CORRELATION BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTION AND SLAUGHTER TRAITS OF COBB 500 AND HUBBARD

The aim of this work is to define the correlation between the proportion of breast, thigh and drumstick relative to the weight before slaughter in relation to the weight of dressed grill ready carcass in two broiler hybrids (Hubbard and Cobb 500) at different ages (40 or 42 days). Positive correlation between the carcass prior to slaughtering and share of breasts, thighs and drumsticks, at the age of 40 (Hubbard) and 42 (Cobb 500) days, was monitored in Cobb 500 (except between the carcass before slaughter males and stakes thighs and drumsticks), and in line Hubbard (except between the carcass prior to slaughtering and share of breast in both sexes collectively). Positive correlation between the carcass processed for barbecue and shares breasts, thighs and drumsticks of the genotypes, in Cobb 500 (except between the carcass prior to slaughter men throat and share thighs and drumsticks), and Hubbard (except between the carcass prior to slaughtering and share of breast in both sexes collectively) at the age of 40 (Hubbard) and 42 (Cobb 500) days, was monitored

ANALYSIS OF INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS IN PRODUCTION ON A SHEEP FARM IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ROGATICA AND FOCA

Analysis was conducted on the territory of Rogatica and Foca. The analysis included 30 randomly selected farms. Twenty sheep farms raising Pramenka different strains (Vlasic and Herzegovinian strain), while the other ten sheep farms raising sheep Württemberg race and crossed Tsigai, Romanovska and Texel sheep breeds. were analyzed by the following characteristics: number of household members, the total number of sheep, the total area of agricultural land, the selling price of 1 kg of lamb and the average weight of lambs during the sale and conducted a descriptive analysis of the results. Depending on the features found numerous smaller or larger variations. The greatest differences were recorded with the characteristics of the soil, bares the herd and the number of household members. The selling price and weight of lambs in the sale of unique values and indicate the possibility of a unique production technology and the natural and market conditions

Rapid evolution of A(H5N1) influenza viruses after intercontinental spread to North America

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b underwent an explosive geographic expansion in 2021 among wild birds and domestic poultry across Asia, Europe, and Africa. By the end of 2021, 2.3.4.4b viruses were detected in North America, signifying further intercontinental spread. Here we show that the western movement of clade 2.3.4.4b was quickly followed by reassortment with viruses circulating in wild birds in North America, resulting in the acquisition of different combinations of ribonucleoprotein genes. These reassortant A(H5N1) viruses are genotypically and phenotypically diverse, with many causing severe disease with dramatic neurologic involvement in mammals. The proclivity of the current A(H5N1) 2.3.4.4b virus lineage to reassort and target the central nervous system warrants concerted planning to combat the spread and evolution of the virus within the continent and to mitigate the impact of a potential influenza pandemic that could originate from similar A(H5N1) reassortants

Accelerated evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging white-tailed deer

The zoonotic origin of the COVID-19 pandemic virus highlights the need to fill the vast gaps in our knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 ecology and evolution in non-human hosts. Here, we detected that SARS-CoV-2 was introduced from humans into white-tailed deer more than 30 times in Ohio, USA during November 2021-March 2022. Subsequently, deer-to-deer transmission persisted for 2–8 months, disseminating across hundreds of kilometers. Newly developed Bayesian phylogenetic methods quantified how SARS-CoV-2 evolution is not only three-times faster in white-tailed deer compared to the rate observed in humans but also driven by different mutational biases and selection pressures. The long-term effect of this accelerated evolutionary rate remains to be seen as no critical phenotypic changes were observed in our animal models using white-tailed deer origin viruses. Still, SARS-CoV-2 has transmitted in white-tailed deer populations for a relatively short duration, and the risk of future changes may have serious consequences for humans and livestock

The Effectiveness of Contract Farming for Raising Income of Smallholder Farmers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: a Systematic Review

Contract farming is used by an increasing number of firms as a preferred modality to source products from smallholder farmers in low and middle-income countries. Quality requirements of consumers, economies of scale in production or land ownership rights are common incentives for firms to offer contractual arrangements to farmers. Prices and access to key technology, key inputs or support services are the main incentives for farmers to enter into these contracts. There is great heterogeneity in contract farming, with differences in contracts, farmers, products, buyers, and institutional environments. The last decade shows a rapid increase in studies that use quasi-experimental research designs to assess the effects of specific empirical instances of contract farming on smallholders. The objective of this systematic review was to distill generalised inferences from this rapidly growing body of evidence. The review synthesised the studies in order to answer two questions: 1: What is known about the effect size of contract farming on income and food security of smallholder farmers in low- and middle-income countries? 2: Under which enabling or limiting conditions are contract farming arrangements effective for improving income and food security of smallholders