Tehnološka i ekonomska optimizacija proizvodnje pčelinjih zajednica (Apis mellifera L.)

Due to the increased honeybee colony losses, the demands for honeybee colonies are growing annually. To regain the lost colonies or to increase the apiary size, the beekeepers need to purchase the new colonies or to prepare the new ones during the season. The aim of this study was to investigate the technological and economic efficiency of the three different methods of honeybee colony production, deploying one, two, or four combs of capped brood with the adhering bees and a mated queen. The study was conducted in northeastern Croatia from May 2019 to April 2020. At the end of the first season, there were no significant differences between the groups in the number of combs occupied with the brood and the bees. The production of colonies with one brood comb provides the beekeeper with an opportunity to multi ply more colonies, while the colonies established using four brood combs during an early season produced honey during the main summer nectar flow. All three methods of colony production have scored a positive economic result and have demonstrated positive profitability rates.Zbog povećanih gubitaka pčelinjih zajednica, potražnja za njima raste iz godine u godinu. Kako bi nadoknadili izgubljene pčelinje zajednice ili povećali veličinu pčelinjaka, pčelari moraju kupiti nove zajednice ili ih mogu sami proizvesti tijekom sezone. Cilj ovoga rada bio je ispitati tehnološku i ekonomsku učinkovitost triju različitih metoda proizvodnje pčelinjih zajednica: korištenjem jednoga, dvaju i četiriju okvira saća s poklopljenim leglom i pripadajućim pčelama kojima je dodana sparena matica. Istraživanje je provedeno u sjeveroistočnoj Hrvatskoj od svibnja 2019. do travnja 2020. Na kraju prve sezone nije bilo značajnih razlika između skupina u broju okvira zauzetih leglom i pčelama. Proizvodnja zajednica s jednim okvirom poklopljenoga legla omogućuje pčelaru proizvodnju većega broja pčelinjih zajednica, dok su se pčelinje zajednice proizvedene na početku sezone s pomoću četiriju okvira poklopljenoga legla dovoljno razvile i proizvodile med tijekom glavne ljetne pčelinje paše. Sva tri načina proizvodnje pčelinjih zajednica pokazala su pozitivan ekonomski rezultat i stopu isplativosti

T-STANDPOINT ASSISTS THE WAITING OF PREDATORY BIRDS IN LUCERNE

Field rodents can cause considerable economic losses in perennial crops, especially lucerne. Predatory birds can provide biological control of field rodent populations. However, modern arable landscape usually provides few or no natural standpoints for predatory birds to wait for their prey. According to the old farmers in eastern Croatia, T-standpoints installed into lucerne were traditional implements assisting the bird predation over field rodents. Aim of this study was to check whether the T-standpoints really are appropriate installations for the predatory birds to wait for their prey on the ground or not. The research has confirmed that predatory birds (Buteo buteo and Falco tinnunculus) descended on the installed T-standpoints (in average 1.35 arrivals per day of observation), waited (average period of stay was 17 minutes in the morning and 34 minutes in the afternoon) and landed on the ground, most probably to catch the prey (in average 13 % of arrivals to T-standpoints ended with landing to the ground, likely for the prey attack). Small forest restoration in arable landscapes and less chemical rodent control would probably improve the predatory bird populations, thus enhancing the biological control of field rodents. There remains the need for further investigation of efficiency of field rodent control by predatory birds

The Influence of Keeping Pheasants in Captivity vs. Nature on the Biological Value of Meat and its Use in Human Nutrition

The life of game birds (pheasants) in nature is coupled with a number of difficulties in all seasons of the year. This refers to finding food, breeding, laying eggs, raising the young, fleeing from their natural enemies and lack of protection from unfavorable climatic conditions. The pheasants that live in captivity – aviaries for pheasants – do not have such difficulties – they are fed regularly by quality feed for pheasants, they are protected from bad weather and natural enemies. Our research was aimed at determining the biological value of meat of pheasants grown in the two different settings – in captivity and in nature. The highest weight achieved wild pheasant males (1232.4 ± 147.36 g). The differences between tested pheasant groups were statistically very high significant (P<0.001). The differences between groups related to breast weight and tights with drumsticks weight were statistically very high significant (P<0.001). Between breast parts (%) and legs parts (%) were notified very high (P<0.001) i.e. high (P = 0.002) differences. The highest weight breast muscles and tights with drumsticks had wild pheasants (282.6 ± 63.53 g i.e. 206.2 ± 37.88g). Wilde pheasants had lower part (%) and lighter (g) skin with subcutaneous fatty tissue on breasts. Female pheasants cultivated on both ways had higher skin part (%) and subcutaneous fatty tissue in tights with drumsticks. Related to chemical composition of breast muscles is established statistically significant differences (P<0.001 i.s. P= 0.040)) in part of Ca (%) and P (%). In wild pheasant tights with drumsticks muscles established statistically very significant (P<0.001) higher part of moisture, protein and Ca, i.e. statistically very high significant (P<0.001) lower part of fat and energetic value. Research results indicate that the quality of meat of pheasants grown in nature has higher biological value than the meat of pheasants kept in aviaries, which means it has advantages in human nutrition

THE IMPACT OF ECOLOGICAL FACTORS ON WORK OF BLOODHOUNDS

Vrijednost dobro obučenog psa krvosljednika očituje se u broju pronađene ranjene ili odstrijeljene divljači koja bez takvoga psa ne bi bila pronađena. Stoga je cilj istraživanja bio utvrditi koliko pojedini ekološki čimbenici (temperatura, vlaga i tlak zraka) utječu na rad pasa po krvnom tragu. Istraživanja su obavljana tijekom godine dana kroz četiri godišnja doba s dvije skupine pasa mužjaka (N=5) u deset odvojenih tretmana. Jedna skupina pasa bila je pasmine njemački lovni terijer, a druga alpski brak jazavčar. Za istraživanje krvnog traga korištena je nerazrijeđena jelenska krv, a kao sredstvo protiv zgrušavanja korištena je kuhinjska sol (50 g/l). Krvni trag je postavljan metodom kapanja krvi iz boce, a na 500 metara traga potrošeno je 3 dl krvi. Psi su ispitivani 12 odnosno 24 sata nakon postavljanja traga. Utvrđeno je da u ukupnom vremenu izrade traga i pronalaska divljači ne postoji signifikantna razlika između ispitivanih pasmina. Prilikom rada pri niskim temperaturama zraka i tla bolji rezultat potrage i ukupno kraće vrijeme izrade traga imali su brak jazavčari, a pri visokim temperaturama zraka bolje su rezultate imali lovni terijeri. Pri optimalnim temperaturama zraka i tla nije bilo statistički značajnih razlika u rezultatima potrage, pri čemu su lovni terijeri radili neznatno brže s većim brojem grešaka. Zapaženo je da je temperatura zraka jače utjecala na rezultate potrage od relativne vlage zraka i starosti traga. Prilikom rada po tragu s visokim tlakom zraka psi su radili "niskim" nosom, kod normalnog tlaka su radili srednje visoko nošene glave, a prilikom rada kod niskog tlaka zraka glava je nošena relativno visoko. Dobrim timskim radom vodiča i psa, te pravilnim odabirom vremena i trenutka početka potrage moguće je gotovo uvijek pronaći ranjenu divljač po krvnom tragu, a time se povećava financijska dobit lovoovlaštenika.The value of a well trained hound dog for blood trail is measured through number of found wounded or shot game which couldn\u27t be found without this kind of dog. The purpose of this research was to determine how certain ecological factors (temperatures, air pressure and wind speed) can influence work of blood hounds. Researches on the impact of ecological factors on blood trail work of hound dogs were conducted during one year period and throughout all seasons with two groups of male dogs (N=5) in ten separated treatments. One breed was the Deutsche bracke and the other the German hunt terrier. For research purposes undiluted deer blood was used from which fibrin filaments were removed and coagulation was prevented by adding kitchen salt (sodium chloride, NaCl). To one litre of blood 50 grams of NaCl was added. Blood trail was set up by dripping blood from a bottle, and for each 500 m of trail 3 dl of blood were used. Blood trails were used after 12 and 24 hours. It was determined that in total time of trail drafting and game tracking there was no significant difference between tested dogs breeds. Better search results and shorter time of trail drafting at low air and ground temperatures were achieved by Deutsche bracke. At higher air temperatures better results had German hunting terriers. When the air and ground temperatures were optimal and acceptable, there were no significant differences between search results, yet the hunting terriers were faster, but with more errors. During the trail drafting, air and ground temperature had more significant influence on search result than trail age. Air flow, with respect to different wind speed had the biggest impact on overall results of blood trail search. When the wind speed was higher, German hunting terriers made more mistakes (6) compared to Deutsche bracke (2). In blood trailing when the air pressure was high, all dogs had “low” noses. When the air pressure was normal they worked with the head medium high and when the air pressure was low the head was relatively high. With good team work of the handler and the dog, and by picking the right time for trailing, it is almost always possible to find wounded game following the blood trail, increasing the financial bonus of hunting managers

The lichen flora of Risnjak National Park (Croatia)

This paper lists 80 lichen taxa recorded for Risnjak National Park. Among the listed species, Candelariella reflexa, Chaenotheca brunneola, Placynthiella icmalea, Usnea diplotypus and Usnea subfloridana have been already first reported for Croatia. The field survey was carried out at 14 collection sites in the periods 1997–1998 and 2001–2002. Floristic composition, life form spectrum and substrate preferences are described. The most numerous genera are Cladonia, Pertusaria, Lecanora and Peltigera. Lichens growth on 16 various substrates, among which the deciduous trees, Acer pseudoplatanus and Fagus sylvatica dominate. The alliance Lobarion pulmonariae, consisting of some rare and old-forest indicator species, is present within the area

DEA 1.1. krvne grupe hrvatskih autohtonih pasmina pasa: posavskog goniča i tornjaka.

The study included 60 clinically healthy dogs of two Croatian indigenous breeds: the Posavaz Hound and the Tornjak Hound. Their ages ranged from 2 months to 8 years. Determination of blood group DEA 1.1. (Dog Erythrocyte Antigen) was performed using tests based on serological agglutination reaction. The blood of dogs that showed a positive reaction to the blood group DEA 1.1., intensity of agglutination (low, medium and strong) was determined. The Posavaz Hound breed showed 60% of dogs positive for DEA 1.1. group, and the Tornjak Hound breed showed 53.3% positive. In the Tornjak Hounds the strongest positive reaction was found for the largest number of individuals (56.3%), while in the Posavaz Hound breed for most individuals the lowest positive response was determined (55.6%). The strongest intensity of reaction was found in Tornjak Hound females and the lowest in Posavaz Hound males. Using Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests no statistical difference was determined between the positive reaction intensity of Posavaz and Tornjak Hound DEA 1.1. blood groups.Istraživanjem je bilo obuhvaćeno 60 klinički zdravih pasa dviju hrvatskih autohtonih pasmina: posavski gonič (15 ženki i 15 mužjaka u dobi od 7 mjeseci do 8 godina) i tornjak (18 ženki i 12 mužjaka u dobi od 2 mjeseca do 7 godina). Uzorak krvi uzet je iz krvne žile v. cephalica u epruvete s EDTA antikoagulansom. Nakon vađenja krvi određena je moguća reakcija autoaglutinacije, koja je u svim uzorcima bila negativna. Određivanje krvne grupe DEA 1.1. (Dog Erythrocyte Antigen) obavljeno je pomoću serološkog testa RAPIDVET®-H (Canine DEA 1.1., dms/agrolabo products ag Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland), temeljenog na serološkoj reakciji aglutinacije koja nastupa kada eritrociti pasa koji sadrže DEA 1.1. antigen dođu u dodir s mišjim monoklonskim protutijelima. U krvi pasa koji su pokazali pozitivnu reakciju na krvnu grupu DEA 1.1., određena je jakost aglutinacije (slaba, srednja jak i jaka). Utvrđeno je 60% pozitivnih pasa na DEA 1.1. grupu u posavskog goniča, a 53,3% u tornjaka. Jaka reakcija zabilježen je u 56,3% pasa pasmine tornjak, dok je većina pozitivnih pasa pasmine posavski gonič imala slabu reakciju (55,6%). Najjača reakcija utvrđena je u ženki tornjaka, a najslabija u mužjaka posavskog goniča. Primjenom Kruskal-Wallis i Hi kvadrat testa nije utvrđena statistički značajna razlika

Effects of organic selen on growth and biochemical parametars in pheasants chichen

Selen je esencijalni mikroelement potreban svim životinjama za rast, zdravlje i održavanje normalnih biokemijskih funkcija. Deficit selena u ptica, osobito uz istovremeni nedostatak vitamina E, uzrokuje pojavu eksudativne dijateze, encefalomalaciju i atrofiju pankreasa, a utvrđen je i pad otpornosti, smanjenje proizvodnje jaja, te porast embrionalne smrtnosti. Istraživanje je provedeno na fazanskim pilićima (n=24) koji su prvih 28 dana hranjeni standardnom krmnom smjesom s 28% sirovih bjelančevina. Nakon toga pilići su podijeljeni u dvije skupine i do 70. dana starosti hranjeni krmnom smjesom s 24% sirovih bjelančevina ("Valpovka" Valpovo). Pokusnoj je skupini umiješan pripravak organskog selena (200 g/tonu, Sel-Plex®, Alltech, inc.). Tjelesne mase pilića kontrolne skupine bile su veće za 5,98% 56. dana, a 14,15% 70. dana tova. Biokemijskom pretragom seruma fazanskih pilića 70. dana pokusa utvrđena je statistički značajno (P<0,01) niža razina kreatinina, niža razina (P<0,05) triglicerida, ukupnog kolesterola i LDL-kolesterola u pokusnoj skupini, dok je koncentracija ukupnih bjelančevina i albumina bila viša. Hematološkom pretragom utvrđen je statistički značajno veći (P<0,05) udio štapićastih heterofila u pokusnih životinja. Jednostavnom raščlambom trupova nakon klanja utvrđena je značajno (P<0,05) manja masa kože i iznutrica (P<0,01) u pokusnoj skupini, dok je udio vrijednih dijelova trupova bio ujednačen.Selenium is the essential trace element incorporated intob the diets of all animals.lt is important for the maintenance of health, growth and normal biochemical parameters. Selenium deficiency in birds can manifest exudative diathesis, encephalomalation, pancreatic atrophy, immune deficiencies, decrease of egg production and increase of embrionic mortality. The investigation included 24 pheasant chickens divided into two groups fed standard feed mixture for pheasant chickens (starter mixture with 28% of crude proteins and grower mixture with 24% of crude proteins). In the experimental group Sel-Plex® was added in the concentration of 0.2%. Body weight in the control group was higher by 5.98% on day 56 of the trial and 14.15% higher on day 70 of the trial as compared to the experimental group. Biochemical investigation on day 70 of the trial showed sig¬nificantly lower concentration (P<O.Ol) of creatinine, tryglicerol (P<0.05), total cholesterol as well as LDL-cholesterol in the exper¬imental group. Higher concentration of total protein and albumin was established in the experimental group compared to the controls. The level of heterophyl (band) leucocites was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the experimental group. After slaughter significantly lower (P<0.05) skin weight and lower offal weight were determined in the experimental group but highly valuable parts of carcasses were equal in both groups