Cattle fattening, first of all, should be beneficial for a farmer, therefore, in Latvia more suitable are such average intense fattening methods as fattening with grass fodder. In the world, demand for beef, produced in an environmentally friendly manner, ensuring the appropriate animal welfare conditions, is growing. The aim of the study was to find out the fattening results of Hereford (HE) and Aberdinanguss (AB) pure-bred bulls and their crosses when fed with grass fodder. The study was conducted in 2015 and 2016 within the framework of the project ‘Baltic Grassland Beef’. AB crossbreed bulls were slaughtered when they were 519 ± 16.6 days old, but HE pure-bred bulls − 584 ± 7.3 days old (p ≤ 0.05). The biggest live weight and slaughter weight showed HE crossbreed group bulls – 557 ± 19.4 kg and 293 ± 12.2 kg, respectively, but the biggest live weight daily gain from birth to slaughter was observed to AB pure–bred group bulls – 952 ± 24.7. Carcass conformation score in muscle development was the highest for AB pure–bred group bulls. Their average conformation score was 3.2 ± 0.08 points. In terms of fat score development, carcass with the best quality was obtained from HE crossbreed group bulls, the resulting fat score – 2.4 ± 0.10. The obtained results prove that pure-bred and crossbreed bulls used in this research are suitable for fattening with grass in the conditions of Latvia

The aim of our study was to determine up to what extent the number of services per calving (NSPC) affects dairy cow productive and reproductive performance. The study contains data from the Agricultural Data Centre of Latvia about 26888 Latvian Brown (LB) and Holstein Black and White (HBW) breed cows that were born from year 2005 – 2010, closed at least 5 full lactations and were culled from herds. In data set we have included data about cow milk productivity (calculated in ECM), longevity traits and reproduction traits. The reproduction traits included the number of services per conception (NSPC), calving interval (CI) and calving to conception interval (CCI) in the first five lactations. The average lifespan of LB and HBW dairy cows was 3149.5 days and in this period 39570.6 kg ECM were obtained. LB breed cows were characterized by 23.5 days longer lifespan and by 6035.4 kg ECM lower lifetime milk productivity than HBW breed cows, but they showed higher reproduction trait scores than LB breed group. HBW cows had a significantly (p is less than 0.05) higher NSPC, CCI, number of milking days (MD) and CI than LB breed cows in all five analysed lactations. The NSPC in the first lactation increased the calving age at the fifth lactation – cows with NSPC in the first lactation is greater than 4, fifth time calved 170.7 days in LB breed group and 190.8 days in HBW breed group later than cows with one NSPC in the first lactation.

Milk yield, composition and milk coagulation properties can be affected by kappa-casein (κ-CN) and beta-lactoglobulin (β-LG) genotypes and breed. Latvian Brown (LB) and Latvian Blue (LZ) are local dairy breeds in Latvia. These breeds are not so high-yielding than other commercial dairy breeds, besides, the number of those animals decrease each year. The aim of the research was to analyse the influence of κ-CN, β-LG and breed on milk composition and milk coagulation properties. Data were collected from 56 Latvian Brown and 26 Latvian Blue in 2016. Widespread κ-CN genotype was AA (0.593) in LB breed and AB (0.636) in LZ breed, while β-LG highest frequency was BB genotype. Significant effect was not observed on milk yield; however the highest daily milk yield was from AB κ-CN genotype (19.7 ± 1.52 kg) in LB breed. Significant differences were observed in fat content – the highest fat content accordingly κ-CN was from AA genotype in LB (46.3 ± 1.89 g kgE-1) and 45.5 ± 1.37 g kgE-1 from BB β-LG genotype in LB breed (p is less than 0.05). A lower protein content was observed from AA κ-CN genotype in LZ breed (33.8 ± 1.30 g kgE-1), while highest from BB genotype in both breeds. Curd firmness was not significantly different by genotypes and breed. Significantly shorter milk renneting time of β-LG was obtained from LB breed (14.6 ± 2.76 min, p is less than 0.05), while κ-CN genotype was not significantly affected.

The research was conducted with the aim of studying the possibility of using automatic feeding stations for individual sheep (Ovis aries) feeding. The research was organized in 3 periods, in which 10–13 months old sheep – female only (1st research period), 6–10 months old sheep – female only (2nd research period) and 8–12 months old sheep – female only (3rd research period) were used. Part of the sheep did not visit the feeding station at all. Sequentially, over the research periods the percentage was 13%, 37% and 49%. Upon setting the concentrate daily ration 400 g per sheep, on the average the number of visits to the particular feeding station was 6.1 and 4.7 (sequentially in the 1st and 2nd research period). Upon increasing the concentrate ration amount up to 700 g per day, the average number of feeding station visits was 6.9 (in the 3rd research period). The number of visits to the automatic feeding station was varied (V is greater than 10%). Over the research period live weight of the sheep increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) for the subgroups of animals which made visits to the feeding station regularly during the entire research period. In all research periods, the average daily concentrate intake (373.5 g in the 1st research period, 333.1 g in the 2nd research period and 581.2 g in the 3rd research period) was 93%, 83% and 83% respectively, of the maximum established feeding standard.

The processes of globalization in the world economy have a significant impact on different processes and development in all national economy sectors. Innovations and technological development have also increased the competition between economic operators. Faster growth is also observed in service industries. The global economic downturn affected the Baltic States whose development suffered a sharp decline at the end of 2008 and in 2009. A sudden drop in the demand in export markets, as well as the decline in the demand in the domestic markets due to low purchasing power contributed to the deterioration of the economic situation in the Baltic States, particularly in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Starting from 2011, the economic indicators in the Baltic States have been growing and here the export of goods and services can be mentioned as the main contributor to the development of the economy in the Baltic States. Significant changes in the development of economic sectors started in 2013 due to Russia’s economic problems. During the period 2005 – 2015, most of the value added to the overall structure of the national economy in all three Baltic States was brought by trade and manufacturing. The aim of the research is to analyse the national economy sectors in the Baltic States during the period 2005 – 2015 in order to determine processes that affected the development of economy sectors in each of the countries, or the opposite – the recession, thus finding the most competitive sector of the national economy of the Baltic States.

The European Union (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) affects the development of the agricultural industry and rural areas in all the Member States. A very important role is played by various support payments as one of the policy instruments. The CAP has been developing and is being reformed; therefore, it is important to assess the effect of various CAP support instruments on the development of the agricultural industry. Therefore, the research aim is to assess the support instruments and kinds of support as well as their effects on selected agricultural indicators. The research study proceeds in three stages or phases: first, the identification of the total amount of support payments paid and the key kinds of support; second, a detailed analysis of the key kinds of support; third, the identification of associations between the amounts of support payments and other agricultural and farm performance indicators. The research found that in the period 2005 – 2014 in Latvia, the total amount of support amounted to EUR 4.3 billion, of which EUR 520 million or 12% were received by approximately 1000 FADN farms. The most significant kinds of financial support in Latvia were direct payments, accounting for 47% of the total amount of support and financial assistance provided for rural development with 39%. The total amount of financial support and the amount of area-based payments affected the key agricultural indicators as well.

The paper provides the study of specific spatial conditions of rural development of Arctic zone regions in Russia during 2000 – 2015. The aim of the paper is to propose the methodology for rural development disparities study in the Russian Arctic. Spatial development of the Arctic is described by a system of indicators, reflecting the system of the resettlement, the level and quality of life: total population size, life expectancy at birth, housing stock etc. The extent and nature of disparities, particularly, social and economic disparities within the rural territories of the Arсtic are explained. The assessment has been based on min-max ratio, coefficient of variation as well as Gini index. Eliminating excessive spatial differences in the social development of urban and rural territories of Arctic regions, improving the demographic situation, raising the level and quality of life of the population should be seen as a priority of the state policy in the Arctic in order to make it attractive for living.

Public food procurement is a complex system with a large number of participants, and it is regulated by a number of laws and regulations on different sectors, and there is involved a number of controlling bodies. The research aim is to explore and analyze the laws and regulations governing public food procurement in Latvia and to identify the main obstacles to food purchases from local producers. By purchasing food, local governments or authorities have to fulfill the European Union (EU) and the Latvian statutory requirements for both the correct procurement procedures, both on food safety and hygiene norms throughout the whole food product life cycle. Purchasing food from local producers is a challenge, because on the one hand, the EC Treaty and a number of other documents request the free movement of goods and equal rights for all market participants, on the other – the local community and local government is interested in providing school students with high-quality, natural food and in promoting small local businesses. The solution is to use green public procurement (GPP) criteria in the public food procurement. However, in the implementation of the GPP there are several disadvantages for both the local government and local food producers. By studying Latvian and other EU countries’ experiences, it can be concluded that barriers to local food producers to participate in local government food procurement are related to both competitiveness and production storage and regular supply assurance.

Given the intensive competition in almost all the business sectors, customer loyalty research is gaining its popularity among marketers as well as among scholars. The aim of this research was to determine the differences in loyalty to grocery retailer between urban and rural consumers. In order to reveal the differences, questionnaire research was provided and differences between Lithuanian urban and rural customer loyalties were determined. The research results indicated the existence of statistically significant differences between the loyalties of Lithuanian urban and rural regarding their mostly visited grocery retailers in terms of their attitudes and repeat patronage behaviour. Moreover, based on the neo-behaviouristic approach, considering attitudinal and behavioural measures, all kinds of loyalties were observed stronger in the urban areas of Lithuania. The assumption was made that there might be an effect of limited-choice condition. Affected by the latter condition, rural citizens tend to seek for variety more than the urban ones. Consequently, considering the rural citizens’ evaluations, it can be stated that their loyalty is undermanaged, resulting in a very low amounts of truly loyal customers. Therefore, for the grocery retailers it was recommended to revise their customer loyalty schemes based on the point of residence of their consumers. In such a way the higher possibility of meeting consumer needs might be achieved.

Apple trees are the most common fruit tree type in the EU covering 450 000 ha. At the global scale, the largest apple exporters are EU-27, China, Chile and the USA, but the largest importers – the EU-27 and Russia. In the EU and Russia, large volumes of apples are imported during the cold time of the year. The market for fresh fruit has traditionally been driven by price, but today’s market has become even more dynamic and consumers – more fastidious. The aim of the article is to identify the main determinants influencing prices of fresh fruits and indicate a range of differences between winter and summer prices of fruits based on the example of apples. The current research should be regarded as a ‘work in progress’, as it will be a part of more extensive research conducted in several EU countries and different times of the year. In the present research, the authors have used comparative analysis, which was based on theoretical literature studies, publications and statistical data available in EUROSTAT databases as well as statistical data aggregated by Spanish, Polish and Latvian market research institutions.