The objective of the experiment was evaluation of some physical traits of egg quality in hens originating from Polish egg-type pedigree farms and destined for small-scale farming as well as in a breed of preserved chickens. 30 eggs from each of the three genetic groups (parental P55 Barred Rock strain, VH43 parental cross of V44 Rhode Island Red and H33 Leghorn strains, and the preserved Z11 Partridge Greenleg strain) were taken to analysis. The layers were maintained in the same environmental conditions and were under the same feeding regime. Analyses of egg quality were accomplished in 26th and 50th weeks of age, with an electronic EQM device. Egg weight in VH43 cross in the beginning of laying was 61.5 g and it was significantly bigger than in P55 hens (50.2 g) and Z11 hens (42 g). No statistical differences between experimental groups were found in shell thickness, shell density. Egg shell colour in P55 hens differed significantly from that in the other groups. The highest Haugh unit score (99.9) and albumen height (9.7 mm) were noted in the eggs of P55 hens in 26th weeks of age. These parameters lowered with age in all experimental groups. The highest proportion of yolk was found in the eggs of Z11 (29.5%) in 50 weeks of age. Yolk percentage increased with age in all genetic groups. Yolk colour index (La Roche) diminished with age of layers.

The purpose of the paper was to assess the effect of administering a feed containing flax seeds on the fatty acid composition and cholesterol content in the meat of goat kids and ram lambs. The basic physicochemical properties of the meat were also determined. The analyses showed a significantly higher (p≤0.05) protein content in the goat kids (20.20 g) as compared with the ram lambs (19.50 g). The other chemical composition parameters were similar. The pH1 and pH2 results confirmed correct glycolytic metabolism. The obtained values were 6.39 and 6.27 for the goat kids and ram lambs, respectively. The pH2 value was 5.70 for both groups of animals. The analysed goat kid meat was characterised by better UFA:SFA and PUFA:MUFA ratios. The addition of flax seeds significantly differentiated the CLA (p≤0.01) and cholesterol (p≤0.05) content.

Analysis included 232 horses starting in the eventing competition of the highest class C in Poland in 2004–2008. In total, 711 starts were analysed allowing for horse breed, ancestor breed (sire and dam), and horse sex and age. The Polish noble half-bred horses had the largest frequency, achieving the best results in all tests, i.e. dressage, cross-country and show jumping. A specialisation trend in the eventing, particularly in cross-country test, was observed in case of half-bred Anglo-Arabian horses. The worst results obtained the Wielkopolski horses and those with the Wielkopolski horse ancestry. The best results were achieved by the offspring of Anglo-Arabian and the Małopolski stallions and noble half-bred mares.

In the paper the influence of daily milk yield in peak lactation, milk yield during 305 days after calving and number of cows’ calving on frequency of lactations longer than 305-day standard were analyzed. It was also estimated the influence of extended lactation on milk yield and milk composition. The research were carried out in a herd including 220 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows of Black-And-White variety. The animals were housed in a loose barn and were fed a balanced TMR. The research included 384 lactations, which were longer at least 1 day than 305-day standard, and were selected out from 488 complete lactations. It was found that frequency of extended lactations was 78.7%, and moreover the most frequently (25.0%) the period of extension lasted up to 30 days. During extension period milk production was higher by 2.5–43.0% in compare to milk yield in standard lactation. Lactation extending was slightly connected with milk yield per 1 day of complete lactation. Values of this trait were highest in the case of lactation extended maximally by 60 days.

Eggs from game pheasants receiving a diet containing 19.0% crude protein and 11.7 MJ ME (control) or 15.0% crude protein and 12.6 MJ ME were studied. Analysis was made of 60 eggs (30 eggs from each group) collected during the 5th week of egg production. Eggs were examined within 24 h of collection. Pheasants receiving the experimental diet laid eggs with lower (P≤0.05) weight (26.3 g), length (42.1 mm) and width (33.5 mm) compared to the eggs from pheasants fed the control diet (30.8 g, 43.8 mm and 35.6 mm, respectively). The eggs from pheasants receiving the experimental feed had shells that were significantly (P≤0.05) lighter (2.5 g), thinner (0.280 mm), weaker (shell deformation 31.3 µm) and smaller in area (42.1 cm²). The eggs had the same percentages of albumen (52.9%) and similar percentages of yolk (37.4 : 37.6%) in both groups, with albumen and yolk weight being significantly lower in eggs from pheasants receiving the experimental diet. The change in diet composition increased the pH (P≤0.05) of fresh egg contents.

The aim of this study was to estimate the relations between the CRH-A145G polymorphism and milk production traits (yields of milk, protein, and fat, as well as protein and fat content) in 176 Jersey cows. The genotype and allele frequencies were estimated and they were as follows: AG – 0.31; GG – 0.69; A – 0.16; G – 0.84. Statistical analysis revealed that studied polymorphism significantly affected the fat yield, fat content (P≤0.05) and protein content in milk (P≤0.05). The results indicate that selection for the CRH-A145G AG animals might contribute to increase the value of these traits in Jersey cattle. However, further studies are necessary to verify the results of our study.

Oxidative metabolism is essential for the gamete and the embryo energy production and is unavoidably associated with generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Enzymatic antioxidant defenses are present in the mammalian oocytes, embryos and follicular fluid (FF). An addition of porcine FF to maturation media have positive effects on the IVM and IVF results. The aim of this study was to study the CAT, SOD and GSH-Px activity, as well as Cu, Mn, and Zn concentration in porcine FF collected from the left and the right ovary. The ovaries were collected from 77 gilts at age 8 months. All the analyzed samples of FF revealed active enzymes (24.2·10^–3 U · l^–1, 2.65·10^–3 U · l^–1, and 525 U · l^–1 for CAT, GSH-Px, and SOD, respectively) and contained Zn, Cu and Mn (13.8·10³ mol · l^–1, 33.3·10³ mol · l^–1, and 133·10^–9 mol · l^–1, respectively). In the pFF collected from the left ovary, SOD and GSH-Px activity was higher compared to pFF from the right ovary. On the contrary, the concentration of Cu and Mn was significantly lower in the left ovary pFF. The concentration of Cu ions was negatively correlated with SOD activity. The CAT activity in pFF form left or right ovary did not show any differences.

We observed 75 Aberdeen Angus calves born in the years 2004–2007 and managed on pastures and wild areas of Karsibór, an island located in the northern part of the Szczecin Lagoon. An analysis was carried out on the results of maternal nursing of the calves in relation to subsequent calving, sex of the calf, and year of rearing. A significant (P≤0.01, P≤0.05) effect of subsequent calving on body weight of the calves being born was observed. The calves from the first calvings had significantly lower body weight at birth as compared to those born from the subsequent calving. On the other hand, there were no significant effects of the subsequent calving on body weight and daily weight gain of calves after weaning, even though the calves from the first calving were characterized by poorer performance in this respect. Significant differences between the data on calf nursing performance recorded in each individual year of the study result from the fact that the animals grazed on poorer quality pastures and unused land.