Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) conservation in Serbia is under an in situ program, but additional efforts are needed to ensure the development of this animal’s genetic resources biodiversity. This research aims to describe challenges and possible strategies for sustainable water buffalo milk production. In this study, the physicochemical characteristics of buffalo milk and buffalo dairy products (cheese, butter, and kajmak) were determined. Furthermore, amino and fatty acids composition and the related health lipid indices (atherogenic and thrombogenic) were assessed. The findings support the fact that buffalo milk is a reliable source of high-quality nutrients (dry matter: 16.10%, fat: 6.02%, protein: 4.61%). Leucine, lysine, and valine content were found to be high in buffalo milk and cheese. A substantial quantity of non-essential glutamic and aspartic amino acids was observed in milk, as well as glutamic acid and tyrosine in cheese. It was established that milk protein of buffalo cheese had a favorable proportion of essential and non-essential amino acids (61.76%/38.24%). The results revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) in fatty acid profiles among the three dairy products for saturated short-chain, n-3, and n-6 fatty acids. Conversely, no significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in monounsaturated fatty acids content. Kajmak showed the most favorable anti-atherogenic and anti-thrombogenic properties due to lower saturated and higher polyunsaturated fatty acid content. These results confirmed that buffalo milk could be successfully used in producing high-quality traditional dairy products with added value and beneficial characteristics from the aspect of a healthy diet. Furthermore, it could actively contribute to the promotion of sustainable production of buffaloes and strengthen the agricultural production of rural areas and their heritage.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different temperatures and storage time on Staphylococcus aureus growth, sea gene expression, and synthesis of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) in the pasteurized and UHT-pasteurized milk. Pasteurized and UHT-pasteurized milk were inoculated with 3.98 log ₁₀ CFU/mL of S. aureus (ATCC 13565). Inoculated milk samples were stored at 8°C, 15°C, and 22°C for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. SEA synthesis was detected with a fully automated miniVIDAS instrument using the Enzyme-Linked Fluorescent Assay (ELFA) technology. The patterns of gene regulation were detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. The 2 ^−ΔΔCT method has been used as a relative quantification strategy for gene expression responses data analysis. The results indicated that growth rate, sea gene expression, and SEA synthesis were influenced by type of milk, storage time, and temperature. Incubation of milk at different temperatures (15°C and 22°C) and times was used to simulate inadequate transport and storage conditions. Storage of pasteurized milk at 22°C for 24 h significantly upregulated the expression of sea gene compared with milk stored at 8°C, which coincides with the achieved S. aureus number of 10 ⁵ CFU/mL and detected amount of SEA. In addition, storage of UHT-pasteurized milk at 22°C for 24 h and at 15°C for 48 h significantly upregulated the sea gene expression compared with milk stored at 8°C, which coincides with the detected amount of SEA and the dynamics of S. aureus number change. It can, therefore, be concluded that implementing good hygiene practices to avoid pre- and post-heat treatment milk contamination and maintaining the cold chain at temperature <8°C throughout the entire dairy production chain are of paramount importance to decrease the risk of staphylococcal food poisoning.

This study presents the results of a survey conducted in the Province of Vojvodina, Serbia to investigate consumers’ attitudes towards goat milk and goat milk products. Furthermore, the factors affecting consumer perception and subjective norms with respect to purchase were examined. The quantitative random survey was conducted and the data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The findings from this study revealed significantly lower acceptance of goat milk and dairy products compared to bovine milk and dairy products. Of total 440 respondents, 24.2 % had never consumed goat milk with significant positive impact (p<0.05) of age on consumption was found. Among, respondents, mostly the young population (18-25 years) does not consume goat milk. The study identified the odour (42.3 %) and taste (22.5 %) as the main barriers for consuming goat milk. In regard to purchasing, more than half of interviewed respondents do not buy goat milk and dairy products (67 % and 70.5 %, respectively) while the rest respondents expressed very low purchasing frequency. Health benefits represent the most important reason for potential consuming goat milk and dairy products (66.5 %). On the other hand, the main motives for purchasing bovine milk and dairy products are taste and quality (55.5 %). In particular, the oldest surveyed population (40-55 years) seemed to be the most positive group toward goat milk and the most interested in the product’s nutritional value and its health impact. The main category of goat dairy products purchased among surveyed respondents was cheese. These findings suggest that for better positioning on the market and for producing price-competitive products goat milk and dairy products should be more clarified as either quality products or products with added value or as products with unique health benefits.

The aim of this study was to assess the expression of a toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) gene of Staphylococcus aureus in different types of milk, depending on inadequate temperature and storage conditions. Pasteurized and UHT milk...

Staphylococcus aureus is known worldwide as a frequent cause of mastitis in dairy cattle. Due to the production of heath resistant enterotoxins, this pathogen is also a major cause of food poisoning among humans, with symptoms of often severe vomiting and diarrhea. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of enterotoxinproducing strains of S. aureus originating from samples of cows with subclinical and clinical mastitis in the Republic of Serbia. Furthermore, we analyzed the type of staphylococcal enterotoxin they produce and phylogenetic relatedness among the S. aureus isolates recovered from milk in this study. Production of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, C, D and E was determined by commercial immunoenzyme assay VIDAS® SET2, and presence of corresponding genes encoding enterotoxin synthesis in positive isolates confi rmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction. Enterotoxin production was determined in 5 out of 75 (6.67%) isolates of S. aureus and all of them produced staphylococcal enterotoxins C. After analyzing the nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding the synthesis of staphylococcal protein A, S. aureus isolates were assigned into 2 phylogenetic groups, including 7 clusters. All S. aureus isolates with the presence of sec gene formed one cluster even dough they originated from milk samples from different farms.