Data concerning the morphometric parameters of sheep red blood cells (RBCs) obtained using computer-assisted image analysis have not yet been investigated, and there are no data on any analyses of ovine RBC subpopulations based on their morphometric parameters. The aims of this study are to determine the values of RBC haematological and morphometric size and shape parameters, to form groups according to the obtained values of haematological parameters; to determine the differences in RBC morphometric parameters between the formed groups, and to determine RBC subpopulations and their respective proportions in the formed groups. Thirty-six blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of clinically healthy Lika pramenka sheep, aged between 2 and 5 years. Haematological parameters including haemoglobin (HGB), haematocrit (HTC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and RBC distribution width were analysed using a haematology analyser. Haematological parameters were categorized into two groups: those with lower values or values below the physiological range (Groups 1) and groups with higher values or values above the physiological range (Groups 2). Morphometric parameters of RBCs were determined from stained blood smears using SFORM, a computer-assisted program. Significantly higher values of RBC area, outline, convex, minimal and maximal radius, as well as length and breadth were established in Groups 2 compared to Groups 1 of HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH, and MCHC, respectively. Based on the morphometric parameters of RBCs, three RBC subpopulations were obtained using principal component and cluster analysis: ES 1—the smallest and most elongated RBCs, ES 2—the biggest and most rounded RBCs, and ES 3—average size and shape RBCs. Significantly higher proportions of ES 2 and ES 3 subpopulations, as well as a significantly lower proportion of ES 1 subpopulation, were established in Groups 2 compared to Groups 1 of HGB, HTC, MCV, and MCH, respectively. It can be concluded that ovine RBC subpopulations, based on their morphometric parameters, can be obtained by using computer-assisted image analysis of RBC morphometry and multivariate statistical methods, including principal component and cluster analysis. RBC morphometry, including classification into subpopulations, could serve as a basis for future possibilities in the diagnostic interpretation of anaemic syndromes in veterinary medicine, especially in normocytic, macrocytic, and microcytic anaemias in sheep.

Dairy goats are a very successful form of livestock farming in developing countries, with functional products for human consumption, which makes their breeding attractive. Breeding efficiency is determined by successful reproductive parameters. Several parameters can be used as indicators of reproductive success, such as the number of kids born, age at first kidding, kidding interval, percentage of kids born and weaned, abortion rate, body weight of kids at birth and at weaning, and the length of the goat's reproductive life. Due to the seasonality of reproduction and multiple possibilities of controlling the sexual cycle in goats (hormonal and non-hormonal methods), it is difficult to standardise parameters that could be systematically used to detect suboptimal production, and whose improvement would increase reproductive success. Adequate housing conditions and feeding are inseparable from good breeding and productivity of animals. By meeting these measures with constant observation of reproductive success parameters, high fertility, large litters (2 kids per pregnancy) with a survival rate of 90% until weaning can be expected in goat breeding.

Background: Animal identification is a topic of many studies, with a range of biometric methods currently in use. The cattle muzzle serves as a unique source of biometric traits.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the best method for muzzle visualisation using imprints, the most frequent forms and minutiae points on imprints, and the minimum number of minutiae points required to establish an identity profile.Methods: Noseprints of 30 calves were taken on different surfaces and visualised using different methods (white paper and cardboard/ninhydrin solution and glass tile/small particle reagents and ceramic tile/fluorescent powder and glossy photopaper/grey instant or magnetic powder). The imprint of the entire muzzle was photographed and analysed using the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to detect the most frequent forms based on friction ridges and minutiae points. Further mathematical simulation revealed the minimal number of points required for animal identification.Results: The best imprint was obtained on glossy black photopaper with grey instant powder. After analysing the digitised images with the AFIS magnifier, the six forms of beads and ridges in the selected 12 minutiae points were detected, thus creating an identity chart. Computer simulation confirmed that the lowest number of minutiae points necessary for unique animal identification, and 0% possibility of form repetition at points, was nine of the 12 selected points.Conclusion: As a biometric method, the muzzle imprint in combination with AFIS has the potential to be stored on large scale and used internationally, enabling identity control that is not susceptible to the issues involved with other biometric methods.

U svijetu se uzgaja preko milijardu ovaca, a većina se njih drži u ekstenzivnim uvjetima, odnosno provode barem dio godine na pašnjacima bez posebno bliskog kontakta s ljudima. Dobrobit ovaca od iznimnog je značaja za kvalitetu njihovog mesa te je stoga vrlo važno procijeniti dobrobit tijekom proizvodnje pouzdanim i lako provedivim metodama. U ovom je radu dobrobit ovaca procijenjena uz pomoć mobilne aplikacije AWIN protokola za procjenu dobrobiti ovaca na farmi tvrtke GEA-COM d.o.o. te je prikazano nekoliko pokazatelja dobrobiti temeljenih na životinjama. Tijekom razdoblja istraživanja dobrobit ovaca u navedenom uzgoju poboljšavala se, a glavni su razlozi tome promjene u načinu držanja i hranidbe ovaca (puštanje na ispašu i dodatak koncentrata) koji su doveli do više razine dobrobiti pojedinačnih životinja, a posljedično i cijelog stada.

U ovom radu predstaviti će se jedinstvenost inovacije istraživanja provedenih u okviru HRZZ projekta “Inovativni funkcionalni proizvodi od janjećeg mesa“ (IP-2016-06-3685). Naime, uvjerenja smo da naša projektna inovacija, koja je prvenstveno rezulta...

U radu su prikazani rezultati istraživanja kvalitete janjećeg mesa u kontekstu njegovih senzoričkih svojstava, kemijskog, odnosno masnokiselinskog, sastava te mikrobiološke ispravnosti. Istraživanje je provedeno u okviru HRZZ projekta IP-2016-06-3685 na 30 jedinki odabrane janjadi pasmine lička pramenka u dobi od 90 dana, koja je 6 tjedana kontrolirano hranjena uz dnevni dodatak 1,5 % suhog pripravka plemenite pečurke (Agaricus bisporus). Od mesa uzgojene janjadi proizvedeni su proizvodi (mljeveno meso i svježa kobasica) koji su bili ocijenjeni visokim ocjenama u senzoričkoj pretrazi, a kobasica je ocijenjena s prosječno 55,87 bodova. Oba su proizvoda bila mikrobiološki ispravna, a zamrznuto janjeće mljeveno meso je pokazalo mikrobiološku stabilnost kroz tri mjeseca pohrane na -18 ºC. Kemijski sastav mesa nije odudarao od prosječnih vrijednosti za meso mlade janjetine. Količina masti je iznosila 5,67 % a udio kolesterola bio je veoma nizak (9,36 mg/100 g). Analizom masnokiselinskog sastava utvrđeno je da u uzorcima mljevenog janjećeg mesa najviše prevladavaju zasićene masne kiseline (palmitinska, 25,3 % i stearinska, 17,8 %), nešto manji je bio udio mononezasićenih i polinezasićenih masnih kiselina, dok je najzastupljenija bila oleinska kiselina (39 %). Sličan je udio bio i u uzorcima kobasica. Omjer n6 i n3 uzorka mljevenog janjećeg mesa bio je 2,92, u skladu s preporukama WHO za zdravu hranu. Taj je omjer u sirovoj kobasici bio puno viši (7), prije svega zbog njezinog sirovinskog sastava i dodatka junetine i loja. Promatrani parametri i dobiveni rezultati mogu se povezati sa specifičnim utjecajem hranidbe janjadi, pa je dodatak plemenite pečurke u dnevni obrok janjadi uz zaštitni učinak na zdravlje pokazao i pozitivan učinak na proizvodnost i kvalitetu mesa janjadi.