For the research the heart rate monitor for humans "Garmin Forerunner 305" was modified to measure the heart rate frequency of a 12-year old stallion during training.In our experience the incorporation of Garmin Forerunner 305 into the saddle harness is much cheaper and equally applicable as the original Polar horse heart rate monitor.Throughout one month's training by the help of the integrated sensor four fitness tests were performed on the same path on which four stations had been determined.There, the horse heart rate, respiration rate and body temperature were measured and the horse's physical fitness monitored.Also the environmental influences were monitored and the correlation between variables at rest (ambient temperature, horse's temperature, relative air humidity, air pressure, heart rate, breathing frequency) was established.The applicability of the rebuilt device for heart rate monitoring was confirmed.

Purpose: The study proved automatic feeding to be more suitable for farms with large number of calves as it could substantially reduce working hours. Design/methodology/approach: The experiment comprised 20 calves which were monitored from birth until the age of 10 weeks. On specific days (1st, 8th, 29th, 50th and 71st) calves were weighed and their height of wither, height of rump and body length were measured. Findings: The comparison between feeding using bucket teat or automatic feeding system showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the body weight during the period between 50th and 71st day of age (13.30 kg and 9.90 kg), in height of wither in the period between 8th and 29th day of age (1.80 cm and 2.70 cm) and in height of

The intensive animal breeding systems can cause severe environment degradation. However, the highly productive animals are extremely sensitive to the environmental changes. The animal welfare can be in direct contradiction with the need for highly intensive and economically successful milk production. The research is aimed at complementing the method of establishing the stress in calves, race heifers, fattened cattle and milk-cows with different body masses. Measuring of heart rate is one of painless measurements of physiological parameters of stress and, from the point of view of animals it has many advantages over the measurements including taking of blood samples. For measuring the heart rate of different categories of cattle without interference into their body we have tested the usefulness of special apparatuses used worldwide by top sportsmen during training for following up, measuring and monitoring the heart rate. These are monitors of the heart rate, made by Finnish company Electro Oy and working wirelessly with ECG precision. The receiver counts the heart rate on the basis of pulse-to-pulse time average algorithms in 5, 15 or 60-second intervals. The computer interface ensures magnetic transfer of measured and saved data on animals into a PC where the analysis of each collected data file follows. The used type of transmitter Polar sport tester profi having two electrodes in an air-tight sealed frame has enabled us to obtain a good signal on calves of up to 180 kg body mass. Periodic response in case of young cattle of up to 280 kg body mass has been registered only if electrolyte was added between the animal skin and the feeler. By further modifications and tests of the mentioned apparatuses the expected response has been reached also on adult animals. We found that use of these apparatuses on animals did not have any influence on special animal acting behaviour. The production of milk and meat in herds did not change during the test.

For measuring the heart rate of different categories of cattle without interference into their body we have tested the usefulness of special apparatuses "Polar sport tester" of the heart rate, used world-wide by top sportsmen during training for following up, measuring and monitoring the heart rate. The used type of transmitter having two electrodes in an airtight sealed frame has enabled us to obtain a good signal on calves of up to 180 kg body mass. Periodic response in case of young cattle of up to 280 kg was registered only if electrolyte was added between the animal skin and the feeler. By further modifications of the mentioned apparatuses the expected response has been reached also on adult animals.

The paper concerns the ecological aspects of liquid manure. In order to have a better insight into the efficiency of the machine, four samples of liquid manure were analysed, namely two samples from a pit without aerators and two samples from a pit with incorporated aerator. The analysis showed that the dry matter content in the liquid manure amounted to 5.05–5.74%. The sample taken from the pit with incorporated aerator after 20min of mixing contained the greatest quantity of the dry matter. The nitrogen and phosphorus contents were equal to the average; again the sample taken out of the pit with aerator stood out. The values of potassium exceeded the European average. The aerated liquid manure was spread on the surface more uniformly; it flowed off the plants and penetrated faster into the ground up to the roots. When the aerated liquid manure was sprinkled, the bad smell in the environment was considerately lower. Pumping into the cistern was much easier because it did not contain clods. The fodder remains were chopped and did not stop up the pipe. The cost of aeration was small in comparison with the devices for liquid manure mixing.

The paper is concerned about the ecological aspects of liquid manure. In order to have a better insight into the efficiency of the machine, four sample of liquid manure were analysed, namely two samples from a pit without aerators and two samples from a pit with incorporated aerator. The analysis showed that the dry matter content in the liquid manure amounted to 5,05 - 5,74 %. The sample, taken from the pit with incorporated aerator after 20 minutes of mixing, contained the greatest quality of the dry matter. The nitrogen and phosphorus content is equal to the average; again the sample taken out of the pit with aerator stands out. The values of potassium exceeded the European average.