No abstract

The study was performed on Centaurea cyanus, Chamomilla recutita, Majorana hortensis, Ocimum basilicum, Plantago lanceolata, Sinapis alba, and Valeriana officinalis harvested in Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine. Our aim was to determine the differences in selenium concentrations, total polyphenols, and the antioxidant activity in same-species samples from different regions. Another goal was to assess the correlations between these variables within the species. We found variations in most species, but not in all regions of harvesting. In four of the six species from Ukraine, we observed the highest concentration of Se. The selenium concentrations ranged from 15–182 µg/kg DW, and the greatest variation between the regions occurred in S. alba. The level of polyphenols was 5.52–53.25 mg TAE/100 g DW, and the largest differences between the sampling regions occurred in P. lanceolata and O. basilicum. ABTS radicals scavenging ability ranged from 5.20–59.79 μM AAE/100 g DW, while the FRAP potential was 13.56–409.14 μM FeE/100 g DW. The largest differences in antioxidant activity were found in O. basilicum and M. hortensis. Pearson’s correlation coefficients indicate that polyphenols may be responsible for antioxidant activity in Ch. recutita, O. basilicum, and V. officinalis, and selenium is responsible for antioxidant activity in M. hortensis. However, both polyphenols and selenium play a role in the antioxidant properties of C. cyanus and P. lanceolata. Also, selenium in C. cyanus and Ch. recutita may affect the level of total polyphenols. The examined species may supplement the human diet with exogenous antioxidants.

The review article presents current literature data on the classification of prebiotics. Information on the characteristics of the most common and used in the feeding of ruminants prebiotic drugs is presented. Based on literature, attention is drawn to the fact that one of the main functions of mannan oligosaccharides is their competitive binding to gram-negative bacteria of the pancreas and cecum in ruminants and inhibition of pathogenic microbiota growth in these departments of gastrointestinal tract. Fructooligosaccharides are not digested by animals, starting from the oral cavity and ending with the intestines. They are readily available substrates for the microflora of the ruminant pancreas and large intestine of animals. As for galactosyloligosaccharides, experiments have convincingly proven that they stimulate the growth and development of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, enterobacteria and streptococci in the digestive tract of animals. Lactulose and lactiol as prebiotics have a positive effect on feed intake in young animals, changing the microbial balance and biochemical composition of the contents of the cecum. These prebiotics promote the reproduction of gram-positive bacteria in the digestive tract of animals and inhibit the growth and development of clostridia. Lactulose and lactiol activate the formation of short-chain fatty acids by the microbiota of the cecum of animals, as well as increase the permeability of the intestinal mucosa and the solubility of minerals in the colon. High molecular weight beta-glucans enhance the phagocytic, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity of macrophages. They help to produce reactive intermediates of oxygen and nitrogen and clean the tissues of apoptotic cells. Furthermore, stimulating innate immune responses, beta-glucans increase the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Inulin in ruminants has a pronounced activating effect on the immune system, as well as activates the production of short-chain fatty acids in the pancreas and large intestine. The biological mechanism of action in the digestive tract of ruminants of such prebiotics as: mannan oligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, lactulose, lactiol, beta-glucans, inulin is described. The productive effect of prebiotics when using their additives in the diets of young and adult ruminants is characterized. It is shown that the use of the above prebiotic drugs in the feeding of ruminant species selectively stimulates the metabolic processes of the symbiotic microflora of the pancreas and cecum, activates their vital functions and growth. The use of prebiotic supplements in the diets of cows stimulates milk productivity and improves milk quality. In fattening cattle, the stabilization of the pH of the scar content through the use of prebiotics increases the average daily gain and live weight of animals and the efficiency of assimilation of nutrients in feed.

Because of the natural laws of the chain «soil–plant–animal» trace element status of pigs in the conditions of industrial technology of cultivation depends on the quantity and value of various macro– and microelements in feed, which is the result of absorption from the soil. Among feed factors, one of the limiting micronutrient is iodine. We, in terms of Farm «Amila» Turiysk district, Volyn region, investigated levels of iodine in the grain group of plants (barley, triticale, oats, rye), which is used to feed pigs as fullcomponent feed, depending on the accumulation of trace elements in the soil. It was established that the average iodine content in sod–podzolic soils (36% of all arable land) farms located within 7.48 ± 0.46 mg/kg, clay and sand 5.6 ± 0.38 mg/kg and gley–sandy – 5.96 ± 0.67 mg/kg. Thus, the study of grain grown on these lands have shown that the level of iodine in them was low and ranged from 49 to 77 mg/kg. Given the data provided to us agrochemical analysis of soil (the humus, pH, exchange nitrogen, mobile forms of manganese, zinc, copper, iron, cobalt, boron and sulfur), it was found that the pH of the soil on the farm was, on average, at 6.1 – 7.5 humus content – 2% – 3%, nitrogen – 48 – 72 mg/kg. In the majority of areas in the studied soils found very high boron content (> 0.7 mg/kg) and very low concentration of copper (<0.11 mg/kg) and iron (<0.08 mg/kg). Amid moderate soil providing mobile forms of the investigated macro– and microelements (N, Mn, Zn, S) detected an imbalance in the concentration of B, Cu, Fe, is likely to affect the concentration of iodine in soil fixing its potential, which in turn depends on ability to maintain atomic iodine and facilitate its absorption. It is possible that the rate of absorption of iodine from the soil under these conditions is also insufficient. Taking into account the available information on the specific components of iodine in the diet to ensure the body metabolism pigs must decide on the further introduction of easily accessible iodine–containing drugs.

The analysis involved results of 6891 body condition evaluations carried out on 680 Polish Holstein-Friesian Blackand-White cows from two herds belonging to the same owner, although managed in different husbandry systems. The evaluation was carried out within two years using a 5-point scale, with an accuracy of 0.25 points. It was found that the most frequent score was 3.0 BCS (more than 24% of cows), in the tie-stall system, and 3.25 BCS (over 26%), in the free-stall housing system. The distribution of BCS scores of the cows with different daily productivity, of different ages and evaluated in different seasons of the year was significantly correlated with the applied housing system. Cows with the highest daily milk yield (>35 kg), younger cows (in the second lactation) and those evaluated in the summer had the least favorable distribution of body condition scores and their average values as compared to other groups. It was shown that cows kept on tether were more often receiving extreme body condition scores, i.e. not more than 2.0 points or 4.0 and more BCS points, as compared to cows managed in the free-stall housing system.