The aim of study was to determine the chemical composition of breast, high and shank muscles and to state the fatty acid profile in the mentioned muscles as well as in skin with subcutaneous fat and abdominal fat of broiler goose fed with standard mixtures and mixtures, in which soybean extracted meal was partly replaced by rapeseed extracted meal “00”. Tissues of 10 males of W31 White Koludzka breed were used as an experimental material. The geese came from two experimental groups, each of 30 males and 30 females, reared up to the 10th week of life. Breast, thigh and shank muscles of broiler geese fed with mixtures containing soybean extracted meal were characterized by slightly lower dry matter and crude protein contents, but larger crude fat comparison with geese fed with mixtures, in which soybean extracted meal was partly substituted by rapeseed extracted meal “00” (the differences not statistically proved). Similar fatty acid contents in breast muscles of tested geese were found. Moreover, during the raising no differentiation in the analysed acid profile in skin subcutaneous fat in relation to feeding were proved. On the other hand, thigh and shank muscles as well as abdominal fat in geese fed with mixtures containing soybean and rapeseed extracted meals were characterized by lower saturated fatty acid contents, and larger content of unsaturated fatty acids in comparison with birds fed with mixtures containing only soybean extracted meal (the differences not statistically proved).

The aim of this study was to compare milk performance and age at first calving of Polish, Danish, and Dutch primiparous cows. The results of the studies have demonstrated that the heifers imported from Holland and Denmark achieved higher first 305-d lactation milk yield compared to the Polish cows. The differences were statistically significant (P ≤ 0.01 and P ≤ 0.05). First calvings of the imported cows occurred between 26th and 27th month of age. The homebred Black-and-White cows first calved at the oldest age and achieved the lowest milk yield for the first lactation.

The eggs of Japanese pharaoh quail were incubated in uniformed conditions subjecting them to a short 2 hours’ influence of a static magnetic field of 225 mT in supposed critical points of embryogenesis for this kind of birds, i.e. 3rd, 5th and 14th incubation day. The experiment was conducted twice with a control group, using eggs from two production stages of the parental flock – the peak and the end. It has been shown that the subjection of eggs in incubation period to a short influence of 225 mT high-induction static magnetic field caused small but observable changes in the hatchings. The magnetic “shock” applied in the 3rd stage of incubation caused a slight decrease in the mortality of embryos in relation to other sub-groups and a slight shortening of the eggs’ hatching period in both periods of the flock’s utility. A parallel impulse applied in the 5th stage of egg incubation caused an essential increase in the percentage of dead embryos in both groups, as also a hatching delay. This factor, acting in the 14th stage of incubation of eggs originating from the egg-laying peak, also worsened all analysed hatching indexes. A positive effect of the static magnetic field impulse was observed on the 14th day of hatching in the group of eggs from the final period of the quail flock’s reproductive utility.

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of age and breed of chinchillas on the litter size, number of weaned chinchillas per litter, length of whelping interval, and nursing mortality of young chinchillas. The analysis involved 2576 litters from 790 standard chinchilla females of two genetic groups, 585 Polish and 205 Danish females. The Polish chinchillas achieved slightly better reproduction performance, because the litter size as well as the number of weaned per litter and nursing mortality were higher than those of the Danish chinchillas. Almost all the analyzed parameters (apart from whelping interval) increased until five years of age, thereafter decreased, and again increased – reaching a good level in the older group of chinchillas. It seems also that longer management of the breeding stock than five years would be purposeful.

The experimental material comprised three groups of heifers obtained from 50–50 Black-and-White × Red Angus dams sired by three breeds of sires, Limousine, Red Angus, and Salers. Post-slaughter evaluation involved five heifers from each genotype group. The right-side half-carcasses were dissected for cuts.All the cuts were weighed and percentage composition of the carcass was established in relation to the cuts.Additionally, the five prime cuts were measured for weight and their percentage wight in the carcass was determined, as well as the area of the longissimus dorsi transect. The results of the dissection have shown that the weight of all the cuts and their percentage in the half-carcass, weight and percentage of five prime cuts in the carcass as well as the percentage composition of five prime cuts were very similar. Although the heifers obtained from the Limousine sires achieved slightly better results, the differences were non-significant.

Records of milk performance and conformation scores of 7814 primiparous cows, born in 1993–1996 were analyzed in order to estimate genetic and phenotypic correlations between 3 traits of milk production (milk yield, protein yield, fat yield) and 11 traits of conformation. The cows of Black andWhite (n = 2240) and Red andWhite (n = 4574) breeds were kept in 139 herds in the region of Śląsk Opolski. The analyses were done using DFREML and SAS computer packages and a linear model with an additive effect of animal. The estimated annual genetic trends for milk yield, fat yield and protein yield were 23.9 kg, 0.38 kg and 1.37 kg respectively. The highest genetic correlations (within breeds and regardless of breeds) were found between milk yield and: capacity, type and conformation and total score. Somewhat lower correlations were estimated between milk yield and: height at sacrum, chest circumference and udder. The lowest correlations were found between milk yield traits and linear traits of udder.

The purpose of the present study was to define the effect of the Cu-lysine chelate, added to the turkey diets on the results of slaughter analysis, the chemical composition and the fatty acids profile of their breast muscles and the liver.The experiment was carried out on 2 groups of heavy type (BIG-6) turkey males (100 birds each) during 16-week rearing.All the birds were fed ad libitum standard complete mixtures and had unlimited access to water. The turkeys of experimental group received in water a supplement of Cu (10 mg Cu×dm^–3H₂O) in the form of chelate with lysine.The results showed that the mineral-organic complex of Cu used in the experiment, resulted in an increase (by 6.4%, P ≤ 0.05) of the turkey body weight, but it did not have a significant effect on the results of the slaughter analysis of turkeys. The addition of Cu chelate with lysine decreased (by 11.83%, P ≤ 0.05) total protein content in the liver, but it did not influence on the chemical composition of breast muscles. In the livers of the birds supplemented with Cu an increase in the content of miristic and linoleic acids. In the breast muscles a decrease by saturated acids (miristic, palmitic and behenic) content and increase of oleic acid was observed. The changes effected a decrease in the total content of saturated fatty acids (by 12.33%) in the fat of breast muscles of the turkeys receiving a supplement of chelate Cu with lysine.

Examinations were performed on Polish White Improved of 16 kid goats clinically healthy. The aim of the study was to evaluate some selected hematological and biochemical changes in blood serum of kids in the period 60 to 150 days. The goats feed during whole year with the same diets. In addition, HGB 7.81 mmol·l^–1), and MCV (24.46 fl) were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.01) by elders of kids. The findings showed that concentrations of Ca, P, and K were significantly between groups. The level of calcium in period of fattening fell indeed, phosphorus and potassium this however the horizon of electrolytes in blood stayed in borders of physiological norms for healthy goat kids. The linseed cause significant in HDL and total cholesterol in blood serum. The content HDL (1.14 mmol·l^–1) statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) increase aged with 150 days the kids. Total cholesterol significant (P ≤ 0.05) lower by elders of kids.

The coefficients of heritability based on the milking features dates of 488 990 cows examined between 1975 and 1992 were estimated. The estimation was made in use with AM – Animal Model. Beside the typical effects, in this model an effect of the level of productivity of a herd and the effect of a region were taken into consideration. The level of the herd had a great impact on the values of the coefficients of heritability.

The coefficients of repeatability based on the milking features dates of 488 990 cows examined between 1975 and 1992 were estimated. The estimation was made in use with AM – Animal Model. Beside the typical effects, in this model an effect of the level of productivity of a herd and the effect of a region were taken into consideration. The level of the herd had a great impact on the values of the coefficients of repeatability.

The study was performed on 1194 Black-and-White cows with a high proportion of Holstein-Friesian genes, kept in three tie stalls and two free stalls. Taking into account ECM yield (kg) during the standard lactation period, the cows were divided into the following classes: 1) ≤5000, 2) 5001–7000, 3) 7001–9000, 4) > 9000. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of cow performance on fertility indices, as dependent on the housing system. Cows kept in the free-stall system produced on average 7161 kg ECM, i.e. by 248 kg more than those kept in the tie-stall system. A significant interaction was found between the housing system and productivity levels as for fertility-related parameters. In tie-stall housing an increase in milk yield was accompanied by worse fertility traits, whereas in free-stall housing there was no significant correlation between performance and fertility. Free-stall housing weakened the negative influence of high productivity on the reproductive functions of cows.

This study was carried out on 270 calves (199 heifers and 71 bulls) that were crosses of Black-and-White and Holstein-Friesian (HF) cattle, with the HF gene pool of 25.0–97.8%. At the age of 2 days blood samples were collected, and assayed for the concentrations of immunoglobulins, total protein, albumins, glucose, urea, total cholesterol and hemoglobin. The hematocrite number was also determined. Crossing with HF decreased the concentration of albumins, glucose and cholesterol, and increased the concentration of urea (P ≤ 0.01). Heritability coefficients, estimated using mother-calf regression were very low for immunoglobulins (0.056) and protein (0.006), and slightly higher for some metabolites (0.148 for albumins and 0.204 for cholesterol). The results indicate that in the genetic improvement of crosses with HF or purebred HF cattle aimed at increasing of calf vigor, the potential for colostrum intake should be a primary selection trait.

The aim of the studies was to trace the effect of birth season of Black-and-White calves with a high addition of HF genes (more than 50%) on their raising performance and health. The effect of birth season was found in relation to body weight, daily gains, and health of the calves. The highest incidence of ill calves was observed during autumn-winter, while the lowest in summer.