Marina Lazarević

Maize is a major global staple food and feed. Maize grains are highly susceptible to Aspergillus infection and aflatoxin contamination both in the field and in storage. Aflatoxins, primarily produced by A. flavus and A. parasiticus, are highly toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and immunosuppressive, posing serious risks to food safety and human and animal health. Moreover, they cause significant economic losses by reducing product quality, restricting trade and export, and increasing control and storage costs. Although historically most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, Aspergillus spp. and associated aflatoxins contamination are becoming increasingly important in temperate and Mediterranean regions under changing climatic conditions. To protect public health from severe food-safety hazards, most countries have set maximum allowable aflatoxin limits in maize and other crops. Continuous monitoring and the implementation of pre- and post-harvest mitigation strategies, including Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), are essential for reducing plant stress, limiting fungal development, and minimizing the risk of toxin accumulation. The use of climate-resilient and insect-tolerant maize hybrids represents an important component of pre-harvest aflatoxin management. Accordingly, sustainable maize production requires integrated, multidisciplinary, and cost-effective approaches to minimize fungal infection and aflatoxin contamination. This review examines traditional GAP alongside innovative mitigation strategies, such as biocontrol, to reduce fungal and aflatoxin contamination in maize, with a particular emphasis on their applicability to smallholder farmers in high-risk and climate-vulnerable regions, such as Serbia. It also highlights the importance of farmer training and incentives for improving maize production, food safety, and compliance with export regulatory standards.

Milk production in dairy cattle is increasingly challenged by thermal variability. This underscores the need for reliable assessment of microclimatic conditions and their interaction with animal- and management-related factors to ensure sustainable dairy production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of thermal variability and selected environmental and biological factors on key milk production traits in dairy cattle. The influence of fixed factors related to production conditions and microclimatic variability, including the Temperature–Humidity Index (THI) as an indicator of thermal variability, on daily milk yield (MY), milk fat content (MF), and milk protein content (MP) was assessed. This study used a dataset covering two observation periods of daily milk production traits in cows of different breeds (Simmental, Holstein-Friesian, Red Holstein, and Brown Swiss) reared in three regions of the Republic of Serbia (Mačva, Podunavlje, and Šumadija), enabling an assessment of thermal variability under diverse production and microclimatic conditions. The expression and variability of the investigated traits were determined using the PROC FREQ and PROC MEANS procedures, while the effects of individual factors were analysed using general linear and regression models, with results expressed as least squares means. All examined factors showed a highly significant effect on MY, MF, and MP (p < 0.0001). Milk production was highest within the THI range of 51–60, corresponding to thermoneutral conditions, whereas higher THI values (>60) reflect increasing thermal load and were associated with measurable reductions in milk yield, as confirmed by statistical analysis. These findings demonstrate that thermal variability and heat stress significantly influence milk production and composition and highlight the importance of integrating microclimatic indicators into sustainability-oriented dairy management and breeding strategies.

Milk production in dairy cattle is increasingly challenged by thermal variability. This underscores the need for reliable assessment of microclimatic conditions and their interaction with animal- and management-related factors to ensure sustainable dairy production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of thermal variability and selected environmental and biological factors on key milk production traits in dairy cattle. The influence of fixed factors related to production conditions and microclimatic variability, including the Temperature–Humidity Index (THI), on daily milk yield (MY), milk fat content (MF), and milk protein content (MP) was assessed. The study used a dataset covering two observation periods of daily milk production traits in cows of different breeds (Simmental, Holstein-Friesian, Red Holstein, and Brown Swiss) reared in three regions of the Republic of Serbia (Mačva, Podunavlje, and Šumadija), enabling an assessment of thermal variability under diverse production and microclimatic conditions. The expression and variability of the investigated traits were determined using the PROC FREQ and PROC MEANS procedures, while the effects of individual factors were analysed using general linear and regression models, with results expressed as least squares means. All examined factors showed a highly significant effect on MY, MF, and MP (p < 0.0001). Although the overall level of heat stress was moderate, milk production was highest within the THI range of 51–60. These findings demonstrate that thermal variability significantly influences milk production and composition and highlight the importance of integrating microclimatic indicators into sustainability-oriented dairy management and breeding strategies.

Milk yield and composition are among the most important traits in cattle production. The aim of this study was to analyse the production traits of Simmental bull dams in their first lactation in Serbia and to evaluate the influence of the district (breeding region) on the variability of these traits. The study included 408 Simmental cows selected as bull dams from eight districts: Kolubara, Podunavlje, Braničevo, Šumadija, Zaječar, Rasina, Nišava and Belgrade. Milk production traits in the first lactation were standardised to 305 days and included milk yield (kg), milk fat content (%), milk fat yield (kg), protein content (%) and protein yield (kg). The data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the district as a fixed factor. The average milk yield in the first lactation was 6093 kg, with an average milk fat content of 4.00% and protein content of 3.25%, confirming that these cows represent a highly productive segment of the Simmental population in Serbia. Highly statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) were found between the districts for all analysed traits. The highest average milk yield was recorded in the Nišava district (6792 kg), the lowest in the Podunavlje district (5735 kg). The highest milk fat content (4.30%) and the highest milk fat yield (288.89 kg) were recorded in the Zaječar district, while the highest protein content (3.35%) was recorded in the Šumadija district. The results presented indicate the need to optimise selection criteria and improve rearing conditions in districts with lower production levels in order to support the sustainable development of milk production in Serbia.

Serbia has a high potential for livestock production, which is suitable for breeding dual-purpose Simmental cows, both for milk and meat production. High quality animals with strong breeding potential registered in the main herd book are monitored for their production performance, reflecting the national authorities' commitment to the cattle sector. According to the reports of the Institute for Animal Husbandry and the results of the implementation of the main breeding programme in the past five-year period (2024-2029), not only the number of cows, but also the total number of all categories of Simmental cattle in the main herd has decreased in the territory of Central Serbia. Selection process in milk production is carried out through continuous cooperation between farmers-breeders of high-quality breeding cattle - and local breeding organisations, both at local and regional level. In central Serbia, there are over 150 registered local breeding organisations that take on the tasks of recording/registering and selecting the cattle in the herds. In this study, data from the main breeding organisation for livestock farming for the area of central Serbia, the Institute for Animal Husbandry in Zemun, and its annual reports were used. The tabular analysis and the five-year trend of animal numbers are presented according to the number of registered animals, the number of linearly evaluated cows after the first calving and the achieved lactation yield of milk, milk fat and milk protein (standardised to 305 days). Based on the analysed and discussed results of the selection work on Simmental cows, it can be concluded that there has been some progress in milk production, but also a reduction in the number of individuals. It is important to emphasise that these results have an impact on the overall productivity of the cattle population in central Serbia.

The global demand for sustainable lamb production is increasing due to the need for high-quality meat with minimal environmental impact, making the choice of feeding systems crucial. This study investigates the effects of supplemented pasture feeding during the last 60 days of rearing on the meat fatty acid profile, pH value, colour characteristics, and mineral composition of lambs, highlighting the benefits of such feeding systems. Ninety lambs (MIS sheep breed) were divided into three distinct feeding regimes: Group I (alfalfa and concentrate feeding), Group II (white clover [Trifolium repens] pasture with concentrate supplementation), and Group III (birds’ foot trefoil [Lotus corniculatus] pasture with concentrate supplementation). The results have shown that supplemented pasture feeding improves the fatty acid profile by increasing n-3 content and desirable fatty acids, while reducing the n-6/n-3 ratio and atherogenic index (p < 0.05), particularly in lambs finished on an L. corniculatus diet. However, forage-supplemented feeding also reduces meat colour lightness and redness (p < 0.05). On the other hand, it enhances the meat’s mineral profile, with higher calcium, selenium, and iron levels, especially in lambs fed L. corniculatus. These findings underscore the benefits of moderate grazing with supplemental concentrates in optimising lamb meat quality. Importantly, they also highlight the potential of forage legumes like T. repens and L. corniculatus to significantly enhance the nutritional profile of lamb meat, offering a promising outlook for the future of sustainable lamb production. Additionally, this research provides valuable insights that could guide the development of future agricultural practices, dietary guidelines, and environmental policies to advance sustainable and nutritious food systems.

Crop density is a means that controls grain yield establishment. This study was focused on evaluating the effect of four crop densities (CD1—50,125 plants ha⁻¹, CD2—59,523 plants ha⁻¹, CD3—69,686 plants ha⁻¹, and CD4—79,365 plants ha⁻¹) on yield components, grain yield, sustainable yield index (SYI), and rain use efficiency (RUE) of the maize hybrids ZP 500, NS 5010, and AS 534 during 2016–2018. In 2017, due to unfavorable meteorological conditions, ear length, number of grains per ear, grain weight per ear, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, SYI, and RUE were low compared to 2016 and 2018. The hybrid NS 5010 had the lowest ear length, number of grains per ear, grain weight per ear, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, and SYI. Increasing crop density significantly decreased yield components and increased grain yield, SYI, and RUE. The lowest ear length was recorded in treatments CD3 and CD4, the lowest number of grains per ear, grain weight per ear, and 1000-grain weight in treatment CD4. However, the highest grain yield, SYI, and RUE were recorded in the CD4 treatment because the number of plants per unit area is an essential determinant of the final grain yield.

Microclimatic conditions in facilities for housing and rearing young category of breeding dairy cattle at the first 30 days after birth, have a significant impact on the quality of welfare, especially in intensive production. The parameters most often taken into account when evaluating microclimate conditions are: temperature and air humidity, the mutual relationship of which represents the THI (temperature-humid index) index; speed of air flow; air quality (presence of dust and ammonia) and level of light in the facility. The quality of the microclimate in the facilities is directly influenced by the climatic conditions in the external environment, therefore study period on 2 farms (A and B) with an intensive production system was divided into 4 seasons (autumn, winter, spring and summer). Holstein Friesian calves were observed in the period from birth to 30 days of age. The worst microclimatic conditions were recorded during the summer season on both farms (1129 on farm A and 1114 calves on farm B suffered), while the situation was more favorable during the colder period. Also, the best conditions, on both farms, were provided for calves in the first 7 days of life. The most unfavorable impact was the high air temperature, while the air flow, paradoxically, improved the air quality, especially during that period. The overall welfare quality score was similar on the observed farms, 2.25 on farm A and 2.12 on farm B, which can be considered acceptable. At the same time, it indicates the presence of serious problems, the solution of which must be approached most seriously.

Milk fat content stands out as a crucial production trait in cows, and this study delves into its variability based on various factors. The research investigated how the housing method (large farm or individual producers), origin (domestic-rearing or imported cows), and calving season collectively impact this trait. Cows reared on the farm exhibited a higher milk fat content compared to those raised by individual producers. Additionally, primiparous cows from domestic rearing displayed lower milk fat content than their counterparts of imported origin. Among primiparous cows on the farm, those calving in the summer and autumn produced the highest milk fat content. Conversely, primiparous cows calving in the spring season and raised by individual producers recorded the lowest milk fat content. The statistical analysis revealed a highly significant influence of calving season, with a noteworthy interaction among housing method and origin on the observed trait. The significance ranged from statistically highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) to statistically very highly significant (P ≤ 0.001).