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

The Turopolje pig is a local porcine breed originating from Croatia characterised by its rusticity and adaptation to the traditional outdoor farming system linked to local oak forests. While this once-widespread breed was almost completely replaced by industrial breeds in the second half of the 20th century, there is growing interest on promoting its production in the framework of sustainable porcine production. The objective of our study (made in project TREASURE) was to characterise the gut microbiota composition in 24 Turopolje pigs raised outdoor by using a conventional feed vs a conventional feed supplemented with acorns. The gut microbiota composition of all pigs was determined by re-sequencing the bacterial 16S gene in an Illumina MiSeq device. Bioinformatics analyses were performed by using Qiime’s open-reference OTU calling subsampled method following author’s recommendations. NMDS and PERMANOVA analyses performed by using the Vegan R package showed significant effects of diet, showing that the acorn supplementation has a relevant impact on gut microbiota, notably by reducing richness and diversity. This result was confirmed in the differential abundance analysis which showed that 152 out of 1,466 OTUs were significantly different between the two groups. Interestingly, the predicted microbiota metabolic functions that were differentially abundant involved fatty acid and amino-acid

Milk fat is an important component in the forming of the cheese curd. It influences the firmness of the curd, as well as flavour of cheese and cheese yield. Therefore, in industrial cheesemaking standardisation of milk by adjusting the content of protein and milk fat to the optimal ratio of 0.9 : 1 is regularly carried. On contrary, it is not carried out in small scale dairy plant, which could result with reduced recovery of milk fat to cheese and due to that lesser financial profit. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the milk standardisation on the recovery of milk fat to Skripavac cheese. In the small scale dairy plant, 10 batches of Skripavac cheese were produced. The milk of each batch was divided into three categories: milk for cheese production without standardisation (1) ; milk for cheese production with standardised ratio protein : fat = 0.9 : 1 by the addition of skimmed milk powder – SMP (2), and by skimming the part of milk fat (3). Standardisation of milk by the addition of SMP significantly increased the content of total solids, lactose (P<0.0001) and proteins (P<0.05) in whey. Addition of the SMP resulted in a significantly (P<0.05) higher recovery of milk fat to Skripavac cheese (76.88 %) compared to the treatment of skimming the part of the cream (71.52 %). Addition of SMP can provide the economic benefits in the production of traditional cheeses due to the better recovery of milk fat to cheese.

The aim of this study was to investigate characteristics of calves rearing technologies at family farms in northern Croatia (Varazdin and Medjumurje County). Calves up to eight weeks of age at family farms in Varazdin County were kept mostly tied (57.7%). After eight weeks of age, calves in both analysed Counties are dominantly kept tied. First colostrums ration was given to calves within first three hours after calving, i.e. on 99.2% of analysed farms in Varazdin County and 90% of analysed farms in Medjimurje County. On the majority of farms colostrums is given to the calves in amount of 1-1.5 litres (51.9% Varazdin, i.e. 65% Medjimurje County). Freezing of colostrum is done at 10.5% of analysed farms in Varazdin and 15% of analysed farms in Medjimurje County. In Varazdin County farmers feed calves with milk or milk replacer significantly longer (P<0.001) than farmers in Medjimurje County. Consequently, calves in Medjimurje County consumes significantly lower quantities of milk or milk replacer (P<0.001). Calves in the Medjimurje County are significantly earlier fed with solid feed: hay (P<0.05), pre-starter or starter (P<0.001), and water (P<0.001) than on farms at the Varazdin County. Total mixed ratio (TMR) was used neither in Varazdin nor in Medjmurje County in calves’ nutrition, and colostrums quality was checked only at 3% of farms in Varazdin County (4 farms), and only at one farm in Medjimurje County.

Genetic diversity and breed structure of Banija spotted pig (BS) was analyzed trough 721 pedigree records and polymorphism of 23 microsatellites on 30 BS pigs. Two phylogenetic trees were constructed from microsatellite and pedigree information. The inbreeding coefficient obtained by microsatellite markers was 5.6%, while the inbreeding coefficient from pedigree analysis was 3.68%. The rate of inbreeding per generation was 1.74% and effective population size was 28.81. In phylogenetic analyses, relationship coefficients and genetic distances between individuals were calculated using microsatellite and pedigree data. Phylogenetic trees from microsatellite markers and pedigree corresponded well to each other and showed consistency between microsatellite and pedigree information. From the data obtained by microsatellite markers and pedigree, two subpopulations can be observed. The existence of two subpopulations can be explained by two different paths of breed genesis. Thus, future work in the conservation process should include methods such as optimal contribution selection including factorial mating, in order to make genetic progress and control the rate of inbreeding.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between intramuscular fat (IMF) content and fatty acid (FA) composition of pork. The IMF content and the FA composition were determined in the samples (n = 30) of muscle tissue (m. longissimus dorsi) taken from the pig carcasses from the intensive pork production system in Republic of Croatia. The fat content was analysed by standard ISO method, while FA composition was determined by liquid gas chromatography using the in situ transesterification method. Results revealed the significant positive correlations and regressions of monounsaturated FA (MUFA) on IMF content, while reverse relationship existed between IMF and the most of the polyunsaturated FA (PUFA). Although there was a significant relation between the IMF content and the majority of individual saturated FA (SFA), the effect of IMF content on the proportion of total SFA in pork was not clear. This can be explained by the existence of significant correlations and regressions but with an opposite directions for major SFA-s, which shares in IMF were simultaneously increasing (e.g. 16:0) and decreasing (e.g. 18:0) with an increase in IMF content.

The microsatellite (MS) genetic diversity studies on CS pig breed showed subclustering of this breed. Structuring results based on MS data of 70 CS pigs were compared to the MC1R coat color gene genotyping results. The MS analysis included also commercial pig breeds to elucidate the relationship of different CS breed gene pools towards commercial pig breeds. The Structure results and the results of UPGMA individual clustering based on genetic distances revealed presence of three gene pools in CS breed. Comparison with the genotyping results of the MC1R coat color gene showed that one gene pool consists of MC1R homozygous black animals, while animals from the other two gene pools (CS2 and CS3) were MC1R heterozygous.

Stocarska proizvodnja je vrlo zahtjevna u pogledu potreba za vodom. Približno jedna trecina ukupne kolicine vode koja se koristi u poljoprivredi odnosi se na stocarsku proizvodnju. Navedeno ukljucuje vodu koja se koristi izravno u procesu proizvodnje: voda za pice i tehnoloska voda (ciscenje, pranje i sanitacija, hlađenje) i voda koja se koristi u proizvodnji hrane za životinje (rast biljaka i pripremu hrane). S obzirom na navedeno potrebne kolicine vode ovise o vrsti životinja (animalnog proizvoda) ali i tehnologiji držanja i hranidbe. Procjenjuje se da je najveca kolicine vode potrebna za proizvodnju goveđeg mesa (15.400m3/t), zatim mesa ovaca (10.400 m3/t), svinja (6.000 m3/t) i peradi (4.300 m3/t) dok su manje kolicine vode potrebne za proizvodnju jaja (3.300 m3/t) i mlijeka (1.000 m3/t). S obzirom na nacin držanja i hranidbe, proizvodnja mesa i jaja u pasnom sustavu proizvodnje uslijed losije konverzije hrane zahtjeva vece kolicine vode po jedinici proizvoda u odnosu na intenzivno držanje i hranidbu koncentriranim krmivima u farmskim uvjetima. S druge pak strane, s intenzifikacijom proizvodnje rastu potrebne kolicine vode za odvijanje tehnoloskih procesa na farmama ukljucujuci manipulaciju i zbrinjavanje stajskog gnoja. Nadalje, zbog pritiska velikih kolicina stajskog gnoja i otpadnih voda na okolne poljoprivredne povrsine kao i osiguravanja potrebnih kolicina koncentriranih krmiva (žitarice, uljarice) za životinje, raste opasnost od oneciscenja povrsinskih i podzemnih voda. Uvažavajuci postojeci trend povecanja proizvodnje gotovo svih animalnih proizvoda, a posebice mesa za koje se predviđa udvostrucenje proizvodnje do 2050 godine, može se ocekivati daljnji pritisak na rezerve slatke vode u svijetu zbog povecanih potreba stocarske proizvodnje.

A total number of 24 local Turopolje pigs (TP) reared in outdoor area with predominantly forest vegetation were monitored for 20 weeks (from July to December 2015) with the aim to determine the prevalence of swine gastrointestinal parasites after exposure to natural infection. At the beginning of the trial, pigs were dewormed with 300 μg of doramectin per kg of body weight (Dectomax®, Pfizer ; 1 ml/33 kg). Faecal egg counts (FECs) were determined after 14 and 20 weeks in individually obtained samples separately for large roundworm (Ascaris suum) and other gastrointestinal parasites (Oesophagostomum spp., Strongyloides spp. and Hyostrongylus spp.). The results of coprological examination showed that main gastrointestinal parasites in outdoor reared TP are helminth species with strongyle-type eggs and coccidian Eimeria spp. In typical hot and dry season, more than 14 weeks’ period after antiparasitic treatment is required for infection and development of sexually mature parasite stages and eggs excretion in the faeces. These results may be important in designing of integrated gastrointestinal management practices for TP in traditional outdoor production systems, and generally useful for more sustainable management of this endangered breed in future.

Istražena je povezanost prevalencije i etiologije supklinickog mastitisa s pojavnoscu klinickog artritisa u 543 francuske alpske koze seroloski pozitivne na virus artritisa-encefalitisa (AEK) iz proizvodnih farmi sa sjeverozapada Hrvatske. Cilj je bio odrediti je li seroloska pozitivnost na AEK povezana s pojavnoscu supklinickog mastitisa bakterijske etiologije i istražiti je li AEK glavni uzrok pojavnosti klinickog artritisa u pretraženih koza. Sve su koze bile pregledane na pojavu klinickog artritisa. Uzorci krvi iz jugularne vene bili su testirani na AEK imunoenzimnim testom. Uzorci mlijeka, uzeti iz svake polovine vimena zasebno, pretraženi su na prisutnost bakterijskih uzrocnika mastitisa. Svi prikupljeni podatci unakrsno su klasificirani u kontingencijskim tablicama. Od ukupnog broja koza, AEK je seroloski potvrđen u 50, 8%. Supklinicki mastitis je potvrđen u 52, 3% koza. Istodobna pojava supklinickog mastitisa i AEK zabilježena je u 30% od ukupnog broja, dok je 21, 9% koza s klinickim artritisom bilo seroloski pozitivna na AEK. Statisticke su analize potvrdile pozitivnu povezanost pojave supklinickog mastitisa i AEK seropozitivnosti. Slicni su rezultati dobiveni i za povezanost pojavnosti klinickog artritisa i AEK seropozitivnosti. Također je zabilježena slaba pozitivna povezanost između supklinickog mastitisa i klinickog artritisa. Rezultati upucuju na to da bi AEK mogao utjecati na ucestalost supklinickog mastitisa. Rezultati također nalažu dodatno istraživanje AEK infekcije kao glavnog uzroka pojave klinickog artritisa u istraženim stadima.

Livanjski cheese belongs to the group of hard cheeses which is traditionally produced in Livno (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Proteolytic changes during the ripening of Livanjski cheese have not been investigated extensively. The aim of this paper was to determine its proteolytic changes during the different stages of ripening. Five Livanjski cheeses (from raw cow’s or a mixture of sheep’s and cow’s milk) were observed during the ripening to evaluate its typical proteolytic profile. An electophoretic profile of Livanjski cheese was determined by Urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (urea-PAGE) and a densitometric evaluation of the urea-PAGE gels was performed using a densitometer. The water-soluble nitrogen fraction in the total nitrogen (WSN %TN) and the 12%-TCA-soluble nitrogen fraction in the total nitrogen (TCA-SN %TN) of the cheese were determined using the Kjeldahl method. Degradation of αs1-casein by chymosin caused a significant decrease (P < 0.05) of relative content of this protein in Livanjski cheese at the sixth week point of ripening. Due to the activity of chymosin on αs1-casein, αs1-I-casein and αs1-II-casein developed, which caused a significant increase (P < 0.05) of Index alpha. The relative ratio of β-casein significantly decreased (P < 0.05) during ripening leading to a significant accumulation (P < 0.05) of degraded product (sum γ1-casein, γ2-casein and γ3-casein). These proteolytic changes caused a significant increase (P < 0.05) of Index betta. Accumulation of medium, small peptides and amino acids caused a significant (P < 0.05) increase of the relative content of WSN %TN and TCA-SN %TN. In general, proteolysis of Livanjski cheese during ripening was moderate probably due to the low moisture content and low water activity, although it was produced from raw milk. Taking into account that the ratio β-casein : αs1-casein at the end of ripening was 1.46, it could be concluded that degradation of αs1-casein could be the indicator of the maturity of Livanjski cheese. Due to that Livanjski cheese could be classified as “α-type of ripening” cheese.

: Turopolje pig (TP) is a native Croatian breed, created during the early middle ages in Turopolje region in Central Croatia. It is a medium-sized, primitive, fatty-type breed. Due to their modest rearing requirements, its resistance and good adaptation to local marsh meadows and oak forests, the TP breed has been an important food source for the local population for centuries. However, the rapid penetration of imported lean pigs in the second half of the 20th century, as well as the ban of forest grazing, significantly reduced the interest in this breed. The result was a drastic decrease in the population size. Currently, despite the state support, TP breed is still endangered, with a population of only 132 sows and 30 boars kept in 16 farms. Hence, a new strategy is needed for renewing the TP breed, based on purebred animals, which should be preserved as a resource for local livestock production and sustainable development. Unfortunately, few recent data on the morphological and reproductive traits of TP are available. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine these traits on TP breeding sows (n=40) reared in a traditional outdoor system on a farm with the largest single herd of TP. The mean (±st. dev.) age (months) and body weight (kg) of sows were 67.5±26.0 and 96.6±18.4, respectively. Height at withers and rumps, chest girth, body, head, ear and tail lengths were 65.2±2.8, 68.4±2.9, 111.2±10.4, 126.0±5.2, 27.0±0.90, 22.5±8.3 and 29.9±2.01 cm, respectively. The average number of piglets born alive was 4.47±1.96, of which 3.08±2.17 were weaned. The age at first farrowing was 22.1±7.9 months. Data were collected within H2020 project TREASURE *.

The aims of this paper were to investigate the impact of changes in the milk payment system and the season on the hygienic quality of raw milk. The bulk cow’s milk samples were collected throughout the whole area of Bosnia and Herzegovina over the period of four years (2010-2013), from farms that deliver milk to the dairy industry. The total bacterial count (TBC) was analysed in 52,999 milk samples and the somatic cell count (SCC) in 53,363 milk samples. The results of the research showed that the proportion of bulk milk with the SCC < 300,000 mL-1 significantly increased in the observed period, as well as the proportion of farms that produce milk of EU quality (P < 0.05). The season had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on the SCC; in April the proportion of bulk milk with SCC < 300,000 mL-1 was significantly higher (P < 0.05). A significant increase (P < 0.05) in the proportion of milk with the TBC < 200,000 cfu∙mL -1 was perceived, as well as the proportion of farms which deliver that type of milk (P < 0.05). A Significant lower (P < 0.05) proportion of milk in the summer period with TBC < 200,000 cfu∙mL-1 was determined. It can be concluded that consistent appliance of regulations which determine the quality of milk, leads to the improvement of the hygienic quality of redeemed milk, as illustrated by the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This kind of milk payment system is important for both, the higher economic benefit of farms and the dairy processing industry.