In recent years there has been an increasing trend in research of sheep and goat udder morphology, not only from the view of its suitability for machine milking, but also in terms of milk yield and mammary gland health. More precisely, herds consisting of high-yielding sheep and goats as a result of long-term and one-sided selection to increase milk yield, have been characterised by distortion of the udder morphology caused by increasing the pressure of udder weight on its suspensory system. Along with the deteriorated milking traits, which is negatively reflected on the udder health, some udder morphology traits are often emphasized as factor of production longevity of dairy sheep and goats. Since the intention of farmers and breeders nowadays is to increase the milk yield of sheep and goats while maintaining desirable udder morphology and udder health, the aim of this paper is to give a detailed overview of the current knowledge about the relationship of morphological udder traits with milk yield, and the health of the mammary gland of sheep and goats. External measures of udder size (circumference, width and depth of the udder) are strongly correlated with milk production in sheep and goats. The morphological udder traits determining its suitability for machine milking (such as teat position and teat angle, udder depth, teat size, cistern height) are related to the mammary gland health in sheep and goats. Thus, the incidence of mastitis is noticeably higher in the udders of unsuitable shape for machine milking (deep and hung udders, unfavourable position of teats, etc.). Consequently, the morphological udder traits that affect the milkability of sheep and goats are indirectly related to milk yield.

The aim of this study was to determine relationship between litter size and milk yield, udder morphology, and udder health of East Friesian ewes. For that purpo...

The aim of this study was to determine quality parameters of Croatian traditional meat products (TMPs) via the analysis of their sensory and nutritive parameters, including physicochemical properties, fatty acid profile, mineral content, and amino acid composition. Over 2020 and 2021, a diverse collection of 242 dry-fermented sausages and dry-cured TMPs from various rural households was assessed. Sensory evaluations highlighted their satisfactory qualities, with moderate salinity and a unique taste profile characterized by a slight bitterness, with low sweetness and sourness levels. Detailed analyses revealed significant differences (p<0.05) across samples in key parameters such as water activity, pH, moisture, ash, fat, protein, carbohydrate, and NaCl content, as well as in the fatty acid profile and mineral content, underscoring the diversity and richness of these products. Amino acids such as alanine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, and proline were present in high amounts in all samples, largely varying in their content within the same product type. The findings underscore the high quality and distinctiveness of Croatian TMPs, attributed to varied recipes and production techniques across different regions, suggesting the potential for standardization and further quality enhancement. Despite the presence of saturated fats and salt, the nutritional value of these TMPs, marked by high protein content and essential minerals, aligns with health-conscious consumer trends, presenting an opportunity for increased global appreciation of these artisanal products. The positive results from the sensory analysis underscore the TMPs' ability to align with consumer taste preferences, thereby affirming their reputation as a national delicacy. This could represent a promising direction for future research, focusing on the refinement of production and marketing strategies to attract a global audience, especially those with a preference for health-conscious and traditional culinary options.

There is a growing interest in the preservation of indigenous pig breeds, as they serve as a valuable genetic reserve. Pork meat products are widely consumed due to their desirable flavor, which is largely influenced by their chemical composition and the production processes employed. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the nutritional composition, mineral content, and fatty acid profile of meat products derived from indigenous Croatian pig breeds. Three types of meat products, including bacon, dry-cured ham, and dry-fermented sausages, originating from the Turopolje pig, Black Slavonian pig, and Banijska šara, were collected and analyzed for proximate composition, fatty acid profile, and mineral content. Concerning the proximate analysis, statistically significant differences were found in the water and fat content in bacon and dry-fermented sausages, while the mineral analysis revealed differences in iron content. The fatty acid profile of the tested products was found to be in accordance with previously reported data. The results indicated similarities in chemical composition, mineral content, and fatty acid profile between meat products from different pig breeds; however, performing PCA analysis revealed that the major influence on product and breed characterization could be attributed to differences in fatty acid composition.

Nitrite remains a central component in industrial cured meat processing for its role in providing colour stability, oxidative protection, and microbial safety. However, synthetic nitrite is associated with the formation of nitrosamines, leading to increased health concerns and negative consumer perception of synthetic additives, thereby increasing demand for healthier meat products produced with natural nitrite sources. This study employed a two-stage design to assess microbial nitrate curing in cooked sausages and its extension to vegetable powders. In Stage 1, sodium nitrate (100 mg/kg) combined with Staphylococcus carnosus was incubated at 30 or 40 °C for 90 or 180 min. Incubation at 30 °C yielded residual nitrite concentrations of 18–29 mg/kg, corresponding to 35–40% of those in nitrite controls, and resulted in equivalent colour (CIE ΔE* < 2) and oxidative stability (0.07–0.09 mg MDA/kg versus 0.08 mg MDA/kg in the control). In Stage 2, application of red beet (2%) and leek (1%) powders supplying 100 mg/kg NO_3⁻ produced adequate curing but induced substantial compositional and sensory deviations, including higher redness (CIE a* ≈ 23 versus 15), fourfold higher lipid oxidation (0.35–0.42 mg MDA/kg), and intensified vegetable aroma and sweetness. These findings demonstrate that microbial nitrate reduction at 30 °C effectively reproduces the technological performance of direct nitrite addition, whereas vegetable-based nitrate curing introduces significant colour, oxidative, and sensory differentiation, highlighting both potential and limitations of microbial nitrate curing.

Milk urea concentration (MU) has been extensively studied and is often used to evaluate energy and protein balance in dairy cattle diets, but not to this extent in dairy goat diets. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between MU c...