The problem of gene pool preservation (GPP) in animal husbandry is actual worldwide. The main organization in coordination of international activity in this field is FAO of UN and its profile branches. This paper presents an overview of the structure of FAO, organizations and bodies, taking part in GPP programs- national governments; universities and research institutes; commercial producers and full time farmers; part time farmers, backyard producers and fanciers; commercial breeding companies etc. Also are highlighted main documents and information sources, issued by FAO and references to the experience in solving related to GPP problems and approaches in various countries. The paper describes experience and approaches of GPP in some countries- USA, Brazil, Australia, Denmark, Turkey, Slovenia, Uganda, China; interaction between governmental bodies, research institutions, breeding associations and animal producers in those countries. Also there are described examples of financing and support of agricultural producers and farmers, who keep rare and disappearing breeds of farm animals and poultry. There is underlined, that the goal of such support is not only preservation of gene pools as elements of commercial animal production, but also as element of historical and cultural heritage and ecological balance. The article discusses actual tasks of GPP preservation in Russian Federation, mentions the institutions and organizations in charge for this topic and points out some steps, to be done to optimize GPP preservation in the country. Currently under development is a law, which empowers Russian Ministry of Agriculture to support various organizations, including research institutes, independently from their departmental affiliation. The adoption of this law and other steps will be favorable not only for preservation of valuable gene resources, but also for their active usage in practical breeding programs in order to improve variety of animal production

This article is focused on increasing of nutrient value of eggs and chicken meat in comparison to the standard values of commercial egg and meat crosses and breeds, i.e. production for a specialized market segment (ecological products). There are described possible ways of solving of this task with use meat-egg or egg-meat type chicken breeds and lines, which have being preserved in the gene pool populations. In our Institute there were developed and patented new methods of evaluation of the traits, correlated with energy value and protein content in chicken meat on the stage of selection of hatching eggs for reproduction. For the evaluation of energy value of hatching eggs there was used the method of ultrasonic scanning for estimation of egg yolk mass without eggshell breaking. Yolk mass was calculated by measurement of yolk diameter (on long axis) related to egg mass. For calculation of energy values of laid eggs there was used the following formula: EV (КJ) = [16 Ym (Yolk mass) + 2 Ewm (Egg weight mass)] : (Egg mass - Eggshell mass), which was presented in the article of V. Khvostik and O. Katerinich, 2013. To increase the protein level in chicken meat there was used a method of hatching eggs evaluation, which enables to forecast with high significance the levels of protein in meat even before the chick’s birth. For this purpose there was used the parameter of Albumen Fractions’ Mobility (AFM), measured with use of the instrument PPF-1, invented by Professor P.P.Tsarenko. This instrument is used for express-evaluation of albumen’s quality by measurement of albumen fractions mobility without destroying of eggshell. In egg white of eggs with high AFM there is higher content of three amino acids: glycine, methionine and asparagine acid. For the first time there was experimentally confirmed, that most prospective for creation two-breed maternal autosexable chicken form (for preferable use by farmers and backyard producers) currently are gene pool breeds Brahma Pale, Sussex, and Amrox. Energy value of eggs of hybrid eggs ♂ Brahma × ♀ Sussex and ♂Sussex × ♀ Amrox was 92,8 - 89,8 Kcal, in 100 g of egg mass - 178,8 - 176,7 Kcal. For creation of 3-breed egg cross are used Cornish cocks. Protein content in breast meat of hybrids broilers - 23,46 - 23,77 % ; body weight of chicks at 9 weeks: 2443 г ♂♂ - 2165 g ♀♀ (♂ Cornish × ♀ (Brahma × Sussex)) and respectively 2270 - 1765 g (♂ Cornish × ♀ (Sussex × Amrox)).

During the recent years there is under way an intensive search for candidate genes, correlated with performance traits in many farm animals, including chicken. To such type of genes belong ghrelin gene (GHSL) and ghrelin receptor gene (GHSR). Ghrelin is a peptide, which influences on appetite. Immediately before feed intake, its concentration is on the highest level, and after feeding it drops down. With the increasing of body weight the levels of ghrelin decrease and this results in lowering of appetite and body weight regulation. For the investigations there were used chicken of two breeds- meat -egg type breed Pushkinskaya from the bioresource farm of VNIIGRZh “Genetic collection of rare and disappearing chicken breeds” (Pushkin, St.Petersburg) and meat bread Cornish (Breeding Company “Smena”, Moscow Region). There were defined genotypes by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs14678932 with use of PCR-RFLP method. On the base of single factor dispersion analysis there was evaluated impact of the ghrelin receptor gene (GHSR) on the productive traits of hens. There was investigated influence of the genotype with this replacement on body weight in 7, 33 and 90 days, egg mass in 210 and 365 days, egg laying productivity, egg fertility and hatchability. There was found a possible influence of the genotype of hens-layers with SNP rs14678932 gene GHSR on egg performance (P<0,05) and egg mass in в 240 days (P<0,05), but not found a significant influence SNP rs14678932 gene GHSR on body weight in 7 , 33 days and other main productive parameters in Cornish hens. There was not found any associative correlation of SNP rs14678932 gene GHSR with body weight in hens and cockerels of Pushkinskaya breed in 7, 49 and 90 days, but remarked lower body weight in cockerels, homozygous by investigated SNP in GHSR gene.

Sex separation of day old chicks in gene pool is of big practical importance, because growing of excessive male chicks until mature age is expensive and needs additional housing space. Creation of autosexable lines and breeds could act as a way of preservation of unique genetic complexes and reduction of rearing costs. Use of genotypes with marker genes accelerates genetic progress and increases efficiency of breeding. In the presented study there was investigated possibility to separate by sex day old chicks in gene pool populations of combined productivity types- Experimental-1 and Experimental CS. The egg-meat population Experimental -1 has been bred by crossing of Barred and Brown Leghorns. This population is sexable thanks to the interaction of genes «В» (Barring), «s⁺» (Silver), «e⁺» (Wild-type). The efficiency of selection of parents for colour auto-sexing of offspring and their own phenotype at 1-day age was studied to increase the accuracy of chicken separation by sex in the Experimental-1 population. For three generations of selection the accuracy of sexing in the population increased by 25% and reached 95.8%. The meat-egg population Experimental CS was created by crossing of Poltava Clay and New Hampshire hens with Pale-barred 4-line cocks of the cross “Broiler-6”. The resulted population is autosexable due to interaction of genes «В» (Barring), «s⁺» (Silver), «e^Wh» (Dominant wheaten). In one of the experimental groups the accuracy of sex separation by plumage coloration in day old chicks reached 96 %. The results of the investigation confirmed, that the breeding for this trait in Experimental-CS population is prospective.

One of the ways of preservation of the biological diversity in poultry and other farm animals is cryopreservation of reproductive cells. For poultry currently is already developed technology of spermatozoa, but percentage fertilization after thawing of individual ejaculates is on low level.During freezing and thawing spermatozoa can get both irreversible damages (losses of mobility and various morphological defects) and reversible damages (mainly temporary failures of the structure and penetration ability of membranes). Common parameters for selection of ejaculates for cryopreservation are: their volume, concentration and mobility of the spermatozoa. But these criteria do not reflect the whole degree of cryotolerance of the reproductive cells. This depends in wide extent on the condition of the membrane, because membranes are being firstly and mostly during the freezing and thawing process. There was found a positive correlation between spermatozoa mobility after thawing and degree of damaging of membrane structures during the freezing-thawing process. The coefficient of range correlation between the percentage of mobility and percentage of damaged spermatozoa was -0,49 (P < 0,01). In the article are presented results of the investigations of cryoresistance of cock sperm depending on lipid (cholesterol) in it. There are gained data of the cholesterol content in the native sperm with use of enzymatic colorimetric assay. The spermatozoa concentration was measured as mg/bln x 10-2. The parameters of the sperm membranes damaging were evaluated in de-frozen sperm with use of Sperm VitalStain colorant and microscopic visual system. There was found, that the sperm with cholesterol content on the level of ≤ М average had better cryoresistance compared to the sperm with high levels of cholesterol. This reflects in the lower damaging of the spermatozoa in freezing-thawing cycles (52,8% not damaged against 44,6%) in the experiment II ; better mobility after thawing (60,5% against 37,3% in the experiment and 65,9% against 63,2% in the experiment II); and, most important, better fertilizing ability (60,5 % against 36,0% in the experiment I and 78,4 % against 67,5% in the experiment II ).

The article presents current data concerning a small scale rare chicken breed Orlovskaya, which is being preserved in the bio-collection «Genetic Collection of the Rare and Disappearing Chicken Breeds» of the Russian Research Institute of Farm Animal Genetics and Breeding. In the article are used current materials for investigation of Orlovskaya breed in XX century and historical publications of the XIX century. There are highlighted history of origin of this breed and its distribution in Russia and abroad. The results of the investigations, carried out in the N.I.Vavilov Institute of General Genetics in 1988- 1994 on the base of biochemical gene markers to define genealogical connections are presented and discussed. The testing results were gained with use of transferrin polymorphism in blood serum, egg albumen and sperm. Available publications bring to conclusions, that the Orlovskaya breed originates from the old type English Game breed and Gilan breed. There is given a detailed description of the breed’s traits for cocks and hens in the Russian type of the population with satin plumage: body shape and configuration, shape of tail, description of the head exterior, including comb, cheeks, wattles, scruff, skin color, beak color and shape etc. There are listed most usual fails of body and head exterior, improper plumage color and other defects. . Short comparison of the German and Russian type of the Orlovskaya breed is given. There is outlined a further work for the breed’s traits consolidation, improvement of the head shape as the main element of exterior evaluation. The article emphasizes the problem of preservation of the small scale Orlovskaya breed and other gene pool breeds as a source of genetic diversity and cultural heritage.

Nowadays in Russia there is rather hard epizootic situation in animal husbandry. This is connected on the one hand with high concentration of herds and flocks and violation of sanitary rules, on the other hand with import of breeding materials from abroad. The only efficient way of disease prevention is development and production of specialized vaccines. Growth of the vaccines’ market and volumes of production stimulated demand in raw materials and need in development of efficient methods of viral raw materials production. A big part of vaccines is being produced on the base of live chicken embryos. But currently in Russia there not available own specialized chicken populations, bred for production of SPF eggs (substrate for live vaccines production) and for production of so called “clean vaccines” (for production of inactivated vaccines). The reason: to get an SPF-egg there is needed a special technology of keeping and feeding, which excludes contamination by various viral or bacterial agents; at the same time there is not used any vaccinations. During production of “clean eggs” there is possible a mild vaccination program or full absence of vaccinations against some definite diseases. For the first time the authors have offered a new selection method, which enables to breed specialized chicken populations with increased content of allantoic-amniotic liquids in eggs/ This is a valuable raw material for production of vaccines without any special hen keeping technologies and vaccinations against definite diseases. The article presents data on the selection efficiency in the population of Russian white chickens as a way to increase vaccine raw materials output for bioindustry. It was established that by means of selection for 2 generations of chickens the frequency of occurrence of hens with high extraembryonic liquid output of their embryos was increased by 23,4 %, the egg weight was increased by 4.7 g, and egg production over 7 months of laying by 6 eggs.

Pushkin egg-meat breed with a live weight of chickens 2.3 kg, 2.8 kg, roosters and egg production for 78 weeks of life 210 eggs weighing 63 g. The main method of cultivation- panmixia, limited selection and recruitment. As a result of selection to increase live weight and weight of eggs and live weight of chickens increased by 5% (2.3 kg) compared to the standard of 2007 (2.2 kg). The length of the shank of chickens increased by 11,5 % (from 9.5 to 10.6 cm). Live weight of breeding roosters were increased by 14,8 % from 2.7 kg (standard 2007) to 3.1 kg and a length of the shank by 7,7 % (from 11.6 to 12.5 cm). When increasing the intensity of selection on the weight of eggs from ≥M to > (M+0,67 σ) hatchability decreased by 3-8% in comparison with panmixia breeding (86%). Differentiation of directional selection on mass of eggs on non-uniform and heterogeneous selection of extreme variants ♂ ≤ (M - 0,67 σ) for ♀ ≥(M + 0,67 σ) and ♂ ≥(M + 0,67 σ) for ♀ ≤(M - 0,67 σ) under stabilizing selection increased the hatchability by 8 to 9% (88 - 89%), compared to stabilizing selection (80%). The combination of stabilizing and heterogeneous rebounds enhances uniformity of birds in breeding and commercial herds. Using the selection of birds with a variety of juvenile and definitive molts increased conception eggs 2-3%, and the hatching by 2-8% from 81% at panmixia breeding to 83% with the heterogeneous and up to 89%, while the maximum-heterogeneous recruitments selection. In breeds with rose and single combs of heterogeneous selection in the form of the ridge eliminates the breeding of chickens homozygous for the dominant allele rose the shape of the comb (R/R) reduced fecundity, and males R/R not participating in reproduction, when a herd of competitors heterozygous cocks R/r. Thus, the increased profitability of breeding Pushkin breeds of chickens.

Results of the evaluation of milk production (milk, fat and protein content in milk, amount of milk fat and milk protein) of Belarusian black-white cows with various complex genotypes of beta-lactoglobulin, prolactin and growth hormone gene are presenting in article. Polymorphism for beta-lactoglobulin, prolactin and growth hormone genes was established by the PCR-RFLP method. The frequency of occurrence of complex genotypes by genes of beta-lactoglobulin, prolactin and growth hormone is calculated. Studies were conducted in the research laboratory of "DNA technologies" of the Department of Genetics and Breeding of Agricultural Animals of the Grodno State Agrarian University. The analysis of conducted studies had shown that the majority of all tested cows (29 and 25 animals) at the CSCP «Experimental base «October» had genotypes LGB^AВPRL^AAGH^LL and LGB^AАPRL^AAGH^LL(28.4% and 24.5%, respectively). In total, 12 groups of complex genotypes were identified from the studied population. The majority of cows (26.0% or 13 heads) had the genotype LGB^AВPRL^AAGH^LL at the «Agrokombinat «Skidelsky». At the studied population, 16 groups of complex genotypes were identified. However, genotypes LGB^AАPRL^ВВGH^LV, LGB^AАPRL^ВВGH^VV, LGB^ВВPRL^AAGH^VV, LGB^AВPRL^ВВGH^LL and LGB^AАPRL^ВВGH^LL were identified from one animal only. Conducted studies show that the presence of alleles of LGB^B, PRL^В, GH^L in animal genotype provided with higher milk yield, the amount of milk fat and protein compared to cows bearing LGB^А, PRL^А, GH^V alleles, which suggests expediency of selection breeding on frequency of occurrence of the desired alleles at the cattle population, and also, along with phenotypic selection, identify valuable combinations of genes that affect milk production of farm animals.

Recently, reports on the discovery of mutations associated with lethal hereditary diseases have appeared regularly. We analyzed the OMIA database and identified a mutation most common in the cattle of the Ayrshire breed (OMIA 001934-9913 Ptosis, intellectual disability, retarded growth and mortality (PIRM) syndrome in Bos taurus (cattle) Gene: UBE3B). A point mutation in the gene UBE3B (G> A) leads to disruption of the splicing process in the carriers of the mutant allele and the synthesis of defective E3B ubiquitin protein ligase, which changes cellular homeostasis and is accompanied by developmental defects and increased embryonic mortality and mortality of young animals. According to the published data, the mutation is widespread in the populations of the Ayrshire cattle. Based on the allele-specific polymerase chain reaction, a test system has been developed that allows the detection of mutation carriers in the UBE3B locus at a minimal cost. Approbation of the test system showed identical results obtained in the "My Gene" LLC for the same samples, by sequencing the PCR product. The developed test system allowed the genotyping of servicing bulls (n = 30), intensively used or planned for use in the artificial insemination system of the Krasnodar Territory and the cows belonging to two breeding farms of the region. It has been found that among the 30 Ayrshire bulls - 5 (17%) were carriers of the AH1 haplotype; among cows (n = 55) belonging to two breeding plants for breeding Ayrshire livestock, on average, 6% of animals are carriers of the AH1 haplotype. Since the frequency of occurrence of this anomaly is almost three times higher in servicing bulls, which determine the future of the subpopulation, one should expect an increase in its frequency in cows in the near future. Given the relatively high incidence of AH1 haplotype, it is advisable to monitor its distribution in regional livestock sub-populations.

Siberian chipmunk is distributed from the Urals in the east to Chukotka in the west. Siberian chipmunk is one of the most typical inhabitants of the forests of the Magadan Region. Based on the materials collected in June 2016, the genetic variability of cytochrome oxidase mtDNA of the Siberian chipmunk, inhabiting near the city of Magadan, was first studied. The genetic variability of the Siberian chipmunk, inhabiting near the city of Magadan, was first investigated. The nucleotide diversity of six Siberian chipmunks was π = 0.00451 ± 0.0004337, the haplotypic variety Hd = 0.933 ± 0.0498. Five haplotypes were found. By the magnitude of genetic differentiation, all individuals are divided into two groups, one consists of two individuals, the other of four. We can assume that the individuals we studied are descendants of two female founders - we caught the members of two families, founded by two females. Available in the base of IBOL 18 nucleotide sequences in individuals caught in other parts of the range, the parameters of genetic diversity have similar values (π = 0.00326 ± 0.000167 and Hd = 0.843 ± 0.2357). Chipmunks caught in the north-eastern part of China, according to the magnitude of genetic differentiation, represent one cluster, which includes an individual from the Altai Territory. Magadan chipmunks form a separate grouping. The most likely cause of such significant genetic differences is the geographical isolation of Magadan chipmunks from animals from other parts of the range

In the rations of cows is now used a lot of concentrates containing high levels of starch, which often leads to deterioration of the health of the cows, until their death. In the feed also often there is a shortage of carotine, which also negatively affects the health of highly productive cows. However, the solution to the problem of digestion of high yielding cows is a difficult task, for producers as it requires a drastic improvement of all stages of growing, harvesting and use of feed. One way of improvement is the use in a diet of cows of grass meal. Flour made from the young, well-foliated herbs, nutritionally not inferior to separate grain concentrates and exceeds them in usefulness of protein, vitamins, mineral substances and other biologically important compounds. According to its characteristics, the herbal powder apply to roughage and their energy values are close to concentrated feed. The article compares the nutritional and biological value of grass meal, grass forages and grains. It also compares vitamin, mineral and amino acid composition of grass meal from perennial legumes (alfalfa, clover, vetch) with herbal flour from grain yellow corn. Grass meal contains vital for animals vitamins C, K, E, almost the entire group of B vitamins (except B12), all essential amino acids, plus chlorophyll, xanthophyll, choline, thiamine, folic and Pantothenic acid. Grass meal has a rich composition of minerals: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium, iron, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum, Nickel, chlorine, iodine and some others. Herbal flour is used as protein and vitamin additives to feed for all species of farm animals. In rations highly productive cows grass flour can replace up to 40% of grain concentrates.

The article presents the results of numerous studies of milk fever of newborn dairy cows, mainly: the pathogenesis of the disease, the degree of appearance, as well as prevention methods. The degree of manifestation of milk fever mainly depends on the concentration of extracellular calcium and the ability of the homeostatic system of the body to make up for its balance. Main methods of prevention are feeding of diets with low calcium level which is 40-50% of the recommended standards for 10-12 days before calving; an increasing of the magnesium level in the diet to 0.35-0.40% of dry matter; dietary supplement is 50g of anhydrous phosphorus per head per day for the last 28 days of pregnancy; intramuscular injection of vitamin D at a dose of 5 million IU for 5-7 days before calving, as well as the accounting of balance of cation-anion difference in feed; a desoldering of 100g sugar and 40g of crushed chalk in the last two months of pregnancy three times a day; the using of lactoserum which is Biotech; inclusion in the diet of dairy cows at 100 g per day of monocalcium; applying of mineral bolus before and after calving.The main ones are "Calcibolus", "Calcitope bolus", "Calcium Extra Bolus", "Calcium Intensive Bolus". Despite numerous studies of the milk fever of newborn cows and the development of ways to treat and prevent this pathology, the issue of the effective supply of cows with macronutrients during the transit period remains open and relevant.