Industrial Herds Research Articles

Mutual Fund Herding in Industries: The Turkish Case

ABSTRACT This study investigates the industry herding of mutual funds traded in Turkey and the effects of industry herding on industry valuations. Using a sample of monthly portfolio holdings of 37 equity-intensive mutual funds traded in Borsa Istanbul (BIST), we employ the LSV and Sias herding measures. We find significant industry herding with the LSV measure and no overall industry herding with the Sias measure. We show that fund flows of underlying investors, individual stock herding, and the investing style of the mutual funds are not relevant drivers of industry herding. Furthermore, we document that industry herding is not a factor that destabilizes industry returns. These findings are especially crucial for investors who trade in concentrated markets since they raise questions regarding aspects such as the lower number of investors and stocks, as well as the information content of industry components, which have been claimed to have an impact on herding behavior in such a setting.

Использование новых кормовых добавок из местных растительных ресурсов в рационах кур-несушек

Purpose. To establish the effect of extruded grain of amaranth (Amaranthus hybridus chlorostachys) with and without the addition of a complex of enzymes, sunflower polysaccharide extract (hereinafter referred to as SPE), sunflower and pumpkin fuses in combination with bischofite on economic, biological, hematological indicators and the immune status of laying hens. Materials and Methods. The experiment was carried out on laying hens of the industrial herd of the Hayseks brown cross at the breeding enterprise of the Volgograd region of the Svetloyarsky district on the basis of Agricultural enterprise "Svetly" JSC "Agrofirm Vostok". Blood biochemical parameters were determined according to the methods of JSC "Deacon-DS" using the appropriate set of biochemical reagents on automatic biochemical analyzers URIT-800Vet, URIT-3020, other studies – on certified equipment in the complex analytical laboratory of VRIMMP (Volgograd, Russia). The obtained results were processed using software, calculating the mean value (M), standard errors of the mean value (±SEM) and determination of the Student-Fisher test for the significance of the difference. Results. The positive dynamics of cholesterol reduction by 6.87% was proved with the addition of 10% amaranth and by 9.86% with the addition of 10% amaranth and 250 g/t of the multienzyme complex. The use of sunflower polysaccharide extract in feeding laying hens – a by-product of sunflower oil production – in the amount of 3; 5 and 7% contributed to an increase in the yield of hatching eggs, respectively, by 88, 239 and 149 pcs. regarding control, increase in the intensity of egg production, feed conversion. The highest efficiency in the production of hatching eggs was achieved when using sunflower polysaccharide extract at a dosage of 5.0% in the diet structure. A significant increase in the productivity of chickens of all experimental groups by a value of 2.00 to 3.94% (P≤0.001) was established with the addition of pumpkin, sunflower phosphatides and bischofite, while the upper value was recorded with the addition of sunflower phosphatides and bischofite. The addition of pumpkin phosphatides contributed to the greatest increase in the weight of the laid egg relative to the control by 2.7 g (4.38%). Feeding both types of phosphatides contributed to the economy of feed, lowering cholesterol levels by 2 to 3.6%. The use of bischofite was manifested in a significant increase in the thickness of the shell, respectively, by a value from 13.0 to 21.2 microns. Conclusion. The greatest reduction in cholesterol levels (by 9.86%) and efficiency in the production of eggs was achieved with the addition of 10% amaranth and 250 g/t of the multi-enzyme complex. The best economic and biological indicators of poultry were recorded when using sunflower polysaccharide extract at a dosage of 5.0% in the diet structure. The addition of sunflower phosphatides in the amount of 3% and 2.6% bischofite contributed to a significant increase in the productivity of chickens by 3.94% (P≤0.001). The addition of pumpkin phosphatides contributed to the greatest increase in the weight of the laid egg relative to the control by 2.7 g (4.38%). The inclusion of bischofite in the diet of laying hens resulted in a significant increase in shell thickness by 13.0 to 21.2 µm.

Determinants of Industry Herding in the Indian Stock Market

Determinants of Industry Herding in the Indian Stock Market

Bacterial risks and determination of critical control points at the industrial production of chicken edible egg

The aim: study the bacterial risks and to determine the control critical points at the industrial production of chicken edible egg.
 Materials and methods. The first stage of our research was to study the degree of risk of contamination by opportunistic and pathogenic microflora at all stages of production of chicken edible eggs according to ISO 22000:2007. In order to achieve the goal, bacteriological research was conducted on pathological material from day-old chickens and adult birds, the content of marketable eggs from birds of different age groups; as well as washed from the equipment of poultry farms, the repair young poultry department, the industrial herd department, egg sorting and certification workshops, from the surface of the egg, from the working surfaces of special vehicles. Bacterial contamination of air, droppings, bedding, complete feed was studied. Bacteriological studies were carried out according to generally accepted schemes, using accumulative, selective and differential diagnostic media (heptadecyl sulfate agar, endo, xylose-lysine agar, differentiated agar with diamond green, Muller-Hinton). The sampling was carried out using universal sterile applicators "Voles".
 The next stage was to analyze the results of bacteriological studies and determine the basic list of criteria for creating critical control points (CCPs) for the further development of a risk management scheme for the bacterial biosafety of edible eggs according to HACCP principles.
 Results. Isolation of S. aureus from the heart and lungs, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp, Enterococcus spp - from the intestines of day-old chickens and litter - indicate violations of veterinary and sanitary standards in the hatchery and the low quality of disinfection before the placement of day-old young birds, as well as non-observance of veterinary and sanitary norms for the transportation regime of day-old young birds. Isolation of E. coli, Enterobacter spp, Klebsiella spp.Str. zymogenes from compound feed, and E. coli, Enterobacter spp, Shigella spp. in washings from the equipment of the feed mill is evidence of insufficient veterinary and sanitary control of incoming raw materials, compound feed, as well as poorly carried out disinfection of equipment and specialized vehicles.When examining objects from the production line, E. coli, Enterobacter spp., P. aeruginosa, and S. epiderrmidis were most often isolated. From the pathological material during the bacteriological examination, microflora of the genus E. coli, Streptococcus spp., S. aureus (most often pathogenic serotypes) prevailed. As a result of the analysis of the conducted studies, we determined a basic list of criteria for creating a CCP and developing a risk management scheme for the bacterial biosafety of edible eggs according to the principles of HACCP.
 Conclusions. As a result of the bacteriological monitoring of objects of the technological cycle of chicken edible egg production, we established a list of bacteriological risks at all stages of production. As a result of the conducted research, it was determined, that the spectrum of bacterial contamination was mainly represented by opportunistic microflora. In the majority, the following types of microorganisms were detected: E. coli, P. aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp, Enterococcus spp. But C. jejuni, Streptococcus spp., S. aureus. Salmonella spp, which are the most dangerous for the consumer and poultry, were not isolated. We studied the bacterial risks at all the main stages of the industrial production of chicken edible eggs and identified the main critical control points of production according to the principles of the HACCP system

Genetic Load of Mutations Causing Inherited Diseases and Its Classification in Dairy Cattle Bred in the Russian Federation

This review addresses the concept of genetic load from the point of view of molecular genetics, development and efforts in selective breeding. As typical examples, the assessment of animals in the Holstein breed and its high-blooded crossbreeds is considered for mutations that cause three inherited diseases: bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (CD18 locus), complex vertebral malformation (SLC35A3 locus), and brachyspina (FANCI locus). The reasons for their occurrence and accumulation in the breeding herds of the black-pied genealogical root are discussed. These include an intense artificial-selection of bulls and cows in highly productive herds and the intensive sale (within and between countries) of breeding material (animals, semen, embryos) from a small population of sires from countries with a high level of dairy-cattle breeding development. There is a founder effect when the source of mutant-allele spread is a prominent sire. For example, the greatest contribution to the spread of mutant alleles CD18G, SLC35A3T and FANCIBY was made by the descendants of three closely related bulls. A genogeographic generalization of the mutation occurrence in the world and Russia is provided for these hereditary-disease loci and, includes a total of 31 countries where these mutations were detected. The genetic-load classification for these and other mutations is given. The mutations are inherited both recessively (CD18G, SLC35A3T, FANCIBY) and codominantly (CSN3A, CSN3C, CSN3E, CSN2A1, CSN2B). Genetic load is classified into the following types: mutational, segregation, substitutional, and immigration. For each of these, examples are given that explain their occurrence. Overall, it can be concluded that the phenomenon of genetic load in industrial herds of dairy cattle requires special attention when creating healthy livestock and obtaining high-quality dairy products.

Feed additive from marine fishing waste in compound feed for laying hens under the conditions of the Primorsky Territory

The Far East and in particular the Primorsky Territory is very rich in seafood, waste from the processing of which can be used in feeding animals and poultry. Currently, various technologies are used in Primorsky Territory to process fi sh production waste. Thus, it makes production waste-free. The purpose of the research was the scientific and practical justifi cation of increasing the productivity of the replacement young chickens and laying hens of the cross Hisex White by including a feed additive from waste from the processing of fi shing in the Primorsky Territory. The research was carried out in OOO PF “Victoria” in the Ussuri area of Primorsky Territory on a poultry of the egg direction of the cross Hisex White. The paper scientifi cally substantiates the possibilities of increasing the egg productivity of laying hens and improving the growth and development of young chickens by introducing waste from the processing of fi sheries into the compound feed. Optimal dosages of fi sh feed additive used to improve growth and development indicators, increase digestibility, use and conversion of nutrients in the diet, egg productivity, livestock livability and economic effi ciency of egg production have been established. It has been recommended that when rearing of young chickens of the cross Hisex White industrial herd include the fi sh feed additive from waste from fi shing processing in a dose of 5 % as part of compound feed. In order to increase the egg productivity of laying hens of the cross Hisex White industrial herd and the quality of the eggs obtained this feed additive should be introduced into the diet at the dose of 7 %.

Industry herding in crypto assets

The aim of this paper is to investigate if herd behaviour is present in crypto assets at industry level. Using price information extracted from coinmarketcap.com between 29 April 2013 and 9 May 2022, we find evidence of herding and reverse herding in the crypto assets market. Concentrated periods of herding and reverse herding are particularly evident in the January 2020–April 2022 Covid period. At industry level, herding is more profound in large sectors with higher volatility. In smaller sectors where ventures are backed by ‘real assets’, very short periods of herding with marginal significance are detected. Reverse herding is present in all industries except Real Estate between June 2021 and May 2022, implying that strategies such as excessive ‘flight to quality’ or/and token picking are at play during the recent crypto crash. We also detect varying asymmetric herding at industry level. This paper further examines the factors that drive such industry herding and reverse herding in the crypto assets market, and our results show that industry concentration and investor sentiments contribute to the probability of herding/reverse herding. Our study provides further insights to the forces that drive the dispersion in crypto assets prices and contribute to the behavioural studies of the crypto market.

Lysine sulfate in compound feed for laying hens and the effectiveness of its use

Lysine of feed proteins is incorporated into tissue proteins without any preliminary changes. It is an indispensable precursor in the synthesis of collagen, participates in the formation of carnitine, which plays an important role in fat metabolism. Lysine activates hematopoiesis, promotes calcium absorption, and has a benefi cial eff ect on protein metabolism and the state of the nervous system. It is used in the synthesis of proteins necessary for the formation of skeletal tissues and enzymes, is an important component of several peptide hormones. The purpose of the work was to study the eff ect of compound feed with diff erent levels of sunfl ower and soybean meal with the addition of lysine in the form of sulfate on the productivity of laying hens. The eff ect of lysine sulfate on the productivity of laying hens and the quality of eggs was studied. The physiological and biochemical justifi cation of the possibility of its use in compound feed of diff erent structures was given. With an increase in the level of soy meal input into the feed to 15 % and the inclusion of lysine sulfate in the feed, the fat digestibility increased by 0,6 abs.%, nitrogen-free extractive substances by 1,4 abs.%. Lysine in the form of sulfate had a positive infl uence on the digestibility and use of essential nutrients in all experimental groups. The results of the production check confi rmed the zootechnical data obtained in the experiments and showed the economic effi ciency of using lysine sulfate in compound feed for laying hens of the industrial herd of the egg productivity. The data obtained indicate the feasibility of using lysine sulfate in compound feed for laying hens.

LAYING AND PRESERVATION OF HENS OF THE INDUSTRIAL FLOCK DEPENDING ON THE DENSITY OF THEIR PLACEMENT IN CAGE BATTERIES

The relevance of this study is conditioned upon the lack of experimentally based data on optimising the density of laying hens of modern egg crosses in cage batteries of new multi-tiered structures. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the density of keeping chickens of an industrial herd in cages of 12-tier batteries on their egg production and safety. For this purpose, laying hens of 3 groups of the Hy-Line W-36 industrial flock of crossbreeds were kept in separate similar poultry houses, but at different densities. In particular, the hens of the 1st group were placed in cages at a density of 23 heads/m2 according to the norms, and the 2nd and 3rd groups – at 26 and 28 heads/m2, respectively, i.e., at a density of 13.0% and 21.7%. According to the characteristics of this cross, the laying capacity of hens of an industrial flock should be at least 262.2 eggs per initial laying hen for 62 weeks of life. However, in hens of Group 1, it was 231.4 pcs./head, i.e., it was 11.7% against the background of 5.1% lower preservation, which, if optimal paratypic conditions of existence were created, would correspond to the normative level (96.0%). When the density of housing was increased to 26 heads/m2 (Group 2) and to 28 heads/m2 (Group 3), the laying ability of hens was 220.8 pieces/head and 227.2 units/head with retention of 91.1% and 88.4%, respectively. An increase in the planting density of chickens of the 2nd and 3rd groups led to a decrease in egg production and safety but yielded more production per 1 m2 of production areas. Additionally, 3.9-12.9 million eggs were obtained during the 43 weeks of the productive period, including 1.6-5.3 thousand per 1 m2 of their area. Thus, the specified compaction can be applied as a technological method of rapidly increasing the production of edible eggs without the construction of new or reconstruction of existing farms in case of an added need for this product in the Ukrainian or foreign food markets

ВЛИЯНИЕ ПУЛЬСАЦИИ ОСВЕЩЕННОСТИ В ПТИЧНИКЕ НА ПРОДУКТИВНЫЕ КАЧЕСТВА КУР ПРИ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИИ СВЕТОДИОДНЫХ СИСТЕМ ОСВЕЩЕНИЯ

Effect of light pulsation frequency in poultry house has been studied on industrial herd layers livability and production in LED lighting system usage. LED light lamps usage with less than 488 Hz pulsation frequency has been deter- mined to lead to livability and production decreasing and efficiency of feed usage decreasing too.

Use of the feed additive “Toxinon” in feeding of replacement young chickens and laying hens

At the present time of the development of industrial poultry farming, the main tasks are to increase the productivity of poultry, reduce production costs and improve its quality. Under practical conditions, there is a shortage of minerals in compound feed for poultry, which leads to a violation of metabolism in the body, slowing down growth and development, deterioration of the work of organs and systems, a decrease in productivity and its quality, and an increase in the prime-cost of production. The purpose of the research was to study the effectiveness of the use of the feed additive “Toxinon” in feeding of replacement young chickens and laying hens. The research has been carried out under the conditions of OOO “Bogotolskaya Poultry Farm” in the Bogotolsky area in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Comprehensive studies have been conducted to study the effect of the feed additive “Toxinon” on the growth and development, productivity and metabolism of replacement young chickens and laying hens of the industrial herd of the cross “Haysex brown”. The influence of different dosages of the feed additive “Toxinon” on the growth rate, livestock livability, digestibility and use of feed nutrients, egg productivity, egg quality, hematological and biochemical blood parameters of replacement young chickens and laying hens has been studied. The laying hens of the 3rd experimental group were distinguished by the highest egg productivity during the experiment period, which exceeded the control group in terms of the gross number of eggs by 6,4 %, the intensity of egg production by 5,02 abs.%, egg weight by 3,0 % (P > 0,95), the yield of egg mass on the average laying hen by 9,12 %. At the same time, expenditures of feed in the 3rd experimental group have decreased compared to the control group by 7,3 % for 10 eggs, by 9,2 % for 1 kg of egg mass. It has been found that in feeding replacement young chickens and laying hens, the most effective use of the feed additive “Toxinon” in the dosage of 0,25 % of the weight of the feed mixture (2,5 kg/ton of feed).

INFLUENCE OF THE CONDITIONS OF KEEPING LAYING HENS ON THEIR PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY OF FOOD EGG PRODUCTION

In the conditions of industrial production of poultry products, the body of hens is constantly exposed to numerous technological stressors that reduce the level of immunological reactivity of the bird's body, which leads to a decrease in its productivity and significant economic losses. One of these stressors is the increased density of hens. At the same time, increased stocking density is a resourcesaving method in egg production, which is often used to obtain more eggs from available production areas. Therefore, the goal was to study the influence of the density of keeping hens of an industrial herd in modern 12-tier cage batteries on their productivity and the efficiency of production of food eggs. For this, hens were kept in cages of multi-tiered batteries for 44 weeks at different densities, namely 13.3 birds m2, which corresponded to European standards, 24.0 birds/m2 – according to Ukrainian standards, and with increasing overcrowding – 25.3 and 26.7 birds m2 It was found that increasing the density of keeping hens to 25.3 birds /m2 leads to a certain decrease in the viability and productivity of hens and at the same time makes it possible to obtain an additional larger number of eggs per 1 m2 of the poultry house area during the 44-week egg-laying period. In particular, in the experiment, an additional 4.5 million eggs were obtained from each poultry house (1,714 eggs from 1 m2 of its area) compared to domestic norms at a higher level of the European coefficient of efficiency of their production, and 40 million eggs (15,138 eggs from 1 m2 of its area), compared to European norms at the same level of the European coefficient of efficiency of their production. Whereas overdensification up to 26.7 birds/m2 is impractical, as it causes the development of stress in laying hens, the consequences of which are a decrease in survival by 8.9-9.0% and laying by 4.0-5.8%, which leads to a decrease level of the European coefficient of efficiency of egg production by 1.0 units.

Ефективність виробництва харчових яєць за використання для утримання несучок монохромного світла з різною довжиною світлової хвилі

Ефективність виробництва харчових яєць за використання для утримання несучок монохромного світла з різною довжиною світлової хвилі

Influence of light wavelength on viability and reproductive function of hens

The article presents the results of influence of monochrome light with different light wavelengths on the hens’ viability and productivity. For this purpose, in the conditions of a modern complex for production of food eggs in a poultry house with an area of 2915 m2, 4 groups of hens of the industrial herd “Hy-Line W-36” were formed, each of which was kept in a separate poultry house similar in area and cage equipment. Each poultry house was equipped with “Big Dutchman” cage batteries, consisting of 1176 cages with an area of 40544 cm2. The differences between the poultry houses applied only to LED lamps. Hens of the 1st group were kept using LED lamps with a peak light wavelength of 458 nm (blue color of the spectrum), the 2nd group – 603 nm (yellow color of the spectrum), the 3rd group – 632 nm (orange color of the spectrum) and 4 groups – 653 nm (red color of the spectrum). Every day, for 34 weeks of the productive period (up to 52 weeks of age), the number of eggs laid by the laying hens of each group was determined. The number of hatched hens (due to death and culling) was also counted daily and the number of livestock was determined. Once a week, the weight of eggs and live weight of laying hens were measured from certain labeled cages. It was found that the reduction of the wavelength of light during the keeping of hens in the cages of multi-tiered batteries affects their viability and reproductive function. The decrease in the peak wavelength from 653 to 632 nm, which was manifested by a change in the color of light from red to orange, was accompanied by a decrease in the preservation by 0.3 %, body weight – by 0.8 %, egg laying on the initial laying – by 3.1 %, egg-laying per average laying hen – by 2.8 % and feed costs – by 0.2 %. The decrease in the peak wavelength to 603 nm, that is the change in the color of light from red and orange to yellow, was accompanied by a decrease in the preservation by 6.4–6.7 %, body weight – by 0.5–1.3 %, egg production by initial laying hen – by 7.1–10.0 %, laying hens on the average laying hen – by 0.4–3.2 % and feed costs – by 2.0–2.1 %. The decrease in the peak wavelength to 458 nm, that is the change in light color from red, orange and yellow to blue, was accompanied by a decrease in the preservation by 3.2–9.9 %, body weight – by 5.2–6.5 %, laying hens per initial laying hen – by 6.4–15.8 %, laying hens per middle laying hen – by 2.9–6.0 % and feed costs – by 1.0–3.1 %.

Реалізація потенційної продуктивності курей за впливу величини угрупування

The parameters of the group size of laying hens of the industrial herd in cages are not provided by current domestic standards, and according to the recommendations of the cross developer should be at least 7 birds, although in practice they reach 100 birds, so they need to be clarified when using 12-tier cage batteries. The aim of the research was to study the influence of the group size of hens on their productivity with the same density of laying hens in similar cages by design. To do this, in a modern complex for the production of eggs we formed 4 groups of hens, each of which was kept in a separate poultry house-analogue in area and equipment, equipped with 12-tier cage batteries, the size of the cages in which differed. The hens’ group in each cage of the 1st group contained 93 birds, the 2nd group — 52 birds, the 3rd — 17 birds and 4th — 9 birds. It was found that the maximum realization of laying hens productivity of modern white-egg crosses during their keeping in cages of 12-tier cage batteries was observed for the 52–93 hens’ groups which allows for a 44-week period of use to receive an additional 13.3–48.2 million eggs from each poultry house (4.5–16.5 thousand eggs per 1 m2 of its area) compared to the group size 9 hens, at the highest level of the European coefficient of efficiency of their production by 1.6–2.8 units. It is shown that the group size 17 hens is insufficient for the formation of a strategy of social tolerance in hens and is accompanied by stressful conditions, which are manifested in a decrease in the preservation by 1.7–2.1%, body weight — by 2.6–3.4 %, laying on the initial laying hen — by 3.9–8.4% and on the average laying hen — by 4.3–4.4%, as well as a reduction in feed costs by 1.5–1.6%, which leads to a decrease in gross output eggs by 4.4–39.3 million eggs and egg mass — by 291.9–2508.6 tons from each poultry house, including 1.5–13.5 thousand eggs and 100.1–860.6 kg per 1 m2 of its area, reducing the yield of egg mass per initial laying hen by 0.7–1.5 kg with a decrease in the level of the European coefficient of efficiency of egg production by 1.0–2.2 units. While the keeping of laying hens in groups of 9 hens causes the development of chronic stress through the formation of a system of stable hierarchy and possible despotic behavior, the consequences of which are a decrease in preservation by 4.4–6.5%, body weight — by 2.1-5.4%, egg production at the primary — by 2, 8–11.0% and for the average laying — by 3.8–8.0%, as well as a decrease in feed costs by 2.0–3.6%, which causes a decrease in the gross yield of eggs by 8.9–48, 2 million eggs and egg mass — by 552.0–3060.5 tons from each poultry house, including 3.0–16.5 thousand eggs and 189.4–1050.0 kg from 1 m2 of its area, reduction of egg yield per initial laying hen by 0.4–1.9 kg with a decrease in the level of the European coefficient of egg production efficiency by 0.6–2.8 units.

Nonspecific adaptive reactions of hen’s body under the influence of light wavelength

The sources of artificial light of the latest generation in poultry farming are LED lamps, which are able to give monochrome light. It is known that the wavelength of light affects the behavior, well-being and productivity of birds, but the effect of changing the wavelength of light under monochrome light has not yet been studied. Nonspecific adaptive reactions of hens under the influence of light wavelength of monochrome light have been studied. For this purpose, in the conditions of a modern complex for food eggs production, 4 groups of hens of industrial herd «Hy-Line W-36» were formed, each of which was kept in a separate poultry house-analogue in terms of area and cage equipment. Hens of the 1st group were kept using LED lamps with a peak light wavelength of 460 nm, the 2nd group — 600 nm, the 3rd group — 630 nm and the 4th group — 650 nm. To assess the adaptive and overall reactive immunological potential of hens, integrated immunohematological indices of intoxication, inflammatory activity and nonspecific reactivity were determined on the ba­sis of an extended general blood test. It was found that a decrease in the wavelength of light increases the indices of leukocyte shift, the heterophiles to leukocytes ratio, immunoreactivity, the heterophiles to monocytes ratio, the lymphocytes to monocytes ratio and the lymphocytes to eosinophils ratio. This indicates a shift of the leukocyte formula to the left, the predominance of nonspecific protective cells due to a functional increase in bone marrow proliferative activity and is expressed in increased heterophiles, increased activity in the microphage-macrophage immune response system and indicates the presence of high levels in the body and impaired immunological reactivity, and can inform about the autoimmune nature of the pathological process. It is shown that at the same time there is a decrease in lymphocytegranulocyte index, leukocyte-ESR ratio, total and lymphocyte indices, which confirms the shift of the leukocyte formula to the left and indicates a predominance of activation of the cellular link due to intoxication. Simultaneous increase in the leukocyte shift index and decrease in the lymphocyte-granulocyte index indicates the development of endogenous intoxication in hens and impaired immunological reactivity due to autointoxication of the body during the destruction of its own cells.

Hen reproductive function under the influence of technological stressor

Modern industrial poultry enterprises use cage equipment for keeping laying hens, which is located in 12 and even 15 tiers, forming 4–5 floors. This makes it possible to increase the birds concentration in the poultry house by 4–5 times as compared to 3-tier cage batteries, and by 8–10 times as compared to the outdoor method of keeping. When using a 4–5 floors arrangement of cage batteries, the number of hens in one poultry house can reach 590 thousand birds. However, there are no data on the effect of such keeping on the physiological state of hens. Therefore, it is relevant to study the effect of the height of the cage battery on the reproductive function of laying hens of an industrial herd, which forms the efficiency of production of edible eggs. For this, in the conditions of a modern complex for the production of edible eggs, 4 groups of hens were formed, each of which was kept on a separate floor-analogue in area and cage equipment, located in one poultry house. Each floor was equipped with 3-tier cage batteries: tiers 1–3 were part of the 1st floor, tiers 4–6 — on the 2nd, 7–9 tiers — on the 3rd, and tiers 10–12 — 4th floors of cage equipment. The reproductive function of hens was assessed by the egg production for the initial and middle hens, its intensity and the weight of eggs. The research results showed that the content of layers in the cages of the batteries of the second floor was accompanied by a slight decrease in the safety of livestock — by 0.2–0.5%, egg production per initial layer — by 1.9–2.2%, which led to a decrease in the gross production of eggs by 0.6–0.7 million eggs, egg mass — by 48.9–67.0 tons and a decrease in the European efficiency factor by 0.7–0.9 units.Whereas when keeping laying hens in the cages of batteries on the first floor, there was a decrease in preservation by 10.3–10.8%, egg production per initial hen — by 6.4– 8.4% and body weight — by 7.5–8.1%, which led to a decrease in the gross production of eggs by 1.9–2.6 million pieces, egg mass — by 143.8–210.8 tons and a decrease in the level of the European coefficient of efficiency of egg production by 1.7–2.6 units. Thus, an increase in the layering of the cage equipment does not have a negative effect on hens reproductive function and the keeping of laying hens in the cages of the batteries of the first floor leads to the development of a stress state in them, which manifests itself in a decrease in the safety and deterioration of hens reproductive function, which leads to decrease in the efficiency of egg production.

EXPERIMENTAL JUSTIFICATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF BIOLIDE DISINFECTANT FOR DISPOSAL OF BACTERIAL INFECTIONS IN CONDITIONS OF INDUSTRIAL POULTRY

The materials of the article are devoted to the study of the bactericidal action of the newly developed «Biolaid» disinfectant at the first stage to determine the possibility of its use in the poultry industry to replace expensive, often toxic and ineffective disinfectants that have now flooded the market in Ukraine.
 Modern poultry farms are integrated enterprises, the structure of which consists of one continuous link with an incubator, own parent and industrial herds, production shops for processing products and feed production. One of the most important factors in the successful operation of such enterprises is quality disinfection.
 The problem of developing new cheap, safe, effective disinfectants remains relevant. The problem is supplemented by questions on the study of the effects of disinfectants on the indicators of general resistance in poultry and their impact on the productivity of birds, as such information is quite limited.
 Bacterial suspensions of test cultures with a concentration of 0.5–1.0 according to the McFarland standard (microbial load from 1.35×108 to 3.0×108 CFU/cm3) were prepared for the study by washing the colonies of the daily culture of microorganisms with trypton-soy agar (TCA) with sterile saline. The working dilutions of the experimental disinfectant were made according to the recommendations in the leaflet-tab, in concentrations of 0.1; 0.2; 0.25 and 0.5 % at exposures of 10, 20 and 30 minutes.
 The results of studies of the newly developed «Biolaid» disinfectant showed its high efficiency, proven experimentally, because at the level of 0.25 % concentration of the working dilution of the drug at an exposure of 30 minutes. complete neutralization of test cultures of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 15442 was achieved without bacteriostatic effect, which testified to the effectiveness of the drug in its action on gram-negative and gram-positive pathogenic bacteria.

The increase of egg productivity of laying hens when using non-traditional feed and biologically active additives

In poultry farming, feed remains the most expensive part and farmers are constantly trying to optimize diets, both in terms of price and nutrition, so that the poultry can realize its genetic potential. Such feeding diets should maintain the highest productivity of poultry in a normal state of health; contribute to improving the quality of products and reducing the cost of its production. The purpose of the work was the theoretical and experimental justification of the use of new varieties of sorghum, chickpeas, mustard seed processing products, as well as targeted formulations of biologically active additives (premixes, PVMC, NutoVit additive) based on local feed sources, increasing the nutritional value of compound feed, reducing their cost, increasing egg productivity and obtaining complete food and incubation chicken eggs. The nutritional value of a new variety of chickpeas Privo 1, sorghum Kamyshinskoe 75 with different levels of their input into compound feed instead of sunflower presscake and corn grain for young birds and laying hens, respectively, has been studied in the paper. The effectiveness of using different levels of mustard seed processing products – feed concentrate from vegetable raw materials Sarepta and mustard protein-containing feed concentrate Gorlinka in feeding of laying hens instead of the traditionally used sunflower seed presscake and meal. The influence of the premix and the protein-vitamin concentrate Gorlinka based on the products of processing mustard seeds and the additive NutoVit in the composition of compound feed for chickens of the parent and industrial herd has been determined. The use of non-traditional feed and biologically active additives in the diets of young birds and laying hens has a positive effect on the growth and development of young animals, egg productivity of laying hens and egg quality, as well as increases the efficiency of production.

Industry herding by hedge funds

This paper investigates hedge fund herding at the industry level and its impact on industry returns. Although the level of industry herding on average is substantially weaker for hedge funds compared to non-hedge fund institutions, we find that industries that experience heavy herding by hedge funds experience return reversals in the long-run. We provide evidence that non-hedge funds especially follow hedge funds’ sell herding industries in following quarters, and the long-run return reversals observed in these industries are due to non-hedge funds’ failure to timely react to good news coming from these heavy hedge fund sell-herding industries in subsequent quarters.