Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Strapák Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: J. Candrák Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: J. Aumann Author-Workplace-Name: AI Station, Neustadt Aisch, Germany Title: Relationship between longevity and selected production, reproduction and type traits Abstract: The correlations between longevity, functional longevity, stayability and selected milk, reproductive and type traits were estimated; it was done on the basis of estimated breeding values for longevity, functional longevity, dairy traits, reproductive traits and stayability rates at the age of 60, 72, 84, and 96 months. The correlation between breeding values for longevity and functional longevity was 0.69. The correlations between longevity and stayability at 60, 72, 84, and 96 months of age were around 0.75 (from 0.73 to 0.76) whereas the correlation with stayability at 48 months was considerably lower (0.64). The breeding values for dairy traits showed a positive relationship with longevity (from 0.37 to 0.46) and a slightly negative correlation with breeding values for functional longevity (from -0.10 to -0.20). A low relationship was found between longevity and reproductive traits. Between the type traits and longevity traits only the conformation score for the form (0.18) and for the udder showed a positive correlation (0.24). The correlation between the form and functional longevity remained approximately on the same level whereas the correlation with the main udder score decreased to 0.08, which indicated a positive relationship between milk traits and udder scores. Keywords: cattle, longevity, functional longevity, milk traits, reproduction traits, type trakte Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 1-6 Volume: 50 Issue: 1 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/3989-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3989-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200501-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:50:y:2005:i:1:id:3989-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Zavadilová Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production in Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: E. Němcová Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production in Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Přibyl Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production in Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Wolf Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production in Prague, Czech Republic Title: Definition of subgroups for fixed regression in the test-day animal model for milk production ofHolsteincattle in theCzech Republic Abstract: The investigation was based on roughly 3.9, 2.7 and 1.7 million test-day records from first, second and third lactation, respectively, sampled from 596 200 Czech Holstein cows between the years 1991 and 2002. Breeding values were estimated from multi-lactation random-regression test-day models which contained the fixed effect of herd-test day, fixed regression on days in milk and random regressions on the animal level and the permanent environmental effect. Third degree Legendre polynomials (with four coefficients) were used for both the fixed and random regressions. The models differed in fixed regression. In Analysis I, 96 subclasses were defined according to age at calving, season and year of calving within lactation. In Analysis II, days open were additionally included as a grouping factor resulting in 480 subclasses. Rank correlations over 0.98 between both analyses were observed for breeding values for sires. Grouping according to Analysis I was recommended. Keywords: test-day model with random regression, fixed regression subgroups, lactation curves, milk yield, dairy cattle Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 7-13 Volume: 50 Issue: 1 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/3976-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3976-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200501-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:50:y:2005:i:1:id:3976-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Krupa Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: M. Oravcová Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: P. Polák Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: J. Huba Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Z. Krupová Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Factors affecting growth traits of beef cattle breeds raised inSlovakia Abstract: Growth traits of purebred calves of six beef breeds (Aberdeen Angus - AA, Blonde d'Aquitaine - BA, Charolais - CH,Hereford - HE, Limousine - LI and Beef Simmental - BS) born from 1998 to 2002 were analysed. Traits under study were birth weight (BW), weight at 120 days (W120), weight at 210 days - weaning weight (WW), weight at 365 days - yearling weight (YW) and average daily gains from birth to 120 days (ADG1), from birth to 210 days (ADG2), from birth to 365 days (ADG3), from 120 to 210 days (ADG4). General linear model with class effects of breed, dam's age at calving, sex, herd-year-season (HYS) and covariation of age at weighing was used for analyses. All effects significantly affected both weight and gain traits except for dam's age that was significant for BW, W120, YW and ADG3, and age at weighing that was significant for W120, WW, YW, ADG2, ADG3, ADG4. Estimated least squares means of growth traits were compared using Scheffe's multiple-range tests. Highest BW (40.57 kg) and W120 (172.43 kg) were found for BA calves. BS calves had highest WW (260.30 kg), YW (424.07 kg), ADG1 (1 154 g), ADG2 (1 053 g), ADG3 (1 054 g) and ADG4 (1 098 g). Highest BW, YW, ADG3 and ADG4 were found for males-singles. Males-twins had highest W120, WW, ADG1 and ADG2. Calves descending from 5-7 years old dams had highest BW, W120, WW, ADG1, ADG2 and ADG4. The proportion of variability of growth traits explained by HYS effect (42.96-71.69%) was high, whereas proportions of variability explained by SEX effect (2.03-5.77%), age of dam (1.02-2.24%) and breed (1.05-2.21%) were low. Residuals accounted for 23.71 up to 53.79% of total variance. Keywords: beef cattle, pre-, post-weaning growth traits, environmental factors Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 14-21 Volume: 50 Issue: 1 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/3990-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3990-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200501-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:50:y:2005:i:1:id:3990-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Sezer Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Author-Name: S. Tarhan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Gaziosmanpasa University, Turkey Title: Model parameters of growth curves of three meat-type lines of Japanese quail Abstract: This study was focused on a comparison of the growth characteristics and parameters of three meat-type lines of Japanese quail. The body weight data of wild-type, dotted-white and extended-brown quail lines over time were collected and fitted to Richards equation. The relevant parameters were compared based on the Confidence Interval Test. Confidence Interval Test calculates the percentages of model predictions staying in the confidence intervals of the corresponding experimental data. Both sexes of brown quails showed lower weight gains than the other two lines. Behind the inflection point a decline in the absolute growth rate was slowest for brown females. In general, Richards model parameter values showed deviations of one line from the other lines to a varying extent. Shape parameter for males (0.335-0.618) and maturation index for females (0.067-0.077) tend to be the most critical parameters. When the overall models were used to predict the weight of other lines, the models of white and wild males showed great similarity. Overall model predictions for male brown and white quails, for female brown and wild-type quails showed the largest differences. Like in males, white and wild females were the closest lines but the likeliness percentage was lower than that for males. The proposed method of parameter comparison can be a useful tool for researchers working on biological modelling. Keywords: quail, growth curve, Richards function, nonlinear model parameter comparison Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 22-30 Volume: 50 Issue: 1 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/3991-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3991-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200501-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:50:y:2005:i:1:id:3991-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: H. Basmacioglu Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Agean University, Izmir, Turkey Author-Name: H. Oguz Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Author-Name: M. Ergul Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Agean University, Izmir, Turkey Author-Name: R. Col Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey Author-Name: Y.O. Birdane Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey Title: Effect of dietary esterified glucomannan on performance, serum biochemistry and haematology in broilers exposed to aflatoxin Abstract: The amelioration of aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens was examined by feeding two concentrations of yeast component (esterified glucomannan; EG). EG, incorporated into the diet at 0.5 and 1 g/kg, was evaluated for its ability to reduce the detrimental effects of 2 mg total aflatoxin (AF; 82.72% AFB1, 5.50% AFB2, 10.20% AFG1 and 1.58% AFG2) in diet on growing broiler chicks from 1 to 21 d of age. A total of 240 male broiler chicks (Ross-308) were divided into 6 treatment groups [control, AF, EG (0.5 g/kg), AF plus EG (0.5 g/kg), EG (1 g/kg), and AF plus EG (1 g/kg)]. Compared to the control, AF treatment significantly decreased body weight gain from week 2 onwards. AF treatment also caused significant decreases in serum total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, inorganic phosphorus, creatinine levels and alanine-aminotransferase (ALAT) activity but increased the aspartate-aminotransferase (ASAT) activity. Red blood cell, haematocrit, haemoglobin, thrombocyte, and lymphocyte counts and tibial crude ash levels were significantly reduced by AF treatment, while significant increases were seen in heterophil counts. The addition of EG (1 g/kg) to an AF-containing diet significantly improved the adverse effects of AF on haematological parameters, total protein, albumin values and ASAT activity. EG (1 g/kg) also partially improved body weight gains (59%) and the other biochemical parameters influenced by AF treatment. The addition of EG (both 0.5 and 1 g/kg) to the AF-free diet did not cause any considerable changes in the investigated values. These results clearly indicated that EG (1 g/kg) addition effectively diminished the adverse effects of AF on the investigated values. Also, the higher dietary concentration of EG (1 g/kg) was found more effective than the lower concentration (0.5 g/kg) against the adverse effects of AF on the variables investigated in this study. Keywords: aflatoxin, esterified glucomannan, broiler, prevention Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 31-39 Volume: 50 Issue: 1 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/3992-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3992-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200501-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:50:y:2005:i:1:id:3992-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Pintar Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: B. Homen Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: K. Gazić Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: Z. Janječić Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: M. Sikirić Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Croatia Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratory of Radiochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: T. Černy Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Croatia Title: Effects of supplemental phytase on nutrient excretion and retention in broilers fed different cereal based diets Abstract: A 21-day experiment with day-old broilers was conducted in order to assess the effect of phytase supplementation to different cereals-soybean meal based diets on nitrogen, calcium, total and phytate phosphorus excretion and retention. Diets were formulated to contain 4 different cereals (maize, wheat, triticale and barley), 2 levels of dietary calcium (0.6 and 1.0%) and 3 levels of supplemental phytase (0, 500 and 1 000 PU/kg). Nutrient intake, excretion and retention were determined in the first three days of the 2nd and 3rd week of trial. The increasing phytase level resulted in reducing phytate phosphorus excretion and increasing its retention. Significant differences were obtained only in the 2nd week (excretion P < 0.024 and retention P < 0.044). Phytase supplementation significantly influenced total phosphorus excretion in the 3rd week (P < 0.048) and retention in the 2nd week (P < 0.015). The effects of 500 and 1 000 PU/kg were not statistically different from each other. No significant influence of phytase supplementation on nitrogen and calcium excretion and retention was observed. Keywords: maize, wheat, triticale, barley, phytase, nitrogen, calcium, total phosphorus, phytate phosphorus, excretion, retention Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 40-46 Volume: 50 Issue: 1 Year: 2005 DOI: 10.17221/3993-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3993-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200501-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:50:y:2005:i:1:id:3993-CJAS