Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Samková Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Pešek Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Špička Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: T. Pelikánová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: O. Hanuš Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute for Cattle Breeding, Rapotín, Czech Republic Title: The effect of feeding diets markedly differing in the proportion of grass and maize silages on bovine milk fat composition Abstract: Ten Czech Pied cows in the mid-lactation stage were fed diets based on grass silage and maize silage. The composition of milk fats differed. The proportions of even-chain saturated fatty acids (SFAs) up to C14:0 were insignificant and the content of C16:0 was significantly higher (P < 0.05) when feeding a diet based on maize silage, while the proportions of the individual polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were significantly (except for C18:2) higher when feeding a diet based on grass silage. The total SFA proportions were 67.60 and 62.93% (P < 0.05) of maize and grass silages, respectively, while an opposite relation was observed for the sum of PUFAs (3.56 and 4.74%; P < 0.001). Feeding of grass silage resulted in a significantly lower proportion of hypercholesterolaemic fatty acids C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0 (49.38 and 44.98%, respectively; P < 0.05) and in lower values of the atherogenic index (3.03 and 2.44; P < 0.05). Thus, the results could be used for the improvement of milk fat composition. Keywords: Keywords: Czech Pied cattle, feeding diet, milk fat, fatty acids Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 93-100 Volume: 54 Issue: 3 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1679-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1679-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200903-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:3:id:1679-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Ivanković Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production and Technology, Agricultural Faculty, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: J. Ramljak Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production and Technology, Agricultural Faculty, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: M. Konjačić Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production and Technology, Agricultural Faculty, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: N. Kelava Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production and Technology, Agricultural Faculty, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: P. Dovč Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Domžale, Slovenia Author-Name: P. Mijić Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Zootechnics, Faculty of Agriculture, Osijek, Croatia Title: Mitochondrial D-loop sequence variation among autochthonous horse breeds in Croatia Abstract: Genetic variation in three Croatian coldblood horse populations was analysed using a sequence analysis of the proximal part (nt 15 498-15 821) of the D-loop region of mtDNA. Twenty unrelated horses were chosen from the Posavina horse and the Croatian Coldblood breeds and fifteen horses from the Murinsulaner horse population. Sequencing of the proximal part of the mtDNA D-loop region revealed 26 polymorphic sites representing thirty haplotypes which were clustered into eight haplogroups. A wide variety of mitochondrial haplotypes of the analysed horse breeds were clustered into eight different haplogroups. Two haplogroups (D and F) were specific to Posavina horse, five haplogroups were shared among the Croatian Coldblood and Murinsulaner horse, the fact that can be explained by selection strategy at the beginning of the 20th century and possible gene flow between the two populations. These results indicate the presence of many ancient maternal lineages with high diversity in mtDNA. The genetic information based on mtDNA typing has a great importance for the future breed conservation strategy, especially for the critically endangered breed such as Murinsulaner horse. Keywords: mtDNA, genetic diversity, horse, conservation genetics Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 101-111 Volume: 54 Issue: 3 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1678-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1678-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200903-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:3:id:1678-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Kolář Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Maršálek Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Frelich Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: S. Kužel Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Smetana Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Zedníková Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Švecová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Title: Changes in methane release from organic matter passing through the digestive tract of horses Abstract: Using the tests of methanogenic activity (TMA) changes in methane yield (YCH4) and anaerobic degradability (Dc) of organic matter of feeds and excrements were studied in an experimental group of six horses while complete analytical methods were applied (N-compound matters, proteins, non-protein N-compound matters, fat, nitrogen-free extract, ash, crude fibre, organic matter, NDF, ADF, hemicelluloses, cellulose, lignin and chemical oxygen demand COD) and the material balance was determined. The horses utilised 48.8% of organic matter of feeds in dry matter while the daily weight of droppings was 21 kg with 5.20% of dry matter and 4 kg of urine with 7% of organic matters. It is important that the theoretical methane yield per 24 hours corresponding to the organic matter of ingested feeds which was transferred to excrements is 1.771 m3 CH4 at 0°C and 1 013.25 hPa while the actual daily methane yield of droppings is 1.739 m3 CH4 at 0°C and 1 013.25 hPa, i.e. practically identical, because the yield from urine organic matters was not included in the actual daily methane yield. Because the anaerobic degradability of the used feed mixture and horse droppings is practically identical, it is obvious that besides the enteric fermentation according to the reaction CO2 + 4 H2 → CH4 + 2 H2O by hydrogenotrophic methanogens no classical anaerobic digestion takes place in the digestive tract of horses; it means that the horse breeding sector is not a factor contaminating the atmosphere by methane. Keywords: horses, feeds, horse droppings, organic matter, methane yield, anaerobic degradability Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 112-120 Volume: 54 Issue: 3 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1677-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1677-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200903-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:3:id:1677-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: I. Herzig Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Navrátilová Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Totušek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Suchý Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Večerek Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Blahová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Z. Zralý Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic Title: The effect of humic acid on zinc accumulation in chicken broiler tissues Abstract: Thirty-six selected male chickens were allocated into four groups C, HA, ZN, ZN + HA, and the experiment was initiated after 4 days of an adaptation period. Group C was fed a complete feed mixture without supplements. Group HA was fed the same diet with 500 mg of humic acid per chicken and day. Group ZN was loaded with 240 mg Zn (as 600 mg ZnSO4) per chicken and day, and birds of the group ZN + HA were loaded as those of the latter group, with additional 500 mg of humic acid per chicken and day. The treatments were carried out for 10 days. Subsequently, the chickens were slaughtered and samples of liver, kidneys, leg muscles and blood were collected for Zn level assessment. The Zn levels detected in group C can be considered as the background value, found commonly in broiler chickens fed the complete feed mixtures enriched with trace elements. The following concentrations were detected (mg Zn/kg): 40.1 ± 13.4 in muscles, 81.0 ± 6.6 in kidneys, 72.2 ± 15.0 in liver, and in blood serum 1.04 ± 0.45 mg Zn/l. Increased Zn levels by 11 to 30% (P > 0.05) compared to group C were found in group HA in all tissues studied. The ten-day treatment with 600 mg ZnSO4 (240 mg Zn/day, i.e. 2 400 mg Zn per 10 days) resulted in increased Zn levels in all investigated tissues, significantly in kidneys (P < 0.01), liver (P < 0.01) and blood serum (P < 0.01). The mean levels 430.5 ± 159.0, 149.8 ± 41.9 and 57.9 ± 22.7 mg Zn/kg, and 4.14 ± 0.9 mg/l were found in liver, kidneys, leg muscles, and blood serum, respectively. After the same treatment with zinc sulphate together with humic acid (group ZN + HA), no significant changes of Zn levels in the investigated tissues were reported. Concentrations of the selected parameters of metabolism in chickens ranged within the reference limits; significant differences between experimental and control groups (cholesterol P < 0.05; lactate P < 0.05; calcium P < 0.01) were found sporadically. Keywords: zinc sulphate, liver, kidney, leg muscle, biochemical profile Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 121-127 Volume: 54 Issue: 3 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1676-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1676-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200903-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:3:id:1676-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Y. Su Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, P.R. China Author-Name: G.H. Chen Author-Workplace-Name: Animal Science College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, P.R. China Title: DNA microsatellite analysis of genetic diversity among Chinese indigenous laying-type ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) Abstract: The genetic polymorphisms of 17 microsatellites were investigated in four indigenous laying-type duck breeds in China. The average number of alleles (Na) and average rates of homozygotes of each breed were counted. Accordingly, allele frequencies of the 17 microsatellites, polymorphism information content (PIC), mean heterozygosity (H) and genetic distances (Ds) were also calculated. Moreover, dendrograms using UPGMA and the neighbour-joining method were produced. The four breeds have a high average PIC (0.643) and H (0.682). Ds are between 0.514 and 0.662, the gene differentiation among the four breeds is 14.4%. Keywords: duck, PCR, microsatellite, genetic diversity, genetic polymorphism Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 128-135 Volume: 54 Issue: 3 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1675-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1675-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200903-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:3:id:1675-CJAS