The paper presents findings about how the substitution of calcium, iron, zinc, and copper salts with glycine chelates affects specific reproductive p

European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) is one of the main causes of mortality in brown hares (Lepus europaeus) and mountain hares (Lepus timidus) in Europe. Since the mid-1990s, this highly lethal and contagious plague has been widespread in many European countries, contributing to a drastic decline in the number of free-living and farmed hares. A second lagovirus, able to infect some species of hares is rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2; GI.2) recognised in 2010, a new viral emergence of RHDV (GI.1) which is known to be responsible for haemorrhagic disease in rabbits—RHD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current EBHS epidemiological situation on the basis of the presence of antibodies to European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV) and anti-RHDV2 antibodies in sera collected from free-ranging hares in Central and Southeastern Poland in 2020–2021. Additionally, studies on the presence of EBHSV and RHDV2 antigens or their genetic material in the blood and internal organs taken from brown hares between 2014–2021 have been carried out. The results of the serological examination showed nearly 88% of tested blood samples were positive for EBHSV antibodies. No EBHSV was identified in the examined hares using virological and molecular tests. The positive results of EBHS serological studies confirmed the circulation and maintenance of EBHSV in free-living brown hares in Poland. However, no serological, virological or molecular evidence was obtained indicating that the brown hares tested had been in contact with RHDV2.

We developed an algorithm to classify brown hares into two age classes, juveniles (up to 1 year old) and adults (over 1 year old), based on body weight, which can be determined by both the examination of live animals and postmortem analysis. Considering the strong correlation between lens weight and carcass weight, we assumed that hares could be classified into one of the two age groups based only on carcass weight, using a logistic regression model. Using logistic regression, a model was constructed to assess the age of hares based on their body weight. For comparison with the current age-assessment method based on the dry lens weight, a logistic regression classifying the hares based on the dry lens weight was performed as well. The results of the study facilitated the development of a method to classify hares into age groups based on body weight. The proposed approach is innovative, as it allows for the determination of the age of not only culled (postmortem) but also live hares. The method is easy and does not require laboratory tests; hence, the results can be used immediately following evaluation. This method allows hares to be categorized into two age groups (juveniles and adults). With an accuracy of 97.52% and 95.45% in the case of juvenile and adult hares, respectively, the proposed approach can be widely used both in population management and scientific research.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementing Hermetia illucens larval meal in pheasant diets on selected hatchability parameters and physicochemical properties of eggs. A total of 72 pheasants (63 females and 9 males) were randomly allocated to three groups: BSFL0, a basal...

Introduction: The objective was to evaluate the epizootic and epidemiological situation of Trichinella sp. infection in Poland between 2006 and 2015 against the dynamics of the wild boar population and its primary reservoir host. Material and Methods: Boar and porcine trichinosis epizootic analysis was based on General Veterinary Inspectorate data from RRW-6 bulletins. The epidemiological situation was evaluated on the basis of the data supplied by the Department of Epidemiology of the National Institute of Hygiene - National Institute of Public Health. The wild boar hunting harvest and population dynamics were estimated, as these animals remain the basic infection source for humans. Population size and harvest data were obtained from hunting statistics. Results: The study timeframe showed an almost 2.5-fold increase in Trichinella infection cases in wild boars but a significant decline in human cases. In the domestic pig, the incidence rate did not exceed 0.00037%. The highest infection risk exists in West Pomerania, Greater Poland, and Kuyavian-Pomeranian Provinces. Over the study period, the wild boar population increased more than 1.5-fold, while the hunting harvest more than tripled. During the last two seasons the total hunt surpassed 100% of the spring population. Conclusion: Wild boar management by increasing the hunting take of the annual population growth should limit that growth and decrease the take in the future. Thereby, over some years intra-species trichinosis spread should reduce, for a substantial safety gain for wild boar meat.

This study compared pheasant roosters living in a natural habitat (n = 10), where farm-bred birds had not been released for 7 years (hence the wild-living birds were assumed to have been determined exclusively by environmental conditions),. The other group (n = 10) comprised farmed pheasant roosters. In December 2010, the pheasants were hunted, and biometric measurements of some traits were performed. After dissection, the muscles, bones, organs, and gastrointestinal tract were weighed, and the length of the intestines was measured. It was shown that the farmed pheasants had a significantly higher body weight (1583 g and 1407 g), which was mainly related to the higher fat content (144 g and 30 g). The farmed roosters had shorter rectrices. The heart-to-body weight and liver-to-body weight ratios, i.e. 0.6 % and 1.9 % respectively, were the same in both groups. No differences were found between the groups in terms of the weight of the pectoral, limb, and wing muscles, but the farmed roosters had heavier leg and wing bones. The length of the intestines per 100 g body weight was 10.5 cm in the farmed roosters and 13.3 cm in the free-living birds. Statistical analysis of variance was performed, and the differences between the groups were verified with the Mann-Whitney test. The farmed pheasants were shown to differ only slightly from the free-living birds from the natural habitat; hence, they are suitable for reintroduction.