetics, and according to the digestibility kinetics, starch can be divided into rapidly digestible (RDS), slowly digestible (SDS), and resistant starch (RS). Different intrinsic and extrinsic features of maize grain affect the rate and extent of starch digestibility. Differences in starch granule composition, such as amylose-to-amylopectin ratio, crystallisation, association with lipids and zeins, as well as shape, size and presence of surface pores affect starch digestibility kinetics. More so, an important factor affecting digestion is grain processing. Particle size affects feed intake, the passage of bolus and susceptibility to enzyme-starch binding, while hydrothermal processing leads to starch gelatinisation. However, too high temperatures can lead to RS formation. This review summarises the available literature data on factors identified as crucial in the digestibility kinetics of maize starch.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of cheese milk standardization on chemical composition, fat and protein recovery, yield and sensory properties of Croatian soft Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Lički škripavac cheese. Standardization of milk to the casein/fat ratio of 0.7 was carried out by adding skimmed milk powder (SMP) to cheese milk and by skimming part of the milk fat. Results showed that losses of fat by whey were significantly (p < 0.05) lower after Lički škripavac cheese produced from standardized milk by skimming part of the milk fat. Standardization of cheese milk by addition of SMP caused higher losses of protein (p < 0.05) and total solids (p < 0.0001) by whey. Both methods of cheese milk standardization caused a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in milk fat and fat in dry matter content in cheese. In contrast, standardization of cheese milk caused a significant (p < 0.01) increase in protein content in cheese milk. Moisture in non-fat substance (MNFS) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased. Optimization of the casein/fat ratio did not cause a significant increase in fat recovery, but protein recovery significantly increased (p < 0.01). Addition of SMP to cheese milk significantly (p < 0.01) increased actual and adjusted cheese yield. The addition of SMP led to a noticeably higher (p = 0.10) sensory score of Lički škripavac cheese.

The aim of the study was to investigate the genetic differentiation of the Black Slavonian pig population. Two parallel analyses were performed using genealogical records and molecular data. Pedigree information of 6,099 pigs of the Black Slavonian breed was used to evaluate genetic variability and population structure. Additionally, 70 pigs were genotyped using 23 microsatellite markers. Genealogical data showed shrinkage in genetic diversity parameters with effective population size of 23.58 and inbreeding of 3.26%. Expected and observed heterozygosity were 0.685 and 0.625, respectively, and the average number of alleles per locus was 7.826. Bayesian clustering algorithm method and obtained dendrograms based on pedigree information and molecular data revealed the existence of four genetic clusters within the Black Slavonian pig. Wright’s FIS, FST and FIT from pedigree records were 0.017, 0.006, and 0.024, respectively, and did not prove significant population differentiation based on the geographical location of herds, despite the natural mating system. Obtained results indicate that despite the increased number of animals in the population, genetic diversity of Black Slavonian pig is low and conservation programme should focus on strategies aimed at avoiding further loss of genetic variability. Simultaneous use of genealogical and molecular data can be useful in conservation management of Black Slavonian pig breed.

The aim of the study was to evaluate reproductive parameters in a population of the Banija Spotted (BS) pig breed. A total of 69 breeding sows registered in the herdbook were analysed according to the Order of Parity (OP) (1st, 2nd, 3rd, joint 4th and 5th parity, and all parities). Basic descriptive statistical analyses were used to calculate reproductive parameters such as age at mating and farrowing, Age of the Boar (AB) at mating, gestation length and farrowing interval; the following parameters were analysed for Litter Size (LS): Total Number of Born (TNB), Number of Born Alive (NBA), Number of Still Born (NSB) and Number of Weaned (NW) piglets. Analyses were carried out using the GLM procedure in SAS, whereas the Pairwise Pearson PROC CORR procedure was used to calculate correlation coefficients (r) between LS traits. On average 8.26 TNB, 7.57 NBA, 0.67 NSB and 6.95 NW piglets were determined. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between 1st and 2nd, and 1st and 3rd OP for TNB and NBA. NW was significantly different (P<0.05) between 1st and 2nd OP, and between 3rd and joint 4th and 5th parities, with a significant (P<0.05) effect of Gestation Length (GL) and Farrowing Season (FS) on NBA in 2nd parity. A significant effect of Herd Group (HG) and AB on NBA was recorded in 3rd OP. Joint 4th and 5th parities with the lowest number of litters analysed showed a significant effect (P<0.05) of AB on TNB, NBA and NW, as well as of GL on NSB. High correlation coefficients (r = 0.7-0.9; P<0.05, per parity analysed) were found between TNB-NBA, TNB-NW and NBA-NW in all parities *Corresponding author: Prof. Krešimir Salajpal, DVM, PhD, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska 25, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia, Phone: +385 1 2394 038; E-mail: ksalajpal@agr.hr DOI: 10.24099/vet.arhiv.0428

Banija spotted pig breed was created at the end of 19th century by crossing domestic white sows with drooping ears and/or Turopolje pig sows with black Berkshire. After a period of stagnation in breeding, the population is newly recognized only few years ago and is currently in the process of breed valorisation. The aim of this study was to assess genetic diversity and structure of Banija spotted pig (BS) in comparison with geographically close populations, and to assess the differentiation level of Banija spotted pig. Based on the genotypes obtained for 24 ISAG-FAO recommended pig microsatellite markers, basic genetic diversity indicators were determined for 30 samples of BS, 20 samples of Turopolje and Crna Slavonska pig each, and 17 samples of Landrace population. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.36 to 0.6 and was high in BS population (0.58). Average allelic richness (range 2 – 5.2) and the rarefacted number of private alleles (range 9 to 27) were the highest in BS. Inbreeding coefficient in BS was estimated 0.06 (bootstrapping confidence interval 0.022 to 0.123). Structure analysis showed that there are five clusters in the four analysed populations, where BS are clearly distinguished from other populations and substructured. Wright’s fixation index estimates are in accordance with the clustering results. In conclusion, the population of Banija spotted pig shows great genetic diversity and is genetically different from neighbouring (geographically close) pig populations.

Autochthonous pig breeds are usually reared in extensive or semi-extensive production systems that might facilitate contact with wild boars and, thus, reciprocal genetic exchanges. In this study, we analysed variants in the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene (which cause different coat colour phenotypes) and in the nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group A member 1 (NR6A1) gene (associated with increased vertebral number) in 712 pigs of 12 local pig breeds raised in Italy (Apulo-Calabrese, Casertana, Cinta Senese, Mora Romagnola, Nero Siciliano and Sarda) and south-eastern European countries (Krškopolje from Slovenia, Black Slavonian and Turopolje from Croatia, Mangalitsa and Moravka from Serbia and East Balkan Swine from Bulgaria) and compared the data with the genetic variability at these loci investigated in 229 wild boars from populations spread in the same macro-geographic areas. None of the autochthonous pig breeds or wild boar populations were fixed for one allele at both loci. Domestic and wild-type alleles at these two genes were present in both domestic and wild populations. Findings of the distribution of MC1R alleles might be useful for tracing back the complex genetic history of autochthonous breeds. Altogether, these results indirectly demonstrate that bidirectional introgression of wild and domestic alleles is derived and affected by the human and naturally driven evolutionary forces that are shaping the Sus scrofa genome: autochthonous breeds are experiencing a sort of 'de-domestication' process, and wild resources are challenged by a 'domestication' drift. Both need to be further investigated and managed.

Microsatellites (MS) have been, for the last two decades, widely used for parentage analysis in all types of livestock, including pigs. Conservation efforts on Banija spotted pigs included genetic characterization of the breed with MS markers. Since recent comparison of pedigree and MS data revealed some inconsistencies, the aim of this study was to develop a set of highly polymorphic and heterozygous MS markers, which could be used for parentage analysis and to prevent pedigree errors. 12 MS markers with the polymorphic information content (PIC) above 0.62 were chosen and combined into a single multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The combined non-exclusion probability for one candidate parent (NE-1P) was 0.00246149, the combined NE-1P given the genotype of a known parent of the opposite sex (NE-2P) was 0.00003739 and combined non-exclusion probability for a candidate parent pair (NE-PP) was 0.00000003. Due to a high information content of selected MS markers it was possible to obtain high accuracy in parentage assignment, which was confirmed by analyzing actual data with known genetic relationships