Genetic Potential Of Productivity Research Articles

Genotype and breeder flock age impact on broiler performance in suboptimal conditions

A comparative study of production traits was performed between COBB 500 broilers from a 52-week-old breeder flock and a ROSS 308 from two breeder flocks of different ages (52 weeks and molted flock 79-week-old) in equal, relatively suboptimal ambiental (temperature oscillations) and nutritional conditions (market feed of average quality). The experiment was performed on a total of 720 day-old chicks of both sexes in 4 experimental groups (Cobb; Ross 52; Ross 79; Ross mix - a mixture of Ross broilers from two breeder ages), with 6 replications per group and 30 chickens in each replication. Mortality, body weight (days 0, 7, 21 and 42), weight gain, feed conversion and production index (EPEF) were monitored in 42 days of fattening. It was determined that heavier day-old chickens (p<0.01) with better gain in the first week of production, were obtained from the older breeder flock. Except in the first week, Cobb generally had the highest (p<0.05) body weights and gains in the experiment, aside from in mid and the end of the test, where did not differ significantly from the body weight of the Ross 79 and Ross mix group of broilers, respectively. Results also indicate that genetics (used hybrid) may have a greater influence on the final body weight and daily gain in suboptimal test conditions than the breeder age. Cobb 500 broilers also had significantly higher mortality under test conditions (p<0.05). Feed conversion and the achieved EPEF production index did not vary significantly in the test in chickens of different genotypes or parents. In general, suboptimal conditions in our research constrained realisation of the genetic production potential, with a suppressive effect on both hybrids, higher on the growth in Ross 308, and on the resistance measured by mortality in Cobb 500 hybrids.

Variability of dairy productivity of cows depending on the breeding method by lines

The effectiveness of intraline and interline selection at breeding of Sumy intrabreed type of Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed were carried out in the breeding farms of Pidlisnivskoyi branch of PJSC “Raise-Maximko” and “Pershe Travnya” in the Sumy district. According to the results of researches of cows of Ukrainian Black-and-White Dairy breed, regularities of influence on the level of traits of dairy productivity of different variants of selection were determined and confirmed by statistical reliability. According to the evaluation of cows under control herds obtained during intra-linear and interlinear selections, it was found that most often among the evaluated variants the offspring obtained from interlinear crosses were the best on the grounds of milk productivity. In the herd of breeding farm “Pershe Travnya” sires of Starbak's parental line 352790 were successfully combined in all investigated variants of interlinear crosses with maternal Eleveyshna 1491007, Valianta 1650414, S.T. Rokita 252803 and P.F.A. Chifa 1427381, as evidenced by the high milk yield of cows, received from these combinations, which was according to the first lactation 5837-6223 kg of milk and higher - 6525-7474 kg. The difference in milk yield of first-born cows obtained in the interlinear crosses with Starbak's parent line 352790 ranged from 404 (P <0.05) to 790 kg (P <0.001). In the system of linear breeding the reasonableness of carrying out regular monitoring to evaluate the combination of lines in the breeding process of dairy breeds is motivated. Reapplication of the most successful and abandonment of ineffective selection options will help to increase the genetic potential of dairy productivity of cattle produced by Ukrainian breeds. Key words: Ukrainian Black-and-White Dairy breed, lines, milk productivity.

BREEDING HERITAGE OF DAIRY-MEAT CATTLE OF UKRAINE – BROWN CARPATIAN CATTLE

The prolonged breeding process of transformation of primitive but adapted forms of brown color to the conditions of Transcarpathia region, by crossing to 1972 (breeding approbation) and improvement to 2014 (deprivation of the last breeding status of breeding status of Brown Carpathian cattle), in Ukraine, unfortunately lost its resources (breeding) for the existence of the Brown Carpathian cattle.
 The purpose of the study was to analyze the Brown Carpathian cattle by major economic useful features, livestock dynamics and genealogical structure.
 Materials and methods of research. The main research methods were retrospective and source-based analyzes, based on breeding books, registers and reports of breeding farms engaged in breeding Brown Carpathian cattle.
 The Brown Carpathian breed derives from ancient brown cattle, which settled all the medium Europe in ancient times. In Alpes region already in medieval times it gave rise to different types of high-productive Brown Alpine cattle, which was called on the place of its distribution. In Austria – Hornoin, France – Montafon, Switzerland – Swiss. Brown cattle of Transcarpathian region was called Rizhka. These cattle were small and low-productive, but it was unimproved almost till the beginning of 20-th century. Though at plains it was crossed with Grey Ukrainian cattle and get name “Mokan” (my horse in local language), as crosses were strong and enduring, characteristics, which inherent to Grey Ukrainian cattle. Their live weight was 200–300 kg, and wither height – not more, than 113 cm, milk production – not more, than 1200 kg.
 Transcarpathia is the beginning of transformation of brown cattle into the Brown Carpathian breed of the combined direction of productivity, because it was from this period that the import of improved livestock began.
 In 1972, by order of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Brown Carpathian cattle of cattle was approved and recognized as a domestic factory breed of dairy and meat direction of productivity.
 It should also be noted that the feature of the breeding process, according to which the newly formed breed absorbs local breeds, but in the future itself is absorbed by the neoplasm, or more productive population. Thus, the Brown Carpathian breed at the beginning of its formation by the method of absorption crossing reduced the number of local Gray Hungarian and Pinzgau breeds.
 In addition to the Transcarpathian, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi and Lviv regions of Ukraine, which were the basis for breeding of the Brown Carpathian breed, there were also exports of breeding stock beyond their borders. Thus, during 1964 ... 1974, 24.3 thousand heads were exported to other countries: Central Asia and the Caucasus, as well as Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. In addition, the Brown Carpathian breed participated in the creation of the Brown Caucasian breed as an improvement.
 According to O. M. Zabrovarny's description with co-authors, the compact body type of the Brown Carpathian cattle is adapted to the mountain and lowland zones of distribution of this breed. The authors note differences in the sexes of the body with some of their disadvantages. The horns have a light color with dark tips. Color of typical animals of the Brown Carpathian breed from light to dark brown. On the spine, around the nasal mirror a light color, also a light lower body, but without white spots. Dark are the nasal mirror, hoof horn, tail brush. Newborn calves have a greyish-gray to almost white, which darkens from 2 to 3 months of age.
 According to the meat productivity, animals of the Brown Carpathian breed have satisfactory values. Thus, the average daily gains of bulls are 750–900 g. The genetic potential of dairy productivity of cows of the Brown Carpathian breed is high and is at the level of 8 … 9 tons of milk.
 A characteristic feature of the Brown Carpathian cattle is the adaptation of the organism to the paratypical conditions of the mountain and lowland Transcarpathia, taking into account retention and feeding. The breed has two types: lowland (Berehiv, Vynohradiv, Mukachevo districts) and mountain (Rakhiv, Volovetsky, Mezhgirsky districts).
 In order to preserve the Brown Carpathian cattle as a national property, it is necessary to carry out expeditionary examination of domestic animals, to analyze and evaluate livestock. In our opinion, this can serve as a starting point for the establishment of a reserve or individual gene pool subject of the Brown Carpathian breed.
 Conclusions. The Brown Carpathian cattle belongs to the combined, dairy-meat direction of productivity. The cow's productivity is at the level of 3.5–4.5 thousand kg of milk with a fat content of 3.6–3.8%, the animals have satisfactory meat productivity. The peculiarity of the breed is its exceptional adaptation to the natural and climatic conditions of Transcarpathian Ukraine. The breed has a sufficient number of regional lines and families for distribution in Ukraine.

Wood waste of forest industry of siberia for feeding cows

Full realization of genetic potential of productivity of livestock in the conditions of industrial technologies is impossible without using in its diets of various biologically active additives providing increase in productivity and standardization of indicators of homeostasis. The research has been conducted in “Breeding Farm Taezhny” Ltd, Sukhobuzimsky territory of Krasnoyarsk region. The influence of feeding coniferous flour and pine nut shells on milk productivity of black-motley breed cows at the age of the second calving has been studied. Three groups of 5 cows in each were formed. The period of the experiment lasted 100 days. As a result, the analysis of composition of the studied feed additives, milk productivity, hematological and biochemical blood tests were made. Milk yield of the cows receiving coniferous flour in addition to the main diet was higher than in the control group by 13.5 %, and the cows receiving a shell of pine nut – by 4.3 %, in terms of basic fat content by 22.7-15.7 %, respectively. The increase of milk productivity by adding the coniferous flour allowed reducing the cost of 1 kg of milk by 2.2 rubles or 13.1 %, increase profits by 9.442 rubles or 36.5 %.

Bacterial Metabolites Produced Under Iron Limitation Kill Pinewood Nematode and Attract Caenorhabditis elegans.

Pine Wilt Disease (PWD) is caused by Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the pinewood nematode, and affects several species of pine trees worldwide. The ecosystem of the Pinus pinaster trees was investigated as a source of bacteria producing metabolites affecting this ecosystem: P. pinaster trees as target-plant, nematode as disease effector and its insect-vector as shuttle. For example, metals and metal-carrying compounds contribute to the complex tree-ecosystems. This work aimed to detect novel secondary metabolites like metallophores and related molecules produced under iron limitation by PWD-associated bacteria and to test their activity on nematodes. After screening 357 bacterial strains from Portugal and United States, two promising metallophore-producing strains Erwinia sp. A41C3 and Rouxiella sp. Arv20#4.1 were chosen and investigated in more detail. The genomes of these strains were sequenced, analyzed, and used to detect genetic potential for secondary metabolite production. A combinatorial approach of liquid chromatography-coupled tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) linked to molecular networking was used to describe these compounds. Two major metabolites were detected by HPLC analyses and described. One HPLC fraction of strain Arv20#4.1 showed to be a hydroxamate-type siderophore with higher affinity for chelation of Cu. The HPLC fraction of strain A41C3 with highest metal affinity showed to be a catecholate-type siderophore with higher affinity for chelation of Fe. LC-MS allowed the identification of several desferrioxamines from strain Arv20#4.1, in special desferrioxamine E, but no hit was obtained in case of strain A41C3 which might indicate that it is something new. Bacteria and their culture supernatants showed ability to attract C. elegans. HPLC fractions of those supernatant-extracts of Erwinia strain A41C3, enriched with secondary metabolites such as siderophores, were able to kill pinewood nematode. These results suggest that metabolites secreted under iron limitation have potential to biocontrol B. xylophilus and for management of Pine Wilt Disease.

Denitrifying microbial communities along a boreal stream with varying land-use

Streams have an important role in regulating nitrogen (N) transportation from terrestrial ecosystems to downstream waters. Here, we examined how catchment land-use affects potential denitrification rates and the function and composition of denitrifier communities in boreal stream sediments, using stable isotope incubations and qPCR and 454-pyrosequencing targeted on nirS, nirK and nosZ genes. Although land-use influenced the water chemistry as higher nitrite + nitrate (NOx−) concentration at the agriculture-affected sampling point, sediment organic matter content was found to be the key factor in regulating potential denitrification rates. However, the abundance as well as the diversity and community composition of denitrifying microbes, and genetic N2O production potential (the ratio between nirS + nirK and nosZ gene abundances) were connected to both NOx− and sediment quality. Overall, our results suggest that catchment land-use-driven changes in N and carbon availability affect the denitrification rates, and possibly N2:N2O production ratio, in boreal streams, through altering denitrifier abundance and community composition.

Productive and breeding qualities of the sheep of Aginskaya breed, Zugalai type

The genetic potential of wool and meat productivity of semi-coarse wool sheep was evaluated for the creation of animal groups that would meet requirements of the desirable type. The article presents the results of the study of productivity and breeding abilities of semi-coarse wool sheep of Aginskaya breed, Zugalai type, belonging to mutton-wool production type. The study was carried out in the pedigree breeding unit of Trans-Baikal Territory. The scope of research was to study productive and breeding qualities of sheep of various age and gender groups. It was established that sheep of Aginskaya breed, Zugalai type, correspond to the elite class by 37.5%, fi rst class – by 51.7% and second class – by 10.8%. Zugalai type semicoarse wool rams exceed the breed standard in live weight by 37.4%, replacement rams – by 38.0%, ewes – by 15.4% and young ewes – by 25.7%, and in terms of pure wool production – by 28.6; 25.0; 7.7 and 8.3%, respectively. Production and yield of wool, its length, morphological composition and fi neness by fractions of semi-coarse wool sheep were identifi ed. The semi-coarse wool of Zugalayan sheep is heterogeneous and consists of fi ne fl eece (79.5-80.6%), medullated fi bers (12.7-13.4%) and coarse hair (6.0-7.8%). The fi neness of fi bers by fractions varies between 21.4-22.9 microns for fi ne fl eece, 39.7-40.2 for medullated fi bers and 72.2-77.3 for coarse hair. The results of the control slaughter of semi-coarse wool rams at the age of 6 months show their reasonably high meat productivity. The slaughter mass of Zugalai type specimens is 18.5 kg, the slaughter yield is 50.9%, fi rst grade meat yield is 92.9%, the meatiness ratio is 3.8.

Research of techniques of microclimate improvement in poultry houses

Creating an optimal microclimate in poultry houses is an important condition for implementing the genetic potential of poultry productivity and minimizing the specific costs of material and technical resources. Such microclimate parameters as the content of harmful gases in the air of the poultry houses and its microbial contamination have a significant impact not only on the survival and productive parameters of the poultry, but also on the health of the staff, and the ventilation emissions from the poultry houses - on the environment. Therefore, the development of techniques and technological methods aimed at reducing the content of these ‘harmful factors’ in the air of the poultry houses is of paramount importance for modern poultry farming. The first experiments were carried out in two similar industrial poultry houses for egg laying hens, 18×96 m in size. Hens were kept in 4-tier Hellmann cage batteries with a belt removal system and integrated air ducts. The capacity of each poultry house was 47,280 laying hens. The purpose of the experiment was to study the influence of the device for the neutralization of microorganisms in the air of the poultry house and its mode of operation on the microbial contamination of the air of the poultry house and the productive parameters of the poultry. The poultry of the Lohmann Brown crossbreed was used. The next experiment was carried out in the same poultry houses as in the previous one. The purpose of the experiment was to study the effects of the application of the method of purifying the air of the poultry house from the ammonia in the scrubber on the contents of this gas in the air of the poultry house and the productive parameters of the poultry. The poultry of the Lohmann Brown crossbreed was used in the experiments. It was established that at application of a bactericidal device with 24 bactericidal tubes TUV-75 caused a decrease of microbial contamination of the air, which positively influenced the survival and productive parameters of the poultry. After 210 days of the productive period, the poultry’s survival in the experimental poultry house was higher by 0.8%; 1.3 pcs. of eggs more per one egg laying hen were obtained in this poultry house; and the egg mass was higher by 0.7 g than in the control poultry house. With the hens from the experimental poultry house, a greater bactericidal and lysozyme activity of the blood serum was observed than with the ones from the control poultry house at the age of 30 and 47 weeks. Some advantage of the poultry from the experimental poultry house was determined by the absolute mass of individual internal organs, but this advantage was not statistically probable. It was proved that in the cold season, the scrubber provided a decrease in the ammonia content in the air (when comparing the air before and after the scrubber) by 3.2-2.2 times, in the poultry house (when compared with the control) - by 2.1-1.5 times. It was established that in the experimental poultry house the poultry’s survival was greater by 0.7%, 1.6 pcs. or by 1.0% eggs more per one egg laying hen were obtained and egg mass was higher by 212 g, or by 2.1% than in the control poultry house.

Вплив норм висіву насіння та способів сівби на формування площі листя рослин нуту

The work is devoted to studying the influence of seeding rates and sowing methods on the formation of chickpea plant leaves area. Problem statement, literature analysis . Given the current climate change, the soil and market conditions, it becomes important to increase the area of leguminous crops with high adaptive potential. One of such crops is chickpea. The demand for this crop in Ukraine and around the world tends to grow. Further expansion of chickpea acreage is impossible without increasing the competitiveness of this crop production, especially seed yield. It is possible to increase the realization level of the genetic potential of chickpea productivity by optimizing its cultivation technology. However, in the chickpea cultivation technology the most controversial issue remains the choice of the optimal combination of seeding rate and sowing method. Therefore, it is important to study the cultivation technology elements (seeding rates, sowing methods) in order to select the best parameters, the combination of which makes it possible to more fully disclose the genetic potential of plant productivity. The purpose of research . The research aim was to establish the influence of seeding rates and sowing methods on the crop leaves area formation of different chickpea varieties during vegetation. Material s and methods of research. Studies on the effect of three sowing methods with row spacing of 15, 30 and 45 cm and five seeding rates of 0,5; 0,6; 0,7; 0,8 and 0,9 million units per hectare on the crop leaves area formation of chickpea varieties Budjak and Odyssey were carried out in 2016–2018 on the experimental field of the Kharkiv National Agrarian University n.a. V.V. Dokuchaev. The accounting plot area was 10 m 2 . Research results and discussion . It was found that the assimilation surface size of the chickpea crops of both varieties was significantly influenced by the studied technological factors, namely, the seeding rate and sowing methods. During the flowering phase, the leaf surface area of chickpea plants was the largest and ranged from 10,32 to 16,03 th. m 2 /ha in the Budjak variety and from 10,68 to 17,15 th. m 2 /ha in the Odyssey variety . Analysis of the studied factors, as sources of chickpea crops leaves area variability in the flowering phase, showed the dominant value of the seeding rate. The share of this factor on average over the research years was 88%. Among the main effects of the studied factors, the smallest impact on the leaf area general variability had the variety – 3,0 %. The seeding method share was 7,8 %. A similar pattern is also noted in the phase of branching and maturation. Conclusion s . The studied technological factors had a significant impact on the leaf area variability of the chickpea crops. It has been established that during the flowering phase the area of the chickpea plant assimilation surface reaches its maximum values. In particular, the leaf area of Budjak variety during the branching, flowering and ripening phases was in average – 2,40; 13,07 and 3,32 th. m 2 /ha, in the Odyssey variety – 2,58; 13,65 and 3,44 th. m 2 /ha. In both studied varieties, the leaf area of crops has a clearly pronounced tendency to increase with the seeding rate rising. At the same time, the gradual seeding rate increase per gradation step (0,1 million pcs / ha), the increment of leaf area index gradually decreases. Therefore, the leaf area increment with the seeding rate enlargement from 0,8 to 0,9 million pcs / ha was the smallest. Sowing methods also influenced the variability of chickpea leaf surface area, but their impact was significantly less than seeding rates effect. The extension of the row spacing from 15 to 30 cm led to a significantly smaller leaf surface area decrease during the studied phases of plant development than the row spacing expansion from 30 to 45 cm.

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНАЯ ОЦЕНКА ИНДЕЕК РАЗНЫХ КРОССОВ И ПОРОДНЫХ ГРУПП ПО ПРОДУКТИВНЫМ КАЧЕСТВАМ

In recent years, special importance has been attached to turkey breeding as one of the most effective poultry industries, supplying the most valuable meat of all species of birds. For the production of turkey meat is used heavy, medium and light crosses turkeys of different breeds, including new - Hybreed. The aim of the work was to compare the qualities of turkeys of different crosses of white broad-chested and hybrid birds Hybreed. In hybrid birds Hybreed in the breed heavy cross on live weight in all periods exceeds the average cross of 670 grams or 1.31 times in 4 weeks, 1040 grams or 27.4% and then 61.4-70.6% (P < 0.01, P < 0.001), in periods hybrid bird Hybreed and its crosses have a higher genetic potential of productivity, have high rates of growth and its intensity, which allows before slaughter in 120 and 150 days, depending on the cross to have turkeys with a high live weight of 10,83-23,20 kg, respectively.The advantage of the output of muscle mass and the edible part of the carcass remains for a hybrid bird Hybrid. This applies to both medium and heavy crosses of this breed group. They were superior to turkeys of white broad-chested breed by pre-slaughter weight and weight of chilled carcass on the average cross by 2.53 and 2.51 kg, respectively, or by 23.4-28.6%; by heavy cross by 10.9 and 8.55 kg or 47.0%. The profitability of turkey meat production, depending on the cross and breed (breed group) ranges from 58.8% (group 2, heavy cross, white broad-breasted turkey) to 193.2% (group 4, heavy cross, Hybreed highbrid birds).

Resistance Gene-Directed Genome Mining of 50 Aspergillus Species.

Fungal secondary metabolites are a rich source of valuable natural products, and genome sequencing has revealed a proliferation of predicted biosynthetic gene clusters in the genomes. However, it is currently an unfeasible task to characterize all biosynthetic gene clusters and to identify possible uses of the compounds. Therefore, a rational approach is needed to identify a short list of gene clusters responsible for producing valuable compounds. To this end, several bioactive clusters include a resistance gene, which is a paralog of the target gene inhibited by the compound. This mechanism can be used to identify these clusters. We have developed the FRIGG (fungal resistance gene-directed genome mining) pipeline for identifying this type of biosynthetic gene cluster based on homology patterns of the cluster genes. In this work, the FRIGG pipeline was run using 51 Aspergillus and Penicillium genomes, identifying 72 unique families of putative resistance genes. The pipeline also identified the previously characterized resistance gene inpE from the fellutamide B cluster, thereby validating the approach. We have successfully developed an approach to identify putative valuable bioactive clusters based on a specific resistance mechanism. This approach will be highly useful as an ever-increasing amount of genomic data becomes available; the art of identifying and selecting the right clusters producing novel valuable compounds will only become more crucial. IMPORTANCE Species belonging to the Aspergillus genus are known to produce a large number of secondary metabolites; some of these compounds are used as pharmaceuticals, such as penicillin, cyclosporine, and statin. With whole-genome sequencing, it became apparent that the genetic potential for secondary metabolite production is much larger than expected. As an increasing number of species are whole-genome sequenced, thousands of secondary metabolite genes are predicted, and the question of how to selectively identify novel bioactive compounds from this information arises. To address this question, we have created a pipeline to predict genes involved in the production of bioactive compounds based on a resistance gene hypothesis approach.

High Genetic Potential for Proteolytic Decomposition in Northern Peatland Ecosystems.

Nitrogen (N) is a scarce nutrient commonly limiting primary productivity. Microbial decomposition of complex carbon (C) into small organic molecules (e.g., free amino acids) has been suggested to supplement biologically fixed N in northern peatlands. We evaluated the microbial (fungal, bacterial, and archaeal) genetic potential for organic N depolymerization in peatlands at Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF) in northern Minnesota. We used guided gene assembly to examine the abundance and diversity of protease genes and further compared them to those of N fixation (nifH) genes in shotgun metagenomic data collected across depths and in two distinct peatland environments (bogs and fens). Microbial protease genes greatly outnumbered nifH genes, with the most abundant genes (archaeal M1 and bacterial trypsin [S01]) each containing more sequences than all sequences attributed to nifH Bacterial protease gene assemblies were diverse and abundant across depth profiles, indicating a role for bacteria in releasing free amino acids from peptides through depolymerization of older organic material and contrasting with the paradigm of fungal dominance in depolymerization in forest soils. Although protease gene assemblies for fungi were much less abundant overall than those for bacteria, fungi were prevalent in surface samples and therefore may be vital in degrading large soil polymers from fresh plant inputs during the early stage of depolymerization. In total, we demonstrate that depolymerization enzymes from a diverse suite of microorganisms, including understudied bacterial and archaeal lineages, are prevalent within northern peatlands and likely to influence C and N cycling.IMPORTANCE Nitrogen (N) is a common limitation on primary productivity, and its source remains unresolved in northern peatlands that are vulnerable to environmental change. Decomposition of complex organic matter into free amino acids has been proposed as an important N source, but the genetic potential of microorganisms mediating this process has not been examined. Such information can inform possible responses of northern peatlands to environmental change. We show high genetic potential for microbial production of free amino acids across a range of microbial guilds in northern peatlands. In particular, the abundance and diversity of bacterial genes encoding proteolytic activity suggest a predominant role for bacteria in regulating productivity and contrasts with a paradigm of fungal dominance of organic N decomposition. Our results expand our current understanding of coupled carbon and nitrogen cycles in northern peatlands and indicate that understudied bacterial and archaeal lineages may be central in this ecosystem's response to environmental change.

Ways to improve the gene pool of pigs of the Russian Federation

An analysis of the system of breeding work in the pig industry of our country has been carried out. The scientifc and organizational factors that determine the improvement of breed and productive qualities of pigs have been analyzed. On the basis of many years of experimental data, selection practices obtained in the process of creating new breeding achievements, and using the scientifc results of the world science on genetics and animal breeding, proposals have been developed for a new system for assessing and improving the genetic potential of animal productivity based on modern achievements in genetics. In particular, a critical analysis was performed on the existing instructions for boning pigs, linear breeding, which does not meet the criteria of reality in the systematization of biological objects. The positive effect of breeding pigs in a closed mode in the form of a “line-population”, using such genetic markers as erythrocyte antigens, erythrocyte enzymes, lipoproteins, allowing intensifcation of the selection process, has been experimentally proved. When hogging pigs and developing breeding plans with a herd, it was proposed to use such selection and genetic parameters as heritability factors, phenotypic and genetic correlations, selective differential, selective effect, etc. for assessment of animals and prognostication of productivity. A system of continuous scoring of each selectable feature was developed, in contrast to the interval to the classes used in our country at the present time. A model of the selection index, taking into account the selection and economic signifcance of each of its components, has been proposed. Theoretical paths have been shown towards and experimental proof given to a relatively rapid transformation of breeds of animals bred in Russia to world-class productivity, as opposed to the constant import of breeding animals.

Вплив елементів технології вирощування на продуктивність пшениці озимої в умовах Західного Полісся України

Due to climate change, it is necessity to take into account the stressors affecting plant growth and development to ensure a high yield of winter wheat grain. The realization of the genetic potential of winter wheat productivity in critical periods can be achieved by improving the cultivation technology features used for this grain crop. The purpose of our research is to study the effect of seed treatment with the plant growth stimulator Vympel K and the spraying the plants with the growth stimulator Vempel-2 combined with microfertilizers Orakul on winter wheat productivity in Ukrainian Western Polessia. It is established that while cultivating winter wheat Astarta on typical slightly humic black soil typical, it is effective to supplement the technology with growth stimulants Vempel-K and Vympel-2 in combination with liquid microfertilizer Oracul colofermin LLC &quot;Dolyna-Tsentr&quot;. It makes possible to increase the resistance to adverse environmental factors, reduce plant death during the growing season and has a positive effect on the formation of the main indicators of winter wheat crop structure. The investigation proves that treating seeds with growth stimulator Vympel-K (0,5 kg/t) and spraying crops with growth stimulator Vympel-2 (0,5 l/ha) at the 29th and 39th stages of organogenesis ensures obtaining the grain yield at the level of 7,03 t/ha, which is 7.7% more compared to the control. The highest productivity of winter wheat Astarta (7.48 t/ha) is provided by the use of growth stimulants Vympel-K (0.5 kg/t) to treat seed and Vympel-2 (0.5 l/ha) to spray with Orakul microfertilizer at the 29th and 39th stages of organogenesis. The grain yield proved to increase by 14.5% compared to the control. The prospects for further research should focus on the studying the effects of integrated using Orakul microfertilizer and growth stimulant Pennant on the quality of winter wheat grain

IVAN PETROVICH PETRENKO IS A RECOGNIZED AUTHORITY IN THEORY OF SELECTION AND GENETICS OF ANIMALS

The well-known scientist, the author of fundamental research on the theory of breeding and genetics of animals, the Chief scientific researcher of the laboratory of selection of Red-and-White breeds of the Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics nd. a. M.V.Zubets, NAAS Ivan Petrovich Petrenko, turned 80 years on October 20, 2018.&#x0D; He was born in the village of Berezanka Chernigiv region of Chernihiv oblast in the family of a peasant. After graduation of Chernigiv school № 4 in 1956 year, he works as a freelance worker at the collective farm nd a Chkalov (village Berezanka Chernihiv region of Chernihiv oblast). From 1957 to 1962 he studied at the zootechnical faculty of Ukrainian Agricultural Academy (Kyiv). From 1962 to 1963, Ivan Petrovich worked as a Senior zootechnik of Chernihiv State Regional Agricultural Plant, from 1963 to 1965 – a zootechnician-breeder at Nizhyn Plant of Artificial Insemination of Agricultural Animals. From 1965 to 1968, he studied at the post-graduate school at the Department of Genetics, and from 1968 to 1976 he became an assistant to the Department of Agricultural Animals Development at Ukrainian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Kyiv).&#x0D; Since 1976 and till now the work of Ivan Petrovich Petrenko is connected with Ukrainian Research Institute of Breeding and Artificial Insemination of Cattle (now Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics nd. a. M.V.Zubets NAAS), where he works on positions of Senior, Leading (1976–1993) and Chief (1993–2000, 2002 and to date) scientific researcher. From 2000 to 2002 he worked as Chief scientific researcher at Institute of Meat Livestock of Ukrainian Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Kyiv).&#x0D; Ivan Petrovich was awarded the scientific degree of the Candidate of biological sciences (Ph.D) in the specialty "Genetics" in 1968 under the protective substitute (1968) of the dissertation on the topic "Fractionation and hormone-flax processing of ram sperm in order to regulate the ratio of sex of offspring". Academic rank of Senior scientific researcher was awarded in 1980. He successfully defended his dissertation in 1994 for obtaining a scientific degree of a Doctor of agricultural sciences from the specialty of breeding and animals selection on the theme "Genetic-population processes in the breeding, cross-breeding and regulation of the sexual composition of offspring in animals".&#x0D; The circle of scientific interests of the jubilator is quite broad. He made a significant contribution to the scientific understanding of the natural variability of offspring at birth at farm animals at the population level. He developed fundamentally new methodological approaches to theoretical analysis and scientific understanding of genetic-population processes in animals at inbreeding, reproductive cross-breeding, the consolidation of heredity of domestic animals, the structure of the gene pool of the breed for the additive genetic productivity potential. He suggested his vision of the problem of manifestation of heterosis in domestic animals at crossing and the reasons for its extinction in subsequent generations for their breeding "in oneself” etc. Together with NAAS academicians M. V. Zubets, V. P. Burkat, Correspondent member of NAAS D. T. Vinnychuk, Doctor of agricultural sciences O. F. Havruk developed a fundamentally new scientific intensive system of genotypic selection of pedigree cubs in dairy cattle breeding, as well as a system of breeding work in Holstein breeding herds of commodity farms. Ivan Petrovich Petrenko is a co-author of factory types and lines of Ukrainian Red-and-White dairy breed. In the scientific work of the scientist there are more than 200 scientific works, in particular 5 monographs. Ivan Petrovich – co-author and executor of 2 regional programs, 10 programs and plans of selection and breeding work in breeding and basic farms for breeding dairy cattle.&#x0D; Ivan Petrovich is twice (1997, 2001 years) laureate of Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences Award "For outstanding achievements in agrarian science".&#x0D; From 1996 to 2002, Ivan Petrovich Petrenko was a member of the Expert Council of the Higher Attestation Commission of Ukraine. From 1970 to 1990, he was a member of the All-Union Society of Genetics and Breeders nd. a. M. I. Vavilov, and from 1991 to up to date – of Ukrainian Society of Genetics and Breeders nd. a. M. I. Vavilov. Since 1994 he has been a permanent member of the Scientific Council of Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics of Ukrainian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, since 1996 – a member of a specialized Scientific Council for the defense of the doctorate (candidate) of agricultural sciences, a member of the editorial board of the scientific collection "Breeding and animal genetics". High-level professionalism, comprehensive knowledge made Ivan Petrovich a well-deserved authority in the team and scientific community of Ukraine.&#x0D; Now Ivan Petrovich Petrenko is the Chief scientific researcher of the laboratory of selection of Red-and-White breeds. The staff of Institute, in which the jubilee works more than 40 years, sincerely congratulates dear Ivan Petrovich and wishes him a solid health, further creative success and longevity.

Comparison of Methods for Monitoring the Body Condition of Dairy Cows

Dairy cows are known to mobilise body fat to achieve their genetic potential for milk production, which can have a detrimental impact on the health, fertility and survival of the cow. Better monitoring of cows with poor body condition (low or high body fat) will lead to improvements in production efficiencies and less wasted resources when producing milk from dairy cows. The aim of this study was to compare different methods for monitoring the body condition (body fat) of dairy cows. The methods used to measure body condition were: ultrasound scanner, manual observation, and a still digital image of the cow. For comparison, each measure was expressed as a body condition score (BCS) on a scale of extremely thin (1) to very fat (5) in quarter intervals. A total of 209 cows at various stages of lactation were assessed. Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and the root mean square prediction error (RMSPE) were used to compare the accuracy of methods. The average BCS across cows was 2.10 for ultrasound, 2.76 for manual and 2.41 for digital methods. The study found that both manual (r = 0.790) and digital (r = 0.819) approaches for monitoring cow body condition were highly correlated with ultrasound BCS measurements. After adjusting correlation coefficients for prediction bias relative to a 45 line through the origin, the digital BCS had a higher CCC of 0.789 when compared to the ultrasound BCS than the manual BCS with a CCC of 0.592. The digital BCS also had a lower prediction error (RMSPE = 28.3%) when compared with ultrasound BCS than the manual BCS (RMSPE = 42.7%). The prediction error for digital and manual BCS methods were similar for cows with a BCS of 2.5 or more (RMSPE = 20.5% and 19.0% respectively) but digital BCS was more accurate for cows of less than 2.5 BCS (RMSPE = 35.5% and 63.8% respectively). Digital BCS can provide a more accurate assessment of cow body fat than manual BCS observations, with the added benefit of more automated and frequent monitoring potentially improving the welfare and sustainability of high production systems.

Biotechnological potential of Neolyngbya (Cyanobacteria), a new marine benthic filamentous genus from Brazil

Marine filamentous cyanobacteria are sources of biologically active secondary metabolites with potential biotechnological application. Despite the extension and environmental variety of the Brazilian coast, floristic surveys of filamentous cyanobacteria are scarce. Studies on their biotechnological potential are even more limited. In this work, we sampled Neolyngbya (Oscillatoriaceae) populations along the Brazilian coast and evaluated the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of their organic extracts. We also assessed the strains' genetic potential for production of cyanotoxins. The strains were cultivated in SWBG-11 medium. Extraction of biomass was carried out with methanol, ethanol, and acetic acid. Antimicrobial (against seven bacterial strains and the yeast Candida albicans), antioxidant (DPPH and ABTS radicals), and cytotoxic (brine shrimp) potential were evaluated. PCR reactions were performed to analyze the genetic potential for the production of microcystin, saxitoxin, and cylindrospermopsin. Brazilian marine filamentous cyanobacteria presented relevant antimicrobial capacity. Seven extracts from four Neolyngbya strains inhibited growth of almost all bacteria, while nine extracts from four strains inhibited C. albicans, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range from 2.5 to 10.0 mg·mL−1. Methanolic extracts presented the greatest antioxidant potential for both DPPH and ABTS radicals, ranging from 50.0 to 98.3% at a concentration of 10 mg·mL−1. Cytotoxicity assays showed a LC50 ranging from 0.8 to 6.6 mg·mL−1. We detected toxic genotypes in eight of the analyzed strains, in which the most frequent gene clusters were mcyG (microcystin) and cyrJ (cylindrospermopsin). All Neolyngbya strains screened in this study have potential for biotechnological application, which highlights the economical and pharmacological importance of studying this underestimated biodiversity in tropical areas.

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TURKEY OF DIFFERENT CROSSES

The results of studies aimed at comparing turkey of the live weight of the middle and heavy cross Hybrid breeds with a white broad-chested rock were carried out. The study of the live mass and its growth dynamics over the periods of cultivation was carried out by weighing. The growth rate was estimated by absolute, daily and relative increments of live weight. According to the results of the research, it can be concluded that hybrid «Hybrid» and its crosses have a higher genetic potential of productivity, have high rates of growth and its intensity, which allows before slaughtering at 120 and 150 days, depending on the cross, to obtain turkeys with a high live weight of 10.83-23.20 kg, respectively.

How do herd’s genetic level and milk quality affect performance of dairy farms?

The effects of genetic level and output quality characteristics on technical efficiency (TE) of dairy farms were studied. The average total relative breeding value (RBV) at herd level was considered a parameter of the genetic level and production potential of the main input (dairy cows), while somatic cell count (SCC) and milk composition characterise the quality of the main output (milk) of dairy farms. The analysis was carried out in two stages: data envelopment analysis was used in the first stage and fractional regression model in the second stage, combining the data collected by the Estonian Farm Accountancy Data Network with the data from the Estonian Livestock Performance Recording Ltd. The results showed that the TE of fully efficient dairy farms is positively affected by the total RBV (P &amp;lt; 0.05), number of dairy cows in the herd (P &amp;lt; 0.05), and negatively affected by the SCC (P &amp;lt; 0.001) and costs of purchased feed per kg of produced milk (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Among the inefficient farms, the TE was positively affected by the lifetime daily milk yield (P &amp;lt; 0.05), and average milk fat (P &amp;lt; 0.1) and protein (P &amp;lt; 0.05) contents. The results confirm our hypothesis that the genetic level of dairy herd and milk quality have a positive effect on the TE of dairy farms.

Threonine in broiler diets: an updated review

Abstract Threonine (Thr) is the third limiting essential amino acid after methionine and lysine in cornsoybean based diets of broilers. Dietary imbalance of Thr, therefore, results in a poor growth performance in broilers. This review summarizes literature data on the known effects of dietary levels of Thr on growth performance, gut morphology, immunity and carcass characteristics in broilers. Due to continuous improvement in genetic potential and management practices for poultry production, dietary Thr requirements are changing. A number of studies have shown that supplementation of Thr in broiler diet at a higher level than the current NRC recommendation (0.74-0.81%), increases body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and improves gut morphology, carcass quality and immune status, mainly by enhancing the functional capability of digestive system and immune organs (spleen, bursa, and thymus). According to the literature data discussed in this review, the minimal and maximal total dietary Thr levels for healthy birds reared in normal conditions were 0.67 and 0.90% for growth performance, 0.77 and 1.1% for a better gut health, 0.60 and 1.02% for immunity and 0.62 and 0.97% for better carcass characteristics. This background provides impetus to further investigate the exact level of Thr and its effects on growth performance, gut morphology, immunity and carcass characteristics in broilers.