The research was conducted in Latvia University of Agriculture Research and Study Farm ‘Vecauce’ in 600 dairy cows herd, in the period from 2009 to 2013. Within the framework of the research, growth indicators (from birth till the first delivery) of 102 dairy cow calves were analysed. Live weight and hip height of the heifers were found out at birth, at the age of 6 and 12 months, at first insemination and first calving. Heifers born to primiparous cows in both breed groups had notably lower live weight (42.0 and 42.4 kg), as compared to the 4th group heifers born to mature cows (p is less than 0.05). At the age of one year, the greatest weight among the red breed animals was recorded for the 4th group heifers born to mature cows (on average 354.8 ± 7.09 kg), while in Holstein breed those were heifers born to mothers calving on average for the 2nd time (on average 363.0 ± 6.47 kg). The 4th group heifers born to mature Holstein cows had notably greater hip height at birth – on average 78.1 ± 0.9 cm (p is less than 0.05). Heifers of red and Holstein breeds on average were inseminated at the age of 14.6 – 14.8 months as they reached live weight 395 – 396.5 kg. Heifers of red breeds on average calved at the age of 25.8 months, whereas Holstein heifers - of 26.4 months. The research aimed at analysing growth rates of heifers born to dairy cows at different age.

The aim of this review was to summarize available bibliography on the possible applications of high pressure processing in dairy industry, the effect of this non-thermal treatment on bacterial microflora and milk constituents. Traditional thermal treatments applied to milk processing lower nutritional quality because many nutrients are heat labile. To overcome this problem, several non-thermal processing technologies including high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) processing have been developed. Pressures between 400 and 600 MPa inactivate microorganisms including food-borne pathogens; however, high pressure (HP) injured bacteria in milk during storage can recover. All enzymes are inactivated only at pressures of 800 MPa. During HHP the casein micelle size decreases, whey proteins are denaturated, the level of free fatty acids increases. These characteristics indicate that for better understanding and application of HPP in dairy industry research should be done to offer the numerous practical applications to produce microbially safe, minimally processed dairy products with improved performances, and to develop novel dairy products of high nutritional and sensory quality and increased shelf life.

The present study provides research in content of protein, starch, sugars and concentration of B group vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine and niacin) in immature wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) compared to mature wheat kernels. The content of protein, starch was determined in kernels using Infratec1241 Grain Analyzer (Sweden), content of sugars was analysed by high- efficiency liquid chromatography HPLC (Shimadzu, Japan). The concentrations of vitamins were determined by high-efficiency liquid chromatography for vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6. Obtained results suggested that the immature wheat kernels obtained in milk stage showed higher contents of some compounds such as sugars and B group vitamins. The amount of all sugars presented in immature grains is higher and decreased uniformly during maturation. Therefore, immature grains are better sources of the B group vitamin that the mature grains, and therefore more nutritionally efficacious.

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).

The objective of the study was to investigate the correlation between the milk urea (MU), milk yield and reproductive performance using milk recording tests and the health check results. Weak to average negative correlation was found between MU and the milk yield (r = -0.44 and r = -0.34; p is greater than 0.05), milk protein (r = -0.22; p is less than 0.05) and milk freezing point (r = -0.33; p is less than 0.01). Higher milk fat was found in cow milk with MU below 30 mg dLE-1 in comparison with cow milk which had MU above 30 mg dLE-1, 4.0 ± 0.77% and 3.9 ± 0.75%, respectively. High MU fluctuations within a cow group can be observed if cows of different productivity levels are grouped together or if there are too many animals in one group. Correlations between MU and times of artificial insemination or the service period were not established, possibly due to successful veterinary measures. In conclusion we emphasize the necessity on large dairy farms to analyse MU concentration in relation to milk protein and fat concentration for individual animals and in each feeding group separately. The study was the part of the State Research Project (AgroBioRes) No. 2014.10-4/VPP-7/5; subproject VP29.

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 present work aimed to evaluate the effect of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) extract on Cryptosporidium spp. invasion in calves. Sea buckthorn is a good source of vitamins, carotenoids, organic acids and tannins. It has been reported that it possesses anti-inflammatory effect, as well as anthelmintic and antibacterial activity. Research was conducted in a dairy cattle farm ‘Mežacīruļi’ during April and July 2015. Experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups of calves were used. The experimental group received a mix of aqueous alcohol sea buckthorn leaf and berry pomace extract, administered with milk, at dose of 5 – 8 mL twice a day for 20 days. The control group received only milk. Samples were analysed with the concentration McMaster technique. The results showed that there is no significant (p is greater than 0.05) difference in the number of oocysts per gram of faeces between the experimental and control groups. It was concluded that the administration of sea buckthorn leaf and berry pomace extract had no effect on Cryptosporidium spp. invasion in calves. Studies will be continued with a higher dose of extract.

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.

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.

From the 1920s through the 90s, most streams in Lithuania were channelized. Channelization is the deepening, clearing and straightening of meandering streambeds resulting increase of water flow velocity and the rate at which water drained away from agricultural land. Channelized and straightened streams have better hydrodynamic parameters and different morphological properties, but at the same time that caused more unfavourable conditions for natural biodiversity along stream beds and banks reducing the amount of vegetation which means less food and cover for wildlife. Most of West European countries have a good practice for restoring of channelized rivers. This experience is quite new in Lithuania and starting with pilot projects. The most important purpose of these projects is to choose the appropriate restoration measures and evaluate their effectiveness under conditions of dense channel network and tile drainage systems in Lithuania. Two channelized streams, selected for a pilot project are discussed in this paper. The main purpose is to restore stream meandering with minimal efforts allocating artificial obstructions at a right place and reach the necessary stream velocities to initiate the stream bed deformation. For this purpose detailed channel geometry data were collected and 1D hydrodynamic model applied. The results of different scenarios revealed that installed obstructions can accelerate deformations processes initiate the meandering process and at the same time it will not have any significant effect on the agricultural land along restored stream.