Relevance. At present, quail products are gaining more and more popularity among the population. Along with this fact, the question arises in poultry farms of increasing quail productivity while maintaining the safety of products.

Methods. The studies were performed at the Department of Parasitology and Veterinary Sanitary Expertise of MVA named after K.I. Scriabin, as well as in the vivarium of the Academy and accredited laboratories. The object of the study was the quail of the Scandinavian breed from one day old and the carcasses of quail grown using Prodactiv Hepato.

Results. The use of feed additives in growing quail does not adversely affect the histological structure of the liver, which confirms the safety of the use of Hepato Food in quail breeding. 

Relevance. The systemic search for the new genetic combinations for the use as parental forms or final hybrids allows for the faster and more cost-effective advancement of the existing poultry crosses and/or development of new ones.

Methods. The productive performance in newly developed parental forms (paternal X12, autosexing maternal X34) of broiler breeders and final hybrids (X1234) was assessed on-farm during 2016-2020 in the Center for Genetics & Selection “Smena”.

Results. The selection of preparental broiler chicken lines X1 and X2 (Cornish breed) resulted in the improvements in egg fertility percentage and hatch of chicks by 3.6%; live bodyweight at 28 days of age in their hybrid (paternal form X12) was increased by 3.1%. The targeted selection of autosexing maternal form X34 (Plymouth Rock breed) for reproductive performance resulted in the improvements in egg production by 1.3%, the percentage of eggs suitable for incubation by 0.4%, number of chicks per hen housed by 2.1%. The accuracy of sexing with the use of marker genes K-k is 99.5%. The European production efficiency index (EPEF) in the final hybrid broilers X1234 was improved by 11.5%. The conclusion was made that the newly developed parental forms and final hybrid broilers have high genetic productivity potential and could be effectively used in the commercial broiler production.  

Relevance and methods. During 2010–2015 in conditions of large pigbreeding complexes of Open Joint Stock Company “Smolmyaso” — Smolensk Region, limited liability company “Stupinsky Meat Processing Plant” and agricultural production cooperative “Mashkino” — Moscow Region a research and production experiment was conducted to determine the intravital productivity and slaughter indicators of young pigs of Russian, Canadian and French breeding. Experimental youngsters from 2 month age to a live weight of 100 kg were contained under conditions of control growing. The conditions of keeping, feeding and slaughter of young pigs were identical. When pigs reached a live weight of 95-105 kg they were evaluated on their own productivity and slaughter indicators.

Results. It was found that among young Russian, Canadian and French breeds, the three-breed crossbreeds obtained by crossing two-breed cross-breeding sows with boars of the Duroc breed were characterized by the highest early maturity and growth rate. The results of the control slaughter showed that the three-breed crossbreeds of young Canadian and French breeding were also characterized by the best slaughter parameters. It was established that young pigs of Canadian and French breeding are more precocious and have better slaughter rates than young stock of domestic breeding. Based on the obtained research results, it is recommended to use Canadian and French pigs more widely to obtain commercial young pigs with high fattening and meat qualities.

Relevance. The addition of dry post-alcohol distillery stillage to feed in the pig industry allows to increase the average daily gain in live weight of animals, which reduces feed costs and reduces the cost of production in the pig industry.

Materials and results. The article shows the feasibility of using dry postalcohol distillery stillage as an  additive to feed in the pig industry. The research methodology was shown, which included the determination of the weight gain of animals fed with the use of dry supplements after alcohol bards in and without them. The study also included the determination of morphological and biochemical parameters of the blood of piglets. The results of the studies showed that the weight of animals with use of an additive in the feed of dry post-alcohol distillery stillage increased by 13% compared with animals taking the main diet, while the biochemical analysis of blood of piglets is within the physiological norm, while at the same time these indicators are in the control group practically did not change.

Relevance. In recent years much attention has been paid to the development of new immunomodulators, probiotics, prebiotics, phytobiotics and other biologically active drugs.

Methods and results. The article outlines results of the experiment on young pigs being fed diet rations supplemented with probiotic. Based on the experimental data, we conclude that inclusion of probiotic supplement in diet ration resulted in average daily gain. In the third experiment group, where young pigs were fed rations with probiotic supplement in the amount of 600 g/t, average daily gain was estimated to be 3.5% higher compared to control group. Nitrogen utilization in experiment group was reported more effective than in control group. The ratio of nitrogen left in the organism to assimilated nitrogen due to metabolism in experiment groups is 3.63% and 4.33% higher respectively. Calcium deposition in body tissues of young pigs in the second and the third experiment groups increased by 7.34% and 8.4% respectively, whereas phosphorus deposition exceeded the indicator by 4.05% and 13.7% respectively.

Relevance. In Azerbaijan, recently, various breeds of ornamental chickens, including curly-haired chickens, are widely bred and kept on personal farms. However, observations show that raising this exotic breed of chickens is somewhat more difficult and their maintenance requires increased attention.

Methods. This work is devoted to studying the possibility of obtaining optimal hatching eggs in a hot climate by including medicinal asparagus, cinnamon, fodder yeast, sprouted wheat, and also reducing the ratio between roosters and laying hens in the flocks of a rooster.

Results. As a result of the work performed with the above method of keeping and feeding, an increase in the sexual activity of roosters, an increase in the fertility of eggs of laying hens, as well as an increase in both the quality of the incubation eggs and the percentage of hatchability of chicken curly hens were achieved.

Methods. The article presents the results of research on comparative zootechnical assessment of the exterior of stallions and mares of native Tuvan breed bred in different natural and climatic regions of Tuva. Herds of Tuvan horses were examined in the Erzya, Tes-Khem, Ovyur, Tere-Khol and Bai-taigin kozhuuns. A total of 1,445 heads were selected for the study, including 93 breeding stallions and 1,352 mares aged 4 years and older.

Results. As a result of the comparative analysis of the external characteristics of the stallions and mares, it was revealed that the Tuvan breed horses have characteristic features of the type and exterior that make it quite easy to visually identify them. For the local Tuvan horse, the following features of the exterior are characteristic: a relatively light, simple (somewhat rough) head with a straight profile; compact, sharp ears; a neck of medium length or long, muscular, fat ridge in stallions is expressed medium or below average; a long straight back, deep chest; usually well-developed, muscular rounded croup; limbs of medium length or short, moderately bony, usually of correct structure; hooves strong, medium size, hoof horn strong. Strong build. Tuvan horses are characterized by long and thick bangs, mane and tail, brushes are expressed slightly. It was also found that native Tuvan horses differ significantly in some zootechnical indicators, especially when comparing the live weight, measurement and chest girth index between horses of the Tere-Khol district with other regions of Tuva. Tere-Khol stallions and mares not only have the largest live weight, but also broad-bodied and bony, which is very important for the northern regions of Tuva.

The article considers the selection of high-yielding and drought-tolerant forms of genotypes with different morphological properties, different periods of ripeness under the influence of stress factors, development of recommendations for use as primary material in breeding. As the studied object, 12 wheat genotypes were used, divided by 4 genotypes in each group, differing by ripening periods. The results of the research allow direct assessment of drought resistance by a number of possible complex methods, which allow to predict not only various aspects of drought tolerance in the early stages of wheat development, but also their potential productivity.

An important reserve for increasing the yield of sunflower, along with the introduction of new high-yielding varieties and hybrids, is to improve agricultural techniques, especially the choice of the most optimal sowing dates. With adaptive technology of cultivation sowing sunflower in optimal time is one of the most important conditions that determine the timely, even and complete germination and further good development of plants. The aim of the research is to study the elements of adaptive technology of sunflower cultivation to provide vegetable oil producers with high-quality raw materials. As a result of the research data on the study of elements of adaptive technology of sunflower cultivation, namely the timing of sowing in the West Kazakhstan region. According to the research, in the conditions of the 1st zone of the West Kazakhstan region to obtain a full crop of sunflower it is advisable to produce earlier terms — when temperature of the soil at the depth of seeding is 8–10 °C. Early sowing has a positive effect on the growth and development of sunflower, increases the collection of oilseeds.

The article data are provided on testing varieties of local and Russian selection for productivity, formation grain yield in the Central region of the Republic Karakalpakstan. Data on phenological observations, growth and development, as well as the productivity of the studied varieties are given. Varieties forming high productivity under extreme conditions were identified: Krasnodar 99, Antonina, Zvezda, Uzbekistan-25, Zvezda, Amangul, Aziz, Shortanbay 1, they distinguished by high productive bushiness and high weight of grain per ear compared to other varieties.

Relevance. Pumpkin plants are valuable vegetable and melon crops (pumpkin, watermelon, melon, squash, cucumber, luffa, momordica, lagenaria, anguria, etc.), covering a wide variety of plant life forms. The fruits and seeds of these crops are of great nutritional value.

Material and results. The existing assortment of a pumpkin, vegetable marrow, bush pumpkin, watermelon, melon in the Russian Federation, according to the State register of the selection achievements admitted to use is considered. On each culture the grades which were grown for more then 45–75 years are allocated. The carried out analysis of domestic and foreign grades and hybrids has allowed to divide them into groups on precocity, use, cultivation regions, quantity of deducing by selection-seed-growing establishments. Perspective directions of selection of pumpkin crops are shown: selection for bush and short-walled forms for long-term storage of fruits (with a period of 6–9 months with a thick, dense peel), for gymnospermy (reduces labor costs for their cleaning, contain up to 45–50% oil), for high carotene (up to 30 mg%) and sugars (up to 15%), for processing (pulp thickness from 3 cm, bright orange, dense, juicy, aromatic), with portioned fruits (fruits of small mass — 2–3 kg), saturation of female flowers and weak branching, etc.

Relevance. Currently, there are several approaches to assessing the values of the heritability coefficient. The aim of our study was to assess the donor potential on the basis of the “density of berry pulp” in strawberry varieties.

Methods. In the article are present the results of evaluating of the donor potential of four strawberry varieties – Onda, Belrubi, Florence, Elizabeth II — on the trait «firmness of fruit», according to the values of the heritability coefficient in the narrow sense h2. The calculation of the values of the coefficient of heritability was carried out on the basis of the correlation analysis by the Pearson method. The work was conducted at the experimental station of the Federal State Budget Scientific Institution «North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Winemaking» (Krasnodar, Russia).

Results. Spend studies have shown that the predominant additive effect of genetic interactions was noted in the Onda strawberry variety, which showed the values of heritability coefficient h2 in three hybrid selections with their participation, amounting to 0.59, 0.64 and 0.75. For the Belrubi variety in six hybrid selections with his participation is shown the presence of both additive and non-additive gene interactions. Belrubi heritability coefficients is ranged from 0.11 to 0.55. Florence variety, according to the obtained values of the heritability coefficient of 0.23 and 0.43, can show both nonadditive and  additive effects of genes in selections 11-1-15 Belrubi × Florence and 14-1-15 Belrubi × Florence in trait of the firmness of fruit. Non-additive genetic interactions (h2 is 0.14) are also noted for the Elizabeth II variety in the hybrid selection 20-1-15 Onda × Elizabeth II. In accordance with the hereditary potential of donors and sources, due to additive and non-additive interactions of genes and the heterosis effect in hybrid offspring on the trait «firmness of fruit», Onda strawberry variety was selected as a donor and Belrubi was selected as a source.

Relevance. The analysis of the state and development of production and economic activities of agricultural enterprises of the Kortkerossky district of the Komi Republic leads to the conclusion that to solve the problems of agricultural production, it is more urgent than ever to form a cluster structure that will ensure the competitive advantage and sustainability of the development of the dairy subcomplex in the region.

Methods. As an economic mechanism for agro-industrial integration in the dairy cluster, it is proposed to use the transfer price mechanism, which will allow producers to sell raw materials at higher prices, and the processing enterprise to pay for part of the product not at the time of the transaction, but after a certain period of time.

Results. Based on the development of the dairy cluster, the economic interaction of participants in agro-industrial integration is modeled according to a new scheme based on transfer prices and including producers of agricultural products, as well as its processor. For the first time in the project of cluster structure, it is proposed to provide the placement of an electronic trading and purchasing platform.