The work was undertaken to evaluate an influence of the physiological status of (lactating and dried-off) cows and growing conditions (farm) on the variability of selected macroelements in cow blood serum. The evaluation was done using random models (models of variance components) as well as the classical variability coefficient. It has been found that the cow physiological condition influences the concentration and variability of examined elements. Sampling dates to a greater extent modified the content of investigated macroelements compared to the farms. There has also been found a significant share of an interaction of these factors and random effects (the experimental error) in the variability of examined elements.

In this study, the nucleotide sequence of coding region of alpha A-globin gene of domestic pigeon (Columba livia) and Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) was compared. Three homing pigeons (with good racing performance), three non-homing pigeons (King, Strasser and Fantail) and one Eurasian Collared-Dove were included in this study. Total RNA was isolated from whole blood samples. The coding region of alpha A-globin gene was amplified using RT-PCR method. PCR products were sequenced and compared using BLAST^®2. No differences in nucleotide sequences between homing and non-homing pigeons were observed. Some nucleotide substitutions (in eleven positions) between Domestic Pigeon and Eurasian Collared-Dove were observed, which is quite surprising when filogenetically close species are considered.

A total of 48 crossbred pigs [♀(♀ Polish Landrace x ♂ Polish Large White) x ♂ (♀Pietrain x ♂ Duroc)] were used in the study. The pigs were divided into 4 experimental groups and placed in pens (size 4.2 m x 3.6 m) according to the following scheme: group I – kept with straw-bedding, fed concentrate diet and additionally given green Lucerne; group II – kept with straw-bedding, fed concentrate diet; group III – kept with straw-bedding, fed concentrate diet and additionally given green Lucerne; group IV – kept with straw-bedding, fed concentrate diet. The analysis of behavior of experimental pigs was performed twice during the course of experimental fattening, i.e. in the body weight ca 60 kg and ca 100 kg. The observations were performed daily in three two-hour sessions at 9.00–11.00, 12.00–14.00, 15.00–17.00. The recording of pig behavior was carried out by the means of supervision cameras and video recorders during the same day for each group separately. The housing system of pigs had an influence on their behavior. In the I phase of fattening the most active were the pigs kept without straw-bedding, they also ate concentrate diet more frequently in comparison with those kept on straw-bedding. In the II phase of fattening the animal of all experimental groups spent more time resting. The pigs kept without straw-bedding and fed only with concentrate diet were resting for the longest time. The share of other whole observation period was similar in all the experimental groups

The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of ejaculates of purebred boars born in different seasons of the year. The material for the studies consisted of 49,734 ejaculates sam- pled from 363 boars of 6 breeds (Polish Landrace (PL), Polish Large White (PLW), Duroc, Hampshire, Pietrain Line 990) used in the years 1994–2006 in the Małopolskie Centre of Biotechnology, the Boars Exploitation Station in Czermin. The ejaculates were evaluated on the basis of: volume, percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa, the concentration of spermatozoa, percentage of spermatozoa with major, percentage of spermatozoa with minor, total number of progressively motile spermatozoa, number of insemination doses obtained from a single ejaculate. It was concluded in the studies that the quality of the ejaculate of boars of the breeds evaluated was diverse in all birth seasons. The results indicate that the birth season of a boar may be an effective factor of organising the breeding use. A high reproductive potential expressed by the number of insemination doses is presented by the Polish Landrace breed boars born in autumn and winter, the Polish Large White boars from spring and summer births, the Duroc boars born in summer, the Hampshire boars born in spring and autumn, Line 990 boars born in winter, and the Pietrain boars from every birth season.

The investigations were carried out in 2006 and 2007 in a mink farm in West Pomerania. In the 1st year 1225 standard mink and 2110 wild mink were included. The results showed that embryo implantations occurred in the time from March 19 to April 29. In 2006 was the implantation time in both colors almost the same (March 20 to April 20 in standard mink and March 20 to April 19 in the wild mink). A comparison of implantation time of embryos within the wild mink in both years 2006 and 2007 showed that this time in 2007 was clearly longer than in previous year (March 19 to April 29). In 2006 the pregnancy duration in wild females mated earlier was significantly longer. About 90 percent of wild mink mated between March 8 and 15 showed a pregnancy duration 48 to 61 days, whereas in mink mated between March 26–27 94 percent of pregnancies lasted only 34–47 days; similarly was the pregnancy duration in 2007. Clearly shorter gestation length was noted in females mated after March 10, since in about 90 percent of cases the shorter pregnancy duration (34–47 days) was observed in mink mated between March 23–24. A significantly (p < 0.05) negative correlation was found between the date of first mating and pregnancy duration in both colors (r = –0.562 to –0.676).