A study on the nutritive value of dried apple pomace and possibilities for using its utilization in the industrial production of animal feed

Apple pomace is a by-product of the industrial production of apple juice, amounting to approximately 20-30% of freshly processed apples. Several million tonnes of apple pomace is produced in the world annually. Fresh apple pomace is characterised by high sugar and moisture content, which makes it susceptible to microbial contamination, uncontrolled fermentation and spoiling. Despite increasingly stricter legal regulations in managing biodegradable waste, large quantities of apple pomace are still being disposed of at landfills, posing a serious environmental issue. Since apple pomace has a certain nutritive value, it seems necessary to consider possibilities for using it as animal feed. The main goal of this research was to examine the possibility for using dried apple pomace as animal feed, i.e., as a raw material in the industrial production of animal feed. Accordingly, the nutritive value of dried apple pomace was examined, along with the process of pelleting, since pelleting is one of the most common technological procedures in the industrial production of animal feed. The testing of the chemical composition of dried apple pomace, used to determine its nutritive value, included the analyses of the content of raw proteins, raw fats, raw fibres, ash, neutral detergent fibres (NDF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), lignin, total sugars, individual sugars – fructose, glucose and sucrose, essential amino-acids, vitamins and mineral elements. When compared with the majority of commonly used animal feeds, the dried apple pomace was found to contain large amounts of raw fibres and sugars and small amounts of proteins and fats. In accordance with the determined nutritional composition of the dried apple pomace, concentrate mixtures for fattening pigs were prepared, after which a trial was performed to examine the effect of feeding the animals on the mixtures containing dried apple pomace in different concentrations on the production performance of the fattening pigs. The results of the feeding trial showed that adding 7% of dried apple pomace in the growing period and 10% in the finishing period had no negative effects on the animal health, production and meat yield. In the next part of the research, the dried apple pomace was pressed into pellets, with three starting moisture contents in the unpelleted material – 10%, 13% and 16%. The examination of the produced pellets showed that they had very good physical quality in terms of the pellet durability index (PDI) and hardness. The value of PDI exceeded 99% for all three starting moisture contents. The bulk density of the pelleted dried apple pomace was nearly twice as large as it was before pelleting. Increasing the moisture content in the dried apple pomace from 13% to 16% resulted in lower temperatures and energy consumption in the process of pelleting. The goal of the next part of the research was to examine the effect of adding apple pomace into the concentrate mixture models consisting of corn and sunflower meal on the physical quality of the obtained pellets, the specific electricity consumption of the pellet press and the temperature of the pellet press die. Three concentrate mixture models were prepared for the test, comprising 0%, 10% and 20% of dry apple pomace. The mixtures were conditioned by adding water to reach the moisture content of 13%, 15% and 17% and pelleted at three settings of the press die (8, 24 and 30 mm). Therefore, three parameters were varied at three levels, in a full factorial experimental design. The dependent variables (response variables) were: PDI, pellet hardness (H), dust content in the pellets, bulk density of the pellets, matrix temperature of the pellet press and the specific energy consumption of the pellet press. The results showed that adding dried apple pomace into the model concentrate mixtures led to a significant increase in pellet quality, especially in terms of increasing the PDI value and decreasing the dust content. The results of the analysis of standard scores (SS) showed that the optimum values for pellet quality, specific energy consumption and temperature of the press die were obtained for the model concentrate mixture containing 10% of dried apple pomace, using 30 mm press die and with 17% of the starting moisture content. Good results were also obtained for the model concentrate mixture containing 20% of dried apple pomace, using 24 mm press die and with 17% of the starting moisture content. To define the effect of the concentration of dried apple pomace in the model mixtures, the press die thickness and the starting moisture content on the change of the response variables, the response surface methodology (RSM) was used. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the response models for each of the analysed quality parameters and pelleting processes, showed which of the process parameters (percentage of apple pomace in the concentrate model mixtures, press die thickness and starting moisture content) had statistically the biggest effect on creating the mathematical response models, presented in the form of the second order polynomial (SOP). The results of this research showed that the increase in the percentage of dried apple pomace, press die thickness and starting moisture content led to an increase in PDI value, hardness (H) and bulk density of the pellets and a decrease in the content of dust in the pellets. The increase in the share of apple pomace in the model mixtures and in the die thickness of the pellet press led to an increase in the specific energy consumption and die temperature. On the other hand, the increase in the starting moisture content led to a decrease in the specific energy consumption and die temperature. In the last part of the research, on the basis of the determined nutritive value of the dried apple pomace the author made a calculation, in terms of optimising the concentrate mixtures containing dried apple pomace in the optimum amount for feeding particular species and categories of farm animals. The results suggest the way of practical utilization of dried apple pomace in feeding farm animals as well as in the industrial production of animal feed

Stavovi potrošača u Srbiji o značaju uravnotežene ishrane i konzumnim jajima kao namirnici

To investigate consumers' attitudes towards a balanced diet and eggs as foodstuff, 509 consumers have been surveyed. Through this survey, the consumers answered questions about the importance of a balanced diet, importance of having eggs in diet, the most common way of egg consumption, benefits and drawbacks of eating eggs. The responses were analysed by gender, age, occupation, education and place of living of the respondents (city of Belgrade, other cities and other populated places). Based on these results, it can be concluded that most of the respondents (79% males and 87% females) think a balanced diet is important, whereas 41% males and 52% females think it is very important. Moreover, most of the respondents find it important to have eggs in diet, and males and females do not differ in their responses (69%). The most common way of cooking and consuming eggs is frying, according to 68% male and 50% female respondents from all the places (60% from Belgrade, 55% from other cities and 62% from other populated places). As a benefit of eating eggs, the most frequent response is 'nutritive value' (43% respondents), whereas, the most frequent drawback is 'a risk of cholesterol' (19% respondents). Hence, one should pay particular attention to education on the importance of diet, at the level of the whole community.U cilju ispitivanja stavova potrošača o značaju uravnotežene ishrane i jajima kao namirnici anketirano je 509 potrošača, na području Republike Srbije. Kroz anketno ispitivanje potrošači su se izjasnili o značaju uravnotežene ishrane, značaju jaja u ishrani i najčešćim načinima konzumiranja, prednostima i nedostacima jaja. Odgovori anketiranih potrošača obrađeni su po polu, starosti, zanimanju, obrazovanju i sredini u kojoj žive (grad Beograd, ostali gradovi, ostala naseljena mesta). Na osnovu rezultata ispitivanja može se zaključiti da je većini anketiranih potrošača važna uravnotežena ishrana (79% za muški i 87% za ženski pol), pri čemu se o ishrani kao veoma važnoj izjasnilo 41% muškaraca i 52% žena. Takođe, za većinu anketiranih potrošača zastupljenost jaja u ishrani je važna, a po ovom pitanju među pripadnicima različitih polova nema razlika (69%). Najčešći način pripreme, odnosno konzumiranja, su pržena jaja, kod oba pola (za muškarce je to 68%, a kod žena 50%) i u svim životnim sredinama u Beogradu 60%, ostalim gradovima 55% i ostalim naseljenim mestima 62%). Kao prednost jaja u ishrani potrošači su najčešće naveli hranljivost (43% ispitanika), a kao najčešći nedostatak strah od povećanja holesterola (19% ispitanika). Edukaciji o značaju ishrane, sa akcentom na značaj jaja kao visokovredne namirnice, trebalo bi posvetiti posebnu pažnju, na nivou celokupne društvene zajednice

Putative Role of Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation in Chronic Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are hematologic malignancies characterized by gene mutations that promote myeloproliferation and resistance to apoptosis via constitutively active signaling pathways, with Janus kinase 2-signal transducers and the activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) axis as a core part. Chronic inflammation has been described as a pivot for the development and advancement of MPNs from early stage cancer to pronounced bone marrow fibrosis, but there are still unresolved questions regarding this issue. The MPN neutrophils are characterized by upregulation of JAK target genes, they are in a state of activation and with deregulated apoptotic machinery. Deregulated neutrophil apoptotic cell death supports inflammation and steers them towards secondary necrosis or neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, a trigger of inflammation both ways. NETs in proinflammatory bone marrow microenvironment induce hematopoietic precursor proliferation, which has an impact on hematopoietic disorders. In MPNs, neutrophils are primed for NET formation, and even though it seems obvious for NETs to intervene in the disease progression by supporting inflammation, no reliable data are available. We discuss in this review the potential pathophysiological relevance of NET formation in MPNs, with the intention of contributing to a better understanding of how neutrophils and neutrophil clonality can orchestrate the evolution of a pathological microenvironment in MPNs

Kriterijumi potrošača pri kupovini konzumnih jaja i kvalitet jaja u marketima na području grada Beograda

In order to examine the consumers' attitude towards eggs, 239 respondents in the area of the City of Belgrade were surveyed, and the assessment of the quality of eggs on the Belgrade market was done by examining the quality of eggs in super/hypermarkets. In the survey, consumers expressed their views about the place of purchase of eggs, the criteria for purchasing and the significance of certain quality traits/properties. In the egg quality test eggs of class A were used, and it was done on egg samples from 5 super/hypermarkets, from a total of 10 egg manufacturers. Based on the results of the study, it was found that most egg consumers buy in super/hypermarkets (39.62%), that the brand/manufacturer was not important for 30.37% of the respondents, that they preferred to buy larger eggs (SS, S and A classes). The quality of eggs is very important for 73.28% of subjects, and the colour of the yolk preferred by the respondents was extremely yellow (62.76%). The supply of table eggs on the market was different (from 1 to 5 manufacturers) per retail store. The quality of eggs, observed for all super/hypermarkets and all manufacturers, expressed in Haugh units, decreased with the shelf life of eggs. The quality of eggs from category 1 to 10 days, in all super/hypermarkets, observed for all manufacturers, was within the studied class A, with egg weight ranging from 60.9 to 64.1g, egg shell colour from 3.6 to 4.2, egg cleanness 4.4 to 5.0, the colour of the yolk (Roche) from 10.9 to 13.2, and the number of Haugh units from 73.2 to 91.7. The results of the research indicate that consumers in the City of Belgrade are placing importance on the quality of table eggs, that there are differences in the supply and freshness of the eggs between the markets, and that there are differences in the quality within the same market, regardless of the manufacturer.U cilju ispitivanja stavova potrošača jaja anketirano je 239 ispitanika na području Grada Beogradu, a ocena kvaliteta jaja na beogradskom tržištu obavljena je ispitivanjem kvaliteta jaja u super/hipermarketima. Kroz anketno ispitivanje potrošači su se izjasnili o mestu kupovine jaja, o kriterijumima pri kupovini i o značaju pojedinih osobina kvaliteta. Ispitivanje kvaliteta jaja odnosilo se na jaja klase A, a obavljeno je na uzorcima jaja iz 5 super/hipermarketa, za ukupno 10 proizvođača jaja. Na osnovu rezultata ispitivanja konstatovano je da većina potrošača jaja kupuje u super/hipermarketima (39,62%), da pri kupovini nije bitna robna marka/proizvođača za 30,37% ispitanika, da najradije kupuju jaja veće mase (SS, S i A klase). Kvalitet jaja veoma je važan za 73,28% ispitanika, a boja žumanca koju preferiraju je iz kategorije izrazito žuta (62,76%). Ponuda konzumnih jaja bila je različita (od 1 do 5 proizvođača) po marketu. Kvalitet jaja, posmatrano za sve super/hipermarkete i sve proizvođače iskazan kroz Hogove jedinice opadao je sa starošću jaja. Kvalitet jaja iz kategorije 1 do 10 dana, u svim super/hipermarketima, posmatrano za sve proizvođače, bio je u okviru ispitivane klase A, pri čemu se masa jaja kretala od 60,9 do 64,1g, boja ljuske od 3,6 do 4,2; čistoća jaja od 4,4 do 5,0; boja žumanca (Roche) od 10,9 do 13,.2, a broj Hogovih jedinica od 73,2 do 91,7. Rezultati istraživanja upućuju na zaključak da potrošači u Gradu Beogradu poklanjaju pažnju značaju kvaliteta konzumnih jaja, da između marketa postoje razlike u pogledu ponude i svežine jaja, kao i da unutar jednog marketa i posmatrano na nivou svih marketa postoje razlike u kvalitetu, u zavisnosti od proizvođača

The importance of eggs in the diet, consumer preferences, the production and market of table eggs in Serbia

Nutrition is very important for maintaining the good health of people at all stages of life and as such should be the subject of interest not only for nutritionists, but also for each individual. The choice of food stuffs in the diet is significantly influenced by habits, and in recent decades it has been noticed that consumers are increasingly concerned about the way food is produced, its safety and harmlessness. Although eggs, as a food, have an excellent nutritional composition, they have had a bad reputation for decades due to the high content of cholesterol, which was considered bad, which is why many consumers avoided them or ate only egg whites. The results of research indicating that cholesterol in food such as eggs has an insignificant effect on blood cholesterol have contributed to solving the problem of cholestephobia, so that official nutrition organizations, around year 2000, recommended the abolition of restrictions on egg consumption. Egg consumption and method of preparation vary significantly among different countries, which may be related to dietary traditions and consumer preferences. During the last decades, the attitudes of consumers are gaining in importance and are being studied in relation to the characteristics of egg quality, according to production systems, the welfare of chickens, etc. A comprehensive view of consumers' perceptions, their habits and understanding of the role of eggs in the diet requires a systematic approach, at the level of the entire social community, including education, which is especially important for younger populations. The aim of this paper is to point out the importance of eggs in the diet, to show the situation in the sector of table egg production in Serbia, with reference to EU countries, including expected changes caused by changes in the legislation, which may have far-reaching consequences for this sector, consumers and the market situation

Eggs from different housing systems and production programs on the market of the city of Belgrade

In the year when the already extended deadline for egg producers in Serbia to shift from cage farming to hen housing systems expires, the aim of the study was to analyse the egg market in Belgrade, as the largest market in Serbia. The representation of eggs from different housing systems and production programs in 11 supermarkets, covering the majority of retail chains in Serbia, was examined. In addition, the survey of 247 consumers was conducted in order to determine their views on the housing system and the price of eggs. Results showed the presence of 9 egg producers on Belgrade market, 8 of which provided eggs from the cage system, 5 from the floor system, while 4 offered free-range eggs. Cage eggs were represented in all supermarkets (11), floor eggs in 9 supermarkets, free-range eggs in 6, eggs from the functional food program (ꞷ-3 enriched) in 7, and organic eggs in one supermarket. The analysis of the prices of eggs in different supermarkets, showed that the price per egg from the cage system, for a package of 10 eggs, varied between 0.13 and 0.21 EUR for Grade M, and between 0.14 and 0.25 EUR for Grade L eggs. The price for floor eggs (Grade M) ranged between 0.17 and 0.25, free-range eggs 0.20 and 0.28, ꞷ-3 eggs 0.26 and 0.32 EUR, while it was 0.55 EUR for organic eggs. By comparing the average price of Grade M cage eggs (0.18 EUR), with eggs from other housing systems and production programs, it was found that the price of floor eggs was 25% higher, free-range eggs 41% higher, ꞷ-3 eggs 56% higher and eggs from organic production 206% higher, respectively. Housing system and the price of eggs, as factors affecting decision when purchasing eggs, were not important for 35.19%, and 34.07% of respondents in the survey, respectively. It can be concluded that eggs from the cage system are still the most represented in Belgrade supermarket, but, compared to the similar research from 2017, the supply of eggs from the floor and free-range housing systems has increased. This indicates that the changes in the regulation influenced the transition of egg producers to permitted housing systems. Supply of ꞷ-3 eggs is satisfactory, while other types of designer eggs are lacking. The supply of organic eggs in supermarkets is insufficient

The Attitudes of Table Egg Consumers in Serbia on the Welfare of Laying Hens

In order to examine the attitude of egg consumers about the poultry welfare and their willingness to spend more money to buy eggs produced in accordance with animal welfare principles, 529 consumers were surveyed in three regions of Serbia (Belgrade, region of Šumadija and Western Serbia and South and Eastern Serbia region). Through the survey questionnaire, consumers have stated how important the welfare of laying hens is to them and if they are willing to spend more money on eggs produced acording to principles of animal welfare. The answers of the surveyed consumers were analyzed by gender, age, education, number of children in the family and the environment in which they live. According to the results of the survey, it can be concluded that in Serbia, poultry welfare is moderately important to 28.17% of egg consumers and very important to 50.77% of consumers, while not at all or little to 21.13%, and that there are differences between individual regions. The willingness to pay more for eggs produced according to welfare principles was expressed by 78.53% of consumers, on average for all three regions. The analysis of data within the category of consumers for which the poultry welfare is very important, revealed that 54.15% are women and 44.02% are men, and that the welfare is more important for consumers with higher education (52.66%) compared to middle school (47.67%), also, for consumers in the 35-55 age group (55.60%) compared to younger and older respondents and those with three or more children in the family (52.94%) compared to families with fewer children. The survey results indicate that consumers in Serbia attribute more importance to the welfare of laying hens, and show their willingness to pay more for eggs produced in compliance with the welfare principles. In the coming period, the education focusing on the increase of consumer awareness of the importance of the welfare of laying hens and the connection with the quality of the product will be necessary

Preferences of consumers from Serbia toward organic eggs

In order to examine consumers’ preferences toward eggs from organic production and their willingness to allocate more money for these eggs, 581 respondents were surveyed in three regions of Serbia (the Belgrade region, the Šumadija and the Western Serbia region, and the Southern and Eastern Serbia region). Through the survey questionnaire, respondents declared themselves whether they are buying organic eggs and how much money they are ready to allocate for this type of eggs. Answers from surveyed respondents who are buying organic eggs were analyzed by gender, age, status, education, monthly income and the region in which they are living. According to the survey results, it can be concluded that in Serbia, there is a very small number of consumers who are buying organic eggs (2.41%), and that all of them are located in the Belgrade region. Furthermore, only 8.34% of consumers were willing to pay 30% higher price for organic eggs, on average for all three regions. Analyzing data within the category of organic eggs consumers, the highest tendency for buying organic eggs was determined for female respondents (76.92%), those with the higher education level (61.54%), the employed respondents (92.31%), the respondents aged from 36 to 55 (61.52%) and the respondents with the highest monthly household income (46.15%). The results of the present study indicate that the percentage of consumers who buy organic eggs in Serbia is very small, it is present only in certain regions and the willingness to pay more for organic eggs is low

Consumer criteria for purchasing eggs and the quality of eggs in the markets of the city of Belgrade

In order to examine the consumers' attitude towards eggs, 239 respondents in the area of the City of Belgrade were surveyed, and the assessment of the quality of eggs on the Belgrade market was done by examining the quality of eggs in super/hypermarkets. In the survey, consumers expressed their views about the place of purchase of eggs, the criteria for purchasing and the significance of certain quality traits/properties. In the egg quality test eggs of class A were used, and it was done on egg samples from 5 super/hypermarkets, from a total of 10 egg manufacturers. Based on the results of the study, it was found that most egg consumers buy in super/hypermarkets (39.62%), that the brand/manufacturer was not important for 30.37% of the respondents, that they preferred to buy larger eggs (SS, S and A classes). The quality of eggs is very important for 73.28% of subjects, and the colour of the yolk preferred by the respondents was extremely yellow (62.76%). The supply of table eggs on the market was different (from 1 to 5 manufacturers) per retail store. The quality of eggs, observed for all super/hypermarkets and all manufacturers, expressed in Haugh units, decreased with the shelf life of eggs. The quality of eggs from category 1 to 10 days, in all super/hypermarkets, observed for all manufacturers, was within the studied class A, with egg weight ranging from 60.9 to 64.1g, egg shell colour from 3.6 to 4.2, egg cleanness 4.4 to 5.0, the colour of the yolk (Roche) from 10.9 to 13.2, and the number of Haugh units from 73.2 to 91.7. The results of the research indicate that consumers in the City of Belgrade are placing importance on the quality of table eggs, that there are differences in the supply and freshness of the eggs between the markets, and that there are differences in the quality within the same market, regardless of the manufacturer

Attitudes of Serbian producers and consumers of table eggs on the ban on conventional batteries and the transition to enriched cages and alternative production systems

The aim of the survey was to determine how the egg production sector is complying with animal welfare legislation, which requires a ban on conventional cages and the transition to permitted systems for rearing laying hens - enriched cages and alternative systems, as well as the attitudes of egg producers and consumers on the impact of permitted systems of egg production/purchase and hen welfare. The survey included producers (50), with 1000 and more hens, where in the sample, the percentage share of producers was according to the capacity - the size of the farm, i.e. similar to the share in the total egg production in Serbia. A consumer survey (261) established their views on the impact of the welfare of layers and the rearing system when buying eggs. According to the test results, it can be stated that: when switching to permitted rearing systems, enriched cages were the choice of all surveyed producers (100%) and that in the transition period from 2014 to autumn 2020, 16.3% of respondents switched from conventional cages to enriched ones (2.04% in full and 14.29% in part). According to the results obtained, 80.49% of them are planning to switch from a conventional cage system to another rearing system, of which 60.98% said they would do so if they had the financial means, while about 19% of producers believe they will be forced to leave production. All producers expect that the transition to enriched cages will lead to a reduction in their production, and 83.33% of them believe that it will be from 20 to 40%. Surveyed producers (87.18%) expect that the transition from conventional cages will increase production costs, and 65.11% believe that this will not affect Nataša Tolimir et al. 464 the welfare of layers. A survey of consumer attitudes found that when buying eggs, the production system was very important for 19.91% of consumers, and for 19.41% of consumers it was not important at all, while the welfare of layers was very important for 26.84% and not at all important for 10.32% of consumers. The conclusion of the research is that in Serbia the transition to permitted rearing systems is slow, that harmonization with legal regulations is a great challenge and that changes are expected in the coming period that may have far-reaching consequences for the sector of table egg production