One of the key problems of poultry production is the fight against stresses of various etiologies, united by a single biological mechanism – accumulation of free radicals and oxidative stress. It has been established that vitagens play a significant role in the fight against oxidative stress, the transcriptional activity of which is increased under the influence of various nutritional factors, including phytobiotics. Based on this, the aim of the research was to analyze the expression of genes related to antioxidant defence (AOD) in broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) when different phytobiotics are used in the diet and to compare the results obtained with the analysis of biochemical parameters of AOD in blood serum. A zootechnical experiment was carried out on broiler chickens of the cross Smena 9, in which the control group was fed the main diet and four experimental groups were fed the mixed feed with plant extracts of common chicory (Cichorium intubus L.), St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.), safflower (Rhaponticum carthamoides L.) and thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.). At 22 days of age, blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis, and at 26 days of age, liver samples were taken to assess the relative expression of SOD1 and PRDX6 genes by the 2^-ΔΔCT method, for which RNA isolation, reverse transcription and PCR-RT with the ‘housekeeping’ reference gene ACTB were performed. The results showed a 4.47-fold increase in SOD1 expression when chicory extract was used and 3.53-fold increase when St. John’s wort extract was used. At the same time, St. John’s wort flavonoids showed the most visible vitagen-stimulating effect, which was confirmed by the low variability of SOD1 expression and a decreased values of blood AOD indicators, indicating the possibility of limiting the use of other physiological mechanisms of free radical control by the organism. The results of the research will serve as a nutrigenomic justification for the development of the composition of a new phytocombination.

The article presents a potential solution to the problem of increasing the radiation resistance of plants in their interaction with galactic cosmic radiation by transferring prokaryotic genes of DNA repair enzymes and regulatory genes of repair pathways into plants. In particular, the possibility of using Deinococcus radiodurans as a donor of the necessary genes is being considered due to the high radioresistance of this bacterium. We propose to apply several D. radiodurans genes (uvrD, irrE and pprM) for this purpose due to the positive experience of their use. The use of the irrE gene for plant transformation has already been proven, while the use of the uvrD and pprM genes requires additional research due to the presence of experiments only on prokaryotes. At the same time, it should be noted that among plant proteins there are homologues of Escherichia coli UvrD helicase, while plant homologues of this enzyme contain the same conserved domains as bacterial UvrD helicase. This can facilitate the work of this prokaryotic protein, which will be synthesized in plants obtained by genetic engineering. Due to the prevailing negative effects of cosmic radiation on plants, the use of this method is promising and opens up new opportunities for creating varieties resistant to this factor.

The article analyzes the peculiar ecogeochemical features of vineyards as an object of soil-ecological monitoring on the example of the authors’ own research, conducted in 2021-2024 in a number of wineries in the south-western part of Crimea and in the Fruška Gora district of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Republic of Serbia. Considering the pronounced manifestation of environmental risks and the need to apply integrated methodological approaches to systems analysis of problematic environmental situations, it is proposed to supplement the classical program of soil-ecological surveys with ecogeochemical and ecotoxicological studies with the identification of limiting indicators of soil contamination of ampelocoenoses and assessment of risks of migration of pollutants in the system “soil – vine – products of viticulture and wine-making”. A diagnostic tool for the early detection of negative changes in vineyard agroecosystems can be the determination of soil biological activity through soil respiration indicators and ecophysiological indices calculated on their basis, demonstrating the current status of the soil microbiome.

Nowadays, soybean is gaining great importance as a high-yielding protein and margin crop. The soybean area in our country is increasing every year. The applied agro-technologies play a crucial role in obtaining stable and high quality soybean yields. Studies were conducted to determine the effectiveness of liquid boron microfertilizers Izagri Bor and Lebozol Bor in the technology of soybean cultivation of Biryuza variety. The results of the conducted production experiment on dark gray forest soil in the conditions of the Oryol Region established the positive role of boron microfertilizers on the soybean productivity of soybeans. The foliar treatment of soybean with microfertilizers in the budding phase contributed to the change in the yield structure, increase in the number of beans per plant and Thousand Seed Weight. The effect of liquid boron microfertilizers on soybean yield as a result of mechanized harvesting of the crop was revealed. An increase in soybean yield by 3.6-3.8 c/ha over the control was observed. In the experiments with foliar fertilizers, the quality of the products improved. Instrumental analysis showed that the use of Izagri Bor and Lebozol Bor contributed to an increase of 1.5-2.5% in the protein and fat content of the soybean grain compared to the non-treated variety.

Studies of the dendroflora of estates are relevant and allow to identify the species most resistant to local conditions, their biological and ecological features, and to develop practical recommendations for the protection and restoration of historical landscapes. The aim of the study is to carry out botanical and geographical analysis of the dendroflora in the landscapes of old estates located in the cooperation zone of the Kologrivsky Forest Biosphere Reserve (Kostroma Region). The objects of the study are 14 noble estates located within the boundaries of the cooperation zone of the Kologrivsky Forest Biosphere Reserve. The materials for the study were data from field surveys conducted in 2022-2024 and information on the spatial planning features of the estates presented in literary sources. All the collected materials on previously planted trees and shrubs were systematized, and the assignment of species to floristic complexes and habitat types was carried out using data from open electronic resources. The conducted study showed that the dendroflora of the noble estates of the cooperation zone of the Kologrivsky Forest Biosphere Reserve includes 43 species and hybrids belonging to 15 families. The largest number of species belongs to such families as Rosaceae (11 species), Pinaceae (five species) and Salicaceae (five species and hybrids). More than half of the species (58%) are adventitious (neophytes), of which 28% are native, 9% are cultivated and 5% are hybrids. The large share of the nemoral group (33%) indicates the artificial selection of tree species from the native flora, which have high decorative properties or having food value. Among the adventitious species used in landscaping there are mainly species (more than 2/3) whose natural range is limited to Europe (1), Europe and Siberia (2), Europe and Asia (3) or their individual botanical and geographical zones. Thus, the dendroflora of the estates shows signs of strong anthropogenic transformation.

The research was conducted to analyze the characteristics and features of different species of the spindle-tree (Euonymus L.) and to assess their decorative properties. In the research, 10 species of the genus grown in the Moscow region on the territory of the Dendrological Garden named after R.I. Schroeder of the Russian State Agrarian University – Timiryazev Agricultural Academy were studied, as well as some other most common species used in landscaping. To assess the decorativeness of the spindle-trees (Euonymus L.), the authors adapted a gradation scale of the decorativeness of woody plants throughout the year, taking into account seasonal features. Decorativeness was assessed taking into account the range of foliage colors, shape, size and texture of leaves, as well as the decorativeness of fruits, which give additional attractiveness to plants in different seasons. The results obtained allow to recommend for wide use those species which, according  to the assessment, have the greatest number of decorative properties. These are the following species: Euonymus latifolius Mill., Euonymus japonicus Thunb., Euonymus europeus L. and Euonymus macropterus Rupr.

Salmonella remains the main cause of toxic infections associated with the consumption of products of animal origin. Poultry, including farm poultry, can be a carrier of Salmonella without clinical signs, therefore poultry meat plays a special role in the occurrence of toxic infections. In the slaughterhouse, when processing such poultry, the surface of the carcasses can be seeded with Salmonella: by washing them off contaminated legs and feathers; by getting the contents of ruptured intestines, crops on carcasses; during the operations of removing feathers and cooling (especially water cooling). Therefore, special attention is paid to the control of the presence of Salmonella in poultry products. A number of nutrient media used for the detection of Salmonella are currently not supplied to the Russian market due to sanctions in connection with the special military operation. However, there are suppliers of nutrient media and diagnostic systems from friendly countries that can be used in microbiological studies to detect Salmonella in food. One such medium is the MicroFast® Salmonella Count Plate (SAL) (P-SAL). P-SAL is a ready-to-use nutrient gel medium containing triphenyltetrazolium chloride as an indicator. In this research, we investigated the possibility of using P-SAL to isolate Salmonella in poultry meat. Minced meat from broiler chicken breasts free of foreign microflora was used as a model sample. During the research, two groups of 25 samples were formed: test samples – contaminated minced meat (25 g of minced meat contained 30-50±0.08 CFU of S.enteritidis); control samples – minced meat not contaminated with S.enteritidis.. Comparative tests of P-SAL and Bismuth Sulfite Agar (BSA) were conducted after selective enrichment of samples. It was found that the use of BSA according to GOST 31468-2012 and P-SAL for the detection of Salmonella in minced meat allows to obtain comparable results. The results of the studies indicate the possibility of using P-SAL to detect Salmonella in poultry meat, which will ensure the possibility of choice and availability of nutrient media when conducting studies on the detection of Salmonella.

The article considers the labor intensity of the process of determining the white blood cell count of fish, which is simultaneously being highly significant and necessary in terms of monitoring the health of individuals. The authors present an approach to automating the compilation of the white blood cell count of fish (using sturgeon as an example) using a convolutional neural network model capable of recognizing and identifying cells in a microscopic blood image. The general scheme of hematopoiesis and standards for hematological parameters of sturgeon are considered. The procedure for preparing images for training a markup-based artificial neural network model is described. Software tools for interaction with images and artificial neural network models are described. As a result of the research, 14 microscopic images of fish blood cells based on markup were prepared, a convolutional neural network model was trained, the overall mean average precision (MAP) of which was 0.33. At the same time, the overall accuracy of cell recognition in individual images was 0.92, and the rate of red blood cell recognition was 0.94. The research results can serve as a basis for further study, development and application of convolutional neural networks for automating white blood cell count compilation based on high-precision recognition of fish blood cells in microscopic images.

The article focuses on the effect of housing systems on the development of musculoskeletal pain in horses working under different conditions (competitions, rentals, equestrian sports and tourism). The relevance of the work is due to the insufficient attention paid to the assessment of pain in horses, especially under conditions of intensive workload and limited movement. The aim of the study is to assess the degree of pain in horses depending on the housing conditions using several scientifically grounded methods: the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), the Horse Chronic Pain Scale (HCPS) and the Horse Grimace Scale (HGS). The study analyzed the data collected from two equestrian enterprises in Russia and one in Qatar. The research methods included observations and the use of ethological scales to assess the condition of horses both in motion and at rest. In particular, the differences in the pain condition of horses in different housing conditions were studied: at the CSKA Equestrian Complex (with limited time outdoors), at Suhail Sports Center (where horses had almost no access to paddocks), and at Itkaya Horse Base (where horses had the opportunity to move freely for long periods). The results showed that horses in restricted movement conditions had high levels of chronic pain and lameness, while horses with regular exercise and more freedom of movement had fewer signs of pain. The conclusion of the study emphasizes the importance of providing horses with quality exercise, which prevents the development of musculoskeletal pathologies and contributes to the animal welfare. The results confirm the need to apply comprehensive assessment methods to improve housing and training conditions for horses and to increase attention to their welfare in professional equestrian sports.

The vicinity of Lake Elton is important for birds as nesting and migratory stopover sites. They are included in the list of Important Bird Areas (IBA) of international importance in European Russia (Lake Elton – VG-002). The article presents the results of ornithological studies carried out in the vicinity of Lake Elton in the springs of 2023 and 2024. The routes covered sections of the northern and eastern shores of the lake and the vicinity of the village of Elton. The aim of the work is to carry out regular monitoring to identify changes in the avifauna and the state of bird populations at IBA VG-002 “Lake Elton”. A total of 108 bird species have been recorded, including 44 species that are likely to breed or nest. Data were collected on the spring fauna of rare bird species, including several species of diurnal birds of prey and owls, as well as the little bustard.

The article examines the effect of regular training loads on the cardiovascular system of athletes involved in strength sports. Physiological changes arising in response to intense physical activity are analyzed, potential risks and ways of minimizing them in the process of developing athletic skills are considered. The empirical basis of the study was the data obtained during the examination of 90 athletes, students of Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, involved in strength sports, in the conditions of the Functional Diagnostics Center during the period of in-depth medical examination. The aim of the study was to identify the features of cardiovascular system adaptation to training loads in strength sports. The study program included biomedical methods with measurement of heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure (BP), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), ECG and EchoCG to assess functional changes and adaptation of the heart to loads with the growth of athletic skills. The study revealed that with the growth of athletic skills, adaptive changes occur in the myocardium, arterial blood pressure and heart rate: economization of the cardiovascular system was up to 20%. However, with insufficient control, the risk of myocardial hypertrophy and hypertension may increase up to 30%. The work defines methods for preventing overloads and gives recommendations for the safe and effective training. The results may be useful for athletes, coaches, sports medicine doctors and physical rehabilitation specialists.