ASPECTS CONCERNING THE BREEDING OF LIMOUSIN CALVES IN ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM

The aim of the research was to monitor the growth process of the Limousin calves from birth to weaning (six months old). The research was performed on S.C.TAOS.S.R.L situated in Covasna. In this farm, the rearing of the calves was not made by a technological guide. The maintaining system was outdoor, during summer on pasture, and in the winter season, in free stabulation. The calves had been grown along with the mother cows, having free access to the paddock. The base of feeding was represented by semi-hay, corn silage, barley straw and cereals (barley, wheat and corn) and grazing is made on lowland meadow. The introduction of vegetal food into the calves ration is done at 3 weeks old. In the first period (first month old), the daily gain was 666.7 g at heifers and 800 g at calves. In the second period (from one month old until weaning), the daily gain was 1120 g at heifers and 1200 g at calves. The stress of weaning was present only to the young females; for ten days, these were restless, having the desire for sucking and the appetite for feed has decreased. Their bodyweight has decreased with 12%, the differences being significantly (p ≤ 0.05)

ASSESSMENT OF BLOOD PRESSURE IN HUMAN-DOG INTERRELATION

Humans with their own dogs, between whom a companion bond had been established, were used as an experimental group (n=5). The control group was represented by dog loving humans with a friendly, but unfamiliar dog, between whom no bond existed (n=5). The cardiovascular response of human respondents (n=17) were also evaluated during quiet reading. The neurochemical and cortisol analyses fall beyond the purpose of this paper. In individuals with their own dogs there was a significant (p<0.0052) percentage of decrease in the MAP, SP, and DP. The MAP of 5 out of 8 individuals decreased by more than 5% during the experiment and remained decreased by more than 5% in 3 individuals, until the end of the experiment. In individuals with unfamiliar dogs there was a non-significant percentage increase in the MAP and DP, and a significant (p=0.00189) percentage of decrease in SP. The MAP for 6 out 8 individuals decreased by more than 5% and remained decreased by more than 5% in 3 individuals, until the end of the experiment.Key words: dogs, blood pressure, interrelation human-do