Department "Specialized Branches"
Head: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ralitsa Balkanska

DIRECTION "POULTRY FARMING"

Maintenance and selection of the base populations from the national gene pool and development of optimal crossing schemes between them. The aim is to produce commercial hybrid broiler and laying chickens intended for household farming.
Research on the morphological qualities of commercial and breeding eggs.
Development of criteria for evaluating breeding roosters based on spermogram characteristics and certain exterior traits depending on age and genotype.
Testing the effect of various additives on growth performance and productive and reproductive traits of the available base populations and combinations.
Research on the issue of underutilization of male chicks from laying lines and the search for new feed components rich in easily digestible protein and fats suitable for inclusion in poultry feed.

Testing technologies for beekeeping in different hive systems – Dadant-Blatt, Langstroth-Ruth (multi-body) hives, and hives made of artificial materials.
Biological and economic evaluation of various beekeeping technologies. Development of breeding programs for conservation and raising of local bee ecotypes.
Development of technologies for producing purebred and hybrid queen bees with enhanced productivity and other valuable qualities.
Development of methods for improving quality control of bee products (honey, wax, royal jelly, pollen, propolis) and methods for evaluating the ecological purity of bee products – residual quantities of antibiotics, sulfonamides, heavy metals, acaricides, etc.
Development of standardization documents for different bee products in accordance with EU requirements. Introduction of new systems for the production of organic bee products.
Research in bee pathology (diagnostics, prevention, treatment), beekeeping technologies, and testing of feeding and stimulating preparations.

Development of breeding programs for raising and selection of different rabbit breeds bred in Bulgaria.
Development of technologies for industrial rabbit farming. Assessment of indoor microclimate for different rabbit categories.
Testing different feeding systems for various rabbit breeds and categories. Study of different feed additives in rabbit nutrition.
Study of reproductive indicators and different stimulation methods in various rabbit breeds.
Research in molecular and classical genetics, focusing on molecular methods in rabbit breeding, selection, breeding programs, and the application of automation in rabbit farming.

Research related to breed formation and improvement of horse breeds. Studies on genealogy, structure, biological, and economic traits of horses from the Eastern Bulgarian, Pleven, Danubian, Thoroughbred English, Trakehner, Haflinger, and other breeds.
Studies on the introduction and acclimatization of different foreign horse breeds in the country. Scientific research on phenotypic and genetic diversity and inheritance of breeding traits.
Development of systems for preserving horse breeds existing in the country.
A "System for Comprehensive Evaluation of Breeding Horses of Breeds Raised in Bulgaria" has been developed and implemented in practice.