Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. CERDEÑO Author-Workplace-Name: Experimental Agricultural Station, Spanish National Research Council, León, Spain Author-Name: C. Vieira Author-Workplace-Name: Meat Technological Station, Agronomic Technological Institute, Salamanca, Spain Author-Name: E. Serrano Author-Workplace-Name: Experimental Agricultural Station, Spanish National Research Council, León, Spain Author-Name: A.R. Mantecón Author-Workplace-Name: Experimental Agricultural Station, Spanish National Research Council, León, Spain Title: Carcass and meat quality in Brown fattened young bulls: effect of rearing method and slaughter weight Abstract: Three groups of Brown fattened young bulls were studied, comparing the effects of rearing method (suckled vs. bucket reared) and of slaughter weight (400 vs. 480 kg). Suckled animals had higher fatness scores (2.2 vs. 1.3), more dissectible fat (14.5 vs. 9.1%), and higher intramuscular fat content (7.8 vs. 4.6%DM), accompanied by better scores in sensory tenderness (5.2 vs. 3.8) than did the bucket-reared ones. Animals slaughtered at a heavier weight showed a higher dressing percentage (57.5 vs. 53.8%), conformation score (9.2 vs. 6.2), and fat content (fatness score, dissectible fat and intramuscular fat). The meat from animals in the heavier group had lower a* (12.4 vs. 14.2) and higher b* (10.8 vs. 12.9) indexes, as well as higher scores in most sensory traits than the lighter ones. Keywords: Brown cattle, carcass composition, meat colour, sensory evaluation Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 143-150 Volume: 51 Issue: 4 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/3921-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3921-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200604-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:51:y:2006:i:4:id:3921-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Y. Bozkurt Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Author-Name: S. Ozkaya Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Author-Name: I. Ap Dewi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK Title: Association between aggressive behaviour and high-energy feeding level in beef cattle Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate an association between aggressiveness and high level of feeding in a half-open feedlot production system. An experiment was conducted on 72 head of beef cattle of different breeds. The animals were at about 10 months of age. Medium quality silage was offered ad libitum and supplemented with high (HE) and low level (LE) of barley (2.5 and 1.5 kg/day/head, respectively) and supplemented without (nil) or with (+) extracted soybean meal (0.45 kg/day/head). Several types of animal behaviour were observed such as those parameters that are categorized to be main aggressive behaviours, butting, being butted, mounting and being mounted. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in butting, being butted behaviours between HE and LE treatment groups. Mounting and being mounted behaviours were significantly different (P < 0.05) in steers and heifers and between the seasons as well. Steers performed more incidents of mounting behaviour than heifers and it was the same for spring, during which animals had more mounting behaviours. It was concluded that there was a close relationship between high-energy diets and aggressive behaviour, which necessitates some management measures to be taken in order to ensure better animal welfare and beef production. Keywords: beef cattle, level of feeding, aggression, social behaviour, animal welfare Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 151-156 Volume: 51 Issue: 4 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/3922-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3922-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200604-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:51:y:2006:i:4:id:3922-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Domaćinović Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of J.J. Strossmayer, Osijek, Croatia Author-Name: Z. Steiner Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of J.J. Strossmayer, Osijek, Croatia Author-Name: Đ. Senčić Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of J.J. Strossmayer, Osijek, Croatia Author-Name: Z. Antunovic Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of J.J. Strossmayer, Osijek, Croatia Author-Name: P. Mijić Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of J.J. Strossmayer, Osijek, Croatia Title: Individual and combined usage of enzyme preparation and heat-treated cereals in pig fattening Abstract: In order to reach better production and financial results of pork production different technological ways of pig fattening are researched. The purpose of this paper is to show separate results of polyenzyme application and the results of the use of heat-treated cereals in pig fattening as well as the results of their combined application. Pigs fattened on a diet with polyenzyme preparation and heat-treated cereals, either separately or combined, were characterised by an insignificantly higher growth rate and their feed intake per kilogram of weight gain was low compared to pigs fed standard mixtures (control group). In statistical terms, the relative portion of muscle tissue in pork carcass was significantly lower in experimental group 3 fed the mixture with heat-treated cereals than in the other groups. The absolute portion of muscle tissue in pork carcass was statistically more important in experimental group 2 (45.15 kg) receiving the mixture of enzyme additive and heat-treated cereals, and the least important in experimental group 3 (40.92 kg) fed heat-treated cereals. During pig fattening the income for experimental groups was higher than for the control group because of better production results. Average values covering variable expenses show the increase only in the third experimental group in the second fattening period compared to the control group, but these differences were of no statistical importance. Keywords: fattened pigs, polyenzyme preparation, heat-treated cereals Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 157-162 Volume: 51 Issue: 4 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/3923-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3923-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200604-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:51:y:2006:i:4:id:3923-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Skřivan Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Agriculture, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Šimáně Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Agriculture, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: G. Dlouhá Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Doucha Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Třeboň, Czech Republic Title: Effect of dietary sodium selenite, Se-enriched yeast and Se-enriched Chlorella on egg Se concentration, physical parameters of eggs and laying hen production Abstract: ISA Brown laying hens at 24 weeks of age, housed in laying battery cages, were used in this 4-group experiment. One group was fed a basal diet containing primarily maize, soybean meal and wheat. Selenium (Se) content of the basal diet was 0.07 mg/kg dry matter. The other hens received diets supplemented with Na2SeO3, Se-enriched yeast and Se-enriched alga Chlorella, respectively, in a concentration of 0.3 mg Se/kg. The experiment lasted twenty-seven weeks. Egg production, feed consumption, egg weight, physical parameters of egg white, yolk and egg shell were examined every third week and egg white and yolk Se content repeatedly. Se was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. All three sources of added Se increased the egg white and egg yolk Se content (P < 0.001). Selenium in the organic form increased further Se in the egg components compared to sodium selenite (P < 0.001). More Se was deposited in egg white than in egg yolk, especially in relation to the increasing time of the experiment. The increase of Se concentration in egg white corresponded with increasing egg white weight in both organic selenium sources (P < 0.05). Higher egg white thickness and better Haugh units were observed only in the Se-Chlorella group. Hens receiving the diet with Se-Chlorella also had better egg production compared to the basal diet (P < 0.05). Egg weight was significantly higher in the Se-Chlorella and Se-yeast groups compared to the basal diet and the diet with sodium selenite (P < 0.05). The Se-enriched alga Chlorella showed summarily best results. Keywords: sodium selenite, Se-yeast, Se-Chlorella, laying hens, Se in eggs, Haugh unit, hen production Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 163-167 Volume: 51 Issue: 4 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/3924-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3924-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200604-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:51:y:2006:i:4:id:3924-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Suchý Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: E. Straková Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Večerek Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Z. Klouda Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: E. Kráčmarová Author-Workplace-Name: Centre for Hygiene of Food Chains Brno, Czech Republic Title: The effect of a clinoptilolite-based feed supplement on the performance of broiler chickens Abstract: The main objective of this research was to verify the effect of feed mixtures supplemented with clinoptilolite-containing ZeoFeed (at a level of 1% and 2%) on the performance traits of broiler chickens in the period of their growth. Experimental results confirmed a positive effect of clinoptilolite on the performance of chickens which was demonstrated by a highly significant increase in the average live weight (P ≤ 0.01) of broiler chickens at 40 days of age. The average live weight of broiler chickens was 2.24 kg (at a dose of 1%) and 2.28 kg (at a dose of 2%) with feed conversion of 1.84 kg (at a dose of 1%) and 1.95 kg (at a dose of 2%) while the average live weight of control broiler chickens was 2.12 kg with feed conversion of 1.83 kg. No differences between both groups were found in water consumption. Chickens in all monitored groups showed very good health and a very low rate of mortality (3.75% in control group, 1.25% at a dose of 1% and 3.75% at a dose of 2%). It follows from the experiments that the clinoptilolite-containing product may serve as a suitable feed supplement to feed mixtures for broiler chickens. Keywords: feed additives, ZeoFeed, feeding of chickens, live weight, feed conversion, water consumption Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 168-173 Volume: 51 Issue: 4 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/3925-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3925-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200604-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:51:y:2006:i:4:id:3925-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Palíková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: R. Krejčí Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Fishery and Hydrobiology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Artificial stripping and embryonic development of the common gudgeon (Gobio gobio L.) and its use in embryo-larval tests - a pilot study Abstract: Artificial reproduction with and without hormonal treatment was performed in females of the common gudgeon (Gobio gobio L.) to assess the suitability of this cyprinid species as a fish model for embryo-larval cytotoxic tests. Considering sperm immobilisation tests, the solution for tench was utilizable. The clearing solution designed for the observation of embryonic development in the European catfish was also found suitable for the common gudgeon embryos. The egg and embryonic mortality, embryonic development, hatching and survival rate were examined. Ovulation occurred in 89% of females after the application of the carp pituitary (5 mg/kg) but embryonic mortality reached nearly 100%. The highest embryonic mortality in females with hormonal treatment was observed within 24 hours of development. On the other hand, the reproduction of females without the application of hormonal stimulation was nearly completely successful with mean mortality 60%. The hatching of embryos of females without hormonal stimulation occurred (average values) 71 hours after fertilization and lasted 65 hours. Embryonic development finished within 176 hours. Our pilot study demonstrated that the eggs of common gudgeon were suitable for embryo-larval tests from the 7th to the 8th embryonic developmental stage. Keywords: hormonal stimulation, mortality, embryonic development, hatching, survival Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 174-180 Volume: 51 Issue: 4 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/3926-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3926-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200604-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:51:y:2006:i:4:id:3926-CJAS