The study aimed at characterisation of horses used in hippotherapy in five selected re-habilitation centres in Poland. All these centres operate under the patronage of the Polish Hip-potherapeutic Association with activities conducted by qualified hippotherapy instructors. The analysis covered 34 horses in total. Sex, age, breed and basic zoometric measurements re-lated data were collected. They were compared in tables and on diagrams, taking into account sex and breed group. It was found that only geldings and mares, respectively 71 and 29%, were used in hippotherapy in the analysed centres. The average herd age was 8.4 years, with a youngest horse of 4 years and an oldest one of 20 years. The height at the withers in these horses ranged 130 to 167 cm, while their circumference of chest 156-210 cm. No significant differences were found in the discussed parameters between gelding and mare groups, whereas numerous differences were observed between breed groups. The most numerously represented horses were the Wielkopolski one (25%) and the Hutsuls (21%); 15% ofthe herd constituted horses ofunknown origin. The analysed horses represented the riding, general-utility and draught types. In all centres, the number of horses (minimum 3) and their diversity in respect of exterior allow for choos-ing a horse individually to patienfs age and disease.

The material comprised German Holstein heifers managed in the Ramin Farm be-longing to Raminer Agrar GmbH&Co. Analysis included the parameters of body conformation and development based on weight and zoometric measurements. Body Condition Score (BCS), ranging from 1 to 5, was assigned according to manual evaluation of fat reserves accumulated around the hind part of the spine. Grazing management system proved to be fing better com-paring with confinement system, since it positively affected the body weight, daily gains, and body condition of the cattle. Conformation dimensions and body weights were larger in the heifers kept under the grazing system.

The study involved 180 Polish Holstein-Friesian var. Black-and-White cows with varied addition of HF genes managed for dairy purposes on a farm located in the Wielkopolskie Voivodship. The beta-lactoglobulin genotypes (BLG) were identified using PCR-RFLP accord-ing to Medrano and Aguilar-Cordova with our modifications. We have found that BLGAA-geno-type cows achieved the highest performance in terms of milk, fat, and protein yield both for the first and the second 305-d lactation. The highest protein content was found in the BB ho-mozygotes. The highest milk fat content for the first lactation was observed in the BLG AA genotypes, while for the second lactation - in the BB homozygotes.

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of the year's season (spring, sum-mer, autumn, winter) on farrowing rate of sows of Polish Large White, and number of piglets born litter, resulting from different methods of natural mating and insemination. After detection of the estrus in sows, the following procedures were carried out in the following months of the year: 1. double natural mating (189 of sows), 2. combined, first - natural mating, second - ar-tificial insemination after 12 hours (141 of sows), 3. double artificial insemination with the 12 hours interval (504 of sows). The sows were mated with boars of Polish Landrace breed, the insemination was carried out with the use of semen of boars of that breed. The results revealed that the farrowing rate of sows was the lowest in May, regardless of method of natural mating or insemination used, and the highest number of piglets was characteristic for litters born in summer and autumn. The method of natural mating or insemination did not influence the number of piglets in litters. Another important observation is that the farrowing rate did not decrease in summer, especially after insemination.

The study was carried out using a herd of standard nutria. Animals were fed with feeds with various flavomycin supplements depending on the group (gr. I - control; gr. II - 3 mg; gr. III - 4 mg; gr. IV - 5 mg). Animals in each group were weighed once a week. The data ob-tained were used to calculate weight gains and growth rate in particular weeks. Results were analysed using three-way analysis of variance (time, ration and sex). Body weight of individu-als of each sex differed highly significantly from the beginning of the experiment. The increase in nutria body weight at 7 months of age was highly significant (p < 0.01). The final means of body weight in particular group were not statistically significant (gr. I - 4401 g, SD=585; gr. II - 4904 g, SD = 875; gr. III - 5021 g, SD = 1134; gr. IV - 4593 g, SD = 645). The data ob-tained did not show statistically significant differences in the body weight gains of nutrias from 7 to 8.5 months of age. The data obtained did not show statistically significant differences in the growth rate of animals receiving different flavomycin supplements.

The coefficients of genetic correlation based on the milking features dates of 488 990 cows examined between 1975 and 1992 were estimated. The estimation was made in use with Animal Model. The attention was paid especially on the effect of the level of a productive herd. There was observed a great impact of the level of the production on the precision of an estimation. The results of the genetic correlation had a very strong flexibility of the estimations obtained.