The aim was of this study was to discover the adaptation indicators of different breeds first-calving cows to voluntary (robotic) milking system during the first month of lactation. The research was carried out in a robotic farm on German Holstein, French Holstein breeds and Brown Swiss breed of cows. During the adaptation period, the German Holsteins were differed from the rench Holsteins and Brown Swiss breed by milk yield, multiplicity of milking, and the amount of consumed concentrated feed. On the 30th day (end of adaptation period), the German Holstein breed dominated over the French Holstein breed and Brown Swiss having average daily milk yield by 0.73 and 4.12 kg, milking times by 0.26 and 0.34, the amount of consumed concentrated feed by 0.32 and 0.61 kg higher. In addition, the German Holstein breed during the adaptation period was distinguished by higher multiplicity of passages through the selection gate and the number of visits to feed stations. Important indicators of adaptation to free keeping and voluntary milking are the number of cases of forced milking. On the 5th day of lactation, some 69.4–86.2% of cows of all the groups did not enter the milking robot. This indicator has been steadily declining every five days. On the 30th day of lactation the cases of operator-forced milking were 24.3–35.9% and they were the lowest in cows of the German Holstein breed, indicating the best adaptive qualities of this cattle. The German Holstein breed had more lower (by 0.30 and 0.26 mS/cm) electrical milk conductivity on the 30th day compared with French and Brown Swiss breeds. In addition, the number of somatic cells in its milk was lower by 19.4 and 17.1 thousand cells per cm3 compared with French Holstein and Brown Swiss breed. Therefore, we suggested that the German Holstein breed has more higher stress tolerance, and hence a shorter adaptation time to the keeping.

From the standpoint of modern ideas, the normal functioning of the poultry body and full implementation her of the genetic potential is impossible without the presence of selenium in the diet. The biochemical diversity of selenium puts it in a number of priority trace elements. Scientists who were studying the effects of selenium on poultry body and paid relatively little attention to the quality of the meat. In scientific experiment are studied the effect of additives different doses of selenium in compound feed on the chemical composition, energy and biological value of meat of the cross chickens-broilers COBB 500. Introduction of selenium into the feed for broiler chickens in the doses which are studied (0.3 mg/kg, 0.4 and 0.5 mg/kg) did not significantly affect to the quality of their muscle tissue although it positively affected on some indicators that characterizing its chemical composition, nutritional and biological value. Among the experimental groups, the best meat quality indicators were in the second group of chickens for which was introduced into the feed selenium from the calculation of 0.3 mg/kg. When feeding mixed feeds with selenium additives to broiler chickens it was found that it is likely to increase the concentration of this trace element in muscle tissue by 60.6-100% (P?0.001), which does not exceed the maximum permissible level (MPL). Consumption of selenium-enriched meat of broiler chickens within the limits of the physiological norms recommended in Ukraine will ensure the daily requirement of an adult in this trace element by 23.6-29.4%. This meat product can be especially useful for people who live in regions with low levels of selenium in the natural environment.

The purpose of this work was to study the influence of prolonged precipitation as rain on the behavior and comfortable resting place of cows by housing on open feedlots with and without shelters. It was found that the duration of lying down was longer by 47 minutes for the variant of housing on open feedlots with shelters and eating feed by 8 minutes in compared to open feedlots without shelters. Concerning to the indicators of standing and motion behaviour, the duration of these behavioural act by the variant of housing on open feedlots without shelters was slightly longer compared to housing on open feedlots with shelters: by 29 and 18 minutes, respectively. The skin temperature of cows was 0.4 °C higher by housing on open feedlots without shelters than that cow by housing on open feedlots with shelters. The temperature of resting place under lying cow was also higher by housing on open feedlots without shelters (by 0.6 °C). At the same time, the temperature in recreation areas under the shelters prevailed by 0.2 °C, the same indicator by housing on open feedlots without shelters. The average values of daily energy consumption for basic metabolism and heat exchange were 1.50 MJ higher by housing on open feedlots without shelters. The best scores on the indices of hygienic assessment and comfort housing conditions were by the variant of housing on open feedlots with shelters. The cows were slightly less polluted on their flanks, udders and limbs by housing of this technology than by housing on open feedlots without shelters.

No abstract

Background and objectives: Today, medicinal plants and phytobiotics that contain flavonoids, alkaloids, and essential oils are widely used in animal feed. These additives have many benefits, including increasing liver function and preventing certain diseases. The liver is one of the organs that plays a key role in insulin-mediated regulation of metabolism as well as in glucose, whole-body, and lipid homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seed powder consumption on insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene expression in the liver tissue of growing lambs.Methods: Three groups (including 0, 10, and 20 g/kg dry matter of fennel) of animals, with 10 animals in each group, were studied. The Pfaffl method was applied to assess the real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) output.Results: Mixing fennel into the feed of lambs increased the weights of their testis and gallbladder and decreased the weight of their liver in comparison to feed without fennel. It was also found that by increasing the fennel level in the feed, the expression level of IGF1 in the liver increased significantly (p < 0.05). Conclusions:Fennel had a useful effect on the expression of IGF1 in the liver tissue of sheep and may be applied to their diet to attain better liver function.