The study aimed to analyze and evaluate the production and economic performance of a broiler chicken farm in Poland during the years 2020–2023. Production performance was assessed by comparing final body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and the European Performance Efficiency Factor (EPEF). Economic results were determined using the sales value, production costs, profit (direct surplus), and profitability index (PI). During the study years, the broiler rearing period lasted on average 40 days, with six production cycles each year. The average BW was found to be 2.51 kg with an average FCR of 1.54 kg/kg. For the four production years, the EPEF was calculated, reaching a high average value of 399. Broiler chicken production in Poland was profitable despite the continuously increasing production costs. In the years studied, the cost of feed accounted for 69.6–76.1% of the total production costs, chicks 15.0–19.7%, and labor costs 1.59–2.39%. In all of the analyzed production cycles, the PI of broiler chicken rearing was above 100, averaging 120.48%, and the average profit per bird was 0.46 EUR. During the study period, several negative events occurred, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread of avian influenza outbreaks, and consequent fluctuations in feed and poultry prices. Despite these challenges, namely the consistently rising production costs, broiler production in the study farm remained profitable.

(2016). Comparison of the mineral and fatty acid profiles of ostrich, turkey and broiler chicken livers. British Poultry Science: Vol. 57, No. 2, pp. 193-200.

The aim of the study was to investigate the antibacterial effects of essential oils isolated from different cultivars and morphological parts of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) in combination with the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin. This in vitro study analyzed the effectiveness of the combinations of gentamicin and lavender essential oils against the following strains: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus aureus MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027. The effect of the combination of lavender oils with gentamicin was tested using the checkerboard method. A synergistic effect against S. aureus strain ATCC 25923 was found when gentamicin was combined with lavender essential oils isolated from flowers and leafy stalks (flowers: ‘Blue River’ FICI—0.192; ‘Ellagance Purple’ FICI—0.288; leafy stalks: ‘Blue River’ FICI—0.192; ‘Ellagance Purple’ FICI—0.320). A synergistic effect was also observed for the combination of gentamicin with lavender essential oils from flowers against the resistant strain of S. aureus (MRSA) (‘Blue River’ FICI—0,191; ‘Ellagance Purple’ FICI—0.263), as well as for the essential oils from leafy stalks (‘Blue River’ FICI—0.076; ‘Ellagance Purple’ FICI—0.089). No interaction was observed for the combination of studied essential oils with gentamicin against P. aeruginosa strain ATCC 9027 (FICI = 1.083–1.300).

The aim of the study was to determine the changes occurring in the eggs of helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) from free-range farming in relation to the laying season and storage time. The experimental material consisted of 360 guinea fowl eggs, collected in the first, second and third laying seasons and stored for 7, 14 and 21 days. After each period, physical and physicochemical characteristics of the eggs were determined, as well as the basic chemical composition and mineral content of the albumen and yolk and the yolk fatty acid profile. The age of the guinea fowls affected certain physical parameters of the eggs. The egg weight, shape index and shell thickness increased with the age of the laying hens; however, a decrease in the proportion of shell in the egg was demonstrated. Storage time had a significant effect on egg weight, weight loss during storage and air cell height. Significant differences were found in the chemical composition of guinea fowl eggs depending on the age of the laying hens. Eggs obtained from older laying hens were characterized by higher yolk fat content and lower ash content, while the albumen contained higher water content and lower ash content. During the three-year laying period, changes were observed in the mineral composition of the eggs. The fatty acid profile underwent significant changes; however, no important differences were observed in the total content of SFA, MUFA, PUFA and n-6 fatty acids. Conversely, significant differences were found for n-3 acids and the n-6/n-3 ratio. Eggs in the first and second laying seasons exhibited the most favorable composition. The slow dynamics of changes occurring in successive laying seasons and egg storage time indicated that the raw material studied was safe and could be used by consumers

The aim of the study was to determine whether a diet with an addition of black cumin seeds (BCS) can be used in functional egg production. At 8 weeks of age, a flock of 96 female quails was divided into 3 groups. The control group received their standard feed (0 BCS). The diet offered to the test groups was supplemented with BCS in the amount of 20 and 50 g · kg–1, respectively. Dietary BCS supplementation decreased feed intake and improved feed efficiency. Egg yolk of the quail groups treated with BCS in their diet had by a lower percentage of SFA and an increased level of UFA. A significantly increase was observed in the level of PUFA, especially in PUFA n-6. The health-promoting properties of the product were indicated by the fact of a considerable reduction in the yolk cholesterol level. Unfortunately, n-6/n-3 ratio increased in the groups offered the BCS-supplemented diet and under these circumstances eggs obtained from quails receiving BCS in the diet did not meet the requirements of functional food.

Plant raw materials with a calming effect on the nervous system are increasingly used in modern phytotherapy. Lavender belongs to this group of plants, due to the content of essential oil with known therapeutic properties and other phytoconstituents that can be responsible for the sedative effect. Our studies confirmed the presence of sesquiterpenic acids characterized by sedative activity in lavender extracts. The contents of valerenic acid and acetoxyvalerenic acids in flowers and leafy stalks of two various Lavandula angustifolia cultivars—‘Blue River’ and ‘Ellagance Purple’—were determined. Analyses of methanolic extracts performed using the HPLC method showed that content of these sesquiterpenic acids varied with the cultivars and the morphological parts of the plant. The amount of acetoxyvalerenic acid was significantly higher than the amount of valerenic acid. In the ‘Blue River’ cultivar, higher levels of both compounds characterized by sedative properties were found. The content of valerenic acid in flowers ranged from 0.50 mg/100 g d.m. in the ‘Ellagance Purple’ cultivar to 1.75 mg/100 g d.m. in the ‘Blue River’ cultivar. In turn, leafy stalks contained 0.81 mg/100 g d.m. of valerenic acid in the ‘Ellagance Purple’ cultivar and 1.16 mg/100 g d.m. in the ‘Blue River’ cultivar. Interestingly, the ‘Blue River’ cultivar contained about 10 times more acetoxyvalerenic acid (65.80 mg/100 g d.m.) in flowers and four times more acetoxyvalerenic acid in leafy stalks (50.1 mg/100 g d.m.), in comparison with the ‘Ellagance Purple’ cultivar. The higher content of valerenic and acetoxyvalerenic acids in the flowers and leafy stalks of the ‘Blue River’ lavender cultivar can be important for its possible medical applications.