The process of creation of the informative systems based on the account of such animals as horses, sheep and goats is analyzed in the work. Three structural models are created and their comparative analysis is conducted. As a result of analysis the general elements of structures, characteristic to each model were found. The Meta modelling approach to facilitate the system was used. The system has a more abstract structure and allows dynamically to adding not only the animal specimens but also new types of attributes in fly during runtime. Recompilation of the system is not required there is no necessity of the analytical restructuring of the model, the absence of type explosions is guaranteed in a database because not a new table-type, but a new record in one or two tables is added.

Recently, the graduates should not only be technically competent, but also they should be skilled in communication and team work, have social and global awareness, be self directed and prepared for life-long learning. Knowing of languages contributes to student personal development. However, passivity of the students in the English classroom is among the factors limiting not only active engagement in academic tasks, acquisition of communicative skills but also soft skills needed for future profession. Therefore, at Lithuanian University of Agriculture, where student-active teaching and learning has been applied the study of the most acceptable class work forms for breaking passivity and improving students' motivation in the classroom for learning English as a foreign language was performed. The most persistent problem for the passive students who are afraid of speaking is the inability to find right words to express themselves (31%), and the fear of making mistakes, criticism, and sounding foolish (almost 55%). The application of the active class-work forms seems to behave well over fighting the passivity and enabling acquisition of the most important skills both for foreign language acquisition and becoming perspective future employees. Team work in created by a teacher relaxed atmosphere in the fitted classroom was found to be one the ways for breaking silence and passivity of the students in the English class room.

The migration of many rural youngsters to bigger cities and other countries in order to find a place for better life and job is not only economic but also educational and up-bringing problem nowadays. The development of the Latvian countryside is closely connected with the investment of educated young people in the long-term creative development of the native country. Latvia University of Agriculture students consider that one of the reasons of leaving their native land rather easily is because they were not purposefully brought up in the field of the patriotism and the feelings of belonging to their native country. Higher educational establishments apply different study models dependent mainly on the aims of educational institutions. The aim of this work is to develop a study model of 'Rural tourisms' taking into account that the study course 'Rural Tourism' has its up-bringing potential which can help to increase the development of students' patriotic attitude during the acquisition of Latvian cultural and historic inheritance. The priority of the study course 'Rural Tourism' in Latvian higher educational establishments is supposed to contribute to the development of students' entrepreneurial skills but this direction does not increase the development of students' patriotism. The above mentioned developed study model is based mainly on the dynamics of the relationship between the study program and the development of students' patriotism.

The research was done in 2006 with the aim to observe the earliness and sugar content of melons (Cucumis melo L.) in Tukums region of Latvia. Five lines of Latgale's melons ('8', '14', 'S4(3)', '5(2)', and '4(3)') and five varieties ('Noirdes Carmes', 'Ogen', 'Vedrantais', 'Cantaloup de Bellegarde', and 'Jaune Canaris') from South Europe were grown in high plastic tunnels: five plants from each line and variety. The most appropriate melon line for growing in Latvia conditions was selected according to earliness and sugar content. The study showed that Latgale's melons (Latvian origin) are most suitable for growing in high plastic tunnels under Latvia's conditions. Also some of South Europe melon varieties proved to be suitable for growing in Latvia conditions. All Latgale's melon lines were earlier than South Europe varieties. The highest sugar content was observed in Latgale's melon line '8' (113 g kg¡1) and in South Europe varieties 'Jaune Canaris' (110 g kgE-1) and 'Cantaloup de Bellegarde' (96 g kgE-1). The research demonstrated that in Latvia successful cultivation of melons is possible by using high plastic tunnels.

The aim of this research is to evaluate the variability of the martagonlily (Lilium martagon L.) found in the wild in the west of Latvia. Latvia is situated in a nature zone between the vegetation of Northern and Central Europe. The country distinguishes itself with a large variety of flora and fauna (total approx. 27, 7 thousand species). The genus Lilium L. includes approximately a hundred species, subspecies and varieties of species. In northern Europe, one of the best known and longest cultivated of lilies is L. martagon L. It is distributed across the largest growing area of most species - from western Portugal throughout Europe and Asia. To evaluate the survival potential of L. Martagon L. in Latvia, research was carried out in locations at Kurzeme - districts of Ventspils, Kuldiga, and Tukums. The results indicate that the diversity in genotypes varies according to location and distribution. There are differences in phenotypes and colour variability from pale to bright violet-pink. Diameter of flower varies between of 3.5 to 6.0 cm. The height of these plants varies up to 114 - 130 cm. The flowering time is in June and July. Wild martagonlily found in these regions is growing in calcareous soils among shrubs in river valleys and semi-shaded deciduous forests. This particular martagonlily is hardy and disease resistant and is recommended as a donor in breeding programs.

Neosporosis is an infection disease caused by a single celled parasite Neospora caninum that produces cysts in the host organism. The dogs are a definitive host of parasite; cows and other ruminants are intermediate hosts. It causes neuromuscular disorders in dogs and abortions, birth of weak calves and neonatal mortality in cattle. Disease occurs worldwide (Sweden, Germany, Spain, Australia, Canada, USA et al.). Our aim of this study was to clear up how many seropositive animals in two seropositive dairy herds (after bulk milk investigation) in Latvia there are, their relationship and possible changes of their biochemical data. The studies in 2006 between September and November were carried out. In two farms there were 14 seropositive animals (from 67). There was evidence of inheritance of neosporosis infection. No differences were recognized in cows' blood biochemical data between positive and negative animals.

The mean content of minerals in grains varies significantly among different parts of the world as it depends on the type of grain growing conditions and fertilizer application. In this study, the content of minerals in the wheat, oat and barley grains of the crop of the year 2006 from different regions of Latvia were investigated. The grain samples were analysed for K, Mg, Ca, Na, Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn using Atomic Absorbtion Spectrometer, and for P using spectrophotometer. Phosphorus content in different types of grains varied from 3.10 to 5.65 g kgE-1, potassium - from 4.37 to 6.10 g kgE-1, calcium - from 0.40 to 1.40 g kgE-1, magnesium - from 1.20 to 1.68 g kgE-1, manganese – from 14.50 to 55.54 g kgE-1, copper - from 3.35 to 6.01 g kgE-1, zinc - from 18.72 to 31.84 g kgE-1, iron - from 42.39 to 120.40 g kgE-1, and sodium - from 32.34 to 55.52 g kgE-1. The greatest difference was found between the content of manganese and iron in barley, wheat and oat grains, but small difference was between the mean content of P, K, Zn, Cu, Mg, and Na.

In presented study we have investigated an occurrence of 15 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in different smoked meat and fish samples. After clean up and extraction procedures, the samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Large variability in PAH levels for samples of the same type was found, thus the contamination level is not strongly correlated with the type of product. In the smoked fish samples concentrations of total PAHs ranged from 0.26 to 104 mu g kgE1, and in smoked meat samples - from 1.7 to 197 mu g kgE-1. In general, the predominating PAHs in all samples were benz(a)anthracene, crysene, and cyclopenta(c,d)pyrene. Also the elimination of PAHs in smoked fish by UV irradiation was investigated. Significant decrease in carcinogenic PAH content in smoked fish was found after a 15 min exposure.

The aim of the research was to assess food safety risks in catering establishments. To analyse food safety risks during production and distribution of ready-to-eat food in catering establishments, internal database of the Food and Veterinary service of the Republic of Latvia was used. Catering establishments, food items, technological processing methods, as well as environmental objects were encoded to perform mathematical analyses of state's monitoring and surveillance data. The probability of the microbiological risk factors coliforms and S.aureus in food and environmental samples as well as the total plate count in ready-to-eat food was assessed to forecast common risks in catering establishments and to set hygiene management priorities in frame of HACCP procedures. For estimation of individual risk factors, results were statistically analysed using SPSS statistical package and a p is less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The significant differences were established between certain bacteria presence in food and such factors as food group, method of technological processing, and type of catering establishment. The results on bacterial contamination of food correlate with the results on contamination of environmental objects. The research suggests that control of food safety risks that is built on testing of pathogenic bacteria is not effective enough to evaluate actual level of implementation of hygiene measures in catering establishments. Risk assessment during routine monitoring both in state's official control level and catering establishments' self-control level should be concentrated on testing of hygiene indicator microorganisms rather than pathogenic microorganisms to establish and prevent food safety risks.

A total of 120 food samples from 6 traditional and 3 non-traditional (Oriental) public catering establishments in Latvia were taken. Preliminary all food samples were divided in three food groups (categories) depending on the components of the products and processing methods. Ready-to-eat foods (RTE) with high level of total amount of microorganisms (aerobic colony count-ACC) and total coliforms (TC), as well as appropriate infringements of hygienic requirements in public catering establishments which had an impact on microbial contamination were clarified. The reasons for microbiological contamination of RTE and the growth of the microorganisms were analyzed in dependence on food category group, the activity of hydrogen ions (pH) in food, food temperature at the sampling point, their processing mode and composition. Different indicator microorganisms including Staphylococcus, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Bacillus, yeasts, moulds and etc. were identified. The comparison between the temperature and pH and the level of microbiological contamination of the samples of food and hygienic practice in the catering establishments were clarified.