Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D. Tang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Life Science, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China Author-Name: H. Jiang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China Author-Name: Y. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Life Science, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, P.R. China Author-Name: Y. LI Author-Workplace-Name: College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China Author-Name: X. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China Author-Name: T. Zhou Author-Workplace-Name: College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China Title: Cloning and sequencing of the complicated rDNA gene family of Bos taurus Abstract: The rDNA genes coding for ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in animals are repeat sequences with high GC content and complicated structure. Based on the sequences of human ribosomal DNA repeat unit and transcription unit and the long and accurate PCR method with LA Taq DNA polymerase and GC buffer, we were able to amplify the complicated repeat sequences of rDNA genes in Bos taurus. Three rDNA genes and 2 internal transcribed spacer (ITS) fragments were cloned and confirmed by sequencing. The conditions for the cloning of complicated DNA sequences such as special rules of primer design, improvement of the reaction system, selection of DNA polymerase and adjustment of cycle parameters were discussed. Keywords: GC-rich, repetitive sequences, PCR, rDNA, rRNA, Bos Taurus Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 425-428 Volume: 51 Issue: 10 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/3960-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3960-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200610-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:51:y:2006:i:10:id:3960-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Čítek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Panicke Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute for the Biology of Farm Animals, Dummerstorf, Germany Author-Name: V. Řehout Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: H. Procházková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Title: Study of genetic distances between cattle breeds of Central Europe Abstract: Genetic distances were studied among Czech Red cattle, German Red, Czech Pied, Polish Red, Czech Black and White, and German Black and White cattle. DA genetic distances were calculated, and trees were constructed using the neighbour-joining method. Evaluating the genetic distances by microsatellites, the lowest value was between Czech and German Black and White breeds. A surprisingly high value was found between Czech and German Red breeds, and the highest values between German Red breed and both German and Czech Black and White populations came up to expectations. In the phylogenetic tree made using microsatellites, the German and Polish Red breeds clustered, but Czech Red breed was not joined with them. The other cluster was obtained for Czech Black and White and German Black and White. The tree made of protein markers differed slightly. Because the populations of Czech and German Red breeds are small and also because of organizational issues, the common protection of Central-European red populations and breeding them as a gene pool are recommended. Keywords: genetic distances, cattle breeds, microsatellites, protein markers Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 429-436 Volume: 51 Issue: 10 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/3961-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3961-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200610-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:51:y:2006:i:10:id:3961-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Patráš Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: S. Nitrayová Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: A. Sommer Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: J. Heger Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Effect of microbial phytase on apparent digestibility and retention of phosphorus and nitrogen in growing pigs Abstract: Six female pigs of approximately 50 kg BW, fitted with simple T-cannula in the terminal ileum, were used to study the effect of microbial phytase on apparent total tract digestibility and retention of P and N. Three P-adequate diets (digestible P concentration 2.3 g/kg) containing barley (B), soybean meal (S) or their mixture (BS) with or without phytase supplement (1 000 FTU/kg) were fed to pigs using a 6 × 6 Latin square design. The addition of phytase increased (P < 0.05) apparent total P digestibility of diets S and BS from 56.5 and 57.2% to 69.0 and 65.2%, respectively, and apparent plant P digestibility of the same diets from 41.3 and 50.0% to 60.5 and 60.0%, respectively. An insignificant improvement in total and plant P digestibilities was found in diet B. Phytase supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) P excretion in pigs fed diets S and BS by 25 and 14%, respectively. As compared with diets S and BS, urinary P excretion in pigs fed diet B was much higher, which suggests a lower requirement for available P due to the lower protein deposition and growth rate. Phytase supplementation had no effect on digestibility or retention of N. In all three diets, total tract P digestibility was lower (P < 0.05) than ileal digestibility thus indicating a net flux of P into the large intestine. Keywords: phytase, phosphorus, nitrogen, digestibility, retention, pigs Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 437-443 Volume: 51 Issue: 10 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/3962-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3962-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200610-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:51:y:2006:i:10:id:3962-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: X.T. Zou Author-Workplace-Name: Feed Science Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China Author-Name: G.H. Zheng Author-Workplace-Name: Feed Science Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China Author-Name: X.J. Fang Author-Workplace-Name: Feed Science Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China Author-Name: J.F. Jiang Author-Workplace-Name: Feed Science Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China Title: Effects of glutamine on growth performance of weanling piglets Abstract: An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of glutamine on growth performance of weanling piglets. Sixty piglets weaned at 21 days of age were randomly assigned to two groups (10 piglets per pen, 3 pens per group). The control group received a maize-soybean meal-based diet. The treatment group received a maize-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 1.0% free l-glutamine. Piglets were fed the diets for 20 days. Results showed that piglets fed the glutamine diet had lower diarrhoea ratio and shorter diarrhoea duration than those fed the control diet during 20 days after weaning. During the first ten days after weaning, pigs supplemented with glutamine had a 12.05% lower feed:gain ratio than those fed the control diet (P < 0.05). During the second ten days after weaning, they had a 27.75% higher average daily gain than those fed the control diet (P < 0.05); there were no differences in the feed:gain ratio and average daily feed intake. During the first ten days after weaning, the serum urea nitrogen of pigs supplemented with glutamine was reduced by 17.36% (P > 0.05) compared to the control. During the second ten days after weaning, serum urea nitrogen was reduced by 4.27% and serum concentrations of total protein increased by 18.70% in pigs supplemented with glutamine compared to the control (P > 0.05). There were no differences in albumin, T3, T4 and growth hormone. Keywords: weaning piglets, glutamine, growth performance, biochemical parameters Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 444-448 Volume: 51 Issue: 10 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/3963-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3963-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200610-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:51:y:2006:i:10:id:3963-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Ševčíková Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Skřivan Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Agriculture, Prague-Suchdol, Czech Republic Author-Name: G. Dlouhá Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Koucký Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Title: The effect of selenium source on the performance and meat quality of broiler chickens Abstract: The effect of dietary supplementation of selenium in an organic form on performance, carcass traits and selenium content in tissues of broiler cockerels Ross 308 was studied. The soya-wheat-maize diet contained 50 mg vitamin E/kg. The experiment was conducted on 810 straight-run broiler cockerels randomly divided into 3 groups: group I - control, without selenium supplement; experimental group: II - 0.3 mg Se/kg, Se-enriched yeast was applied as a Se source; III - 0.3 mg Se/kg, Se-enriched alga Chlorella as a Se source. The broiler chickens were slaughtered at 42 days of age. In performance traits higher (P ≤ 0.05) live weight of broiler chickens was recorded in the experimental groups (II - 2 430.6 g and III - 2 425.2 g). There were no significant differences between the groups in feed conversion and mortality. Se-enriched alga had the best feed conversion, and selenium supplementation slightly increased mortality in both experimental groups. No significant differences between the groups were found out in carcass traits and dressing percentage. The content of selenium in breast and thigh muscle, feathers and excrements increased (P ≤ 0.05) in both experimental groups compared to the control group. Higher values in breast and thigh muscle and in feathers were measured in the group supplemented with selenium from Se-enriched yeast, also in comparison with the group supplemented with selenium from Se-enriched alga Chlorella. The broiler chickens receiving Chlorella had a higher (P ≤ 0.05) selenium content in excrements compared to the group with Se-enriched yeast. The selenium concentration in liver was higher (P ≤ 0.05) in both experimental groups compared to the control. The supplement of selenium from Se-yeast and Chlorella in the diet for broiler chickens increased the microelement concentration in muscle. Keywords: broiler cockerels, Se-enriched yeast, alga Chlorella, performance, selenium content Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 449-457 Volume: 51 Issue: 10 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/3964-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3964-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200610-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:51:y:2006:i:10:id:3964-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: G. Vaičionis Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, Baisogala, Lithuania Author-Name: V. Ribikauskas Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, Baisogala, Lithuania Author-Name: A. Benediktavičiute-Kiškiene Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, Baisogala, Lithuania Author-Name: I. Skurdeniene Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science of Lithuanian Veterinary Academy, Baisogala, Lithuania Title: Emission of materials of biological origin in laying hens houses with different technologies of rearing Abstract: The aim was to determine the conversion of alimentary substances of laying hens (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) into the production of eggs and to determine the emission of nitrogen, air pollution by dust and microorganisms in accordance with different technologies of layer rearing. The studies were conducted in 6 poultry houses. The birds were kept in premises in cage batteries BKN-3, "Spech", OBN-1, OBN-3 or on littered floor. It was found out that there was 1.6 times more dust in the air of poultry house where laying hens were kept on litter and the total number of bacteria was 2.4 times higher than in the bird cages (P < 0.001). The laying hens assimilated 21.95-28.42% of nitrogen, 19.63-31.25% of phosphorus, 6.04-8.33% of potassium for egg production and weight gains when feed is balanced. If cage technologies are applied, over a year, there is a loss of 6.7 ± 1.4% of nitrogen through the excrements because of nitrogen emission. When the technologies of littered floor are used, there is a loss of 18.5 ± 4.8% of nitrogen extricated with the excrements (P < 0.025). When the birds were kept in cages, 0.059 ± 0.011 kg of nitrogen per each bird evaporated because of ammonia emission, while in the case of littered floor - 0.227 ± 0.126 kg of nitrogen. Keywords: laying hens, poultry houses, ammonia, nitrogen emission, air pollution Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 458-465 Volume: 51 Issue: 10 Year: 2006 DOI: 10.17221/3965-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/3965-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200610-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:51:y:2006:i:10:id:3965-CJAS