Emerging mycotoxins such as moniliformin (MON), enniatins (ENs), beauvericin (BEA), and fusaproliferin (FUS) may contaminate maize and negatively influence the yield and quality of grain. The aim of this study was to determine the content of emerging Fusarium mycotoxins in Serbian maize from the 2016, 2017, and 2018 harvests. A total of 190 samples from commercial maize production operations in Serbia were analyzed for the presence of MON, ENs, BEA, and FUS using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The obtained results were interpreted together with weather data from each year. MON, BEA, and FUS were major contaminants, while other emerging mycotoxins were not detected or were found in fewer samples (<20%). Overall contamination was highest in 2016 when MON and BEA were found in 50–80% of samples. In 2017 and 2018, high levels of MON, FUS, and BEA were detected in regions with high precipitation and warm weather during the silking phase of maize (July and the beginning of August), when the plants are most susceptible to Fusarium infections. Since environmental conditions in Serbia are favorable for the occurrence of mycotoxigenic fungi, monitoring Fusarium toxins is essential for the production of safe food and feed.

Aspergillus flavus is the main producer of aflatoxin B1, one of the most toxic contaminants of food and feed. With global warming, climate conditions have become favourable for aflatoxin contamination of agricultural products in several European countries, including Serbia. The infection of maize with A. flavus, and aflatoxin synthesis can be controlled and reduced by application of a biocontrol product based on non-toxigenic strains of A. flavus. Biological control relies on competition between atoxigenic and toxigenic strains. This is the most commonly used biological control mechanism of aflatoxin contamination in maize in countries where aflatoxins pose a significant threat. Mytoolbox Af01, a native atoxigenic A. flavus strain, was obtained from maize grown in Serbia and used to produce a biocontrol product that was applied in irrigated and non-irrigated Serbian fields during 2016 and 2017. The application of this biocontrol product reduced aflatoxin levels in maize kernels (51–83%). The biocontrol treatment had a highly significant effect of reducing total aflatoxin contamination by 73%. This study showed that aflatoxin contamination control in Serbian maize can be achieved through biological control methods using atoxigenic A. flavus strains.

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of two heavy metals, lead and cadmium, in European hare liver samples, collected in agro biotope of northern Serbian province Vojvodina. Heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) do not have any biological function in the animal body; however, they can be found due to the pollution in the environment. For the purpose of this study, in 196 samples from 17 different locations hare livers were analyzed for the occurrence of lead and cadmium. All samples were taken from hares harvested during the regular hunting season. The average value for lead in all analyzed samples was 884 µg/kg fresh weight (fw), with the range 59–3700 µg/kg fw. Only samples from two locations had the average concentration of lead which was within the permitted limit by the Serbian regulation. The average cadmium level in all samples was 243 µg/kg fw. The range of all samples was from 0 to 1414 µg/kg fw. Our research indicates that out of two investigated heavy metals, the occurrence of lead is more common and at a higher concentration in the agricultural development region of Vojvodina.

This study assessed the effects of farm management during rearing practices in the first months of a calf’s life on growth performance and meat quality traits during the fattening period. A total of 48 Simmental calves were divided into two groups at a commercial cattle feedlot. In the first group were calves from the same farm and herd (n = 12 male and n = 12 female). The second group included calves from several different herds and farms (n = 12 male and n= 12 female). Calves were transferred to a feedlot and fed with a commercial feedlot ration at three to four months of age. The aim was to determine if identical fattening conditions at feedlot can reduce initial calf rearing differences between cattle during the fattening period. Bulls grew faster than heifers reaching higher total gain and showed significantly higher slaughter weight than heifers. Meat samples of heifers from the same herd had the highest intramuscular fat content and reddest color with significant differences among cattle groups. The most abundant fatty acid was oleic acid (C18:1), followed by palmitic (C16:0), stearic (C18:0), linoleic (C18:2), and myristic acid (C14:0). Meat samples of heifers from different herds were darkest with highest content of iron (Fe) with significant differences among cattle groups.

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), a hepatocarcinogenic metabolite of aflatoxin B1, poses significant risks to human health through its presence in milk and dairy products. This study investigates AFM1 contamination in raw milk produced in Serbia from 2021 to 2025, assessing annual and seasonal variations and associated health risks. A total of 907 milk samples were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), revealing contamination in 70.1% of samples, with mean concentrations exceeding the EU regulatory limit of 50 ng/kg. Seasonal analysis identified the highest contamination levels during winter, attributed to increased use of contaminated feed during colder months. Health risk assessments estimated the daily intake of AFM1 and associated health risks, with high-exposure individuals showing notably reduced margins of safety. The research demonstrates the essential requirement for better feed quality management alongside enhanced regulatory oversight along with health programs that reduce AFM1 exposure in Serbian populations.

Tenebrio molitor is an easily obtained highly nutritional alternative source of protein in animal feed. To get good results in growth performance and nutritional composition, it is necessary to know the diet digestibility and dietary needs of T. molitor. In the experimental condition, the T. molitor was fed with wheat bran and oat flakes, two easily accessible diets on the local market at an acceptable price. Both groups (four replicates each) of T. molitor were fed the same diet weekly (25 g of feed and water were supplied through agar). The production parameters such as feed conversion, intake of feed, and growth during the whole experimental period were observed. At the same time, the digestibility study was performed to obtain the coefficient of digestibility of the dry matter, organic matter, ash, crude protein, crude fat, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), and hemicelluloses. For both diets, the growth parameters were relatively similar having been slightly better for the oat flakes. The feed conversion ratio for wheat bran and oat flakes was 2.16 and 2.00, with growth per unit average of 46.37 g and 50.30 g respectively. The digestibility trial showed much better digestibility of oat flakes with the average digestibility coefficient of dry matter of 0.78, organic matter 0.80, crude protein 0.46, and crude fat 0.85. The digestibility of wheat bran was for dry matter 0.50, organic matter 0.51, crude protein 0.33, and crude fat 0.88. Both diets can be successfully used for the nutritional needs of T. molitor, however, using the oat flakes gives better growth performance and digestibility results. The choice of the diet will depend on the costs at the moment.