News, notices, press releases and commercial materials about key events in the agro-industrial complex and agriculture, trends and innovations.

Relevance. Today, the search for safe, effective and promising strain cultures exhibiting high probiotic properties as the main components of pharmacological microbial agents is a relevant area. The article presents the results of the study of probiotic properties and safety indicators of the normal flora of the genus Lactobacillus.

Materials and methods. The properties of Ligilactobacillus agilis, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Ligilactobacillus salivarius, which were isolated from the caecum of turkeys, were studied as probiotic strains. Of the probiotically significant properties of beneficial microflora, the antagonistic effect on pathogenic microorganisms, adhesive and anti-adhesive properties were analyzed in cellular models (ram blood erythrocytes and intestinal enterocytes of rat embryos). The safety of the probiotic strains was assessed by their ability to produce hemolysin by seeding them on a dense nutrient medium with defibrinated ram blood, as well as by intraperitoneal administration of a suspension of the test microorganism killed by heating in its maximum concentration.

Results. A set of microbiological studies demonstrated that the studied beneficial strains exhibit probiotic properties to varying degrees. The results of studying the antagonistic properties showed that the growth inhibition zone of opportunistic microorganisms varied within 4–14 mm depending on the test culture. When analyzing adhesiveness and antiadhesion, the best results were demonstrated by the strains Ligilactobacillus agilis and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei. When assessing the safety, it was found that the studied representatives of lactic acid bacteria do not form a hemolysis zone on the nutrient medium, and when intraperitoneally administered to laboratory animals, they do not cause signs of impairment of their health or loss of body weight.

Studies to assess the effect of acute hemic hypoxia on lipid metabolism in rat brain and heart tissues were performed on 60 white outbred rats weighing 240–260 g.

Black currant extract, medicinal raspberry extract and their mixture in the ratio 1:1 and cytochrome C were used as antihypoxants. It was found that against the background of acute hemic hypoxia, lipid metabolism disorders developed, characterized by a decrease in the proportion of total phospholipids, a decrease in the concentrations of PHH, PHEA, PHS, KL, HDL and an increase in the concentrations of S, LPH, LDL, LDONP, triglycerides and total cholesterol in brain and heart tissues of rats and calculation of atherogenicity and Castelli 1 and 2 indices confirm the development of pronounced dyslipoproteinemia, which indicates the violation of compensatory-adaptive functions of the organism and deep metabolic disorders. The use of antihypoxants levels the negative effect of hemic hypoxia on lipid metabolism in brain and heart tissues of rats, stabilizing the concentrations of lipids and phospholipids in the studied tissues and the most pronounced positive effect is observed when using a mixture of extracts of medicinal raspberry and black currant in the ratio of 1:1.

The ban on the use of antibiotics for therapeutic purposes encourages the search for highly effective alternatives, one of which is phytobiotics. However, before their large-scale implementation into practice, it is necessary to conduct a detailed assessment of the impact on various aspects of life.

The aim of the work was to study the dynamics of the elemental profile of the ruminant rumen in vitro when vanillin, transcoric aldehyde, dihydroxyquercetin and 7-hydroxycoumarin were introduced into feed.

The study was conducted on a single-quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer Agilent 7900 ICP-MS (Agilent, USA). The analysis of elements such as Cr, Fe and Zn was carried out in the helium mode using a collision cell. During the work, it was found that vanillin in concentrations from 1,225 × 10^-4 to 4,900 × 10^-4 mol/l reduces the accumulation of copper, cobalt and lead, stimulating the extraction of manganese, iron, aluminum and barium. Quercetin and cinnamic aldehyde, on the contrary, inhibit the extraction of almost all the studied elements. Coumarin, on the other hand, contributes more to the extraction of minerals from the cellulose matrix of plant components of the feed, with the exception of copper, cobalt and zinc. At the same time, the best effect is detected by a combination of quercetin and vanillin at concentrations of 2,450 × 10^-4 and 1,225 × 10^-4 mol/l, respectively. All the studied substances demonstrate the potential for the correction of hypo- and hyperelementoses of various types.

The detection of lethal and undesirable mutations in maternal Black Pied cattle populations remains relevant, despite bulls being routinely screened for a wide range of known genetic anomalies. For the first time in Sverdlovsk Oblast, a study has been initiated to investigate the carriage of lethal genes in dairy-oriented maternal cattle. For the study, 48 sexually mature cows born between 2008 and 2013 were selected from four breeding organizations in the region. Genotyping of the sampled individuals was performed using GGP Bovine 150K chips. The genotyping confirmed the latent persistence of mutant allele forms of the CD18, APAF1, SDC2, and GART genes in the herds, which cause BLAD syndrome and fertility haplotypes HH1, HH3, and HH4, respectively. No carriers of syndactyly, citrullinemia, or DUMPS pathologies were identified. The highest proportion of heterozygous individuals was associated with the lethal HH1 haplotype (7%), while the carriage rates for other mutations did not exceed 4%. The distribution of carriers across agricultural enterprises was uneven, reflecting individual farm practices in sourcing semen from breeding organizations for artificial insemination. Statistical analysis identified five carrier bulls with lethal alleles, and genealogical methods demonstrated a high probability of mutation carriage for three of them. Despite the removal of carrier bulls, lethal gene forms may persist in the population through heterozygous cows. The results highlight the widespread prevalence of the studied alleles across most genealogical lines of Holstein-origin bulls.

Currently, animal husbandry is one of the fastest growing agricultural subsectors worldwide. This requires an increase in feed production, which in turn will require an increase in the base of feed ingredients, mainly protein. One of the current global problems in animal husbandry is the shortage of feed protein. Therefore, the feed industry should be aware of the trends, problems and opportunities existing in the field of protein feed production.

The aim of the study is to consider alternative protein sources that can partially or completely replace the usual protein in animal feed.The search and analysis of literature was carried out using the following Internet resources RSCI, PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, e Library, Google Scholar (Google Academy) for the period 2020-2024.

Results. Alternative protein sources not only fill the gap in protein requirements, but also pave the way for sustainable animal husbandry. Non-traditional protein products used in animal feed are expanding rapidly, and the emerging market for alternative protein is attracting investment. Alternative protein sources are essential to meet the growing demand for protein-rich feed ingredients, so the feed production sector needs to find alternative sources based on research results.

The research results obtained from an experiment conducted on three groups of Holstein cows (n = 10) indicate a positive effect from an increase in the concentration of OE during the milking period (from day 31 to 120) from 11.00 in the control group to 11.22 and 11.44 MJ per 1 kg of dry matter and raw fat from 3.9% to 4.7% and 5.5% when fed to the main diet of cows of the I and II experimental groups of 0.25 and 0.5 kg/head/ day of protected fat in the form of vegetable calcium salts of fatty acids, which manifested itself in an increase in milk yield over 3 months of lactation by 277.7 kg and 365.1 kg (p < 0.05) and fat yield, respectively, by 10.9 kg (p < 0.05) and 15.5 kg (p < 0.01).

Optimization of energy nutrition indicators for high-yielding cows at the beginning of lactation using CCFA had a positive effect on the cost of 1 centner of milk, which decreased in relation to the control by 43.1 and 33.6 rubles, against the background of receiving additional income per head in the amount of 4344.6 and 4854.7 rubles.

The problem of restoring the declining numbers of the white hare in many regions of Russia will partly be solved by improving the technology of keeping and reproducing this species in artificial conditions with subsequent release into natural biocenoses, while special attention should be paid to the feeding system. It is especially difficult to keep and feed young hares left without a mother-nurse or with a lack of milk from the mother.

The purpose of the study is to develop a domestic milk substitute for the female white hare and a method of artificial feeding of baby hares.

The article presents the results of the research: the composition of the mixture of a substitute for mother’s milk of the hare for the hatching of newborn hares and hares of early suckling age during their maintenance and reproduction in artificial conditions in proposed and the results of comparative study of the effect of the proposed hare milk substitute on the growth rate and survival of hares during artificial hatching under experimental conditions are presented. The suggested substitute for hare doe’s milk can be used as a main feed for suckling kits as well as an additive to their milk feeding by a doe. The proposed approach of the white hare kits’ artificial feeding at their early age can be used when they are grown in a nursery. It ensures steady balanced growth and development of the kits, increases their disease resistance thus securing progeny-viability.

The assessment of metabolic parameters in the rumen and the efficiency of the conversion of nutrient components of the feed when using fermented feed substrate (sunflower husk) in the diet of bull calves was carried out.

The study was performed using the in vivo method. The object of the study is Kazakh white-headed bull calves with chronic scar fistula, aged 11–12 months. Waste from oil processing enterprises was used as the test plant substrate — sunflower husk, subjected to mechanical grinding and fermentation in a bioreactor for 9 days, the level of VFA in the contents of the rumen was determined by gas chromatography. The chemical composition of the tested substrates was determined according to generally accepted methods and GOST standards. Continuous fermentation is characterized by the reuse of agro-industrial waste as feed products for farm animals. The correct choice of culture medium, substrate and cultivation modes improves the quality of feed products, in particular, an increase in protein by 2.8 g and a decrease in fiber by up to 20.5%, as well as an increase in the course of metabolic processes in the rumen, in particular, an increase in the total level of LDL by 30.8% and total nitrogen by 16.8%, which contributed to an increase in the digestibility of dry matter feed by 9.8% (p < 0.05), crude fiber by 18.4% (p <0.01) and crude ash by 4.7% (p < 0.05).

Relevance. The article deals with the determination of the species and quantitative composition of soil micromycetes of moderately deep chestnut soil and leached chernozem soil, as well as the ecological plasticity of the identified microscopic fungi.

Methods. The objects of the study were microscopic fungi contained in different types of fallow soil in the regions of the Southern Federal District — chestnut shallow soil and leached chernozem. The study of soil samples under laboratory conditions for the presence of micromycetes was carried out according to generally accepted methods. The third dilution (1:1000) was used for sowing the soil suspension on Czapek medium.

Results. In 2023–2024, the species composition of micromycetes was more diverse in chestnut soil (9 genera) samples compared to leached chernozem soil (6 genera). Micromycetes common to chestnut and leached chernozem soils were identified: Cladosporium spp., Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp. and Mucor spp. The presence of these micromycetes genera in soil types that differ in structure and microelement content indicates their ecological flexibility and developed ability to adapt to different moisture conditions and soil types. Fungi Trichoderma spp. were not found in chestnut soil samples, and fungi Acremonium spp., Mortierella spp. and fungi-like organisms of the genus Pythium spp. were not found in leached chernozem samples, which allows us to classify them as stenobionts. The dominants of the second rank in the chestnut soil were Penicillium spp. with an abundance index of 37%, in the leached chernozem — Fusarium spp. and Trichoderma spp. (the abundance was 45 and 36%). The highest spatial frequency of occurrence of soil micromycetes in the conditions of the Kotelnikovsky district was noted in the genus Penicillium spp. (83%), in the conditions of the Oktyabrsky farm — in Trichoderma spp. and Fusarium spp. (100% each).

Relevance. In the harsh continental climate of the south of the Amur region, many species/ cultivars of ornamental grasses do not have time to go through all phenological phases of development. Seed propagation of cereals is difficult. Growing plants from seeds of your own reproduction allows you to obtain plants that are more adapted to local growing conditions. We were the first to study the quality of seeds of species and cultivars of the genus Pennisetum Rich., introduced in the south of the Amur region.

Materials and methods. The material for the study was seeds of Pennisetum setaceum (Forssk.) Chiov., P. villosum R.Br. ex Fresen. and 6 cultivars of P. glaucum R.Br. 2020–2023 years. The initial introduction material was obtained from Russian online stores and through exchange with foreign botanical gardens. Seeds of own reproduction were collected in 2021–2023. On the basis of the UNI “Collection of plant genetic resources of the AB BGI FEB RAS” from July to September. Germination energy and seed germination according to the recommendations of M.M. Ishmuratova and K.G. Tkachenko (2009) and GOST 12038-84. Weight of 1000 seeds according to GOST 12042-80.

Results and conclusions. P. setaceum had a high germination rate over four years of research. The highest germination rates for P. villosum seeds were noted in 2021–2022. P. glaucum varieties are characterized by opposite indicators of laboratory germination and high variability of the weight of 1000 seeds over the years, which shows the dependence of varieties on fluctuations in weather conditions.

Each type of agricultural feed has unique optical properties and nutritional value characteristics that must be taken into account at the stage of drawing up an animal feeding diet to ensure the rational management of economic processes at industrial livestock enterprises.

Arbitrage chemical methods for assessing the moisture content and nutritional value of agricultural feed are laborious in the implementation. World practice shows that optical methods can serve as an effective alternative for the development and manufacture of a new generation instrument base that allows determining the qualitative properties of materials, including agricultural feed (nutritional value).

The most time-consuming procedure for developing optical devices is to obtain optical calibrations (see definition), which provide interpretation of the values of an indirect parameter that characterizes the nutritional value of agricultural feed.

The study describes the process of obtaining optical calibrations by varying the control indicator (using the example of feed moisture), followed by building a correlation between the value of an indirect parameter (photoluminescence intensity) and the control indicator. Including in a portable express analyzer operating on the basis of photoluminescence.

The proposed method of forming a control indicator can be used to obtain optical calibrations for rapid determination of total fat content and other indicators of nutritional value.

Relevance. In the context of the current sanctions policy, as well as within the framework of the federal scientific and technical program for the development of agriculture and its subprogram for the development of potato breeding and seed production in the Russian Federation until 2030, the issue of providing breeding and seed farms with a sufficient number of technical means for carrying out breeding work, in particular, high-automation machines for cultivar. Currently, no machines for carrying out these operations are manufactured in Russia, and foreign machines have a low level of automation and high requirements for the qualifications of operators working on them, on the basis of which an automated potato peeling machine with a digging working body equipped with buckets (forks) is proposed.

The purpose of the research is a theoretical substantiation of the technical and technological parameters of the working bodies of a machine for cultivating potato and vegetable crops. Methods. The study assessed the force generated during the deepening and extraction of actuators of different designs, using methods of mathematical modeling of the operation of the excavation device in order to determine the forces acting on the mechanism.

Results. In the course of the research, the main forces acting on the mechanism of the digging device during its operation were determined, as well as the influence of the designs of the buckets under consideration on the force of their deepening into the soil. The maximum values of the deepening force for an excavator-type bucket are 1500 N, and for a fork-shaped bucket 420 N, which allows us to determine the rational parameters of the digging mechanism, which should be equipped with two hydraulic cylinders creating a force of at least 1500 N for each bucket, and one hydraulic cylinder with a force of at least 750 N for extracting buckets with soil and plants.

Among the main factors resulting from the onset and development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the state of human intestinal microbiota is a leading factor. Studies of the effect of probiotic preparations and products on the condition of T2DM patients and the main markers of the disease, caused both on animals and humans, confirmed their antidiabetic properties — reducing fasting blood glucose levels, glycated hemoglobin, some inflammatory markers, improving the antioxidant effect. Also, the results of studies confirm the possibility of preventing the impact of the disease on the intestinal microflora. Pro- and prebiotics are used to correct the composition of the microbiota.

The research objectives are to develop a multi-strain probiotic functional food ingredient in an encapsulated form, to study the stability of probiotic microorganisms in the composition of a fermented milk product and its effect on its properties.

The microorganism strains with confirmed probiotic effect were used: Bifidobacterium bifidum BF3 DSM 29040; Lactobacillus plantarum 8P A3; Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG. The encapsulated form of probiotics was applied by extrusion method on encapsulator B-390 (BUCHI, Switzerland) using sodium alginate and suspension of probiotic microorganisms with cell concentration not less than 10¹⁰ CFU/g. The resulting capsules had an average diameter of 715 ± 80 μm and an encapsulation efficiency of more than 90%. Addition of encapsulated probiotics to yogurt without filler and with filler in the dry form of functional complex mixture does not significantly affect the physicochemical and structural-mechanical parameters of the product. When considering organoleptic indicators in yogurt without filler, a slight peculiarity is noted in yogurt without filler, which is absent in sandy product with filler. During refrigeration storage for 29 days the concentration of viable encapsulated probiotic microorganisms remained at the level of 10⁹ CFU/g.

In this work, the effect of a triple chelate iron-containing complex on laboratory animals was investigated. To synthesize the triple chelate iron-containing complex, vitamin B₃ was mixed with ascorbic acid in a molar ratio of 1:1. The synthesis was carried out by a mechanochemical method from a ferrous sulfate precursor. Quantum-chemical modeling of the interaction of iron with vitamins C and B₃ was carried out using the QChem program. As a result, it was found that the optimal interaction is the iron atom with vitamin B₃ through the carboxyl group and tertiary amino group in the pyridine ring, and with vitamin C through a pair of hydroxyl groups attached to the C₅ and C₆ atoms of vitamin C (E = -2372.470 kcal/mol, η = 0.153 eV). Then, a study was carried out on the effect of the developed complex on the hematological parameters of laboratory animals. When studying the acute toxicity of ferrous nicotinate ascorbate, behavioral reactions, food and water consumption, and respiratory rate in all animals of the experimental groups remained within the normal range and did not differ from the control. It was found that toxic doses exceed the maximum possible concentrations and maximum possible volumes with intragastric administration of the drug LD50 > 5000 mg/kg, therefore the developed compound belongs to low-hazard substances. Then, the subacute toxicity of ferrous nicotinate ascorbate was studied with intragastric administration. It was found that repeated use of the drug in the tested doses did not cause significant changes in the clinical condition of white rats. The rats retained motor activity comparable to that of the control animals. All changes that were found in the hematological picture of the blood of the experimental rats corresponded to the reference values for this type of animal.

Relevance. Food security has traditionally been one of the key components of national security and, along with the problem of ensuring sustainable growth in domestic production of the necessary volumes of the main types of food products, is an important guideline for the formation and implementation of relevant areas of state policy.

These issues have acquired particular importance in the current realities, characterized by a consistent increase in international tension and the introduction by a number of interstate associations of unprecedented sanctions measures against the economy of the Russian Federation.

The state of the livestock complex, whose products account for almost half of the total agricultural production at the national level, as well as the effectiveness of measures taken within the framework of the state policy of import substitution in agriculture, largely determine Russia’s food security. This circumstance also determines the high relevance of studying the trends observed in the development of the livestock complex, identifying and evaluating the factors that cause such trends.

Methods. The theoretical basis of this study is compiled by the works of domestic and foreign scientists devoted to the development of the livestock complex and the problems of ensuring food security. In the process of its implementation, general scientific methods of cognition were used.

Results. An assessment of the data presented in the article allows us to conclude that there are a number of imbalances and negative trends in the development of the livestock complex of the Russian Federation, which, if current trends persist, can create a situation threatening the country’s food security in the medium term.

These imbalances primarily relate to the meat and dairy sub-sector of animal husbandry, which, due to the features noted in the article, has been stagnating for a long time.

The article is dedicated to analyzing the potential applications of big data and neural network technologies in precision agriculture to increase crop yields and the sustainability of agricultural production. Based on a review of current research, key trends and gaps in this area have been identified. An original methodology has been proposed, which includes the collection and integration of diverse data sets (remote sensing data, sensor data, agrochemical soil indicators, etc.), their processing using machine learning algorithms, including convolutional neural networks, and the creation of predictive models. Empirical testing of the methodology on a sample of 120 fields in various agroclimatic conditions demonstrated an increase in yield prediction accuracy by 15–20% compared to traditional approaches. Promising directions for optimizing decision-support systems in precision agriculture based on big data analysis have been identified. The results obtained are significant for the development of sustainable agriculture and enhancing global food security.

The article is dedicated to analyzing the potential for the implementation of blockchain solutions in the activities of large agro-industrial holdings. Based on a review of current research and the generalization of pilot project experiences, key areas for applying distributed ledger technology in the agro-industrial complex have been identified: supply chain management, product quality monitoring, logistics optimization, and automation of financial transactions. An assessment of the economic impact of integrating blockchain into the business processes of agro-holdings has been conducted. The results obtained indicate significant potential for increasing companies’ efficiency and sustainability through enhanced transparency, security, and speed of operations. Barriers hindering the widespread adoption of blockchain in the agro-industrial complex have been highlighted, and measures to overcome them have been proposed. The conclusions drawn are valuable for strategic planning of digital transformation in the agricultural sector. (127 words).

The article is devoted to examining the role of digital technologies and big data in modernizing agriculture. Based on a comprehensive analysis of scientific literature, the main trends in the application of digital solutions in the agricultural sector have been identified, including precision farming, smart farms, and blockchain for supply chain tracking. Using comparative and statistical analyses, the effects of implementing digital innovations have been evaluated using examples from several countries. It has been revealed that the use of big data allows for an average increase in yield by 15–20% and a reduction in costs by 10–15%. At the same time, barriers to digitalization have been outlined: high initial investments, a lack of competencies, and system compatibility issues. An original conceptual model for effective digital transformation of agriculture has been proposed, integrating technological, economic, and social aspects. The conclusion emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that takes into account both the benefits and risks of digitalization. Promising directions for further research have been identified.

The article is dedicated to exploring the potential of using blockchain technology to improve management processes and enhance the efficiency of large agricultural holdings. Based on the analysis of recent scientific works and empirical data from 2018 to 2023, key areas of blockchain application in the agro-industrial complex (AIC) have been identified, including optimizing supply chains, increasing transparency and transaction security, and implementing smart contracts. Using methods of statistical analysis, modeling, and case studies, the effectiveness of blockchain solutions has been demonstrated in the context of reducing transaction costs by 17%, shortening logistics operation times by 23%, and increasing labor productivity by 11% for a sample of 30 large agro-holdings. The results indicate the significant potential of blockchain as a driver of innovative transformation in agriculture and open up prospects for further research in the development of specialized blockchain platforms and integration with other breakthrough technologies.