The article is devoted to the review and analysis of varietal resources of soft spring wheat cultivated in the conditions of Western Siberia. For 2020, 261 varieties of this crop are included into the State Register of the Russian Federation, including 97 varieties (36.8 %) created by breeders of 15 institutions in the West Siberian region. In the Omsk region, depending on the climatic zone, the largest areas are occupied by the following varieties: mid-early – Omskaya 36 (242.16 thousand hectares), Pamyati Azieva (59.94 thousand hectares), Boevchanka (48.27 thousand hectares), Novosibirskaya 31 (36.3 thousand hectares); mid-season – Omskaya 38 (82.91 thousand hectares), OmGAU 90 (52.84 thousand hectares), Sigma (49.99 thousand hectares), Altaiskaya zhnitsa (35.2 thousand hectares); mid-late – Uralosibirskaya (145.72 thousand hectares), Melodiya (59.53 thousand hectares), Omskaya 28 (57.41 thousand hectares), Pavlogradka (67.31 thousand hectares), Element 22 (65.87 thousand hectares), Omskaya 35 (41.7 thousand ha). The joint creation of varieties with scientists from the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences made it possible to use, along with collection samples and selection varieties, alloplasmatic introgressive lines of soft wheat carrying the cytoplasm of the cultivated barley Hordeumvulgare L. As the result, there have been developed Sigma, Uralosibirskaya 2, Ishimskaya 11 and Sakmara varieties with a high level of resistance to stem and leaf rust and a medium level to powdery mildew. Due to the massive increase of the leaf and stem rust, varieties with a high level of resistance to these pathogens have been created and recommended for cultivation – Omskaya 38, Sigma, Uralosibirskaya, Uralosibirskaya 2 and Element 22. In the main grain-growing soil-climatic territories of the Omsk region, 15 droughts have been recorded over the past 45 years. Thus, a method for in vitro testing of drought resistance has been developed. Varieties with increased drought resistance and high level of stem rust resistance (Omskaya 37, Omskaya 38, Uralosibirskaya and Omskaya 42) in drought-specific and epiphytotic 2020 exceeded the standard varieties by 0.90-1.74 t / ha in yield. Of special interest among new varieties are Omskaya 42, Uralosibirskaya 2, OmGAU 100, Stolypinskaya 2, Lider 80 and Omskaya 44. It is concluded that close cooperation with Institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences and other scientific institutions is necessary in order to create varieties that combine increased productivity with resistance to unfavorable biotic and abiotic environmental factors.

A new genetic material of spring wheat (15 hybrid populations) developed within the breeding work for aluminum resistance, was studied in the field and laboratory conditions. Studies of F₄ hybrids were carried out on soils that differ in the pH level and in the content of mobile aluminum ions. Strong edaphic stress on background 2 (pH = 3.8; Al³⁺ content = 211 mg/kg of soil) caused a sharp decrease in yield (by 88.2 %) and productivity traits (by 18.5...63.8 %) compared to background 1 (pH = 4.3; Al³⁺ = 5.4 mg/kg of soil). Laboratory analysis determined the influence of the reproduction conditions of the previous generation on the parameters of the root system of seedlings, their biomass and the root/sprout ratio (RSR index) in the offspring F₅. The seeds were germinated in distilled water (control) and an aqueous solution of aluminum sulfate (experiment). It was shown that the weight of seedlings was significantly more strongly influenced by reproduction conditions (an average decrease of 26.1 %) than artificially created stress (a decrease of 2.3...4.7 %). The majority of hybrids showed a significant increase (by 3.9...16.4 %) in laboratory resistance according to the root length index (IDC) as an adaptive response to prolonged edaphic stress. The recommendation is given to take into account the growing conditions of the previous generation, since under their influence the reactions of genotypes by seedling weight, RSR index, as well as correlations between traits can change. The differences of genotypes in the potential level of traits and their stability in different environments were revealed. The hybrid Karabalykskaya 98 x Lutescens 30 differed in the length of the roots, Baganskaya 95 x Gornouralskaya – in the weight of the seedling. The hybrid Baganskaya 95 x Jasna was characterized by the greatest stability according to a set of parameters. Hybrids with potentially longer roots and high seedling mass showed greater sensitivity to changes in environmental conditions. Genotypes with a predominance of the aboveground part in the control were characterized by a more stable "root/sprout" ratio.

The article presents an analysis of genotypic correlations between the yield of 33 variety samples of spring soft wheat and elements of its structure in the conditions of Penza region, the degree of variability of agronomic valuable traits during the years of research (2018-2020) has been determined. It has been established, that the low-varying agronomic valuable traits (CV = 7.8-9.9 %) include the wheat ear length, number of spikelets in the ear, weight of 1000 grains; moderately varying traits (СV = 13.8-15.6 %) include productive bushiness capacity, the number of grains in the ear and weight of grains in one ear; highly-varying traits (СV = 21.7-22.7 %) include the number of grains per ear and weight of the grain per ear. A strong positive interrelation has been established between the yield of spring soft wheat and the number of grains per ear (r = 0.706...0.816) and weight of grain per ear (r = 0.754...0.875). There has been revealed an average positive interrelation between the yield and the weight of ears (r = 0.467...0.621), the number of spikelets per ear (r = 0.358...0.582), the number of grains per plant (r = 0.446...0.541) and the weight of grain per plant (r = 0.309...0.608). The correlation dependence of yield on productive bushiness (r = 0.091…0.415), ear length (r = 0.074…0.503) and weight of 1000 grains (r = 0.193…0.583) turned out to be unstable. Thus, the formation of grain yield was influenced by the number of grains per ear and the weight of grain per ear. The analysis showed the degree of influence of various elements of productivity on the formation of yield of spring soft wheat variety samples that provides a more targeted selection in the breeding process.

The article presents the results of six-year studies (2015-2020) of 19 varieties of spring barley belonging to different periods of variety changing bred by FRC “Nemchinovka". The research was aimed at comprehensive assessment of yield, adaptive features and other agronomic characters and properties of spring barley for determining the main tendencies of changing their properties during many years of breeding work in the conditions of the Central Non-Chernozem Zone. Due to high potential productivity, which was demonstrated in optimal conditions for barley and the ability of the crop to resist yield reduction during bad weather conditions, the high-intense barley varieties zoned during last 20 years, proved to be the best according to average yield indicators. Maximum average yield in these groups was 8.17 t/h, minimum one was 3.05 t/h that was higher than average yield among varieties in previous periods of breeding work by 19.3 % and 10.5 %, respectively. The retrospective analysis determined the direction of breeding shifts in adaptive properties and productivity elements associated with an increase in the economic and biological value of barley varieties in the process of selective breeding improvement. Judging by the average plasticity indices (V = 35.4 %; bi = 1.13; σ = 2.12) the varieties of the latest stages of breeding work were 18.8; 36.1 and 37.7 % more responsive to improving environmental conditions as compared to the varieties of the last century. The relative average value of the adaptability coefficient exceeding unity (KA = 1.02-1.19) indicated a stronger reaction of modern barley varieties to resist the action of factors that reduce their potential productivity. With yield growth and increase in adaptability, the architectonics of barley plants was changing and resistance to lodging and helminthosporiosis raised. There has been established a tendency to increase the most important element of the crop structure "the number of productive ears per 1 m²" and to decrease the indicator "weight of 1000 grains". The information obtained on the basis of a comprehensive assessment of varieties by economic and biological indicators makes it possible to determine the ways of selective breeding improvement of the crop.

The aim of the study is to characterize winter triticale samples by protein content in grain and productivity, to identify sources of high protein content and high grain yield for use in breeding process. Experimental work was carried out in the conditions of Tatarstan Republic in 2013-2017. The collection of 93 varieties of winter triticale of Russian selection, obtained from the Federal Research Center “All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources"(VIR) was evaluated in field trials. Wide genetic diversity of the studied gene pool was demonstrated by grain protein content (11.69...16.15 %) and grain yield (277...579 g/m²). Protein content and grain yield were mostly determined by the growing conditions – the factor “year” (58.1 % and 61.8 %, respectively), with a relatively small share of the factor “genotype” (23.9 % and 15.4 %, respectively). Significant variation in the values of the studied indicators, both by genotype and by year, was observed. There were identified 19 sources of high protein content in grain (over 14.5 %) and 17 sources of high grain yield (over 510 g/m²), which showed a significant excess of the standard Bashkirskaya korotkostebelnaya. A group of samples with a relatively high protein content (13.8 ... 14.1 %) and yield higher than the average value (450...500 g/m²) was identified. The highest breeding value among the sources of high yield was shown by samples Zimogor, Kornet, Privada, Vodoley, 3/9 oh Ag 4418, and among the sources of high protein content – Kurskaya stepnaya, Mir, Student, Svyatozar. The listed variety samples additionally possessed a complex of positive features: high ear productivity, high full-scale weight and large grains. In varieties Dokuchaevsky 8 and Privada there was noted a favorable combination of significantly high levels of yield (542 and 527 g/m², respectively) and protein content in the grain (14.28 and 13.93 %, respectively). The finding of a reliable moderate negative correlation (r = -0.682) between yield and grain protein content indicates that grain protein content can be increased by breeding methods at relatively high or medium yields of varieties.

More than 100 Russian varieties and collection samples of winter rye were studied under the conditions of the Kirov region against the natural infectious background of the development of mycoses (2019-2020). The degree of damage by powdery mildew during the years of research reached 86.3 %, septoria – 63.3 %, brown rust – 40.5 %, stem rust – 60.0 %, rhynchosporiosis – 29.3 %. During plant ontogenesis (from phases 31 to 85 Zadoks scale), the growth of fungal infection in varietal biocenoses was analyzed. When accounting for diseases, well-known methods were used. The nature of plant-microbial interactions and the parameters of resistance were assessed by indicators of ADDC (area under the curve of disease development), IR (resistance index) and LP (latency period). A close relationship was established between the duration of LP and the degree of septoria infection (r = -0.98), brown rust (r = -0.95), powdery mildew (r = -0.92), stem rust (r = -0.80), rhynchosporiosis (r = -0.67). The regression equations are linear (R2 = 0.84 ... 0.96) and indicate a daily increase in diseases (from 0.52 to 0.88 %). In the course of immunological management, there have been identified about 20 varieties of Russian selection distinguished by nonspecific resistance to two or more diseases, slow (slow rusting) growth of infection in varietal biocenoses and a long latent period of pathogenesis. Among them are the varieties of the Federal Agricultural Research Center of the North-East named N.V. Rudnitsky (Falyonskaya 4, Vyatka 2, Rushnik, Kirovskaya 89, Snezhana, Flora, Rumba), other scientific institutions of the Russian Federation (Alisa, Pamyati Bambysheva, P-01/14, GP-901 and others) and new samples from the VIR collection (Trinodis 4 Minvak – 139/09 NP, Estet NP 42/14 and others). They can be used in breeding as sources, and indicators of ADDC, IR, LP – as immunologically significant parameters of nonspecific resistance.

Studies on the evaluation of 20 fiber flax accessions of Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Polish breeding from the collection of the Federal Research Center "All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources named after N. I. Vavilov" (VIR) were conducted in 2018-2020 in order to identify the sources of agronomic valuable characters that are adaptive to the conditions of the North-West of the Russian Federation. The HTC for the growing season in 2018 was 0.95, in 2019 – 1.53 and in 2020-1.1. Abiotic conditions had a greater influence on the formation of plant height (59.6 %), seed yield (60 %) and fiber content in plants (55.1 %), but the influence of the genotype on these indicators was also significant. The effect size of the genotype prevailed in the formation of fiber yield (67.2 %) and the duration of the growing season (52.8 %). The variability of characters was the greatest according to the seed yield (V = 6.7-33.9 %), disease resistance (V = 3.1-26.5 %); the lowest one was noted according to the duration of the growing season (V = 4.4-9.7 %). For the rest characters, it was at the level of up to 20 %. A valuable and plastic source material was identified for practical breeding aimed at creating new varieties with the following characters: early maturity – K-8680 (Russia), K-8782, K-8783 (Japan), which matured 3 days earlier than the Dobrynya standard and had a growing period of 67 days; productivity – K-8651, K-8760, K-8795, K-8797, K-8874, K-8877 (China), which significantly exceeded the fiber yield of the Dobrynya variety (241 g/m²) by 8-14 %. There were identified genotypes significantly exceeding the standard: according to the plant height (82 cm) ‒ K-8681 (Russia), K-8751, K-8794, K-8795, K-8754 (China) ‒ by 12-25 %; yield of flax straw (241 g/m²) – K-8681 (Russia), K-8751, K-8794, K-8795, K-8874, K-8880 (China) – by 25-40 %; seed yield (149 g/m²) ‒ K-8680 (Russia), K-8772 (Poland), K-8782 (Japan) – by 10-23 %; resistance to lodging (9 samples) and diseases (7 samples). Use of the identified gene sources in breeding practice should accelerate the creation of varieties that provide high and stable yields.

The need to restore the dairy cattle population and the feed base in the North-West region of the Russian Federation requires new sources of feed with high yield and nutritional values. The purpose of the research is to study the possibility of sugar sorghum introduction into the region for forage use. The research was conducted in 2017-2020 in the conditions of the Novgorod region. On plots with an area of 10 m² in the third decade of May sugar sorghum was sown: a hybrid of the first generation Silosnoe 88, the Galia variety, the Laretz line. The predecessors were potato (2017, 2018, 2020) and vetch and oat mix (2019). The ability of sugar sorghum to stop developing and hibernate in unfavorable weather conditions, resuming vegetation when the weather improves, has been established. Intensive plant growth was observed at the end of July-August with the average daily growth of 1.9-5.0 cm. By the end of August, the plant height reached 245-280 cm, the yield of green mass was 110 t/ha (hybrid Silosnoe 88), 139.2 t/ha (variety Galia), 136 t/ha (Laretz line). In the extreme conditions of 2017, the yield of sorghum green mass was 21 t/ha. The yield of dry matter (DM) from 1 ha reached 6.8-13.4 t/ha. The protein content in the DM was 8.4-11.5 %, the yield of feed units was 0.76-0.82 kg/kg, the output of exchange energy was 9.7-10.1 MJ/kg. Sugar sorghum has an ability to grow back after mowing; in the conditions of the Novgorod region, the yield of green mass from two mowing (end of July, August-September) was lower (23.3-46.7 t/ha) than from the one at the end of August-September (44.3-139.2 t/ha). The Laretz line vegetation phases began 5-27 days later than those of the Silosnoe 88 hybrid and Galiya variety. The growing season of sugar sorghum ended in the phase of “heading of panicles - flowering”. Thus, a high plasticity and adaptability of sorghum varieties to unfavorable climatic conditions of the zone and their prospects for use in forage production have been established.

To assess the degree of inheritance in plum genotypes of the trait of resistance to the effects of damaging environmental factors of the cold season (after a thaw and after a thaw with subsequent hardening) and to identify forms with high resistance to low negative temperatures, in 2019-2020 an experiment on freezing under controlled conditions was set up (climatic chamber TH-6 (JEIO TECH, Korea)). The objects of the experiment were one-year shoots of seedlings of three hybrid families obtained as a result of controlled hybridization in 2016 (UB 8 × Smolinka, Kubanskaya Kometa × Utro, Kubanskaya Kometa × Smolinka), as well as parental varieties: Kubanskaya Kometa, Smolinka, Utro and hybrid UB 8 with various forms of field resistance to low negative temperatures (based on average long-term observations in 2007-2015) and with high indicators of agronomic valuable traits. For each component of the study of winter hardiness, the temperature regimes of freezing were selected: -22 °C for 15 hours after 5 days of thaw +3 °C (III component); -34 °C after 5 days of thaw and subsequent hardening at -5 °C within 5 days, then at -10 °C for 5 days (IV component). As a result of assessing the resistance of the hybrids to low negative temperatures, it was noted that after the thaw 73 % of the hybrids showed no damage; after a thaw followed by hardening, the total degree of freezing of hybrids varied from 0.5 points (UB 8 × Smolinka, form No. 10) to 4 points (UB 8 × Smolinka, form No. 4). Genotypes resistant to temperature changes from positive to negative with hardening from families UB 8 × Smolinka (forms No. 1, 10), Kubanskaya Kometa × Utro (form No. 3), Kubanskaya Kometa × Smolinka (form No. 2) are of interest for further breeding research. Assessment of the influence of the genome of parental forms on inheritance in hybrids of resistance to low negative temperatures according to component IV using the Spearman rank correlation method revealed an average direct insignificant correlation between winter hardiness in parental forms and hybrids.

The aim of the research is to study characteristics of sprout growth of 13 blue honeysuckle variety samples for evaluation of their viability in the conditions of Kirov region. Recordings and observations were carried out since 2018 to 2020 on the collection area (2017 year of planting). The length of a one-year growth was measured on three even-aged plants of each variety sample ten days after the moment of sprout growing till the end of growth. The length of 20 sprouts of the first-order renewal located according to four corners of the earth, was recorded on one plant. The sprout growth began from the 2^nd to the 11^th of May. Over the studied time an average duration of a growing period was 49.0 days. The variety Masha was distinguished for maximum duration in 2018 (55 days), the varieties Omega, Lenarola, Goluboy Desert (Blue Dessert), Laura and Dark-Blue № form had the minimal one in 2019 (42 days). Maximum length of the one-year growth was observed for the variety Renata (20.6±4.1 cm), Goluboy Desert (Blue Dessert) (20.8±5.2 cm) and Malvina (25.6±5.7 cm). The analysis of the dynamic of sprout growth showed that in the conditions of the studied period the maximum growth was observed in the first (33.8 %) and in the second (35.3 %) decades of growth – approximately, from the middle of May till the first decade of June. The decrease in intensity of sprout growth was noticed in the third decade – an average growth was 21.2 % (from 14.2 % in 2018 to 28.8 % in 2020). The fourth and fifth decades were characterised by fading of growth processes – intensity of growth was 5.9 % and 3.9 %, respectively. The contribution of the secondary growth to an annual growth did not exceed 26 % for Lenarola variety and 20 % for Goluboy Desert (Blue Dessert). The varieties, which had Turchaninov honeysuckle (Lonicera turczaninowii Pojark.) in their breeding record, did not differ in intensity and duration of sprout growth from the descendants of Kamchatka honeysuckle (Lonicera kamtscatica (Sevast.) Pojark.). An obconical shape of the bush prevailed among the studied variety samples (6 varieties or 46.2 %). All the studied variety samples of honeysuckle showed high viability in the conditions of the Kirov region.

Research aimed at studying the control of the number of pests of many agricultural crops – Halyomorpha halys Stål, was carried out during 2018-2020 on the territory of the Central zone of Krasnodar Krai. In the experiments, there were used individuals of a brown marmorated stink bug, caught by hand and using a pheromone trap at different stations (tree and shrub vegetation, soybean crops). In 2020, the dynamics of the abundance of the brown marmorated stink bug was monitored since the end of May (the time of the appearance of the first individuals of H. halys) to the third decade of October. Among the natural entomophages in Krasnodar Krai, two species of parasitic insects were found: Pediobius cassidae Erdos. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Anastatus bifasciatus Geoffroy (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), infecting about 5-10 % of H. halys eggs in the field, which did not significantly affect the abundance of the brown marmorated stink bug. In the laboratory, essential oils from several botanical families were tested: Umbelliferae, Compositae, Abies. Essential oils of wormwood, coriander and Siberian fir showed a toxic effect against the brown marmorated stink bug; the death of adults on the tenth day was 100, 95.0 and 93.7 %, respectively. Also, on the soybean crops of the Arleta variety, field tests were carried out to study the efficacy of bio-rational preparations Biostop, P and an experimental preparation developed at the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Federal Research Center of Biological Plant Protection" (FSBSI FRCBPP). The experimental preparation of FRCBPP caused the death of 64.2 % of individuals of H. halys, Biostop, P – 70.1 %.

Studies were conducted at the dairy complex of «Rus Ltd» (Perm Region). The effect of the use of vitamin-herb flour (VHF) from Rhaponticum carthamoides green mass in the feeding of holstinized black-and-white dairy cows was studied during the period of 12 days before calving and the first 30 days of lactation. The experiment was carried out according to the generally accepted method with the selection of analog pairs. The cows of the control group received a feeding ration consisting of feeds available at the dairy complex. For cows of the experimental groups, the composition of the concentrate part of the diet included VHF from leucea safflower in doses: the first group -4 % (0.4 kg of VHF per head per day), the second group – 10 % (1.0 kg of VHF per head per day). The experimental data of the experiment showed that VHF from leuzea as part of the concentrate part of the diet had a positive effect on the milk productivity of cows during the first 30 days of lactation, as well as on the bioconversion coefficients of protein and energy in the dairy products of cows. During the accounting period of the scientific and economic experiment (the first 30 days of lactation) from cows of the first and second experimental groups there has been obtained milk with natural fat content higher by 55.80±4.90 kg (8.04 %) (p<0.05) and by 99.20±5.80 kg (14.29 %) (p<0.05), respectively, compared to the control group. The gross yield of milk fat and protein for the reference period in cows of the first and second experimental groups was higher by 2.50±0.04 kg and 4.28±0.07 kg, by 2.54±0.16 kg and by 4.01±0.18 kg, respectively, compared with the control group. The cows of the first and second experimental groups had higher coefficients of protein bioconversion into dairy products by 2.98 % abs (p<0.05) and 3.97 % abs, respectively, compared to the control. The energy consumption for milk synthesis in the control group cows was reduced by 163.62 MJ and 349.18 MJ (p<0.05), respectively, in comparison with the cows of the first and second experimental groups, due to their lower consumption of the amount of feed mixture during the accounting period. The cows of the first and second experimental groups also had higher bioconversion coefficients of energy into milk by 2.14 % abs. and by 3.71 % abs. (p<0.05), respectively, compared to the cows of the control group. The cows of the experimental groups turned out to be more responsive to changes in the feeding diet and showed higher results according all the studied parameters.

The research (2018-2019) was conducted in the conditions of a peasant farm in the Voronezh region. The paper evaluates the indicators of the growth rate and meat productivity of the preserved gene pool groups of guinea fowl. The experiment involved three groups of daily guinea fowl of 200 heads of different genetic origin: lines of the Volga white breed (the original VB-4, selected by the rate of live weight gain and reproductive characteristics; autosex VBA-1, selected by the color of down, feather and productive characteristics) and gray-speckled guinea fowl of unknown origin. Studies have shown that the live weight of guinea fowl of the VBA-1 line exceeded the live weight of poultry from other groups of guinea fowl, a significant excess was noted at 8, 12 and 13 weeks of age. The greatest coefficient of variation of the trait was observed at 8 weeks of age. The analysis of relative gain in live weight of guinea fowl showed that up to 10 weeks of age, the highest relative growth rate of guinea fowl of all experimental groups was observed (14.0-17.0 %). Starting from the age of 11 weeks, this indicator gradually decreased (4.3-13.4 %). It was found out that under the same conditions of keeping and feeding, the feed costs per 1 kg of live weight gain in guinea fowls of the VBA-1 line were less by 0.09-0.16 kg (3.11-6.33 %) compared to poultry of the VB-4 line and by 0.2-0.4 kg (5.49-12.82 %) compared to their gray-speckled peers. The results of anatomical cutting of guinea fowl carcasses showed that the experimental groups of poultry significantly (P< 0.05) differed among themselves in the degree of development of internal organs and tissues. The yield of edible parts was 60.2-61.1 %, depending on the group of poultry. The large live weight noted by us in linear poultry is the reason for their better meat productivity, which is directly related to an increase in the absolute mass of the eviscerated carcass, its edible parts, muscles and bones. Based on the data obtained, the optimal age of poultry slaughter for meat was determined at 10-12 weeks of life.

The article presents the results of the analysis of the reproductive ability of cows depending on the level of their milk productivity. The studies were conducted in the Republic of Mari El on cows of the Holstein black-and-white breed (n = 3828). There have been studied the influence of different levels of milk yield on the duration of the service period and period between calvings, the output of calves per 100 cows, the coefficient of reproductive ability. The studies used the comparison method, correlation, regression and one-factor analysis of variance. It has been established that the milk yield increases with the age of cows, but at the same time the duration of the service period and calving interval increases. In first-calf cows, the service period was 128.8 days (Cv = 75.1 %), the calving interval was 403.6 days (Cv = 23.5 %). By the third lactation, with an increase in milk yield by 1030 kg (15.4 %), the duration of the service period increased by 7.2 days (5.6 %), the calving interval  -by 12.3 days (3.0 %). The share of the impact (ƞ2x) of milk yield on the duration of the service period was 5.4 %, the calving interval -4.7 %. The correlation coefficients between milk yield for 305 days of the first lactation and the duration of the service period and calving interval were 0.24 and 0.22 (p<0.05), with milk yield for the entire lactation 0.81 (p<0.05). The optimal indicators of the service period (89.4 days), the calving interval (369.4 days), the reproductive capacity (0.94) and the output of calves (1.0) were possessed by the first heifers with low milk productivity-milk yield less than 5000 kg of milk. In animals with the milk yield of 6000-9000 kg of milk or more, the duration of the service period was 12.4-249.6 % higher, the calving interval -by 1.9-32.5 % (p<0.05). According to the regression coefficients, on average, each increase in milk yield per 1000 kg increased the duration of the service period by 25.9 days, the calving interval -by 23.1 days, which worsened the output of calves by 0.24 %, and the coefficient of reproductive ability decreased by 16.0 %.

An assessment of the species structure and size of small game prey for the spring and autumn-winter hunting seasons on the territory of the Kirov region was made, using a questionnaire survey based on the analysis of the prey of 3220 individuals. Small game includes such species (groups of species) as mallard, Northern shoveler, pintail, teal-whistle, teal cracker (Garganey), Eurasian wigeon, diving ducks, white-fronted goose, bean goose, wood grouse, black grouse, hazel grouse, woodcock, double snipe, snipe, corncrake, wood pigeon, turtle doves, white hare, European hare. The average index of production by species and groups of species per 1 hunter, who went hunting in the spring and autumn-winter seasons, has been calculated. The size of game catch during the spring hunting was 135.8 thousand individuals, in the autumn-winter hunting season -470 thousand individuals. The summation of the results obtained made it possible to estimate the volume of the total (annual) catch of small game in the amount of almost 606 thousand individuals. The main species are the mallard, hazel grouse, white hare, woodcock, black grouse, Eurasian wigeon, teal cracker (Garganey), Northern shoveler, wood grouse, white-fronted goose, bean goose, teal-whistle, their total share is 94.88% of the annual production of small game. The first five species can be assessed as the most massive in production (or popular), the share of each of them is over 10% of the total production, and in total they amount to 70.4%.

The purpose of the study is to test the hypothesis of the priority role of livestock breeding in the development of rural areas on the basis of an analysis of livestock industries and determine the degree of territorial heterogeneity of this phenomenon. The study was carried out on the example of 29 regions of the Non-Black Earth Zone of the Russian Federation. Methods of ranking, correlation and variational analysis were used. A noticeable correlation was established between the indicators of the development of the livestock industry and rural development (p = 0.5; 0.6). For poultry farming, this relationship is moderate (p = 0.3; 0.3), pig breeding - weak negative (p = - 0.1; - 0.1). Concrete calculations confirmed the lack of influence of the development of pig breeding on one of the important indicators of the development of rural areas - the growth of acreage. The features of territorial heterogeneity in the development of cattle breeding and rural areas have been consistently investigated on the basis of the same methodology. Three equal groups of regions with a relatively high, medium and relatively low level of their development were identified. It is shown that the group of regions with a relatively high level of development of cattle breeding in the Non-Black Earth Region accounts for about half of the volume of milk and 56% of the production of cattle for slaughter. Neighboring regions in group I form two, in group II - one, in group III - three areas. When comparing the results obtained for cattle breeding and rural areas, it was found that the composition of the regions in the corresponding groups coincides by 67-78 %. When calculating the correlation coefficient between the final ranks of the regions, established when determining the heterogeneity of the development of livestock breeding and the heterogeneity of the development of rural areas, a high tightness of the correlation was revealed (p = 0.7). The hypothesis being tested was confirmed.