Reflection on Decentralization Reform of Financial Management in Elementary and Secondary Education In Kosovo

Decentralization of financial resources management in elementary and secondary education institutions is one of the priority actions being implemented in Kosovo. This process is taking place in line with the current global trend, according to which the increased autonomy and diversity in financial sources are the basic conditions for enhancing the capacity and quality of these institutions. Public institutions of elementary and secondary educational system in Kosovo are the object of this study. State budget is their main financial source. Decentralization policies and incentives for financial autonomy currently aim at promoting and enhancing the capacity of these institutions to generate financial income and increase self administration of these revenues. The purpose of this study is the comparative analysis of best practices in EU countries, achievements, challenges and expectations in the implementation of financial autonomy in elementary and secondary educational system in the Republic of Kosovo. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n3p27

The advantages of online shopping according to Albanian customers

This paper aims to provide a better understanding of the benefits of online buying according to Albanian customers. Aquestionnaire was designed online since the research was an online consumer behavior study, online data collection methods were preferred. 217 were responded, and the sample consisted of individuals who made at least one online buying, during the last month. Among them, 62% were women and 38% men. Their age structure was divided in this way: 42% of them were 18-25 years old, 35% of them were 26-36 years old and 23% of them were over 37 years old. 11 % of the interviewed have made an online buying 1-2 times, 47% of them 3-5 times, 18% of them have made an online buying 6-8 times and 24% of them have bought online more than 8 times. The factor analysis showed that the perception of the benefits of online buying is influenced by the following factors: (i) shopping convenience (25.6%), (ii) wide range of products (21.4%), (iii) purchase facilities (16.7%) and (iv) satisfaction (10.6%). These factors explain 74.3% of the total variance regarding customer perceptions. The factors that affect the customer perception regarding the benefits of online shopping have a positive correlation with the perception of the internet as a buying medium, the frequency of internet visits, the frequency of online buying and the time spent for online buying. Since we have a small sample size and the market in Albania is characterized by continuous change, the results must be accepted as preliminary ones that give us information to understand the customer behavior in virtual markets

The State of Local Cattle of Busha Type in Albania and Kosovo. Their Identification and Morphometric Description

Local cattle population of Busha type are still found in remote areas of  Albania and Kosovo.  They have survived until now because of geographic isolation and harsh conditions that are not suitable for exotic breeds. The number of these populations is rapidly declining putting them in danger of extinction. Conservation of this genetic diversity is challenging for both countries.  Identification of local cattle populations of Busha type farmed in different regions of Albania and Kosovo , their phenotypic and genetic characterization, has been and currently is one of interesting study subject with the aim of  compiling a sustainable breeding strategy that will help to run a national or cross border conservation program. The study was conducted in 5 regions distributed in the north-west and north –east of Albania whereas in Kosovo the east and south-west regions both countries: The number of local  cattle’s sampled of Busha type for phenotypic characterization was 94 of which 86 were females and 8 were males. The linear body measurement of  adult animals only were done according to FAO guidelines 2012. The means of morph metric variables were calculated  for animals not divided by sex. Local cattle of Busha type is characterized  of different coat colors  from intensive red, reddish, dark and light  brown. Velipoja local cattle has the lowest mean of wither height, heart girth and body length than other populations (103.07, 137.57 and 113.5 cm). It can be noticed that the populations located in the border between Albania and Kosovo (Kukes and Prizren regions) as well as the population of Gjilan  have similar mean values of wither height, heart girth and budy length. Higher mean value of wither height is found at Gjakova local cattle (133.0 cm). Despite these small differences in body size the milk production is rather different between Albanian and Kosovo populations. Discriminate analyses model was used to evaluate the level of local differentiation of cattle populations. Three groups are formed: Back Rjoll herd of Albania showing  constant differentiation from other groups, the group composed by three herds located in Kukes (Albania), Prizren and Gjilan(Kosovo); the  group  where we find only Gjakova herd. The results of discrimanate analyses shows that the process of evolution of morphometric trais and selection have been associated with the presence of isolation in distance. The results need further verifications.  Keywords: Local cattle, identification, morphometric measurement, local differentiation.    

Genetic Local Differentiation of A.m.carnica Population as well as Subspecies A.m.macedonica, A.m.ligustica, A.m.mellifera, A.m.caucasica, in Germany, Alpine Region, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Northern Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia

This Measurements of 11 traits of the right forewing of the Albanian native bee were made in this study. Using these traits, the relations between the Albanian bee population and populations belonging to subspecies A.m.carnica, A.m.ligustica, A.m.macedonica, A.m.mellifera and A.m.caucasica were evaluated. Based on these data, the analysis of the principal components and cluster analysis is made. According to them, it is found that the Albanian bee population can be classified in the group of the subspecies A.m.carnica. These analyzes highlight the existence of two distinct groups of subspecies A.m.carnica. The Albanian population is part of the group A.m.carnica breeding in Italy, Croatia and Serbia. During the last twenty years the Albanian bee population is differentiated more with A.m.carnica populations breeding in northern Italy and Croatia, and is much closer to the population of the subspecies A.m.carnica breeding in Serbia and A.m.macedonica. Keywords: honey bee, morphometry, angle, cubital inde

UDK xxxx xxxx xxxx EFFECT OF CALVING INTERVAL ON MILK YIELD IN JERSEY COWS UNDER CONDITIONS OF SMALL FAMILY FARMS IN ALBANIA

Sažetak Effect of calving interval on 305 day milk yield for first three lactations was studied in order to increase efficiency of selection schemes and to more efficiently manage Jersey cows that have been raised on small scale family farms in Albania. Results obtained by processing data of 1476 cows, managed in 935 small scale family farms, pointed out that current calving interval significantly affects on milk production for first three lactations (p<0.05). Preceding calving interval affected 305 day milk yield (p<0.05) in second lactation only. Linear regression model accounted for 20-25 % of the total variance of 305 day milk yield. Extension of calving interval over 420, 430, 450 days for first, second and third lactations respectively, did not increase milk production when converted to 305 day lactation. Stochastic relations between calving interval and calving age and month are moderated. Values of Pierson's correlation coefficients ranged 0.38 to 0.69. Adjustment of milk production in order to reduce effect of calving interval on total phenotypic variance of milk yield is valid for first lactation only. Adjustment of 305 day milk yield for second and third lactations in order to reduce effects of factors "calving age and month" brings about, at the same time, elimination of calving interval effect. Ključne riječi: milk production, small family farm, calving interval Uvod Length of calving interval is one of non genetic factors affecting milk yield in cattle. It is known that length of calving interval depends on length of days open, whose variance is conditioned by different environmental factors such as: feeding, production system, AI technician's skills, management skills of farmer etc. To make possible an efficient selection of cows, the literature recommends that along side different adjustments, 305 day milk yield should be adjusted to reduce effect of calving interval on its total variance (H a n s e t , 1978; L e r o y , 1980; K u m e , 1989; J a m r o z i k , 1997; B i ç o k u , 1995; N e b e l , 2001)

Data from: Conservation of a domestic metapopulation structured into related and partly admixed strains

Preservation of genetic diversity is one of the most pressing challenges in the planetary boundaries concept. Within this context, we focused on genetic diversity in a native, unselected and highly admixed domesticated metapopulation. A set of 1828 individuals from 60 different cattle breeds was analysed using a medium density SNP chip. Among these breeds, 14 Buša strains formed a metapopulation represented by 350 individuals, while the remaining 46 breeds represented the global cattle population. Genetic analyses showed that the scarcely selected and less differentiated Buša metapopulation contributed a substantial proportion (52.6%) of the neutral allelic diversity to this global taurine population. Consequently, there is an urgent need for synchronised maintenance of this highly fragmented domestic metapopulation, which is distributed over several countries without sophisticated infrastructure and highly endangered by continuous replacement crossing as part of the global genetic homogenisation process. This study collected and evaluated samples, data and genome-wide information and developed genome-assisted cross-border conservation concepts. To detect and maintain genetic integrity of the metapopulation strains, we designed and applied a composite test that combines six metrics based on additive genetic relationships, a nearest neighbour graph and the distribution of semi-private alleles. Each metric provides distinct information components about past admixture events and offers an objective and powerful tool for the detection of admixed outliers. The here developed conservation methods and presented experiences could easily be adapted to comparable conservation programmes of domesticated or other metapopulations bred and kept in captivity or under some other sort of human control

The genotypes from 55,266 SNP scored in 1,210 cattle

This file contains the genotypes from 55,266 SNP markers scored in 1,210 cattle. Samples were genotyped with the Illumina BovineSNP50 BeadChip version 1 and version 2. Genotypes were called using GenomeStudio

Large-scale mitogenome sequencing reveals consecutive expansions of domestic taurine cattle and supports sporadic aurochs introgression.

The contribution of domestic cattle in human societies is enormous, making cattle, along with other essential benefits, the economically most important domestic animal in the world today. To expand existing knowledge on cattle domestication and mitogenome diversity, we performed a comprehensive complete mitogenome analysis of the species (802 sequences, 114 breeds). A large sample was collected in South-east Europe, an important agricultural gateway to Europe during Neolithization and a region rich in cattle biodiversity. We found 1725 polymorphic sites (810 singletons, 853 parsimony-informative sites and 57 indels), 701 unique haplotypes, a haplotype diversity of 0.9995 and a nucleotide diversity of 0.0015. In addition to the dominant T3 and several rare haplogroups (Q, T5, T4, T2 and T1), we have identified maternal line in Austrian Murbodner cattle that possess surviving aurochs' mitochondria haplotype P1 that diverged prior to the Neolithization process. This is convincing evidence for rare female-mediated adaptive introgression of wild aurochs into domesticated cattle in Europe. We revalidated the existing haplogroup classification and provided Bayesian phylogenetic inference with a more precise estimated divergence time than previously available. Occasionally, classification based on partial mitogenomes was not reliable; for example, some individuals with haplogroups P and T5 were not recognized based on D-loop information. Bayesian skyline plot estimates (median) show that the earliest population growth began before domestication in cattle with haplogroup T2, followed by Q (~10.0-9.5 kyBP), whereas cattle with T3 (~7.5 kyBP) and T1 (~3.0-2.5 kyBP) expanded later. Overall, our results support the existence of interactions between aurochs and cattle during domestication and dispersal of cattle in the past, contribute to the conservation of maternal cattle diversity and enable functional analyses of the surviving aurochs P1 mitogenome

SUBSIBREED : overview and assessment of support measures for endangered livestock breeds : final project report

Edited by Drago Kompan, Marija Klopčič, Elżbieta Martyniu