Triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) is a promising cereal crop that has a number of economically valuable properties that are absent in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The research was conducted at Uman National University of Horticulture (Ukraine) in a long-term stationary experiment, founded in 1964. The aim of the work was to study the influence of long-term application of different fertilizer systems (mineral, organic and organo-mineral) on the yield and grain quality of spring triticale. It has been established that in the conditions of high air temperature and soil moisture deficit, mineral and organo-mineral fertilizer systems have an advantage. In sufficient wet conditions, all studied fertilizer systems are highly efficient. Spring triticale (Kharkiv Hlibodar variety) has a high reaction to fertilizers, as grain yield increases from 6.3–6.6 to 9.0–9.5 t haE−1 (р≤0.05). Mineral and organo-mineral fertilizer systems have the greatest effect on protein content. In conditions of sufficient moisture, all levels of mineral and organo-mineral fertilizer systems significantly increase the protein content in spring triticale grain. In arid conditions, saturation of crop rotation area with N90P90K90 (M2), N135P135K135 (M3) and Manure 9 t +N46P68K36 (OM2), Manure 13.5 t + N69P102K54 (OM3) is preferred. It should be noted that spring triticale is quite reactive with fertilizers, as the protein content increases from 13.2–14.0 to 15.2–16.0% (р≤0.05) depending on the fertilizer system. The high influence of fertilizer system and year factors on yield and protein content in triticale grain has been established. It should be noted that spring triticale grain yield varies most from the weather conditions of the growing season.

In Latvia, different breeds of beef cattle are grown; therefore, it is important to explain their suitability to organic farming systems, because most Latvian beef cattle breeders work with organic farming methods. The aim of this research was to compare fattening of different beef breed bulls (Bos Taurus) in organic farming system at similar housing and feeding conditions. In the research, there were included Blonde d’Aquitaine (BA), Hereford (HE), Simmental (SI) and crossbred (CB) bulls. Fattening period started after calf weaning from suckler cows at 7 – 8 months of age. Fattening results were significantly affected by factors like breed, live weight and age before fattening, but slaughter results were significantly affected by breed, live weight and age before slaughter. During the fattening period the biggest daily weight gain was showed for SI breed bulls (849 g), but the biggest live weight increase was recognized for BA breed bulls (295 kg). The required slaughter weight the fastest was reached for XG bulls, which average slaughter age was 532 days (p is less than 0.05). The greatest slaughter weight – 342 kg (p is less than 0.05) and dressing percentage (58% (p is less than 0.05)) was recognized for BA breed bulls; also, carcass conformation score in muscle development was the highest for BA bulls (2.0 points (p is less than 0.05)). The greatest economic benefit was from CB bulls, income calculated per one rearing day from CB bulls was - EUR 1.80.

The objective of the study was to detect the difference of the conformation scores between dams and daughters in Latvian Warmblood horse breed. For this purpose the correlations and regression coefficient between conformation traits of broodmares and the same traits of their daughters were estimated. Data of Latvian Warmblood horse breed broodmares were analyzed. The horse breeding organisations’ evaluating data from 1995 till 2015 were analyzed. The data included conformation valuation of Latvian Warmblood horse breed dams (n = 423) and their daughters (n = 596) of different ages. An average in ten-point scale in the group of dams was 7.71 ± 0.04 for top line scoring, 7.33 ± 0.05 for forelimbs and 7.35 ± 0.05 points for hind limbs. An average of valuation points of their daughters was 7.51 ± 0.03 for top line scoring, 7.21 ± 0.04 for forelimbs and 7.21 ± 0.04 for hind limbs. A significant difference between valuations of dams and their daughters (p0.05) was found for all three conformation traits. Positive and low correlation was calculated between groups of dams and daughters for all three conformation traits. The results show that the relationship between conformation traits of dams and daughters was weak. Further studies are needed in order to estimate influence of broodmare quality to daughters, analyzing the latest data of progeny.

The article analyses the data obtained while evaluating red deer calves on the red deer breeding farm ‘Dumpji’ during the herd’s annual prophylactic check-up in December and April of the years 2013 and 2014. Farm is a private enterprise owned by a company located in Northern Latvia. The study comprises data for calves born in 2013 (n = 36) that were born from the same hinds, but from different stags in consecutive years. It was discovered that the calves’ liveweight gain in 24 hours significantly decreases during wintering period. After the wintering smaller body mass was observed in calves of both sexes born in 2014; however, the body mass of bull calves born in both years of reference considerably exceeded that of the hind calves. In the group of hind calves born in both years of the study period the liveweight loss was observed during the wintering. Nevertheless, at the age of 1.5 years the lowest liveweight among hind calves was 82.4 kg (year 2013), and the highest 129.6 kg (year 2014). In the group of spikers, during the winter period liveweight loss was not observed. Analysis of the results revealed a close positive correlation between the liveweight in December and the liveweight in the spring among spikers and heifers alike. The conducted analysis of influencing factors attests to the fact that the liveweight at the age of six months has material impact on the animals’ liveweight both in the spring and at the age of 1.5 years.

Kvass is an aromatic soft drink which in a form of powder could be used in dairy or bakery products, or sugar confectionary to expand the diversity of flavours. Spray drying is one of the techniques used for producing powders; however, liquids with high sugar content become sticky during drying process and need additional drying aids to increase glass transition temperature and improve powder stability. The aim of this research was to evaluate the characteristics of dry naturally fermented kvass. Maltodextrin was used in 50, 40 and 25% quantity to kvass dry matter in order to aid the spray drying of naturally fermented non-pasteurised, non-filtered bread kvass. Spray drying of 8 l naturally fermented kvass returned approximately 500 g dry naturally fermented kvass powder with a light brown colour, a pronounced aroma of rye bread and moisture content of 7 ± 0.1%. Microstructure analysis of the spray dried naturally fermented kvass showed irregularly spherical shaped particles, having many shrinkages, breakages and dents on the surface in general. Total viable microorganism count in dry naturally fermented kvass powder was within the recommended levels, traces of lactic acid bacteria were found in all samples. The presence of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens was established in dry naturally fermented kvass powders, with possible contamination from spray dryer.

This study was designed with the aim to determine the impact of residual antibiotics on haematological and biochemical constituents of broiler chickens’ blood. For this, one-day-old chickens were randomly divided into four equal groups with 10 individuals in each group (n = 40). All groups of chickens fed with commercial basal diet; the first group considered as control, fed only with basal ration; the feed of the second, third and fourth groups of chicken were supplemented with amoxystin, tetracycline and chloramphenicol, respectively. Antibiotics were given daily, individually, in sub-therapeutic concentrations: amoxystin at the dosage 10 mg kgE-1, tetracycline and chloramphenicol – 20 mg kgE-1 of the chicken’s weight for 41 days. The blood parameters were measured at the end of experiment on the 42nd day. In comparison with the control group, decreasing of leukocytes was observed in the 2nd and 4th groups, and increasing in the 3rd group of broilers. The concentration of erythrocytes and hemoglobin was reduced in the 2nd group and hematocrit was higher in the 3rd and 4th groups (p is less than or equal 0.01). The total protein was decreased by 22% in the 2nd group, 16% – in the 3rd and 4th groups as compared to the control group (p is less than or equal 0.01) in blood serum. The concentration of glucose was decreased by 45.8, 46.5 and 51.5% in the second, third and fourth groups of treated birds, respectively, compared to those of birds in the control group (p is less than or equal 0.01). Based on the results it could be concluded that antibiotics influence the dynamics of haematopoiesis and biochemical indices of broilers.

Actual and reliable meteorological data are necessary for building performance analysis. Since meteorological conditions vary significantly from year to year, there is a need to create a test reference year (TRY), to represent the long-term weather conditions over a year. In this paper TRY data model was generated by analysing every 3-hour weather data for a 30-year period (1984 – 2013) in Liepāja, Latvia, provided by the Latvian Environment Geology and Meteorology Centre (LEGMC). TRY model was generated according to standard LVS EN ISO 15927-4. The generated TRY contains from typical months that are included in TRY from a number of different years. The data gathered from TRY was compared with the climate data from the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers regulation No. 379, Regulations Regarding Latvian Building Code LBN 003-15. Average monthly temperature values in LBN 003-15 were lower than the TRY values that indicate on climate changes in this location. The results of this study may be used in building energy simulations and heating-cooling load calculations for selected region. TRY selection process should include the latest meteorological observations and should be periodically renewed to reflect the long-term climate change.

This article deals with the use of the service learning method in the study courses of landscape architecture bachelor studies outcomes from a student’s perspective. This kind of research is unique with combining service learning method research and involvement of student’s perspective. The service learning method, which includes both theoretical studies and practical work in the planning of actual territories and communication with the customer, is important for the development of professional competences in the field of landscape architecture. The aim of the research was to state the benefits of students’ professional growth from using this method in the study process. The article summarises the evaluation of the experience of Latvia University of Agriculture landscape architecture studies in cooperation with 3 non-governmental organisations, 8 municipalities and governmental organisations and 4 associations from 2013 to 2016. The research was based on the students’ survey. The students had to answer close-ended questions about the knowledge they had acquired from the projects of different scales. As a result of the survey, it was concluded that the students’ main benefits of professional knowledge are mainly associated with a better understanding of specific features of particular places, which is not always possible within the framework of theoretical studies. The possibility of presenting projects to a real customer, thus improving one’s presentation skills was also positively evaluated.

Groundwater is the main drinking water source in Latvia, and Quaternary groundwater is widely used in households due to shallow occurrence. The identification of vulnerable areas is important for better water management and protection of deeper, more intensively used aquifers. The existing groundwater vulnerability map of Latvia does not take into account land use which can be an important factor affecting natural groundwater quality. Multivariate statistical methods - principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) - were applied to identify groundwater groups with distinct water quality in Quaternary sediments in Latvia. On the basis of major ion concentrations and nitrogen compounds four distinct groundwater groups were identified. First group represents natural and most common calcium- magnesium bicarbonate water type in Latvia with low nitrate and ammonium concentrations. Samples from second and third group both reflect anthropogenic influence: diffuse agricultural contamination mostly with nitrates and/or contamination derived from artificial surfaces. Fourth group belongs to calcium bicarbonate water type and is characterised as a very young groundwater formed in sandy deposits. The results show that the highest concentrations of nitrogen compounds can be found in areas with agricultural land use or in artificial surfaces which are often classified as medium low or low vulnerability areas (mostly samples from group two and three). Meanwhile the lowest values of nitrogen compounds are present in areas where dominant land covers are forests and semi-natural areas or wetlands, and groundwater vulnerability classes are medium to high (samples from the first and fourth group).

Results of various studies show that the most prevailing risk factors on workers of agricultural sector are noise and vibration. These hazards are especially important in transportation and most field works. Results from previous studies show that vibro-acoustic environment in tractors operated in Lithuania usually cannot be attributed as acceptable, but technical solutions implemented by manufacturers had definitely positive influence on working conditions. Noise level reduced from 90 dB(A) (tractors of 1980 – 1990 years of manufacture) to 73 dB(A) (tractors manufactured from year 2000). As renewal of tractors is not sufficient, there is still a large number of old machinery i.e. noise levels might be as high as 92 dB(A) which allows to work safely only one hour per day without personal protection. It was found that values of whole body vibration (WBV) during ploughing operation might be as high as 1.5 m∙sE-2 which excess the vibration limit value of 1.15 m•sE-2, while hand-arm vibration (HAV) did not exceed the vibration action value of 2.5 m•sE-2. Significant effect of tyre pressure was noticed on vibration values measured on driver’s seat. Vibration acceleration values may be reduced to safe 0.5 m•s-2 by selecting appropriate tyre pressure.