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In this perspective analysis, we strive to answer the following question: how can we advance integrative biology research in the 21st century with lessons from animal science? At the University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Animal Science, we share here our three lessons learned in the two decades from 2002 to 2022 that we believe could inform integrative biology, systems science, and animal science scholarship in other countries and geographies. Cultivating multiomics knowledge through a conceptual lens of integrative biology is crucial for life sciences research that can stand the test of diverse biological, clinical, and ecological contexts. Moreover, in an era of the current COVID-19 pandemic, animal nutrition and animal science, and the study of their interactions with human health (and vice versa) through integrative biology approaches hold enormous prospects and significance for systems medicine and ecosystem health.

Submitted 2020-07-24 | Accepted 2020-08-31 | Available 2020-12-01 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2020.23.mi-fpap.276-281 The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of genotype and sex on growth and carcass traits of grazing lambs. A total of 32 lambs (16 Improved Jezersko-Solcava - JSR and 16 crossbreds with Texel - JSRT, 8 males and 8 females within each genotype) were included in the study. The lambs were grazed together with their dams from the beginning of the grazing period and had free access to commercial concentrate from the age of 10 days. Lambs were weaned at the average body weight of 22.9 kg. Feeding with a concentrate was finished when lambs achieved 35 kg of body weight and were slaughtered. Daily gains from birth to slaughter and from weaning to slaughter were calculated. Several carcass traits were determined. JSRT lambs had significantly higher daily gain from birth to slaughter, hot and cold carcass weights, and dressing percentages compared to JSR lambs. Carcass conformation was higher in JSRT than JSR carcasses. Also, carcasses of JSRT were shorter and wider than JSR carcasses. Rib eye muscle areas of JSRT lambs were significantly larger, and the colour was significantly lighter. Males had significantly higher average daily gain from birth to slaughter and from weaning to slaughter than females. Females had higher dressing percentages and subcutaneous and internal fatness scores than males. Females had significantly higher amount of kidney fat. The colour of males’ meat was significantly lighter than that of females. Crossbreeding with Texel rams improved growth and carcass traits of lambs, and males had better growth performance and several carcass traits than females. Keywords: lambs, commercial crossbreeding, sex, growth, carcass trait References Blasco, M. et al. (2019). Effect of Texel crossbreeding on productive traits, carcass and meat quality of Segurena lambs. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 99, 3335-3342. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.9549 Cardoso, M. T. M. et al. (2013). Performance and carcass quality in three genetic groups of sheep in Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia, 42(10), 734-742. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982013001000007 Claffey, N. A. et al. (2018). Effect of breed and castration on production and carcass traits of male lambs following an intensive finishing period. Translational Animal Science, 2, 407-418. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txy070 Do Prado Paim, T. et al. (2013). Performance, survivability and carcass traits of crossbred lambs from five paternal breeds with local hair breed Santa Ines ewes. Small Ruminant Research, 112, 28-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2012.12.024 Facciolongo, A. M. et al. (2018). Effect of diet lipid source (linseed vs. soybean) and gender on performance, meat quality and intramuscular fatty acid composition in fattening lambs. Small Ruminant Research, 159, 11-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2017.11.015 Freitas-de-Melo, A. et al. (2019). Behavioral pattern in Texel x Corriedale terminal crossbreeding: Maternal behavior score at birth, lambs’ feeding behaviors, and behavioral responses of lambs to abrupt weaning. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 30, 9-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2018.10.007 Nunes, I. A. et al. (2019). Performance, carcass characteristics, and centesimal composition of meat from Santa Ines lambs and Texel crossbred lambs (Santa Ines × Texel). Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 99(2), 228-236. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjas-2016-0231 Perez, P. et al. (2007). Gender and slaughter weight effects on carcass quality traits of suckling lambs from four different genotypes. Small Ruminant Research, 70, 124-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2006.01.013 SAS. (2014). SAS/STAT® 13.2 User’s Guide. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. Scales, G. H. et al. (2000). Effect of sire breed on growth, carcass, and wool characteristics of lambs born to Merino ewes in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 43(1), 93-100. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.2000.9513412

Sheep rearing on mountain pastures is an ancestral tradition in northwestern Slovenia. The indigenous Bovec sheep are widespread there and are well adapted to the rough Alpine rearing conditions. Every year, after weaning, the sheep start grazing in the lowlands (L) and then gradually move to mountain pastures, and finally, to the highland (H) pastures of the Alps. Grazing positively affects the fatty acid (FA) composition in sheep milk fat with increased availability of polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) in grass, and subsequently, in milk. Consequently, the objective of this work was to study the FA profile in sheep milk during grazing in four geographical areas in the Alps. A total of 15 ewes of the Bovec sheep breed were randomly selected and milk samples from these ewes were taken at four different pasture locations that differed with regard to altitude: the L pasture location at an altitude of 480 m, the mountain pastures (M1 and M2) at altitudes of 1100 to 1300 m and 1600 to 1900 m, respectively, and the H pastures at altitudes of 2100 to 2200 m. Milk samples from the ewes were taken during the grazing season from April to September. The chemical and FA composition of the milk samples from each pasture location were determined. There were significant differences in the concentrations of FA among the L, M1, M2 and H milk samples. We observed decreases of the concentrations of saturated FA (SFA) in milk from L to H pastures. The concentration of α-linolenic FA, monounsaturated FA (MUFA), PUFA and n-3 PUFA in milk were increased significantly with pasture altitude. The n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio was reduced by the change of pasture altitude with the lowest value at the M1 pasture (1.5). The concentrations of total SFA decreased significantly and was lowest at the L pasture. Our results underline the importance of the effect of grazing in the Alpine region associated with pasture altitude on the FA profile of sheep milk. The first variation in FA concentration in sheep milk occurred between L and M1, although it was more evident on H pastures in the Alpine mountains. Changes of the FA profile in sheep milk due to pasture altitude were related to variation in FA concentration in the pasture and the botanical composition of the pasture location.

Received: 2018-05-31 | Accepted: 2018-05-31 | Available online: 2018-11-26 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2018.21.04.179-182 Somatic cell count (SCC) is a useful indicator of intramammary infection of cow’s udders and a standard of quality and hygiene of cow’s milk in many countries. The main non-inflammatory factors influencing SCC in goat milk are intrinsic depending directly on the animal and extrinsic where some of them are routinely recorded along milk recording. The objective of this study was to determine the sources of non-genetic variation for SCC in Alpine (ALP) and Saanen (SAN) dairy goat populations based on Croatian (CRO) and Slovenian (SVN) milk recording data. For that purpose, test day records (327,404 in total) were used. They were collected over the period from 2005 to 2017 in Alpine (ALP) and Saanen (SAN) goat populations in Croatia (CRO) and Slovenia (SVN). The majority of records (310,371) represent CRO data, while SVN data included 17,033 records. Data have been obtained from the Central database of Croatian Agricultural Agency and Slovenian Central Database for Small Ruminants, which are collected according to the ICAR standards. Data were analysed using MIXED procedure in SAS/STAT, based on the REML method. Results showed significant effect of the population, parity, litter size, year and month of kidding and interaction between them as well as the effect of the stage of lactation nested within the population on the SCC in milk of studied goat populations. Keywords: Alpine goat, Croatia, dairy goat, logSCC, Saanen goat, Slovenia, somatic cell count References Ali T.E., Schaeffer, L.R., (1987) Accounting for covariances among test day milk yields in dairy cows. Canadian Journal of Animal Science, 67, 1233-1240. ICAR. (2018) Section 16 – Guidelines for performance recording in dairy sheep and dairy goats. Available at: https://www.icar.org/Guidelines/16-Dairy-Sheep-and-Goats.pdf [Accessed 1 May 2018]. Jimenez-Granado, R., Sanchez-Rodrigues, M., Arce C., Rodrigues-Estevez, V. (2014) Factors affecting somatic cell count in dairy goats: a review. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 12 (1), 133-150. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2014121-3803 CAA (2017) Annual report 2016. Sheep and goats. Zagreb: Croatian Agricultural Agency. Available at: http://www.hpa.hr/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Ov%C4%8Darstvo-i-kozarstvo.pdf [Accessed 1 May 2018]. Rupp, R., Clement, V., Piacere, A., Robert-Granie, C., Manfredi, E. (2011) Genetic parameters for milk somatic cell score and relationship with production and udder type traits in dairy Alpine and Saanen primiparous goats. Journal of dairy science, 94 (7), 3629-3634. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2010-3694 SAS Institute (2011) SAS/STAT Software, Version 9.3. Cary, NC. Savsek, R., Simcic, M., Cividini, A., Birtic, D., Drasler, D., Zajc, P., Krsnik, J., Stepec, M., Mrkun, J., Potokar, D. (2018) Porocilo o opravljenem delu znotraj STRP na podrocju reje drobnice v letu 2017. Domžale: Zveza drustev rejcev drobnice, Oddelek za zootehniko

Thirty two autochthonous Jezersko-Solčava lambs were used to investigate the effect of production (pasture vs. stable) and weaning system (suckling vs. weaned) on fatty acid composition of Longissimus dorsi intramuscular fat in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Pasture lambs had lower intramuscular fat concentration (P0.0001) more PUFA and trans C18:1, more ALA (P=0.0322), ARA (0.0001) and EPA (0.0149) but less SFA (P0.0001) than stable lambs. Weaning system affected PUFA (P=0.0040) and MUFA (P=0.0070) but not SFA and trans C18:1 fatty acids. The interaction of production system and weaning system was significant mainly for trans C18:1 and trans C18:2 fatty acids. Finally, lamb meat from all four treatments which are traditionally used in rearing of Jezersko-Solčava lambs are favourable from the nutritive point of view, due to their low n-6/n-3 ratio.

In this study, the body condition score (BCS) of 55 Slovenian Alpine goats at artificial insemination was recorded over a period of two years. The effect of the doe BCS at insemination on the litter size at birth, the number of weaned kids, the birth weight of the kids, and the interval between parities was studied. The BCS at artificial insemination significantly affected the litter size at birth (P < 0.001) and, the number of weaned kids (P < 0.05). The number of kids born and weaned per doe was the highest in does with a BCS of 2.0 and 2.5 compared to does with a BCS of 1.5, 3.0 or 3.5. The results suggest an optimum BCS between 2.0 and 2.5 at insemination or mating to achieve a higher litter size per female. The birth weight of the kids differed significantly depending on the BCS of the does (P < 0.05) with the highest birth weight occurring in the kids of does with a BCS of 3.5, 3.0 and 1.5. Considering all these results, body condition scoring could be an effective method for the goat breeders to optimally manage body reserves and thus increase the production efficiency in terms of prolificacy in their flocks.

In Slovenia low and medium production systems are prevalent in sheep breeding. The rearing technology depends on a large number of factors. The main factors affecting the choice of rearing technology are sheep breed, local conditions, season of mating and weaning time. In the present study the rearing technology in sheep breeding was analyzed. This analysis included the results of 293 questionnaires from sheep breeders of autochthonous Jezersko-Solcava and Improved Jezersko-Solcava breed. Data were subjected to the frequency analysis, using the FREQ procedure of the SAS Statistical Software (1990). The population size in the flocks of these breeders was mostly from 5 to 50 animals (73.3%). The lambing system is year-round (80%) and seasonal (7.5%). The wanted litter size of 47% of breeders is just one live born lamb. Breeders weaned their lambs at 60-90 days of age or even later. Lambs stayed with their mothers almost till the end of lactation (16-20 weeks) or till the sale to the market when they weighted 30-35 kg. Early spring and summer born lambs stayed with their mothers on the pastures with no supplement. Winter born lambs stayed with their mothers in the stable, fed by hay and supplement (cereals or commercial concentrate). The rearing technology used by Slovenian sheep breeders is sustainable and gives the opportunity for conservation of autochthonous breeds in the original environment.

Thirteen improved Jezersko-Solcˇava lambs (JSR) and 16 crossbreds with Charollais (JSRxCH) were used to evaluate the effect of genotype and sex on carcass traits. Lambs were weaned at around 60 days of age. They were fed with commercial concentrate and hay ad libitum and slaughtered at 30 kg of average live weight at 103 days of age. Crossbred lambs had at the same live weight at slaughter better conformation (9.19 on 15 points scale) than JSR lambs (7.58). Carcasses of crossbred lambs had lower proportion of fat in hind leg and lower proportion of kidney fat. Female lambs had better dressing proportion (46.25%) than male lambs (42.72%). Females had also higher scores for both internal and subcutaneous fatness and higher percentage of kidney fat. They had higher proportion of fat and lower proportion of bone in hind leg.

This study investigated some carcass and meat quality traits of Boer kids (17 male and 17 female) at two different average slaughter ages (83 and 139 days). Jointed cuts of half carcasses arranged from the greatest to the smallest were: hind leg (28.5%), rib and flank (21.2%), shoulder (19.3%), back (8.5%), loin (7.9%), neck (7.6%) and chuck (3.4%). Male kids had significantly higher percentage of the neck cuts (p≤0.001) while females had significantly higher percentage of rib and flank cuts (p≤0.05). At higher slaughter ages neck (p≤0.05) and chuck (p≤0.001) percentages significantly decreased and rib and flank (p≤0.001) percentage significantly increased. On average, hind leg had 72.2 % of muscle, 8.6 % of fat and 18.8 % of bone. Female kids had higher muscle and lower bone hind leg content than males (p≤0.01). Hind leg bone content significantly decreased at higher slaughter age (p≤0.01). Meat from male kids displayed significantly higher cie L*(p≤0.001) and b*(p≤0.05) values than females. At higher slaughter age L* values significantly decreased (p≤0.01) while a* and b* values significantly increased (p≤0.001; p≤0.01).

Forty lambs (progeny of two different genotype sires and Jezersko-Solcava ewes) were used to evaluate the effect of slaughter weight, genotype and sex on non-carcass components, carcass characteristics, carcass cuts and meat quality of Longissimus dorsi. Twenty-eight lambs were progeny by improved Jezersko-Solcava (JSR) sire (JSR lambs) and twelve were progeny by Texel (T) sire (JSRT lambs). After 10 days of age lambs were fed with commercial concentrate and hay ad libitum. Lambs remained indoors with their dams until weaning at 60 days of age. Lambs were divided into three groups according to genotype/sire and slaughter weight. JSR lambs were divided into JSR-light group (6 males and 6 females) and JSR-heavy group (6 males and 10 females). All Texel sired lambs representing the third group of JSRT lambs (6 males and 6 females). JSR-light group was slaughtered at the average 29.5 kg of live weight, JSR-heavy group and JSRT group were slaughtered at the adjusted 44 kg of live weight. Slaughter weight had effect on all non-carcass components presenting JSR-heavy the highest percentage. JSR-heavy carcasses had higher carcass fatness and were longer and wider in shoulder and hindleg. Slaughter weight affected carcass cuts, having the JSR-heavy lower percentage of shoulder and hindleg, but higher percentage of rib with flank. JSR-heavy carcasses had redder meat than JSR-light. When comparing JSRT and JSR-heavy lambs, JSRT had lower percentage of liver and lungs and higher percentage of head and pelt. JSRT carcasses had lower fatness, better conformation score and better dressing proportion than JSR- heavy. The composition of hindleg showed that JSRT carcasses had higher percentage of muscle and lower percentage of bone in hindleg than JSR-heavy carcasses. Meat quality differ only in b* value with more yellow meat in JSRT than JSR-heavy. Sex had effect on liver, heart and head with higher percentages in males. Males had lower dressing percentage, lower carcass fatness and higher percentages of neck, chuck and shoulder and had lighter meat. It was concluded that progeny by Texel sire had better carcass characteristics especially dressing percentage, carcass fatness and carcass conformation. Slaughtering JSR lambs at 44 kg of live weight have as a result longer and wider carcasses with slightly higher carcass fatness score, greater muscle and lower bone percentage in hindleg than JSR lambs slaughtered at 29.5 kg of live weight.

The usage of the mare’s milk as functional food especial for children intolerant to cow’s milk, with neurodermitis, allergies and similar disorders desiring to improve the quality of life is fiercely debated for last decades but there were no scientific studies to suggest such use of mare’s milk based on scientific research. The objectives of this study were to determine similarities of mare’s milk in comparison with milk of ruminants (cattle, sheep and goat) and human milk in terms of milk composition and protein fraction as whey proteins, caseins and micelles size. All differences were discussed regarding usage of mare’s milk in human diet and compared to milk which is usually used in human nutrition. Regarding composition, the mare’s milk is similar to human milk in of crude protein, salt and lactose content, but it has significantly lower content of fat. Fractions of main proteins are similar between human and mare’s milk, except nitrogen casein (casein N) which has twice lower content in human than in mare’s milk. Content of casein N from all ruminants’ milk differ much more. Just for true whey N and non-protein nitrogen (NPN) similar content as human and mare’s milk has also goat milk. The casein content is the lowest in human milk; this content is three times greater in mare’s milk and six to seven times greater in goat’s and cow’s milk, while in sheep’s milk it is more than 10 times grater. In many components and fractions mare’s milk is more similar to human milk than milk of ruminants. A detail comparison of protein fraction shows quite large differences between milk of different species. More study and clinical research are needed that can recommend usage of mare’s milk in human diet as functional food on scientific bases., Upotreba kobiljeg mlijeka kao funkcionalne hrane, s ciljem poboljšanja kvalitete života, osobito djeci netolerantnoj na kravlje mlijeko s utvrđenim neurodermatitisima, alergijama te sličnim poremećajima, tema je mnogih rasprava posljednjih godina. No, nedovoljno je znanstvenih studija koje bi predlagale upotrebu kobiljeg mlijeka baziranu na znanstvenim činjenicama. Ciljevi ovoga rada bili su utvrđivanje sličnosti između kobiljeg mlijeka i mlijeka preživača (goveda, ovce i koze) te humanog mlijeka, obzirom na kemijski sastav mlijeka te proteinske frakcije odnosno proteine sirutke, kazeine te veličinu micela. Utvrđene razlike analizirane su s aspekta upotrebe kobiljeg mlijeka u prehrani ljudi te komparirane s kravljim mlijekom. Obzirom na sastav, kobilje mlijeko slično je humanom glede sadržaja sirovih proteina, minerala i laktoze, no sadrži značajno manji udio mliječne masti. Obzirom na glavne proteinske frakcije, kobilje je mlijeko slično humanom uz izuzetak kazeinaskog N, čiji je sadržaj u humanom dvostruko niži, dok su u mlijeku preživača utvrđene znatno veće razlike. Sadržaj ukupnih proteina sirutke i neproteinskog dušika (NPN) sličan onome u humanom i kobiljem utvrđen je i u kozjem mlijeku. Sadržaj kazeina u mlijeku najniži je u humanom mlijeku, tri puta je viši u kobiljem, šest do sedam puta viši u kozjem i kravljem, te više od deset puta u mlijeku ovaca. Obzirom na mnoge uspoređene komponente i frakcije, kobilje je mlijeko sličnije humanom u odnosu na mlijeko preživača. Detaljna usporedba proteinskih frakcija ukazuje na vrlo veliku razliku između mlijeka različitih vrsta domaćih životinja. Prije znanstveno utemeljene preporuke upotrebe kobiljeg mlijeka kao funkcionalne hrane u prehrani ljudi potrebne su dodatne znanstvene studije te klinička istraživanja.

Twenty-eight (12 male and 16 female) of improved Jezersko-solèava lambs with Romanov (JSR) were used to evaluate the effect of live weight and sex on carcass traits and meat quality. Lambs were weaned at around 60 days of age. They were fed with commercial concentrate and hay ad libitum and slaughtered at 29 kg or 43 kg of average live weight at 105 or 126 days of age. Daily gain from birth to slaughter was higher than 300 g/day and was very similar for both groups. There were no differences between light and heavy lambs in carcass conformation and dressing percentage. Heavy lambs were longer, wider and fatter. The difference in lungs, head and pelt percentage were statistically significant. With increased live weight at slaughter the percentage of neck, back and rib with flank increased and chuck, shoulder and hindleg decreased. Muscle percentage in hindleg increased and bone percentage decreased as live weight increased. Considering meat quality, heavier lambs had lower lightness and higher redness. Lighter lambs had higher pH45 value. Differences between sexes were statistically significant for dressing percentage and carcass fatness with higher values for females. Males had higher percentage of liver and head, higher proportion of neck, chuck and shoulder and lower proportion of back and loin. Males tended to have higher values for muscle and bone proportion, and lower proportion of fat in hindleg. Males had lighter meat. Sex had no effect on pH values.