Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Stevanovic Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Author-Name: Z. Stanimirovic Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Author-Name: V. Dimitrijevic Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Author-Name: M. Maletic Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Title: Evaluation of 11 microsatellite loci for their use in paternity testing in Yugoslav Pied cattle (YU Simmental cattle) Abstract: Eleven microsatellite loci (TGLA227, BM2113, TGLA53, ETH10, SPS115, TGLA126, TGLA122, INRA023, ETH3, ETH225, BM1824) were evaluated for their use in paternity testing in the Yugoslav Pied cattle (YU Simmental cattle) population in Serbia. A total of 40 animals were tested. At the 11 tested loci, a total of 91 alleles were detected. The mean number of alleles per locus was 8.273. Polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.58 to 0.88 with the mean value of 0.72. The most informative loci were: TGLA53 (14 alleles, PIC = 0.88), TGLA227 (11 alleles, PIC = 0.82), INRA023 (11 alleles, PIC = 0.86), BM2113 (9 alleles, PIC = 0.80). Combined power of discrimination (CPD) for the 11 microsatellite loci was 0.999. The results of the present study confirm that the analysed set of 11 microsatellite markers recommended by ISAG is suitable for paternity testing in Yugoslav Pied cattle in Serbia. Keywords: molecular markers, informativeness, bovines, pedigree, Serbia Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 221-226 Volume: 55 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/183/2009-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/183/2009-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201006-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:55:y:2010:i:6:id:183-2009-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Zwierzchowski Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland Author-Name: E. Siadkowska Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland Author-Name: J. Oprządek Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland Author-Name: K. Flisikowski Author-Workplace-Name: Technical University of Münich, Chair of Animal Breeding, Freising, Germany Author-Name: E. Dymnicki Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland Title: An association of C/T polymorphism in exon 2 of the bovine insulin-like growth factor 2 gene with meat production traits in Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle Abstract: The effect of the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene polymorphism - a g.292C>T transition in exon 2 on feed uptake and conversion, growth rates, and meat production traits in Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle was investigated. A total of 291 young bulls were genotyped using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP-BsrI). Animals were slaughtered at the age of 11 or 15 months and carcass traits were examined. At the age of 11 months the association was shown of the CC genotype with higher cold carcass weight, daily gain and meat content (%) in valuable cuts. At 15 months of age the CC genotype bulls showed higher live body weight, whereas those with the CT genotype had more fat in valuable cuts. The TT genotype bulls appeared to consume more feed (dry matter and protein) and used more feed for maintenance and meat production as compared to the CC genotype. The imprinting status of the IGF2 gene was analysed using cDNA sequencing and RFLP-BsrI. In 15-months-old animals and in foetuses older than two months both IGF2 alleles, maternal and paternal, were equally expressed in liver. In a 2-months-old male foetus the IGF2 mRNA was primarily expressed from the paternal allele. Keywords: IGF2, cattle, polymorphism, imprinting, meat traits Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 227-233 Volume: 55 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/94/2009-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/94/2009-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201006-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:55:y:2010:i:6:id:94-2009-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Šichtař Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: R. Tolman Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: R. Rajmon Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Klabanová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Berka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Volek Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute of Animal Production, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Title: A comparison of the follicular dynamics in heifers of the Czech Fleckvieh and Holstein breeds Abstract: Differences in follicular development and repeatability of follicular growth pattern among Czech Fleckvieh (n = 20) and Holstein (n = 23) heifers were investigated. Follicular dynamics was evaluated by daily sonographic scanning during three interovulatory intervals. The mean duration of the interovulatory interval was 20.66 ± 0.32 days, no differences between breeds were observed. The proportion of the non-alterna-ting pattern was nearly the same as that of the alternating pattern (54% and 46%, respectively). The majority of IOIs ≤ 21 days were of the 2-wave pattern (71%) whereas only 29% of them were of the 3-wave pattern. Conversely, the majority of IOIs ≥ 22 days were of the 3-wave pattern (84%), whereas only 16% were of the 2-wave pattern. Differences could be observed in the Czech Fleckvieh heifers. Comparing 2- and 3-wave interovulatory intervals, 44.2% of the heifers exhibited 3 waves and 55.8% of the heifers exhibited 2 waves of follicular growth. The ratio of 3- to 2-wave heifers was about the same in the Holstein breed; in Czech Fleckvieh 2-wave cycles slightly dominated (11/12, 8/12; respectively). In Holstein heifers, the first follicular wave occurred 0.92 ± 0.15 days after ovulation in 2-wave interovulatory intervals, and the emergence of the first wave in 2-wave Czech Fleckvieh heifers appeared later (P < 0.05), 1.83 ± 0.3 days after ovulation. The maximal size reached by the dominant follicles in all animals and in the Czech Fleckvieh differed in the first and in the second wave of 2-wave cycles (P < 0.05). In 3-wave interovulatory intervals the dominant follicles in the second wave differed (P < 0.05) from the mean diameters of the first and the third wave in the Czech Fleckvieh. The ovulatory follicles were significantly (P < 0.05) smaller in 2-wave than in 3-wave interovulatory intervals among all animals and between the Holstein and Czech Fleckvieh heifers. In conclusion, we found a similar pattern of ovarian follicular dynamics in Czech Fleckvieh and Holstein heifers kept under identical nutritional and environmental conditions. Whether the significant difference in the emergence of the 1st fol-licular wave in 2-wave IOIs between C and H heifers is of real biological significance is ambiguous. Keywords: cattle, oestrous cycle, bovine ovary, ovarian follicular wave, repeatability Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 234-242 Volume: 55 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/242/2009-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/242/2009-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201006-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:55:y:2010:i:6:id:242-2009-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Vučemilo Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Hygiene, Environment and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: B. Vinković Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratory of Ecology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: K. Matković Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Hygiene, Environment and Ethology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: I. Štoković Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Stockbreeding, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: S. Jakšić Author-Workplace-Name: ZIN-LAB Laboratory for Foodstuffs of Animal Origin, Zagreb Veterinary Clinic, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: S. Radović Author-Workplace-Name: Inspection Directorate, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Physical Planning and Construction, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: K. Granić Author-Workplace-Name: ZIN-LAB Laboratory for Foodstuffs of Animal Origin, Zagreb Veterinary Clinic, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: Đ. Stubičan Author-Workplace-Name: Library, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Title: The influence of housing systems on the air quality and bacterial eggshell contamination of table eggs Abstract: This paper compares two different housing systems for laying hens producing table eggs, namely a conventional cage system and an aviary, during three summer months, starting from the 20th week of the production cycle. Research was focused on airborne bacteria, fungi and dust levels and on the bacterial eggshell contamination. Levels of airborne bacteria determined in the aviary system were many times higher and ranged from 6.2 × 104 CFU/m3 to 8.9 × 104 CFU/m3, and the levels of airborne fungi ranged from 1.6 × 104 to 1.9 × 104 CFU/m3, while the levels of airborne bacteria and fungi determined in the conventional cage system ranged from 1.6 × 104 to 2.5 × 104 CFU/m3 and from 0.8 × 104 to 1.3 × 104 CFU/m3, respectively. Microbial air contamination was associated with eggshell contamination, with the levels in the aviary ranging from 5.4 × 103 to 9.6 × 103 CFU/eggshell and those in the conventional cage system ranging from 2.3 × 103 to 3.6 × 103 CFU/eggshell. Airborne dust levels in the aviary and conventional cage system ranged from 3.2 to 4.6 mg/m3 and from 0.7 to 1.2 mg/m3, respectively. From the aspect of animal welfare and behavioural requirements, alternative systems, i.e. aviaries, appear more acceptable; however, they are not satisfactory from hygienic aspects because of a higher content of airborne pollutants which can represent a greater risk of horizontal contamination of the egg content. Keywords: conventional cage system, aviary, air hygiene, eggshell, microorganisms Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 243-249 Volume: 55 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/64/2009-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/64/2009-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201006-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:55:y:2010:i:6:id:64-2009-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Sokolowska-Mikolajczyk Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ichthyobiology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Krakow-Mydlniki, Poland Author-Name: M. Socha Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ichthyobiology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Krakow-Mydlniki, Poland Author-Name: P. Epler Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ichthyobiology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Krakow-Mydlniki, Poland Title: Steroid effects on the in vitro LH secretion from pituitary cells of sexually immature carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) under the influence of naltrexone and morphine Abstract: Dispersed cells from sexually immature carp (footlings) pituitaries were exposed to estradiol (E2) or testosterone (T) (both at 3 × 10-8 M) in the presence of opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone (10-8 or 10-6 M) and/or agonist - morphine (10-8 or 10-6 M). Naltrexone alone at 10-6 M increased the LH level as compared with the control. Morphine (10-8 or 10-6 M), T and E2 had no influence on LH levels. The combination of T with naltrexone (10-8 M) stimulated LH release if compared with the control or with T alone. Morphine (both concentrations) with T caused significantly higher LH secretion than the control medium and T alone. Estradiol with naltrexone (10-8 and 10-6 M) had no influence on LH concentration. In media with E2 and morphine (10-8 M) LH levels were higher than in the control and estradiol alone. The results show that in common carp sex steroids affect the response of pituitary cells to opioid agonist or antagonist giving an evidence on the role of steroids in LH release mediated by the opioid system. Keywords: common carp, in vitro LH secretion, morphine, naltrexone, sex steroids Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 250-257 Volume: 55 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/131/2009-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/131/2009-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201006-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:55:y:2010:i:6:id:131-2009-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Hakl Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forage Crops and Grassland Management, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Šantrůček Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forage Crops and Grassland Management, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Fuksa Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forage Crops and Grassland Management, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Krajíc Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forage Crops and Grassland Management, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Title: The use of indirect methods for the prediction of lucerne quality in the first cut under the conditions of Central Europe Abstract: The goal of this study was to compare the growing degree-days (GDD) and predictive equations for alfalfa quality (PEAQ) for the prediction of lucerne quality and to test their accuracy and suitability in the first cut period in Central Bohemia. Several additional stand parameters were verified in order to increase the accuracy of the quality estimate under these environmental conditions. In 2004-2007, the measurement and sampling were repeatedly realized from the late vegetative to the early bloom stage in six replications. For the GDD model across the years, the obtained R2 for NDF, ADF and CP were 0.40, 0.57 and 0.65, respectively. It seems that the forage quality response to accumulated GDD was related to the stand development and it could be the reason for low R2 across all the years. For the PEAQ model, R2 were 0.62, 0.92, and 0.85, respectively. Similarly like in the GDD model, the effect of stand development across the years on changes in the slopes of equations was observed. The accuracy of the model combination was not higher in comparison with the PEAQ model. The count of stems per plant, density of stems per m2, dry matter yield and average stem weight improved the NDF content prediction within a four-year period. In these models, variables which represent the stand development should be taken into account. Keywords: forage, alfalfa, quality, stand, fibre Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 258-265 Volume: 55 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/86/2009-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/86/2009-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201006-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:55:y:2010:i:6:id:86-2009-CJAS