Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Zavadilová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: E. Němcová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Štípková Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Bouška Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Title: Relationships between longevity and conformation traits in Czech Fleckvieh cows Abstract: The relationships between conformation and longevity traits were analysed in 58 493 Czech Fleckvieh cows first calved from 1994 to 2003. All cows were scored for conformation during the first lactation. Genetic correlations between longevity and conformation traits were estimated by bivariate runs using the VCE 4.0 program for variance component estimation. The values of heritability for conformation traits were in the range from 0.06 to 0.63 and for longevity traits from 0.04 to 0.05. Low or intermediate genetic relationships between recorded linear traits and longevity trait were found. The correlations were lower for functional longevity. Body measurements showed negative genetic correlations with real as well as functional longevity (-0.12 to -0.29). The dairy character negatively correlated with longevity traits (-0.18 to -0.26). The muscularity and udder showed a zero correlation with functional longevity, while the feet and legs were not correlated with real longevity. The highest positive genetic correlations between real longevity and objectively scored linear type traits were found for hock (0.24), rear udder attachment (0.28), fore udder length (0.16) and central ligament (0.11). On the contrary, the correlation between the udder depth and the milk-corrected longevity was positive (0.28) and higher than in the case of real longevity. Keywords: cattle, Czech Fleckvieh, longevity, conformation traits, genetic correlation Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 385-394 Volume: 54 Issue: 9 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1685-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1685-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200909-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:9:id:1685-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Kudrna Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Praha-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Illek Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Praha-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Marounek Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Praha-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Nguyen Ngoc Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Praha-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Title: Feeding ruminally protected methionine to pre- and postpartum dairy cows: effect on milk performance, milk composition and blood parameters Abstract: An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of ruminally protected methionine (Mepron®, Degussa AG, Germany) in dairy cows. Three weeks before calving 36 cows (Holstein and Czech Fleckvieh breeds) were assigned to one of the two dietary treatments (M and O), and received a total mixed ration with protected methionine at 18.2 g per head per day or without this supplement. After calving, both groups were divided into two subgroups and fed a diet for dairy cows based on ensiled feeds and concentrates for 90 days. A half of the cows received protected methionine (subgroups MM and OM), the other cows were fed the same diet without protected methionine (subgroups MO and OO). Milk yield in cows fed protected methionine for the whole experiment duration (cows MM) was higher and feed intake was lower than in cows of the other groups. The effect of protected methionine on milk yield was not, however, statistically significant (P > 0.05). Effects of protected methionine on milk fat and protein were small and inconsistent. Supplemental methionine significantly increased the methionine concentration in serum (P < 0.05) while the methionine concentration in milk was not increased quite significantly (P < 0.10). Concentrations of essential amino acids in milk were significantly or marginally significantly higher in cows fed protected methionine. In summary, the supplementation of ruminally protected methionine at 18.2 g per head per day had beneficial, but small and mostly statistically insignificant effects on milk performance and milk composition. Keywords: methionine, milk yield, milk components, serum Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 395-402 Volume: 54 Issue: 9 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1684-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1684-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200909-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:9:id:1684-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R. Pietrzak-Fiećko Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Commodities and Food Analysis, Faculty of Food Science, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: R. Tomczyński Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Horse Breeding and Riding, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: A. Świstowska Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Horse Breeding and Riding, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: Z. Borejszo Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Commodities and Food Analysis, Faculty of Food Science, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: E. Kokoszko Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Commodities and Food Analysis, Faculty of Food Science, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: K. Smoczyńska Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Commodities and Food Analysis, Faculty of Food Science, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Title: Effect of mare's breed on the fatty acid composition of milk fat Abstract: Gas chromatography and IDF Standard method (1999) were used to analyze the fatty acid composition of milk fat of mares originating from the following breeds: 10 of Wielkopolska breed, 10 Konik Polski Horses, and 9 Polish Cold-blooded Horses. Eighty-seven mare's milk samples were collected in the years 2000-2002. Unsaturated fatty acids were shown to prevail in the milk fat of mares of Wielkopolska breed (61.32%) and of Konik Polski mares (52.58%) whereas saturated acids prevailed in the milk fat of Cold Blooded mares (54.95%). The study revealed that the fatty acid composition of the investigated groups of mares was breed-specific. Of course, the impact of other uncontrolled factors such as nutrition is not excluded, either. Keywords: fatty acids, mare's milk, breed Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 403-407 Volume: 54 Issue: 9 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1683-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1683-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200909-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:9:id:1683-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: T. Erkens Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium Author-Name: G.A. Rohrer Author-Workplace-Name: USDA, ARS, US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, USA Author-Name: A. Van Zeveren Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium Author-Name: L.J. Peelman Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition, Genetics and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium Title: SNP detection in the porcine PPARGC1A promoter region and 3'UTR, and an association analysis in a Landrace-Duroc-Yorkshire population Abstract: Meat quality is of increasing economic importance to the pork industry today, which is in contrast with the more traditional focus of pig selection for lean growth. Meat quality is however determined by many factors with a complex mutual relationship. In this regard, PPARGC1A is a very interesting candidate gene because it not only plays a crucial role in energy and fat metabolism but also has an important influence on the muscle fibre type composition. However, only little is known about the regulation of expression of this gene in the pig and its usefulness in pig selection. In order to get a better understanding of the regulation of PPARGC1A expression, 1 898 base pairs (bp) from the promoter region and the complete 3'UTR (3 826 bp) were sequenced and screened for mutations in 7 diverse pig breeds. Respectively 5 and 6 new mutations were discovered in these regions, of which several were in complete linkage disequilibrium with each other. None of the detected SNPs appeared to be located in any conserved part of the sequence when comparing different species. In an association analysis with intramuscular fat percentage, leaf fat weight or last rib backfat depth carried out in a Landrace-Duroc-Yorkshire commercial research population (n = 960), no associations were detected for the new SNPs from this study or for 2 previously described SNPs in exon 8 and 9. The results from this study provide essential information on the sequence of the promoter region and 3'UTR of porcine PPARGC1A, necessary for unravelling the complex regulation of expression and functioning of this gene in the pig. Although no association with meat quality and fat deposition parameters was found for the newly discovered SNPs in the regulatory regions, these need to be used in future studies to (further) assess their usefulness as new selection criteria for improving meat quality while maintaining the leanness of the carcass. Keywords: association analysis, fat deposition, meat quality, pig, PPARGC1A, promoter region, SNP, 3'UTR Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 408-416 Volume: 54 Issue: 9 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/12/2009-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/12/2009-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200909-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:9:id:12-2009-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Čeřovský Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Praha-Uhříněves, Kostelec nad Orlicí workplace, Czech Republic Author-Name: S. Frydrychová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Praha-Uhříněves, Kostelec nad Orlicí workplace, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Lustyková Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Praha-Uhříněves, Kostelec nad Orlicí workplace, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Lipenský Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Praha-Uhříněves, Kostelec nad Orlicí workplace, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Rozkot Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Praha-Uhříněves, Kostelec nad Orlicí workplace, Czech Republic Title: Semen characteristics of boars receiving control diet and control diet supplemented with L-carnitine Abstract: The objective of this experiment was to test a hypothesis that L-carnitine supplemented diet would improve semen characteristics in 6 adult crossbred AI boars (Hampshire × Pietrain). The control and the tested diet were identical except the tested period (8 weeks) when the diet was supplemented with 2 g of L-carnitine per boar per day. The semen was collected regularly weekly by a gloved-hand technique. Semen volume, sperm motility and concentration, proportion of alive sperm cells and aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) activity of semen were determined immediately after the semen collection once every two weeks. Sperm survival rate, morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, seminal plasma mineral components and free amino acid concentration, L-carnitine concentration in semen plasma and in sperm cells were determined after the sample storage (-20°C) at a later time. The differences ascertained between the average values of semen characteristics in the control vs. tested period did not prove a true and unambiguous positive effect on boar semen parameters by dietary supplementation of L-carnitine as our data show in our study: volume (239.11 vs. 250.50 ml; P 0.518), sperm concentration (301.67 vs. 350.83 × 103/mm3; P 0.309), sperm progressive motility (66.94 vs. 70.00%; P 0.409), morphologically abnormal spermatozoa (29.00 vs. 27.46%; P 0.802), daily sperm cells output (9.86 vs. 11.71 × 109; P 0.206), proportion of alive sperm cells (72.56 vs. 74.13%; P 0.484), survival spermatozoa ability maintenance (43.29 vs. 38.68%; P < 0.01), mineral components in the seminal plasma (Na-, K-, Ca-, Mg-, Zn-; P from 0.138 to 0.968), AspAT activity (in semen plasma - 132.50 vs. 128.31 mU/109 spermatozoa; P 0.830, in sperm cells - 147.37 vs. 119.01 mU/109 spermatozoa; P 0.146), semen plasma amino acid concentration - a significant positive effect of L-carnitine in lysine only (0.79 vs.1.17 μmol/100 ml; P < 0.01), L-carnitine concentration (in semen plasma 255.40 vs. 259.97 mg/l; P 0.884, in sperm cells - 1 110.68 vs. 883.58 mg/l; P < 0.01). In conclusion, the studied indicators of semen quality were not significantly enhanced by dietary supplementation of L-carnitine in adult AI boars. Keywords: L-carnitine, semen parameters, boars Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 417-425 Volume: 54 Issue: 9 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1681-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1681-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200909-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:9:id:1681-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Komprej Author-Workplace-Name: University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Zootechnical Department, Domžale, Slovenia Author-Name: G. Gorjanc Author-Workplace-Name: University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Zootechnical Department, Domžale, Slovenia Author-Name: D. Kompan Author-Workplace-Name: University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Zootechnical Department, Domžale, Slovenia Author-Name: M. Kovač Author-Workplace-Name: University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Zootechnical Department, Domžale, Slovenia Title: Covariance components by a repeatability model in Slovenian dairy sheep using test-day records Abstract: The estimation of covariance components for daily milk yield, fat and protein content was performed in three Slovenian dairy sheep breeds (Bovec, Improved Bovec, and Istrian Pramenka). In the period 1994-2002, 38 983 test-day records of 3 068 ewes were collected according to ICAR regulations (method A4). All the available relationships between animals were considered. For that reason, information on 3 534 animals was included. Test-day records were analysed by a multiple-trait repeatability animal model. In its fixed part, the model contained breed and season of lambing as classes. Days after lambing, parity, and litter size were treated as covariates. Days after lambing were modelled with modified Ali-Schaeffer's lactation curve, parity with quadratic, and litter size with linear regression. The random part of the model consisted of flock-test month effect, additive genetic effect, permanent environment effect over lactations, and permanent environment effect within lactation. Covariance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method (REML). The estimated heritabilities were 0.11 for daily milk yield, 0.08 for fat content, and 0.10 for protein content. A relatively high variance ratio for all milk traits was explained by the flock-test month effect (from 0.27 for daily milk yield to 0.57 for protein content), while ratios explained by both permanent environment effects were lower (up to 0.13). Additive genetic correlations between daily milk yield and fat content, and daily milk yield and protein content were negative and similar (-0.36 and -0.37). A high and positive (0.67) additive genetic correlation between fat and protein content was found. Correlations for environmental effects showed a pattern similar to additive genetic correlations. Genetic parameters estimated in Slovenian dairy sheep showed that genetic progress in milk traits could be achieved using test-day milk records. Keywords: milk traits, genetic and environmental effects, heritability Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 426-434 Volume: 54 Issue: 9 Year: 2009 DOI: 10.17221/1680-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1680-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-200909-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:54:y:2009:i:9:id:1680-CJAS