Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J.Y. Li Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Northwest A and F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China Author-Name: H. Chen Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Northwest A and F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China Author-Name: X.Y. Lan Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Northwest A and F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China Author-Name: X.J. Kong Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Northwest A and F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China Author-Name: L.J. Min Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China Title: Genetic diversity of five Chinese goat breeds assessed by microsatellite markers Abstract: The genetic diversity was studied using microsatellite DNA markers in Laoshan dairy goat (LS), Xinong Saanen dairy goat (SN), Guanzhong dairy goat (GZ), Banjiao goat (BJ) and Guizhou white goat (GW). Within the nine polymorphic loci, allele frequencies, number of effective alleles (Ne), heterozygosity (He), polymorphism information content (PIC), genetic identity (I) and Nei's standard genetic distance (D) were calculated, and UPGMA phylogenetic tree was constructed based on allele frequencies. The average number of alleles was 9.4, ranging from four to eleven at the nine assessed loci. The average values of Ne, He, PIC of all loci were 4.716, 0.765, 0.732, respectively. The GZ population showed the highest variability (PIC = 0.78, He = 0.80). There was a relatively high level of genetic diversity in these goat breeds. A UPGMA diagram, based on Nei's standard genetic distances, yielded relationships between populations that agreed with what is known about their origin, history and geographical distribution. Keywords: goat, microsatellites, biodiversity Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 315-319 Volume: 53 Issue: 8 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/347-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/347-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200808-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:53:y:2008:i:8:id:347-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Skládanka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Forage Production, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Dohnal Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Food Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Ježková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Food Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Fibre and ergosterol contents in forage of Arrhenatherum elatius, Dactylis glomerata and Festulolium at the end of the growing seaso Abstract: The objective of this paper is to evaluate the contents of CF, NDF, ADF and ergosterol in the forage of Fistulolium, Dactylis glomerata and Arrhenatherum elatius from stands harvested at the end of the growing season. The contents of CF, NDF and ADF were analysed using the ANKOM Fibre Analyzer instrument. The ergosterol content was analysed by the HPLC method. The lowest CF content was in the Festulolium forage matter (26.8%). Conversely, the highest content was in the Arrhenatherum elatius forage (30.2%). The CF content gradually increased during autumn from 28.0% to 29.4%. Likewise, the NDF and ADF contents were lowest in Festulolium (58.3% and 32.3%, respectively). The highest NDF content was in Arrhenatherum elatius (60.5%). The ADF contents in Arrhenatherum elatius and Dactylis glomerata were comparable (35.9% and 35.1%, respectively). The NDF content increased during autumn from 56.4% to 62.0% and ADF content from 32.8% to 36.4%. The ergosterol content suggests a lower infestation of the Festulolium forage by fungi. While this content in the Festulolium forage was 94.9 mg/kg of dry matter (DM), in the Dactylis glomerata forage it was 136.7 mg/kg DM and in the Arrhenatherum elatius forage 139.9 mg/kg DM. Forage samples taken in December contained ergosterol on a level of 248.6 mg/kg DM. The species under study and the time of use in autumn exhibited a statistically highly significant effect (P < 0.01) on the contents of CF, NDF, ADF and ergosterol in the forage matter. Keywords: acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, ergosterol, winter grazing Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 320-328 Volume: 53 Issue: 8 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/346-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/346-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200808-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:53:y:2008:i:8:id:346-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Y. Tyrolová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Výborná Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Title: Effect of the stage of maturity on the leaf percentage of lucerne and the effect of additives on silage characteristics Abstract: The first part of the study concerns the effect of the stage of maturity on nutrient content and leaf percentage of lucerne (Medicago sativa). The plants of lucerne were harvested and analysed at several stages of growth. The crop yield and changes in the concentration of nutrients were determined. The leaf percentage from whole herbage and leaf yield were determined as well. The leaf percentage at the growth stage of small buds was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than at the growth stage of bloom in all three cuts (1st cut 52.7% vs. 46.62%; 2nd cut 52.03% vs. 44.70%; 3rd cut 50.58% vs. 46.26%). Crude protein content of lucerne was decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from the large bud growth stage (small buds 219.6 g/kg DM and large buds 203.1 g/kg DM vs. bloom 173.5 and after bloom 154.2). In the second part of the study, the effect of silage additives on fermentation characteristics of lucerne was investigated. The bacterial inoculant (containing homo- and heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria), chemical additive (containing formic acid, propionic acid, ammonium formate and benzoic acid) and the bacterial inoculant with benzoic acid were used for the improvement of fermentation process.The addition of the inoculant with L. buchneri increased acetic acid (P < 0.05) concentration compared to the silage with chemical additive (group I with inoculant - 1.22%; group Ch with chemical additive - 0.84%; group ICh with chemical additive and inoculant - 1.43). Control silage (C) without additive contained 1.14% acetic acid in dry matter. Keywords: lucerne, leaves, stems, buds, bloom, nutrients Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 329-334 Volume: 53 Issue: 8 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/345-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/345-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200808-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:53:y:2008:i:8:id:345-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Marciňáková Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: A. Lauková Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: M. Simonová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: V. Strompfová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: B. Koréneková Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary Medicine, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: P. Naď Author-Workplace-Name: University of Veterinary Medicine, Košice, Slovak Republic Title: A new probiotic and bacteriocin-producing strain of Enterococcus faecium EF9296 and its use in grass ensiling Abstract: A new probiotic, bacteriocin-producing strain of Enterococcus faecium EF9296 (isolate of our laboratory) was used in grass ensiling as an inoculant. The antimicrobial effect as well as the nutritive quality of silage was evaluated along with the aerobic stability test. Grass was ensiled with EF9296 strain (109 colony-forming units per gram of fresh material) and the silage without EF9296 was also prepared. The silages were processed in 1-litre plastic bottles. The samples were collected at days 0-1 (start of experiment), 7, 14 and 105 of ensiling to check the microbial status and chemical parameters of silage. At the end of ensiling period (day 105) the silages were subjected to an aerobic stability test for 7 days. The EF9296 strain survived and colonized the silage in sufficient counts (109-1010 cfu/g). The total counts of enterococci and lactic acid bacteria were increased. In the silage inoculated with EF9296 strain, a reduction in E. coli, enterobacteriae, staphylococci and Bacillus-like bacteria was noted mainly at day 7 and 14 of ensiling. Moreover, the counts of Listeria and moulds were reduced during the aerobic stability test. The silage inoculation resulted in a more rapid drop of pH, higher level of lactic acid and in a decrease in the concentration of acetic and butyric acid. The effect of E. faecium EF9296 on the value of pH was prolonged until the end of the experiment (including the aerobic stability test, below 4.3). During the whole ensiling period an increase in DM content in the experimental silage was detected. The E. faecium EF9296 strain represents a promising silage additive to produce silage of good quality and/or to prevent silage contamination. Keywords: probiotic, bacteriocin, ensiling, Enterococcus faecium, grass Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 335-344 Volume: 53 Issue: 8 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/348-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/348-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200808-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:53:y:2008:i:8:id:348-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Sarica Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Faculty, Department of Animal Science, Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey Author-Name: S. Boga Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Faculty, Department of Animal Science, Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey Author-Name: U.S. Yamak Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Faculty, Department of Animal Science, Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey Title: The effects of space allowance on egg yield, egg quality and plumage condition of laying hens in battery cages Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of cage stocking density on egg yield, some egg quality traits and plumage condition in laying hens. Eighteen weeks-old 264 ISA-Brown pullets were divided into four cage density groups. The densities were 2 000, 1 000, 667 and 500 cm2 per hen (by allocating 1, 2, 3 and 4 hens per cage; floor area 40 × 50 cm) with 48, 30, 24 and 21 replicate cages, totally 123 three-tier battery cages. During the experimental period from 18 to 53 weeks of age, all birds were provided illumination for 16 hours a day. The hens were fed a diet containing 11.7 MJ ME/kg and 180 g CP during the period of 18 to 40 weeks of age and 11.3 MJ ME/kg and 170 g CP during the period of 41 to 54 weeks of age. Feed and water were available for ad libitum. Egg yield, mortality, live weights at 50% egg production age and at the end of experiment, pecking related mortalities, some egg quality traits and plumage condition were recorded weekly. Hen-housed egg production, egg mass, viability, and live weights were significantly decreased by higher densities. Most of the egg quality traits were not affected by cage densities. Pecking related mortalities increased in cage densities of 667 cm2 and 500 cm2 per hen compared to the other densities (P < 0.05) while plumage scores were higher in all body parts of hens kept in cages of 2 000 cm2 and 1 000 cm2 densities compared to the higher densities. The results showed that brown laying hens should be kept in cages having 1 000-2 000 cm2 densities in order to improve their welfare and performance. Keywords: cage space allowance, egg yield, feather score, plumage condition, mortality, egg quality Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 345-353 Volume: 53 Issue: 8 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/349-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/349-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200808-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:53:y:2008:i:8:id:349-CJAS