The aim of the present experiment was to qualify the relationships between microstructure of the muscle tissue and fattening, slaughter and meat quality traits of pigs. The experimental material consisted of 190 animals, representing Polish Landrace, Pietrain, Złotniki Spotted pigs and Pietrain × (Polish Large White × Polish Landrace) crosses. Samples of longissimus lumborum muscle were taken for histological tests and frozen in liquid nitrogen. After microscopic preparations were made, they were subjected to histochemical reactions to identify muscle fibre types differing in metabolism, and to determine the percentage of intramuscular fat and glycogen in the analysed muscle. The relationships between microstructure of the muscle tissue and fattening, slaughter and meat quality traits of pigs were expressed in figure enumerated corelation coefficients.On the ground of performed investigations the greatest rate of growth in pigs was connected with structure of muscle on thicker muscle fibres, possessing greater diameters. Differentiation of meatness in pigs was caused by occurrence of muscle fibres hipertrophy. Influence of histological structure of muscle on the some meat quality traits were observed, but the corelation coefficients between them proved low.

The aim of the study was to determine the length of life, productive life and lifetime productivity of Black-and-White cows (with a high share of Holstein-Friesian genes in their genotype) kept in the free barn system. Using source data contained in breeding records the following were calculated:

• intensity of culling of cows in terms of the cause and year of culling,
• intensity of culling of cows in terms of the lactation and the year of removal from the herd,
• the length of life, productive life, the number of milking days and lifetime productivity of cows in terms of the year of removal from the herd,
• the length of life, productive life, the number of milking days and lifetime productivity of cows in terms of the cause for culling.

The culling index for cows in the investigated period was 28.18%. A increase was found in this index in successive years of the study from 23.82 (2001) to 36.18% (2003). In the analyzed years cows were removed from the herd with highest intensity due to sterility, casualties and low yields. The highest culling index was found for cows in the second lactation. As a result of the conducted analyses it was shown that cows kept in the free barn system were characterized by a too short life and productive life, while their lifetime productivity expressed in kilograms of milk, butterfat and protein was relatively high. Statistical analysis did not show differences between the lengths of life for cows removed from the herd for the above mentioned reasons. In contrast, it was found that animals culled due to these causes differed in the length of their productive lives and the number of milking days. The least advantageous values of the analyzed traits of milking performance were found in the group of cows culled due to sterility and casualties.

The objective of the present study was to determine the levels of nutrient digestibility and nitrogen retention in growing Arctic foxes fed diets containing ground extruded triticale or wheat. The experiment was performed in September, on eight female blue foxes aged about 14 weeks, selected of two litters born at the same time, and allocated to two equal groups by the analogue method. The experimental factor was differentiated feeding. The foxes of group I (control) were fed a diet containing ground extruded wheat, commonly added to feed for foxes. The foxes of group II (experimental) were fed a diet containing ground extruded triticale. The other diet components were the same in both groups. The foxes were placed in cages adapted for quantitative collection of feces and urine samples. A five-day proper experimental period was preceded by a four-day preliminary period. It was found that the substitution of ground triticale for ground wheat had a slight effect on the chemical composition of diets. Diet supplementation with triticale reduced the digestibility of organic matter, especially N-free extractives, in the experimental foxes. Ground triticale had no negative influence on nitrogen retention in Arctic foxes.

A total of 27 biometric measurements were taken on 80 horses. Horses were divided into three groups depending on their jumping predispositions. Among them there were horses known from their participation in national and international competitions. On the basis of the measurement results indexes were calculated and the Principal Components Analysis was performed. It was found on the basis of the obtained results that horses with high jumping abilities exceed the other groups in height at the withers and height at the croup, they had a longer region of the forearm and longer autopodial part of the fore limb. This indicates an important role of the length of III metacarpal bone and phalanges in the motor activity. Among traits of the hind limb, jumping ability is affected by the total length of the autopodial part of the limb. Moreover, the ratio between this part of the limb and the oblique length of the trunk is also important. On the basis of the Principal Components Analysis the uniqueness of the body conformation of some known sports horses was confirmed in comparison to the other investigated animals.

The aim of the research was to evaluate the impact of adding halloisyte into diet, in amount of 1 and 2%, on the fatty acids profile in longissimus dorsi muscle, liver and backfat fat during growing-finishing period. It was affirmed that the highest level of saturated acid (SFA) was found in liver tissue (46.63–52.63%), and the lowest in muscle tissues (36.72–39.33%); the highest level of monounsaturated acid (MUFA) was found in muscle tissues (49.65–52.22%) and the lowest in liver tissues (19.39–23.06%); the highest level of polyunsaturated acid (PUFA) was found in liver tissues (27.98–30.31%) but 2–3 times lower was found in pork fat and muscle tissues. The influence of halloisyte was marked by favourable and statistically significant (p<0.05) fall of SFA content (muscles, liver, backfat), whereas MUFA and PUFA level increased and n-3 acids (muscles, backfat) level increased twice. The more favourable profile of fatty acids in those groups should be explained by the impact of halloisyte on the metabolism of feed fat.

The experiment was performed on meat-type (Ross 308; 100 ♂ and 100)♀ and egg-type (Messa 445, 100)♂ chickens. Broilers were reared to six of age, and layer-type chickens – to six, eight and ten weeks of age, in accordance with universally accepted technological standards. Over the rearing period all chickens were weighed individually at seven-day intervals. Feed consumption and mortality rates were recorded on a regular basis. 12 ♂ and ♀ Ross chickens (aged six weeks) and 12 ♂ Messa chickens (aged six, eight and ten weeks) were selected randomly for slaughter. At six weeks of age layer-type chickens, as compared with broilers, had over fourfold lower body weights, and were characterized by higher feed consumption per kg of body weight (1956 vs. 1796 g) and per kg of meat (6134 vs. 3972 g) as well as by higher production costs. As the rearing period of Messa chickens was extended, the feed conversion ratio increased and the values of economic indices decreased.

The aim of the study was an attempt to define how the results of the first year of reproductive results of chinchillas testify about the reproductive effectiveness of the breeding stock. The observations were made on a chinchilla reproduction farm in Stara Miłosna. The research material consisted of 58 females, from which 311 litters were obtained. The analysis was based on number of kids from the litters during first 3 years of females' career. The research conducted revealed, that the first year of the reproductive usage of chinchillas female cannot serve as reliable basis for the evaluation of their reproductive effectiveness. The highest reproductive results were recorded in the second reproductive season. Some significant differences were recorded as far as the average amount of the young born and young reared through the nursing period between 1. and 2. year, and also between 2. and 3. year of reproductive usage of females.

The aim of the study was to examine the influence of milk collection system (neighbourly milk cooling center vs. direct collection), delivery size and season on hygienic quality of raw milk purchased by one of the leading dairy co-ops in the Central Poland. Significantly better milk hygienic quality was noticed in case of collection by neighbourly milk cooling centres. Delivery size significantly influenced milk quality. Bigger deliveries were of much better quality than the smaller ones. Delivery season had also significant influence on milk quality. The worst milk was purchased during the summer season (June – August). TBC and SCC levels in examined milk were rather high and amounted to 143 and 408 thousand per ml respectively, thus did not fulfil the EU standards for milk of the best hygienic quality.

The aim of the study was to examine difficult calving frequency and the influence of cow body weight, calving season and number as well as calf sex and body weight at birth on calving type of Piemontese cows. The data from the official beef recording scheme concerning 284 deliveries of cows in 3-year period (2000–2002) constituted the material for the research. Calving type was classified as follows: A – easy calving (without any assistance), B – difficult (with use of mechanical jacks or veterinary doctor assistance). The percentage of deliveries classified as difficult was quite high and amounted to 6.3%. More difficult deliveries occurred when bull calves were born (7.3%) than heifer calves (5.7%), but the differences were not statistically significant. Calf body weight at birth had not significant influence on delivery course, but the ratio of difficult deliveries increased together with the weight of newborn calves. Similarly, cow body weight did not significantly influence the calving course, though the number of difficult deliveries decreased with cow body weight increase. Highly significant influence of calving number on delivery course was proved. In case of first delivering cows the ratio of difficult calvings was as high as 23%. That ratio decreased to 2.5% (second delivery) and 1.4% (third and subsequent deliveries).

The aim of presented study was to determine the effect of changing honey flow and variable weather conditions on the flight activity of honey-bee foragers. The study was carried out on 12 bees colonies, transported onto different honey flows. Bees foragers returning from the field were counted on the flight-board, during 15 minutes, 3 times per day: at 9.00–10.00, 12.00–13.00 and 17.00–18.00, once a week, from 24 April to 15 August 2004. The obtained data were converted into 1 hour. The study showed considerable influence of a sort of present use and the flowering stage of fly round plants onto volatile activity of bee foragers – bees were most active in the peak period of flowering of richly occurring uses. Weather conditions formed here an important complex of factors – optimal were temperatures between 16–26^oC and a lack or just weak wind were optimal. On the other hand the degree of cloudiness was of less importance in this respect. The swarming behavior in the colonies and the swarming bees generated decrease in the flight activity of honey-bees foragers.

There were 5287 cows from ZZD IZ in Pawłowice between 1949 and 1999 examined. One has observed a tendency of a shortenage of a length of life and of a period of use. There was also seen a tendency of not a big increase of weight during the first calving.

The present study was aimed at determining the liver profile of blood serum of chinchillas depending on their age and health status, with special consideration of the hair coat mycosis. The experiment was based on 62 chinchillas of the standard breed aged 1 to 12 years, which were divided into two age groups: <3 years and 3+ years. Blood for K3EDTA and hair cover samples were taken from all the chinchillas. In the blood serum, the activity of AspAT, ALAT, and ALP, as well as bilirubine, total protein, albumin, and cholesterol concentrations were studied. The post-slaughter livers were weighed and necropsied. It was determined that the reference activity ranges of the studied enzymes in chinchillas were: 30.72–42.36 U∙l^-1 (average 34.99 U∙l^-1) for aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT), 8.29–9.64 U∙l^-1 (average 8.79 U∙l^-1) for alanine aminotransferase (ALAT), and 71.52–70.83 U∙l^-1 (average 71.08 U∙l^-1) for alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The activity of AspAT varied insignificantly depending on the age of chinchillas, assuming lower values in older individuals. Because of their high variability, no conclusion on the possible effect of the AspAT activity on the health status on the animals cannot be drawn. The activities of enzymes such as AspAT, ALAT, ALP, as well as the concentration of cholesterol in the blood serum cannot be compared in chinchillas and in guinea pigs because of highly different results obtained for both these species.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of parasitic infection on haematological parameters of swine blood. The fresh faeces samples of 100 animals from different productive groups were used for coproscopic investigations. Parasite eggs were qualitative and quantitative determinated using Willis–Schlaff's and McMaster methods. Haematologic analyses were executed on 30 animals using semi-automatic haematologic analyser Sysmex F – 800. Blood smear were prepared and stained according to May–Grünwalda–Giemsy. Results indicate that parasitic infections (Ascaris suum and Oesophagostomum dentatum) have significance influence on some haematological blood parameters. The number of the red blood cells (RBC), the leukocyte (WBC), and number of the haematocrit (HCT) and the haemoglobin (HGB) was increase according to intensity of invasion caused by presence Oesophagostomum dentatum and Ascaris suum. Moreover, the eosinophilia in the blood was observed. The maximum number (to 8.8%) of eosinophiles were established in the most infected (Ascaris suum) group of animals and was about 7 time higher as in the non – infected group. The other blood parameters were in normal range.