The study was conducted to assess the growth performance of lambs under village management condition in Jimma, Ethiopia from 1995 to 1997. The overall mean body weight at birth, at weaning (180 days) and up to a year (360 days) was recorded to be 2.45, 18.8 and 25.4 kg, respectively. The overall mean growth rate up to weaning weight (180 days) and up to one year old (360 days) was 92.3 and 68.3 g/day. The non-genetic factors such as season, yea, sex, parity, litter size and district were considered in this study. The main factors had a significant effect (at least p<0.05) on weight for age and weight gains recorded. A consistent significant effect of sex and birth type (single/twin) (p< 0.05) was observed for weight for age and growth rates. The males were heavier than females, by 7.11% and 10.2 % for 180 days and 360 days weight, respectively. The twins were lighter than singles by 20.1 % and 8.32% for 180 days and 300 days weight, respectively. The effect of parity was significant (p<0.05). The lambs born to ewes at first parity had lower weight for ages and weight gains compared to subsequent parities. The lambs born in land scarce area (Dedo district) had lower weight gains than lambs born in Seka (land better area). Differences were significant (P<0.05) and weight gain recorded at 180 days were 85.3 and 90.9 g/day for Dedo and Seka lambs, respectively. The variation in growth performance of sheep in different districts could provide base line information to set a long-term genetic improvement plan by election. The results are discussed in comparison with data obtained from elsewhere in the tropics.

A survey was conducted through single field visits and interviews with 360 respondents in selected districts of Bench Maji Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia to asses the Sheko cattle farming system, breeding practices, and identify cattle breeding goals and constraints for designing Sheko cattle conservation and improvement strategies. The total populations of Sheko cattle herd structure in the sampled districts within each PA obtained by counting directly on the field were estimated to be 2813.Under random mating, the inbreeding coefficient was higher in midland (1.72) than in lowland (1.35) agro ecological zones (AEZs). The mean Sheko cattle herd size per household was 1.09 in midland and 1.29 in lowland AEZs. About 93.9% and 88.3% of the households, respectively, in midland and lowland do not have breeding bull. Random mating predominates in both midland (87.2%) and lowland (85%) AEZs. The reported peak season of mixing of the different Sheko cattle herd within a village start after the crop aftermath (February to May) was picked from the cultivated land, whereas, beginning from main rainy season in June to the end of crop harvesting time usually on January smallholder farmers in both AEZs keep their cattle separately. The observed male to female mating ratio was 1:16.4 in midland and 1:8.6 in lowland. Sheko bulls were castrated at the age of 4.2 and 4.8 years in midland and lowland respectively. Appearance/conformation was the most important trait in choosing of breeding male for both midland and lowland small holder Sheko owners. Whereas, milk yield was the most important trait for the choice of breeding cows in both AEZs. The purpose of keeping Sheko cattle in midland area was for draught followed by milk, income, saving and dowry, in that order. In lowland agro ecology milk production, draught power, and income generation are the purposes for keeping Sheko cattle. In both AEZs feed shortage, disease and labor shortage were the most important cattle production constraints in that order. It has been found that an integrated system approach to breed conservation and improvement needs to incorporate traits sought by the cattle keepers, the multiple roles of cattle, and the existing traditional herding and breeding practices.

Sowing area under oil-seed rape (Brassica napus L.) has increased during last decade in Latvia and has become more or less stable since 2007. Lack of research on impact of sowing date, sowing rate, fungicide as growth regulator application and other agroecological factor issues on rape autumn growth is observed. The aim of our research, started in autumn 2007 in Research and Study farm Vecauce, was to investigate the influence of applied agroecological factors (five sowing dates, four sowing rates and fungicide (as growth regulator in autumn) application on two type winter rape varieties development in autumn. Winter rape biometrical parameters, dry matter content and dry mass per square m of leaves were estimated. Sowing date affected height of growth point, root neck diameter, plant and root mass, main root length significantly (p is less than 0.05). Sowing rate affected only some indices significantly in autumn 2007. Fungicide (juventus 90 s.c. - metconasol 90 g LE-1) application also affected rape plant biometric parameters during autumn depending on conditions of research year - height of growth point decreased only in year 2007, effect on number of leaves per plant was observed in both trial years, plant weight (2007) and root length (2008) were affected for hybrid variety. Sowing date showed effect on dry matter content in leaves as well as on dry matter mass of leaves per 1 square m. Fungicide application increased dry mass of leaves per 1 square m in two earlier sowing dates. Results are important also for outline of further research directions evaluating significance of above mentioned factors for winter rape wintering in Latvia.

The inoculation of the legume seed material with active nitrogen fixing bacteria strains before sowing has a significant role for the increase of the legume yield. Inoculation can improve crop yields in cases where appropriate rhizobia are not present in the soil or the soil contains a significant proportion of non-nodulating or ineffective nitrogen-fixing strains. The aim of the investigation was to detect the effectiveness of Rhizobium leguminosarum strains in field beans at different soil microbiological activity. The experiment was conducted at the Institute of Soil and Plant Sciences of the Faculty of Agriculture of the Latvian University of Agriculture from the 5th of June till the 17th of October 2008. The field bean (Vicia faba. L) cultivars - 'Ada', 'Lielplatones', Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. vicia strains No. 110; 408; 501 and 2 types of soils (with different microbiological activity) were used in vegetation pot experiment. The highest shoot dry matter was observed in cultivars cultivated in soil with higher microbiological activity. The highest pod dry matter was observed in cultivars cultivated in soil with higher microbiological activity. The highest total nitrogen amount was in field beans cultivated in soil with lower microbiological activity. Rh. leguminosarum strain resistance to streptomycin decreases with the plants age, from anthesis forward in both soil types and both cultivars. The fingerprinting showed significant difference between Rh. leguminosarum strains.

Under open environmental conditions, Trihodermin and BioMikss were used for trial purposes to study lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch) yields in 2008. Experiments were carried out in the Region of Riga at the farm 'Pukulejas'. The lettuce cultivar 'May King' and the strawberry cultivar 'Senga Sengana' were both used in the trial. The purpose of the trial was to evaluate the use of biological products when applied on the above mentioned trial plants. In the field trial, both Trihodermin and BioMikss in dry powder form in peat mixture were applied for soil treatment 10 kg haE-1. Trihodermin contains cells of microscopic fungus Trichoderma harzianum 8-21 and Trichoderma viride 1-5. BioMikss is a mixture of microorganisms, containing cells of seven various bacteria (Azotobacter chroococcum 23, Polyangium cellulosum 5-t, Polyangium 56, Pseudomonas putida 48-t, Rhizobium meliloti 15, Streptomyces griseoviridis P-t and Streptomyces cellulosae D) and cells of two various fungus (Trichoderma harzianum 7-t and Trichoderma viride A-L). Three times during the growing period Trichodermin and BioMikss water solution 100 g kgE-1 was applied on the trial plants. When compared to non-treated plants, significantly increased yield was observed on BioMikss-treated lettuce. A significantly increased yield was also observed on BioMikss-treated strawberries. The results of the experiments showed that in open environment, both strawberry and lettuce plants treated with BioMikss showed resistance to the grey mould, caused by a parasitic fungus Botrytis cinerea. The results prove that biological products, by environmentally friendly means, revitalize soils, protect plants, and enhance growth, immunity and productive potential.

The most non-starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) isolated from semi-hard cheeses are heterofermentative and handled as one of the reasons of cheese off-flavours and yield defect but at the same time majority of researches argued positive effect of NSLAB on cheese flavour formation and diversification due to rendered compounds of chemical reactions. The amount of NSLAB in cheese varies from 10 at the beginning of ripening to 105 cfu mlE-1 within 6-8 weeks. The aims of this paper were to establish diversity of NSLAB in commercial samples of Krievijas and Holandes cheeses, and to evaluate the effect of ripening temperatures on NSLAB in the trials of Krievijas cheese. A total of 12 commercial cheese samples from seven different Latvian manufacturers and trials from one cheese manufacturer were examined. The trials were ripened for 60 days at different temperatures - 6 deg C and 12 deg C. Serial dilutions of each cheese sample (1:1000 and 1:10 000) in saline were made. NSLAB were cultivated using MRS media. Strain identification was performed by the API 50 CHL system (BioMerieux, Marey l'Etoile, France). In commercial samples of Krievijas cheese dominance of L. curvatus was observed, simultaneously L.plantarum and L.paracasei subsp. paracasei were isolated. Whereas in Holandes cheese samples dominance of L.paracasei subsp. paracasei was noted and L.plantarum, L.curvatus, L.rhamnosus and L.acidophilus were isolated. In the trials ripened at different temperatures prevalence of L.curvatus was noted. Concentration of Lactobacillus spp. varied from 104 cfu mlE-1 on the first day of ripening and reached the highest concentration (106 cfu mlE-1) after 6 weeks of ripening.

The aim was to study changes of chemical composition (fat content, protein content), pH and colour of poultry meat during chilled storage. Various criteria are used for evaluation of bird and carcass quality, while the combination of several indices determines the quality of poultry meat, which has an important role in the following meat processing and quality of end product. Chilled poultry meat is offered in retail and it is used in processing plants for various meat products production. Chemical composition (fat content, protein content), pH and colour are important quality determinants. Hens' meat is cheaper compared to broiler meat; therefore its use in processing is profitable. Parents stock hens of the cross Ross 308 were used for the study. Parent stock hens were fed compound feed. After chilling a hen fillet [musculus pectoralis], hen thighs [musculus biceps] and hen drumsticks [musculus gastrocnemius; musculus fibularis longus] were separated from carcasses. The obtained products were refrigerated at temperature +1+-0.5 deg C. The analyses were performed 1 day after slaughter and on the 5th day of storage. The following parameters were analysed: pH value (3510pH Meter - JENWAY); total protein content (LVS ISO 937:1978); fat content (LVS ISO 1443:1973); colour changes (Color Tec-PCM; software ColorSoft QCW for colour data analysis). The analysed parameters significantly differ in 'white' and 'red' poultry meat, and in various cuts of 'red' meat.

Potato is an important source of nutrients and bioactive compounds with profitable effect for health, such as antioxidants, vitamins and essential amino acids. The knowledge about metabolite composition of various potato cultivars is necessary to facilitate development of new cultivars with desirable properties. In the present study, the hydrophilic metabolite composition of six potato cultivars with different resistance against potato late blight disease was analyzed. For this, an HPLC-based method was developed and used for the analysis of water-ethanol extracts of freeze-dried potato tubers. Significant differences in concentrations of adenosine, chlorogenic acid, and rutin were revealed. Some other metabolites were found to be cultivar-specific.

This article represents the results of the research project 'Forest energy from small-dimension stands, infra-structure objects and stumps' realized in cooperation between Joint stock company Latvijas valsts meži (Latvia's state forests), SKOGFORSK (The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden) and Latvian State Forestry Research Institute Silava. The article is covering issues related to the results of stump harvesting field study realized in November, 2008. A scope of the study was to estimate costs of stump harvesting and to evaluate working methods and influencing factors related to extraction of stumps. Better harvesting conditions (flat landscape and lack of stones in soil) led to increased productivity of stump extraction in Latvian trials (5.2 tdry (tdry - tons of dry mass) of stumps per effective hour (E0-h)) in comparison to average figures in Scandinavian studies. Load sizes of the forwarder ranged from 5.5 to 9.3 t which is about half of the maximum load of forwarder. Average productivity of forwarding was 6.3 tdry E0-hE-1. Productivity of stump transport (distance - 7 km) was 3.5 tdry E0-hE-1. Productivity of comminution was 10 tdry E0-hE-1. Prime cost of the stump harvesting, including extraction, forwarding, stump transport (7 km one direction), comminution and chip transport (50 km one direction) was 6.3 LVL LVmE-3 (LV - loose volume). 'Environmental footprint' of the stump harvesting in terms of carbon (C) emissions was 2.5 kg C LVmE-3 of wood chips at terminal. Stumps demonstrated considerably higher heat value (5.7 MWh tdryE-1 against 4.7 MWh tdryE-1 for the hog fuel from a slash).

Credit is an important impellent of economics and promoter of welfare that is the reason why government politics supported credit accessibility to legal and physical persons, which has led to the delayed payments in every business sector. The amounts of crediting in late years has sharply risen, wherewith increases the amount of inhabitants and enterprises, who can't repay their civil liability commitment. It is important to recover commitments to get finance for other investments. The amount of debt recovery is rising in Latvia peripheral economical breakdown that proves demonstrated information in the article about the situation at present. Only in year 2008 banks slacked the speed of lending, but amount of debt recovery is just rising. There was not all civil liability commitment entered that has appeared to legal and physical persons in Latvia, in Register of Debtors. Now when the Credit Register has come to the operation, the situation is clearer than it was before. One of the ways for creditors to return their funds is through court. Between years 2003 and 2008 approximately 11% of plaintiff actions have been satisfied already in court, terminating them. 61% of plaintiff actions have been satisfied with judgment of court. Take a note, that requirements in debt recovery change, as well as the interpretation of the laws and regulations. Whereby the debt collectors change contract regulations unhesitatingly provide positive result in courts.