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Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus represents a major threat to the swine industry worldwide. This study describes the transmission of a European strain of PRRS-1 to a pig farm leading to the spread of the virus to different age categories of pigs and the development of clinical signs in pregnant sows and piglets. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome aetiology was confirmed by serological tests and by virus isolation and subsequent sequencing. Repeated mass vaccination using modified live virus was used to synchronise the level of PRRS-specific immunity in all age categories of animals and to hinder virus circulation in the herd. Four months after the second mass vaccination, regular modified live virus vaccination of sows and gilts was implemented. Introduction of sentinel animals demonstrated cessation of virus circulation and the success of the control programme.

It was assumed that the determination of the mineral nitrogen (N_min) content in the 0.01 mol/L CaCl₂ could rely on measurements of single form NO₃^--N, NH₄⁺-N or both, and even including other extractable nutrients. This hypothesis was verified based on some primary data from 17 fields: ten with oilseed rape and seven with maize as indicatory crops during three consecutive seasons in a production farm in Górzno, Poland. The contents of NO₃^--N, NH₄⁺-N, P, K, Mg and pH were measured in soil prior to the spring vegetation start and after a crop harvest (autumn). Phosphorus in spring and NH₄⁺-N in autumn, were variables discriminating against the number of clusters. It was higher in cropping sequences (CSs) with maize than with oilseed rape. The reliability of N_min determination and distribution between clusters in spring based only on NO₃^--N was fully corroborated for maize CSs. In autumn, irrespective of the CS, the decisive factor in N_min prediction and distribution over clusters was the NH₄⁺-N pool. This study resulted in the rating of CaCl₂ extractable nutrients, indicating their availability status, shortage or excess, on the background of the N_min temporary rating.

Biochar has been studied extensively in terms of its influence on soil hydrophysical properties, but only small part of results was obtained from the field experiments. In this study, the soil water content was measured in 5-10 cm depth at experimental plots which received 20 t/ha and 0 t/ha (control) of biochar amendment at the Malanta area (Slovakia). The experimental area was cultivated with maize in 2015 and spring wheat in 2016. Our field measurements show that the positive effect of biochar amendment (20 t/ha) on soil water content is strongly related to the type of the crop grown and not straightforward. Unexpectedly, during the monitoring campaign in 2015 the soil water content of the biochar-amended soil was lower than control. In 2016, negligible differences were observed in soil water contents at both experimental plots, especially during the dry spells. However, higher soil water content was measured at the plot with biochar amendment after the series of precipitation events during the physiological maturity of the spring wheat. Moreover, the biochar amendment did not increase the biomass production and yields of maize in 2015, but it significantly increased the biomass production and yields of spring wheat in 2016.

This paper deals with verification of the effect of fermented manure (with and without Z'fix activators) and soil activators (PRP Sol) on a soil properties change. Their application should lead to a change in physical, physical-chemical and biological properties of soil, along with ecological material fixation, improved water retention and infiltration, reduction of soil susceptibility to water erosion and decreased soil tillage energy requirements. Field trial was established in Sloveč in Central Bohemia in the year 2014. The experiment was divided into several variants and was designed as multiannual. Z>fix activator was used as a biological transformation activator of manure. PRP Sol was used as a soil activator. In order to verify the effect, soil infiltration, cone index, bulk density and draft of tillage implement were measured. Measurements have shown a beneficial effect of the activators with regard to the decomposition of organic matter. Consequently, changes in soil properties and a reduction of draft at tillage operations developed. Finally, the effect should evolve gradually with a prolonged activator treatment.

Apricot is one of the oldest fruit tree crops in China and it was spread via Armenia to other areas. There are about ten species of apricot (Subg. Armeniaca Mill.) worldwide, among which nine species are native to China. Sharka disease caused by the Plum pox virus (PPV) is widely distributed in the main producing regions of apricot. In this study, linked simple sequence repeats (SSR) primers were used to detect allele variations potentially associated with PPV resistance among Chinese apricot germplasm resources, including 52 accessions belonging to Prunus armeniaca, 7 to Prunus mandshurica, 6 to Prunus sibirica, 4 to Prunus mume, 17 to other species or types. The allelic variation at loci with PPV resistance showed that these SSR markers linked to PPV resistance kept a relatively high level of diversity in Chinese apricot. The special alleles and genotypes only found in South China cultivars might reveal new PPV resistance sources. Some famous local cultivars of Chinese apricot might be considered as candidates for PPV resistance.

This paper is part of a broader study which aims to investigate the success factors of agricultural enterprises. It attempts to present the partial results of a questionnaire survey whose goal was to determine the quality of HRM (Human Resource Management) departments in basic agricultural enterprises. Studies focusing on the HRM of basic agricultural enterprises have been published in many countries. In the Slovak Republic, experts and academics from the Slovak University of Technology in Nitra, and the Slovak Research Institute of Agricultural and Food Economics have arrived at perceptive conclusions on the current state of human capital in the agri-food sector and have proposed innovative directions for further development. Surprisingly, however, academia still fails to perceive HR management as a partner in an enterprise, rather than simply a service unit in the organisational structure of the agricultural enterprise. Therefore, an in-depth analysis of the role of HRM departments is missing and this paper aims to fill that gap. The methodology of research is based on Ulrich's model of the mixed roles of HR departments (2009), which is used as a framework to determine the quality levels of role performance, defined by the model, of HRM departments. The survey sample consists of 70 basic agricultural enterprises.

The effect of a single chemical treatment against Ostrinia nubilalis (Hbn.) on thrips abundance on maize in south-eastern Poland was evaluated. Two insecticides: Karate Zeon 050 CS, containing lambda-cyhalothrin, and Proteus 110 OD, containing thiacloprid with deltamethrin, were tested. Maize was sprayed in the second ten days of July, during the abundant occurrence of O. nubilalis larvae, which coincided with the population peak of thrips on plants. The tested active substances showed high effectiveness against thrips, but a better effect, reflected in a decrease in thrips abundance, was found for the mixture of thiacloprid with deltamethrin. The tested insecticides significantly reduced the population of thrips for up to 14 days after treatment.

The efficiency of microbial transglutaminase (MTG) obtained from Streptoverticillum ladakanaum fermentation of sorghum grain and DDGS hydrolysates (HMTG) in increasing the mechanical properties of restructured meat and fish products was evaluated in this study. Gels were obtained by adding HMTG or commercial MTG at 0.3 U/g, and controls lacked enzyme. All treatments were supplemented with 2.0% NaCl. The gels with enzyme showed a lower amount of expressible water, similar to those obtained with CMTG (6% for fish gels and 8% for beef gels). Texture values were also similar. The results showed the feasibility of employing MTG obtained from sorghum hydrolysates.

The diversity of three non-coding plastid DNA loci (trnL/trnF spacer, trnV/16SrRNA spacer, trnL/trnL intron) was assessed in 16 Solanum L. species (135 individuals). Polymorphisms were detected by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and verified by direct sequencing. No intraspecific diversity and only poor interspecific diversity was detected. Unique S. mochiquense Ochoa specific length polymorphism at the trnL/trnL locus represented by duplication of an 18 bp segment was discovered. The detected DGGE interspecific trnL/trnF locus polymorphism did not specifically associate with single point mutations in the sequence confirmed by sequencing. The DGGE method was found to be a simple and cheap pre-exploring tool for mutation detection in compared DNA regions. Some identified polymorphisms can be used in the management of genetic resources.

The effect of cold storage of testes and epididymides at 4 °C for 12 h on the cryopreservation capacity of epididymal feline sperm was evaluated. Ten domestic cats were castrated, and testes and epididymides collected. Specimens were randomly assigned to two groups: in Group A, epididymal samples were immediately processed and frozen in 0.25-ml straws; in Group B, both testes and epididymides were maintained in saline at 4 °C for 12 h and sperm was then processed and frozen. Motility, morphology, acrosome status, sperm viability and DNA integrity were assessed in epididymal sperm samples before freezing (baseline), at thawing (0 h) and 6 h post-thawing (6 h). Although values were lower in Group B, no significant intergroup difference was observed for any of the parameters tested either at baseline or at 0 h. However, significantly higher values (P < 0.05) were observed in Group A at 6 h for total sperm motility (29.0 ± 2.4% vs 13.0 ± 4.3%), sperm viability (35.2 ± 5.4% vs 15.4 ± 1.4%) and normal morphology (47.6 ± 0.8% vs 40.0 ± 2.1%). It was observed that motility and acrosome status of epididymal sperm are the most sensitive parameters when both types of sperm samples (from fresh epididymis or from 12 h cold-stored epididymis) are frozen-thawed. When sperm quality was assessed 6 h after thawing, spermatozoa precooled in the epididymides showed significantly lower values for motility, viability and morphology than spermatozoa from fresh epididymal samples.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a plant typical mainly for temperate climate and develops best at about 20°C. Heat stress due to increased temperatures is an agricultural problem in many areas in the world. The aim of our work was to assess the response of selected new potato cultivars to heat and drought stress during the subsequent stages of plant growth starting from buds forming. The pot experiment was carried out over the course of two years with the following early cultivars: Lord, Miłek, Gwiazda, Hubal, Oberon and Tetyda. The impact of heat (38°C/25°C) and drought stress on potato plants was tested in four periods of two weeks. In these periods half of the plants were watered to a level close to optimal while the other half remained without irrigation. Our studies demonstrated that tested potato cultivars' response to heat stress depends on the growth stage, in which the temperature acts on the plants and on the soil moisture. Besides the decrease in yield and tubers' diminution, the biggest problem was the presence of tubers with physiological defects, particularly of immature tubers. The response of cultivars was differentiated.

Potato yield is affected by an interaction between nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) supply. This hypothesis was verified in a series of field experiments conducted during 2010-2013 in Albania (AL), Czech Republic (CZ) and Poland (PL). The two-factorial experiment was founded on relative scales of K (0, 50, 100, and 150%), and N application rates (75% and 100%) of the recommended doses, which were country-specific. The average tuber yield was doubled for AL, increased by 50% for PL, and by 15% for the CZ in response to K and N interaction. These differences are caused by an increase in the apparent nitrogen efficiency (ANE), which rose significantly by the progressive Krates. Maximum average ANE of 90 kg tubers/kg N was recorded in AL; it was 2-fold lower in CZ. Top average apparent potassium efficiency (AKE) of 65 kg tubers/kg K was recorded in PL; it was 4-times lower in CZ. The relationships between AKE and ANE clearly demonstrate the tight interaction between the N and K, and its effects on potato yield. However, a sound K application management should be adjusted to the local edaphic and climatic conditions.

This study examined the variability of reproductive and productive traits in Suffolk sheep (a commercial flock, n = 316 ewes) with regard to the dams' age or the nutritional status of sheep at mating under a year-round outdoor management. Data were collected across a 3-year monitoring period (totally 655 observations). The fixed effects of dam's age (dams grouped as: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 years and older), ewe's live weight (LW; ewes grouped as: < 72 kg; 72-83 kg; > 83 kg), and backfat thickness at mating (BT; ewes grouped as: < 7.9 mm; 7.9-10.5 mm; > 10.5 mm) were evaluated. The dam's age influenced reproductive and productive traits such that 2- and 6-year and older ewes reached the lowest values. Ewes with LW > 83 kg had significantly higher lambing rate (11.8%) compared to those with LW < 72 kg. The group of ewes with LW < 72 kg gave birth to a significantly lower number of live lambs in litter (-8.9%) in comparison with LW < 83 kg group. An increase (9.9%; P < 0.01) of total litter weight at birth or an increase (12.5%; P < 0.05) of total litter weight at 100 days of age were detected in LW > 83 kg group compared to LW < 72 kg group. BT > 10.5 mm ewes had by 8.9% lower lambing rate (P < 0.05), by 6.8% lower litter size (P < 0.05), by 14.5% lower number of live lambs in litter (P < 0.01), and by 8.6% lower total litter weight at birth compared to BT < 7.9 mm ewes. A significantly lower total litter weight at 100 days of age (-10.8%) and a significantly lower total litter gain from birth to 100 days of age (-11.5%) were detected in BT > 10.5 mm ewes in comparison to BT 7.9-10.5 mm ewes.

This article was aimed at assessment of selected factors of the work environment, which influenced the operators of harvesters and forwarders. The selection of the work environment factors was based on a thorough literature survey. From the survey exposure to whole-body vibrations, noise (equivalent and peak), microclimatic conditions and mental load were selected for detailed observations. The measurements were conducted according to international standards and assessed according to European or national legislation. Subjective assessment of the effects of the work environment was conducted through a structured interview. The exposure to whole-body vibrations was 0.5 m.s-2. The equivalent noise exposure was 78 dB, peak noise exposure was 130 dB. The average temperature inside the machine cabs was 17.9°C and average airflow velocity was 0.06 m.s-2. Mental load was high according to the Meister questionnaire, three operators considered the load inadequate, two considered it adequate. Subjective assessment showed that operators considered other factors to be light or no load

The influences of six different tillage treatments and five different crops on soil losses by water erosion were studied during a twenty-year period (1995-2014) on Stagnosol in central lowland Croatia. The aim of the study was to determine how the quantity of soil sediment, different tillage treatments and crops influence the particle size distribution (PSD) of soil sediment. During the studied period, total number of non-eroded soil samples was 60 and total number of soil sediments samples was 445. Significantly lower amounts of fine sand and higher amounts of clay and silt were determined in sediments compared to the non-eroded soil regardless of cover crop and tillage treatment, with the exception of bare cultivated soil. Generally, when quantities of soil sediments were higher, textural differences between non-eroded and eroded soil were lower. Very week negative correlation was determined between the quantity of soil sediment and the content of clay (r = -0.25) as well as the content of silt (r = -0.23). A very weak positive correlation (r = 0.23) was determined between the content of fine sand and the quantity of soil sediment, while non correlation (r = -0.02) was determined between the content of coarse sand and the quantity of soil sediment.

The aim of the present paper was to simulate the scenarios for a maximum avoidance of inbreeding (MAI) mating strategy, and compare it with a random mating alternative, with the main focus on inbreeding and development of the genetic gain. The parameters of the simulation were based on the structure of the Slovak Pinzgau active population of 2868 animals (930 purebred cows). The selection under a total merit index (TMI) was simulated, covering the milk, survival, and live weight breeding value estimation results. The heritability of TMI (h² = 0.09) was estimated using a REML single trait animal model. Alternatives assumed a closed population structure, fixed number of mating per parent, and equal use of sires in insemination. Animals in generation 0 were set as founders without pedigree information. In separate simulation runs, the number of sires of sires was set at 2, 4, 5 or 10 mated with 40 dams of sires in all cases. The sex ratio of the offspring was assumed to be 50/50 male/female. Twenty consecutive generations were simulated for both random and maximum avoidance of inbreeding mating, which resulted in a total of 8 scenarios. Significant positive differences in genetic gain were observed in the MAI mating system with 2 (0.74**), 4 (0.24**), 5 (0.13**) or 10 (0.09**) sires in comparison to random mating design. When using MAI, significantly lower inbreeding was observed with 2 (5.44**), 4 (3.18**), 5 (2.43**) or 10 (1.16**) sires. Simulation results showed that the use of a maximum avoidance of inbreeding mating strategy would lead to significantly decreased rates of inbreeding while maintaining suitable levels of genetic gain in the

The most common way of pedunculate oak regeneration on the floodplain sites in the Czech Republic is artificial regeneration by clear-cutting. However, what is the real potential of natural regeneration of pedunculate oak? In our research object (3,355 ha of floodplain forest in the southern part of the Czech Republic - Zidlochovice region), we inventoried about 8 ha of successful natural regeneration of pedunculate oak with density ranging between 15,000 and 100,000 individuals per ha on the plots after final cut. All harvested oak dominated parent stands showed a lower stock density that ranged between 0.5 and 0.8. In the next analysis of the survival of oak natural regeneration spontaneously established in different light conditions under the shelter of parent stands we observed the highest occurrence of saplings closer to the forest edge. A sufficient density of regeneration (above 10,000 individuals per ha) was found at the distance up to 18 m from the edge, where more than 24% of direct and 30% of indirect site factor were discovered. In the stand with the full canopy closure (DSF about 10% on average and ISF about 24%) the oak regeneration is missing and was replaced by other tree species (especially ash and field maple). In the examined area the natural regeneration of pedunculate oak should be one of the possible alternatives of floodplain forest regeneration if certain conditions are met.

The content of free SO₂ (1.3-37.9 mg/l and 5.3-19.7 mg/l for 2009 and 2010) and total SO₂ (38.3-272.0 mg/l and 52.0-102.1 mg/l for 2009 and 2010) for individual wines was in a broad interval. Results of free SO₂ found using the commercial SO₂ reagent were higher than our results since the reagent determined not only free SO₂ but also reductones. The content of titrated acids was constant with a very moderate time decrease and the values were on average about 9.1-5.3 g/l (2009) and 13.1-7.9 g/l (2010). Similarly, the content of tartaric acid was nearly constant and the values were on average about 2.37-1.47 g/l (2009) and 6.65-2.69 g/l (2010). The percentage ratio of tartaric acid in the content of titrated acids is also constant (average 24.39%-38.6% for individual wines).

Quantitative relationships between stand indices and carbon dioxide (CO₂) stocking are missing in the evergreen broadleaved forests (EBLFs) in eastern China and this hinders to estimate carbon (C) budget in the subtropical region. We determined the vegetation-soil C pool and CO₂ stocking using stand indices [diameter at breast height (DBH), total height (H) and wood density] in Schima superba dominated EBLFs in the Tiantong National Forest Park in eastern China. Vegetation biomass was determined by a non-destructive method using the tree volume and wood density approach while soil C concentration was determined using the oil bath-K₂CrO₇ titration method. Finally, multiple regression and one-way ANOVA with LSD test were used for data analysis. Results showed that total C stocks in the vegetation and the 0-20 cm surface soil were 90.53 t.ha^-1 and 116.24 t.ha^-1, respectively. The study revealed that the total amount of CO₂ stocks in the studied forest is 331.87 t.ha^-1. One-way ANOVA with LSD test showed that CO₂ stocks varied significantly (P < 0.05) between the tree growth stages. There was a significant variation in CO₂ stocking capacity within sapling and pole growth stages but no significant variation within standard stage. The stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that DBH, BA and H were related to the C stocking while wood density had no significant effect. The significant amount of C stocking in EBLFs in the Tiantong National Forest Park of eastern China showed the potential and significant C stocks by trees. As the C pool structure changes due to a change in the forest type and location, therefore this study is important to estimate C stocks and predict CO₂ stocks from stand indices in EBLFs which serve as a scientific basis for sustainable forestry operations, rational utilization of forest resources and global warming reduction in EBLFs in subtropical regions of China.

Genetic evaluation of length of functional productive life was carried out using a Weibull proportional hazard sire-maternal grandsire model. The database included 405 624 Holstein cows with 19.24% censoring. The analyzed effects were parity × stage of lactation, within-herd standard deviations of milk production, herd × year × season interaction, change of herd size with respect to the previous year, age at first calving, and sire and maternal-grandsire effects. Parity × stage of lactation had the most important influence on functional productive life. The results of the analysis confirmed more intensive selection at the beginning of each lactation, whereby the risk ratio increased with each other lactation. Heritability of functional productive life was 0.13 on the original scale. Breeding values of sires were expressed as relative breeding values with a mean of 100 and genetic standard deviation of 12.

Of the grapevines grown in the Nordic countries, cv. Zilga, bred in Latvia, has proven to be very winter resistant and fast-maturing, and produces abundant harvests. In Finland, it is grown as horticultural and agricultural plant unprotected on open land even at 63 degrees latitude. In Southern Finland (60°24'10''N, 25°01'45''E), the growth cycle of cv. Zilga from bud break to harvest lasted 116 days and to leaf fall 125 days. At the beginning of the harvest, the total sugar content was 19°Bx. Tracking the phenology of the growth cycle and the environmental conditions of the growth site shows that cv. Zilga is well placed to make use of the high ambient temperatures and high solar radiation energy of Northern Europe in May, June, July and August.

In our routine surveys for the powdery mildew disease in greenhouse tomatoes, we detected a new pathogen that forms pseudochains consisting of 12 conidia. To identify the original plant that dispersed this pathogen, wild plants infected with powdery mildew were monitored. The pathogen on Japanese mallotus, Mallotus japonicus, produced a similar type of pseudochain, and conidia were infectious to tomatoes. Inversely, the conidia on the tomato leaves infected M. japonicus. Infectivity assays and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-based phylogenetic analyses indicated that the two pathogens on the tomato and M. japonicus were identical. These results suggest that the conidia on M. japonicus can be transmitted to greenhouse tomatoes. This work documents the ecological transmission of conidia between wild plants and greenhouse tomatoes

The collection of 23 coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated mainly from food in the Czech Republic were tested on the ability to form biofilms in the presence of ampicillin and vancomycin. The antimicrobial sensitivity (16 antibiotics) was determined in all strains by the standard disc diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar plates (NCCLS). The resistance to ampicillin was found in 16 strains (69.5%), all strains being susceptible to vancomycin. The formation of biofilm was conducted in 96-well, polystyrene microtiter plates COSTAR 3797 in tryptic soy broth (TSB) with 1% of glucose for 24 h at 30°C. Staining with crystal violet (0.1%) was used for biofilm quantification. Ampicillin (0.5, 2, and 4 mg/l) and vancomycin (32, 64 and 128 mg/l) were added: (i) direct addition of the agent to the well at zero time, (ii) after 24 h to washed well, (iii) after 24 h directly to well with the cell suspension. The tested types of ampicillin treatment did not confirm the impact of resistance on the biofilm production among the strains tested. The addition of vancomycin at zero time of cultivation effectively suppressed the biofilm production. Other types of treatment showed unequal strain dependent response. Planktonic cells demonstrated a higher sensitivity to antibiotics than the biofilm forming cells.

The paper examines the relationship between the use of specific knowledge and economic success among Hungarian grape growers and wine makers. In the last decade, Hungary has been left behind by world trends as represented by the increasing share of the premium and super-premium wines (which utilise higher knowledge) in the export development. According to our survey, one cause of this might be the inappropriate use and management of knowledge and skills which is 'conditio sine qua non' for wine making. The Hungarian wine regions (usually with resource-based, fordist type resource endowment) are rather knowledge users. We have found (based on the PCA estimation) that two principal components cover 77% of the total variance: 'Size' and 'Innovation capabilities'. However, although the use and spread of skills is a basic component in explaining the differences of variation among the companies, it is not unambiguous in formulating the business success measured in different indicators. Because the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have limited resources in capital accumulation and knowledge creation, they need to maintain living network connections in order to expand their constrained innovation capabilities. Instead of the 'closed' type of innovation and knowledge accumulation, they utilise the 'open' way of acquiring knowledge, where they necessarily share their specific information with their partners, but at the same time, they are supplied with new knowledge which might be vital for their own progress. The majority of the Hungarian vine- and wine makers are not open enough in the different phases of the innovation process. However, our analysis proves that if they showed up mutuality especially in knowledge sharing with their competitors, they could improve their positions significantly. We conclude that the Hungarian wine enterprises - keeping the idea generation as well as its further development, elaboration and the adequate use within the frame of the company - can achieve market success.

Methodological procedure for determining the drainage retention capacity (DRC) of surface layers under conditions of unsteady-state groundwater flow was demonstrated. DRC of the drainage system can be defined as a groundwater reservoir situated between the soil surface and the intermediate position of a parabola shaped water table above the drain level. Computation of DRC is based on analytical approximation of the subsurface total drainage discharge in unsteady-state groundwater conditions. DRC formula can serve as a simple tool for immediate estimation that requires only minimum amount of basic information (drainage design parameters, soil hydrology data). DRC is an important phenomenon of drainage policy, an inseparable part of drainage processes, which can mitigate negative impact of climate dynamics. A properly applied drainage policy, with the possibility of manipulating the retention capacities in the soil layers, can significantly improve soil and environmental protection. In agriculture, DRC extended by a drainage system can mitigate the negative effects of hydrological extremes such as floods and droughts.

in recent years, great attention has been paid to the quality of eaten meat and its products. There have been launched a lot of promotional campaigns aimed at providing opportunities for the consumption of traditional products. Based on the experiment, a significantly higher protein content was found in sausages produced by large producers (24.73 ± 1.98%). The fat content was significantly higher in traditional ham (16.25 ± 14.47%), compared with local ham (4.38 ± 2.26%) and the mass (9.29 ± 5.25%). The samples of traditional and local ham had a significantly higher salt content (3.31 ± 0.72 and 2.90 ± 0.54%, respectively). No dye compounds were detected in any of the tested samples. There were no statistically significant differences in hydroxyproline and l‑glutamic acid content between traditional and conventional samples of meat products. Analysis of nitrate (V and III) showed a statistically significant difference in the average contents of these compounds. Significantly higher levels of nitrates were revealed only in traditional ham samples (12.60 ± 8.08 mg NaNO(V)/kg and 17.53 ± 27.91 mg NaNO(III)/kg of the product, respectively), wherein there was a large variation in the content of these compounds in the samples.

This paper investigates the association between expression of CD14 and occurrence of apoptosis in blood monocytes, resident (_RESMAC) and inflammatory macrophages from heifer mammary glands after infusion of PBS (_INFMAC_PBS) or LPS (_INFMAC_LPS). Resident macrophages (_RESMAC) were obtained before, and inflammatory macrophages (_INFMAC_PBS and _INFMAC_LPS) 24 h after, induction of an inflammatory response using phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mammary glands of unbred heifers. Cell samples were analysed for differential counts, CD14 expression, apoptosis and necrosis using flow cytometry. In vitro cultivation led to a decrease in the proportion of living cells and to an increase in the proportion of apoptotic and necrotic cells in all macrophages and blood monocytes. In CD14⁺ macrophages, the proportions of live cells increased and proportions of apoptotic and necrotic cells decreased after in vitro cultivation. We observed in CD14^- macrophages and monocytes that the proportions of live cells decreased and proportions of apoptotic and necrotic cells increased after in vitro cultivation. Our experiments confirm that the expression of CD14 in bovine mammary gland macrophages and blood monocytes is associated with cell viability.

Parturient paresis and subclinical hypocalcemia are frequent metabolic disorders in dairy cows postpartum. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of postpartum partial milking in the first two milkings on blood serum calcium concentration in dairy cows. Twenty multiparous Holstein dairy cows were randomized into two groups. Cows of group 1 (n = 10) were partially milked at the first and second milking postpartum. Cows of group 2 (n = 10) were completely milked. Blood samples were collected from all animals 5-7 days before calving, within 30 min after calving, and 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32 h after calving for determination of serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) concentrations. Colostrum production was registered and sampled in the first and second milking. Concentration of Ca in colostrum was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum Ca and P concentrations decreased in both groups after parturition (P < 0.05) and remained low during 32 h postpartum with no difference observed between groups (P > 0.05). Serum concentrations of Mg were stable in all samples and no statistical difference was observed between groups (P > 0.05). Colostrum production was higher in completely milked cows only in the first postpartum milking (P < 0.05), but there was no difference between groups at the second milking. Total Ca secretion in colostrum was higher in the complete milking group at the first and second postpartum milking. Colostrum Ca secretion increased at the second milking with respect to the first one in both groups (P < 0.05). There was no correlation between serum Ca and colostrum Ca (P > 0.05). In this study, the partial milking of colostrum in the first and second milking postpartum did not prevent subclinical hypocalcemia in dairy cows.

Density of regeneration in European subalpine Norway spruce (Picea abies) forests is typically low with regeneration primarily located on dead or decaying wood. The post-disturbance development of this regeneration is crucial for natural forest succession. The aim was to identify the influence of disturbance on regeneration on decaying logs immediately after a severe disturbance event. Study plots were established in two subalpine spruce forests: the first, an undisturbed site located in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. and the second site in the Šumava Mts. that has experienced recent severe disturbance. Regeneration density increased between 2008 and 2011 by 7% (0.29 individuals per square meter of log) at the undisturbed site and by 33% (3.24 individuals per square meter of log) at the disturbed site. The increased regeneration density observed at the disturbed site was mostly associated with the smallest saplings. The highest increase in regeneration density was observed on logs with the largest diameters. Three years after severe disturbance caused 100% mortality of the parent stand in the Bohemian Forest, no significant effect was recorded on the growth rate and survival of established spruce saplings on dead wood.