Abstract. The objective of this study was to compare the new fat extraction equipment ANKOMXT15 Extractor with different chemical and physical methods which are widely used to determinate the fat content of different animal tissues. In total 23 pigs and 19 cattle were included in the investigations. Different cuts of the carcasses like longissimus muscle (MLD), head, belly and breast, feet, ham, neck, loin, tenderloin and subcutaneous fats were used for this comparison. The investigation compared following three chemical methods: classic Soxhlet method, automatic fat extraction (ANKOMXT15 Extractor), automatic fat extraction following hydrolysing (ANKOMHCL Hydrolysis System, ANKOMXT15 Extractor) and two physical methods: Infratec1255 Food and Feed Analyzer and FoodScan™ Lab (FOSS). For accurate statistical analysis the different cuts were ordered into three fat groups. The repeatability (θ) of the chemical methods was calculated, which ranged between 0.88–1.00. No significant differences were measured between the new tested device ANKOMXT15 Extractor and the Soxhlet method. The use of the ANKOMXT15 Extractor is recommended because of the high precision, low purchase and using costs, and shorter analyses time.

The Ammonia Gas Emission Model for Swine (AGEM-S), a nitrogen flow model, was created with the objective of assisting in the reduction of ammonia emissions in the Hungarian pig sector. Regarding the applied technological processes and considering the factors that influence ammonia emissions, the model quantifies the amount of ammonia emissions of pig farming in all stages (feeding, housing technology, manure storage, and application in the field). The aim of the project was to create a system that performs general calculations using the input data used by practicing farmers, without compromising the information content of the output data. Using this system, the input parameters can be entered as simply as possible and in the shortest possible time. In addition to demonstrating the impact of ammonia emission reduction measures to farmers from an integrated N management approach, AGEM-S has the potential to support the transfer of emission reduction technologies and practices at the farm level as a knowledge transfer tool primarily, but also as a decision support tool for technological change.

Attempts have been made to establish relationship between the response to ACTH challenge in female calves, growth and first lactation performance. A total of 19 Holstein calves weighing 100 kg i. v. were given 0.50 IU of ACTH/kg BW .75 (EXACTHIN inj., Richter G., Budapest) at 60 days of age. Serial blood samples were taken at times 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours and analyzed for cortisol, glucose insulin and FFA levels. From challenge series the area under the curve from time of administration and the following 5 h were calculated. Negative, and mostly loose relationship between response to ACTH challenge for cortisol, insulin, or FFA and ADWG during growth have been established (p>0.05) with positive one for glucose. Bivariate coefficients of correlation varied within the range from -0.35 to 0.15. Estimations reveal negative correlation between the length of first lactation and cortisol or insulin (r=-0.80, p<0.001 and r=-0.45, p<0.10, resp.) Close association between cortisol or insulin and actual first lactation milk yield was found (r=-0.48, p<0.10; r=-0.64, p<0.01, resp.). Close relationship between the response to ACTH challenge and milk protein yield was present only for insulin (r=-0.59, p<0.05).