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V kmetijstvu je danes izredno pomembno, da živali priraščajo hitro, so zdrave ter pri tem porabijo karseda malo krme. Zato se iščejo alternative, kjer bi dosegli dobre parametre rasti in razvoja živali. Namen diplomskega dela je bil ugotoviti, ali tehnologija vpihovanja nanomehurčkov v pitno vodo vpliva na rast in razvoj živali. S tega področja je bilo opravljenih nekaj raziskav, ki so dokazale pozitiven učinek nanomehurčkov na rast, razvoj in izkoriščanje krme. Mi smo za namene poskusa uporabili za modelni organizem laboratorijske miši, saj imajo hiter generacijski interval in so enostavne za rokovanje. Poskus smo izvedli s 36 laboratorijskimi mišmi, ki so bile ločene po spolu, liniji (debela/vitka) ter po vrsti tretmaja. Ena skupina miši je zauživala vodo z vpihanimi nanomehurčki, druga skupina pa navadno vodo (iz vodovoda). Poskus smo začeli pri miškah, starih 3 tedne in ga končali pri starosti 8 tednov. Miši smo tedensko tehtali, merili količino zaužite krme, izračunali izkoriščanje zaužite krme ter menjavali vodo dnevno. Prav tako smo pri 7. tednu iz nastila v kletkah zbrali blato, da smo lahko izračunali prebavljivost surovih beljakovin in surovih maščob. Ugotovili smo, da v večini ne moremo potrditi pozitivnega učinka nanomehurčkov na rast in razvoj ter izkoriščanje krme pri laboratorijskih miših. Glede na dejstvo, da je bila povprečno poraba krme pri miših iz skupine z nanomehurčki manjša ter da so se povprečni prirasti pri miših iz skupine z nanomehurčki povečevali proti koncu poskusa, je možno, da bi ob daljšem poskusu ali uporabi več živali dobili boljše rezultate. In agriculture today it is extremely important that animals grow quickly, are healthy, and consume little feed. Therefore, alternatives are sought to achieve good parameters for the growth and development of animals. The aim of B. Sc. Thesis was to determine whether the technology of injecting nanobubbles into drinking water affects the growth and development of animals. Some researchers have already been carried out in this field. The positive effect of nanobubbles on the growth, development, and utilization of feed was demonstrated. For the experiment, we used laboratory mice as model organisms because they have a fast generation interval and are easy to handle. We experimented with 36 laboratory mice that were separated by sex, line (fat/lean), and type of treatment. One group of mice received water infused with nanobubbles, and the other group received normal water (from the tap). We started the experiment in mice, at 3 weeks of age and ended it at 8 weeks of age. We weighed the mice weekly, measured the amount of feed consumed, calculated the efficiency of the feed consumed, and changed the water daily. We also collected feces from the bedding in the cages at week 7 to calculate the digestibility of crude protein and crude fat. We found that in most cases, we could not confirm the positive effect of nanobubbles on growth and development as well as feed conversion in laboratory mice. Since the average feed consumption of mice in the nanobubble group was lower and the average gains of mice in the nanobubble group increased toward the end of the experiment, a longer experiment or the use of more animals might provide better results.

Local livestock breeds in Slovenia have been eligible for financial incentives in the form of a fixed payment per livestock unit (LU) since 2002. The scheme has however not been successful in reversing the erosion of animal genetic resources (AnGR). This paper investigates an alternative, whereby incentive payments would better reflect breeders’ actual opportunity costs. The paper contributes to the limited existing body of knowledge related to the use of tender mechanisms in the design of the payments for agrobiodiversity conservation schemes (PACS), particularly for AnGR. Empirical findings draw on the results of a stated preference survey involving 301 farmers in Slovenia, engaging, or being potentially able to engage, in the rearing of local pig, sheep and goat breeds. Interval and logistic regression model results suggest that willingness to accept (WTA) conservation support significantly differs from actual payment levels. The estimated WTA was found to be 27% lower for the local sheep and goat breeds and 5% higher for the local pig breed, suggesting that differentiated incentive payments would provide a more cost-effective alternative. Additional analysis of breeders’ preferences and motives for engaging in local livestock breed production further informs understanding regarding AnGR conservation policy and the importance of accompanying actions to reverse negative population trends. These include reducing administrative barriers and enhancing the market valorisation of local breeds.

Enterokoki so ubikvitarni mikroorganizmi, indikatorji fekalne kontaminacije in del normalne črevesne mikrobiote, ki lahko povzročajo resne okužbe ljudi in živali, pomembni so tudi kot povzročitelji okužb, povezanih z zdravstvom. Namen naše raziskave je bil pridobiti podatke o odpornosti in virulenčnih dejavnikih pri enterokokih, izoliranih iz vzorcev rejnih in ljubiteljskih živali ter živil živalskega izvora ter jih primerjati z enterokoki, izoliranimi iz kliničnih vzorcev ljudi. Analizirali smo 854 enterokokov 16 različnih vrst. Z mikrodilucijsko metodo določanja minimalne inhibitorne koncentracije smo ugotavljali odpornost enterokokov proti 12 antibiotikom. Z metodo verižne reakcije s polimerazo smo ugotavljali prisotnost sedmih genov za virulenčne dejavnike: ace, asa1, cylA, efaA, esp, gelE in hyl. Največji delež odpornosti smo ugotovili proti tetraciklinu, eritromicinu in ciprofloksacinu. Občutljivost enterokokov za skupino kritično pomembnih antibiotikov, ki se uporabljajo za zdravljenje okužb ljudi, je bila večinoma dobro ohranjena. Največji delež odpornosti smo ugotovili pri enterokokih iz kliničnih vzorcev ljudi in živali, mesa piščancev in perutninske klavnice, najmanjšega pa pri enterokokih iz govejega mesa. Pri živalih smo izolirali tudi 10 proti vankomicinu odpornih enterokokov in 59 enterokokov, ki so bili odporni proti visokim koncentracijam aminoglikozidov. Največ genov za virulenčne dejavnike smo ugotovili pri izolatih vrste Enterococcus faecalis, od tega najpogosteje gene efaA, gelE in ace. Izolati vrste Enterococcus faecium so bili najpogosteje nosilci genov esp in hyl. Skupaj smo pri vseh testiranih enterokokih določili 28 različnih virulenčnih tipov. Na osnovi predhodno ugotovljenih genov za površinske adhezine (ace, asa1 in esp) smo 92 izbranih izolatov testirali glede sposobnosti filmotvornosti na mikrotitrskih ploščicah. Pri izolatih s kombinacijo vseh treh genov smo ugotovili močno značilno povezavo s filmotvornostjo, vendar pa pri primerjavi posameznih genov te povezave nismo ugotovili za gen asa1. Rezultati naše raziskave v splošnem ne kažejo na večjo nevarnost zaradi neposrednega prenosa odpornih ali bolj patogenih enterokokov z živali na ljudi, nedvomno pa predstavljajo zelo pomemben rezervoar genov za odpornost in številne virulenčne dejavnike. Raziskava predstavlja pomemben doprinos k oceni tveganja za prenos odpornih enterokokov ter virulenčnih determinant iz živali na ljudi, bodisi preko prehranske verige ali pa preko ljubiteljskih živali. Enterococci are ubiquitous microorganisms, indicators of faecal contamination and a part of normal intestinal microbiota, which are also capable of causing serious infections in humans and animals. They are also an important cause of nosocomial infections. The aim of the present study was to collect data about the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in enterococci isolated from pet animals, livestock and food of animal origin in order to compare them with enterococci isolated from human clinical samples. A total of 854 Enterococcus isolates belonging to 16 species were analysed. Broth microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations of 12 antimicrobials. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the presence of seven virulence-associated genes (ace, asa1, cylA, efaA, esp, gelE and hyl). The highest resistance rate was found for tetracycline, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. The susceptibility of enterococci for the critically important antimicrobials for human medicine was generally well conserved. The highest resistance rate was detected in isolates from human and animal clinical samples, broiler meat and poultry slaughterhouse, whereas the smallest proportion of resistance was observed in isolates from beef. In animals, 10 vancomycin-resistant isolates and 59 isolates with high-level aminoglycoside resistance were discovered. The highest occurrence of virulence-associated genes was observed in Enterococcus faecalis isolates, most commonly genes efaA, gelE and ace. Enterococcus faecium isolates most frequently harboured genes esp and hyl. In total, 28 distinct virulence types were identified. According to the previously detected genes encoding surface adhesins (ace, asa1 and esp), 92 isolates were selected to determine their biofilm forming ability on microtiter plates. The presence of all three aforementioned genes was significantly associated with their biofilm forming ability, as well as the sole presence of ace or esp gene, respectively, whereas no significant association was identified for asa1 gene. The results of the present study indicate a risk for direct transmission of resistant or highly virulent enterococci from animals to humans. In addition, enterococci represent an important reservoir of resistance and virulence-associated genes. The study is an important contribution to risk assessment regarding the transmission of resistant and virulent enterococci from animals to humans, either via food chain or pet animals.

Namen diplomskega dela je bil ugotoviti, kako prisotnost mrhovišč na območjih bivanja medveda, volka in risa v Sloveniji vpliva na njihovo gibanje in obnašanje, ter kako mrhovišča vplivajo na pogostnost napadov velikih zveri na rejne živali. Na podlagi pregleda znanstvene literature, strukturiranih intervjujev s strokovnjaki, z lovci in rejci ter pridobljenih podatkov o odškodninskih zahtevkih smo ugotovili, da mrhovišča v primerjavi s krmišči v splošnem nimajo večjega vpliva na pogostnost napadov velikih zveri na rejne živali. Medvedi sicer raje obiskujejo mrhovišča kot krmišča s koruzo in vsaj v določenem delu leta krmišča deloma zadržujejo medveda stran od bližine človeka in rejnih živali. Vendar pa vplivi mrhovišč na napade na rejne živali še niso bili neposredno preučeni, posredne raziskave pa nakazujejo, da verjetno vplivov ni ali pa niso pomembni. Ugotovili smo, da mrhovišča in krmišča vplivajo na gibanje in znotrajvrstne odnose med velikimi zvermi. Medvedi se redno zadržujejo v okolici mrhovišč in krmišč, vendar jih obiskujejo ob različnih urah, da se izognejo medvrstnim interakcijam, prav tako si močnejši medvedi včasih prisvojijo mrhovišča ali krmišča, kar nakazuje, da ta vplivajo na njihovo gibanje. Vplivajo tudi na njihovo obnašanje, saj medvedi zaradi vedno dostopne hrane kasneje prezimujejo, volkovi pa se pojavljajo na krmiščih in mrhoviščih poleg mrhovine tudi zaradi lova na divjad, saj se divjad krmi na krmiščih. Največ škode s strani velikih zveri je bilo od januarja do decembra povzročeno na drobnici leta 2010, ta pa je v naslednjih letih močno upadla tudi zaradi vseh aktivnosti za preprečevanje škod v okviru projekta Slowolf. The purpose of this thesis is to determine how carrion feeding sites in habitats of bears, wolves and lynx in Slovenia affect their movement and behaviour, and how carrion feeding increases the frequency of large wild animal attacks on farm animals. After reviewing scientific literature and data on damage claims and conducting structured interviews with experts, hunters and breeders, we found that carrion feeding sites generally do not have a strong impact on the frequency of wild animal attacks on domestic animals compared to ordinary feeding sites. Bears tend to visit carrion feeding sites more than feeding sites with corn, which means that this keeps bears away from humans at least for a certain part of the year. However, the influence of carrion feeding sites on the attacks on farm animals has not been examined so far, but indirect research suggests that there is no impact or it is not significant. We also found that carrion feeding sites and feeding sites with corn affect the movement and the intraspecific relationships among wild animals. Bears regularly walk around carrion feeding sites and regular feeding sites, but at different times of day in order to avoid interspecies interaction. In addition, stronger bears sometimes claim carrion feeding sites or other feeding sites, which attests to their impact on the movement of the bears. Moreover, they also influence the behaviour of animal species as bears tend to hibernate later than they used to because food is available at all times, wolves frequent carrion feeding sites and regular feeding sites due to carrion and game. Large wild animals have caused the most damage to sheep and goat in 2010, but in the following few years the Slowolf project launched numerous activities that significantly reduced the number of such instances.

Drevesno-pašna raba (DPR) je po vsem svetu razširjen sistem kmetijsko-gozdarske pridelave, ki na isti površini združuje drevesa, travno rušo in rejne živali. Vzpostavimo ga lahko z redčenjem sestoja lesnate vegetacije ali s sajenjem dreves na obstoječi pašnik. To ni nenadzorovana paša živali v gozdu, temveč gre za zapleten sistem rabe kmetijskih zemljišč. Paša domačih živali mora potekati nadzorovano, zemljišče mora biti ograjeno in pregrajeno na čredinke. Te so živalim na voljo kratek čas (ob visoki gostoti zasedbe), nato pa jih premestimo v naslednjo čredinko, da se ruša obraste. S pravilnim vodenjem nadzorovane paše se izognemo negativnim posledicam ter veliko pridobimo s prednostmi drevesno-pašne rabe zemljišč. Živali se poleti zaradi dreves na pašniku v senci dobro počutijo. Kadar živali tudi prezimujemo na prostem, jim drevesa nudijo zaščito pred vetrom ter padavinami. Izločki živali, ki poskrbijo za pestrejšo travno rušo, ugajajo tudi izbranim drevesnim vrstam. Te lahko gojimo dovolj na redko, da pride svetloba do travne ruše. Drevje je koristno za pridobivanje lesa, sadja ali celo listov nekaterih vrst, kar služi kot dopolnilna krma za živali. V Sloveniji imamo veliko območij z omejenimi možnostmi za kmetijsko dejavnost, ki so primerna za vzpostavitev DPR. Še posebej to velja za zaraščena oziroma opuščena kmetijska zemljišča, ki jih lahko s pomočjo drevesno-pašne rabe oživimo za ponovno kmetijsko uporabo in rešimo pred dokončno preobrazbo v gozd. Silvopastoralism (the main agroforestry land management system) is a practice that is used in many parts of the world to combine livestock, trees, and forage. Silvopasture can be established in two ways: trees can be introduced into a pasture or forages can be introduced into a thinned forest. Silvopasturing means more than simply fencing livestock in the woods. Successful silvopastoralism requires active and intensive management, mainly to ensure that grazing areas are controlled, rotated and that there are long rest and recovery periods between grazings. That’s what distinguishes silvopastoralism from woodland grazing of the past with its relatively unmanaged, prolonged access by animals and its negative effects. If done correctly, silvopastoralism can be a mutually beneficial arrangement. Livestock keep undergrowth in check while enjoying the dappled shade and comfortable temperatures provided by the trees. Both the pasture and the trees benefit from the free manure, which promotes the growth of nutritious and varied forage. In silvopastoral systems we can grow trees for any use or product (nuts, timber, fruit) and include livestock, as long as the trees are spaced to let in enough light for grass sward to grow. In Slovenia there are many suitable regions for silvopastoral use, specially those situated in less favourable areas.

O zgodovini pašne reje domačih živali obstajajo mnogi zapisi, pripovedi in pričevanja. Po drugi svetovni vojni se je začel intenziven razvoj gospodarstva in industrije, začelo se je množično odseljevanju iz odročnejših krajev v mesta. Tradicionalno kmetovanje se je začelo opuščati in številna kmetijska zemljišča, predvsem na območjih z težjimi pridelovalnimi razmerami so se opuščala rabe in zaraščala, saj je v ospredje prišlo intenzivno kmetovanje tako v rastlinski kot živalski proizvodnji. Kmetijsko zemljišče v zaraščanju je zemljišče, ki ima v prostorskem načrtu lokalne skupnosti status kmetijskega zemljišča z oznako dejanske rabe 1410 (kmetijsko zemljišče v zaraščanju), in zaraščanje še ni bilo odpravljeno. Zaraščanje lahko odpravljamo z agrotehničnimi ukrepi in s pašo domačih živali. Danes je poudarjeno predvsem strojno krčenje grmovne ter drevesne vegetacije in strojno odpravljanje zaraščanja zemljišč, za kar se dobi tudi finančna pomoč s strani države, premalo pa je poudarjena uporaba dela živali v ta namen. Slednje je ključno za trajno in uspešno ter okolju prijazno rekultivacijo kmetijskih zemljišč, ki predstavljajo lahko vir dobre krmo za te živali. Pri tem delu smo lahko uspešni torej s pašo domačih živali in sicer samo takrat, ko imamo nadzor nad njihovim delom. Ta temelji na gaženju živali, žetvi zelinja in blatenju oziroma gnojenju zemlje V ta namen lahko uporabimo presušene krave, krave dojilje, koze, konje in osle ter prašiče. Najučinkovitejši živalski vrsti za pašo na takih zemljiščih sta govedo in koze. In Slovenia history of grazing domestic animals exists in many forms of references as informing us how these animals were already used in the past and serving us. In the middle of the previous century due to the intensive development of economy, industry and also agriculture a huge depopulation effect happened on the countryside and a lot of people moved to the cities. Traditional forms of agriculture disappeared and many agricultural land, specially in less favoured areas were abandoned and overgrown with woody vegetation also due to intensive land utilization in the lowlands and new technologies in livestock stable rearing. Abandoned agricultural land is defined as a land which is marked in the local landscape planning community in a form of actual usage 1410 (agricultural land in overgrowing) and overgrowing with non herbaceus vegetation was not yet abolish. Overgrowing of agricultural land can be suppress by agricultural measures in a form of using machinery or grazing livestock. Nowadays only mechanical suppression of woody vegetation on agricultural land is subsidied by the government and not much the work and benefits of grazing animals are stress. The latter is crucial for sustainable and successful and environmentally friendly recultivation of abandoned land and which can also represent the source of good feed for animals. We can be successful in preventing the overgrowing with grazing animals in the way that we control the work the animals do. We must control their soil trampling, harvesting the herbage and manuring. For such work we use dry cows, suckling cows, goats, horses, donkeys and pigs. The most efficient grazing animals in preventing the overgrowing of agricultural land are low yielding categories of cattle and goats for meat.