Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: I. Karas Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: R. Gálik Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Contact and non-contact thermometry in the milk acquisition process Abstract: Temperatures of the northern wall, ceiling and floor of a 2 × 12 milking house as well as of a waiting area in front of the milking house were measured for 24 hours a day in the winter season with an average external daily temperature of -8.6°C. The influence of low external temperatures on the temperatures of cows' mammary glands was measured with a non-contact thermometer RAYNGER ST 6 equipped with laser. The analysis showed that the low external temperatures and insufficiently warmed external walls [average 24-hour temperatures: (tst = +1.32°C), ceiling (ts = +2.65°C), floor (tp = +3.29°C)] as well as the waiting area in front of the milking house (td = +1.9°C) produced unsuitable temperature conditions despite of the use of heaters in the milking house, resulting in the undercooling of mammary glands and the traumatising of dairy cows. The temperatures of mammary glands of tested dairy cows were evaluated by a multifactor analysis of variance. The time and place of measuring were statistically significant on the significance level 0.05. The F -test value for the factor of time was 12.342, with probability 0.0007. The F -test value for the place of temperature measuring was 1061.979, probability 0.0000. Among the equations of curves of the dependences of teat end temperature on the milking time, the closest seemed to be the logarithmic function with determination index R2 = 0.7404. Keywords: temperatures, non-contact thermometer, mammary gland, milking house Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 1-7 Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Year: 2004 DOI: 10.17221/4264-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4264-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200401-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:49:y:2004:i:1:id:4264-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Pawlak Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal and Environmental Hygiene, Agricultural University of Krakow, Poland Author-Name: J. Niedzióka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal and Environmental Hygiene, Agricultural University of Krakow, Poland Title: Non-invasive measurement of chick embryo cardiac work Abstract: This study used a non-invasive method of ballistocardiography to investigate cardiac work of chick embryos. In this method, an eggshell with electric charges on it is one capacitor plate, the other being a receiving antenna of the measuring equipment. Chick embryo cardiac work induces micro-movements of the whole egg, resulting in changes in the distances between the plates and thus in the difference of potentials between the shell and the receiving antenna. This is registered by the measuring equipment. The first single signals of cardiac work were registered on day 7 of incubation. Starting from day 9, the signal was recorded from all embryos. During the study, the heart rate decreased from 248 to 161 beats per minute and signal amplitude was found to steadily increase from 6.3 to 432.7 mV/m. Great disturbances in ballistocardiograms were observed on days preceding embryonic deaths. Keywords: ballistocardiography, embryogenesis, avian embryo Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 8-15 Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Year: 2004 DOI: 10.17221/4265-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4265-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200401-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:49:y:2004:i:1:id:4265-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: H. Wierzbicki Author-Workplace-Name: , A. F 1, W. J 2 1Agricultural University, Wroclaw, Poland Author-Name: A. Filistowicz Author-Workplace-Name: , A. F 1, W. J 2 1Agricultural University, Wroclaw, Poland Author-Name: W. Jagusiak Author-Workplace-Name: , A. F 1, W. J 2 1Agricultural University, Wroclaw, Poland Title: Breeding value evaluation in Polish fur animals: Statistical description of fur coat and reproduction traits - relationship and inbreeding Abstract: Three data sets were available: records on conformation and coat traits for the arctic fox from one farm (5 540 observations, collected between 1983 and 1997), and the same traits for the silver fox from three farms (8 199 observations, collected between 1984 and 1999). The third set comprised 5 829 observations on reproductive performance of the arctic fox from one farm, collected between 1984 and 1999. The GLM procedure was used to test the significance of fixed effects on the analysed reproduction traits as well as differences between groups. Phenotypic trends as well as relationship and inbreeding across the studied years were computed. Most of the phenotypic trends were positive. Low relationship and inbreeding coefficients in the arctic and silver fox populations under study were estimated. The average relationship coefficients for the silver and arctic fox populations were 0.015 and 0.010, respectively, whereas the average inbreeding coefficients for the same species were 0.0039 and 0.0016, respectively. No inbreeding was found in the arctic fox breeding females. Keywords: fur animals, fur coat, inbreeding, relationship, reproduction Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 16-27 Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Year: 2004 DOI: 10.17221/4266-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4266-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200401-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:49:y:2004:i:1:id:4266-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Kotrbáček Author-Workplace-Name: , J. D 2, T. O 3 1Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Doucha Author-Workplace-Name: , J. D 2, T. O 3 1Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: T. Offenbartl Author-Workplace-Name: , J. D 2, T. O 3 1Veterinary and Pharmaceutical University, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Use of Chlorella as a carrier of organic-bound iodine in the nutrition of sows Abstract: The effect of supplementation with iodine incorporated into biomass of the unicellular alga Chlorella on the content of this element in colostrum and milk was investigated in sows of the Large White breed. Experiments were conducted in two elite herds with different levels of iodine supply in basal feed mixtures. On farm A the feed mixture contained 1 549 µg I/kg, on farm B it was 228 µg I/kg. Pregnant sows on both farms were divided into control and experimental group a fortnight before parturition. Control group comprised 8 sows on farm A and 6 sows on farm B. As the sows on both farms received feed rations of 3 kg feed per head/day, iodine uptake of control animals was 4 647 µg I per head/day on farm A and 684 µg I per head/day on farm B. In addition to this supply experimental sows, 9 animals on farm A and 6 animals on farm B, received 450 µg per head/day of iodine bound in Chlorella biomass. Total iodine uptake was 5 097 µg per head/day on farm A and 1 134 µg per head/day on farm B. Supplementation also continued in the lactation period when total iodine uptake increased with increasing feed consumption. The supplement of organically bound iodine for experimental sows continued to be 450 µg per head/day. Colostrum samples were taken in both groups on the first two days after parturition while milk samples were taken at the end of the third week of lactation. Iodine concentration in these samples and in feed mixtures was determined spectrophotometrically according to Sandell-Kolthoff's method. Numbers of born and reared piglets, and lactation performance of sows determined by weighing litters on day 21 of piglet life were investigated in individual sows. This litter weight was used to calculate average weight gains of piglets for the period of investigations. The supplementation of Chlorella -bound iodine increased the content of this element in colostrum of experimental sows from 365 ± 81 µg/l to 492 ± 122 µg/l on farm A (p < 0.05) and from 241 ± 70 µg/l to 391 ± 75 µg/l on farm B (p < 0.01). Iodine concentration in milk decreased in all sows, particularly in the animals included in both experimental groups, where it decreased to about half the values detected in colostrum (p < 0.01). Lower iodine content in milk of supplemented sows corresponded with their higher lactation performance. Differences in milk production were obvious mainly on farm B, i.e. in sows with low uptake of dietary iodine. The average lactation performance of supplemented sows on this farm was 61.2 ± 7.95 kg/head while in controls it was 54.9 ± 4.22 kg/head. As the number of experimental animals was low, this difference was below the level of statistical significance. Neither was it possible to prove the higher weight gains of piglets found out in both experimental groups on a significance level. No relationship was established between the number of reared piglets and supplementation of organically bound iodine. It can be concluded from the results that the supplementation of iodine bound in Chlorella biomass increased its concentration in colostrum of sows with both the low and the high dietary uptake of this element, which proved its good utilisation. A possible positive effect of this supplementation on lactation performance of sows and weight gains of piglets should be verified in further experiments. Keywords: iodine intake, colostrum, milk, milk production, growth of piglets Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 28-32 Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Year: 2004 DOI: 10.17221/4267-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4267-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200401-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:49:y:2004:i:1:id:4267-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Tůmová Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Agriculture, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: H. Härtlová Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Agriculture, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Z. Ledvinka Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Agriculture, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Fučíková Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Agriculture, Prague, Czech Republic Title: The effect of digitonin on egg quality, cholesterol content in eggs, biochemical and haematological parameters in laying hens Abstract: The aim of the present study was to describe the effect of digitonin on egg quality, cholesterol content in eggs, some parameters of serum lipid metabolism and blood picture of laying hens. The experiment was split into 3 groups (8 laying hens per group); group 1 was fed control feed mixture with 16.54% crude protein and 11.61 MJ ME, group 2 received control feed mixture with 0.01% digitonin and supplement of digitonin in group 3 was 0.025%. Digitonin in the amount 0.025% significantly (P≤ 0.05) reduced egg weight from 65.07 g in control group to 61.44 g in group 3, white weight (41.21 g vs. 37.96 g), and egg cholesterol content (13.64 mg/g vs. 12.95 mg/g of yolk). Digitonin significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increaced HDL cholesterol (0.43 mmol/l in control group to 0.59 mmol/l in group 3) and triglycerides from 13.47 mmol/l (control) to 16.90 mmol/l (group 3) in blood serum. Significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower number of erythrocytes and MCV value in group 3 were observed. Keywords: digitonin, egg weight, lipid metabolism, egg cholesterol, blood picture Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 33-37 Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Year: 2004 DOI: 10.17221/4268-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4268-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200401-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:49:y:2004:i:1:id:4268-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Pulkrábek Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Pavlík Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Vališ Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Title: Pig carcass quality and pH1 values of meat Abstract: The data on 964 pig carcasses were examined with the objective to determine the relationship between a high carcass lean meat content in currently used pig hybrids and deterioration of the quality traits important for further processing of meat. The average slaughter weight of pigs was equal to 106.2 ± 0.417 kg. Lean meat percentage determined by the FOM instrument with the average value of 54.50 ± 0.139% was used as the main quantitative carcass trait. For the assessment of meat quality, the pH1 value (average 6.15 ± 0.011) was used in the same way as in the system of breeding animals' progeny testing. The relationship between the mentioned traits is characterised by the low correlation coefficient r = -0.13. This result was further confirmed by correlations determined between pH1 and loin, shoulder and ham percentages (r = -0.33, r = -0.13 and r = -0.12, respectively). These relationships are rather surprising as the studies from the beginning and the first phase of realization of hybridisation programmes usually emphasized that the increasing lean meat content in carcass was connected with the higher incidence of negative side effects. Our conclusions are also in agreement with the results of the separate analysis of carcasses with pH1 above 5.8 and equal to or lower than 5.8. The carcasses with pH1 referring to less favourable technological properties of meat showed somewhat higher average values characterising carcass meat content but the differences between the groups were small and insignificant. We were not able to find any relationships between higher meat contents in carcasses and less favourable pH1 values when the carcasses were classified according to meat content. Keywords: pig, final hybrid, lean meat content, technological properties of meat, pH1 Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 38-42 Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Year: 2004 DOI: 10.17221/4269-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4269-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200401-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:49:y:2004:i:1:id:4269-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. I Namin Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Fisheries and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Spurný Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Fisheries and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Fish community structure of the middle course of the Bečva River Abstract: Fish communities of the Bečva River were studied in summer and autumn 2000 and 2001. Electric fishing gear (Honda EX 1000, DC 230 V, 0.75-0.9 kW) was used for sampling. Four sampling sites (Grymov 19.6 r. km, Rybáře 35.8 r. km, Hustopeče 50.7 and Choryně 54.7 r. km) were selected. Total of 23 fish species representing 5 families were determined. The family Cyprinidae with 15 species was dominant while Salmonidae, Balitoridae, Percidae and Gadidae were the other recorded families. Species diversity ranged from 9 at Hustopeče to 20 at Grymov localities. The lowest biomass and abundance were observed at Hustopeče locality (28.93 kg/ha and 336 fishes/ha) and the highest at Choryně locality (612.90 kg/ha and 7 367 fishes/ha). Barbus barbus, Chondrostoma nasus and Leuciscus cephalus contributed 87.73-97.55% and 60.5%-87% to total biomass and abundance in different samplings, respectively. The Chondrostoma nasus population was dominated by fish of total length over 300 mm. We believe that river fragmentation, trapping and blockade of fish are the main reasons for this irregular distribution. Index of diversity ranged from 0.811 to 2.05 and equitability index from 0.449 to 0.821. Physical and chemical parameters were also measured, pH value ranged from 7.8 to 9.8, DO (7.62-12.15 mg/l), conductivity (450-639 µS/cm), N-NH4 (0.65-2.39 mg/l), P-PO4 (0.12-0.68 mg/l)and alkalinity (2.55 to 3.40 mg/l). Keywords: weirs, fish species, Bečva river, Czech Republic Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 43-50 Volume: 49 Issue: 1 Year: 2004 DOI: 10.17221/4270-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/4270-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200401-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:49:y:2004:i:1:id:4270-CJAS