„ai“ 350 výsledků

The agricultural models put in place to meet food demand in the 1950s are now showing their limits. Strong impacts on the environment or animal welfare issues require a change in the agricultural model. Agroecology is a response to these ecological and societal crises. The theoretical definition of this agricultural model is explained in literature. However, it remains important to clarify what is an agroecological farm in the field: how does the farming system work? Which indicators are used? What are the worldviews of the farmers? For that, systemic approach can be useful. The aim of this article is to advance a fuller understanding of the management of agroecological systems in the field through a new systemic approach. A new definition of the systemic approach is proposed with three pillars (functioning system, decision-making system and thinking system) to allow a more detailed analysis of production systems by using a specific method, crossing biotechnical sciences, humanities and social sciences. Consideration of all three pillars can explain what an agroecological system is in practice, with identification of specific indicators and worldview.

Feed efficiency has a major influence on farm profitability and environmental stewardship in the dairy industry. The aim of this study was to describe a new selection index adopted by the Italian Holstein and Jersey Association (ANAFIJ, Cremona, Italy) to improve feed efficiency using data recorded by the official dairy recording system. Predicted dry matter intake (pDMI) was derived from milk yield, fat content, and estimated cow body weight. Fat-protein corrected milk (FPCM) was derived from milk yield corrected for fat, protein, and a fixed coefficient for lactose content (4.80%). Therefore, the predicted feed efficiency (pFE) was estimated as ratio between FPCM and pDMI. Average pFE was 1.27±0.18 (kg.d-1) with heritability of 0.32. Predicted Feed Efficiency index (pFEi), traditional and genomic, has been implemented in the Italian Holstein Friesian evaluation system. Results suggest that pFEi may be a new breeding objective for Italian Friesians. The official selection index (PFT), in use since 2002, is positively correlated with pFEi. However, the introduction of pFEi will improve the positive feed efficiency trend. This approach will permit the Italian Holstein Friesian breeders to improve feed efficiency, without increasing costs of recording system. However, to avoid the risk of selecting animals with an excessive negative energy balance after calving, it would be useful to include in the pFE a correction for body condition score and reproductive performances. Meanwhile, in order to increase the accuracy of the predicted phenotype, an Italian consortium is creating a consistent phenotypic critical mass of individual data for dry matter intake in cows, heifers and young bulls.

The aim of the vegetation pot experiment observed the effect of zinc foliar application in combination with nitrogen fertilization on annual ryegrass plant ability to deal with drought stress. Experiment with two irrigation regimes was established and the rate of drought stress was evaluated by determination of abscisic acid (ABA) content in above-ground part of ryegrass, dry matter weight and nutrient content in plant were also determined. Foliar Zn application had statistically significant effect (P <0.05) on decrease of ABA content in comparison to variants without Zn fertilization which implies that zinc contributed to better plant dealing with drought stress. Foliar application of higher Zn dose (1.25 g l-1) under drought stress was found the strongest decreased of ABA in comparison with variant without Zn fertilization (about 50.1%). Zinc supported also the growth of above-ground part regardless to irrigation, we found the highest dry matter weight on variant with higher nitrogen dose (0.5 g pot-1) and higher Zn dose (1.25 g l-1). Graded levels of zinc application significantly effected of Zn content in plant.

Three hundred 1-day old Cobb 500 broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five experimental diets (60 birds/diet; 10 birds/ replicate) using a completely randomized design to assess the effects of wild sunflower and goat weed leaf meals composite mix (CLM) in broiler chickens. At the starter and finisher phases, a basic diet was formulated, divided into five equal parts and tagged diets 1 to 5. Diets 1 and 2 had 0% and 1.1% Oxytetracycline (Oxyt) supplementation; while the diets 3, 4 and 5 were supplemented with 0.4%, 0.8% and 1.2% CLM, respectively. In starter and finisher phases, the highest (P <0.05) body weight gain (BWG) was recorded in the birds fed diet 5 and 4, respectively compared to other diets. During the overall phase, birds fed diet 5 had the highest BWG, which was similar to those fed diet 4 but higher (P <0.05) than the birds fed the rest diets. The feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were influenced (P <0.05) by the CLM supplementation at the starter phase. The FCR recorded in birds fed the 1.1% Oxyt, 0.8% and 1.2% composite leaf mix supplemented diets (diets 2, 4, and 5) were similar (P >0.05) to those fed 0.4% CLM, but significantly better (P <0.05) the birds fed the control diet. The dietary CLM supplementation caused increased (P <0.05) serum catalase and glutathione peroxidase concentration. The meat cholesterol levels of the birds were significantly (P <0.05) reduced by dietary CLM supplementation. Conclusively, the CLM supplementation at 0.8% and 1.2% enhanced the BWG. CLM supplementation at 0.4%, 0.8 and 1.2% increased the serum glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity and reduced the broiler’s meat cholesterol.

With the availability of dense SNP genotype data various types of estimation methods were developed to estimate relatedness of any two individuals, even in absence of traditional pedigrees. One of the most prominent method was the identity by descent (IBD), widely used in genetic diversity studies. IBD itself could be estimate using different approaches and software that might provide different results. The purpose of this study was to compare the estimates from two established software, probabilistic approach by Plink and a non-probabilistic approach based on haplotypes by refinedIBD. High density SNP genotypes from 98 Leonberger dogs were used to estimate IBD coefficients based on two data types: with one of the SNP markers in high linkage disequilibrium removed, as required by Plink, and SNP markers subjected only to standard quality control, as required by refinedIBD. The Pearson correlation coefficients from pairwise estimates were 0.97 when estimated with the same software and 0.84 between the two software and data types, as required by the respective user manuals. The numerical differences were clustered around zero (i.e. no to little difference) for half of the pairwise comparisons, and up to ±0.1 for the vast majority of cases. The most extreme differences were consistently estimated higher by Plink. Because of these differences a follow up investigation should be done, including pedigrees, as well as simulated data to provide a comprehensive analysis.

Animal products and meat from farm animals are consumed daily and it is very good source of animal proteins, but consumer´s information about exposure to heavy metals in meat and it´s health risk is in general low. The main goal of the present work was to determine essential and toxic elements in offal and meat of sheep from two different regions of Slovakia with different environmental load. In present study 11 elements (essential elements: calcium, zinc, magnesium, selenium, iron, copper; toxic elements: arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel) have been analysed. Statistically significant differences (P <0.01) were noted between the concentrations of Ca, Zn, Cu in the liver, Zn and Se in the kidneys of animals, Ca, and Mg in muscle. In the liver of sheep, statistically significant differences (P <0.05) was detected in concentration of Fe and in the case concentration of Se in the mammary gland and muscle of animals. Chemical analyses between the control and experimental group of animals indicated increased concentrations of Cd in the liver and kidney of animals in both monitored groups, which exceeded the maximum residual limit. Results of this also showed statistically significant correlations between some elements in animal tissue samples.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of birth season, average maximum temperatures 6 weeks before and after birth of heifers on their first lactation milk yield. In chosen herd, the effect of birth weight, weight gain until weaning on first lactation milk yield was also investigated. Additionally, the effect of the average maximum temperatures before birth, effect of birth season on birth weight were evaluated. The data were collected from the herd “A” in Orava region consisting of Slovak spotted breed (127 records), the herd “B” in Lower Nitra (150 records) and herd “C” in Upper Nitra (116 records) both consisting of black Holstein Friesian cows. Birth season tended to influence the heifers first lactation milk yield in the herd “C” (P <0.06). The maximum average temperatures during the first 6 weeks after birth significantly affected heifers first lactation in the herd “A” (P <0.01). The maximum average temperatures affecting pregnant cows before birth of their heifers did not influence heifers’ milk yield during the first lactation in all herds (P >0.66, herd “A”; P >0.59, herd “B”; P >0.38, herd “C”). In the herd “B” there was insignificant effect of prenatal temperatures, birth season on birth weight of heifers (P >0.97; P >0.74). However, the heifers with the highest weight gains until weaning had numerically higher first lactation milk yield (P >0.20).

The aims of experiment were to determinate the values of bioactive compounds and fatty acid profile in white dried grape pomace Vitis vinifera “Pinot Gris”. Grape pomace originated from winery of the University farm Kolíňany, centre Oponice. The dry matter and crude fat content was determined after the preparation of samples. The dried grape pomace contained 94.2% of dry matter and 8.40% of crude fat. This research was conducted on antiradical activity (DPPH), total polyphenols, total phelinolic acids, total flavanoids and fatty acid profile. The results confirmed that the grape pomace is considerable source of bioactive compounds, with high antioxidant activity, value of total phenolic acids and total polyphenols. From fatty acids profile are grape pomace significant source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly essential linoleic acid (68.62 g 100 g-1 of fatty acids). They are characterized by wide ratio of n6/n3 fatty acids.

The aim was to review obtained results related to molecular-genetic analyses by high-density SNP chips and mtDNA in farm and wild populations within the project APVV-17-0060 Genomic Indicators of extranuclear DNA as a source of Diversity for Animal Breeding. Continuous human activity and subsequent socioeconomic and climatic changes of the environment significantly affect the genetic diversity of livestock on both intra- and inter-population levels. Concerning the conservation of local livestock populations and thus animal genetic resources (AnGR) for future generations is, therefore, necessary to monitor and look for new “more precise“ tools to measure the amount of genetic diversity. The expected result will be the identification of SNP markers and spot mutations with a significant effect on the process of development resp. variability of traits. In the case of the dog, identification of regions related to fitness, health, and trainability will be the primary objective.

The contents of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in raw cow’s milk, feed and soil samples from three regions of Slovak Republic (SR) depending on the environmental regional classification of SR. Total 60 pool milk samples from undisturbed environment (Novoť area), moderately disturbed environment (Tulčík area), and from strongly disturbed environment (Čečejovce area) collected in April, July and September were extracted, purified by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and analyzed using the gas chromatography with electron capture detector method (GC-ECD). Thirty feed samples of total mixed ration (TMR) were collected in April and September and after the extraction and purification by GPC were analyzed using gas and liquid chromatography (GLC). Fifteen soil samples collected in April were analyzed using the GC-ECD. All samples of raw milk, feed and soil were under the limit of quantification (LOQ) from all regions and did not exceed the limits set by European Commission. There were no seasonal differences in the PCBs levels in the milk, feed and soil samples. The milk PCBs consumption from these locations has no negative impact on consumer’s health. The results indicate the decreasing trend in PCBs occurrence in the environment and food sources. Despite this positive findings, there is a constant need to monitor environmental burden of PCBs in the different regions of Slovakia where mainly food of animal origin is produced and to recognize another sources of PCBs that may impact the food chain.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) are enzymes produced by Gram-negative microorganisms, which may be resistant to commonly used antibiotics. The purpose of this research was to estimate the bactericidal effects of cinnamon oil on ESBLproducing bacteria. In this study, 227 water samples were collected from wells in Hafr Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia. The samples were cultured on a cystine lactose electrolyte-deficient (CLED) medium. A MicroScan system was used to identify bacteria and also for antimicrobial susceptibility test. Activity of crud cinnamon oil and its fractions were detected by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the ESBL-producing bacteria. Morphological changes of the treated bacteria were observed and oil compounds was investigated. The culture was positive on the CLED medium in 170 out of 227 water samples. In 170 CLED-positive isolates, E. coli was the most common organism, followed by K. pneumoniae. The results showed that 100% of K. pneumoniae isolates were completely resistant to ampicillin (100%), then by mezlocillin (92.5%), cefazolin, and cefuroxime (77.5%). Also, 86.9% of E. coli isolates were the most resistant to ampicillin, followed by mezlocillin (83%). 82% of K. pneumoniae and 89% of E. coli isolates were confirmed by phenotypic confirmatory disc diffusion test (PCDDT) as ESBL-producers. The cinnamon oil activity was only concentrated in the oxygenated fraction. The MICs of the oxygenated fraction were 80 and 20 µl/mL at 105 CFU of ESBL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively. This study indicated the antibacterial effects of cinnamon essential oil to eliminate some antibiotic-resistant bacteria from water.

This study determines the impact of agroforestry practices on food production, income generation and poverty reduction among farming households in Oyo State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Both descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages as well as inferential statistics such as Propensity Score Matching (PSM) and Foster Greer Thorbecke (FGT) analysis were used in the study. It was discovered that the propensity score distribution and common support for propensity score estimation shows the results from the covariate balancing tests both before and after matching in which the treatment (adopters) and comparison (non-adopters) groups are said to be balanced. The result of the impact of the adoption of agroforestry practices on farmers’ income from the PSM analysis shows that the adoption produces a positive and significant impact on the farmers’ income, while the result of the impact of the adoption on farmers’ output was found to be negative, though not significant. This could be attributed to improper adoption or practices of the technologies by the farmers. It was also discovered that about 27% of the adopters fell below the poverty line ($183.25) and were therefore regarded as poor while about 67% of the non-adopters fell below the poverty line ($102.21) and can therefore be described as poor. FGT poverty index was then used to show the extent of poverty among the farming households and it was found that the adopters of agroforestry technology were faring better than the non-adopters of agroforestry technology.

Sri Lanka is one of the Asian countries to support a considerable number of wild elephants mainly in the dry zone of the country. But today elephants have become one of the most seriously endangered large mammals in Sri Lanka and the world as well. Agricultural crop damage by elephants has become a most common and serious problem across the elephant range in Sri Lanka due to negative interaction of people and the elephants. Eastern province is one of such areas where severe crop damage by wild elephants could be observed. In these areas, most of the directly affected families are having low income level. For this common problem, still there is no proper mitigation plans to lower the impacts. Therefore, this study focused on the analysis of economic losses to cultivated crops, identify the most vulnerable crop species and suggest viable control measures to minimize this problem to a certain extent in the area. This study was carried out in two villages within one cropping season under two stages. Household survey including randomly selected 50 villagers from each village was conducted. Highest crop damage incidents were recorded in Dewalahinda area. Of the widely grown crop varieties, maize (Zea mays) and paddy (Oryza sativa) are subjected to heavy damage in both villages. Paddy and maize were reported as damage crop species by wild elephants in Ekgaloya and 19 households (out of 33) suffered due to that crop raiding incident. Out of 38 crop damage incidents in Dewalahinda, 28 households reported damages in maize and 26 household reported damages in paddy. Wild elephants have shown a least interest on some crop varieties such as chilli (Capsicum annum), ladies’ finger (Hibiscus esculentus) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea). But these crop fields were heavily damaged by elephants as they walk across these fields. In both villages, the harvesting period seemed to be affected more by crop damages than other times. However, the post harvesting period was also affected occasionally especially in stored paddy.

Standardization of litter size after birth is a common management practice used on broiler rabbit farms to optimize the growth intensity of kits in the litter. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the litter size at birth before the standardization performed on the subsequent growth intensity of suckled HYPLUS broiler rabbit kits. A total of 70 litters with a total of 639 newborn kits were selected for evaluation, while assessed litter sizes at birth covered 7 to 12 kits per litter. The assessed levels of litter sizes at kindling did not show significant differences in the average birth weight of the kits. Although the litter size was standardized to 8 kits for primiparous and to 9 kits for multiparous does on the first day after birth, the intrinsic litter size of does at kindling had a highly significant effect on the average live weight (LW) of 19-day old suckled kits (P <0.01). The average LW of kits at this age were higher in females which kindled 7 and 8 kits in litter compared to females in which the number of kits born in the litter was between 9 and 12. The same trend as in the case of LW was found for average daily gain values, while its higher values (P <0.01) were found in litters where does kindled only 7 and 8 kits per litter (19.1 and 17.9 g day-1, resp.) in contrast to litters in which does kindled 9 to 12 kits per litter (14.0 to 15.4 g day-1). The performed standardization of litter size in the involved farm thus was not a sufficient management practice to reduce the variability of the average LW of suckled kits at 19 days of age.

This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of various alternatives to the surgical castration of piglets. Producers use castrations against boar taint which is present in the meat. Alternative methods could be immunocastration, production with entire male pigs or castration with anesthesia and/or analgesia. Production with entire male pigs means to feed pigs to lower carcasses, as the boar taint is very low at that time. But this method is not suitable for all especially If pigs need to be fattened up to 180-200 kg. Castration with anesthesia and analgesia reduces pain and is suitable for welfare but the cost of anesthesia and analgesia is high for some producers. The expense of immunocastration is also higher than for entire pigs but advantages of this method are higher meat percentage, better carcass quality, improved feed conversion ratio.

A 25-weeks trial was carried out to determine the efficacy of feeding Rhizopus stolonifer fermented cocoa pod husk meal (FCPH) meal supplemented with Ronozyme multigrain enzyme (RME) on performance at various stages of growth and age at sexual maturity of grower pullets. Two hundred and forty (240) day old Isa Brown chicks were randomly assigned to six (6) dietary treatments. Each treatment was replicated four times comprising of ten (10) chicks per replicate and arranged in a 3 x 2 factorial in Completely Randomized Design. Rhizopus stolonifer FCPH meal was incorporated into the diet as test ingredient at varying inclusion level of 0%, 10% and 20% based on 100% diet. Each diet was then divided into two, one part void of enzyme and designated as diets I, III and V and the other parts supplemented with RME at 200 mg/kg of the diet and designated as diets II, IV and VI respectively. Weight gain, Feed intake and feed gain ratio were significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments with birds fed diet containing 10 % FCPH meal without RME supplementation having highest weight gain across different stages of growth. The effect of enzyme and the interaction between diet and enzyme were not significant (p ˃ 0.05). Hematological and serum biochemical indices were not significantly (p ˃ 0.05) influenced by the dietary treatments and were all within normal range. Age at first lay and Egg weight at first lay were also significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the dietary treatment. The use of Rhizopus stolonifer FCPH meal supplemented with RME in grower diets markedly increased age at sexual maturity and weight of first egg laid, with birds fed diets containing 10 % FCPH meal fast coming to lay and birds fed 20 % FCPH meal having higher weight of egg at first lay. Egg weight, egg width, shell surface area, shell thickness, yolk length and albumen length were also significantly (p < 0.05) influenced by the diet treatment. Rhizopus stolonifer FCPH meal up to 10% without RME supplementation can effectively be used in pullet grower’s diets without adversely affecting production performance or sexual maturity into lay.

Observation on the ultra- structure of both mouth parts and sensory apparatus of mango mealy bug, Drosicha mangiferae (Stebbing, 1903) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) was carried out. Seven segments of different size in each antenna have been identified in D.mangiferae in the present observation. Out of the all segments, the terminal segment was the longest trailed by third and second flagellomere in downward order. Sensilla with flexible socket was noted in almost every body parts in the present observation. Abundant wax pores on the dorsal and ventral surface on the body surface of mealy bug secrete spiral wax filaments. Two types of wax pores namely trilocular and quinquelocular were observed. Leg consisted of basal coxa, trochanter, femur, tibia and tarsus which ended with curved claw and two claw digitules.Hair like sensilla trichoidea was mostly abundant in antenna and was of four subtypes. All of these function as mechanoreceptor or gustatory receptor. The labium of second instar nymphs of D.mangiferae had three segments with a median labial groove for housing stylet fascicle. Ten pairs of trichoid sensilla were found in the labium that also function as mechanoreceptors. Long hair like sensilla chaetica with pointed tip (SCh) in five pairs was also observed. Apart from that different kind of mechanoreceptor sensilla with flexible sockets, sensilla were found having inflexible sockets and pores with probable olfactory function.

In the 2015 - 2017 period, we evaluated the morphometric variation of traits and Ellipsoid biovolume (EV) in 478 individuals (226 ♂, 252 ♀) of Abax parallelepipedus (Piller and Mitterpacher, 1783) in forest habitats and riparian stands. We confirmed, lower average of EV values in the rural compared to the urban areas (Kruskal-Wallis test – p = 0.037). The Friedman test showed a shortening of the morphometric features length (p = 0.030), height (p = 0.016), width (p = 0.011) and EV (p = 0.01) in the urban-rural direction. Spatial modeling of dispersion confirmed a significant change between 2016–2017. These changes may be affected by the food supply.

A laboratory study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of cashew nut shell extract in the control of cowpea bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fab.) under prevailing laboratory conditions. Fresh ethanolic and stored extract of cashew nut shell served as treatments which were compared with untreated control. Data collected on adult mortality, total number of emerged progeny (adults), number and weight of damaged seeds (seeds with holes) and undamaged seeds (seeds without holes) and percentage seed weight loss, and average number of seeds per 50 g in a container and the data were subjected to a two-way analysis of variance and significant different means were separated using Duncan`s Multiple Range test (DMRT) at 5% level of significance. The results revealed that treated plants generally performed better than the untreated. The different rates of treatment recorded significant differences (P <0.05) in causing adult mortality compared to the untreated control. The different rates of treatment also recorded significant differences (P <0.05) in emergence of F1 adults of each treatment compared to the control. It was also noted that the extract reduced or suppressed the weight loss and grain damage as a result of treatment with the extract compared to the untreated control. However, freshly extract of cashew nut shell recorded the highest adult mortality rate and lowest emergence while control had the lowest mortality rate and highest emergence of the insect. The rates of application were indicative of bioactive characteristics of the extract.

The use of organic amendments for improving soil properties including soil structure is crucial for sustainable soil management. In this study, two organic materials (1. compost, and 2. farmyard manure) both at a rate of 44 t ha-1 as well as their combination were applied to a Hortic Calcaric Fluvisol (Slovakia) to evaluate the soil physical properties to test the potential of these amendments for soil amelioration under gardening conditions. The results showed that the addition of organic amendments did not have any significant effects on bulk density, total porosity, soil moisture and aeration, but their application influenced the total contents of dry-sieved aggregates as well as water-stable aggregates. The highest content of dry-sieved macro-aggregates was in compost > farmyard manure + compost > farmyard manure > control (unfertilized). The stability of aggregates was higher in compost and farmyard manure + compost treatments than in farmyard manure compared to control. Also, better soil structure stability evaluated by vulnerability coefficient was in farmyard manure + compost and compost than in farmyard manure. The highest contents of soil organic carbon and humic substances were found in the farmyard manure + compost treatment and then compost > farmyard manure > control. In compost, farmyard manure and farmyard manure + compost treatments, cabbage yield increased by 52, 22 and 72%, respectively compared to control treatment. Cabbage yields linear also increased as a result of increasing of soil organic carbon and humic substances.