The purpose of the review is to analyze the results of scientific research on the effect of antioxidant activity of potatoes on human health, to consider modern approaches to breeding potato with high antioxidant activity. Potato with brightly colored peel and tuber flesh is a source of the most important natural antioxidants (anthocyanins, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, vitamins, etc.). The consumption of antioxidants with food on a regular basis protects a person from premature aging, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, slows down atherosclerotic processes, prevents cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, duodenal ulcer, arthritis, obesity, visual pathologies, various types of cancer and many other diseases, and also effectively strengthens the immune system. With the use of modern molecular genetic approaches in potato breeding the content of antioxidants can be increased several times (up to 2000–4000 mk/kg). The bases for such breeding are mainly South American forms with high content of anthocyanins and carotenoids. An increase in the efficiency of breeding based on the color of tuber flesh (red, blue, or violet) is correlated with the development of DNA markers to identify alleles of key genes of anthocyanin biosynthesis. The biosynthesis of anthocyanins in potatoes is mainly controlled by the MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) transcription complex. Two main genes are associated with this trait StAN1 and StF3´5´H and the following enzymes: chalcon synthase (CHS); chalconlavanone isomerase (CHI); dihydroflavonol-4-reductases (DFR); flavonone-3-hydroxylases (F3H); flavonoid-3´- hydroxylases (F3ʹH); flavonoid-3´,5´-hydroxylases (F3´5´H); anthocyanidin synthases (ANS). Progress in the study of the molecular mechanisms of anthocyanin pigmentation, as well as the development of modern molecular genetic methods, will greatly facilitate many tasks of the breeding process when creating potato cultivars with a high content of antioxidants.

Downy goat breeding in Russia is represented by small-numbered breeds with a limited range, and in the current conditions they are on the verge of extinction, especially the population of the Orenburg goat breed is in critical condition. Current scientific research of Orenburg goats continues to the present time, which indicates the presence of scientific and practical interest in this breed. This review presents the current global and domestic state of goat breeding. Special attention is paid to the problems and development of down goat breeding in the Russian Federation, as one of the commodity branches of agricultural production. Information about the unique native Orenburg breed of downy goats is presented. The history of the creation and breeding of the breed, the main directions of productivity and the external indicators of animals are considered. The inbreeding characteristics of Orenburg goats are given, down quality indicators are considered, and the results of genotyping the modern gene pool of the Orenburg goat population are presented. Attention is paid to the technology of combing the down of Orenburg goats. The article presents studies on the elemental, amino acid composition of the wool and down of Orenburg goats over the past five years. At the same time, when preparing the review, there is a lack of research in the field of the influence of normalized diets of Orenburg goats on scar and intestinal digestion, physiological status, intensity of growth and development of young animals. This work presents a summary of the latest economic, scientific, research and practical knowledge about the current state, problems and trends in the preservation of the Russian downy Orenburg goat breed, as one of the exceptional gene pool populations preserved in Russia.

Bile acids in fish, as in other vertebrates, represent a complex metabolic system the composition of which depends on species, age, diet, and environmental conditions. Their ratio is closely associated with enterohepatic circulation—a continuous cycle of bile acid synthesis, transport, utilization, and reabsorption that maintains their optimal concentration in the body. This process involves the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, and intestine. Disruptions of enterohepatic circulation caused by impaired bile acid synthesis or reduced intestinal reabsorption may lead to gastrointestinal pathologies in fish manifested by digestive disorders and inflammatory processes, which is especially relevant under intensive aquaculture conditions. The aim of the research was to analyze scientific publications focused on bile acid metabolism in fish and their biological significance, following the methodological recommendations for writing review articles proposed by H. Snyder. The literature analysis revealed that fish exhibit a significantly greater diversity of bile acids compared to other vertebrates. Their metabolism includes the synthesis of primary bile acids from cholesterol in the liver, their subsequent conjugation, participation in lipid emulsification in the intestine, and reabsorption. A portion of bile acids undergoes microbial transformation in the intestine, resulting in the formation of secondary and tertiary bile acids, whose roles are not yet fully understood. A comprehensive understanding of bile acid metabolism in fish is essential for the development of effective strategies for disease prevention, improvement of aquaculture efficiency, and the study of adaptive and evolutionary mechanisms in different fish species.

One of the environmental problems associated with the accumulation of manure and litter is the emission of greenhouse gases. During the storage and processing of manure and litter, emissions of three main greenhouse gases occur – carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). In addition, there are also emissions of ammonia (NH₃), which is not a greenhouse gas, but belongs to the 4th class of hazardous chemicals. Reducing the amount of their emissions is an important condition for increasing the environmental friendliness of the livestock industry. The aim of the review was to identify technological methods aimed at reducing greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions on the basis of the expert analysis of scientific and technical information sources. It has been noted that at the stage of manure storage it is effective to cover the surface of the manure storage, to separate the manure into solid and liquid fractions with their subsequent separate processing, to acidify the liquid fraction using treatment facilities for the adsorption of ammonia. When analyzing the manure processing technologies, it has been established that the most accessible is its composting with a moisture-absorbing carboncontaining material. In order to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and ammonia, it is advisable to use active (accelerated) composting technologies carried out in biofermenters of various designs. The most effective from an environmental point of view there should be recognized such processing technologies as anaerobic fermentation and biochar production, which are carried out in closed-type devices. The indirect effect of biochar on greenhouse gas emissions is manifested in a decrease in nitrous oxide emissions from the soil when it is added as an agro-ameliorant and used as an additive in composting. The application of the described technologies in intensive livestock farming will contribute to the fulfillment of the requirements of the Paris Agreement and the relevant legislative acts of the Russian Federation.

Turnip rape (Brassica rapa L. subsp. oleifera (DC.) Metzg.) is an important oilseed crop in the temperate climate zone. The article provides the results of a long-term study (2019–2024) on the variability of morpho-biological and agronomic traits of the ‘Lipchanka’ spring turnip rape cultivar bred by the Lipetsk Research Institute of Rapeseed, under the conditions of Saint Petersburg (North-Western region of Russia). The duration of the vegetative period (67–97 days), seed yield (60–96 g/m²), and plant height (77.2–109.6 cm) mostly depended on the growing conditions (CV = 128 %). Low interannual variability (CV < 10 %) was observed for the «seedlings–flowering» period (30–36 days), productivity of one plant (1.2–3.3 g), number of the first-order branches (4.0–7.3 pcs.), average number of seeds per pod (14.8–22.4 pcs.), and weight of 1000 seeds (2.8–3.1 g). The highest genetic stability of the cultivar was recorded for the «weight of 1000 seeds» trait. The ‘Lipchanka’ cultivar is used as a standard cultivar in the study and comparative evaluation of new spring turnip rape cultivars introduced into the collection of the N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR). The herbarium specimen of the ‘Lipchanka’ cultivar designated as the nomenclatural standard is registered in the VIR Herbarium database and has been transferred for storage to the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources.

A study of selected blackcurrant seedlings bred in the Urals was conducted in the Sverdlovsk region (Middle Urals), and the most promising cultivars for mechanized harvesting were identified. The study subjects were 29 selected blackcurrant seedlings bred by the Sverdlovsk Breeding Station of Horticulture (planted in 2019, spaced 3x1 m). The studies were carried out from 2021 to 2024 according to generally accepted methods. Survey and measurement results were compared with the corresponding values of the cultivar model suitable for mechanized harvesting. Thirteen selected seedlings met the required bush height (110–130 cm). Most of the studied accessions met the specified parameters for bush width (110–130 cm) and basal diameter (20–25 cm), the number of lodged branches (less than 5%), and branch diameter (8–20 mm). An acceptable branch angle (20–60º) was found in 21 variety accessions. Fourteen accessions met the requirements for average berry weight (1.5–1.9 g). Optimum berry crushing force values (237–660 g) were observed in almost all of the studied hybrid seedlings, with two exceptions. Eight selected seedlings met the model parameters for berry detachment force (50–71 g). According to the results of the assessment of suitability for mechanized harvesting, the selected black currant seedlings 1-2-2-14-18 and 1-2-6-14-18 obtained from open pollination of the ‘Rada’ cultivar had optimal values in all parameters, with excellent rooting by green cuttings.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), a valuable essential oil plant, is cultivated mainly in the south of Russia. A comparative analysis of productivity parameters and biochemical indicators of 'Mertsishor' and 'Oksamit Cryma' fennel cultivars bred by the Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea was conducted in the conditions of the Crimean piedmont and Belgorod region from 2022 to 2024. The aim of the research was to investigate prospects of fennel cultivation in Belgorod region. Analysis of main indicators was carried out according to the developed methodologies in a small-plot experiment (plots were three-row, row length – 5 m, row spacing width – 0.7 m, plot area – 9 m², with three replications). On average over the years of the research the yield of the 'Mertsishor' and 'Oksamit Cryma' cultivars in the first year of vegetation was significantly lower under conditions of Belgorod region (0.22–0.28 t/ha) than in the piedmont zone of Crimea (0.55–0.42 t/ha, respectively). Average essential oil content in fruits of both cultivars in most cases did not differ significantly between regions, nor did content of the main essential oil components – anethole (68.1–71.5 %) and fenchone (11.7–15.6 %) which meets requirements of GOST 3902-82. However essential oil yield of the 'Oksamit Cryma' and 'Mertsishor' cultivars was significantly lower (1.6 and 2.9 times, respectively, P ≤ 0.05) in Belgorod region (12.8–15.2 kg/ha). Comparative data on productivity of the second-year plants across two ecological locations could only be obtained for a single test year as plants in the Belgorod region perished during winter of 2022-2023. Fruit yield of the studied cultivars in 2024 (0.51–0.72 t/ha in the Crimean piedmont and 0.90–0.92 t/ha in Belgorod region) as well as essential oil yield (31.6–38.5 and 44.4–51.6 kg/ha, respectively) were higher in two-year-old plants. Results of the ecological trials for these fennel cultivars do not support their recommendation for cultivation in Belgorod region due to a high probability of plant loss during winter and low first-year productivity

The paper presents the quantitative measurement and variability of six non-traditional grain quality indicators of 10 cultivars of common winter wheat harvested in 2021-2022, obtained during tests using the Chopin+ protocol in the polythermal mode on the Mixolab device. The results of the study showed that lower temperatures and a lack of precipitation in July 2022 (44.0 mm with a norm of 69.0 mm) led to a significant (p<0.05) increase in the average viscosity of the dough to 5.9 points versus 4.2 points in 2021, as well as a significant decrease in amylolytic activity (from 4.4 to 1.0 points) and the level of starch retrogradation (from 5.6 to 3.3 points), which reflects the direct dependence of these indicators on the hydrothermal regime during the critical period of grain filling. Statistical analysis of the data using the NIRSMAIN program and the method of variance analysis revealed differences in the rheological properties of the dough depending on the wheat cultivar and growing conditions. Rheological properties of the dough, such as water absorption capacity (WAC), dough stability during kneading, viscosity, amylase activity and starch retrogradation, were investigated. It has been shown that some cultivars, such as ‘Sirena’, ‘Vezelka’, ‘Korochanka’ and ‘Larisa’, have high indicators of water absorption capacity and dough stability, which makes them promising for use as improvers in mixtures with lower quality wheat cultivars. Particular attention is paid to the assessment of the rheological properties of the dough in different temperature ranges, which makes it possible to identify the best suitability of varieties for specific stages of technological processing. ‘Almera’ and ‘Ariadna’ cultivars demonstrate high resistance to staling due to significant starch retrogradation. The characteristics of different wheat cultivars are manifested in their technological properties. ‘Zarechnaya’ and ‘Almera’ have a high gluten index. This fact indicates an improvement in the protein structure's parameters, such as elasticity and stability. ‘Olshanka’ exhibits a low torque at C5, indicating a tendency towards accelerated hardening. The ‘Sintetik’ and ‘Sirena’ cultivars showed low torque values at C2 point, indicating potential limitations in achieving maximum bread volume. The obtained results make it possible to recommend the ‘Sirena’, ‘Vezelka’, ‘Korochanka’, and ‘Larisa’ cultivars as effective improvers for mixtures due to their optimal combination of water absorption and dough stability, and ‘Almera’ and ‘Ariadna’ as the most promising cultivars for the production of products with extended shelf life.

Agricultural production under conditions of a geochemical anomaly of iodine deficiency poses a threat to human health in Northwest Russia and the productivity of regional livestock farming. A comprehensive evaluation of foliar fertilization of peas with potassium iodide (KI) solution was conducted in a long-term stationary microfield experiment conducted from 2020 to 2024 in the Pskov Region within a vegetable crop rotation system. The experimental soil was a well-cultivated agrosoddy-podzolic light loamy soil with very low total (790 μg/kg) and mobile (6 μg/kg) iodine content. The experimental design included four variants: control (no fertilization), single, double, and triple spraying of peas of the ‘Rocket’ cultivar with a 0.02% KI solution. It has been established that the crop response to iodine fertilization and the level of iodine accumulation in the main and by-products are determined by the specific weather and climate conditions and the frequency of its implementation. Against the background of drought during pea branching phase (hydrothermal coefficient was 0.4–0.8) the grain and straw yield increase grew significantly and reached 109–193 g/m² (35–48 %) and 169–612 g/m² (35–82 %), respectively. On average, over the five years of the study, crop productivity under the influence of iodine increased by 23 % (from 0.65 to 0.80 grain units), and the iodine content in grain rose 5.4 and 6.5 times – up to 300 and 467 μg/kg, respectively. The optimal fertilization frequency was 3 sprays. This resulted in a 30 % increase in grain yield (from 416 to 541 g/m² ) and a 34 % increase in straw yield (from 958 to 1280 g/m² ), while the return on investment per gram of iodine reached 14.9 grain units. The iodine content in the grain and straw of the field pea increased by 6.9 and 8.5 times, respectively, compared to the control (from 56 and 72 to 389 and 612 μg/kg).

The purpose of the work is to identify varietal differences in the response of the pigment complex of barley plant leaves to top-dressing with nitrogen-containing preparations. The research was carried out in 2020–2023 in the field experiment on sod-podzolic medium-loamy soil in the conditions of the Kirov region. The effect of nitrogen-containing preparations CAS 28 (N 360 g/l) and Polydon Amino Start (N 130 g/l) on the accumulation of pigments in two upper leaves of plants of ‘Novichok’, ‘Rodnik Prikamya’, and ‘Pamyaty Rodinoy’ cultivars was studied. It was found that foliar treatments with the studied preparations can significantly change the content of green and yellow leaf pigments depending on the growing conditions and specific plant genotype (Chl a – 67–111%; Chl b – 83–118 %; carotenoids – 80–128 % relative to the control without treatment). Of 72 test variants (3 cultivars, 2 treatments, 4 years, 3 types of pigments), changes were noted in 56 variants for the flag leaf, but only in 19 variants for the second leaf. With the significant difference in the nitrogen content of the preparations used, the difference in their effect on the chlorophyll content was only a few percent. So, in 2020 for the ‘Novichok’ cultivar the content of Chl a in a flag leaf increased by 8 % under the use of CAS 28 and by 6 % with Amino Start. In 2022 CAS 28 increased the Chl a content in the flag leaf of the ‘Rodnik Prikamya’ cultivar by 8 %, but Amino Start decreased it by 4 % relative to the control. For ‘Pamyaty Rodinoy’ cultivar in 2020, a negative effect of CAS 28 (-6 % of the control) and a positive effect for Amino Start (+5 % of the control) were noted. The conditions of one and the same year can increase the effect of preparations on the accumulation of pigments for one cultivar, but reduce it for another. In 2020 and 2022 CAS 28 increased the content of Chl a in flag leaves of the cv. ‘Novichok’ (by 8.3–10.4 %) and ‘Rodnik Prikamya’ (by 7.9–9.1 %), but reduced in cv. ‘Pamyaty Rodinoy’ (by 6.2–10.5 %); Amino Start in 2020 increased the content of Chl b in flag leaves of the cv. ‘Novichok’ and ‘Pamyaty Rodinoy’ (by 10.7–11.7 %), but reduced it the cv. ‘Rodnik Prikamya’ (by 9.6 %). In general, the effect of foliar treatment with nitrogen-containing preparations on the content of flag leaf pigments was determined both by the weather conditions of vegetation (from 14.5 to 41.7 %) and by the genotype of the cultivar (from 1.5 to 14.0 %). With regard to the accumulation of photosynthetic pigments for the cv. ‘Novichok’, the use of top-dressing with both preparations is effective (especially in adverse weather conditions at the flowering phase), with CAS 28 for cv. ‘Rodnik Prikamya’, with Amino Start for cv. ‘Pamyaty Rodinoy’.

Agroclimatic conditions of the Lower Volga region are favorable for realizing the productive potential of potato varieties cultivated using intensive resource-saving technologies. The aim of the study was to assess the agronomic effectiveness of bioactive preparations Forsage and Biostim Start when growing various potato cultivars in drip irrigation on light chestnut soils of the Astrakhan region (North-Western Caspian region). The studies were carried out in 2022–2024 in a field experiment on an experimental irrigated area. The objects of the research were the cultivars ‘Koroleva Anna’, ‘Gala’ (Germany) and ‘Azhur’ (Russia). The ‘Azhur’ potato cultivar used water more efficiently in irrigated conditions (water consumption factors – 63.0–85.5 m³ /t) compared to the ‘Koroleva Anna’ (113.7–180.1 m³ /t) and ‘Gala’ (115.4–164.7 m³ /t) cultivars. The use of Forsage preparation in the treatment of tubers and plants reduced the water consumption of the cultivars, the most noticeable result was obtained for the ‘Azhur’ variety (63.0 m³ /t). In terms of the increase in the biological yield of potatoes relative to the control variants (without treatment), the Forsage preparation showed the highest results – 8.2–10 t/ha from tuber treatment before sowing and 4.9–17.3 t/ha from leaf treatments in the budding phase. The effect of the biostimulator Biostim Start was significantly lower – 2.2–7.7 and 3.7–11.2 t/ha, respectively. The results showed that the maximum yield of ‘Azhur’ potato tubers (94.3 t/ha) was obtained with the following combination of methods and techniques of using the Forsage and mineral fertilizers: pre-planting treatment of tubers with Forsage (2 l/t, working solution consumption 10 l/t); application of N₆₀P₆₀K₆₀ to soil before sowing + N₆₀ fractionally during fertigation; leaf treatment with Forsage (200 l/ha) in the budding phase. The ‘Azhur’ potato cultivar, according to this variant, exceeded the ‘Koroleva Anna’ and ‘Gala’ varieties – by 40.3 and 44.6 t/ha in terms of commodity yield and by 192.0 –212.8 % in the level of profitability.

Identification of specific genetic markers that determine interbreed differences and “selection signatures” in commercial pig breeds will allow for the development of more effective strategies for targeted breeding and improvement of animal genetic potential. The aim of this study is to analyze the whole-genome data of five commercial pig breeds using the FST method to identify markers that characterize interbreed differentiation, as well as to assess the intra-breed stratification caused by selective breeding. Special attention is given to identifying potential “selection signatures” that are specific to each breed. This study assessed the genetic differentiation among commercial pig breeds (duroc, berkshire, pietrain, hampshire, landrace) using the fixation index (FST), calculated based on genome-wide genotyping data for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A moderate level of interbreed divergence was observed, with the highest pairwise FST values recorded for duroc – berkshire (0.19), duroc – pietrain (0.18), and duroc – landrace (0.17), while the lowest differentiation was noted between pietrain and landrace (0.14). Genome-wide FST distribution analysis enabled the identification of highly differentiated SNPs (above the 99th percentile), with their number ranging from 126 to 167 across comparisons. The greatest concentration of these SNPs was observed on chromosomes SSC1, SSC13, SSC4, and SSC6, indicating the presence of selective «hotspots» likely involved in the regulation of productivity – and adaptation-related traits. Several SNPs were consistently detected across multiple breed comparisons, highlighting their breed specificity and potential functional relevance. Functional annotation has revealed that these SNPs are located within genes, including PCDHB7 and PPP2R2B, which are characterized by tissue-specific expression in muscle and adipose tissues, and are implicated in the regulation of metabolic processes. Of particular interest is a SNP ASGA0079413 located within the TFEC gene, identified in Landrace pigs. Given its membership and its known role in pigment cell differentiation, this gene may contribute to the formation of white coat color, as well as to immune and metabolic functions.

The content of vital elements in the blood of animals can depend on a complex of factors, which include both the individual characteristics of organisms and environmental factors. It is interesting to study the effect of animal age on the blood mineral profile, however, taking into account possible differences in the chemical composition of feeds in different periods, an adequate assessment of the mineral profile on the same animals does not seem correct. The aim of the research was to study the differences in phosphorus, calcium, sodium and iron content in the blood serum of cows and heifers of the Hereford breed belonging to two adjacent generations. The material for the study were blood samples taken from 79 pairs of animals (motherdaughter) kept in the same conditions. As a result of the research, significant age differences in mineral status were established. The daughter generation (heifers) showed a higher phosphorus content (2.08 mmol/L versus 1.68 mmol/L in mothers; p = 0.0036) and, as a result, a lower Ca/P ratio (p = 0.0094). On the contrary, the sodium concentration was significantly higher in the maternal generation (median 179.70 mmol/L versus 144.60 mmol/L in daughters; p = 0.0001). No significant differences in the content of calcium and iron were found. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has confirmed that the main vector of variability between generations is related to calcium-phosphorus metabolism. At the same time, a significant overlap of the concentration ellipses indicates a high individual variability of the mineral profile, unrelated to the age. Thus, the results obtained indicate multidirectional age-related changes in the metabolism of key macronutrients. This justifies the need to adjust the mineral composition of diets and premixes for Hereford breed animals, taking into account their age (generation) in order to maintain physiological health and productive potential.

The causes of cow mortality were studied depending on the level of homozygosity and genomic inbreeding of sires. Genomic data from 307 Holstein and Black-and-White bulls with 34,280 daughters were used. To calculate the homozygosity level (Ca), a multiplex panel of 12 microsatellite loci was used: TGLA227, BM2113, TGLA53, ETH10, SPS115, TGLA122, INRA23, TGLA126, BM1818, ETH3, ETH225, BM1824 with direct calculation of individual homozygosity as the ratio of the number of homozygous loci to the total number of analyzed loci with complete data. For genomic inbreeding (F_ROH), the Illumina Bovine SNP50K v2 BeadChip with a density of 54,609 SNPs was used, F_ROH was calculated as the ratio of the sum of all ROH lengths in millions of nucleotide pairs (mb) in the sire genome to the total genome size in mb for 29 bovine autosomes overlapping the SNPs, expressed as a percentage. With increasing Ca, the mortality rate of cows due to limb diseases increases by 0.882 %. Other most significant causes in percentage terms include: difficult births and complications, an increase of 0.263 %, osteomalacia by 0.172 %, zoobrak by 1.818 %, other non-infectious diseases by 0.533 %, mastitis 0.384 %. With the increase of F_ROH, the percentage of animals leaving for the following reasons increases: limb diseases by 2.019 %, difficult labor and complications by 1.471 %, gynecological diseases by 0.964 %, respiratory diseases by 0.146 %, udder atrophy 0.696 %, bursitis 0.364 %, mastitis 0.774 %, ketosis by 0.044 %, zoobrak by 4.841 %, arthritis by 0.394 %, and other reasons. It can be stated that the frequency of leaving in groups of inbred animals increased by 0.011–4.840. A reliable difference was noted between the groups for all samples according to the Bartlett criterion and Cochran's g-test at a significance level of α = 0.05. All calculated Pearson Chi-square values in all groups were less than critical, and the p-value was more than 0.05.

Timely assessment of animal conformation allows for the selection of the most promising individuals for breeding. The aim of the study was to identify udder conformation deficiencies in Ayrshire dairy cows assessed using the BLUP AM method. The study was based on the data of individual exterior assessment of 3,525 first-calving cows, daughters of 201 sires from 29 farms in various regions of the Russian Federation in the period from 2006 to 2024. In general, for the studied sample of animals, the highest probability of deficiencies (P) was noted for traits “additional teats” P = 20.1 % and “unbalanced udder floor” P = 13.8 %, “asymmetry of udder lobes” P = 3.9 %, “close rear teats” P = 3.6 % and “small udder” P = 2.5 %. The procedure for solving mixed BLUP equations on the studied sample of animals by udder exterior features showed the usual reliability (Rel) of the obtained linear estimates, with a variation from Rel = 0.269 (rear teat placement) to Rel = 0.486 (udder depth) and for exterior defects from Rel = 0.172 (milk leakage) to Rel = 0.905 (atrophy of udder lobes), which indicates its high genetic determinacy of manifestation in the phenotype. In the process of the conducted assessment of animals it was found that the frequency of occurrence of "atrophy of udder lobes" is significantly (p≤0.001) lower in groups of cows with positive (≥0) EBV assessments for the attachment of the fore udder attachment by 1.16 %, the rear udder height by 0.80 %, the rear teat placement by 1.12 %, and in first-calf heifers with optimal assessments for the udder depth, this defect was not observed. Thus, a number of exterior defects, such as "atrophy udder lobes", "unbalanced udder floor" and "close rear teats" can be leveled by selecting cows with a well-attached deep udder and a pronounced central ligament, which, compared to animals with deviations in these exterior parameters, have a lower probability of their manifestation.

The research was carried out to analyze the antimicrobial activity of oils from ungurahui fruit, kukui nut, and black cumin seeds. The antimicrobial activity of the oils was evaluated using standard laboratory test strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus. The experimental method was based on a standard seeding algorithm in accordance with a modification involving the replacement of discs with hollow cylinders with a volume of 0.2 ml and an inner diameter of 5 mm when testing liquid antimicrobials (OFS.1.2.4.0010.18 "Determination of antimicrobial activity of antibiotics by diffusion into agar"). It has been established that oils from ungurahui fruit, black cumin seeds and kukui nut have an antibacterial effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the diameters of the growth suppression zones of microorganisms are 11.4±0.14; 14.1±0.11 and 13.2±0.07 mm, respectively. For the remaining test strains, ungurahui and kukui nut oils had a bactericidal effect, suppressing the growth of Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli locally only under the cylinder. The growth of Staphylococcus aureus was slightly suppressed by kukui nut oil (under the cylinder). Thus, kukui nut oil exhibits varying degrees of pronounced antimicrobial activity against all four test strains. At the same time, the inhibition of the reproduction of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is provided to the greatest extent by black cumin seed oil. The bactericidal properties of black cumin oil are due to the high concentration of biologically active substances (thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, α-thuyene, α-pinene, β-pinene, t-anethole and other aromatic hydrocarbons). In general, the studied oils can be used as natural biologically active additives in medicine, veterinary, and forage production.

In the context of widespread honey bee colony collapse, the search for highly effective tools for honey bee conservation is a pressing issue. The aim of the research was to develop a scheme for the application of formic acid (85 %) in Apis mellifera L. colonies affected by Tropilaelaps spp. The study of formic acid effectiveness was conducted in apiaries of the Krasnodar Region from May to August 2024 and in the Republic of Dagestan from June to August 2025. In each location, one control group and two experimental groups were formed, with 8 bee colonies in each. For the first time, the comparative effectiveness of formic acid application for Tropilaelapsosis in honey bees was studied using both the standard scheme (3 applications of evaporators with a 7-day interval) recommended for Varroosis and the experimental scheme (5 applications with a 4-day interval). The daily evaporation intensity of formic acid was determined. The effectiveness of formic acid was monitored by the degree of brood infestation with Tropilaelaps spp. mites before treatment and 25, 45, and 60 days after the start of treatment. It has been established that the evaporation intensity of formic acid at ambient temperatures of 16–27 °C ranges from 80 to 100 % within 3 days, resulting in a period within the bee colony's nest where the therapeutic effect of the preparation is absent. Considering the biological characteristics of Tropilaelaps spp. mites which are predominantly found in capped brood, individuals emerging from cells during this period do not die but resume reproduction. Therefore, it is necessary to use prolonged-action preparations. The application of formic acid in bee colonies at the initial stage of infestation with Tropilaelaps spp. significantly reduced the degree of capped brood infestation after 60 days by an average of 3.7 times using the standard varroosis treatment scheme and by 12.0 times using the studied scheme compared to the control group (P≤0.01). Formic acid, when used 5 times with a 4-day interval, compared to the standard application scheme, significantly reduced the degree of Tropilaelaps spp. infestation in capped brood in bee colonies after 60 days by 2.7–3.8 times (P≤0.01), with an effectiveness of 65–74 %.

This article presents the results of a study examining the characteristics and dynamics of the institutional environment for hunting management under the influence of state regulation from 1995 to the present. Key elements of the institutional environment for this area of activity were identified and analyzed. The stages of state regulation of hunting and game management in the post-Soviet period are identified, and their key parameters are defined. It is shown that, during the first stage, some fundamentally progressive institutions were implemented into legislation, but due to a number of objective and subjective factors, they were significantly reduced in the second stage. It is noted that this transformation resulted in the emergence and exacerbation of a range of industry-specific problems. In particular, despite government measures, the population of the most important species of wild ungulates remains six times lower than the ecological carrying capacity of their habitats. Other pressing and unresolved issues include poaching, the ineffectiveness of regulatory instruments for the removal of invasive species, the mass mortality of game animals from agrochemicals, and the lack of protection for hunting users' rights. Conclusions are drawn regarding the impossibility of ensuring the sustainability of hunting management under the current model of state regulation and the advisability of changing the trajectory of the industry's development. The need for a transition to a new stage of public administration based on the principles of decentralization and subsidiarity of state powers, self-regulation, competition, transparency, and broad public and professional participation is substantiated. This should also involve a significant change in the role and importance of state bodies governing hunting and the conservation of hunting resources.

This research focuses on developing a neural network model in the Python programming language to solve the technological problem of forecasting potato yields with limited agroclimatic data. The developed program is considered as an element of the digital transformation of technological processes in crop production, aimed at optimizing the use of agricultural machinery and material resources in the agro-industrial complex. The study used data for 2022–2024 on climatic conditions, soil types, and actual potato yields at agricultural enterprises in the Ulyanovsk region. To ensure the quality of the initial information, comprehensive data preprocessing was performed, including the elimination of missing values, filtering of statistical outliers, and normalization of numerical parameters. A neural network model was created using the TensorFlow and Keras libraries with an architecture including an input layer, two hidden layers of 64 neurons each, and an output layer. A distinctive feature of the study is that it works with a limited amount of data (15 observations over 3 years). Therefore, regularization (L2, Dropout) and data augmentation methods were used to prevent overfitting. The architecture was optimized using hyperparameter selection, and a cross-validation split of the data was used to evaluate the reliability of the model. Validation of the model on a test set showed that the developed neural network provides a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.32 t/ha and a determination coefficient (R²) of 0.87. The model outperformed multiple linear regression (MAE = 0.45 t/ha, R² = 0.75) and random forest (MAE = 0.38 t/ha, R² = 0.81) in forecast quality. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of the developed software for improving the efficiency of planning agricultural operations. It is recommended to implement the model as a software module for decision support systems in the management of technological processes in potato growing.

Proposed a design for a sod seeder furrow opener equipped with cutters and a damper-safety device (RF Patent No. 2814067) which effectively smooths out shock loads on the drive when the cutter blades enter the soil and switches it off when the cutter blades encounter obstacles. The purpose of the research was to evaluate the efficiency of the milling furrow opener with damper devices and to preliminarily determine the rational parameters and operating modes of the furrow opener dampers. To conduct experiments in a soil channel, a laboratory installation was made in the form of a separate section of a sod seeder furrow opener with a drive from an electric motor. In the course of comparative studies of the serial furrow opener of SDK seeders and the furrower equipped with damper devices, it was revealed that the use of dampers in the design of disc cutters reduces the energy consumption of milling by 16.6–32.3% compared with the operation of the serial working body, with a greater effect noted in the range of rotation frequencies of cutters from 270 to 385 min^-1 . In the process of studying the influence of the parameters and operating mode of the dampers of disk cutters on the energy consumption of milling with a furrow opener through the planning of the experiment, it was revealed that the minimum value of the power consumed by the furrow opener equal to 2.55 kW corresponds to the following values of the factors: the rotational frequency of the cutters of 336 min^-1 , the total stiffness of the damper springs of 89.4 N/mm, the traveling speed of 0.7 m/s. The research results confirmed the data from computer modeling and revealed a significant reduction in the energy consumption of milling when using dampers in the design of disc cutters of the furrow cutter.

The amount of climate-active substances emissions depends on the technology and the mode of manure processing. Current methodologies for calculating these emissions are based on aggregated coefficients that do not consider climatic zones or the manure processing technologies in place. The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of climate-active substances in the emissions in dependence to the processing systems of different types of liquid manure. The research was carried out using the experimental unit with a volume of 0.0625 m³ that was designed to simulate the processing of solid and liquid manure under different conditions. As the research material there was used liquid cattle manure, pig liquid manure, and the liquid fractions of both cattle and pig manure. Concentrations of СО₂, СН₄, H₂S, and NH₃ were measured with an ELAN Plus gas analyzer. N₂O concentration was determined in a gas chromatograph “Crystallux-4000M”. Concentration of СО₂ in liquid cattle manure was found to be 537–539 mg/m³, СН₄ – 0.02-0.03 %, H₂S – 0.147–0.367 mg/m³, and NH₃ – 1.97–4.34 mg/m³. Concentration of СО₂ in liquid fraction of cattle manure was found to be 537–538 mg/m³, СН₄ – 0.02 %, H₂S – 0.367–0.327 mg/m³, and NH₃ – 2.53–4.08 mg/m³. Concentration of СО₂ in pig liquid manure was found to be 537–718 mg/m³, СН₄ – 0.02 %, H₂S – 0.12–0.177 mg/m³, and NH₃ – 4.69–6.97 mg/m³. Concentration of СО₂ in liquid fraction of pig manure was found to be 537–592 mg/m³, СН₄ – 0.01-0.02 %, H₂S – 0.08–0.20 mg/m³, and NH₃ – 1.57–2.72 mg/m³. The obtained concentrations of climate-active substances in the emission from processing of liquid cattle manure and its liquid fraction were comparable with the results of similar studies. The differences were less than 20 %.