Sodium, potassium and chlorides play a crucial role in maintaining body acid-base balance as well as osmotic pressure in body fluids. These processes are the result of synergetic action of all three elements, and the role of each individual component is diffi cult to defi ne without knowing and taking into consideration the other two elements. The maintenance of this value is determined by three major factors – balance and ratio ofelectrolytes in feed, endogenous acid production and level of renal activity. Electrolyte imbalance is quite rare, since body’s buff ering system provides maintenance of normal physiological pH value. Th is article will give an overview of the role, importance and needs of poultry for sodium, potassium and chlorides, as well as occurrences related to defi cit and the imbalance of those elements in feed.

The results of the research into the microbiological contamination of litter used by broiler chickens are presented. Litter samples were taken prior to the introduction of chicks (day 0) and in 7-day intervals until the end of the fattening period. The total numbers of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, yeasts, moulds and Clostridium perfringens spores, and the presence of bacteria of the Salmonella genus were determined. The total microbial count in newly laid litter was 7 log 10 CFU/g, which increased to 9 log 10 CFU/g by the 4 th week. However, at the end of the 5 th week, it was at the same level as in newly laid litter. C. perfringens spores, presumably originating from chicks' faeces, were first detected on day 7. In the next 7 days their number increased, reaching 3-4 log 10 CFU/g, and remained at approximately same levels until the end of the research. The initial mould contamination was 5-6 log 10 CFU/g. However, from day 21 moulds were not isolated, but only yeasts of the Saccharomyces genus. It is supposed that these were deposited with chicks' faeces, due to their presence in complete broiler feed. No bacteria of the Salmonella genus were ever isolated from the litter. In conclusion, the total numbers of microorganisms in deep litter reach their peak in approximately a month, which is followed by their decrease. Deep litter is a favourable environment for probiotic yeast cultures. Added to feed intended for broilers, they can positively influence the microbial composition of litter, providing healthier environment to fattening broilers.

In order to diff erentiate between many honey types on Serbian market, consumers read labels, which represent an important aspect of packaging “catching” the consumer’s eyes as well as carrying all the necessary informa-tion about the product, producer and seller. As consumers are more and more aware of health problems and nutrition they pay attention to the in-formation written on the labels on diff erent products. Th e aim of this study was to inspect labels on honey packages collected in an offi cial monitoring during October 2017. In total 60 honey samples were collected and exam-ined. Of all examined honey samples, 46 (76.67%) labels did not fulfi ll pre-scribed conditions according to Legislative on quality of honey and other bee products and Declaration, labeling and marketing of food (“Offi cial Gazette RS”, No. 101/2015; “Official Gazette RS” No. 85/13 and No. 101/13), while only 14 (23.33%) did. Th is results lead to indispensible need to in-form and educate beekeepers about the actual laws and regulations in order to make labels that contain all the information required, which might pos-sibly also raise the consumption of honey to higher level.

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Coccidiosis is a significant poultry disease caused by the Eimeria species. This study aims to determine the prevalence of Eimeria spp. on broiler farms in Vojvodina, along with the identification of parasite species, and assess the implemented biosecurity measures. The study was conducted on 100 broiler chicken farms (28 small-sized; 34 medium-sized; 38 large-sized farms) from June 2018 to December 2021. One pooled sample of faeces was collected from three to six-week-old chickens from each farm, and assessment of biosecurity measures was carried out using a questionnaire. Using the PCR method, DNA of Eimeria was found in 59 samples (59%), while 41 samples (41%) were negative. Four species of Eimeria were identified, and their prevalence was the following: E. acervulina (37%), E. maxima (17%), E. mitis (25%) and E. tenella (48%). A significant difference (p < 0.05) was established in the number of oocysts in flocks from small-sized farms compared to medium-sized farms. It was found that regular implementation of disinfection, disinsection and deratisation measures, as well as all the biosecurity measures, can significantly reduce the occurrence of coccidiosis. These results will help to develop better strategies for the control and prevention of coccidiosis on farms.

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is a respiratory disease of poultry characterized by high morbidity and variable mortality. ILT is caused by Gallid alpha herpesvirus-1 (GaHV-1), which is transmitted horizontally and most susceptible are chickens older than 4 weeks. After almost two decades since last appearance of this disease in Vojvodina, an outbreak occurred from April 2020 to August 2021 on five laying hen farms and one broiler breeder flock farm. Clinical signs were mild to severe respiratory symptoms, unilateral or bilateral head swelling, serous nasal discharge, conjunctivitis and increased tearing. There was a decrease in feed consumption (2.1–40.0%) and egg production (2.7–42.0%), weight loss and mortality increased (0.8–31.5%). Pathomorphological changes were localized in the upper respiratory tract. Total of 200 carcasses were examined; 40 pooled samples were analyzed by PCR, and 40 by bacteriological analysis. ILT virus was confirmed in tracheal tissue samples. Infected flocks were not vaccinated against this disease. Five flocks had coinfection with Avibacterium paragallinarum. Three-to-four weeks after the first reported case in the flock, clinical symptoms had ceased. Future control and prevention strategies will involve the procurement of flocks vaccinated by recombinant vaccine or the registration of live attenuated vaccines and their use during the rearing period.

Heat stress (HS) is one of the greatest problems in contemporary chicken production and it entails significant economic losses. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of early-age thermal conditioning (ETC), vitamin C (Vit C) supplementation, and their combination on the production characteristics and specific quality parameters of the meat of broilers which were exposed to chronic HS in the last two weeks of breeding. Four hundred broilers (Cobb 500) of both sexes were divided into 4 experimental groups. Group C was given Vit C (2 g/L) dissolved in water from day 22 until the end of production. Group T was exposed to ETC for a period of 24 h at the temperature of 38 ± 1 ºC and 40%-60% relative humidity on the fifth day of breeding. Group TC was the combination of the groups T and C, while group K was the control group. The results indicate that ETC, independently or in combination with Vit C, improves the production characteristics in terms of feed conversion reduction (P < 0.05). The examined treatments increase the volume (P < 0.05) of certain parts of the body (carcass, legs and thighs, and back) with regards to total body weight, especially in group TC. Regarding meat quality determined according to pH value and meat color criteria (CIEL*), the best results were also observed in group TC, followed by groups T and C. These results justify the use of Vit C and ETC in summer conditions, when heat stress is expected; however, the best results can be achieved by combining these two methods, thus producing a synergistic effect.