Phosphorus (P) is a key macromineral essential for numerous physiological processes, including energy metabolism, skeletal mineralization, and cellular signaling. In dairy cattle, its homeostasis is tightly regulated by parathyroid hormone, calcitriol, and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23). Phosphorus deficiency is common during the transition period and is associated with reduced milk yield, anemia, muscle weakness, and immunosuppression in severe or prolonged cases. This review summarizes the current understanding of phosphorus metabolism in ruminants, emphasizing differences from monogastric species, hormonal regulation, and the clinical manifestations of deficiency. Particular attention is given to postpartum hypophosphatemia, its relationship with acute-phase proteins, and the pathogenesis of postpartum hemoglobinuria and recumbency. The review also discusses diagnostic methods for assessing phosphorus status, recent findings on FGF23 physiology in cattle, and including demonstrated effects of phosphorus imbalance on periparturient immune suppression and increased environmental phosphorus losses through manure. Maintaining optimal phosphorus nutrition is crucial for bovine health, productivity, and reduction in environmental phosphorus losses.
4 February 2019 in Archives of Veterinary Medicine
In the last decades, significant interest of consumers in game meat and products has reflected in the worldwide development of wild animal farming. Among the different farmed species, the Red deer (Cervus elaphus) takes an important place, being farmed in several different countries around the world and in most countries within the European Union. In this regard, the European Union has promulgated laws and regulations aimed at defining and organizing this business as well as ensuring the welfare of the animals. So far, relevant data on this topic are not available in Serbia probably due to the lack of deer farms across the country. In this paper, we will review the major issues related to Red deer keeping (i.e., housing, feeding and watering practices, management and handling, transport and velvet harvest) and give the proposals as a basic guideline principles for future Red deer farming in Serbia.
1 January 2018 in Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry
Measurement of lean meat on slaughter line and formation of price on the basis significantly contribute to the overall improvement of the quality and profitability of production and distribution of pork. The content of lean meat on live pigs was measured on farm using ultrasound device PIGLOG 105. While in slaughterhouse, the content of lean meat measured using Fat-O-Meater (FOM), two-point method (TP) and partial dissection. 59.30% of lean meat in vivo was estimated by the apparatus PIGLOG-105 one day before slaughter. It is 0.91% more then partial dissection and when compared to FOM and TP it is more 4.86% and 4.02%. Great deviation between PIGLOG-105 on one side and FOM and TP on other side indicated some error, and then partial dissection solved this mystery. After this study, slaughterhouse constructed new formulas for FOM in pig carcass classification. Regarding that, slaughterhouses which used FOM or similar equipment for measuring percentage of lean meat, should control results of the equipment described in this study, minimum twice a year.
1 January 2011 in Zbornik Matice srpske za prirodne nauke
Reports concerning mycotoxins in horse feed are very rare and are typically restricted to fumonisins. As a non-ruminant monogastric species, horses may be more sensitive to adverse effects of mycotoxins, but the most severe effect of fumonisin B1 (FB1) in equines is that it causes fatal leucoencephalomalacia. In recent years, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated several mycotoxins as ?undesirable substances in animal feed? with the aim of establishing guidance values for the feed industry. In its evaluation of deoxynivalenol (DON), EFSA concluded that this toxin exhibited toxic effects in all species, but that horses were more tolerant towards this toxin than pigs. According to the available data, a systematic survey on mycotoxins in horse feed in Serbia has not been published. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of mycotoxins in horse feed in Vojvodina. Samples of oats for horse consumption, collected in 2010, were analyzed by enzyme immunoassays (ELISA) for deoxynivalenol contamination. Twelve samples of oats were taken from twelve horse studs, with sport, school and hobby horses.
30 September 2025 in Archives of Veterinary Medicine
Game meat has always been a part of the human diet. It is rich in protein and low in fat, and its consumption is increasing across Europe. The main objective of this paper is to enhance knowledge and understanding of large game meat production and consumption in Serbia. This study uses the official data provided by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia to calculate average hunting ground size, game population density and harvest rate. Game meat production data were obtained from four large game meat processing facilities and used for calculation of game meat yield and consumption rate. Serbia has a relatively small number of hunters, yet hunting grounds are extensive, covering nearly 92.6% of the country’s territory. Among large game species, roe deer constitute the most abundant population in Serbia. This population is characterized by medium size and density, with a relatively low harvest rate compared to other European countries. Wild boars are the most frequently hunted large game species in Serbia. Although their population density is low, it varies significantly across different hunting grounds, and the harvest rate remains high. The red deer population is comparable in size to that of neighboring countries, but has low density and a low harvest rate primarily due to ongoing population increase programs. The fallow deer population is steadily declining. Consumption rate, as well as game meat production Serbia is lower than in most European countries. A Serbian resident consumes as little as 0.120 kg of large game meat annually, accounting for just 0.3% of total meat consumption. These data represent the first quantitative data on game meat consumption in Serbia. Our findings suggest that there is significant potential to promote large game meat and boost its consumption in Serbia, especially considering the lower price of game meat – such as wild boars compared to domestic pork, and venison compared to beef.
1 January 2020 in Balkan Journal of Wildlife Research
Research on the percentage of young in the brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pall.) population in Vojvodina has been carried out since 1967 until 2016. The number of hare in this period ranged from minimum 154,990 individuals (with an average density of the population of 8,06) in 2014 to a maximum recorded in 1975 with 301,680 individuals (with an average population density of 15.10). An average number of hares recorded during annual spring counts was 265,070 with an average population density of 13.15 individuals per 100 ha. The average annual recorded cull was 40,495 hares (15.28% of spring hare count). For this period, each year in the Laboratory for Hunting, tests were carried out on hare (eye lens), and all hunting clubs were obliged to deliver samples in order to be given permission to hunt. In total, there were 9,648 samples, which on average for the 49-year research period amounted to 197. The largest number of samples was in 2009, when 300 hunting clubs, or two-thirds, delivered eye lenses to the laboratory for analysis. For the 1967-2015 period an average of 7,967 rabbits eye lenses (years 1971 and 1972 must be excluded with 605 and 587 eye lenses when a total hunting ban was made, and only hunting was carried out for scientific research). The average share of young for the observed period was 57.6%, with the minimum recorded in 2014 of 35.9% and a maximum of 70.3% in 1994. The reproductive index ranged from 1.09 to 2.33 rabbits per rabbit in 1994. The results of our research showed the diversity of selected population dynamics indicators for all hunting grounds in Vojvodina that were compared with similar research in Europe. Hunting, as shown, doesn't jeopardize the population, but other factors such as intensive soil cultivation with large agricultural plots and excessive use of pesticides followed by improper use.