Investigations on sperm production in pic boars

The biological material was represented by PIC boars for whom the main indices of spermiogram were estimated. The mean ejaculated volume was by 327.0 ± 14.4 ml lower in boars from SL 1075 (304.3 ± 7.3 ml) and insignificantly higher in boars from SL 408 (349.8 ± 7.2 ml). The volume was much influenced by age of boars and season. The mean concentration of sperm in spermatozoon was of 343.9 ± 9.1 x 106 spermatozoids/ml with significant differences between these two synthetic lines: 386.6 ± 12.1 x 106 spermatozoids/ml in SL 1075 and 301.2 ± 9.8 x 106 spermatozoids/ml in SL 408. The mean concentration was higher between 2 and 3 years and in autumn. The mean number of dose/ejaculate was of 20.8, differences being found according to SL of boars (19.7 in SL 408 and 22.0 in SL 1075), age of boars (15.2 at the age of one year, 21.7 at the age of two years, 24.8 at the age of three years and 22 at the age of 3.5 years) and according to the season when sample was taken over: 22.9 in spring, 17.9 in summer, 22.3 in autumn and 20.3 in winter

Quality assessment of raw honey issued from Eastern Romania

Romania is known among the main European honey producers, due to the variety of landforms as well as the diversity of the flora. Thirty-four honey samples of the acacia, linden and multifloral types, produced in eastern Romania and collected during 2013–2018, were physico chemically analyzed using methods provided by the national and EU standards. The results of water-insoluble solids, color and refractive index were found to be 0.023–0.131%, 0.3–76.4 mm Pfund and 1.485–1.499, respectively. The moisture content ranged between 15.20% and 20.77%, solid substances content ranged between 79.23% and 84.80% and total soluble substances content ranged between 77.83 ◦Brix and 83.26 ◦Brix. The obtained values of specific gravity were from 1.414 to 1.450 g/cm3 , pH ranged from 3.673 to 5.503 and free acidity ranged between 2.4 meq and 50 meq kg−1 . The ash content and the electrical conductivity varied between 0.030 and 0.543% and 130 and 679 µS cm−1 , respectively. Pearson0 s correlation analysis showed an intense association of the ash content with electrical conductivity (r = 0.81). Our findings reveal the qualitative level of Romanian honey and the variation in quality parameters due to factors such as geographical region, climatic conditions, botanical origin and handling or storage conditions

The chemical composition and polluants content of some ecological and conventional green forage sources for dairy cow feed

The quality of feed is very important in dairy milk production. The aim of the current paper was a comparative characterisation in terms of crude chemical composition, Ca and P, heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu), nitrates, nitrites and pesticides, for the natural meadow and green alfalfa, cultivated in ecological and conventional systems, utilised for feeding dairy cows. Sampling and analysis were performed according to established standards and working methods: drying for dry matter (DM); calcination for crude ash (C Ash); Kjeldahl method for crude protein (CP); Soxhlet method for crude fat or ether extract (EE), spectrophotometry for P, nitrates and nitrites; atomic absorption spectrometry for Ca, Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn; gas-chromatography for pesticides. For alfalfa, the highest values in the ecological system were for C Ash (12.68%), EE (2.50%), NFE (35.78%) and Ca (1.79%). For the natural meadow, the highest values in the ecological system were for DM (25.72%), OS (89.32%), EE (2.76%), NFE (45.27%) and Ca (0.70%). The toxic heavy metal content was below the limits allowed (1 mg/kg Cd and 30 mg/kg Pb). For Pb the values determined from the two feeds were between 0.06 mg/kg and 0.16 mg/kg and for Cd between 0.007 mg/kg and 0.02 mg/kg. The pesticides residuum was under the detection limit of 0.05 mg/kg DM for organo-chlorinated pesticides and 0.001 mg/kg for organo-phosphoric pesticides. All the studied forages were safe regarding pollutants (heavy metals, nitrites, nitrates and pesticides), but statistical differences existed between the production systems, such that the ecological system seems to be better

Research regarding reproductive performance recorded for landrace X Yorkshire crossbreed sows used for bacon production

The aim of this study is to present the reproduction performance recorded at Landrace x Yorkshire cross bred sows exploited for bacon production in an elite unit in Denmark. We have investigated several reproductive parameters: fecundity (depending on season), index of using sows for reproduction, prolificacy, number of piglets farrowed dead and the survival percentage to weaning. The obtained results were: average fecundity is between 91.66 and 92.22%; the average index of use for reproduction is between 2.35 and 2.37; the average number of piglets farrowed alive is between 14.35 and 14.37. The results are a consequence of valuable genetic material, as well as of the technology applied in the unit. The results are situated within the data presented in the specialty literature for these parameters

Quality Assessment of Raw Honey Issued from Eastern Romania

Romania is known among the main European honey producers, due to the variety of landforms as well as the diversity of the flora. Thirty-four honey samples of the acacia, linden and multifloral types, produced in eastern Romania and collected during 2013–2018, were physico-chemically analyzed using methods provided by the national and EU standards. The results of water-insoluble solids, color and refractive index were found to be 0.023–0.131%, 0.3–76.4 mm Pfund and 1.485–1.499, respectively. The moisture content ranged between 15.20% and 20.77%, solid substances content ranged between 79.23% and 84.80% and total soluble substances content ranged between 77.83 °Brix and 83.26 °Brix. The obtained values of specific gravity were from 1.414 to 1.450 g/cm3, pH ranged from 3.673 to 5.503 and free acidity ranged between 2.4 meq and 50 meq kg−1. The ash content and the electrical conductivity varied between 0.030 and 0.543% and 130 and 679 µS cm−1, respectively. Pearsonʹs correlation analysis showed an intense association of the ash content with electrical conductivity (r = 0.81). Our findings reveal the qualitative level of Romanian honey and the variation in quality parameters due to factors such as geographical region, climatic conditions, botanical origin and handling or storage conditions