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The aim of this study was to evaluate the welfare and performance of laying hens kept in a furnished cage system equipped with additional feeders. A total of 72 Lohmann Brown hens were randomly assigned to 4 experimental groups. Each group consisted of 6 cages housing 3 birds per cage (18 birds per group). Group I was a control group without an extra feeder in the cages. Experimental groups GII, GIII, and GIV contained one, 2, and 3 additional feeders in the cages, respectively. The assessment of bird welfare was based on production, physiological and behavioral parameters, as well as on the basis of external appearance. The experiment lasted 12 wk. The obtained results suggest that enriching laying hens' cages with additional feeders improved the welfare of the hens. Enrichment of cages significantly reduced the number of feather pecking and aggressive behaviors in the GII and GIV groups (P < 0.01) and the GIII group (P < 0.05). Breast plumage was significantly (P < 0.05) better in the GII group compared with that in the control group. The control group also had the worst general plumage (P < 0.01). The GII and GIV groups were also characterized by significantly (P < 0.05) lower blood corticosterone concentrations compared with the control group. No negative changes in egg production and quality parameters were observed in the experimental groups. Only eggs from the GIV group had significantly (P < 0.05) lower breaking strength than those from the control and GII group. The results suggest that the best solution is to place 1 additional feeder in furnished laying hens' cages.

Poultry breeding takes place in intensive, high-production systems characterized by high animal density, which is a source of harmful emission of odorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and greenhouse gases, which in turn sustain animal welfare. This study identified and examined the characteristics of chemical compounds emitted in intensive poultry farming (laying hens, broilers) and their toxicity, which led to recommending methods of deodorization. Emphasis was placed on the law relative to air purification in poultry farms. Various methods of air treatment in poultry farms have been described: the modification of animal diet to improve nutrient retention and decrease the amount of their excrement; chemical oxidation technologies (ozonation, photocatalysis, Fenton reaction); various types/brands of biofilters, bioscrubbers and membrane reactors. Numerous studies show that biofilters can reduce ammonia emissions by 51%, hydrogen sulfide by 80%, odors by 67%, while scrubbers brings down ammonia emissions by 77% and odors by 42%, and the application of UV light lowers ammonia emissions by 28%, hydrogen sulfide by 55%, odors by 69% and VOCs by 52%. The paper presents both the solutions currently used in poultry farming and those which are currently in the research and development phase and, as innovative solutions, could be implemented in the near future.

American foulbrood is one of the most serious and yet unsolved problems of beekeeping around the world, because it causes a disease leading to the weakening of the vitality of honey bee populations and huge economic losses both in agriculture and horticulture. The etiological agent of this dangerous disease is an extremely pathogenic spore-forming bacterium, Paenibacillus larvae, which makes treatment very difficult. What is more, the use of antibiotics in the European Union is forbidden due to restrictions related to the prevention of the presence of antibiotic residues in honey, as well as the global problem of spreading antibiotic resistance in case of bacterial strains. The only available solution is burning of entire bee colonies, which results in large economic losses. Therefore, bacteriophages and their lytic enzymes can be a real effective alternative in the treatment and prevention of this Apis mellifera disease. In this review, we summarize phage characteristics that make them a potentially useful tool in the fight against American foulbrood. In addition, we gathered data regarding phage application that have been described so far, and attempted to show practical implications and possible limitations of their usage.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of selenium yeast and phytobiotic on the storage capacity, selected quality parameters of meat and content of selenium in muscles obtained from broilers. In the experiment, 1440 male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to four research groups: group received no additive (G1), group received a supplement of 0.3 mg Se (as sodium selenite)/kg of feed mixture (G2), group received 0.2 g phytobiotic and 0.3 mg Se as 0.1 g selenium yeast per 1 kg of feed mixture (G3) and group received 0.3 mg Se as 0.1 g selenium yeast per 1 kg of feed mixture (G4). Measurement of pH, determination of water retention capacity, degree of advancement of oxidative changes and selenium content in muscles were performed. Samples of chickens’ breast and thigh muscles were microbiologically analyzed. The additives significantly influenced the level of oxidation in muscles and the incorporation of selenium. The meat of chickens receiving organic selenium was characterized by significantly lower dynamics of oxidative changes. The studies carried out showed that selenium in organic form had better absorption.

The aim of this study was the isolation and characterization, including the phage effect on honeybees in laboratory conditions, of phages active against Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American Foulbrood—a highly infective and easily spreading disease occurring in honeybee larva, and subsequently the development of a preparation to prevent and treat this dangerous disease. From the tested material (over 2500 samples) 35 Paenibacillus spp. strains were obtained and used to search for phages. Five phages specific to Paenibacillus were isolated and characterized (ultrastructure, morphology, biological properties, storage stability, and genome sequence). The characteristics were performed to obtain knowledge of their lytic potential and compose the final phage cocktail with high antibacterial potential and intended use of future field application. Preliminary safety studies have also been carried out on healthy bees, which suggest that the phage preparation administered is harmless.

1. Opracowanie ze środkow MNiSW w ramach umowy 812/P-DUN/2016 na dzialalnośc upowszechniającą nauke.

Bee pollen and bee bread from stationary apiaries in the southwest Polish Legnica-Glogow copper district (LGOM) were analyzed for Cr, Pb, Cd and As by ICP-AES. Their concentrations in both products were As > Cr > Pb > Cd. Concentrations in bee pollen were higher than in bee bread. Average Cr, Pb, As and Cd concentrations in bee products were 0.138, 0.093, 0.325, and 0.019 mg kg−1, respectively. Chromium was the most problematic element in bee pollen because its concentration limit was exceeded in more than 50% of the samples. Differences in Cd level between bee pollen and bread were significant (p ≤ 0.05)

Production of honey is the main determinant of profitability in the beekeeping sector. However, high production does not always imply higher profits. A major determinant of the profitability of an apiary is the ability to sell the acquired product. The aim of the study was to present the most important factors influencing consumer honey purchasing behavior. The results showed that honey can simultaneously satisfy a multitude of needs - nutritional, taste, prophylactic, and medicinal. Consumer decisions to buy honey are influenced by economic factors, indicating the financial situation of households. The decision is often habitual and dictated by knowledge of the value of honey. Psychological and social determinants are the main motives when choosing among the varieties of honey. Studies have shown that the average annual per capita consumption of honey was 1.32 kg. However, honey consumption rates differed strongly, ranging from 0.066 to 0.4 kg per person per month. More than 60% of respondents indicated the high or very high price of honey. Buying honey directly from the beekeeper was widespread among respondents (63.9%). Some respondents (7.2%) stated that they do not consume honey at all, but price cuts and the opportunity to taste test honey at the point of sale would be an incentive for them.

Research surveys were conducted from August through December 2011 and March through July 2012, in the regions of Lower Silesia, Opole, Silesia, and Wielkopolska, Poland. Respondents were chosen randomly and a sample of 540 respondents were surveyed. The first aim of this study was to investigate the quality and aesthetic factors expected of honey and its packaging in order to establish their influence on decisions related to the purchase of honey. The second aim was to determine the importance of the aesthetic factors of honey and its packaging in the process of influencing consumer behavior related to the purchase of honey. As many as 78% of respondents said that the honey from a beekeeper was better than that offered in the stores. A large number of respondents, 88.3%, choose honey produced domestically. However, our study showed that for 43.4% of the respondents, packaging and visual features did not affect the purchase of the product. Only for 23% of respondents, the origin of the honey and quality which was guaranteed with certificates were the most important factors taken into account when deciding on the place or form of a honey purchase. The varieties of honey most often indicated by the respondents were: multifloral honey 46.9%, linden honey 42.5%, rapeseed honey 16.2%, and acacia honey 12.8%. The selection of honey varieties was primarily determined by psychological factors, social factors, and only later by convenience of consumption or financial situation.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of extruded amaranth grains (AMG) in laying hen diets on performance, egg traits, egg yolk fatty acids composition, as well as selected blood characteristics. A total of 60 Lohmann Brown laying hens, 24 wk of age, were randomly distributed into 3 dietary treatments and fed for 10 wk. The AMG was used at the levels of 0%, 5%, and 10% in the diets of the control and 2 treatment groups, respectively. Each dietary treatment was divided into 4 replicates, comprising of 5 hens each. Hens were housed in a 3-tier battery system. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Blood samples and eggs were collected after 5 wk and at the end of the experiment. Amaranth grain supplementation increased body weight (1.64, 1.66, and 1.72 kg for diets containing 0%, 5%, and 10% AMG, respectively; linear, P P P =0.01–0.03) by increasing AMG supplementation. The quadratic effect on alanine aminotransferase at wk 5 ( P =0.02) and 10 ( P

The aim of the study was to determine the extent of chosen toxic elements (zinc, copper, lead, arsenic and cadmium) bioaccumulation in propolis collected in Opole area. The present study demonstrates that propolis can be used as a dietary supplement. The research material were samples of propolis originated from 3 bee colonies in 30 apiaries (n=3x30=90). Quantitative analysis of studied elements were conducted using Varian ICP-AES plasma spectrometer with mass detection controlled, and CETAC-5000 AT ultrasonic nebulizer. The presence of toxic elements was determined in an examined biological materials. The sequence of accumulation level of studied elements in propolis was as follows: Zn>>Cu>Pb>As>Cd. An average concentration of zinc, copper, lead, arsenic and cadmium amounted to 56.28, 7.12, 6.91, 0.745, 0.218 mg.kg-1, respectively. Only the copper average content in propolis was within acceptable standards, whereas the mean contents of other elements greatly exceed these standards. All portions of propolis should be subjected to toxicological testing before applying these samples for internal use.doi:10.5219/184

The aim of the study was to determine the bioaccumulation level of chosen toxic elements (Zn, Cu, Pb, As and Cd) in multiflower honey collected from Brzeg area. Biological material (honey) was mineralized using the microwave technique at an elevated pressure in the microprocessor station of pressure in the type Mars 5. Quantitative analysis of elements (As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) was performed by plasma spectrometry method using a Varian ICP-AES apparatus. The presence of toxic elements was determined in examined biological materials. The elements fallowed the fallowing decreasing order with respect to their content of honey: Zn>Cu>Pb>As>Cd. The average concentrations of studied elements observed in multi-flower honey were as follows: 6.24 mg.kg-1 of zinc, 2.75 mg.kg-1 of copper, 0.53, 0.071, 0.042 mg.kg-1of lead, arsenic and cadmium, respectively. Lead was the most problematic in bee honey because its average content exceeded the maximum acceptable concentration. Additionally, this metal concentration was 60% higher in studied samples than allowable standard of lead content.doi:10.5219/134&nbsp