This study was done to evaluate the prevalence and colonization density of helicobacters in the gastric mucosa of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Mucosal samples were taken from several places of cardiac, fundic and pyloric gland region of the stomach to detect helicobacters with urease test, brush cytology, and light histological examination. Fourteen dogs of fifteen sampled animals showed positive urease test and the presence of tightly spiraled helicobacters. Positive urease test was observed in 80.4% of all examined samples. Helicobacters were detected in 82.7% of all examined samples by brush cytology and 80.8% of all examined samples by histological examination. Compared to gastric regions, in all employed detection methods have been showed significantly higher prevalence of helicobacters in cardiac and fundic gland region than in the less effected pyloric gland region of the stomach. Histological examination showed the location and colonization density of the bacteria at the superficial epithelium, gastric pits, and deep glandular epithelium of the gastric mucosa in different regions of the stomach. Colonization density of bacteria was evaluated in 4 groups: as absent, mild, moderate, and severe colonization density of helicobacters. Occurrence of helicobacters in the cardiac and fundic gland region showed mild and moderate colonization density of helicobacters at the superficial epithelium and at the gastric pits of the gastric mucosa. Colonization density of spiral-shaped bacteria between the deep glandular epithelium was more pronounced in the pyloric gland region than in the cardiac and fundic gland regions of the gastric mucosa in the domestic dogs.

Annual judging of dairy products including sensory evaluation of local cheese-maker' cheeses proved that the quality of Latvian classical cheeses is various. In fact, in last three competitions three different manufacturers gained the first place in category of Krievijas and Holandes types' cheeses. It indicates instability of Latvian cheese quality. Two types of semi-hard cheeses (Krievijas and Holandes) were selected for testing the quality of Latvian semi-hard cheeses in the beginning of 2008. Krievijas type cheese was selected from three different manufacturers, but Holandes type cheese - from five different manufacturers. Sensory properties such as flavour, structure and colour were measured using line scale method. Statistical analysis of obtained data showed differences between such assessed properties as colour (yellowness), texture (firmness), holes, flavour (acidity and bitterness) in Krievijas type cheese, and colour (yellowness), texture (firmness), flavour (saltiness) in Holandes type cheese.

In Latvia the spontaneous sourdough is used in traditional rye bread baking whose microflora is determined in flour and in microorganism cultures presented in external environment. Almost all spontaneous sourdough cultures, especially those that have been maintained for a long time, contain both lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts. The main purpose of the current research was to analyze growth dynamics of LAB in spontaneous rye flour sourdough and to isolate some of its representatives. Experiments were carried out in the Department of Food Technology of the Faculty of Food Technology of Latvia University of Agriculture in January and February 2008. Considering differences in constituents, two types of flour were used in the research - peeled and crude rye flour. There were three stages of spontaneous sourdough preparation in 72 hours totally; the renewal of sourdough was realized each 24 hours. The dynamics of LAB plate count in every stage of fermentation was investigated as well as changes of pH was observed using standard methods. The results of experiments show substantial increase in amount of LAB in both sourdoughs, particularly in sourdough from peeled flour, reaching 6.06 log10 cfu mlE-1. A significant decrease of pH value from pH 6.7 to pH 3.8 during fermentation process was observed. As a result, the sourdough from peeled flour had desirable properties for preparation of sourdough starter. LAB cultures isolated and identified from current sourdoughs using API tests: Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus fermentum are also typical members of sourdoughs found in other countries.

Understanding the efficacy of organic trace minerals has been increasingly important over the past few years as a result of increased customer awareness of their benefits and the increase in the number of commercial products available to the customer. Organically bound trace minerals of interest in animal nutrition specifically include iron, zinc, manganese, copper, cobalt, and selenium. These elements have been shown to improve reproductive efficiency as measured by conception rate, alleviated calving, and reduced placenta expulsion rate. Additional benefits include improved growth performance of calves. The field trials in the period of 2005 – 2007 with Charolais breed beef cattle cows and calves verified efficacy of the premix PROTRACE G containing Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Co chelates, Se-amino acid (selenomethionine), potassium iodide, and vitamins A, D3 and E. Average calving rate of experimental group cows fed diet with added premix was 20 – 30 min, placenta expulsion time - 28 – 31 min, but in control group fed only basal diet - 2 h 21 min and 1 h 30 min – 2 h 09 min (p is less than 0.05) respectively. Live weight gain of calves and heifers of the experimental group was on 35 – 39% higher (p is less than 0.05) than that in the control group.

Some of best varieties of plants, especially ornamentals and fruits, were polyploid. Polyploids have larger flowers and stems than diploids. In the production of polyploid forms, different types of crosses were made. In present study a cross of diploid (2n = 2x = 24) and tetraploid (4n = 4x = 48) varieties resulted in the production of highly viable seeds 89.3% on average, but a cross of tetraploids and diploids – of 39.5% on average, with fluctuating results between cross combinations. Treating seeds and bulb scales with colchicine solutions can change chromosome number of 9 varieties. These results demonstrated that optimal concentration of colchicine was 1 g kgE-1 for chromosome doubling of seeds. A high concentration (2 g kgE-1) showed phytotoxicity that is detrimental for plant regeneration. The scales of bulbs treated with 1 g kgE-1 colchicine have resulted in the production of lily polyploid forms. The polyploid plants regenerated after pre-treatment by colchicine may be selected in early stage by phenotype of young bulblets. Broad, fleshy bulb scales setting right angle to growth axis were characteristic for regenerated tetraploids. The produced polyploid plants, in comparison with diploids, had a larger diameter of the flower (+2 up to 2.5 cm), more extended plant height (+10 up to 20 cm), increased flower count (+2) and was coming into bloom 4-10 days later than diploids of the same variety.

Objectives of this study were to compare costs and expected benefits of feed supplementation in cattle with alternative shrub legumes during the dry season using as a case study the hillsides of Central Nicaragua. The information used was gathered in a survey of 32 farms in the states of Boaco and Chontales in Central Nicaragua. The survey was designed to determine herd structure, land use patterns, milk and beef production, and use of inputs for animal nutrition, in order to estimate production, reproductive parameters and employment of family/contracted labor, as well as indicators of profitability of the alternatives under study. To calculate the economic return to the investment in alternative forages, a simulation model that applies optimization techniques through linear programming, implemented as a spreadsheet, was used to perform an ex ante evaluation of the costs and benefits of different land use alternatives and of interactions between technological components and biological productivity. The model compares the costs and benefits of the traditional feeding system versus an improved feeding system. The traditional system consists of grazing naturalized pastures (Hyparrhenia rufa) during the rainy season. In the dry season producers supplement the herd with small areas of king grass (Pennisetum spp.). The improved feeding system consists of establishing forage legumes for dry season feeding as a supplement to replace king grass during the dry season. Supplements to evaluate are the shrub legume Calliandra calothyrsus as partial replacement of the herbaceous high quality legume Vigna unguiculata, commonly known as Cowpea. Under the new feeding system, herd size can be increased by 60% due in part to the increase in stocking rate as well as to the increase in the quality of the diet offered with higher protein content. This increase in herd size raises both milk and beef output that generates an increase in farm income by 1.8 times more (i.e., from $1,314/farm/yr to $2,386). The economic return to family labor is increased by 20% to $ 5.26/day equivalent to 2.3 times higher than the local wage rate. The adoption of Vigna (Cowpea) after the harvest of maize/beans and a shrub legume as Calliandra to replace king grass seem to have the potential to significantly improve the productivity in smallholder farms. with the resulting increase in the economic return to family labor.

The research was made in the Šušvė river basin fertilized with organic fertilizer in the vicinity of a pig complex 'Litpirma' Ltd (25.0 thousand fattening pigs per year), Šiaulėnai local administration, Radviliškis district, in 2001-2006. This article presents total nitrogen concentrations and its amounts leaching from the complex to the basin, in the field drainage water and the Šušvė River (at a distance of 11.6 km from the pig complex). In the investigated Šušvė section, biologically treated wastewater from Šiaulėnai Township and the areas fertilized with organic fertilizers comes into the river. In total, 11.8 t of nitrogen come into the river, of which 4% (0.49 t) come from the township's wastewater, and the rest major part (96% or 11.3 t) is the drainage water coming from fertilized agricultural fields. The dynamics of nitrogen concentrations both in the river and in the drainage outlet is of a seasonal nature: in winter (January – March) concentrations were higher, and in warm season (April – November) – lower. The Šušvė pollution by total nitrogen, both above and below the pig complex activities range, almost all the research period was exceeding the limit (2 mg lE-1). Due to the pig complex activities and intensive agriculture, the runoff of nitrogen pollutants increases from 14.9 to 29.3% in the Šušvė River. This proves that the processes of spontaneous purification are not intensive enough to neutralize completely the pollution from such size pig complex in this particular section of the river.

Use of solar energy increases every year. In Latvia, solar energy is used mainly by solar collectors. The main part of the solar collector is the absorber, but not less important is the covering material which protects the absorber from the cooling impact of the wind. This cover must be transparent for solar radiation, but opaque for thermal radiation of the absorber, which is at greater wavelengths. Therefore it is important to measure absorption spectra of possible covering materials at visible and infrared wavelength ranges. Absorption spectra have been measured for several materials: glass, polythene, Plexiglas, and cells Plexiglas. Absorption spectra for all these materials are measured in three ranges: ultraviolet – visible (UV – VIS): 250 – 1000 nm; near infrared (NIR): 700 – 110 nm; infrared (IR): 1200 – 8000 nm. UV-VIS spectra with the ‘Ocean Optics’ device HR-4000 have been measured, but NIR and IR – with ‘Bruker’ Furje spectrometer EQUINOX 55. Evaluation of absorption spectra showed that the most suitable material (from the considered) for covering of solar collectors is Plexiglas.

Nine multiparous cows were biopsied twice – in the first and fifth week after parturition in winter 2004/2005 on the Research and Study farm Vecauce of Latvia University of Agriculture. The aim of the research was to reveal distribution of inflammatory factors and apoptosis in the cow’s endometrium in post parturition period. Haematoxylin and eosin were used for routine staining of each sample. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα, w.d. 1:100, Abcam, England), and interleukin 10 (IL10, w.d. 1:400, Abcam, England) were detected immunohistochemically (IMH), and TUNEL method was used for detection of apoptosis. Distribution of these factors and substances was determined semiquantitatively by counting positive structures in visual fields. A significant increase in the total amount of inflammatory cells, as well as in the amount of the TNFα and apoptotic cells in endometrium between the first and fifth week after parturition (p is less than 0.01) was observed. A significant positive correlation (r=0.41; p is less than 0.01) between infiltration of endometrium with neutrophils and with macrophages was detected in the first week after parturition. A mild positive correlation (r=0.52; p is less than 0.01) between neutrophils and lymphocytes, as well as between lymphocytes and macrophages (r=0.35; p is less than 0.01) was found four weeks after parturition. A mild positive correlation (p is less than 0.05) was observed between amount of inflammatory cells and TNFα (r=0.52), and number of apoptotic cells and TNFα (r=0.58). The research suggests that inflammatory factors and apoptosis intensively act during the process of involution in the cows’ endometrium from the first up to the fifth week after parturition. Intensity, amount and activity of these components show individual variations in each case.

Iodine is a mineral that is added to the table salt and found in a variety of foods. It is important for good health and, fortunately, our bodies require it in minute quantities. Iodine is part of a hormone, thyroxin, which is responsible for maintaining a person’s metabolic rate. Iodine is the basic constituent part of the hormone of the thyreoid gland. On the whole, the amount of T3 and T4 correlates with the number of the iodine atoms. Therefore, without iodine the thyreoid gland cannot synthesize hormones and, therefore, cannot function. The role of iodine intake in both of these conditions was recognized in the 20th century, and since they are fully preventable through diet, public health advocates hope to entirely eliminate them at some point. Many things are natural sources of iodine. Saltwater fish and sea vegetables, for example, both contain abundant amounts of iodine. The material can also be found in plants grown on soil which is rich in sea materials, and in animals grazed on such soils. In some regions of Latvia, however, access to iodine is limited, and conditions like goiter, is realistic of iodine deficiency situations. In Latvia, some fear exists for manufacturers of food who use iodized salt. They are afraid that it will collide with changes of colour or taste of their products and will infringe on interests of the consumer. The main question for such problems is: is it a myth or the truth? In Latvia, starting using iodine salt in manufacturing, the most important question is: ‘What quantity of iodine remains after the technological processing?‘