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This paper presents research results of the performance of HSM-904 grapple skidder using a full tree harvesting method in a non-native aspen Populus deltoides plantation in even terrain conditions in Shafaroud, Northern Iran. Patch cutting as a silvicultural method was used in the plantation (2,000 ha). To evaluate the newly introduced machine to a ground skidding system in the aspen plantation and the possibility to increase the production rate, an empirical time study was conducted. The elements of the skidding work phase were identified and 58 cycles were recorded for the study. The models for effective time consumption, total productivity and work phase models are calculated. The average load per cycle was 2.2 m³, the average one-way skidding distance was 253 m. The average travel speed of unloaded skidder was 5.53 km.h^-1 and the average speed of loaded skidder was lower than the speed of the unloaded one by 2.94 km.h^-1. The average output in the study was 7.1 m³ per effective hour and the unit cost was 13.9 USD.m^-3.

Every year, an analysis of economic results of a sample of agricultural enterprises farming in various production and climatic conditions in the territory of the Czech Republic is carried out by applying economic statistical methods. Based on these results, long-term trends of economic results and their influencing factors are defined. This article is based on the analysis of development of economic indicators of a sample of agricultural enterprises in the Czech Republic in the period 2003-2009, divided according to the proportion of the LFA. The year 2009 brought, in comparison with the previous years, a strong deterioration in economic results. In 2009, the economic result was the worst during the whole monitored period. The decrease in the average number of workers together with the increase in labour productivity manifests a long-term tendency. Agricultural subsidies tend also to grow in the long-term even though their growth has been slowing down.

The effect of thickening agents - methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, and xanthan gum - solutions on the sensory viscosity was investigated in the concentration range of 0-0.8%. The perceived viscosity was proportional to the logarithm of kinematic viscosity in the presence of citric and malic acids. The viscosity was inversely proportional to the acidity at the viscosity levels higher than 10 mm²/s. A liquid of high viscosity thus possess lower acidity than aqueous or low-viscosity solutions. No significant differences were found between the effects of different thickening agents.

Water and nitrogen managements are both very important to increase crop yield. An experiment was carried out in split plot design to study the effects of urea types (normal urea and coated urea) and irrigation on soil and fertilizer nitrogen use in maize (Zea mays L.) field in 2006 and 2007. Irrigation was used as main plot, and urea types were used as split-plot. Two irrigation levels, no irrigation in the whole growth duration and 85 mm irrigation at the blister stage, were designed. There were five nitrogen treatments, which were no nitrogen used as control (N0), normal urea 75 kg N/ha (N1), normal urea 150 kg N/ha (N2), coated urea 75 kg N/ha (C1) and coated urea 150 kg N/ha (C2). The results showed that, at the same level of irrigation and nitrogen, the soil nitrogen contents of the treatments with coated urea (CU) applied were higher in 0~40 cm soil layers, but lower in deeper soil layers, than those with normal urea (NU) applied. Irrigation increased the nitrate losing, but the nitrate loss of CU was lower than those of NU. Using CU with irrigation could increase the nitrogen uptake by maize, and more nitrogen was transfered to grain. At the same nitrogen level, CU had higher N recovery efficiency but lower soil N dependent rate than NU. When applied with CU, the nitrogen release rate was lower and the nitrogen was quickly absorbed by maize, which reduced the risk of nitrogen loss and increased the use efficiency of soil and fertilizer nitrogen. These results suggest that coated urea combined with deficit irrigation should be applied for high yield and nitrogen use efficiency of maize on the North China Plain.

Relatively little is known about potassium leaching losses following harvest of silage maize. While direct negative impacts on the environment are unlikely, losses of K with leaching need to be known for accurate balancing, especially on coarse textured soils, where K can be a critical element. In a four-year field experiment the effects of fertilizer forms (inorganic, cattle slurry and pig slurry) and four levels of N input (0, 80, 160, 240 kg N/ha) with corresponding amounts of K on the nutrient balances and leaching of K from silage maize grown on a sandy soil were investigated using suction cups. After four years, surplus of K from cattle slurry led to higher lactate-soluble K in the topsoil. Potassium leaching differed between years with different amounts of rainfall during winter. Annual leaching losses of K increased with N and K input and amounted to 38 kg K/ha, while fertilizer form had no significant effect. Losses of K increased with increasing N leaching (R² = 0.69). We conclude that in maize production on coarse textured soils and under conditions of high N leaching (86-152 kg N/ha), K leaching can be large (6-84 kg K/ha) and constitutes a relevant part of K balances (-84 to +127 kg K/ha).

The effects of sex and slaughter age on growth, feed intake, carcass composition and meat quality attributes of musculus longissimus lumborum were investigated in Charolais × Simmental bulls (n = 12) and heifers (n = 12) reared and finished under identical management conditions. The animals entered the experiment at similar age (251 days) and were slaughtered at 14 or 18 months of age. Bulls gained more rapidly (P < 0.001), consumed more dry matter daily (P < 0.05), and had a higher killing-out proportion (P < 0.05). The sex × slaughter age interaction was significant (P < 0.01) for feed conversion ratio, which deteriorated markedly more in heifers than in bulls as slaughter age increased. Bulls produced leaner carcasses with a higher proportion of total meat (P < 0.001). While bulls contributed to high-priced meat by a higher proportion of meat from the shoulder (P < 0.01), heifers had higher proportions of meat from the rump and loin (P < 0.05). Older animals were generally fatter and their carcasses contained lower proportions of high-priced meat (P < 0.01) and bones (P < 0.05). Bulls exhibited lower contents of dry matter (P < 0.001), protein (P < 0.05) and intramuscular fat (P < 0.001), and a higher content of collagen (P < 0.001) in musculus longissimus lumborum than hei-fers. The meat from heifers was assessed by the sensory panel as more tender and, when aged for 11 days, more acceptable than the meat from bulls. Older animals obtained higher scores for beef flavour intensity (P < 0.01), tenderness (P < 0.001), juiciness (P < 0.05), and overall acceptance (P < 0.001).

A 2 × 2 factorial design experiment examined the effect of dietary non-phytate phosphorus (NPP) (1.3 and 4.0 g/kg) and 3-phytase (F) (0 and 150 FTU/kg) on the performance indicators of hens, physical parameters of eggs, phosphorus (P) content of the eggshells, and the pH of the digestive tract of laying hens. Two hundred and forty hens (ISA Brown) were housed in enriched cages and fed a wheat-maize-based diet. A significant effect of both NPP and F was found for the yolk colour (P = 0.016) and shell thickness (P = 0.038). The F supplement or higher level of NPP alone and in combination increased the value of the yolk colour and shell thickness. The supplementation of the basal diet with F significantly increased the laying performance, especially with regard to the egg weight and feed conversion ratio. The higher dose of NPP had a negative effect on the egg production, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. The lower level of NPP (1.3 g/kg) decreased the internal egg quality and shell quality, except for the shell strength. In contrast, the addition of 3-phytase to the diet increased the shell thickness and shell weight. The P content in the eggshells was not influenced by the dietary treatment. The higher level of NPP or F increased the pH in the gizzard to a value suitable for F activity. The hens fed a diet containing 1.3 g/kg NPP achieved a higher performance; moreover, the F supplement at 150 FTU/kg increased the external quality of the eggs.

Assemblages of earthworms were evaluated in spruce and beech stands in the Kienhaida Nature Reserve (Krušné hory Mts., Czech Republic) and its immediate surroundings, where site conditions were modified by the soil preparation for forest regeneration. The beech stands of the reserve showed low diversity but higher earthworm abundance than did the spruce stands, which in turn showed the lowest Lumbricidae abundance (18 individuals.m^-2). The highest abundance of earthworms (124 individuals.m^-2) was found in the soil of mounds created 30 years prior to sampling from the organic soil of the A_h horizon. The highest species diversity and low abundance were characteristic of areas between the mounds, the soil surface of which was greatly disturbed after removal of the A_h horizon to create those mounds. The degree to which the reforested clear-cuts created due to air pollution were overgrown with weeds contributed positively to the diversity and abundance of Lumbricidae.

Theileriosis is a serious animal disease that is transmitted by ticks. Theileria species are tick-borne obligate intracellular protozoan parasites that cause severe and mild infections in their hosts. Two of them, Theileria annulata and Theileria parva, cause lymphoproliferative disease with high mortality and morbidity in cattle commonly known as tropical theileriosis and East Coast fever, respectively. Currently available antiparasitic drugs are effective in animals but animals may remain carriers and treatment is most effective in the early stages of the disease. The isolation, cloning and analysis of lactate dehydrogenase from T. annulata was the goal of the present study with the ultimate aim of designing new antiparasitic drugs that will hopefully have a wider mode of action in animals. Blood samples were taken from a four year-old Brown Swiss cow showing signs of acute tropical theileriosis and genomic DNA was extracted following the confirmation of the clinical diagnosis. For the first time, in this study, the lactate dehydrogenase sequence was isolated from from a Theileria species. Following extraction from genomic DNA by PCR the sequence was cloned into the vector pGEM-T easy. Sequencing of the whole gene from both directions indicated that the open reading frame was interrupted by two introns. Several single nucleotide exchanges, deletions and insertions were also observed in the T. annulata lactate dehydrogenase sequence compared to the host. The most remarkable difference between the parasite and host enzyme is a five residue insertion in the active site loop region that might be an attractive target for inhibitors of the enzyme. This study opens a new route to further kinetic and structural studies towards the development of novel inhibitors of T. annulata lactate dehydrogenase.

The article brings out the findings about economic efficiency of agriculture and its commodity sectors after the accession of Slovakia into the EU. The adoption of the CAP had a positive impact on the growth of the off-market and total income but at the same time, its production efficiency decreased and the production structure has changed. Less efficient sectors of the crop and livestock production declined. Regarding the aspect of financing of the agricultural sector, the European resources, mainly the direct payments, were determined. The total subsidies into agriculture increased in comparison with the pre-accession period. The volume of direct payments including the complementary national direct payments reached the maximum level in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Sugarcane plant samples affected by the disease pokkah boeng were collected from the major sugarcane producing areas in Iran. Fifty isolates of Fusarium verticillioides were recovered from diseased sugarcanes. Results of pathogenicity tests revealed that all isolates were pathogenic to sugarcane. Four hundred and eighty-five nitrate non-utilising mutants were generated from F. verticillioides isolates. Media used for nit mutant generation included potato dextrose agar, minimal medium and Czapeck agar amended with 1.8%, 2%, 2.5%, and 3% potassium chlorate. Nit mutants were divided into three phenotypic (nit1, nit3, and nitM) classes based on their growth on different nitrogen sources in the culture media. Among the isolates tested, 280, 115 and 90 nit1, nit3, and nit M were generated, respectively. Nit mutants were used to force the heterokaryon formation to determine the distribution of VCGs and their relation to pathogenicity and geographic origin. Forty-eight VCGs of F. verticillioides were isolated from sugarcane. Forty-six of the VCGs were represented by a single isolate, whereas the remaining two comprised two isolates. None of the VCGs was common.

Numerous studies show the slaughter yield and also basic chemical composition of pheasant meat. The results reveal a higher biological value of the meat of pheasants which were fed naturally, in comparison to the meat of pheasants fed with commercial mixtures. In many countries, the pheasant is selected with the aim of producing high quality meat with very desirable nutritional values. There are only few publications on amino acid composition of pheasant meat. The knowledge of amino acid composition of pheasant meat can be used to determine its potential nutritional value. The amino acid compositions were compared of the meats of wild and farm pheasants. In the study, the following amino acids were determined: Asp, Thr, Ser, Glu, Pro, Gly, Ala, Val, Ile, Leu, Tyr, Phe, His, Lys, Arg. An improved amino acid profile was found in the breast muscle of pheasants kept at the farm in comparison with that of wild pheasants.

In this contribution actual results of the Czech national ring tests of disease resistance in wheat are presented that are performed at 3-5 locations each year. Special attention was paid to possibilities of increasing resistance to rusts, powdery mildew, Fusarium head blight and brown leaf spot diseases. New sources of resistance to the above-mentioned diseases were detected and described. Achievements and prospects of wheat breeding for resistance to these diseases, as well as to other important diseases and pests (common and dwarf bunt, eyespot and stem base diseases, barley yellow dwarf virus, orange wheat blossom midge) are discussed.

This study was undertaken in order to test whether the development of nodule density over the vegetation period is different in lucerne stands grown for 1, 2 or 3 years continuously. For rapidly assessing nodule density in the field, a modified profile wall method was applied. Nodules were counted on a vertical profile wall, after spraying away a 2 cm layer of soil. For validating this method nodule density was determined on roots washed from monolith samples. Field data indicate that there is a shift of nodulation towards deeper soil layers with increasing maturity of lucerne stands. In 1-year lucerne nodulation was limited virtually to the top 15 cm of soil. In the 15-30 cm soil layer and in the subsoil (30-80 cm), nodule density increased with the cropping duration (1 year < 2 years < 3 years). Temporal decreases in nodule density during the vegetation period associated with dry spells were more pronounced for 2-years as compared with 3-years lucerne.

A two-factorial experiment was carried out on 6 groups (10 animals each) of Polish Black and White Holstein-Friesian cows in the transition period to determine the effect of glucogenic additive (GA) to the diets containing grains of varied ruminal starch degradation on cow performance. The animals from 3 control groups (C-groups) were fed the diets without any additive, whereas 3 other, experimental ones (A-groups) received the diets with additive of glucogenic preparation (450 g per head/day) comprising calcium propionate and loose propylene glycol (1 : 1). In the control groups as well as in the experimental ones, three analogical treatments, differing in concentrate composed of grain species of varying ruminal degradability of starch, i.e. maize (M) - low ruminal degradability, barley and wheat (BW) - high ruminal degradability and marriage of them (MBW) were conducted. Finally, the treatments were: C-M, C-BW, C-MBW, A-M, A-BW, and A-MBW. The rations of all groups based on maize silage, haylage, and meadow hay were mixed at 69 : 19 : 12 ratio (dry matter (DM) basis) and given ad libitum. Besides, all the animals received adequate concentrate rations to satisfy their nutritional requirements. The experiment started two weeks before the expected parturition and lasted till the 6^th lactation week. Neither GA nor a type of grain in the diets showed significant negative influence on DM intake. A glucogenic additive has positively affected some basal nutrient digestibility, elevating significantly DM and crude protein (CP) coefficients of the apparent total tract digestibility (CATTD), by about 3 percentage points. The GA × grain interactions (P ≤ 0.05) in CATTD of CP and nitrogen-free extract (NFE) were stated, with the peak values reported in the A-BW treatment. GA increased (P ≤ 0.05) daily milk yield by nearly 5% in comparison with the control treatments. GA × grain interaction was noted with the best effect in the treatment where GA was given along with maize-barley-wheat-based concentrate. Besides, the glucogenic additive decreased (P ≤ 0.05) protein (PDI) expenditure per 1 kg of fat-corrected milk (FCM) by ca. 6% and raised (by 0.15 percentage point in week 6) protein content, while lowered the urea milk level in weeks 3 and 6 of lactation by approximately 15%. It showed beneficial effect on cow reproductive indicators reducing the time interval from calving to successful insemination and improving insemination index.

The operating and economical parameters of agricultural products harvesting are important aspects from production costs point of view. Profitability of the crops depends on quantity and quality of end products and efficiency of growing and harvesting operations. In case of linseeds harvesting by combine harvester statistically important impact of cutting mechanisms state on energy, exploitation and economical parameters was determined.

We have estimated soil organic carbon and crop yield changes under distinct climate change scenarios for the Kočín farm in Slovakia. Two regional climate change scenarios, i.e. the A2 and B2 SRES emission scenarios, and a reference climate scenario have been included into the bio-physical process model EPIC to simulate the effects on the topsoil organic carbon stocks and crop yields for the period of 2010-2050. In addition, we have used the data from several fields of the Kočín farm including the soil data, crop rotational and management data as well as topographical data. The topsoil organic carbon stocks show a decreasing trend for the period of 2010-2050. Among all crop rotation systems and soil profiles, the losses over the period are 9.0%, 9.5%, and 10.7% for the reference, A2, and B2 climate scenarios, respectively. Increasing temperatures accelerate the decomposition of the soil organic carbon particularly when soils are intensively managed. The soil organic carbon changes are crop-rotation specific, which is partly due to the climate scenarios that affect the crop biomass production differently. This is shown by comparison of the crop yields. We conclude that EPIC is capable to reliably simulate effects of climate change on soil organic carbon and crop yields.

Toxoplasma gondii is zoonotic protozoan parasite that causes infections in many vertebrate species. The present study determined the seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum in goats from the Czech Republic. Serum samples were collected from 251 healthy adult goats in the Czech Republic during the years 2006 to 2009. Sera samples were tested for serum antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with cut off equal to or higher than 50% S/P. The same samples were tested for serum antibodies to Neospora caninum by a competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with cut off equal to or higher than 30% inhibition; positive sera were confirmed by an indirect fluorescent antibody test with cut-off titre equal to or higher than 40. Sera positive in both tests were marked as positive. In total, 166 (66%) and 15 (6%) goat sera reacted positively for T. gondii and N. caninum antibodies, respectively. All sera positive for N. caninum antibodies were simultaneously positive for T. gondii antibodies. This is the first detection of N. caninum antibodies in goats in the Czech Republic. Our findings indicate that goats in the Czech Republic are frequently exposed to T. gondii, but less frequently to N. caninum.

Driven by a combination of pedagogical, ethical and economic factors, the use of simulation technology and other alternatives to traditional training methods has become increasingly common in veterinary education as a means to teach basic and advanced concepts along with technical skills. When paired with well-structured and supervised clinical training on animal patients, these modern methodologies help educators fill gaps left by conventional methods, reduce and replace the consumptive use of live animals, and ultimately result in the graduation of more confident and proficient veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and allied health personnel. This article surveys an array of the simulation methods currently available for veterinary education and how they integrate with and enhance standard curricula.

The effect of Scots pine admixture in European beech stand on the leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄-N) from organic and humic horizons of Dystric Arenosols was studied in northern Poland in 2008-2009. Three zero-tension lysimeters under organic and humic horizons were installed in pure beech and mixed pine-beech stands. Water samples were collected after each rainfall, measured volumetrically, filtered and analysed. In each sample pH and concentrations of DOC, DON, NH₄-N and NO₃-N were analysed. Stronger acidification of leachates was observed in mixed stand compared to pure beech. About twice higher concentration of DOC and its fluxes per unit area were determined in mixed stand. The fluxes of DOC from unit mass of soil were less varied. In general, lower concentrations of DON, NH₄-N and NO₃-N as well as fluxes of the components (calculated in mg.kg^-1DM.year^-1 and mg.m^-2.year^-1) were observed in mixed stand.

In 2009-2011 virulence of the wheat leaf rust population was studied on Thatcher near-isogenic lines with Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2b, Lr2c, Lr3a, Lr9, Lr11, Lr13, Lr15, Lr17, Lr19, Lr21, Lr23, Lr24, Lr26 and Lr28. Samples of leaf rust were obtained from different parts of the Slovak Republic. A total of 122 wheat leaf rust isolates were analysed. Resistance gene Lr19 was effective to all tested isolates. Virulence to Lr9 was found, however only in one isolate. Gene Lr24 conditioned resistance to almost all rust collections. A lower frequency of virulence to Lr2a and Lr28 was also observed. Nineteen winter wheat cultivars grown in Slovakia were tested with 8 leaf rust isolates. Winter wheat cultivar Bona Dea was resistant to all isolates applied in the greenhouse test. Presence of Lr genes was estimated according to the reactions of the tested cultivars. Presence of Lr10, Lr26, Lr34 and Lr37 was studied by molecular markers.

The indicators of follicle development with regard to the growth wave order, the first ovulation, animal parity, and also with regard to the simultaneous presence or absence of a follicular cyst were determined in cows in the course of 60 days postpartum. Follicular dynamics were monitored daily by ultrasonography. The animals were assigned to three groups based on the time of the 1^st ovulation: G1 (n = 9) - the 1^st dominant follicle (DF) ovulated, G2 (n = 10) - ovulation occurred on the 2^nd or later follicular waves, and G3 (n = 5) - no ovulation occurred during the experimental period. G1 animals showed better fertility later (no cyst, less days open, P = 0.07, less hormonal treatment, P = 0.008). The rhythm of follicular wave development was generally similar in all the animals (based on emergence of the first follicular wave, the interval from emergence to deviation, and the number of all follicular waves). Nevertheless, emergence of follicular waves and deviation occurred by 0.5-0.9 day earlier in primiparous than in multiparous cows and in G1 vs. G2, or G3, respectively (in all P < 0.05). DF development was independent of parity as well as group effects, but the maximum size and growth rate (1.2 vs. 0.8 cm/day, P < 0.05) were higher in ovulatory follicles (OF) than in regressive ones (rDF). The presence of a growing cyst decreased the probability of rDF as well as OF development (P < 0.0001). The OF growth rate was faster in the milieu of a stagnating cyst than without any cyst (P < 0.04). Therefore, the development of follicles was dramatically suppressed beyond, but nor before, deviation in the milieu of a growing cyst. Cessation of the cyst growth accelerated the development of OFs. On the contrary, a cystic structure without any significant growth can persist for weeks with no effect on successful follicular development.

A three-year-old intact female Great Pyrenees underwent total knee replacement for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The dog contracted septic arthritis 10 weeks following the procedure. Treatments including implant subtraction, debridement of tissue, and insertion of bone cement with antibiotics into the joint space were completed in the joint cavity. A temporary external skeletal fixator was used to stabilise the joint for four weeks. A second attempt at total knee replacement failed due to severe muscle contracture and bone loss. Therefore, it was decided to perform arthrodesis as a salvage procedure. At the 17 month follow-up examination, the patient was able to use the limb while standing and at all gait speeds. Based on these findings, two-stage arthrodesis can be a viable salvage procedure for infected total knee replacements.

Phytophthora alni is responsible for a devastating disease in alder and changes in the environment of riparian and alder carr ecosystems. One of the main approaches to solve this problem is to find naturally resistant genotypes using a series of artificial inoculation experiments, to preserve and use them in programmes for resistance breeding. However, the results of artificial inoculation experiments (screening for natural resistance) can be affected by several factors. The potential effect of the social status of the host, the presence of naturally occurring P. alni infections, the season and the size of the sections of branches used were studied in a series of infection experiments. It was found out that the development of lesions was significantly affected by the year season (the largest lesions were found in summer) and by the presence of naturally occurring P. alni infections in the sampled trees (the lesions were five times larger in healthy trees and trees recovered from natural P. alni infections compared to trees with active disease development).

The paper analyzes the main indicators of the economic position of companies in the field of food industry in Vojvodina. The examined nine-year period coincides with the final stage of the ownership transformation in the Republic of Serbia. Given the length of the examined period, a considerable devaluation of the national currency (60.6%) and a high inflation rate (125.7%), all values are shown in Euros. The increasing business activity in the period of interest is not accompanied by the appropriate financial effects. Food industry enterprises achieved a positive financial result for most of the years in the given period, but with modest profit rates (0.15-3.18%). Net working capital covers only 42.5% in average of the base stock, indicating an unfavourable financial structure and serious liquidity problems. An unacceptably high level of indebtness has been achieved (58.1%), which significantly reduces financial results due to the high financing expense. A further increase of export, combined with the recapitalization by the owners and a partial refinancing of credits, is the way to the companies' financial recovery.

The efficiency of border rows to prevent the adventitious presence of GM maize in non-GM maize plots was evaluated as well as the effect of the MON 810 maize of the yield and self-protection against the European corn borer. The GM maize MON 810 event was drilled at 3 locations over the Slovakia and the grain samples were collected from the neighbouring conventional maize fields. The data obtained by Real-Time PCR indicate that coexistence between GM and conventional maize is feasible and the isolation distance of 200 m (respectively 100 border rows of conventional maize) separates GM maize from the conventional one more than sufficiently. The effective isolation distance is 3-4 times greater than the actually needed. The MON 810 revealed also the highest yield and the best self-protection against European corn borer in both growing seasons with different climatic conditions.

Soil arsenic (As) levels are particularly high in parts of China, where wheat and rape are widely grown. Understanding the effects of As concentration on the growth of these two major crops is of significance for food production and security in China. A pot experiment was carried out to study the uptake of As and phosphorus (P), and the soil As bioavailability at different growth stages of wheat and rape. The results indicated that winter wheat was much more sensitive to As stress than rape. Wheat yields were elevated at low rates of As addition (< 60 mg/kg) but reduced at high rates of As concentrations (80-100 mg/kg); while the growth of rape hadn't showed significant responses to As addition. Phosphorus concentrations in wheat at jointing and ear sprouting stages increased with increasing soil As concentrations, and these increases were assumed to contribute a lot to enhanced growth of wheat at low As treatments. Arsenic did not significantly affect P concentrations in rape either. The highest As concentrations in wheat shoot and rape leaf were 8.31 and 3.63 mg/kg, respectively. Arsenic concentrations in wheat and rape grains did not exceed the maximum permissible limit for food stuffs of 1.0 mg/kg. When soil As concentration was less than 60 mg/kg, both wheat and rape could grow satisfactorily without adverse effects; when soil As concentration was 80-100 mg/kg, rape was more suitable to be planted than wheat.

Rumex obtusifolius is a troublesome weed widely spread in temperate grasslands and can be potentially used for detection of soils contaminated by trace elements. We asked how emergence and survival of its seedlings are affected by application of quick lime (Ca) and superphosphate (P) additives in soils contaminated by trace elements. We performed the pot seeding experiment with slightly acid Litavka soil contaminated by arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) and alkaline Malín soil contaminated by As, Cd, and Zn. We used a control without any additives, Ca and P treatments in both soils. Higher and quicker emergence, together with substantially higher mortality of seedlings, was recorded in Litavka than in Malín. A positive effect of the Ca treatment on seedlings was recorded in Litavka, but a negative in Malín. Small seedlings with narrow and long leaves of reddish colour were recorded in Litavka in the control and in the P treatment both with high availability of Zn, Cd, and Pb. In the Ca treatment, leaves of seedlings were more elliptic and less reddish. In Malín, seedlings were green and substantially more vital in the control and in the P treatment than in Litavka. In the Ca treatment, small and unviable seedlings were recorded. Seedlings of R. obtusifolius are sensitive on high availability of Ca, Zn, Cd, and Pb in the soil.

Thymol's antimicrobial properties urged researchers to study its effect on animal performance and intestinal health in pigs. However, thymol has the characteristic sharp odor of thyme and a bitter, aromatic, and sometimes burning sensation which may elicit feeding aversions. The objectives in the current study were: (1) to determine the effect of dose of thymol and camphor on palatability and (2) to test the hypothesis that supplemental flavours or camphor, the latter as a known Transient Receptor Potential A1 blocker, could mitigate feed avoidance caused by thymol. Two analogous choice-feeding trials were conducted. Feed intake of the test diet was expressed as proportion of the total intake and tested by means of a one-sample Student's t-test against a set value of 50%. The preference for feed supplemented with 125, 500, 1250 and 2000 mg/kg thymol was 53.7 ± 6.0% (P > 0.05), 47.5 ± 5.1% (P > 0.05), 36.8 ± 4.9% (P = 0.022), and 3.9 ± 7.9% (P = 0.005) respectively. When feed containing 2000 mg/kg thymol with either flavour A (containing intense sweeteners) or flavour B (containing the same intense sweeteners and a caramel aroma) was opposed against a control diet, the relative intake of the test diets was 19.9 ± 5.8% and 14.0 ± 4.9% (both P < 0.05) respectively. When animals were offered one of these test diets and a reference diet with 2000 mg/kg thymol, animals exhibited a preference for the feed with 2000 mg/kg thymol + flavour A, but not for the feed with 2000 mg/kg thymol + flavour B. Thus, supplemental flavours containing intense sweeteners partially overcame feed avoidance caused by thymol which was less pronounced when the caramel aroma was present. Exposure to camphor (50 and 200 mg/kg) did not improve feed preference for a diet containing 1250 mg/kg thymol. Thymol's bitter taste might be largely responsible for the recorded feed refusal at high inclusion rates.

Relationships between sensory variables, species, feeding systems, and panelists were examined by Procrustes Analysis. Six meat groups considering species and feeding type combinations were evaluated by ten panelists for five sensory characteristics (colour, texture, odour, taste, and acceptability). These characteristics were assessed using a nine-point hedonic scale (9 = extremely enjoy, 1 = extremely dislike). Generalized Procrustes Analysis was performed and 61.11% of the total variability was explained by the first two dimensions that correspond to Factor 1 and Factor 2. The first one accounted for 33.99% and the second for 27.12%. Results showed that pasture conditions were reflected in all sensory characteristics of meat of Hair goat as well as Karakas sheep. This study concluded that meat of sheep and goats reared in pasture conditions was more preferable as concerns sensory characteristics than that of fattening animals or those reared in intensive conditions.