The aim of the study was to find out the differences of blood biochemical and morphological parameters in cows with and without retained foetal membranes. Sixty cows of different age of Latvian blackand- white breed from two Joint Stock Companies were used in the research that was divided into two groups: control group of 15 cows, and 45 cows with retained foetal membranes. Research was done from September 2007 to January 2009. In haematological parameters on the second day postpartum, control group cows had increased leukocyte count on the account of mature neutrophils, but in the group of cows with retained foetal membranes leukocytes were within the range of normal values. The difference of the above mentioned parameters between both of the groups was significant (p is less than 0.05). At the same time, in cows of both investigated groups the number of band neutrophils was slightly increased (p is greater than 0.05). Haematological analyses showed leukocytes shift to the left and lymphopenia with a tendency to get normal within six weeks postpartum in both cow groups. On the third week postpartum, in cows with retained foetal membranes the band neutrophil count increased significantly (p is less than 0.05) indicating that the inflammation process has flared up. Blood for biochemical examination was sampled from cows within 48 hours postpartum in order to evaluate the functional condition of liver in milking cows. A significantly higher (p is less than 0.05) total and direct reacting bilirubin was observed in cows with retained foetal membranes, although it was within the range of normal values.

Reduced fertility associated with fluid accumulation has been recognized for many years in broodmares. Fluid present in the uterus after ovulation is often associated with mare susceptibility to endometritis. Objective of this study was to determine amount of intrauterine fluid secretion and endometrial oedema in mares at the time of artificial insemination (AI), 6 h, 25 h, and 48 h after AI and at the time of ovulation. A total of 22 cycling light breed mares from MTT Agrifood Research, Ypaja, Finland, were used in the study. Relaxation of the cervix, the number and size of follicles, corpus luteum, and the degree of endometrial oedema were examined by transrectal palpation and ultrasonography every other day. According to the closing and opening time of the cervix which was regulated using Bivona catheter, mares were distributed into 3groups. Group A (n=7): immediately after artificial insemination (AI) the catheter was inserted into the uterus. After 25 h, the catheter was opened and the fluid drained. Group B (n=8): immediately after AI, Bivona catheter was inserted into the uterus. After 6 h and 25 h the catheter was opened and the fluid drained. Group C (n=7)-control group: no catheter was inserted into the uterus. According to our investigation, we concluded that the amount of intrauterine fluid accumulation (IUFA) in mares increased within 25 h after AI. Mares with delayed uterine clearance had a significantly larger amount of intrauterine fluid than mares with normal uterine clearance. Open cervix during oestrus period is important for adequate clearance of intrauterine fluid in mares. Opening of intrauterine catheter at 6 h post AI didn’t diminish intrauterine fluid accumulation at 25 h post AI.

There are several unique features in the anatomy of the stomach in African ostrich in comparison with other birds. The goal of this study was to determine changes in the main morphometric parameters and histological features of gastric mucosa in ostrich chickens from the 38th day of embryonal development until 60 days of age. For the study, 6 embryos (38th day of development) and 36 chicks (1, 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days post hatching; 6 chicks per time point) of both sexes were obtained from African ostrich farm in Latvia during May - October, 2009. Tissue samples were investigated in Preclinical Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The total area of proventricular mucosa (cm2) and surface area of deep glands (cm2) was measured. Tissue sections for histological assessment were stained with: hematoxylin and eosin and alcian-blue pH 2.5 - periodic acid – Schiff reaction. Thickness of proventricular and ventricular mucosa, depth of proventricular superficial glands as well as surface area of parenchyma occupied by deep glands were measured in histologic sections. As the chick age increased, there were changes in the ratio of areas occupied by proventricular superficial and deep glands with relative decrease in area occupied by deep glands. Proventricular deep glands developed rapidly after hatching; at the age of 30 days deep glands histologically resembled glandular structure of adult birds. Gastric mucosal epithelial cells of 38 days old ostrich embryos and of just hatched ostrich chicks contained neutral, acidic, and mixed mucopolysaccharides. Meanwhile, in the pyloric region of ventriculus acidic mucopolysaccharides predominated.

The non-spore forming gram-positive bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is a food pathogen bacterium and the causative agent of listeriosis. The aim of study was to determine the survival limits of L. monocytogenes inoculated in manufactured cold smoked sausages depending on water activity (aw) and pH values. Enumeration of L. monocytogenes colony forming units per gram (cfu gE-1) was done according to ISO standards. The decreasing water activity conditioned by moisture (weight) loss during ripening and pH decrease ensured negative exponential growth rate of inoculated L. monocytogenes lg cfu gE-1 - 0.44 each day. A significant Pearson's correlation (p is less than 0.01) was established between decreased values of L. monocytogenes count, aw (0.99), pH (0.92), moisture % (0.96), and weight loss (0.93) in sausages during ripening. The experiments were done at the Faculty of Veterinary medicine of the Latvia University of Agriculture and in a sausage manufacturer's laboratory.

The aim of the work is to investigate raw milk from different bulls' daughters to clear up the influence of cows' genetic predisposition to milk microbial contamination and somatic cell count (SCC). Particular attention is paid to develop productive cow milk yield, milk fat, milk protein and in recent years, the SCC heredity. The literature describes a variety of lines and families, representatives of the resistance to certain diseases (leucosis, mastitis, tuberculosis, brucellosis, foot disease), it shows the determination of a genetic factor for this trait. If the selection results show increased resistance to a disease, then this indicates a genetic disease resistance and shy. The paper focuses on microbial contamination of raw milk at 7 different studies of bull daughters in the same line for housing, feeding and conditions of use. Raw milk samples were obtained from the breed Latvian brown (LB) from dairy cows shed of cattle shed Saujas, which belongs to SIA Palsa and is located in the civil parish Varini, Smiltene county in the year 2008/2009. Compared between the lines of bulls' daughter milk yield of the sample average value of the uniformity of variance analysis shows that they significantly differ (F=2.452, p=0.039). Comparing each line of bulls' daughters SCC of the sample average value of the uniformity of variance analysis showed that the SCC was statistically significantly different (F=2.083, p=0.075) of the various lines of bulls daughters.

Systemic view on tourism as an economic activity is the best way how to characterise an economic nature of this industry. The paper presents the methodology which integrates the system approach and other research methods of social sciences; this methodology forms the basis for identification of social agents and models of tourism system. The methodology is approbated in the survey of providers of rural tourism services in Zemgale planning region. The research results are useful in future application of models for development of tourism whereas the models are useful for other purposes: they can provide additional information necessary for evaluation of tourism influence on economy. They form a basis for detecting participants in tourism clusters in regions and for evaluation of cooperation between social agents of public, nongovernmental and private sectors, and as an instrument in tourism marketing strategies.

Appropriate resources, availability of infrastructure, economic significance and food market forecasts determine the rationale for development of the dairy sector in the Baltic States. The sector is faced by significant economic problems; inter alia, production structure fragmentation, lack of investments and low labour productivity. Several sector's problems can be directly or indirectly solved by integration. Competition legal acts setting strict penalties directly and widely apply to integration processes, imposing a high level of legal risks on integrating parties. Thus, competition legislation forms a central framework limiting and guiding integration. As the subject has not been explored earlier, the author researched the Baltic dairy sector integration options at primary and secondary levels as influenced by the EU and Baltic national competition legislation and its implementation practice. Abstract-logical, monographic and interview methods have been used. The author concludes that law-compliant cross-border integration opportunities for the Baltic dairy sector exist to form larger integrated undertakings with higher market power. Reference to market shares in the competition legislation in countries with lower aggregate crude milk market sales puts the dairy sector participants at a disadvantage in case of integration processes resulting in smaller absolute size of the allowable integrated undertaking. Integration by agreements, decisions and concerted practices is appropriate for national level arrangements but is with limited applicability in the Baltic states cross-border integration at both levels of the dairy sector. In case of concentration, integration may be used to create cross-border integrated structures increasing concentration at every level of the Baltic dairy sector.

The paper deals with the evaluation of resource price preferences and resource utilization efficiency in Latvian dairy sector that shows Latvian relative competitive position both in terms of producing competitive products for the market, as well as ensuring competitive salaries and a general rise in living standard for the employees. The evaluation is carried out through analyzing price levels of the main production resources and the utilization efficiency of these resources, based on the comparison with other EU countries. The efficiency indicators in Latvian primary milk production sector are considerably lower and despite resource price preferences the cost level per production value in Latvia is higher than in other countries. The analyzed resource utilization efficiency is low in Latvia also at the processing industry level, though the current price level of the main production resources helps to ensure competitive positions of Latvian dairy products. But considering large differences in compensation levels for labour force between Latvia and other EU countries, without increase in productivity, the situation is not sustainable in long-term.

Implementing the land reform, territories of farms were quite often formed of several - up to 20 - land plots, frequently with disadvantageous borders. With reorganization of production of the farms, rural development and activities of land market, importance and tasks of rational territory organization will grow. Besides, it can be forecasted that, as a result of land rent and further buy-sell and other transactions, many new farmland properties and land uses are going to appear which might not correspond to the requirements of rational territory organization. It indicates that importance of land consolidation, e.i., enterprises for elimination of land fragmentation and other deficiencies of territorial arrangement, is going to increase further.

The aim of this research is to study the separation possibilities of household and rainwater sewage collectors in Riga. The performance of sewage pumping stations on the right and left banks of the Daugava River during the dry periods and those of rainfall is analyzed as well as the yearly costs of electric energy are given. This paper analyses the costs that would rise with re-building of the central regional co-system into the separated one. The locations are shown where the rainwater collectors are connected to the household sewage collectors likewise the recommendations are given for the separation of these collectors.