The aim of this study was to determine the influence of Jerusalem artichoke flour feeding on the general health status of calves (Bos Taurus), the animal live weight gain and digestive canal morphological development in the first four months of life, as well as to find out the optimal of three inulin doses. Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) concentrate produced in Latvia contains the prebiotic – inulin. The study was performed on four groups of animals - a control group of 10 animals and three prebiotic groups, 10 animals in each group. All groups were fed the whole milk, but the PreG6 group animals were fed daily with 6 grams of prebiotic, calves PreG12 group were fed with 12g of prebiotic, but each calf in PreG24 group – 24g of prebiotic per day. CoG control animals did not receive feed supplement. Faecal mass consistence of PreG6, PreG12 groups of animals was more stable within the whole research period than CoG. We found that the control group animal weight gain on the 56th research day is statistically significantly (p is less than 0.05) lower than of those calves that received inulin as a food supplement. The highest growth rates have shown PreG12 and PreG24 group of animals, significantly (p is less than 0.05) being ahead of PreG6 group of calves, the highest average daily live weight gain was observed in PreG24 group (0.95 ± 0.093 kg).

Canine elbow dysplasia is an heritable orthopaedic disease which includes medial coronoid disease, osteochondritis dissecans and ununited anconeal process, as well as, elbow incongruity. Medial coronoid disease (MCD) is one of the most frequent parts of elbow dysplasia syndrome. The aim of the study was to describe medial coronoid process CT findings in dogs with thoracic limb lameness. In cases where there is suspicion of medial coronoid disease for dogs with lameness, an orthopaedic examination and CT were performed. CT examination was done with Philips MX-16 – slice CT scanner. The study represents data from a time frame between September 2014 and December 2015. Examinations were done at The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Latvia University of Agriculture. The study included 20 large breed dogs, 14 males and 6 females, ages ranging from 6 to 60 months, with a median age of 21.7 ± 13.7 months. Results showed that, in most cases, the dogs had subtrochlear sclerosis of the ulna and fragmentation of medial coronoid. Computed tomography revealed 12 dogs with medial coronoid disease in both elbows, whereas 8 dogs only in one of the elbow joints.

The paper presents the comparative analysis of the Kaunas city landscape change during the period between 2010 and 2015. For this analysis, the land fund statistics of the Republic of Lithuania, which had been grouped into a relatively natural and anthropogenic landscape, were used. Landscape change is graphically shown in the figures. Lithuanian and foreign scientific literature and legal acts as well as planning documents were analysed for the fulfilment of the work. The Kaunas city landscape analysis of the current situation was done. During the analysis the Kaunas city statistics were compared with the data of Kaunas County and the Republic of Lithuania. The analysis showed that during the analysed period the Kaunas city natural landscape area relatively increased by 1115.34 ha or 20.42 percent. The largest part of relatively natural landscape consisted of forests – 51.12 percent. During the period between 2010 and 2015, the anthropogenic environmental area increased by 47.33 hectares (2.80 percent.). In the period between the years 2010 and 2015, the Kaunas city anthropogenic landscape decreased by 1.189.41 hectares or 12.23 percent. This phenomenon was affected by the decrease of built-up areas of 1,233.36 hectares, or 14.10 percent. Built-up areas cover the largest part of the Kaunas city anthropogenic landscape – 88.09 percent. The analysis of the planning documents showed that after their implementation the built-up areas would increase, the aesthetic image of recreational environment would improve, the environmental condition would become of a higher quality.

One of the cornerstones of sustainable use of land resources is the use of land resources for the identified needs. In every country it is needed to list the land according to the type of land use. Such function of land classification in Latvia is maintained by the classification of purpose of real property use. In a certain period of time needs of the specific purposes for which the land resources are used are changing, so the aim of this study is to research changes of areas of purpose of real property use in municipalities of Latvia. The analysis of purpose of use of real property in Latvia municipalities demonstrates the trend of decrease of agricultural land resource areas in proportion to the increase of forest land resource areas, excluding the region around Riga, where areas of agricultural land and forest land resources are decreasing, but residential land resource area for needs of development of capital is increasing.

Aim of the paper is to explore the possibilities of application of orthophoto maps in determination of land degradation. One of the forms of remote sensing is aerial photography. Orthophoto maps are made from aerial photography with specialized software orthophoto maps were analysed in perspective for several years – from 2005 to 2011.The results are based on the expert. With each year possibilities of application of orthophoto maps are expanding. During the research, data of survey and SWOT analysis of determination of land degradation by orthophoto maps. The study results prove that based on orthophoto maps mainly, it can be detected the following land degradation processes – agricultural land overgrowing with bushes and abandonment of built-up areas.

After height system replacement in Latvia, there is a transformation formula for point height difference theoretical value in any place of Latvia. Performing practical Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements and obtained data mathematical processing, there is also a possibility to calculate point height difference, in this case – practical values. There were thirteen 1st class levelling network points selected in territory of Latvia and got the theoretical and practical values of them. As the result, it is possible to compare height differences between Baltic Normal Height System 1977 and Latvian Normal Height System 2000,5. The practical and theoretical values should coincide, but just 3 of selected geodetic points the height difference comparing practical and theoretical values is close to zero and point height difference of all measured points differs in 17 cm amplitudes indicating problems with transformation formula or need to improve geoid model.

This study is a part of an extensive research of creep development in softwood (Pinus sylvestris) timber beams under natural environmental conditions. Large size test data sample obtained during long-term (approximately one and half year) static loading of timber beams in a four-point bending simulating the real service conditions of roof structures for winter and non-snow period has been processed and results presented. The correlation between creep deformation and its affecting factors, such as span to height ratio of beam, percent of latewood and width of year ring (a growth ring formed during a single year), orientation of year ring segments against main axis of cross section, number of year rings in 1 cm of wood, and density of wood have been analysed and corresponding coefficients of correlation presented. It is concluded that the most significant creep development affecting factor is density of wood. Strong relationship between creep development and width of year ring, number of year rings in 1 cm of wood and density of wood was observed during test. Orientation of year ring segments against the main axis of cross section, amount of latewood and span/depth ratio do not have noteworthy direct influence on creep development in terms of this study. Temperature can be neglected as creep affecting factor in terms of this study but in the moments of sharp raise or fall of temperature, almost immediate effect on creep development was recorded.

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.

The information about gardens of the Duchy of Courland in the 17th century is scarce and fragmentary, as part of documents is lost or exported abroad during the war. The time of the Duchy and its baroque gardens is attributed to reign of E. J. Biron in the first half of the 18th century, when impressive palace ensembles were created the help of architects F. B. Rastrelli and S. Jensen, building of summer residences in Rundāle, Vircava, Svēte, Luste. They served as summer amusement gardens or parks. In their arrangement, a compositional connection with the palace, the front courtyard, outbuildings and the garden was sought. These summer residences were located in rural plain areas, thus, the features of natural area - water, floodplains, terrain, nature of plantations and materials were used. The choice of planting materials was influenced by the climatic conditions - harsh winters, short summers, late spring frosts or early autumn frosts. Therefore, in the Duke’s time gardens, there are no delicate plants such as jews, boxwood plants, peach and mandarin fruit trees imported from the Western Europe. The local trees and shrubs, fruit trees, spice plants were used, vegetable beds made. The study examines two of the Duchy’s summer residences at Vircava (Wūrzau) and Svēte (Swethof), the study of which, as already mentioned, is made difficult due to the relatively scarce information.

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).