Thyroid hormones can affect the reproductive function of cows by regulating metabolism, primarily fat metabolism. In the current work, a comparative study of the blood content of thyroid hormones and components of the lipid spectrum the 1 week after calving in primiparous cows of the Black Pied breed with different levels of the postpartum depression of the ovarian activity was performed. Evaluation of the functional state of the ovaries was performed 7 weeks after calving based on rectal and ultrasound studies, as well as the progesterone level in the blood. Cows were divided into 3 groups: with active ovaries (group 1; n = 21), with moderate depression of the ovarian activity (group 2; n = 9) and with deep depression of the ovarian activity (group 3; n = 10). The concentration of hormones in the blood serum was measured by ELISA, indicators of lipid metabolism were determined using a biochemical analyzer. One week after calving, the concentration of free and total thyroxine (T4) and free and total triiodothyronine (T3) in the blood was similar in animals with different ovarian activities. At the same time the ratio of free T4 and T3 reached a minimum value in cows of the third group, in which it was 1.9 times lower than in cows of the second group (p <0.05). In addition, the concentration of total cholesterol and phospholipids in the blood of animals of the third group was 1.2-1.4 times lower than that in the first group (p <0.05). In cows of the second and third groups, this concentration correlated with the concentration of free thyroxine (cholesterol: r = 0.60, p <0.01; phospholipids: r = 0.52, p <0.05), and in animals of the third group it also correlated with the concentration of total thyroxine (cholesterol: r = 0.52, p <0.05; phospholipids: r = 0.51, p <0.05). The data obtained indicate that a shift in the ratio of thyroid hormones towards a more active form (triiodothyronine) 1 week after calving may be associated with a decrease in the blood content of the total cholesterol and phospholipids and with a subsequent deep depression of the ovarian functional activity in primiparous cows.

One of the important factors affecting the reproductive process is the genotype of the animal. Recently, studies have been actively conducted to identify polymorphic parts of the genome associated with certain traits that may be used in breeding. In our studies, sperm quality assessment of 129 Holstein and black-and-white bulls was carried out. The highest sperm production rates were selected. The maximum doublet volume of the ejaculate varied from 3 to 27 ml, the maximum sperm concentration in the doublet ejaculate was from 0.7 to 2 billion/ml, the total number of spermatozoa was from 2.7 to 26.4 billion. Individual variability was observed in the number of cells with damage of tail and neck (from 0.25 to 6%). Stimulation of respiration by potassium succinate in the semen ranged from 1.0 to 1.3 times, which indicates a different degree of disturbance of membrane permeability. A non-characteristic for fresh sperm, a slight increase in the respiration rate by 2.4 DNP by 1.5 times in some bulls is possible due to impaired spermatogenesis. All the studied parameters were individual variability, which gives an opportunity to search for genetic associations with quality of bull semen. To search for genomic associations a database was formed combining genotypes identified on Illumina Bovine IBDv3 chips and phenotypic traits of sperm quality. Potential SNPs were found for the volume of the doublet ejaculate, motility and the total number of spermatozoa in the doublet ejaculate. No potential SNPs were found for sperm concentration. Selection by genetic polymorphism of genes used as markers will allow selection of bulls with good spermatogenesis and sperm quality at an early age, before physiological maturity and sperm production.

The reproductive potential of females is one of the determining factors of profitability of dairy cattle breeding, so the fertility of animals is a necessary criterion for evaluating different breeds of cattle. The paper describes and gives a comparative assessment of various methods of determining the reproductive potential of cows using a mathematical model. It is established that the existing methods of monitoring reproduction do not always fully characterize the biological potential of the female in certain conditions. Thus, the coefficient of reproductive ability shows only the reproductive qualities of cows, without taking into account the age of the first calving of the heifers, and the fertility index can not be calculated for the first calves. The reproduction coefficient reflects the number of offspring received during the life of the animal, but its values are always minimal for the first-born, and grow as the age of the cow increases. In connection with the identified shortcomings, a method for determining the "fertility coefficient" is proposed, taking into account the interbody intervals and the age of the first calving, which allows for a more objective assessment of the reproductive potential of animals. With the use of the developed method, the analysis of reproduction indicators of cows of the Kholmogorsky breed with a different share of Holstein of one of the farms of the Komi Republic was carried out. It is established that with the growth of blood on improving breed fertility coefficient in this economy increases. So the difference between animals with blood more than 50%, was significantly higher by 0.04...0.05 (P<0.001), compared with purebred Kholmogorsky cattle, which is associated with the earlier first calving in crossbreed cattle.

In the present work, changes in indicators of protein-carbohydrate metabolism during the first trimester of lactation in Black Pied primiparous cows with different reproductive potentials were studied. Two weeks before calving and from the 1st to the 13th weeks after calving, cows were bled to determine the concentration of albumin and glucose, as well as the activity of the enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). After twelve months of lactation, the animals were divided into 3 groups: with an open days period of less than 100 days (group 1), with an open days period of more than 100 days (group 2), and animals that remained infertile for more than 365 days (group 3). The albumin concentration in the blood was reduced 1.1-1.2 times (p <0.05) from the 1st to the 5th week after calving in cows with the short open days period, but did not change significantly in animals of the other two groups. The glucose concentration decreased 1.5-1.7-fold (at least p <0.05) 1 week after calving in all groups. The blood ALT activity was the lowest after 1-3 weeks of lactation and increased 1.9 times (p <0.01) between the 3rd and 7th week in cows with the short open days period and 1.5 times (p <0.05) between the 1st and 13th week in long-term infertile animals. Concurrently, the ALT activity positively correlated with the albumin content in the blood of animals of all compared groups. The AST activity was increased 1.4-1.5 times (p <0.05) in the blood of cows of the 1st and 2nd groups 1-5 weeks after calving. In addition, this activity was negatively associated with the glucose concentration in animals with the short and long open days period and positively associated with the albumin concentration in long-term infertile animals. An analysis of the obtained time profiles for indicators of protein-carbohydrate metabolism in the dynamics of the first trimester of lactation points to the implementation of a certain sequence of changes in the balance of catabolic and anabolic processes in Black Pied primiparous cows with a high reproductive potential. Disturbance of this sequence leads to an attenuation of the reproductive function of animals associated with a prolongation of the open days period or with prolonged infertility.

Mycotoxins have now become the main pollutants to grain and its processed products, causing significant damage to all agriculture. This paper presents the results of studies of efficiency of use of “Seltoxorb” sorbing product in the diet for sire bulls. It has been determined that developed product adsorbs aflatoxin В1 by 100%, fumonine В1 by 99, ochratoxin A by 95.4, Т-2 toxin by 86.89, DON by 69.8 and zearalenone by 60.92%. Studies have proved that “Seltoxorb” sorbent product used in the amount of 0.15% by the compound feed weight (or 6 g per animal per day) in the diet for sire bulls contributed to activation of reproductive function, which is confirmed by the increase in ejaculation volume by 5.3%, spermatozoa concentration - by 9.2%, spermatozoa count in ejaculation - by 15.2%, fertilizing ability of sperm - by 5.9 p.p., calves yield from uterus - by 6.6, daughters productivity index - by 4.0 p.p. and reduction of spermdoses rejection by 1.2 p.p. The introduction of the developed mycotoxin adsorbent into diet for sire bulls has a positive effect on body's natural resistance, which was expressed in increase in bactericidal activity of blood serum - by 11.4 p.p., lysozyme activity of blood serum - per 0.7 and phagocytic activity of neutrophils - per 5.9 p.p. The economic evaluation of the efficiency of using mycotoxin adsorbent showed that the profit from sperm sales increases by 5.2%.

The study involved the investigation of pedigree records for 22425 Simmental cows the daughters of 1251 German-Austrian origin bulls in Russian population cattle. The article provides the description of effect for recessive genetic mutations that are specific in Austrian Simmental cattle. 34.8% of cow’ fathers were found to be carriers of genetic mutations that the most common are Bovine Male Subfertility - BMS (7.4%), Thrombopathia - TP (5.8%), Fleckvieh Haplotype 2 - FH₂ (4.6%) and more than two mutations (7.1%) has been established. Depending on a bulls’ bloodline the highest frequency of mutations was found for the Egmar (57.5%), Redad (45.3%), Romulus (44.7%), Polzer (42.1%) and Metz (41.3%) founders with minimum values in the Zelot (9.6%) and Dirigent (11.4%) founders. Note that the frequency BMS mutation is highest in Redad (5.5%) and Romulus (5.1%) bloodlines, TP mutation - Redad (9.2%), FH2 - Metz (7.4%) and Honig (5.3%), and ZDL mutation in the Strike (1.4%) bloodlines. Using the "Selex" database 19440 Simmental cows the Russian origin, from which 19.3% through their fathers are potential carriers of genetic mutations were analyzed, with high frequency of occurrence in Perutz (43.5%), Metz (32.4%), Redad (29.55%) and Balbo (26.5%) bloodlines. The daughters’ milk production traits as a potential carriers of genetic mutations was significantly higher by +616 kg milk (p≤0.001) and by +0.04% (p≤0.001) protein percentage, with a small decrease for fat percentage by -0.03% (p≤0.001) as compared with cows whose fathers were a free of carrying. The probability of animals’ presence in herds with homozygous mutations is almost zero due to the lethal effect; however the heterozygous form may well to persist in the Russian population of Simmental cattle breed. The main tool in a further breeding work should be the mating scheme that exclude using of sires like a hidden carriers with cows and heifers whose fathers have a similar recessive genetic mutation as well as required DNA diagnostics for cows in selection group (dam of bulls) and for young bulls.

Developing chicken embryos (RECs) are used in the cultivation and isolation of viruses in vaccine production programs. The titer of the cultured virus directly depends on the yield of extraembryonic fluid (YEF). Relevant are studies aimed at identifying genetic polymorphism in genes directly related to the formation of chicken embryos. One of the promising candidate genes can be considered the prolactin gene. 420 Russian white breed chicken embryos were genotyped for indel polymorphism (insertion at 24 bp) at position 358 of the prolactin promoter region. 3 genotypes were identified for the prolactin locus: Del / Del- homozygotes for deletion (0,062); In / Del - heterozygotes (0.400); In / In - insertion homozygotes (0.538). Significant differences were found between the genotypes in terms of embryo mass and the incubation rate of incubated eggs (p <0.01). Carriers of the Del / Del genotype were distinguished by higher embryo mass and lowest shrinkage rates. The In / In genotype was characterized by the smallest indicators on the weight of the embryo. Embryos of the Del / Del genotype had reduced shrinkage in comparison with In / In individuals (p <0.01), which indicates their advantageous suitability for obtaining a higher yield of amniotic fluid.

By the PCR-RLPH methods was determined the frequency of the genotypes of the POU1F1 / RsaI and GH / FokI genes in the population of hybrid pigs Yorkshire x Landrace x Duroc (n=149) and their effect on fattening and meat productivity. The genotype frequency of the POU1F1 gene was: EE - 0.187; EF - 0.691 and FF - 0.120). The frequency of the E allele is 0.533, and the F allele is 0.466. Pigs with the FF genotype compared with pigs with the EE genotype have a significantly large weight and half-carcass length, average daily weight gain, lower feed consumption per 1 kg gain and age at achievement 100 kg live weight (p <0.01). The genotype frequency of the GH gene was: AA - 0.047; AG - 0.416 and GG - 0.537. The frequency of allele A was 0.255, and that of allele G, 0.745. Pigs with the GG genotype compared with pigs with the AA genotype have a significantly greater mass (p <0.01) and a half carcass length (p <0.02), the average daily weight gain (p <0.001), less feed consumption per 1 kg gain (p <0.02) and the age at achievement 100 kg live weight. (p <0.05).

In modern practice of feeding one of the factors of increase animals productivity and received production quality is use in feeding of various feed additives, in particular from nonconventional forest resources. The aim of the study was to study the effect of coniferous flour and pine nut shell together with the enzyme feed additive Amilosubtilin G3x on dairy productivity of cows. The research was carried out in the LLC "Plemzavod "Tayozhny" Sukhobuzimsky district of the Krasnoyarsk region on dairy cows of Black-Motley breed. It was formed two groups of cows - control and experimental, 15 heads in each group. The control group was fed the main diet, experimental-in addition to the main diet was fed coniferous flour (50 g/head/day), pine nut shell (50 g/head/day) and feed additive Amilosubtilin G3x (5 g/head/day). The duration of the experiment was 100 days. Studies and processing of the data were carried out according to generally accepted methods using modern equipment. As a result of the conducted researches it is established that complex application of the studied additives in feeding of cows allows to increase milk yield on 7.1 %, quantity of milk fat - on 13.8 %, quantity of milk protein - on 1.9 %, milk yield of basic fat content - on 14.2 %, and also improves physicochemical and technological properties of milk. The results indicate a positive effect of the tested additives on the metabolism and productivity of cows, which is confirmed by zootechnical data.

The article is devoted to the analysis of the meat qualities of gobies belonging to different lines of the central-chernozem type of red-motley breed of cattle. It was previously proved that red-motley cattle obtained on the basis of simmental and red-motley Holstein has not only a sufficiently high milk yield, but also shows good fattening and meat qualities. It was also established that the live weight of the bulls at 18 months of age, the mass of the carcass, the slaughter yield, the yield of pulp per 1 kg of bone tissue, there are no significant differences between the bulls of the red-motley breed and the animals of the Simmental breed. The results of the slaughter revealed a certain advantage of the Reflection Sovering line bulls over the peers of the Montwick Chiftein and Vis Back Aydial lines in terms of the mass of the fresh carcass, the carcass output, the slaughter output and the internal fat content. A comparative analysis of the morphological composition of half carcasses of experimental calves showed that meat from all three groups to compare the category refers to the first class. Calculation of the meat index showed that in the group of bulls of the Reflection Sovering line it amounted to 4.0 units, which is 0.2 units more than the meat index in the group of gobies of the Montwick Chiftein line and 0.1 units more than in the group of bulls of the Vis Back Aydial line. When evaluating the quality indicators of meat, good results were obtained. Analysis of the conducted researches shows that there is a relationship between water retaining capacity and meat tenderness, as well as between tenderness and loss of meat juice. Thus, the meat of the gobies of the Montwick Chiftein and Reflection Sovering lines requires less effort when cutting (2.8-3.0 kg / cm) than the meat of the Vis Back Aydial line bull-calves, which was characterized by higher rigidity. Studies of the fractional composition of muscle tissue proteins in experimental gobies of the abovementioned red-motley breed lines showed the highest bioavailability index for meat of Reflection Sovering line bulls - 1.32, the smallest - for meat of gobies of the Montwick Chiftein line - 1.26 and average - 1.30 - for gobies Vis Back Aydial lines. Studies have shown that in terms of their physical and technological properties, the meat of the gobies of the studied lines meets all the requirements of high-quality meat and is suitable for preparing dishes according to the most diverse culinary technology.

Intensive breeding to increase egg production of chickens and feed conversion in egg poultry over the past decades has led to significant changes in the physical and chemical indicators of egg quality, which negatively affects the development of embryos, early postnatal development of chickens, nutritional value of eggs and their technological qualities. Therefore, modern chicken breeding programs necessarily include evaluation and selection on many indicators of egg quality. However, work in this direction is associated with significant material costs associated with the breaking of breeding eggs from chickens "pure lines", the cost of which is high. To solve this problem in RRIFAGB in the development of new breeding and genetic methods and programs to create competitive crosses of egg and meat chickens, much attention was paid to the methods of evaluation and selection of chickens on the quality of eggs without violating the integrity of the shell. It is proposed to use the following parameters: viscosity of protein fractions (VPF) of eggs for quality protein, including the amino acid composition of protein as an alternative to Haugh units ; elastic deformation (ED) of the shell to the characteristics of its strength and resistance to breakage in the production process and transportation of eggs; the intensity of pigmentation of the shell for indirect estimation of its strength, biological value of eggs and chickens stress resistance; diameter and relative yolk weight of eggs to characterize their nutritional value for human and environment development of the chick embryo. Evaluation of chickens and their selection in breeding family according to these characteristics of eggs will contribute to the progress of breeding on economically significant traits and will allow more effective use of the genetic potential of hens-mothers with high feed conversion, better amino-acid composition of egg and meat protein, as well as higher energy and nutritional value of eggs, since the «mother programming» has a dual influence on the development of many traits: through the transfer of genetic information and by creating conditions for the formation of productive traits in early ontogenesis.

A group of 33 deep pregnant cows and calves obtained from them was examined. During the first month of life, in all calves respiratory diseases were registered, and in 7 individuals, microbronchitis was complicated by bronchopneumonia. Adult and newborn animals were retrospectively divided into 2 groups each: T1 and K1 - calves without bronchopneumonia and their mothers, respectively; T2 and K2 - calves with bronchopneumonia and their mothers, respectively. Hematological parameters and the content of As, Ni, Co, Cr, Mo in the blood serum of cows and calves at the age of 1 day were analyzed. In deep pregnant cows in both groups, the Mo content was within the normal range, the Ni concentration was increased, As, Co, and Cr were reduced. Differences between groups K1 and K2 in the content of trace elements were not detected. Correlations were found between the Ni content and MCHC, the concentration of As and MCV and RDW in deep pregnant cows. In newborn calves in both groups, the content of Mo in the blood serum corresponded to the norm; Co and Ni concentrations exceeded the reference values, As - was lower. The concentration of Ni in calves in the T2 group was higher than in the T1 group. In calves, correlations were found between the concentration of Ni and the number of leukocytes and monocytes, as well as between the concentration of As and the number of segmented neutrophilic granulocytes and monocytes. Co, Cr, Mo actively accumulated in the body of calves during the prenatal period, as transfer from mother to fetus was limited; Ni transfer was regulated by the ratio of concentrations in the blood of the mother and the fetus. Excess Ni content and deficiency of As in the blood serum of pregnant cows and newborn calves can be considered risk factors for the development of complications of respiratory diseases in young cattle.

Structural remodeling of erythrocytes in conditions of hypercholesterolemia may be associated with the accumulation of cholesterol in the cell membrane, the end products of lipotoxic intermediate metabolism in cells, which affects on the physicochemical characteristics of erythrocytes and blood viscosity. Structural changes of erythrocytes reflect the severity of pathology. The search for new inexpensive express methods for the diagnosis of dyslipidemia is relevant. The aim of the study was to evaluate, by the acoustic method, the erythrocyte elasticity of rats with alimentary dyslipidemia and intact animals. The study material was whole blood, stabilized with K₃EDTA, plasma and suspension of erythrocytes of rats with hypercholesterolemia. The model of hyperlipidemia was induced in 10 outbred male rats with a body weight of 220-250 g by an atherogenic diet. Erythrocyte elasticity was investigated by acoustic method. The relative content of individual lipid fractions was evaluated by thin layer chromatography. Determination of erythrocyte hematological parameters was made on an automatic analyzer. An increase in the elasticity of erythrocytes in rats with alimentary dyslipidemia has been shown. Indicators of elasticity of erythrocytes depended on the plasma cholesterol and the relative cholesterol content of rat’s erythrocyte. The possibility of using acoustic erythrocyte interferometry in the complex diagnosis of atherosclerosis has been shown.

To ensure a biologically complete nutrition corresponding to a tense metabolism in highly productive animals, an additional supply of energy-plastic materials is required to optimize the functioning of the body's systems. An additional nutritional complex has been developed, which includes the enzyme-probiotic preparation Cellobacterin + amylo-proteo-cellulolytic action, the mineral shungite, which is a powerful antioxidant and adsorbent of xenobiotics , and the preparation of lipotropic-hepatoprotective action in the form of choline that is “protected” from rumen microflora and flaxseed cake. The studies were carried out in the conditions of the federal state unitary enterprise "Klenovo-Chegodaevo" on two groups of black and white holsteinized cows (n = 8, control and experimental) at the end of the dry period and at the beginning of lactation. To study metabolic processes in the body of cows (n = 7), blood samples were taken from the jugular vein in animals one month after calving and 2 months after calving and blood biochemical parameters were determined. Changes in the composition of the diet had a positive effect on the course of nitrogen metabolism, as evidenced by an increase in the concentration of total protein in the blood of experimental animals by 2.5% (P <0.05), albumin by 5.3% (P <0.05) and 9.3% (P <0.01), albumin-globulin ratio, a decrease in urea concentration by 19.2% (P <0.001). An increase in the intensity in the cows of the experimental group of carbohydrate-lipid metabolism is indicated by an increase in the concentration of glucose by 23.2-24.9% (P <0.01) and phospholipids by 0.72-1.21 mM / L (P < 0.05 and P <0.01), HDL by 13.3-15% (P <0.05), a decrease in the ratio of triglycerides / phospholipids and the concentration of NEFA by 19.1-21.6% (P <0.05 ).