The aim of the study was to determine the effect of degree of dirtiness of 64 cows on milk somatic cell count. Of the cows’ body parts evaluated, the lowest dirtiness scores were characteristic of underbelly (1.2 pts.) followed by udder (1.76 pts.). Most cows were slightly dirty (40.4%) or clean (38.6%), with 14.8% of dirty animals and only 6.3% of very dirty animals. Udder was clean in 46.7%, slightly dirty in 35%, and dirty or very dirty in 18.3% of the cows. Milk somatic cell count increased with the degree of dirtiness respective parties of the cows’ body.

The aim of the study was evaluation of productivity Holstein-Fresian cows imported from Sweden and Germany. The course of parturitions in the studied animals was also evaluated depending on sex and body weight of calf at birth. The investigations were carried out on a farm located in the Zachodniopomorskie Province. Cows imported from Sweden characterized by higher milk yield in the first 305-d lactation compared with their age mates from Germany. The differences were statistically significant at P ≤ 0.01. Animals from Germany were superior to the cows from Sweden with regard to fat yield, fat content and protein content. The differences were statistically significant at P ≤ 0.05. Cows imported from Germany characterized by favourable fertility parameters compared with their Swedish age mates.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of colour variety and age on some reproductive performance parameters in mink. We analysed litter sizes, live-born rate and weaned per litter, mortality during maternal nursing, gestation length, and diapause duration. The colour variety and age significantly affected all the discussed reproduction parameters of mink. Liter size, live-born rate, and weaned number pr litter were higher in females in the first year of breeding, as compared to those at the second and third years. Mortality during maternal nursing was lowest in the first year in all the studied varieties. Both diapause and total gestation length were shorter in the second year of breeding compared to the first year. The Black Standard variety was characterised by the best reproduction parameters. On the other hand, Black Standard Short NAP had the shortest diapause and gestation periods.

The study involved 20 carcasses of ram lambs of the Pomeranian coarse-haired sheep from two lambing seasons (early spring and spring-summer) raised to the mean body weight of 24 kg. The carcasses of lambs for the study were bought from the organic farm located in the land near the lagoon in the West Pomeranian Province. The feeding and management of animals had an extensive character. To obtain predetermined body weight, lambs from early spring lambings (group I) needed 140 days and “spring-summer” ones (group II) needed 110 days. The lambing season did not affect the weight and the percentage in carcass of the evaluated cuts. The weight of plucks and their percentage in the body weight were greater in the lambs from group I. The meat of these animals had lighter colour, was characterized by higher pH₂₄, lower thermal drip and lower content of free water. The shoulder of lambs from group II had less fat and best. The lambing season did not affect significantly the sensory value of cooked meat and broth.

The experiment was carried out on 60 bulls: 30 Black-and-White Polish Holstein-Friesian (PHF) and 30 hybrids with Limousine (PHFxLM). The effect of reducing the energy value of a diet to 80% maintenance requirement during the final 60 days on vitamin B₁₂ level was investigated. The modified diet had no significant effect on cobalamine content in PHFxLM blood plasma. The level of B₁₂ in PHF blood decreased significantly after a week of changing the diet but no significant effect at the end of the experiment occurred.

Forty three varieties of maize grain were evaluated: 7 early (FAO 200-210), 26 middle early (FAO 220-240) and 10 middle late varieties (FAO 245-280), cultivated at the same soil and agronomic conditions. Corn was made in 169 day growing season, at full maturity of grain. Compared results of the chemical composition of maize grain standard laboratory methods (reference methods) with the results obtained by spectroscopic analysis (NIRS). The significance of differences between the levels of individual components in the samples depending on the method of testing (laboratory and NIRS) and varieties of grain were tested using two-way analysis of variance. There has been a high correlation between the values of crude protein and crude fat studied by various methods. Calculated nitrogen-free extract the contents of the compounds also showed a high correlation between those used methods of estimation. The relationship between the levels of crude fiber, and analyzed spectrophotometrically standard was highly significantly negative. It was found that there is a possibility of using reflectance spectroscopy in the NIR (NIRS) for rapid determination of crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber and also calculated nitrogen-free extract in maize grain. Low values of correlation coefficients confirms the large differences in dry matter and crude ash estimated by laboratory methods and NIRS. Potential use of NIRS technology for these components would be possible after the determination of equations taking into account the amendment.

Data on 369 060 test-day yields of 22 997 Polish Black-and-White Holstein-Friesian cows were used to analyse the effect of lactation month, daily milk yield, herd size and season of the year on the proportion of milk samples with specific protein and urea content. The cows were milk recorded in the Pomerania and Kujavia regions, first calved in 2000 and 2001 and were used until 2008. Statistical calculations were made using the FREQ procedure of SAS. All of the factors analysed had a significant effect on the proportion of milk samples with specific protein and urea content. Too small a proportion of milk samples indicating the balancing of energy and protein in the rations, especially with regard to cows at 2 months of lactation (6.6%), during winter (12.7%) and in herds with up to 50 cows (about 14%), as well as the fact that almost 85% of the samples from the second month of lactation show different degrees of energy deficit in the ration leads us to recognize the need for more frequent use of milk recording results to adjust the rations.

This paper presents changes in the values of selected metric traits of domestic cat (Felis s. catus) taking place in three successive life stages: juvenile, subadult and adult. Study material consisted of 70 European domestic cat skulls being part of the museum collection of the Department of Animal Anatomy in Szczecin. The affiliation of respective skulls to age groups mentioned above was determined based on the degree of diaphyseal-epiphyseal fusion in shoulder and/or pelvic girdle long bones and comparison of these data with dental status. In total, 37 measurements were made on each skull. The carried out measurements showed large variation resulting from the rebuilding of particular skull segments as well as a change in proportions resulting from relations between the traits characterising their breadth and length. It was found that as many as 22 traits out of 37 ones examined showed significant changes (P ≤ 0.05 and P ≤ 0.01) with age.

Abstract: The study aimed at analysing the exploitation of farm and wild-living animals as in the consumption of early mediaeval human communities in Western Pomerania based on osteological materials from archaeological sites. In total, 444 113 domestic mammal bones, 5 923 wild mammal bones as well as13 659 bird bones, 11 726 fish bones and single reptile and mollusc remains were identified. Among the bones of domestic mammal species, those from slaughter livestock (cattle, pig and sheep/goat) definitely prevail. Horse, dog and cat remains, treated as non-consumption ones, constitute about 2%, with horse ones clearly prevailing in this group, constituting about 1% of the bone material of domestic animals. In all analysed sites, pig bones are represented most abundantly. They constitute almost 68% and are thrice as numerous as cattle bones and over six times more abundant than sheep/goat ones. In this respect, bone materials from Wolin and Mścięcino with pig bones reaching even 71–72% deserve particular attention as this is an exceptional and unparalleled situation in early mediaeval bone assemblages from other archaeological sites in the area of the southern Baltic coast. Cattle bones constitute more than 22%, while those of small ruminants slightly more than 10%, belonging mostly to sheep. Bone remains of wild-living mammals, constituting slightly more than 1% of the mammal material, are represented by 17 species. They were divided into two sub-groups, with the first one comprising such game species like wild boar, red deer, roe deer, aurochs, elk and hare (more than 92%) which, apart from skins, furs and bones, yield meat as well. Red deer remains clearly prevail among them (more than 67%) but there are many antler fragments with cut and antler-working marks, this referring to a certain degree to roe deer ones, too. Wild boar bones (16.8%) as well as roe deer and hare ones (12.8% in total) constitute a considerable percentage, while those of aurochs and elk (about 3.1%) are the fewest. The second sub-group includes animal species which were above all hunted for their skins and furs, i.e. bear, wolf, fox, wildcat, marten, otter, seal, badger, beaver and squirrel. Their remains constitute more than 6.8% of the total number of these bones. A separate category within this group is few rat bones found solely in assemblages from large urban complexes (Wolin and Szczecin).

Abrstract. The aim of the study was to analyse the influence of a breed/crossbreed of young boars, at the age from starting the exploitation till the end of their first year of life on selected biological features of their semen and on the number of doses which can be made from one ejaculate. An attempt has been made to determine the influence of age on features of semen in Polish Large White (PLW) breed and crossbreed boars – Hampshire x Duroc (Hamp x Dur). The material under investigation consisted of the total of 7 719 ejaculates taken from boars belonging to Polish Landrace (PL) breed, PLW breed and from crossbreed boars Hamp x Dur, used at the insemination station in Kraśnik. The investigated boars were divided into two groups, depending on their age: the first group comprised boars at the age from starting the exploitation till the end of their first year of life, and the second group consisted of boars at the second year of life. Ejaculates were compared with respect to their volume, concentration of spermatozoa, percent of progressive motility spermatozoa and the number of insemination doses obtained from one ejaculate. The results of the study have shown that the parameters of ejaculates of young boars of the investigated breeds varied considerably. Young boars belonging to PL breed were characterized by the largest volume of ejaculate and the largest percent of progressive motility spermatozoa; also the largest number of insemination doses which could be made from one ejaculate in the case of these boars. Crossbreed boars Hamp x Dur were characterized by the highest concentration of spermatozoa (422.76 thousand per mm³). Age of young boars belonging to PLW breed had a significant impact on all the analysed features; in the case of crossbreed boars Hamp x Dur no distinct changes in ejaculates taken from boars which were up to up to 24 months old were observed only in the concentration of spermatozoa. High breeding potential, which manifested itself in the number of insemination doses (above 20), was also observed in the case of boars belonging to PLW breed and crossbreed boars Hamp x Dur at the second year of life.