Introduction. Modern animal husbandry is characterized by the active introduction of molecular genetic technologies aimed at increasing the efficiency of breeding programs and accelerating the development of highly productive livestock populations. Under the conditions of increasing requirements for meat quality, special attention is being paid to studies focused on identifying genetic markers associated with productive and technological characteristics of meat. This issue is of particular importance in Merino sheep breeding, where primary emphasis has traditionally been placed on wool productivity, while meat quality traits still require further improvement. In this regard, the study of genetic factors influencing the consumer properties of lamb meat in Soviet Merino sheep is highly relevant. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of MSTN gene polymorphism on the meat quality of Soviet Merino sheep.

Materials and Methods. The studies were carried out on Soviet Merino sheep bred at the “Skiba” collective farm in the Rostov region. The objects of the study were ram lambs raised under identical feeding and management conditions. Biological samples were collected from the animals for molecular genetic analysis followed by genomic DNA extraction using standard methods. The MSTN gene polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers. The obtained amplicons were subjected to restriction analysis using the PCR-RFLP method with restriction endonucleases. DNA fragments were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis followed by visualization under ultraviolet light. Organoleptic evaluation was performed following control slaughter of animals. The longissimus dorsi muscle was used for the study.

Research Results. The obtained results are consistent with current concepts regarding the role of the MSTN gene in the regulation of muscle tissue growth and the formation of meat production in farm animals. The identified advantage of the MSTN_AG genotype in several organoleptic characteristics may be associated with specific features of muscle tissue structure formation and protein metabolism intensity.

Discussion and Conclusion. The obtained data confirm the potential of using the MSTN gene as a molecular genetic marker in breeding programs aimed at improving meat and dual-purpose sheep production.The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying the results in breeding programs focused on improving lamb quality and enhancing the consumer properties of meat products.

Introduction. Enterprises of agricultural machinery engineering and technical service of the agro-industrial complex operate at the intersection of industrial production, maintenance, repair, adjustment, and operational support of machines and technological equipment used in agricultural production. This field is characterized by a combination of technical, organizational-managerial, and human risk factors associated with the use of power-intensive equipment, moving machines and mechanisms, hand and powered tools, lifting and transport operations, as well as exposure to noise, vibration, dust, chemical substances, and ergonomic loads. In modern occupational safety practice, there remains a contradiction between formal compliance with regulatory requirements and the need to prevent incidents through risk-based management. The insufficient adaptation of general approaches to occupational risk management to the specific conditions of agricultural machinery engineering and technical service in the agro-industrial complex highlights the relevance of the study.

Materials and Methods. The object of the study is the processes of occupational risk management at enterprises of agricultural machinery engineering and technical service of the agro-industrial complex. The methodological basis includes the analysis of regulatory documents and scientific literature, system and comparative analysis, as well as the modeling of management processes based on the Deming cycle.

Research Results. It has been established that the development of approaches to occupational safety management in industrial and agricultural-related production systems proceeds from regulatory-procedural and analytical-statistical models to a risk-based model. Differences between reactive and proactive approaches were identified in terms of objectives, time orientation, set of measures, assessment indicators, and the degree of personnel involvement. It is shown that the occupational risk management system should be considered as a central element of the occupational safety management system and as a component of the integrated management system of an enterprise engaged in the production, repair, maintenance, or operational support of machines and equipment for the agro-industrial complex.

Discussion and Conclusion. The application of a proactive approach and the Deming cycle ensures a transition from responding to the consequences of incidents to their prevention, improves the effectiveness of managerial decisions, and contributes to the sustainability of production, repair, and service processes. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential use of the proposed provisions to improve occupational safety management systems at agricultural machinery engineering enterprises, repair workshops, service departments, and organizations operating machinery and tractor fleets. Prospects for further research are associated with the development of tools for monitoring, forecasting, and multicriteria assessment of occupational risks when working with machines and equipment of the agro-industrial complex.

Introduction. Anthropogenically transformed soils of the Sirius Federal Territory were formed followingof large-scale engineering levelling carried out during preparation for the 2014 Olympics and subsequent urban development of the Imeretinskaya Lowland. The surface horizons of these soils are composed of imported material from the dark-humus horizon (AU) of Halpic Chernozem, which, under the humid subtropical climate, undergoes transformation atypical of chernozems. The aim of the study is to assess the features of the bulk chemical composition of the anthropogenically transformed soils of the Sirius Federal Territory and the nature of the early stage of transformation of the chernozem material using geochemical indices of weathering and pedogenesis.

Materials and Methods. The study objects are anthropogenically transformed soils of the Sirius Federal Territory that have been functioning for 10–12 years. The reference objects are the AU and Cca horizons of Halpic Chernozem. The bulk content of macroelements was determined by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis using a portable MetallTest ana-lyzer. The CIA, Ki, and Kr indices were used for interpretation.

Research Results. A statistically significant decrease in SiO2 along with a simultaneous increase in Al2O3 and Fe2O3 was established in the reclamation–humus horizon RAT compared with the genetically homogeneous AU horizon. No significant differences were detected for CaO, MgO, and K2O. For all integral coefficients and most macroelements, significant RAT–Cca differences were found, which confirms the substantial transformation of the chernozem material over 10–12 years.

Discussion and Conclusion. The observed shift reflects the early stage of subtropical hypergenesis: decarbonatization, leaching of bases, and relative accumulation of sesquioxides under a leaching water regime, while preserving the car-bonate–alkaline reserve inherited from the original Halpic Chernozem. The results obtained substantiate the need for regular geochemical monitoring of urban soils of the Sirius Federal Territory and can be used in the development of reclamation regulations for humid subtropical zones.

Introduction. Currently, approximately 1% of all known bacteria can be cultivated under laboratory conditions. The inability to obtain pure cultures of many microorganisms creates significant challenges for fundamental and applied research. This is particularly true for soil bacteria because of the high diversity of prokaryotic species in this environment. These findings highlight the need to develop methods for cultivating new strains, including the development of new culture media and modification of existing media by adding growth factors. The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of increasing bacterial cultivability by adding growth factors such as heme and potassium humate to the R2A medium, as well as replacing agar-agar with gellan gum.

Materials and Methods. The study involved soils from anthropogenic landscapes in the Rostov Region. The effects of growth factors on the cultivability of soil bacteria were investigated by counting the total number of colonies on a universal culture medium and separately recording fast-growing and slow-growing strains. The data obtained were processed using Statistica.

Research Results. According to the results, potassium humate has a stimulating effect at low concentrations and an inhibitory effect at high concentrations. Heme increases the growth rate of fast-growing strains while simultaneously inhibiting slow-growing bacteria. Gellan gum improved the cultivability of slow-growing strains in one experimental variant.

Discussion and Conclusion. Given the ambiguous results regarding the effects of gellan gum and heme, further experiments with these components are needed. However, potassium humate stimulated bacterial growth. Based on these data, it can be concluded that the addition of growth factors may enable the cultivation of previously uncultivated soil bacteria. Thus, this topic is a promising area in experimental microbiology and requires further similar research.

Introduction. The high cost of feed, dominated by fish meal and fish oil, remains a key limitation on the profitability of industrial aquaculture in closed-loop water supply (CLWS) installations. A promising approach to reducing feed costs and increasing the environmental sustainability of the industry is the partial replacement of fish meal with insect protein derived from black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens). The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of partial replacement of fish meal with black soldier fly larva meal on the biological performance of sturgeon hybrids and to determine the economic efficiency of this replacement under CLWS conditions.

Materials and Methods. A laboratory experiment lasting 90 days was performed on juvenile sturgeon hybrids in four groups at fish meal replacement levels of 0 (control), 25, 50 and 75%. Specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival rate, and economic efficiency indicators were evaluated.

Research Results. The highest productivity was achieved with 50% replacement: final weight increased by 9.8%, the feed conversion ratio decreased from 1.35 to 1.21, and the survival rate was 95%. Feed costs per 1 kg of growth decreased by 13.6%. When extrapolated to a production module with a capacity of 10 t/year, profitability increases from 45.9% to 56.1%. Discussion. The data obtained confirm the feasibility of replacing up to 50% of fish meal with H. illucens meal in sturgeon feed formulations without compromising growth and with a tangible economic benefit.

Discussion and Conclusion. The data obtained confirm the existence of an optimal level of fish meal replacement with black soldier fly protein: the positive effect observed at replacement levels of up to 50% is attributable to a favorable amino acid profile, the antimicrobial effect of lauric acid and the immunomodulatory properties of chitin, while at 75% replacement the indicators fall below the control values. The economic effect arises through two mechanisms – through improved feed conversion and reduced feed formulation costs, which makes the technology less sensitive to fluctuations in fish meal prices. Integration black soldier fly larva production using organic waste into a closed resource cycle with CLWS is consistent with the principles of the circular bioeconomy and supports the substitution of imported feed components in the agro-industrial complex. Thus, replacing 50% of fish meal with black soldier fly larva meal in sturgeon hybrids feed under CLWS conditions increases the profitability of the production module with a capacity of 10 tons/year from 45.9 to 56.1% and can be recommended as a resource-saving solution for industrial aquaculture; exceeding the inclusion threshold (75%) is impractical.

Introduction. Post-harvest preservation is currently a critical issue in agriculture. According to the UNEP Food Waste Index Report, approximately 1.05 billion tonnes of food are wasted annually at the consumption stage globally. Furthermore, approximately 14% of food products are lost during harvesting and transportation. The storage of perishable commodities is highly energy-intensive, and numerous food products are unsuitable for freezing. Dehydration effectively reduces moisture content, thereby inhibiting spoilage and reducing product weight and volume; however, the dehydration process itself is inherently energy-consuming. The objective of this study is to develop an energy-efficient drying technology using a domestic dehydrator that preserves the nutritional and organoleptic properties of the product, and to design a corresponding dehydrator prototype based on drying kinetics analysis and sensory evaluation.

Materials and Methods. The upgraded domestic dehydrator enables both the setting of averaged drying parameters and the monitoring of the residual moisture content of the product. The system architecture comprises a chassis with trays, a heating element (up to 250 W), and a fan (20–30 W); temperature (DS18B20) and humidity (BME280) sensors; an ESP32 microcontroller with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity; an ST7789VW display, and TTP223 capacitive touch buttons; and Omron G3MB-202P triac relays for heater and fan control. The modules are integrated via a common I2C bus with adjustable sensor addressing; the DS18B20 sensor is interfaced using the 1-Wire protocol with a mandatory pull-up resistor on the data line. Fuses are integrated into the power circuit: 0.15 A for the fan and 1.5 A for the heating element (incorporating a 50% overload margin), which ensures short-circuit protection and does not exceed the maximum rated current of the relays (2 A).

Research Results. During the experimental procedure, thin-layer drying of apples was performed: apple discs with a thickness of 7 mm (accuracy of ±0.1 mm) were arranged on the dehydrator trays. The initial mass was 577.2 g, decreasing to 89.4 g post-drying (mass loss of 487.8 g), while the disc thickness was reduced to 2 mm. Energy consumption was monitored using a wattmeter (1845 Wh) and evaluated indirectly based on the heater power (210 W) and the relay duty cycle; the net energy consumed for drying was 1700 Wh. Telemetry data from the sensors were transmitted to a Telegram bot in JSON format, subsequently exported to a text file, and processed utilizing Python and MATLAB. The findings are presented graphically, illustrating moisture content, moisture loss rate, specific humidity, and process efficiency.

Discussion and Conclusion. Testing of the prototype dehydrator enabled the evaluation of the drying parameters for apple chips. A comprehensive approach was employed, whereby raw material characteristics, energy consumption, and process parameters were continuously monitored using a telemetry system. The system transmitted data to a Telegram bot in JSON format, which was subsequently exported to a tabular format and analyzed utilizing MATLAB. Graphs illustrating moisture loss dynamics and other key indicators facilitated an assessment of the system's energy efficiency. Analysis of the specific efficiency allows optimization of the drying regime. The study confirmed the operability of the prototype and the efficacy of the developed methodology. The proposed data acquisition system is suitable for testing similar installations, while the obtained performance indicators can be utilized for benchmarking dehydration methods and calculating technical and economic parameters.

Introduction. Within the framework of the national project for accelerated livestock development, the modernization of feed preparation enterprises is becoming critically important. Improving feed quality and nutritional balance directly in-creases livestock productivity and mitigates human health risks. However, grain, animal, and mineral raw materials are highly susceptible to severe microbial spoilage, with molds posing a particular hazard due to their mycotoxins, which drastically reduce nutritional value. Combined convective-microwave treatment of grain and mineral raw materials ensures intensive starch dextrinization, 100% product decontamination, and a two-fold reduction in energy consumption. The objective of this study is to determine the rational combination of convective (up to 60 °C) and microwave heating (up to 95–105 °C) parameters within a technological module to ensure high-intensity thermal treatment of compound feed ingredients.

Materials and Methods. Hydrothermal treatment of grain is a complex heat and mass transfer process, wherein moisture migrates both within the material and from its surface into the environment, predominantly as a vapor-liquid mixture. During high-intensity thermal processing (e.g., infrared heating), rapid moisture evaporation occurs inside the grain, leading to a rise in vapor pressure and the generation of overpressure that disrupts the grain structure, causing its softening and puffing. This process is divided into two distinct periods: 1) heating up to 95–105 °C (the onset of vaporization); 2) heating above this temperature range, during which the primary qualitative transformations occur, including the elimination of microflora. For the first period, convective heating is proposed due to its simplicity and energy efficiency; for the second period, microwave heating is implemented to provide rapid, uniform heating and a sharp increase in vapor pressure. The overall efficiency of the combined treatment depends heavily on the integration of the process operating parameters.

Research Results. In laboratory studies, the convective heating of winter wheat grain and seashell flour was investigated. The temperature profiles of both stationary and moving beds were plotted as a function of processing duration. It was established that as the throughput increases, the discharge temperature of the materials decreases: for the grain (95–105 °C), the optimal throughput is 300–500 kg/h, whereas for the seashell flour (60–80 °C), it exceeds 650 kg/h. Furthermore, a correlation was identified between the throughput, specific energy consumption, and the clearance gap between the metering roller and the cutoff plate. Increasing this gap up to 4.5 mm reduces energy consumption by a factor of 2.0 to 3.5. These findings were subsequently applied to refine the engineering design documentation of the combined treatment technological module (convective + microwave heating) with a capacity of up to 400 kg/h.

Discussion and Conclusion. In the course of this research, the functional dependencies and the boundaries of design and technological parameters for preliminary convective heating during the processing of compound feed ingredients were determined. Based on these findings, the engineering design documentation was refined for the combined (convective and microwave) treatment module with a capacity of up to 400 kg/h.

Introduction. The combined impact of anthropogenic and climatic stressors has brought the urban forest ecosystems of Donbass to a critical state. The region’s intensive industrial development and global climate shifts lead to physiological disturbances in woody plants, manifesting as reduced viability and productivity. Donbass is characterised by high levels of atmospheric pollution, soil degradation, and climate change. These factors exacerbate the vulnerability of tree stands already weakened by anthropogenic pressure, leading to premature dieback and a decline in their environmental functions. The aim of the study is to assess the ecological and biological condition of woody plants in Donetsk under conditions of anthropogenic impact and a changing climate.

Materials and Methods. The research was carried out in the central part of Donetsk, focusing on woody plants growing along busy highways. The study objects included Tilia cordata Mill., Acer platanoides L., Acer pseudoplatanus L., Acer saccharinum L., Acer saccharum Marshall, Populus nigra L., Populus bolleana Lauche, Populus simonii Carrière, Robinia pseudoacacia L., Fraxinus excelsior L., Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall, Betula pendula Roth., Ulmus laevis Pall., Ulmus pumila L., Ulmus glabra Huds., Syringa vulgaris L., and Sorbus intermedia (Ehrh.) Pers. Viability was assessed using V. A. Alekseev’s scale, and forest inventory and biophysical studies were also conducted. The photosynthetic apparatus was examined with a Hexagon-imaging-PAM fluorimeter, with fluorescence parameters being recorded.

Research Results. The results demonstrate the critical condition of tree stands in Donetsk under the combined influence of anthropogenic and climatic stressors. Trunk damage, frost cracks, and impaired photosynthetic activity were identified — these indicators point to a reduction in the trees’ stability and viability. Of particular concern is the trend towards a significant proportion of the stands transitioning into a hazardous condition.

Discussion and Conclusion. The reduced stability and viability of the trees threaten the ecological and environmental-forming functions of urban forest ecosystems. The data obtained are of considerable theoretical and practical significance for understanding the mechanisms of adaptation and degradation of woody plants in an anthropogenically altered environment. The prospects for the research include developing recommendations for selecting resistant species and varieties, optimising maintenance regimes, and establishing new plantings capable of withstanding the combined impact of stress factors under a changing climate.

Introduction. The quality of dairy products is determined by the cumulative effect of energy parameters and temporal factors within the cooling process. Immediately after milking, prompt reduction of raw material temperature is required, followed by maintaining the specified thermal regime until the transportation or processing stage. Existing energy calculation methodologies applied to milk storage tanks fail to provide a comprehensive framework; it is essential to account for the passive thermal reserve, which is conditioned by the finite heat capacity of both the product and the containment structures, as well as the development kinetics of psychrotrophic microflora. Research indicates that the pre-cooling duration and the transition rate through the high-temperature zone critically influence product quality. Consequently, the evaluation criterion must be dynamic and based on sensor data. The objective of this study is to develop an energytechnological criterion that integrates thermal, microbiological, and electrical reserves to facilitate operational decisionmaking during power supply interruptions.

Materials and Methods. An energy-technological criterion has been proposed to evaluate the time reserve during power supply interruptions in a milk storage tank. The criterion incorporates three distinct components: a thermal reserve (con-ditioned by the thermal inertia of both the product heating and the containment structures); a microbiological reserve (determined by the dynamics of microflora growth, accounting for the initial bacterial load); and an electrical reserve (dependent on the capacity of the backup power source and the critical load level). The resulting composite indicator is compared with the forecasted power restoration time: if the forecasted duration exceeds the calculated reserve, emergency response actions are required. Model parameterization involves local identification of the tank’s thermal characteristics and calibration of microbiological dependencies based on empirical data.

Research results. An analysis of the temperature margin's sensitivity to key parameters was conducted; the dominant influence of the initial and limiting temperatures was established, driven by the narrow process window. The feasibility of reducing requirements for the thermal storage unit by increasing the passive thermal margin was demonstrated. Taking measurement uncertainty into account, a safety margin based on statistical estimation has been proposed. A dimensionless criterion has been developed to rank process risk zones and formulate an algorithm for management decisions. Model verification involves phased experimental measurements of thermal, electrical, and microbiological parameters, followed by an assessment of predictive accuracy.

Discussion and conclusion. The criterion integrates energy and process parameters, providing a transparent assessment of the reserve capacity. Priority measures depend on the limiting factor — whether thermal, microbiological, or electrical. The metric serves as a predictive indicator between laboratory analyses and is applicable to the multi-criteria optimization of costs and risks. Increasing model complexity is justified only if it reduces errors on independent data; otherwise, a simple, conservative model is preferable.