The aim of the study was to investigate whether in-floor heating affects growth rate, barn micro environment, litter quality and incidence of footpad dermatitis (FPD) in broiler chickens.The study was conducted in two barns, with and without infloor heating, both of them with the same litterwood shavings.Measurements were performed at six locations during the trial.We found that that the weekly weighing of the broilers showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in body mass, however the final body weight did not differ between the two barns.The in-floor heating in our study affected the moister content and expectably the quality of bedding material, resulting slower quality deteriorated in barn with in-floor heating.No FPD and hock burns were observed in either barn during all weeks of feeding.From the obtained results, we can easily conclude that the construction of the barn affects the microclimatic and litter conditions and thus significantly contribute to improving the welfare quality of chickens.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementation of hydrolyzable tannins (HT) from sweet chestnut wood extract (Castanea sativa Mill.) to the diet of Limousin bulls on growth rate, carcass and meat quality traits, and fecal Clostridia strain levels in a 7-month feeding trial. Thirty-two bulls were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (CON (without addition of HT); TAN 1 (1 g HT kg−1 DM); TAN 2 (1.5 g HT kg−1 DM); and TAN 3 (1.5 g HT kg−1 DM with a nominally lower dose of concentrate). Compared with the CON group, supplementation with HT significantly (p < 0.050) increased bull growth rate during 4–7 months, whereas carcass and meat quality traits were unaffected during the last three months of fattening. Supplementation of HT significantly reduced meat drip loss (p = 0.000) compared with the CON group. No effects were observed on the total number of fecal Clostridia strains; however, the concentration of Clostridiumperfringens was significantly lower (p = 0.004) in TAN 1 than that in the CON group. The results obtained in fattening bulls indicate that the addition of HT is justified in practice to improve growth performance and feed efficiency without adverse effects on the carcass and meat quality.

The study aims to identify any changes in the communication channels used by Slovenian livestock farmers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the main (dis)advantages of relying on them. An online survey was completed by 502 Slovenian farmers of various farm enterprises in winter 2020/2021. Most respondents generally used telephone, e-mail, and the internet to obtain agricultural information before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, farmers increasingly relied on online conferences and social networking sites. At the same time, younger farmers and farmers with a higher education level used digital channels the most frequently, with men doing so more often than women. Digital channels were primarily used by cattle and horse farmers, while cattle farmers showed the greatest online conference participation. Respondents reported having more time to spend with their families and animals as an advantage and the lack of face-to-face interaction with other farmers and advisers as a disadvantage of such communication patterns. As the study reveals differences in the use of communication channels during the COVID-19 pandemic by various farmers, a new communication strategy is needed that involves the use of appropriate communication channels to provide farmers with agricultural information both during the COVID-19 situation and later.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) is considered a dietary staple food crop for millions of people throughout tropical and subtropical regions. Depending on the cultivar, taro may contain oxalic acid deposited in plant tissues as calcium oxalate crystals, causing a very unpleasant burning sensation in the mouth. In the present study, oxalate content was quantified in four different parts of the taro corm, as well as variation in dry matter, Ca, and the oxalate content of corms harvested at different developmental stages, from 5 months after planting (MAP) to 13 MAP. The results revealed that the level of oxalates varies according to corm part and cultivar. The cultivars with the lowest and highest water-soluble and total oxalate content in the central part, which is critical for human nutrition, were VU268 (87 and 134 mg 100 g-1 DW) and VU384 (182 and 230 mg 100 g-1 DW, respectively). Water-soluble oxalates accumulate mainly in the central and lower parts, while insoluble oxalates are concentrated in the marginal part of the corm. Their content can be almost halved by removing a 1 cm thick marginal layer (peeling). The oxalate/Ca molar ratio ranged from 0.78 in the upper to 1.31 in the central part, suggesting that the bioavailability of Ca in corms could be low. The dry matter content and Ca, insoluble and total oxalate levels vary according to the harvest time. The lowest total oxalate content was determined at 8 MAP (the usual time for taro harvest), while water-soluble oxalates increased with growing period. The proper assessment of corm maturity before harvest is, therefore, a critical step in controlling corm quality. Taro breeding programs aimed at reducing corm acridity need to take into consideration these results when designing protocols for optimum nutritional quality improvement of new cultivars.

In the recent years, numerous publications have analysed the efficiency of phytogenic feed additives, plant-based supplements, in animal nutrition for improving livestock productivity and the quality of products. Regarding ruminant nutrition, the publications very often focus on the fate of proteins and on productivity as a result of the use of tannins rich plant extracts and plant parts. Most tannin-related studies are concerned with forages, mostly legumes, less is know about tannins extracts. Tannins are phenolic secondary compounds naturally occurring in plants and helping to protect them against herbivores, defend them against pathogens and are participating in energy and nitrogen conservation. Tannins were for a long time considered to be antinutritive compounds to ruminants. Several new systematic studies, associated with analyses of tannins have revealed beneficial roles in animal nutrition and health. New studies more precisely distinguish different groups of tannin. As a result, feed containing tannins, hydrolysable or condensed, has the effect of slowing down the protein digestion, increasing microbial protein synthesis in rumen and reducing methanogenesis. Positive effects onanimal health such as the prevention of bloating and multiplication of parasites have also been reported. When fed in proper amounts, tannins may promote higher level of productivity such as higher growth rate, higher milk yield and improved milk quality. Due to their positive role, they are being gradually considered as important nutritive additives in many ruminant feeds.

To evaluate the impact of a new technology in dairy production (the change in the production system and milking technique), we analysed the production and milk quality parameters data of a conventional Slovenian dairy farm.We analysed three periods: intermediate period, and the period before and after the introduction of the automatic milking systems (AMS).No significant differences were observed in the amount of milk quantity.The analysis of data showed significant differences in the following parameters: fat, protein, lactose and somatic cell count.The levels of fat, protein and lactose were significantly higher.The number of somatic cells was significantly lower after the introduction of the AMS.

Buildings and equipment on a dairy farm facilitate the job of caring for the animals.When dairy facilities are considered to be built or renovated certain technological normative and recommendations must be taken into account.We design new conceptual design for free stall and created blueprint.The speciality of this model represents a stable manufacturing and technical facilities.The production part of the stables included lying cubicles for 148 cows, nursery, pens for sick animals, pens for calves and breeding heifers, and pens for cow in the end of the lactation -together approx.200 livestock units.For new blueprint and a conceptual design of new stall we use Atutodesk AutoCAD 2015 software.The program has proven effective and easily understandable.With it, we can quickly and efficiently draw and performed our ideas.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is an important staple crop distributed throughout many tropical and subtropical regions. Very little information is available about the nitrate content and its distribution within taro corms. The aim of this study, based on ion chromatography, was to analyze the concentration and distribution of nitrate within four crucial parts (upper, central, marginal, basal) of taro corms of 8 representative cultivars. The results revealed that the levels of nitrate in taro corms were variable depending on the cultivar and corm parts. The highest levels were determined in the upper part of the corm which is used for the multiplication and establishment of a new crop. Therefore, the size of this part is closely associated with the quality of the planting material. As there are no roots, the initial growth of the new taro plant depends entirely on the nutrients accumulated in the upper part of the corm. During the growth season, this part of the corm gradually becomes the lower (basal) part containing the oldest and the least biochemically active tissue, which has the lowest concentration of nitrate ions. The nitrate content in the central part, which is the most important for human nutrition, was relatively low and varied between 29 and 313 mg/kg fresh weight. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is an important root crop in the humid tropics and a valuable source of essential mineral nutrients. In the presented study, we compared the mineral compositions of four main parts of taro corm: the upper, marginal, central and lower (basal) parts. The freeze-dried taro samples were analysed for eleven minerals (K, P, Mg, Ca, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cd, Pb and Cr). The upper part, which plays a critical role in vegetative propagation based on headsets, contained high levels of P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and Cd. The central part, which is essential for human nutrition, was characterised by higher concentrations of K, P, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu and Cd. Ca was concentrated in the lower and marginal parts. The effect of the genotype was significant for more than half of the analysed minerals (i.e., Mg, Ca, Zn, Fe, Mn).