EU ACCESSION DIRECT PAYMENT ISSUE AND FARM INCOMES IN SLOVENIA
a), Stane
KAVČIČ, Miroslav REDNAK and Tina VOLK
a) Univ. of
Ljubljana, Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale,
Slovenia, Assoc. Prof., Ph.D.
Original scientific article
Language: English
ABSTRACT
In this article estimation of gross value added (GVA) applying extended economic
account for agriculture (EAA) model and partial equilibrium APAS-PAM model has
been carried out to emphasize the importance of direct payments for farm incomes
in Slovenia after its EU accession. Scenario analysis for hypothetic accession
year 2004 with different levels of direct payments' complementing from national
budget has been applied. Model results have been compared with agricultural
income in 2000 as representative pre-accession year. Results for 2004 depend on
accession scenario but show the same trends regardless the model applied.
Adopting EU position of complementing direct payments up to year 2001 level
significant aggravation of farm incomes at aggregate level could be expected –
according to EAA results for about 15 % and in accordance with APAS-PAM forecast
even more than a quarter due to negative production effects, imposed by
depressed price level. Complementing direct payments from national budget up to
the level eligible by current Member states would not result in marked
improvement of agricultural income. GVA estimates depend on the outcome of
accession negotiations regarding production quotas and reference quantities.
Nevertheless, adopting current position of EU would result in stagnation of
activities with relative high price level in pre-accession period (pork,
poultry) and improvement position of activities which receive greater support
under CAP and which economic position was extremely unfavourable in the
pre-accession period (beef, coarse grains). 100 % level of direct payments would
drastically change support hierarchy of agricultural commodities in Slovenia,
while the positive and negative effects would be almost balanced out at the
aggregate level.
Key words: agriculture /
policy / economics / direct payments / farm incomes / Slovenia / EU
LABOUR SUPPLY AND EMPLOYMENT DECISIONS ON AGRICULTURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN SLOVENIA*
a)
a) Univ. of
Ljubljana, Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale,
Slovenia, asist., Ph.D., M.Sc.
Original scientific article
Language: Slovene
ABSTRACT
The paper attempts to quantify determinants influencing labour allocation
decisions on agricultural households in Slovenia by application of an
agricultural household model. The analysis investigates employment decisions of
farm holders and their spouses, using the Census of Agriculture 2000 dataset.
Results reveal that bulk of the farm labour input is performed by the work on a
part-time basis, or by the work of household members surpassing active
employment age. Employment decisions of the reference persons are most
frequently linked with off-farm employment. Limited production capacities of
farm holdings allow for full-time employment of one person at the most, on-farm
employment being usually attributed to the farm holders. Holders’ employment
status is primarily dependent on farm characteristics, own human capital, and
personal preferences. Favourable conditions at the non-farm labour markets
(‘demand-pull’ determinants) tend to increase probability of off-farm
employment. Employment decisions of the partners (and presumably other household
members) are in most cases narrowed to the choice between various alternatives
of off-farm employment. On-farm employment prospects increase with the economic
size of agricultural holding and eventual existence of a supplementary activity
on the farm. The paper concludes by summarising main results and discussing
their policy implications. Discussion confronts various policy objectives linked
with agricultural employment and rural labour markets and calls for more
elaborate set of measures to tackle them.
The article presents a part of the results from dissertation thesis
'Modelling of employment decisions on farm households in Slovenia', carried out
by the author under supervision of assoc. prof. Emil Erjavec, Ph.D.
DEVELOPMENT OF A QUANTITATIVE MOLECULAR METHOD FOR ENUMERATION OF
Salmonella enterica
Marija TRKOV and
a)
a)Univ. of Ljubljana,
Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia,
Assoc.Prof., Ph.D., M.Sc.
Original scientific article
Language: Slovene
ABSTRACT A competitive polymerase chain reaction (c-PCR) was developed
for rapid enumeration of Salmonella enterica cells in broth culture. The
primers MINF and MINR-Hex ensured the methods specificity. An internal DNA
control was prepared by enzymatic restriction and subsequent ligation of the
flanking regions of the amplified 16S rRNA gene of S. Agona (U92197)
strain. The prepared internal control had the same primer specific sequences as
the target DNA but was 27 bp shorter. The c-PCR products were quantified by
capillary electrophoresis and the results were obtained by regression analysis.
Using the described system and 5 × 10–5 times diluted internal
control, a quantification of S. enterica cells in broth culture in the
range between 1.2 × 104 and 6 × 105
per reaction mixture was made possible. The preliminary test showed
that the results of the c-PCR quantification of the salmonella cells in broth
culture are 2.9 times higher in comparison with the results of the indirect
counting method. The authors are still convinced, however, that the method
offers a rapid, specific and sufficiently accurate counting of S. enterica
cells in natural microbiological samples.
16S rRNA ANALYSIS OF BIFIDOBACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM RAT SMALL
INTESTINE *
a), Franc Viktor NEKREP and Gorazd AVGUŠTIN
a)Univ. of Ljubljana,
Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia,
Ph.D., M.Sc.
Original scientific paper
Language: Slovene
ABSTRACT The amplified 16S rRNA genes from 6 isolates of
bifidobacteria from rat small intestine and two isolates of lactobacilli were
directly sequenced. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the determined
sequences and sequences of related genera from DNA databases. All
bifidobacterial isolates belonged to the B. lactis group and formed two
subgroups. The similarity levels between 16S rRNA sequences of isolates ranged
from 91.4 to 95.8 %, showing great genetic variability among isolates. With
similarity levels from 95 to 97 %, the phylogenetic analysis also showed that
sequences of our isolates were closely related to B. pseudolongum. The
results of previous phenotypic and genotypic studies and results obtained from
the phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences form the foundation for further
analysis to confirm that our isolates represent one or more new bifidobacterial
species.
The article is a part of doctoral thesis 'Isolation and
molecular identification of bifidobacteria from small intestine of rats fed
with raw kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)', issued by Lijana
Fanedl, supervisor prof. Franc V. Nekrep, Ph.D., co-advisor assoc. prof.
Gorazd Avguštin, Ph.D.
THE ROLE OF HYPOTHALAMUS IN THE REGULATION OF ENERGY BALANCE AND
MOUSE MODELS OF OBESITY *
a)
and Simon HORVAT
a)Univ. of Ljubljana,
Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia,
M.Sc.
Review article
Language: Slovene
ABSTRACT
Obesity is a complex trait determined by the action of many genetic and
environmental factors. The genetic determinants are genes, involved in the
control of energy balance, nutrient partitioning, lipid metabolism and
behaviour. Central nervous system influences energy balance and body weight.
Hypothalamus is a critical region of the brain for regulation of homeostatic
processes. The sensory inputs are relayed to regulatory sites in the
hypothalamus where the information is integrated and a neuro-humoral response
initiated. Various hormones, neuropeptides and neurotransmitters are involved in
this regulatory loop. The genetic basis of obesity is mostly polygenic. The
development of obesity is controlled by several genomic regions named
quantitative trait loci (QTL). Numerous and diverse rodent models of obesity are
of great importance for understanding the genetics and physiology of obesity.
Several monogenic mouse models have been used successfully to study the effects
of single gene mutations on the development of obesity. On the other hand, mouse
strains developed by long-term divergent selection for obesity-related traits
are very useful models to characterize the complex genetic basis of obesity.
Key words: obesity / energy
balance / central nervous system / hypothalamus / leptin / neuropeptides /
neurotransmitters / monogenic mouse models / polygenic mouse models / mice
____________________
*
Part of this article
originates from M.Sc. thesis 'Screening for differentially expressed genes
in mouse lines differing by an obesity quantitative trait locus', issued by
Uršula Lodge, supervisor ass.prof. Simon Horvat, Ph.D.
CARNIOLAN BEE (Apis mellifera carnica Pollman) POPULATION
DEFINITION AS BASED ON MITOCHONDRIAL DNA *
Peter KOZMUS
a), Simona SUŠNIK, Janez POKLUKAR and Vladimir MEGLIČ
a)Univ. of Ljubljana,
Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia.
Original scientific paper
Language: Slovene
ABSTRACT
According to morphology, the carniolan bee (Apis mellifera carnica
Pollman) is placed in South-Eastern European honey-bee group. All honey-bee
subspecies are with regard to morphology and mtDNA variability divided into
three main phylogenetic lineages. A. m. carnica and C phylogenetic
lineage as a whole, is genetically poorly studied, therefore, carniolan bee has
been characterised on the basis of mtDNA polymorphism. Fifty-six samples from
Slovenia and 55 samples from other countries and selected lines were surveyed.
Variable intergenic region between cytochrome-oxidase I (COI) and
cytochrome-oxidase II (COII) in mtDNA was amplified. Polymorphism search was
based on RFLP profiles and sequence analysis of this region. Five different
haplotypes were determined, four of them being of C phylogenetic lineage origin.
According to the results we can conclude that except in some selected lines, all
populations analysed, including Slovenian ones, were not affected by
introduction of non-native queen honey-bees.
The article is a part of
graduation thesis 'Molecular characterisation of carniolan bee population (Apis
mellifera carnica Pollman) as based on mitochondrial DNA', issued by
Peter Kozmus, supervisor ass.prof. Janez Poklukar, Ph.D., co-advisor Simona
Sušnik, Ph.D.
GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION AMONG ISTRIAN PRAMENKA, BOVŠKA SHEEP AND
JEZERSKO-SOLČAVSKA SHEEP
a), Drago KOMPAN and Peter DOVČ
a)Univ. of Ljubljana,
Biotechnical Fac., Zootechnical Dept., Groblje 3, SI-1230 Domžale, Slovenia.,
Ph.D., M.Sc.
Original scientific paper
Language: Slovene
ABSTRACT
We studied genetic relationship among three Slovenian autochthonous sheep breeds
using microsatellite loci: MAF214, OarCP49, OarFCB11, MAF65, McM42, TGLA53,
McM527 and OarAE119. Genotyping of 95 Istrian pramenka (ISP), 272 Bovška sheep
(B) and 42 Jezersko-Solčavska sheep (JS) revealed in basically the same alleles
in all the breeds. Furthermore, 12 alleles were frequent (> 10 %) in each of the
breeds studied. However, we also detected 16 breed-specific alleles, 8 in ISP, 8
in B and 3 in JS. The correspondence analysis and assignment of individual
genotypes to populations showed that the majority of ISP individuals formed one
separate group, whereas groups of B and JS individuals were not clearly
separated, probably due to many highly similar genotypes in both breeds.
Estimation of genetic distances (pairwise FST values) confirmed
closer relatedness of B and JS (FST = 0.044) than of ISP and B (FST = 0.064)
or ISP and JS (FST = 0.075). About 6 % of the total variation which
can be assigned to genetic differences among breeds (FST value)
suggested that differences among breeds are not very large. We think that these
results are in agreement with the hypothesis about the common origin of BS and
JS in native primitive white sheep and origin of ISP in slightly distant
“Zackel” sheep. However, to clarify the origin of Slovenian sheep breeds,
additional studies of breeds which were probably involved in the origin of JS
(Bergamasca and Padua sheep) and other “Pramenka” breeds should be performed.
ISOLATION OF MICROSATELITE MARKERS BY FIASCO METHOD
Miha LAVRIČ and
a)
a) National Institute of
Biology,Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia, Ph.D.
Preliminary communication
Language: Slovene
ABSTRACT
The FIASCO (Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences Containing Repeats)
method enables relatively fast isolation of microsatellite markers. It is
appropriate for all organisms without regard to how frequent the microsatelite
loci in the genome are. By FIASCO method we isolated microsatelite
markers in the seabram (Pagellus erythrinus). DNA restriction was
performed by MseI endonuclease. Restricted DNA was ligated with adapters
MseIU and MseID. DNA fragments were amplified by PCR using
degenerate primer MseI-N. We determined optimal conditions for PCR.
Amplified DNA fragments were hybridized with biotinilated probe (AC)12.
Probe-DNA complex was captured on magnetic beads coated with streptavidin, and
an enriched fraction with microsatellites was amplified by PCR. Enriched
microsatelite DNA was cloned into plasmid pCR® 2.1-TOPO and further
transformed into Escherichia coli TOP10 cells. Twothousand fourhundred
thirthysix white transformants were obtained and 18 of them were sequenced. We
determined that 88.8 percentage of transformants containing dinucleotide
microsatellite repeats. One tetranucleotide repeat was also found.
