Organic oilseeds constitute an important element in organic production. Their products are important feedstuffs (oilcake) and also relevant for human consumption (soya products, oils), and demand for these is continually growing. Almost 1.5 million hectares or 11% of the world’s organic arable land were used for growing organic oilseeds in 2018. This is 0.6% of the world’s total harvested oilseed area. On half of the organic oilseed area soybeans are grown, and about one third of the organic oilseed area is in China, where much of the production is for export. It is expected that with the growing organic market, which reached 97 billion euros in 2018, the organic oilseed area and in particular that of soybeans will continue to grow fast.

No abstract

The present study brings current information on providing dairy cows with the required iodine level after determination of its content in milk and on the relationship between its milk concentrations and iodine intake by human population.Iodine concentration in fresh cow milk from 226 farms covering 66 districts of the Czech Republic was assessed by the Sandell-Kolthoff Method.Average iodine concentration in a group of 226 bulk samples from distinct localities of the Czech Republic was 310.4 ± 347.0 µg I·l -l and significant variations of iodine content in milk from different farms expressed by variation range < 10 to > 1000 µg I·l -l was detected. The variations reflected marked differences in iodine saturation of dairy cows. Average milk iodine concentration is twice and a half the findings detected before supplementation which was initiated between the years l997 -l999 and is higher than the current European standard.Deep iodine deficiency in fodder, non-corrected by feed supplements, was found in 4.0% of milk samples with the values < 20 µg I·l -l . Iodine milk concentrations above 500 µg I·l -l were detected in l6.8% farms. After determination of iodine concentrations in the diets fed to dairy cows it is recommendable to regulate the offer of supplements containing iodine according to the physiological requirements of the animals, their production and environmental conditions. General monitoring of iodine concentrations in fresh milk followed by immediate providing the farmers with the results is essential.It is necessary to consider significantly higher average iodine concentrations in milk purchased by milk processing plants from the farms in the year 2003 (323.7 ± 364.3 µg I·l -l ) when iodine intakes through the basketfuls of foodstuffs by consumers are evaluated. Dairy cows, iodine deficiency, iodine supplementation, general monitoring, iodine concentrations in milkOver the two past decades, special attention was concentrated on iodine supplementation of the inhabitants of the Czech Republic. In relation to current health problems in the animal population, the questions of optimization of iodine intake by farm animals have been in focus by the researchers dealing with veterinary medicine and nutrition. Interdisciplinary approach to the problem of animal saturation with iodine has been motivated by the aim to eliminate the losses caused by clinical forms of thyreopathy both in the past and nowadays (Groppel et al. 1986;Bobek 1998); it was documented by the fact that goitre was diagnosed in 5 to 29.8% calves from exposed localities of the Czech Republic in the years of l988 to l997 which were examined with that particular purpose (âada l988; Kursa et al. l997).The initiative of endocrinologists and hygienists to investigate the possibilities how to increase the low iodine content in milk, meat and eggs and thus to extend the function and participation of food of animal origin in the prevention of iodine deficiency in humans was respected by veterinary and agricultural researchers (Kaufmann l997; Kaufmann...

ABSTRACT:The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the impact of selenium supplementation on white blood cell parameters in the blood of ewes. The total white blood cell (WBC) and differentiation of leukocytes in blood smear were detected by a microscopic analysis, and the CD4 + and CD8 + subsets were detected by flow cytometry.A decrease in the count of WBC was recorded during pregnancy; it was statistically significant only in the group supplemented with organic selenium. In the postpartal period there was a statistically significant increase in the percentages of CD4 + and CD8 + subsets but differences between the groups were not statistically significant. The results of the experiment documented that the supplementation of different forms of selenium did not markedly influence the dynamics of blood parameters in non-pregnant, pregnant and lactating ewes if the intake of vitamins and other essential microelements was adequate.

ABSTRACT:The paper presents the latest information on iodine content in raw milk, in the Czech Republic. In 2005, iodine was determined using the Sandell-Kolthoff method in 169 milk samples, taken from transportation tanks (capacity 11 000-13 000 litres) of collecting milk for dairy processing, from 14 areas of South-western Bohemia. The average iodine content in milk samples was 442.5 ± 185.6 µg/l, minimum and maximum value were 68.6 and 1 000.6 µg/l respectively. 81.7% of the samples contained more than 250 µg/l. The average iodine content in milk from the collecting areas ranged from 230.2 ± 133.0 µg/l to 702.7 ± 166.2 µg/l (P < 0.001). In five collecting areas (i.e. 35.7%), means were higher than 500 µg/l. These values document the continuing trend of an increase in iodine content in raw cow's milk, as well as permanent local and regional differences. Higher mean values were determined in the period of winter feed rations (April 495.9 ± 50.8 and October 494.3 ± 176.4 µg/l), while lower values were measured during the period of summer feed rations (September 350.9 ± 178.4 µg I/l) (P < 0.01). If converted per dry matter, 1 kg of dry milk matter contained, on average, 3.428 ± 1.497 mg iodine, maximum and minimum values were 0.543 and 7.995 mg respectively.