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.

Previous studies in hares and jackrabbits have indicated that positive selection has shaped the genetic diversity of mitochondrial genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, which may affect cellular energy production and cause regional adaptation to different environmental (climatic) pressures. In the present study, we sequenced the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 (MT-ND6) gene of 267 brown hares (L. europaeus) from Europe and Asia Minor and tested for positive selection and adaptations acting on amino acid sequences (protein variants). Molecular diversity indices and spatial clustering were assessed by DnaSP, Network, and Geneland, while the presence of selection signals was tested by codeml in PAML, and by using the Datamonkey Adaptive Evolution web server. The SPSS software was used to run multinomial regression models to test for possible effects of climate parameters on the currently obtained protein variants. Fifty-eight haplotypes were revealed with a haplotype diversity of 0.817, coding for 17 different protein variants. The MT-ND6 phylogeographic pattern as determined by the nucleotide sequences followed the earlier found model based on the neutrally evolving D-loop sequences, and reflected the earlier found phylogeographic Late Pleistocene scenario. Based on several selection tests, only one codon position consistently proved to be under positive selection. It did occur exclusively in the evolutionarily younger hares from Europe and it gave rise to several protein variants from the southeastern and south-central Balkans. The occurrence of several of those variants was significantly favored under certain precipitation conditions, as proved by our multinomial regression models. Possibly, the great altitudinal variation in the Balkans may have lead to bigger changes in precipitation across that region and this may have imposed an evolutionarily novel selective pressure on the protein variants and could have led to regional adaptation.

In this 3?2 factorial design trial with three different levels of metabolizable energy (13.4, 13.00, 12.6 MJ/kg), with and without exogenous enzymes (nutrition density was reduced by introducing sunflower meal in different percentage to diet (0, 8 ? 16%)), the goal was to investigate the effects of exogenous enzymes Roxazyme G2G (cellulase (endo-1,4-(?-glucanase), ?- glucanase (endo-1,3(4)-?-glucanase) and xylanase (endo-1,4- ? xylanase)) on digestibility and energy utilization. Effects of enzymes were most visible in diet with 13.00 MJ/kg and 12.6 MJ/kg while this effect was unnoticed in the group with 13.4 MJ/kg. Reducing of ME caused the decrease in digestibility and metabolizability (ME/GE). The results suggest that exogenous enzymes, used in this trial, increase digestibility of crude proteins, NDF, hemicelluloses and ash (?<0.05), but the effects were most evident in diets with the reduced level of metabolizable energy.

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.

Wild Boar is an autochthonous big game species important for the domestic hunting sector. In the past decades this species is increasing in number across Europe, which influences the extent of crop damages and intensity of the human-wildlife conflict. In this study Wild Boar hunting management was analyzed both at the national and regional level. For that purpose data from management plans of 272 hunting grounds were used. Beside the management plans, this study includes a survey of 377 hunters. The results indicate that Wild Boar population abundance is increasing in the Republic of Serbia, partially because the planned and realized shooting are not harmonized. There are differences in hunting management between the regions of Vojvodina and Central Serbia. The survey has shown that among domestic hunters Wild Boar is a popular game species, especially due to the attractive way of hunting.

To maximize protein production from insects, it is essential to understand their nutritional requirements, production characteristics, and the chemical properties of the resulting feed, along with how these factors depend on the insects’ diets. This research involved the use of nine different insect diets, all based on wheat bran. Corn and soybean meal were included to enhance the energy and protein content. The weight gain of larvae was significantly affected by the level of protein in their feed; however, the energy level did not have a significant impact on the weight gain measured in grams per day per tray. This gain ranged from 0.57 g/day per tray for insects fed low-energy, low-protein diets to 0.71 g/day per tray for those fed high-protein, medium-energy diets. Feed conversion ranged from 1.83 to 2.34 and was significantly influenced by energy and protein levels. The chemical composition of reared insects showed significant differences, particularly in fat content. The fat content ranged from 38.5% with a low-protein diet to just 26.9% with a high-protein diet. In contrast to fat content, the variability in protein content was smaller, ranging from 44.8% in a low-protein, high-energy diet to 51.9% in a high-protein, high-energy diet.