The decline in biodiversity and, as a consequence, in genetic resources of farm animals worldwide as a result of the growing anthropogenic impact is recognized as a global problem that requires an immediate solution. Therefore, the conservation of national gene pools of farm animals is of crucial importance. One of the most effective forms of conservation of genetic resources is the long-term deposit of animal biomaterials in specialized collections-biobanks. Global experience shows that the creation of such biobanks with materials accessible to scientists, breeders, and agricultural professionals, is of great scientific and applied importance. The article analyzes domestic and foreign sources over the last 10 years. The purpose of the review is to summarize current data on the development of biobanking of farm animals worldwide and in the Russian Federation. The current state of the problem of conservation of genetic resources of farm animals and approaches for its solution are considered, the main emphasis is on the conservation of materials in vitro. The paper describes the current state of collections of genetic resources of farm animals in the Russian Federation and the largest national gene banks in several countries. The need to expand work in the field of biobanking of farm animals is shown. In the future, biobank samples can be used both to preserve populations of small, rare animal breeds and to restore the genetic variability of commercial, actively bred breeds. With the development of omix technologies, biobanks of farm animals are becoming particularly important as sources of genetically diverse and specialized DNA that can be used to study gene functions and analyze genomic associations.

Highly productive crosses are necessary for the production of poultry meat, therefore, the identification and degree of manifestation of the genes involved in the formation of productive traits of broiler chickens is an important step towards increasing meat yield and improving its quality. The study of the genes responsible for growth indicators will increase the bird precocity and reduce feed and maintenance costs. This review searches for and studies a number of genes involved in the formation of muscle and fat tissue, as well as genes regulating nutrient transport in broiler chickens, which, in turn, is an important component for the production of sufficient quantities of poultry meat. During the study of literature data, it was found out that such genes as GH, MYOG, MYOD, MSTN, IGF-1, FGF2 are responsible for muscle tissue formation, these are the main genes that directly affect growth performance in broiler chickens. For the formation of adipose tissue, such genes as LEP, AdipoQ, FABP2, ACACA, PPARA, FASN are responsible. A number of genes such as SLC2A1, SLC2A2, SLC2A2, SLC2A3, SLC7A1, SLC7A2, SLC7A5, SLC7A6, SLC7A7, and SLC38A2 are responsible for the transport of nutrients required for normal growth of tissues and the body as a whole. Literature data analysis has shown that the use of feed additives with the addition of phytobiotics, prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, affects the activity of genes. This contributes to the formation of muscle mass, lets support the physiological state of the bird, prevent the development of diseases, accelerate the growth rate and increase the productivity of broilers.

The use of pesticides in agriculture and other areas of human activity is interrelated with a major global issue of environment protection. This article analyzes domestic and international literature over a 20-year period. Biopesticides based on natural materials or their derivatives (microorganisms, vegetable oils, plant extracts, bacteria, and fungi) are of significant practical interest. The main advantages of biopesticides are demonstrated. The production of biological products is more cost-effective and technologically advanced than that of chemical products. Plants and microorganisms are the primary sources of biopesticides due to their high content of biologically active compounds and antimicrobial agents. Microbial pesticides constitute the largest group in the arsenal of modern biological products for plant protection. Compared to synthetic products, biopesticides are environmentally friendly and lack cumulative effects. They do not induce resistance in arthropods (therefore, eliminating the need for additional costs associated with constantly changing application technologies for new products). They are selective in action (they affect a specific range of pests rather than all organisms), and are highly cost-effective. One of the main advantages of bacterial, fungal, and viral biopesticides over chemically synthesized products is their species specificity. One drawback is the rapid degradation of the active ingredients, which significantly reduces the shelf life of the products. The global biopesticides market has demonstrated stable growth for many years. When creating biological preparations, bacteria of the genus Bacillus, various strains of the fungi Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana are mainly used, which are highly effective in controlling the flies Musca domestica, Stomoxys calcitrans, mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles and the species Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex pipiens, the large wax moth (fire moth) Galleria mellonella and ixodid ticks of the genera Ixodes, Dermacentor and Rhipicephalus.

Phytotron-greenhouse complexes are widely used in breeding winter crops. Reducing the period of plant vernalization, including the use of in vitro culture will make it possible to obtain more than one generation over the year. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of in vitro vernalization of 12 wheat and triticale variety samples including facultatives, during year-round cultivation of plants in protected soil. The duration of in vitro vernalization at t +4 °C was 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days. The plants were set out in a hydroponic installation and grown under long-day conditions (22 hours). Only in facultative triticale could the transition to the generative growth phase occur in the variant with 20 days of in vitro vernalization: productive shoots were formed in 60 % of the ‘Valentin 90’ cultivar plants. At least 50 days of in vitro vernalization were required for most cultivars and lines, 60 days were necessary for the ‘Zubr’ (triticale) and ‘Skipetr’ (wheat) cultivars. The period from obtaining the embryo culture, vernalization, growing plants in a hydroponic installation to obtaining seed offspring lasted from 118 to 152 days for most cultivars of winter wheat and facultative triticale, and from 150 to 170 days for winter triticale. In all cultivars and lines, the total number of shoots formed on the plant significantly decreased with an increase in the duration of vernalization and the development of the capacity for productive shoot formation. The grain content of ears in the variants where the plants successfully underwent vernalization averaged 45 grains per ear for triticale and 26-40 grains per ear for wheat.

This study compared the results of molecular genetic analysis using PCR markers (HVM68, 1kb-insertion, HvMATE-21indel) of ten barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes with a phenotypic evaluation of their aluminum tolerance. The objects of the study were barley cultivars ‘Novichok’, ‘Dina’, ‘Forvard’, ‘Bionik’, ‘Vitrum’, ‘Rodnik Prikamiya’, ‘Pamyati Dudina’ (Russia), ‘Zazerskij 85’ (Belarus), ‘Triumph’ (Denmark), ‘Tallon’ (Australia). It was established that the studied barley genotypes did not have the 1kb-insertion mutation (PCR product 1841 bp), which enhanced the expression of the HvAACT1 gene (PCR products with a size of 818 bp were obtained in all cultivars). The HvMATE-21indel deletion (PCR product 475 bp) was detected in the genome of three cultivars – aluminum-tolerant ‘Novichok’, ‘Bionik’ and acid-tolerant ‘Rodnik Prikamiya’. When using the HVM68 microsatellite marker, amplicons in the range of 175–220 bp were detected in barley cultivars. It is assumed that the studied barley genotypes have different mechanisms of regulation of the HvAACT1 gene and/or are characterized by its polymorphism, which requires further study. Among the PCR markers of barley aluminum tolerance used in the work, the most promising is the HvMATE-21indel marker. Based on the morphological evaluation of seedlings according to root length index (RLI), most of the cultivars (90 %) were classified as moderately tolerant (‘Forvard, ‘Novichok, ‘Vitrum, ‘Zazerskij 85’, ‘Tallon’) and tolerant (‘Dina’, ‘Bionik’, ‘Rodnik Prikamiya’, ‘Triumph’) genotypes. At the same time the HvMATE-21indel gene-specific marker was detected in only three cultivars, which indicated the need to expand the set of DNA markers used to identify mutations in the HvAACT1 gene and its regulatory regions. The method used for cytological evaluation of aluminum tolerance is promising for determining the genotype response to modeled aluminum-acid stress but requires further optimization. To characterize the aluminum tolerance of barley by phenotype it is advisable to use an integrated approach, including both field and laboratory analyses.

The study reports on an investigation of the biochemical composition (fat, fiber, starch, protein, nitrogen-free extracts (NFE), tannin) in the seeds of 7 CMS grain sorghum lines with different types of sterile cytoplasm (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, 9E) with the nuclear genome Karlik 4v and Zhelotozernoye 10, as well as 8 sterility-maintaining lines. The plants were grown from 2022 to 2024 in the Saratov region. The biochemical parameters of the grain were assessed using a Spectra Star XT 2600XT-1 infrared analyzer. The tannin content was determined in sorghum flour according to GOST ISO 9648-2013. There were found significant deviations in the biochemical composition of the sterilitymaintaining lines. Promising sterility-maintaining lines were identified: KVV 181 (high in starch, fiber and NFE); KVV 114 (high in starch and fat); KP-70 (high in starch and NFE). On average for 2022–2024, there was no cytoplasmic effect on the amount of the studied biochemical components in the grain of isonuclear CMS lines with different types of sterile cytoplasm. The studied lines, with the exception of isonuclear CMS lines with the Karlik 4v genome, whose level was equal to or slightly exceeded 0.3 % (0.36 % in the A3 Karlik 4v line) in relation to food standards, were characterized by a low level of tannins from 0.14 to 0.25 %. Strong negative correlations were found between ash and starch content (r = -0.72), as well as between protein and NFE (r = -0.87). A negative correlation was found between tannins and NFE (r = -0.61) and a positive correlation was found between tannins and protein (r = 0.50). The obtained data on the influence of the cytoplasmic effect on the biochemical composition of sorghum grain allow for more effective use of these sources in the breeding process when creating grain sorghum hybrids, depending on the intended use.

The article presents the results of study of 12 potato cultivars in the Omsk region (2022–2024). The aim of the research was to establish relationships between economically valuable traits of potato cultivars using correlation and path analysis methods for their further use in breeding programs aimed at increasing productivity. The weather conditions during the growing seasons differed in terms of hydrothermal coefficient (HTC): 2022 – favorable in terms of heat and moisture supply (HTC = 1.02); 2023 – dry (HTC = 0.78); 2024 – wet (HTC = 1.63). Based on the main yield parameters, the cultivars were characterized for the effective use of their potential. The following varieties were identified: ‘Krepysh’ (Russia) – with high yield (30.8 t/ha) and marketable tuber weight (88.3 g); ‘Gala’ (Germany) and ‘Grand’ (Russia) – with the highest number of tubers (11.4 and 10.7) with low weight of marketable tuber suitable for processing. Correlation relationship was established between the yield and marketable tuber weight in 2022 (r = 0.418) and 2023 (r = 0.504), and in 2024 – between the yield and the number of tubers per plant (r = 0.434). To develop an effective breeding program, using the integration of statistical methods (calculation of path coefficients) with breeding assessment, the highest breeding value of individual quantitative traits of potato plants was determined. A high positive direct effect on the yield was found for the “marketable tuber weight” trait (2022-2023) and “the number of stems per plant” (in the wet 2024); a very low effect (2022-2023) for the “number of stems per plant” trait and an insignificant effect for the “marketability” trait. The “marketable tuber weight” trait can be used in the selection of source material for potato breeding for increased productivity.

In the context of climate change and the need to reduce pesticide and agrochemical use, the development of sustainable crops is becoming increasingly important. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as histone modifications, allow plants to adapt to stress without altering their DNA sequence. Histone demethylases are of particular interest as enzymes that activate defense genes. Concurrently, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as a new class of regulatory molecules capable of modulating gene expression. The aim of this study was to identify and validate circRNAs derived from histone demethylase genes in maize (Zea mays L.) during early developmental stages. The research was conducted on 10-day-old seedlings. Based on annotated genes and the PlantcircBase 7.0 database, six predicted circRNAs were selected. They were validated using PCR with divergent primers and subsequent sequencing. The formation of only one circular RNA out of the six predicted was experimentally confirmed – from the locus of the demethylase gene Zm00001d051961. It has been established that this circRNA is formed through backsplicing between the 2nd and the 7th exons, is 2016 nucleotides in size, and exhibits tissue-specific expression, predominantly in the leaves. This is the first experimental proof of a circRNA originating from a histone demethylase gene locus in maize. The discovered tissue-specific expression suggests that this circRNA may be involved in the fine-tuning of the demethylase's activity, potentially influencing the epigenetic status of chromatin. This discovery enhances the understanding of plant epigenetic plasticity and lays the groundwork for developing new breeding strategies aimed at enhancing crop stress resilience.

High-yielding sorghum-sudangrass hybrids with reduced lignin content, obtained using the “brown-midrib gene 6” gene technology, are recommended and successfully used for silage, but their sanitary-relevant features are only beginning to be evaluated. This paper reports on contamination with microscopic fungi and mycotoxins of the plants of sorghumsudangrass hybrid of the ‘NutriTop Star’, which were collected from an experimental field (Russsian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow region) during the period from tillering to the end of the stem elongation phase. The mycobiome was dominated by Alternaria fungi (68.8 %), with Fusarium (25.0 %) and Penicillium (12.5 %) taxa being less common, and Cladosporium and Aspergillus (6.3 %) being rare. The Alternaria isolates were predominantly A. tenuissima and in vitro biotests showed a high potential for the biosynthesis of alternariol. Enzyme immunoassay revealed the following in the leaves of plants collected in the "tillering" and "stem elongation" phases: alternariol (13–30 μg/kg), emodin (32–95 μg/kg), ochratoxin A (6–12 μg/kg) and mycophenolic acid in the stem elongation phase (19–64 μg/kg). The amounts of aflatoxin B1 (3–5 μg/kg) were close to the limit of detection, and the accumulation of cyclopiazonic acid and ergot alkaloids varied with the change of growth phases. In the stem parts of the plants, the detection of cyclopiazonic acid, ergot alkaloids, and emodin was rare. Analytes – T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, zearalenone, group B fumonisins, citrinin, sterigmatocystin, PR-toxin and roridin A were not detected. The information obtained is important for improving approaches to assessing the quality of sorghum feed.

The purpose of the study is to identify a complex of segetal plant species in the fields of agricultural crops. The surveyed area is located in the basin of the Osetr river and its tributaries the Osetrik and the Unitza in the Zaraysk municipal district in the south-east of Moscow region. The research was conducted in 2023–2025 using the route method on the discount areas of 100 m². The frequency of occurrence of weed species was determined on a 5-point scale. There were studied agrophytocenoses of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), winter triticale (×Triticosecale rimpaui Wittm. ex A. Camus), maize (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), field pea (Pisum sativum L.), and winter and spring rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Ninety weed species of vascular plants belonging to 24 families have been identified. Among the families, Poaceae has the highest number of segetal species (19 species). There are 50 annual species, with Capsella bursa-pastoris, Chenopodium album, Matricaria perforata, and Consolida regalis being the most common. There are 40 perennial species, with Convolvulus arvensis, Cirsium arvense, Equisetum arvense, Taraxacum officinale, and Sonchus arvensis being the most prevalent in crops. Representatives of invasive flora have been noted at the edges of the fields, they are Conyza canadensis, Heracleum sosnowskyi, Epilobium adenocaulon and Amaranthus retroflexus. Arrhenatherum elatius has been identified as a potentially invasive taxon in soybean crops, while Veronica persica is often found in other agrocenoses. These facts should be taken into account when conducting field protection measures.

Currently, in Russia and other countries, the areas under Sarepta mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.) are increasing, which is associated with its multi-purpose use, as well as good adaptation to adverse environmental factors. The ability of Sarepta mustard to grow on soils with increased zinc concentrations is also known. At the same time, the content of this metal in plant seeds is usually low due to the effective operation of its detoxification mechanisms. This suggests the possibility of growing Sarepta mustard for seeds on soils with a high zinc level. In this work, the effect of different zinc concentrations (5, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg of substrate) on seed productivity and seed quality of two Sarepta mustard cultivars (‘Slavyanka’ and ‘Zolushka’) was studied. The research was carried out in a sandy substrate under vegetation experiment conditions. It has been established that high zinc concentrations have a greater effect on the weight and number of seeds, and a lesser effect on the pods number and 1000 seeds weight. Thus, at a zinc concentration of 150 mg/kg of substrate, the number and weight of seeds in the ‘Slavyanka’ cultivar were 2 times less than in the control. In the ‘Zolushka’ cultivar even at zinc concentration of 100 mg/kg of substrate both parameters were 4 times lower than in the plants of the control variant. Based on the results, a number of seed productivity parameters were compiled according to the degree of zinc negative effect on them. It was also revealed that the quality of the formed seeds, determined by the germination energy, seed viability and the initial growth, was high in all variants regardless of the zinc content in the substrate. Moreover, the seeds were able to germinate successfully even on a "provocative background" – a high zinc concentration (1000 μM). The ‘Slavyanka’ cultivar turned out to be the most resistant to high zinc concentrations. A conclusion was made about the possibility and prospects of using Sarepta mustard for growing seeds on zinc-contaminated soils.

The characteristics of growth and green mass formation of the first-generation sweet sorghum hybrid ‘Silosnoe 88’ for fodder production purposes were studied in 2017–2024 in the Novgorod region on sod-podzolic medium-cultivated soil. The sowing was carried out in the third ten-day period of May with a seeding rate of 20 kg/ha and a row spacing of 15 cm, observations and records were conducted according to generally accepted methods, the yield of green mass was determined during the shooting phase (up to the «heading of panicles» phase). The data obtained during the research period on agrome

teorological indicators, timing of phenophases and yield of green mass of ‘Silosnoe 88’ sweet sorghum served as the basis for conducting correlation and regression analyses. A dependence of the duration of interphase periods of vegetation on the sum of active (above 10 °С) temperatures at all stages of plant development was established, but a closer relationship (r = 0.95–0.99) was observed in the interphase periods: "sowing – young growth", "young growth – tillering", "tillering – shooting". An increase in the amount of precipitation affected the duration of the interphase periods “young growth – tillering”, “shooting – heading of panicles”, “heading of panicles – flowering” (r = 0.80–0.90). During the “young growth – tillering” period, a correlation was established between the yield of green mass of ‘Silosnoe 88’ sweet sorghum hybrid and the amount of precipitation (r = -0.59), the amount of active temperatures (r = -0.61), and the duration of the period (r = -0.75). The regression equation (R² = 0.56) showed that a reduction in the duration of the “young growth – tillering” period by 10 days was accompanied by an increase in green mass yield by 21 t/ha. The obtained dependencies indicate that for the successful cultivation of ‘Silosnoye 88’ sweet sorghum, the presence of favorable agrometeorological factors is necessary at the initial stages of its development, especially during the "young growth – tillering" period. It is during this period that its productive potential is laid.

Intensive technologies for breeding farm animals and poultry are largely determined by the balance of feeding diets based on essential substances. A certain shortage in the domestic feed market and insufficient control over the turnover of protein-containing feeds, including feed amino acids, leads to feed adulteration by replacing proteins and individual essential amino acids with cheaper ingredients. The purpose of the research was to establish the possibility of operational quality control of feed amino acids – lysine, methionine and threonine based on the results of a comprehensive analysis for the content of active ingredient and crude ash. The scientific significance of the work is determined by the justification of the possibility of detecting adulteration of feed amino acids by the mass fraction of crude ash. This method offers testing simplicity, making it suitable even for laboratories at feed milling plants. During the experiment, the mass fraction of crude ash exceeded the regulatory values by 0.06 % in 7 industrial samples of feed lysine, by 0.02 % in 4 industrial samples of methionine, and by 0.15% in 9 industrial samples of feed threonine, out of a total of 70 samples tested in each group. The modeling of the recipe composition of feed amino acid samples was carried out with the addition of milk whey, wheat flour, edible salt and potato starch in quantities of 2 %, 5 % and 10 %. In all samples of feed amino acids, an increase in the mass fraction of crude ash above the standard values was noted with the addition of 2 % edible salt and with the addition of 10 % milk whey (except for feed methionine). When wheat flour and potato starch were added, the quantitative indicators of crude ash mass fraction changed insignificantly. The obtained data on the increased ash content in feed amino acids indicate the possibility of adulteration through the addition of non-nitrogenous ingredients.

The article presents the results of the study conducted in 2024 to determine the effect of IGF1 gene polymorphism on the predisposition of cows to ketosis. The objects of the study were first-calving cows of the Kostroma breed from pedigree farms in the Kostroma region (n = 127). In the first 10 days after calving, peripheral blood in clinically healthy cows was analyzed for ketone bodies. As a result, the animals were divided into groups 1 and 2 with 0 -1.2 mmol/l ketone body content and above 1.2 mmol/l, respectively. The samples of DNA were isolated from the whole blood of experimental animals and genotyping was performed at the rs109763947 locus of the IGF1 gene by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) with melting of fluorescent probes. It has been established that the studied cattle population is polymorphic at the IGF1 locus and is characterized by the complete absence of AA genotype carriers, the predominance and statistically significant (P<0.001) excess of AG heterozygotes (0.551–0.714), accompanied by an increased level of ketone bodies in the blood by 0.05 mmol/l (P<0.001) and a positive correlation of the concentration of ketones in the blood with a protein content in milk (r ho = 0.349, P<0.05), which indicates a possible breeding advantage of heterozygotes. The frequency of the A allele in group 1 was 0.078 less than in group 2 (P<0.001), which corresponded with the entry trend of A carriers to healthy group 2.06 times less often than to the group with subclinical ketosis. However, the odds ratio for these events is not significant, and the high coeffic ient of variation in ketone body levels among AG and GG carriers in group 2 (43.05 and 64.4 %, respectively) compared with group 1 (5.6 and 5.96 %, respectively) indicates the influence of other genetic factors on the predisposition to ketosis. This indicates the necessity to study the rs109763947 locus in combination with other DNA markers.

The study was conducted in the Arkhangelsk region using a sample of 430 Kholmogory cows. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between polymorphisms in the mannose-binding lectin (MBL1) gene and milk productivity traits. The samples of DNA were analyzed using PCR-RFLP method with the HaeIII restriction enzyme to identify MBL1 allelic variants: TT (255 bp), TC (255, 178, and 77 bp), and CC (178 and 77 bp). Statistical analysis was performed using the MannWhitney U test (p<0.05). Genotype distribution in the sample was as follows: CC – 26.98 % (116 animals), TC – 50.70 % (218 animals), and TT – 22.32 % (96 animals). The analysis revealed significant superiority of CC genotype cows in milk fat content, averaging 3.75 % for the population. This value was 0.06 % higher than in TC genotype (3.69 %) and 0.15 % higher than in TT genotype (3.60 %), with statistically significant differences confirmed. These results justify incorporating MBL1 gene polymorphism analysis into Kholmogory cattle breeding programs, with particular emphasis on selecting CC genotype animals for nucleus herds. To comprehensively improve the production traits, it is recommended to combine selection for the C allele with milk productivity indicators. A promising direction for further research involves studying MBL1 interactions with other genes affecting milk synthesis and disease resistance, which would enable development of more effective genetic improvement strategies for northern Russian regions. Implementation of these findings in breeding practice will optimize herd management and enhance economic efficiency of dairy cattle farming.

Application of modern methods of genetic testing allows to supplement traditional breeding with new ways of predicting economically useful qualities in animals. To improve the parameters of meat productivity in sheep of Russian breeding, the identification of markers in genes associated with the development of muscle tissue is used. One of the promising candidate genes identified in various studies by full genome association search is FRY, the product of which participates in the formation of the cytoskeleton. There has been carried out a full genome sequencing of DNA of Manych merino sheep, based on the results of which the structure of the FRY gene was studied. Several thousand different polymorphisms, mainly single nucleotide substitutions, were detected in the gene structure. The study of the relationship of individual polymorphisms with the parameters of live weight in Manych merinos allowed to describe 46 loci that showed the greatest differences between carriers of different alleles for the studied parameter. Based on the analysis of the results, there were identified three polymorphisms in positions 29188932, 29071055 and 29219339 on chromosome 10, the difference between the carriers of allelic variants of which had the greatest value. Carriers of the mutant allele for the 29188932 polymorphism had an average live weight higher by 26 %, homozygotes for the substitution in the 29071055 position were 8.54 kg (18 %) higher than the other animals. The rams with mutant homozygous genotype at position 29219339 were superior to the rest by 12.07 kg, which is 25 %. All three polymorphisms – 29188932, 29071055 and 29219339 are the single nucleotide substitutions. The substitutions at 29071055 and 29219339 have been previously described in sheep and have nomenclature numbers rs413720596 and rs424225505, respectively. The polymorphism at position 29188932 was detected for the first time and was not listed in international databases. Thus, there are polymorphisms in the FRY gene that are reliably associated with live weight in sheep, which makes it possible to use them as molecular markers.

In pigs, as in other farm animals, the health of cardiac muscle is the most important factor determining the general state of the organism, and therefore plays a significant role in improving the quality of the products. Due to industrialization of pig farming, structural and functional changes in cardiac muscle can occur in early ontogenesis. Despite the fairly detailed coverage of the problem of heart pathology in farm animals, the literature does not provide much data on the features of morphological changes in the myocardium identified using a complex of histochemical methods. The objective of the research is to study pathomorphological myocardial changes in piglets using histochemical methods. To achieve this objective, the material collected postmortem from piglets aged 1-2 months (n = 3), 3 months (n = 6), and 4.5-5.0 months (n = 4) was examined. Different histological methods of preparation staining were used for the morphological examination: hematoxylin and eosin, Mallory and HBFP staining. Immunohistochemical staining with antibodies to IL-6 was performed. As a result of histological studies, areas of damaged muscle tissue attributed to myocarditis were detected in the myocardium of piglets aged 1-2 months. At the same time, a positive reaction of cardiomyocytes to IL-6 was detected, which was probably associated with the protection of muscle tissue. In piglets aged 3 months, destructive processes were expressed to a greater extent and they correlated with an increase in the area of damaged cardiomyocytes. In piglets aged 4.5-5.0 months, probably due to the activation of compensatory mechanisms, inflammatory processes were expressed to a lesser extent, and in addition, foci of myogenesis were detected. The data obtained justify further studies related to a more detailed clarification of the mechanisms of destructive processes of the myocardium in pigs of different age.

Equine strangles, a widespread infectious disease, poses a serious problem resulting in significant economic losses in the horse breeding industry. As there are no effective and safe methods for specific prevention of this disease in Russia and Mongolia, a new inactivated vaccine against strangles, incorporating an immunostimulating component, has been developed. Unlike foreign analogues containing broad-spectrum antibiotics, the developed vaccine is characterized by the absence of harmful side effects, as confirmed by preclinical and clinical trials on laboratory and target animals (foals), demonstrating high efficacy and safety. As the result of the study of the vaccine high toxicity via intragastric administration at the maximum permissible volume (1 cm³) in white laboratory mice there was established the absence of pronounced toxic effects of the tested preparation on the laboratory animals. By the end of the observation period (7 days), the body weight of animals in the experimental group had increased by 0.6 g, and by 0.5 g in the control group. The vaccine pyrogenicity was studied in White Giant breed rabbits by intravenous injection into the ear vein at a dose of 0.1 cm³, with the control group rabbits receiving an equivalent dose of physiological saline. A comparative assessment of body temperature indicators in both rabbit groups revealed no statistically significant differences confirming the apyrogenicity of the product under study. High immunogenicity of the vaccine was established in white mice. A single subcutaneous injection of a 4×10⁸ CFU/mL dose of the vaccine provided 90 % immunity against the causative agent of strangles, with 90 % mortality observed in unvaccinated control animals. The immunizing dose (ID) for a single intramuscular administration was determined to be 4×10⁸ CFU/mL, providing an 80 % protection level. The vaccine has successfully undergone approval procedures and is authorized for use in the Russian Federation and Mongolia. This development product represents a significant advance in veterinary immunoprophylaxis offering a safe and effective alternative to the current vaccines against equine strangles.

Hazel (Tetrastes bonasia L., 1758) grouse is a member of the Phasianidae family, native to forest zone of Eurasia. Its widespread distribution, relative simplicity and accessibility of hunting determine its popularity among hunters and economic importance. The history of hazel grouse resource use includes both mass procurement and recreational hunting. Currently, hazel grouse is endangered in Western Europe. In the Kirov region, hazel grouse is a valuable hunting resource. The bird number in the region (151.83 thousand individuals) is estimated based on state monitoring data. As an alternative approach to determining the hazel grouse (821.20 thousand individuals) in the region, the materials of the "Harvest Service" of the Russian Research Institute of Game Management and Fur Farming were used. Fivefold discrepancies in the estimates are complemented by differences in the trends of long-term dynamics of the species population. The share of hazel grouse resources from the Kirov region on a national scale is determined. The estimates of bird population utilization are presented based on two sources. A sixfold discrepancy in estimates of hazel grouse harvest is noted. Product categories in the exploitation of hazel grouse resources are not numerous. The main motivation for hazel grouse hunting is meat production. The total volume of hazel grouse meat production in the Kirov Region is 19,424 kg worth 52,734,800.50 rubles. Hazel grouse hunting in the Kirov Region is permitted for 6.5 months long from the third Saturday of August to 28 (29) February. Hazel grouse is also harvested during hunting tours associated with hunting other species. A small proportion of birds is used by taxidermists in the region to make stuffed specimens.

The article presents the developed algorithm and software for automated monitoring of strawberry plant growth using neural network technologies. The YOLO11x and YOLOx-seg models, pre-trained by transfer learning, are adapted to recognize and classify plants (plant class), leaves (leaf class), and a reference marker (ref_obj class) of a known size. Segmentation of strawberry leaves using the YOLO11x-seg model makes it possible to analyze the morphometric parameters of individual leaf plates (area, perimeter, roundness, aspect ratio). A set of RGB images (2000 pieces) obtained using a GoPro HERO11 camera under controlled laboratory conditions was formed and annotated, followed by augmentation to increase the model's resistance to variations in shooting conditions. The developed algorithm converts the coordinates of the bounding boxes and segmentation masks of recognized objects into metric units using calibration coefficients calculated from a marker of known size (100×100 mm). The software implemented using PyQt5, TensorFlow, Keras, and OpenCV libraries provides not only visualization of results but also data storage in a local SQLite database with the ability to export to JSON and Excel formats. Validation of the model showed high accuracy in detecting plant bounding boxes (mAP50 = 0.906) and leaf segmentation (mAP50 -mask = 0.625). The average processing speed was 20.3 ms/frame for detection and 34.5 ms/frame for segmentation. The measurement error was less than 3.5 % for the overall parameters of the plant and 5.2 % for the morphometric parameters of the leaves, confirming the effectiveness of the method for assessing the height, width and area of plants, as well as the analysis of the leaf apparatus. The research results show the promise of an approach for automating plant phenotyping in real time.

The paper deals with modeling three-dimensional illumination distribution from light sourсes using artificial neural network (ANN). This problem is especially relevant in greenhouse irradiation systems due to the design features, namely large dimensions of the phytoirradiators relative to the small suspension height, which makes it impossible to represent them as point sources. The aim of the research is to develop a methodology for modeling illumination distribution in threedimensional space, which includes obtaining experimental data and processing them using an artificial neural network. A dataset comprising 2,100 records was obtained experimentally for the developed phytoirradiator. The illumination values E were measured at the nodes of the coordinate grid with a step of 10 cm within the range from 0 to 120 cm (along the x coordinate) and from 0 to 100 cm (along the y coordinate) in all four quadrants, at different suspension height of the phytoirradiator h at levels of 30, 50, 70 and 90 cm. The TensorFlow and Keras libraries of the Python programming language were used to build the model. The results showed that the created neural network effectively describes the flux distribution on the irradiated surface, taking into account the real geometry of the light source. The key advantage of the method is the ability to calculate illumination for any combination of suspension height and point coordinates on the plane, which overcomes the limitations of conventional lighting calculations based on the inverse square law. The mean absolute error of the neural network model is 0.04 klx, the value of the determination coefficient R² = 0.9967 with a 95 % confidence interval of [0.09953, 0.9977], which is a good result. Mean absolute prediction error is 7.5 %, this value can be improved by regularization and data augmentation. It has been established that ANN-based method is applicable to the design of energy-efficient lighting systems, adaptable to the spectral characteristics and reflected light. After retraining, the model can be used for phytoirradiators of arbitrary design, which expands its practical significance in plant lighting.

In environmental management, developing a scientific and methodological approach to the design and optimization of technological systems remains a pressing issue. The proposed approach is based on the integration of ontological design and agent-based simulation modeling, where this integration provides a link between abstract description and computational experimentation. The objects of study were the technological processes of reconstructing a pressure pipeline in a closed irrigation network. It is here, with the obvious lack of statistical data, that simulation modeling becomes a key research tool. It allows for the exploration of possible production scenarios and optimization without large-scale field experiments. However, there is a risk of discrepancies between model results and actual indicators. The reason for this discrepancy lies in the difficulty of fully accounting for organizational and technological factors, each of which can introduce nonlinear distortions into the final estimates. An agent-based approach helps overcome this limitation: it enables detailed analysis of the behavior of individual components and the nature of their interactions, as well as flexible adaptation to changing conditions. Key stages in constructing such a model include an ontological description of possible complex structures and the definition of functional relationships between active elements and local processes, all while taking into account the equipment's operating conditions. As part of the study, a corresponding toolkit was developed that could be used to solve problems of varying complexity and scale. A comprehensive methodological approach is proposed that allows for the consistent integration of the stages of ontological description of a subject area, formalization of functional-technological relationships, and agent-based modeling for designing technological systems in environmental management. The effectiveness of the proposed approach was tested on a real process of reconstruction of a closed irrigation system, and a Pareto-optimal search region for rational structures of technological systems was proposed.