Maya Ignatova

• PhD
• Institute of Animal Science, Kostinbrod

The purpose of the experiment was to determine the effect of the addition of dried ground whole leaves of the herb Salvia officinalis L in the feed for fattening rabbits, on the productive parameters, some blood indicators and carcass characteristics. The inclusion of ground dry leaves of the herb sage in feed for fattening rabbits has a positive e...

The research aimed to investigate the economic aspects of rearing male layer-type chickens to produce meat, so as to determine the production cost and propose a selling price for the products obtained. The experiment was conducted at the Institute of Animal Science - Kostinbrod, Bulgaria, using Lohmann Brown Classic cockerels. A total of 800 chicke...

Yanchev, I., Metodiev, N., Moneva, P. & Ignatova, M. (2023). Differences in some biochemical Animal Husbandry, 60(6), 10-18. The aim of the present study was to estimate the values of some biochemical parameters-ALT, AST, ALP, Fe and glucose of two Karakachan sheep herds-IAS-Kostinbrod (I.) and Milanovo (M.), reared at different altitudes (740 and...

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study is to evaluate the values of some blood parameters - erythrocyte count (RBC), hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular volume of the erythrocytes (MCV) and eosinophil leukocyte count (EOS) of four herds of sheep fro...

Yanchev, I., Metodiev, N., Moneva, P. & Ignatova, M. (2023). Effect of altitude on some hematological parameters in two Bulgarian local sheep breeds depending also on their body condition score. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 29(4), 740-746 The aim of the present study was to estimate the values of some blood parameters-red blood cells (RBC) count, hematocr...

The aim of present work was to study the genetic variation of MC4R gene, associated with meat production and body weight in New Zealand White (NZW) and Californian (CA) rabbit breeds. Blood samples were collected from v. saphena of 60 animals (50 does and 10 bucks) from the experimental flocks raised in rabbit farm part of Institute of Animal Scien...

The aim of the present study is to estimate the values of some blood parameters − RBC, HCT, HGB, MCHC, MCH, MCV and EOS of two Karakachan sheep breed herds, reared at different altitudes (740 and 1150 m above sea level), depending on their body condition score (BSC) and the presence of parasites. The research was carried out in the experimental bas...

Abstract Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15/FecX) gene is one of the candidate genes for the reproduction in farm animals, especially sheep. The present study aimed to detect the genetic polymorphism in three different regions of BMP15 gene in sheep from the Bulgarian Dairy Synthetic Population (BDSP) using PCR-RFLP technique. For the purpose of...

An experiment with male layer-type chickens of the Lohmann Brown Classic breed was carried out at the Institute of Animal Science-Kostinbrod, Bulgaria, aiming to investigate the effect of age at slaughter on the meat quality. The birds were reared in a controlled microclimate, with an initial stocking density of 22 birds/m². At five weeks of age, f...

An experiment with male layer-type chickens was carried out in the Institute of Animal Science-Kostinbrod, aiming to investigate their growth performance and carcass composition, as well as the cooking loss and tenderness of the meat at the age of 5 and 9 weeks. The birds were reared in controlled microclimate, with initial stocking density of 22 b...

The aim of present study was to investigate polymorphism of ABCG2 (ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 2) gene and its effect on litter size and milk production. The experiment included 30 ewes of Synthetic Population Bulgarian Milk (SPBM) breed from Institute of Animal Science-Kostinbrod. For genotyping of ABCG2 locus it was used only PCR amp...

Rabbit breeding is a branch of animal husbandry, that provides high-quality and dieted meat. In Bulgaria, this sector is slightly developed, regardless of the growing interest in it. Rabbits have excellent biological abilities-early maturity, high growth intensity, high fertility, and good feed absorption. Rabbit meat has excellent taste qualities,...

The aim of the study was to develop a dual-purpose cross suitable for rearing in alternative systems and to examine its growth performance and carcass composition in comparison to the parent lines. The experiment was carried out in the experimental poultry farm in the Institute of Animal Science - Kostinbrod. The cross was developed using females o...

diets on growth performance. 30 rabbits from New Zeeland breed, on 55 days of age (±2) were randomly allocated to three experimental groups for 47 days (until reach 2100g of body weight). The experimental design consisted of three dietary treatments: 1) control group received standard compound feed-unsupplemented; 2) the first experimental group (M...

A mutation in the ovine ABCG2 gene could influence the fat content and milk yield in sheep. The aim of this study was to identify a 35-bp deletion/insertion in intron 5 of the ABCG2 gene in two herds of the Bulgarian Dairy Synthetic Population (BDSP) breed. The first population was raised in the Agricultural Institute in Shumen and included 116 ewe...

Male layer-type chickens are usually killed immediately after hatching. Despite the ethical debates and the sharp criticism against this practice, it is still widely applied. One of the possible alternatives for the culling of layer cockerels might be their use for meat production. Except for a small market niche, meat from male layer-type chickens...

Milk is a product with highly dynamic characteristics. Its composition varies according to the breed, lactation period, nutrition, health status of the animal, as well as the conditions of milking and storage. Investigation of genetic potential and productive traits of farm animals is essential for every producer. The phenotypic characteristics of...

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of the inclusion of 5% partially defatted or full fat meal made of black soldier fly larvae (BSF) as replacement of the soybean meal in the diet of laying hens on their performance and hatchability of the eggs. The trial was carried out with 150 Lohmann Brown Classic layers at 54 weeks of age, mixed wi...

Sheep breeding is one of the branches of agriculture in which increasing the productive traits of animals is essentialt. The genetic progress obtained through the conventional breeding technique is significant, but it could have a greater and faster effect with the use of new molecular based technologies to improve the desired productive qualities...

Ivanova, T., Stoikova-Grigorova, R., Bozhilova-Sakova, M., Ignatova, M., Dimitrova, I. & Koutev, V.(2021). Phenotypic and genetic characteristics of fecundity in sheep. A review. Bulg. J. Agri. Sci., 27 (5), 1002-1008 The phenotypic characteristics of animals are result of the complex interaction of a number of genetic and non-genetic factors, whic...

Aim. The purpose of this work was to study polymorphism of FABP3 (heart-type fatty acid binding protein) gene and its effect on litter size and milk production. The experiment included 30 ewes of Synthetic Population Bulgarian Milk breed from Institute of Animal Science-Kostinbrod. Methods. By PCR-RFLP method with endonucle-ase BseDI in SNP3 of FAB...

The BMPR-1B/FecB or Booroola gene is the first major fecundity gene identified in sheep. The present investigation was carried out to study polymorphism by PCR-RFLP of FecB gene in 30 ewes belonging to the Northeast Bulgarian Merino sheep breed. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood. PCR amplification of FecB gene revealed fragments with lengt...

GDF9 (growth differentiating factor 9) gene is a candidate marker affect-ing prolificacy. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic variabilityin locus SNP G1 of the GDF9 gene in three merino (Ascanian, Caucasian andKarnobat) sheep breeds in Bulgaria. A total of 90 ewes, 30 of each breed wereinvestigated for polymorphisms in SNP G1 of th...

The purpose of the present work was to identify allelic variants of ovine FecB gene in three fine fleece sheep breeds in Bulgaria-Askanian, Caucasian and Karnobat Merino. Blood samples were collected from 30 animals of each breed (total of 90 samples). Genomic DNA was extracted using commercial kit for DNA purification from whole blood. After PCR a...

The aim of the work was to assess the effect of dietary inclusion of meals derived from black soldier fly (BSF) larvae on the performance and carcass composition in broilers. The trial was carried out with Ross 308 broilers divided in three groups according to the formulated diets: control, receiving standard diet, DFBSFM (receiving 5% partially de...

The aim of present work was genotyping and identifying the allelic variants of ovine BMPR-1B/FecB gene in three local Bulgarian sheep breeds – Breznik, Karakachan and Cooper-Red Shumen. Blood samples were collected from 30 animals of each breed (total of 90 samples). Genomic DNA was extracted using commercial kit for manual DNA purification from wh...

The experiment aimed to assess the effect of dietary inclusion of meals derived from Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae on the meat quality in broilers. The birds were divided into three groups according to the formulated diets: control (CON)– receiving standard diet, Т1 – receiving 5% partially defatted and Т2 – receiving 5% full fat BSF meal during t...

The study aimed to compare and assess some of the quality characteristics (morphology, colour of the yolk, total carotenoid content and fatty acid profile) of eggs obtained from hens reared conventionally or in alternative system having access to pasture. Twenty eggs of each rearing system were analysed for the above characteristics. The eggs obtai...

(An experiment with two groups of East Balkan pigs – castrated males (n=10) and females (n=10), was carried out to study the growth performance and fattening abilities of the animals from the weaning until slaughter. The pigs were included in the trial at 60 day age. The average live weight of the castrated males was 8. 65±1.08 kg and for the femal...

FABP3 (heart-type fatty acid binding protein) gene is a candidate marker that influences milk fat content and marbling of meat. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic variability located in SNP3 of the FABP3 gene in three merino (Ascanian, Caucasian and Karnobat) and two local (Cooper-Red Shumen and Karakachanian) sheep breeds. A tota...

The study was carried out to compare the carcass quality and the chemicalcomposition of breast and thigh meat in two lines of slow-growing male chickens -La Belle (LB) and Bresse Gauloise (BB) reared conventionally or outdoors, havingaccess to pasture. The birds were slaughtered at 12 weeks of age. Two-wayANOVA was used to assess the effect of the...

The present study was conducted in order to investigate and identify the polymorphism in ABCG2 gene which is associated with milk production in three breeds, raised in Bulgaria. Blood samples were taken from 96 animals of Askanian Merino, Caucasian Merino and Karnobat Merino sheep breeds. Genomic DNA was extracted, and genotypes were estimated by m...

The study was carried out to compare the carcass quality, meat chemical composition and its fatty acid profile in two slow-growing crosses obtained from La Belle (LB) and Bresse Gauloise (BB) parents, reared in conventional or alternative system with pasture access. At the age 12 weeks, male chickens (n=6) of each cross were slaughtered. Two-way AN...

Молочное скотоводство является традиционной отраслью и остается одной из основных в сельском хозяйстве Болгарии. Целью наших исследований явилось динамика изменения в молочном скотоводстве с 2007 по 2018 гг., включая: общее производство молока, число крупного рогато скота, число молочных коров, процент контролируемых коров. В задачу наших исследова...

The study was carried out to compare the fatty acid profile and related lipid nutritional indices in the breast and thigh meat of two slow-growing lines of chickens La Belle (LB) and Bresse Gauloise (BB) and their crosses (♂LBx♀BB, ♂BBx♀LB). The birds were reared indoors in the experimental poultry farm of the Institute of Animal Science –Kostinbro...

The study was carried out to compare the fatty acid composition of the breast meat in two lines of slow growing chickens - La Belle (LB) and Bresse (BB), reared conventionally or having access to pasture. The differences in the lipid profile due to the lines and rearing strategies were assessed through two-way ANOVA. Both factors influenced the lip...

The purpose of this experiment was to establish the effect of the lower and the higher level of the studied extract VemoHerb (VH), compared to the level of 150 g/t, which was used in the other experiments. In connection to this, an experiment was conducted with a total number of 24 grower pigs, divided into four groups – Group I (control), Group II...

The aim of the present study was to establish the effect of salt-free - salt diet (SFSD) on the size of antral follicles during salt consumption, the duration of controlled breeding campaign and the fertilities of ewes from the Ile de France breed. Тhe experiment was carried out with 57 ewes, which were divided into 3 groups (19 ewes in each) depen...

During the resent years zootechnical science and practice have paid attention on the preservation, management, and rational use of genetic resources in farm animals. Currently genetic resources conservation and their effective use are the major factor for sustainable development of mankind. The aim of this study is to present the status and opportu...

The aim of the study was to investigate the possibilities to use the results of the full dissection of skinned pig carcasses for development of methods for evaluation of meat productivity. The information about the composition of the left half carcasses of a total of 70 pigs (♀Youna x ♂Pietrain) was used in this study. The animals were reared in th...

The aim of this research was to investigate the possibilities to use some linear and weight carcass measurements to develop methods for assessment of meat productivity in skinned pigs. The information about the composition of the left half carcasses of a total of 70 pigs (♀Youna x ♂Pietrain) was used in this study. The animals were reared in the ex...

The fatty acid profile and the related indices of the nutritional quality of breast and thigh muscles were studied in two lines of chickens – La Belle (LB) and White Plymouth Rock (WPR) – slaughtered at the age of 9 and 18 weeks. The fatty acid profile was more affected by the age than the line of the birds; however, the influence of both differed...

The aim of the study was to establish the value of some parameters for determination of the composition of carcass as well as the correlation between them in skinned pigs. In order to determine the slaughter characteristics and the morphological components of the carcass and its individual parts the information about the composition of the left hal...

The aim of the study was to establish the value of some parameters for determination of the composition of carcass as well as the correlation between them in skinned pigs. In order to determine the slaughter characteristics and the morphological components of the carcass and its individual parts the information about the composition of the left hal...

The aim of the study was to establish the value of some parameters for determination of the composition of carcass as well as the correlation between them in skinned pigs. In order to determine the slaughter characteristics and the morphological components of the carcass and its individual parts the information about the composition of the left hal...

The aim of our study was to assess the dynamics of the characteristics in pig carcasses as affected by the season and year of slaughter. A total of 106 027 carcasses of growing-finishing pigs of commercial production, slaughtered in the same abattoir in 2014 and 2015 were included in the study. The carcasses were classified using UltraFOM 200 devic...

MARINOVA, P., M. IGNATOVA, J. NAKEV, T. POPOVA and M. TODOROVA, 2015. Carcass composition and physicochemical characteristics of m. Longissimus dorsi and m. Semimembranosus in pigs crosses of Youna and Pietrain. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 21: 1272–1277 The study was carried out with 47 male castrated and female pigs, crosses of Youna and Pietrain. The a...

MARINOVA, P., M. IGNATOVA, J. NAKEV, T. POPOVA and M. TODOROVA, 2015. Carcass composition and physicochemical characteristics of m. Longissimus dorsi and m. Semimembranosus in pigs crosses of Youna and Pietrain. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 21: 1272–1277 The study was carried out with 47 male castrated and female pigs, crosses of Youna and Pietrain. The a...

Porcine stress syndrome is genetically determined and it is due to a mutation in the locus of the ryanodine receptor gene. When the pigs are stressed the Malignant hyperthermiain is activated in the homozygous for the recessive allele, known as PSS syndrome. Animals with this syndrome is characterized by a high content of muscle tissue, which is ac...

In order to test the effect of probiotic Lactina experiment is held with calves of Simmental breed in suckling period. It is established final live weight (with 5.6%) and average daily gain in calves receiving the probiotic, the values are more pronounced until the 30th day of the experiment. There is also a higher consumption (with 4.6%) expense o...

Royal jelly is a highly active natural biological substance secreted from the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of young worker honeybees (Apis mellifera). The main quality parameters of royal jelly composition are water, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, ash, pH and acidity. The aim of this study is to compare physico...

Royal jelly (RJ) is commonly consumed for its nutritional properties and it has been widely used in commercial medical products, health foods and cosmetics in many countries. Because of the high price of this product, sometimes RJ can be adulterated by adding other less expensive products, like drone brood (DB). Proper identification of both import...

The experiment was carried out with male birds belonging to the three genotypes (100/group): fast-growing stock crossbreed Cobb (Cobb); slow-growing synthetic population line " RB " (RB) and male-chickens layer-type crossbreed Lohmann-Brown Classic (LBC). Birds were intensively reared and fed " ad libitum " , a diet containing 3,050 kcal/kg energy...

Bee pollen is promoted as a healthy food with a wide range of nutritional and therapeutic properties. The objective of the present study is to determine the chemical composition of multifloral bee pollen produced in Bulgaria. The study was carried out totally on fourteen bee pollen samples. The following parameters were determined: Moisture content...

GUDEV, D., S. POPOVA-RALCHEVA, P. MONEVA AND M. IGNATOVA, 2012. Peripheral blood leucocytes distribution and adrenal function in growing pigs, fed Lactina supplemented diet. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci, 18: 112-116 The objective of this study was to evaluate adrenal status, peripheral blood leucocytes distribution and activity of the enzymes (AST) and (ALT...

An analysis of the Bulgarian livestock development for the period 1990-2010 was made. The major conclusions were as follow: Bulgarian animal husbandry collapsed during the period 1990 -2000. After the entry of Bulgaria into the EU there was a trend towards revival. The way out of this crisis depends on an active intervention of the country; Grants...

GUDEV, D., S. POPOVA-RALCHEVA, I. YANCHEV, P. MONEVA, E. PETKOV and M. IGNATOVA, 2011. Effect of betaine on egg performance and some blood constituents in laying hens reared indoor un-der natural summer temperatures and varying levels of air ammonia .Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 17: 859-866 A research was initiated to determine the effect of supplemental...

A study was carried out with 10 male lambs of Bulgarian dairy synthetic population. The animals were divided in two groups-control and experimental as the diet of the latter was supplemented with coconut oil in amount 20g/d per animal for a period of 90 days. After finishing the experiment, complete slaughter analysis was done on the half carcasses...

The objective of this experiment was to study the effect of lecithin addition to the diets on the performance and blood cholesterol in weaned pigs. Sixteen weaned pigs cross-breed Youna half male and half female (initial body weight 13.15 ± 0.05 kg) with two replicates were randomly allocated to two experimental groups for three weeks. The experime...

Application of probiotic Enterosan on calves-sucklings contributes to improving physiological state, biochemicall profile of blood serum and non-specific resistance. Statistical values of serum globulins, urea and creatinine levels were recorded in probiotic- treated calves. Supplementation with probiotic caused not significant reduction of total c...

Twenty four pregnant Danube white sows were allocated to 4 groups. All animals were fed basal diet formulated to meet their nutrient requirements. In addition to the basal diet, the sows from the II group were given the probiotic "Lactina" (500 g/ton) from the 5 day of pregnancy until the weaning of their offspring (35 days of age ) and their pigle...

A research on establishing the effect of the supplement of the "Enterosan" probotic on calves from the "Simental" breed has been done. The doses and the scheme of applying are a recommendation of the producer (Higher institute of food and flavour Industries - Plovdiv). It has been established that the supplement of Enterosan after wean does not aff...

An experiment was carried out for determination of the effect of the probiotic Enterosan and the organic chrome-containing preparation Cromisan on the live weight, forage utilization and forage consumption of male calves of the Bulgarian Simmental breed during the suckling period. The calves were distributed in three groups (6 calves per group) - c...

The study was designed to investigate the effect of chromium picolinate given during the milk period on blood metabolites in calves, measured immediately after weaning. Experimental calves (3 males + 2 females) were fed the control diet supplemented with chromium as Cr-picolinate (Hankintatukku Oy Finland) on d 10 (150 µg), d 30 (250 µg) and d 60 (...

TYUFEKCHIEV, K., P. MARINOVA, M. IGNATOVA, I. KITANOV and T. POPOVA, 2005. Influence of the nutritional additive OVOCAP in pheasants. II. Physicochemical composition of m. Pectoralis and m. Biceps femoris. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci.,11: 595-601 The study was carried out with 40 pheasants (20 males and 20 females) in order to study the effect of the nutr...

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of the nutritional additive OVOCAP on the live weight, feed consumption and carcass characteristics in pheasants. Forty birds - twenty males and twenty females at the age of 7 months were used in the study. They were divided in three groups - one control and two experimental, each containing equal...

The 45d experiment was conducted to study the effect of aroma supplementation to the diets on growth performance, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics of fattening New Zealand White rabbits. There were two treatment groups: one without a supplement and the other with 0.03% aroma TIMIKO. The body weight gain, feed intake and utilization, and...

In sacco protein degradability of wheat bran, sunflower meal, soybean meal and fish meal in wethers was: 0.87; 0.57; 0.58 and 0.36. One kg DM of the indicated forages contains: 0.96; 1.11; 1.23 and 1.21 FUM; 0.96; 1.10; 1.29 and 1.24 FUG; 191,572,484 and 667 g CP; 89, 268, 264 and 418 g PDI and 67, 209, 149 and 142 g BPR.

In sacco protein degradability of grain feeds (barley, oats, triticale, broa beans and peas) in wethers was: 0.88; 0.84; 0.69; 0.77 and 0.95. One kg DM ofthe indicated forages contains: 1.31; 1.15; 1.42; 1.31 and 1.1 FUM; 1.45; 1.19; 1.57; 1.45 and 1.25 FUG; 131, 138, 151,284 and 270 g CP; 9' 66, 102, 128 and 71 g PDI and -20, 13, -25, 72 and 113 g...

The experiment was carried out with two groups lambs. The experimental group was given diet with supplement of lg/day/animal BioPro-I. It was examined the influence of the addition on lambs live weight, average daily gain, nutrient intake and food utilization. There were not any differences between groups in food and nutrient intakes. It was found...

In sacco protein degradability of Pea spring - „Full budding“, „Full bloom“ and „Pod formation“, Pea winter - „Full bloom“ and dehydrated alfalfa - „Full bloom“ in wethers was: 0.96; 0.94; 0.88; 0.93 and 0.44. One kg DM of the indicated forages contains: 0.90; 0.81; 0.78; 0.81 and 0.67 FUM, 0.88; 0.77; 0.69; 0.77 and 0.60 FUG, 267, 228, 132, 205 an...

Aiming to find new fodder resources for different animal species and categories and their profitable use, for twc successive years samples of waste products from the production of traditional cultures were collected and analyzec - peanut hay and pods gained from peanut production, anc bean and peas straw and pods gained from beans and pea productio...

MARINOVA, P., T. POPOVA, V. BANSKALIEVA, E. RAICHEVA, M. IGNATOVA and V. VASILEVA, 2007. Effect of fish oil supplemented diet on the performance, carcass composition and quality in lambs. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 13: 729-737 Two groups of 7 animals (age 75 days ) each of local Zapadnostaroplaninska sheep breed were fed for 28 days controlled iso-nitro...

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation on the performance and some blood constituents in chickens. The probiotic contained Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains. Two hundred one-day-old male chickens were allocated in two experimental groups for seven weeks: control group (unsupplemented diet) and...