No abstract

This research is focused on the immediate contribution of the bees and combs to honey volatiles in order to exclude these compounds as botanical-origin biomarkers for honey authentification. Therefore, the bees were closed in a hive containing empty combs under controlled food-flow conditions (saccharose solution). The obtained 'saccharose honey' probe samples were subjected to ultrasonic solvent extraction (USE), followed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analyses (GC and GC/MS). A total of 66 compounds were identified. Higher alcohols made up ca. 50% of the total volatiles, mainly (Z)-octadec-9-en-1-ol, hexadecan-1-ol, and octadecan-1-ol, with minor percentages of undecan-1-ol, dodecan-1-ol, tetradecan-1-ol, pentadecan-1-ol, and heptadecan-1-ol. Other abundant compounds were saturated long-chain linear hydrocarbons, C(10)-C(25), C(27), and C(28), particularly C(23), C(25), and C(27)). Identified chemical structures were related to the composition of combs and cuticular waxes, and less to the bee pheromones. In addition, the impact of two-hour heat treatment at 80 degrees and one-year storage at room temperature on the same probe was investigated in order to identify thermal and storage artefacts. These findings can be considered as blank-trial probe (no plant source) for honey chemical profiling and identification of reliable botanical origin biomarkers.

Goat breeding has been one of the most important activities of the rural population in Dalmatian Zagora for decades. The predominant breed was, and still is, the Croatian coloured goat, bred almost exclusively for meat. Extensive farming is currently a dominant farming system with some flocks being bred under organic conditions. In this research we monitored an organic flock in the area of Dinara Mountain during one season. Blood samples were randomly collected from 80 does on two occasions: in March in their early lactation and in October in their early gravidity, and were analysed for the most common biochemical parameters (glucose, urea, bilirubin, total proteins, albumin, triglycerides, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and two parameters of metabolic profile (non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)). Significant differences were found between all of the parameters, except BHB and AST. The obtained results from multi-coloured goats may represent a contribution to a better understanding of metabolic processes during early lactation and early gravidity in indigenous Croatian goats.

The aim of this research was to determine the effect of sex, castration, and processing on the chemical properties of mutton in the production of kaštradina—a traditional Dalmatian dry-cured meat product. Therefore, the carcasses of 20 ewes (E), 20 rams (R), and 20 wethers (W) of the Dalmatian pramenka breed were processed by dry-curing. On the 1st, 35th, and 60th days of processing, the samples from the scapulae were taken, then the proximate chemical, NaCl, and mineral analyses were performed, and significant differences between most of the parameters were found. Unlike W, the R samples contained significantly more proteins (p < 0.01), NaCl (p < 0.05), and potassium (p < 0.05) and less fat (p < 0.05). Furthermore, compared to the W and R categories, the E category of kaštradina contained significantly more calcium (p < 0.05). The higher contents of intramuscular fat, potassium, and calcium and lower content of NaCl could positively affect the sensory (marbling, flavor, juiciness, and tenderness) and chemical (fatty acid profile) properties of kaštradina. These findings suggest that the W and E raw mutton could be a better-quality raw material for production of kaštradina than could the R, but further research is needed for a more comprehensive picture of its quality.

The objective of the present study was to determine the influence of age and sex on selected haematological and blood biochemical parameters in organically raised Dalmatian Pramenka lambs. Haematological and blood biochemical parameters were studied in 40 lambs with an equal representation of both sexes. The research lasted four months. Blood samples were collected once per month, from the beginning of the grazing season when lambs were at the average age of three months, and until the end of the production cycle for lamb meat. The distribution of the results according to age showed that the increase in the age of the lambs significantly reduced (P<0.05) the RBC, HGB, HCT and the concentration of GLU, BUN, BIT. The concentration of TP, ALB, GLO and the activity of enzyme AST significantly increased (P<0.05) with the increasing age of the lambs. The distribution of results by sex showed that female lambs had significantly higher WBC (P<0.05), RBC (P<0.01), and HGB (P<0.05) concentration, while male lambs had significantly higher values of MCV (P<0.01) and concentration of FFA (P<0.01). In conclusion, this research demonstrated that age and sex significantly influence most of the haematological and blood biochemical parameters of organically raised Dalmatian Pramenka lambs.