Ylli Bicoku

A survey on consumers' responses in relation with animal welfare was conducted. Two-hundred consumers (randomly selected) were interviewed with the aim to find out how the type of questions affects their response. A simple questionnaire with three open and three closed question was prepared. The consumers were interviewed in market places and supermarkets of Tirana. The majority (42,3%) of the respondents thought that animal welfare is related with animal nutrition and better breeding while in the closed questions the majority (41,4%) answered that animal welfare is the relation between human and animals. Considering as preliminary data we could conclude that the closed questions are better and easier to be addressed to consumers' surveys for "new" topics and concept as it is animal welfare.

A survey on consumers' responses in relation with animal welfare was conducted. Two-hundred consumers (randomly selected) were interviewed with the aim to find out how the type of questions affects their response. A simple questionnaire with three open and three closed question was prepared. The consumers were interviewed in market places and supermarkets of Tirana. The majority (42,3%) of the respondents thought that animal welfare is related with animal nutrition and better breeding while in the closed questions the majority (41,4%) answered that animal welfare is the relation between human and animals. Considering as preliminary data we could conclude that the closed questions are better and easier to be addressed to consumers' surveys for "new" topics and concept as it is animal welfare.

Agriculture in Albania has dramatically changed since 1992. The last 25 years has signed a positive development of the production. The sector is now undergoing a transition from a largely subsistence sector to a commercial one. The sector contributes about 22% of Gross Domestic Product, which is high, when compared to neighboring countries and EU members. While the animal production contributes so far is more than 50% of the agriculture production value and is an important source not only to farm income but also to market supply with raw and processed products. Albanian animal production has undergone fundamental changes in terms of its structure, the organization of the production units and the distribution of products and trading. Although the positive trend in livestock production during the last two decades, the production is facing several challenges. Relatively larger farms represent a small percentage of the farming structure and the yields are below to the breeds' potential. Livestock production efficiency is affected by limited knowledge of farmers on modern farm management. The improvement of farmers' knowledge should start with the enhancing the role and performance of the public extension service, the motivation of the advisors and the financial support of the service. Despite the importance of agriculture for the national economy, Albania is a net importer of crop and animal origin products. In the process of approximation to the European Union, the country is seeking to increase the competitiveness and food standards. The aim of the paper is to analyze the livestock sector challenges and perspectives. The methodological approach is mainly based on secondary data analysis.

The objective of this analysis is to provide a quantitative and qualitative description of the Kosovo cattle subsector, its challenges and perspective. Kosovo agriculture sector still remains subsistence-oriented, due to a very small average farm size (1.52 ha per family) - most farms are mixed. Hence, only 15-20 % of milk and meat is delivered to milk and meat processors. Generally, livestock production is seen as a backbone of Kosovo's agriculture. The economic efficiency and productivity are at low level. Assessment of the performance at cattle farm level is not possible because data are missing. This paper is based on secondary agricultural statistics, studies/reports, and as well expert interviews. To improve the situation several economic and policy programs are needed to: improve the productivity of the dairy sector; improve safety and quality standards including good livestock practices, good hygiene practices and animal welfare standards.

In comparison with other farmed animals, much research has been carried out on methods for assessing the needs and welfare of dairy cows. In considering the welfare of dairy cows, some of the most important aspects of poor welfare are disease conditions, in particular foot and leg disorders and mastitis. Reproductive and behavioral problems are also relevant indicators of poor welfare. As animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals, it is measured by indicators including behavior, physiology, performance, reproduction and longevity. Welfare is defined according to Broom (1986) as follows: "the welfare of an individual is its state as regards its attempts to cope with its environment". According to the preliminary data on animal welfare survey with consumers in Tirana the majority of the respondents thought that animal welfare is important for the farmers and animals. In addition the majority of respondents are ready to pay higher price for the an...

The study was carried out to see the impact of replacing a portion of mineral phosphates by use of microbial phytase in poultry rations for eggs and the impact of this substitution in production indicators and cost of production. In broad terms of production were taken in evidence two batteries with about 58,000 head of layers between January and February 2011. Layers were hybrid Hy-Line W 36 in both batteries, with the respective age 39-40 weeks. The same feed ration were used for both batteries with the only difference for the battery no. 3 was involved enzyme while in battery no. 7 was used high amounts of bicalcique phosphate (20% Ca and 20% P). For layers of battery No.3 was added to the ration 0,06% phosphorus enzyme with content of 750,000 UF (Phytase Unit) and only1,401% phosphate mineral, while the layers of battery no. 7 had phosphate ore 1,964%. So with additional 450 UF for the layers of battery no. 3 was replaced 0,563% phosphate. At the end of the study no differences ...

PERFORMANCE OF BROWN SWISS BREED IN ALBANIA-PRELIMINARY DATA Ylli Biçoku*, Merita Uruci **Albanian Dairy and Meat Association (ADAMA), Tirane, Albania Email: bicokuy@yahoo.com The Brown Swiss breed started to be imported in Albania after the year 2000. through the importation of heifers and biological material, mainly from Germany and Austria. The farmers are interested in this breed for some foundamental traits such as calving ease, udder health and very good feet and legs as well for the good performance of fattening bulls. The aim of our study was to analyze the milk production and its relations with miilk fat, protein, and freezing point produced by cows imported from Austria in 2008, and bred on private farms in Peqin and Tepelena districts. For the period July 2010 – April 2011 was analyzed the milk of 20 cows in both farms.The milk production during the first lactation (2008-2009) was 4154 liter milk/cow noticed that these herds have produced 50% more milk than average milk p...

2. Summary The number of cows’ crossing to the Norwegian Red breed (NRF) is increased in the last years in Elbasani region, as well as in 24 other regions of Albania. Milk production during the first lactation and the factors effectiong its variations, the first lactation curve and its variation was analyzed for 144 cows crossbred between Black&White and Jersey with NRF as well as Black & White and Jersey pure breed. The lactation curve of the cows’ crossing to the NRF breed it is a typical curve, while Xhersey and Black&White curve it is atypical. The cows crossing to the NRF breed produced 3423-3509 kg milk/year, wile the cows crossbred with Black&White or Jersey produced 2370-2611 kg milk/year. The same trend is for the milk fat percentage. There is not a statistically significant relationship between Milk Production – Fat Indicator at the 95.0% or higher confidence level for the crossbred cows’ Jersey x NRF, Black&White x NRF and the second generation (F2) of the crossbred Black...

The Albanian agricultural sector, after suffering a drop in the period 1991 to 1992, began to improve after the year 1993 as a result of privatization of agricultural land. Thus, from the very beginning of the transition period annual agricultural growth ranged between 5 to 7 %. Along with privatization of agricultural land and all other assets of ex-farming cooperatives and state-owned farms privatization of the processing industry occurred. Agriculture still remains subsistence-oriented due to a very small average size of farms (1,2 ha per family). Hence, only 20–30 % of crop and livestock products are being sold. Some 70% of household incomes are contributed by sales of livestock products. Albania continues to be predominantly a rural economy with 54% of GDP generated by agriculture, 21% by services, 13% by construction and 12% by industry. At present, over 50 % of the population continue to live in rural areas and farming constitutes main employment option for people in these ar...

Major Histocompatibility complex (MHC) luan një rol të rendësishëm në përgjigjen immune. Studimi yne ka për qëllim analizën e polimorfizmit në dy lokuse mikrosatelitë në klasën I dhe II të kompleksit MHC, për një popullatë lokale të dhive në Shqipëri. Materiali dhe metoda • Dhia e Velipojës • 2 popullata, • 60 individë/popullatë • 2 markerë mikrosatelitë)MHCI dhe DRBP1 MHCII Polimorfizmi i lokuseve mikrosatelitë në kompleksin MHC për një racë dhish në Shqipëri Konkluzione • Dy markerët mikrosatelitë të lokalizuar në kompleksin MHC janë mjaft polimorfikë. • Numri i aleleve ishte më i lartë se 5, për secilin nga markerët • Vlerat ishin më të larta se 0.5 • Të dy lokuset mund të përdoren si markerë gjenetikë për studimet e diversitetit gjenetik të racave të dhive. INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM "Biodiversiteti Ruajtja dhe përdorimi i qendrueshëm i tij-faktorë për zhvillimin e qëndrueshëm rural " Tiranë, 22 Tetor 2010 Fig. 1: Histograma e frekuencave alelike në lokusin mikrosatelit n...

This study is aimed to gather information regarding Agricultural Dealers having formed their own association with technical support of the USAID financed project “Agri-Input Market Development in Azerbaijan (AMDA) implemented by IFDC. In detail efforts are directed towards the identification of agri-input dealers perceived educational needs, to record their preference about the educational methods they feel useful in satisfying their educational needs, the time preferred, etc. Furthermore, effort was put to identify who are those of the target dealers planning to stay in agri-input business after three years. Above variables are correlated with dealers characteristics and business activities in an effort to identify significant differences that might be helpful in the educational program that is to be developed for satisfying their educational needs. Such variables include dealers’ experience, education, areas of their activities, future investment plans, scope of inputs they deal w...

HACCP është një sistem për identifikimin, vlerësimin dhe kontrollin e rreziqeve të sigurisë ushqimore, i cili bazohet në shtatë parime:  Drejtimin e analizës së rrezikut  Përcaktimin e pikave kritike të kontrollit  Vendosjen e limiteve kritikë  Aplikimin e veprimeve korrigjuese  Vendosjen e procedurës së verifikimit  Vendosjen e procedurës së mbajtjes, ruajtjes dhe dokumentimit të procedurës. HACCP është një sistem menaxhimi në të cilin siguria ushqimore është e drejtuar nëpërmjet analizave, kontrollit biologjik, kimik dhe fizik të rreziqeve duke filluar nga lënda e parë, sigurimi dhe ruajtja, tregëtimi, shpërndarja dhe konsumi i produktit final. HACCP është i destinuar për t'u aplikuar në të gjitha segmentet e industrisë ushqimore. Të shtatë parimet e lartpërmendura të HACCP janë pranuar gjerësisht nga agjensitë shtetërore, shoqatat e tregëtisë dhe të industrisë në të gjithë botën. Prodhimi i ushqimeve të sigurta kërkon që sistemi HACCP të ndërtohet mbi një themel solid p...

The Simmental breed is spread in our country after 2000, through the importation of heifers and biological ma-terial, mainly from Austria and Germany. One of the reasons, for the actual prevalence of this is its direction of com-bined milk-meat, suitable for the conditions of small and medium private farms. Our study was to analyze the milk production, and the link of this product with key ingredients such as milk fat, protein, and freezing point produced by cows imported from Austria in 2007, and bred on private farms in the Kruja and Durres districts. For the period Sep-tember 2010 – April 2011 the milk of 18 in both farms was analyzed. The analysis of milk production in the farm of the Kruja district in 2007-2008 (3.800 liter/cow) noticed that we had to do with a herd that produced 50% more milk than average milk production in the country, but with higher potential. Likewise, the yield of these cows for lactation 2010–2011 was 5.400 liters/cow/year. The data of our study for milk...

The comparison of the performance of the small (2-5 cows) and medium (6-20 cows) sized dairy farms in central part of Albania were the objective of this study, as it is not done up to now from any institution. The annual farm income, the cost of milk production, and the problems faced by the farms were studied. During a period of 12 months were recorded data on milk production, farm expenses and returns for each farm on a monthly basis. In addition were collected data on using milking machine, artificial insemination, needs for training, fodder production, and feed bought in the market. The difference in milk yield between such farms is 6,4%. The annual incomes per farm (milk+meat sold) and for only milk for the small farms are 2066,35 Euro and 764,96 Euro respectively, while for the medium farms the results are 8784,85 Euro and 6080,37 Euro respectively. The cost of milk was for the small farms 0,281 Euro/liter and 0,267 for the medium ones. The small farms sells 80,03% of the milk...

Agriculture still remains subsistence-oriented due to a very small average size of farms (1.26 ha per family) and 85,8% are mixed farms. Hence, only 30–40% of crop and livestock products are being sold. Generally, livestock production is seen as a backbone of Albania's agriculture. The objective of this analysis is to give a quantitative and qualitative description of the Albanian dairy sector, its challenges and perspective. About 75% of household incomes are contributed by sales of livestock products. The productivity and the economic efficiency are at low level. Evaluation of performance at dairy farm level is not possible because data are missing. The statistical yearbook of Ministry of Agriculture and Consumer Protection does not include information for each product at farm level. To improve the situation several economic and policy programs are needed to increase the productivity of the dairy sector, the quality of products, to implement the good livestock practices, good ...

The study was carried out to assess the economics of small (up to 4 cows) and medium (more than 6 cows) sized dairy farms breeding Holstein and Norwegian Red (NRF) breeds with reference to the Income per Farm including milk and meat sales, Income per Farm only milk sales, and the cost of production in Albania. Data on production, expenses and returns were recorded on a monthly basis for 160 farms (80 for each breed) over a period of 12 months. The "Income per Farm (IpF) " method was used to calculate the farm income. The "IpF" (including milk and meat) for Holstein farms ranged from 1969.9 Euro (small farm) to 8036.6 Euro (medium farm) and for NRF farm from Key words: Holstein and NRF breed, economic analysis, income per farm, small and medium sized farms.

Goats play an important role for the Albanian farmer community of marginal area. Muzhake is one of local goat breeds distributed in Southeastern part of Albania. Genetic characterization of native breeds is very important in conservation strategy designing. The aim of the present study was to estimate the genetic variability of Muzhake goat breed using microsatellite markers. The genomic DNA from 30 unrelated individuals, was analyzed by typing 30 microsatellite markers. Allele diversity, observed and expected heterozygosities, inbreeding coefficient were calculated. A total of 240 alleles were distinguished. All the microsatellites were highly polymorphic, with mean allelic number of 8, ranging 4-18 per locus. The observed heterozygosity ranged between 0.33 to 0.93, with mean value of 0.69. PIC values ranged from 0.39 to 0.88, with mean of 0.71. It was noticed a low rate of inbreeding within breed (F IS = 0.07). The effective number of alleles varied from 1.47 to 11.5 with a mean 4...