The purposes of this study were to describe the clinical signs observed in PRRS positive herds during a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) outbreak in Ontario and to determine associations between these clinical signs and herd demographics and PRRS control strategies. All PRRS polymerase chain reaction-(PCR)-positive submissions to a diagnostic laboratory between September 1, 2004 and August 31, 2007 were identified (n = 1864). After meeting eligibility requirements and agreeing to voluntary study participation, producers from 455 of these submissions were surveyed for information on clinical signs observed in their herds, herd demographics, and PRRS control strategies used in their herds at the time that the PCR-positive samples were taken. Larger herd size was associated with an increased risk of reporting abortion, weakborn piglets, off-feed sows, and sow mortality in sow herds, and with an increased risk of reporting mortality in finishing herds. When disease control strategies were examined, use of a commercial PRRS vaccine in sows and gilts was associated with a decreased risk of reporting weakborn pigs and high pre-weaning mortality, while the use of serum inoculation in breeding animals was associated with an increased risk of reporting off-feed sows and sow mortality. Providing biofeedback of stillborn/mummified piglets, placenta or feces to gilts was associated with an increased risk of reporting respiratory disease and mortality in finishing pigs while all-in/all-out flow in farrowing rooms was associated with an increased risk of reporting sow mortality and weakborn piglets.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was realized the evaluation of genetic inheritance indexes of producing bulls at a cattle breeding enterprise in Belarus depending on a selection source (in accordance with an average productivity of female ancestors) in order to use them properly for the increasing of genetic potential of black-and-white Belarusian cows in Gomel region. The carried out analysis allowed to draw a conclusion, that bulls of national breeding lines according to the indexes of cow milk yields concede foreign bulls, i.e. delivered of Sweden on 2744 kg of milk or on 27,5% and from Russia and Hungary - on 1272-2906 kg of milk or 12,7-29,1% (Р less than 0,001). In accordance with butter-fat yielding capacity of bull mothers obtained at breeding farms of Belarus and in accordance with groups delivered from the other countries there were stated no essential distinctions (0,05). Butter-fat yielding capacity percentage of bull mothers varied within 3,99-4,10%. However, the yield of dairy fat per lactation the difference was in favour of bull mothers delivered from Sweden (114 kg or 27,9%) at P less than 0,001. Distinctions on milk producing ability of bull mothers from various cattle breeding enterprises of Belarus were revealed. It was established, that at mothers of bulls delivered from Hungary the variability of milk yield was the highest (3032 kg or 23%). Low variability indexes of milk yield and butter-fat yielding capacity percentage was typical for bull mothers of the Belarusian selection. The standard deviation at them made 872 kg of milk yield with 9% variability coefficient, and 0,03% - for butter-fat yield and 7% respectively. Variability on all indicators of dairy efficiency of bull mothers from various cattle breeding enterprises of Belarus in most of the cases was low - from 2,3 to 13%.

In the conditions of the Republic of Belarus there was realized a complex evaluation of producer bulls of different genotypes of origin for the further correction and breeding in different categories of agricultural enterprises. In course of the study there was conducted a preliminary (without quality evaluation of daughters) estimation of bulls which gave a precise performance of each bull, made it possible to correct its type and direction of breeding. Research made it possible to considerably increase the genetic trend in accordance with indexes of milk productivity which would make it possible to form a regional type of black-and-white cattle with the given indexes of productivity and reproduction. In course of the study there were analyzed the following breeds: black-and-white, Holstein, Hungarian breeding, Swedish breeding. Comparative evaluation of reproductive qualities of bulls in accordance with age-specific and breed types was presented. Body conformations of bulls of Holsten and Black-and-white of different ae-specific groups were stated. Results of complex evaluation of full-grown, under 5 year-old and replacement producing bulls of Holstein and Black-and-white breeds were presented.