Enzyme supplementation of diets enhances broiler performance by improving some of the basic production parameters such as average feed intake, feed conversion ratio, or average weight gain. The enzyme NSPase is commonly used in broiler diets containing high levels of viscous cereals such as barley, oat, wheat, or sorghum. The use of NSPase in diets with different levels of sunflower meal has been not been extensively explored. The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of sunflower meal levels in grower and finisher broiler diets supplemented or not with enzymes (cellulase, β-glucanase, and xylanase) on broiler performance, intestinal function, and carcass traits. A completely randomized experimental design, with 3*2 factorial arrangement with five replicates, was applied (1200 Ross 308 broilers). Sunflower meal inclusion and enzyme supplementation started in grower phase. Broiler performance significantly improved in grower phase (weight gain and feed conversion ratio) by enzyme supplementation, while the effect of sunflower meal was evident in finisher phase, when it significantly reduced weight gain. Sunflower meal increased ileal viscosity, and the interaction between diet and enzyme supplementation was statistically significant. Maltase activity was reduced with sunflower meal dietary inclusion, while enzyme supplementation had no effect either on maltase or sucrase activity. There were no any effects of sunflower meal inclusion with or without enzyme supplementation on carcass characteristics. It can be concluded that high inclusion of sunflower meal in broiler diets may impair broiler performance, but this may be overcome by enzyme supplementation. The effect of enzyme supplementation more evident in the grower phase than in the finisher phase.

Serbia is a country which has repeatedly changed aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) legislation in milk. As a country that clearly has aspiration toward the EU membership, Serbia implemented the EU legislation for this mycotoxin at level of 0.050 μg/kg. However, due to high occurrence of AFM1 in milk, legislation has been changed several times in the past few years as an effort to preserve domestic milk production. This paper presents the results of four years monitoring of different milk types taken from Serbian market and from Serbian farmers. The samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography on ODS Hypersil column with fluorescence detector (FLD), after cleanup on immunoaffinity column. Limit of quantification was 0.005 μg/kg, while obtained mean value for trueness was 95.1%, respectively. Average AFM1 levels in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 were 0.205, 0.127, 0.238. and 0.269 μg/kg, respectively. Overall occurrence of AFM1 was 80.9%, with the average content of 0.216 μg/kg (ranged from 0.005 to 5.078 μg/kg). According to this, 49.1% of samples were above the EU regulation. In years to come, Serbia will have a challenge to produce the milk that is in compliance with the permitted level of AFM1. Especially, when it is known that in not so distant future, an increase in temperature as a result of the certain climate changes is expected.

Silage made from the whole-plant maize is one of the most popular forages in Serbia. Consumption of maize silage by cows can be up to 30-35 kg/day. In Serbia in the few last years in the focus of the public and agriculture community were two mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 and its metabolite aflatoxin M1 due to the outbreak of contaminated maize which affected the Balkans in 2012. Maize is regularly checked on the occurrence of aflatoxin B1, however forages are often neglected as a potential source of mycotoxins in the nutrition of dairy cattle. In this work, 48 samples of maize silage were analyzed for the occurrence of aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A and zearalenone. Samples were collected from three regions (Bačka, Banat and Srem) in Vojvodina. In all samples, at least one mycotoxin above the limit of quantification was measured. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 36 (75%) samples. In two samples from Banat, the concentration of aflatoxin B1 exceeded the maximum level (ML) set by Serbian regulation (30 µg/kg at moisture content of 12%). In seven samples, the concentration of aflatoxin B1 was above 20 µg/kg which is the EU regulated ML. Average concentration of ochratoxin A was 10.4 µg/kg, while the maximum measured value was 34.3 µg/kg. Maximum zearalenone content in all samples was 538 µg/kg while the average zearalenone concentration was 138 µg/kg. The results from this research point out that mycotoxin contaminated silage in the region of Vojvodina, Serbia can significantly contribute to daily intake of aflatoxin B1 in dairy cattle.

In this 3х2 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 и 16%)), the goal was to investigate the effects of exogenous enzymes Roxazyme G2G (cellulase (endo-1,4-(β-glucanase), βglucanase (endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase) and xylanase (endo-1,4-β 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 (р<0.05), but the effects were most evident in diets with the reduced level of metabolizable energy.

Ochratoxin A is a potential contaminant of feed and consequently meat and meat products. Residues of this mycotoxin in meat can pose a food safety issue. Swine production in Serbia and the northern province of Vojvodina is highly developed, since household consumers in Serbia frequently purchase pork. The occurrence of OTA in pig’s kidney taken from the slaughter line is a good indicator of the presence of this mycotoxin in meat and meat products. A total of 95 pig’s kidneys from Vojvodina, Serbia, were analyzed for ochratoxin A. The results from 19 farms (5 samples per farm from Bačka, Banat and Srem districts of Vojvodina) showed the presence of OTA in 14.74% (14/95 kidneys). The average OTA content was 1.36 μg/kg, median 0.99 μg/kg, and range from 0.10 to 3.97 μg/kg. Results from our research do not suggest any serious problems with OTA contamination in pig’s kidneys, but continuous monitoring is needed to avoid any possible future problems.