Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Q.L. Xu Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Zhengzhou College of Animal Husbandry Engineering, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: G.W. Tang Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Zhengzhou College of Animal Husbandry Engineering, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Q.L. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Zhengzhou College of Animal Husbandry Engineering, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Y.K. Huang Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Zhengzhou College of Animal Husbandry Engineering, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: Y.X. Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Zhengzhou College of Animal Husbandry Engineering, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: K. Quan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Zhengzhou College of Animal Husbandry Engineering, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: K.Y. Zhu Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Zhengzhou College of Animal Husbandry Engineering, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Author-Name: C.X. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science and Technology, Zhengzhou College of Animal Husbandry Engineering, Zhengzhou, Henan, P.R. China Title: The FABP4 gene polymorphism is associated with meat tenderness in three Chinese native sheep breeds Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of sheep fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) gene with longissimus thoracis muscle (LT) meat quality traits in sheep. The FABP4 cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR method, and the sequence analysis showed that the open reading frame of sheep FABP4 is 399 bp and codes 132 amino acids. A mutation (A/G) detected in intron 1 of FABP4 gene was studied in 286 lambs of three Chinese native sheep breeds by PCR-SSCP procedure. Significant statistical association results revealed that AA genotype conferred higher tenderness (P < 0.05), muscle marbling score (P < 0.05) and intramuscular fat content (IMF; P < 0.05). Thus we suggested that the genotype AA could be regarded as a molecular marker for LT meat tenderness and IMF content in sheep. Keywords: sheep, FABP4 gene, polymorphism, intramuscular fat Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 1-6 Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/231/2009-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/231/2009-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201101-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:1:id:231-2009-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: H. Kohram Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvar, Iran Author-Name: V. Vahedi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Author-Name: S. Nasrollahi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Author-Name: A. Farahavar Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Title: Superovulation following follicular synchronization with GnRH at random stages of the oestrous cycle in heifers Abstract: The objective of this study was to develop a superovulatory program based on synchronization of follicular waves with GnRH which could be applied regardless of the stage of the oestrous cycle. 36 heifers were subjected to this experiment and GnRH (Cystorelin, 200 µg) was applied between Days 0 and 7 (n = 15), 8 and 12 (n = 8) or 13 and 20 (n = 13) of the oestrous cycle. Four days after GnRH treatment, all follicles ≥ 6 mm of heifers (n) were either punctured (n = 21) or left intact (n = 15). All heifers were superstimulated from Day 6 to Day 10 after GnRH treatment with 320 mg Folltropin-V. In parallel, 21 heifers were superstimulated in a conventional manner (Days 8 to 12) and were used as controls. The homogeneity of follicular inventories among Stage-groups occurred within 4 days of GnRH treatment for follicles ≥ 7 mm but only 2 days after follicular puncture for follicles 4 to 6 mm. In response to the follicular puncture, the mean number of follicles 4 to 6 mm increased in heifers of the punctured group (P < 0.01). Following the superstimulation, the follicular (P < 0.01) and ovulatory (P < 0.01) responses were higher in the punctured group than in the nonpunctured group. The in vivo production of transferable embryos in the punctured group was similar to that of the nonpunctured group but it was lower (P < 0.01) than in heifers of the control group. In conclusion, results from the present study indicate that regardless of the stage of the oestrous cycle, the homogeneity of follicular inventories following the follicular synchronization is obtained using GnRH treatment and follicular puncture. The in vivo production of embryos was severely compromised in the present study with heifers. Causes of such reduction in the in vivo production of embryos are still unknown. Keywords: oestrous cycle, GnRH, superstimulation, follicular puncture, heifer Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 7-14 Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/325/2009-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/325/2009-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201101-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:1:id:325-2009-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A.J. Strachecka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biological Basis of Animal Production, Faculty of Animals Biology and Breeding, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland Author-Name: M.M. Gryzińska Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biological Basis of Animal Production, Faculty of Animals Biology and Breeding, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland Author-Name: M. Krauze Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biochemistry and Toxicology, Faculty of Animals Biology and Breeding, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland Author-Name: K. Grzywnowicz Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, Poland Title: Profile of the body surface proteolytic systém in Apis mellifera quee Abstract: The proteolytic system on the body surface of the honey bee has been insufficiently researched. In this study the body surface proteolytic activity was examined in queens at various developmental stages (eggs, larvae, pupae and imagines) in different seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter). Extracts of the body surface material with water and detergent were used for an in vitro analysis of the proteolytic activity and protease inhibitor level assaying, as well as for an electrophoretic separation of the extracts in polyacrylamide gels. The following methods were used: protein content testing by the Lowry method (modified by Schacterle-Pollack), protease activity testing by the Anson method and protease inhibitor activity testing by the Lee and Lin method. Our studies revealed a high protease activity in an acidic environment (pH = 2.4; the material rinsed with detergent), as well as in neutral (pH = 7) and alkaline (pH = 11.2) environments (the material rinsed with water in both cases). The highest protein concentration values were observed in the imagines from summer. The lowest activities of the proteases and protease inhibitors were determined in the eggs from summer. The highest activities of the acidic, neutral and alkaline proteases were observed in the pupae from spring. The highest number of protease activity bands in PAGE zymography was obtained for the neutral and alkaline activities in the queens for all the seasons. In the queens all the catalytic protease types were present: asparagine and cysteine proteases at pH = 2.4; cysteine proteases and metalloproteases at pH = 7 and serine proteases at pH = 11.2. These results were crucial for the analysis of immunity mechanisms on the body surface of the honey bee. Keywords: Keywords: proteolytic system, Apis mellifera, queens Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 15-22 Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/150/2009-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/150/2009-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201101-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:1:id:150-2009-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Czauderna Author-Workplace-Name: Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jabłonna, Poland Author-Name: J. Kowalczyk Author-Workplace-Name: Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jabłonna, Poland Author-Name: M. Marounek Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J.P. Michalski Author-Workplace-Name: Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jabłonna, Poland Author-Name: A.J. Rozbicka-Wieczorek Author-Workplace-Name: Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jabłonna, Poland Author-Name: K.A. Krajewska Author-Workplace-Name: Kielanowski Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jabłonna, Poland Title: A new internal standard for HPLC assay of conjugated linoleic acid in animal tissues and milk Abstract: A new method for the quantification of underivatized conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers and CLA-metabolites by silver ion liquid chromatography (Ag+-HPLC) with photodiode array detection (DAD) is described. Conjugated fatty acids (CFA) and sorbic acid as the internal standard (IS) were separated on two 5 μm Chrompac ChromSpher Lipids columns (250 × 4.6 mm). Biological samples were hydrolyzed with 1M KOH in methanol and 2M KOH in water at room temperature for 12 h. Hydrolyzates were acidified and the free fatty acids were extracted with dichloromethane. The organic solvent was removed and then the residue was re-dissolved in hexane and centrifuged. The supernatant was injected onto the columns. The mobile phase of 1.6% acetic acid and 0.0125% acetonitrile in hexane was chosen as the optimum mobile phase for fractionation of IS, CLA isomers and CLA-metabolites in all assayed biological samples. The use of two silver ion-exchange columns with direct UV detection (Ag+-HPLC-DAD) offers satisfactory precision of the IS quantification and low limits of detection of IS and CLA isomers (0.60 and 0.21-0.35 ng, respectively). The presented simple Ag+-HPLC-DAD method with sorbic acid as the IS can be used for direct determination of underivatized CLA isomers in specimens of animal origin. Keywords: sorbic acid, internal standard, CLA isomers, HPLC, photodiode array detection, biological samples Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 23-29 Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/336/2009-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/336/2009-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201101-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:1:id:336-2009-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J.H. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Bioengineering College, Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P.R. China Author-Name: C.C. Wu Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Bioengineering College, Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P.R. China Author-Name: J. Feng Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Bioengineering College, Institute of Medicinal Chemistry, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P.R. China Title: Effect of dietary antibacterial peptide and zinc-methionine on performance and serum biochemical parameters in piglets Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of antibacterial peptide and zinc methionine on performance and some serum biochemical parameters of weaned piglets. Rongchang male piglets (28 days of age, initial weight 8.4 ± 0.65 kg) were used. All piglets were randomly allotted to four diets including the control group, the antibacterial peptide (AP) group containing 10 mg antibacterial peptide/kg diet, the zinc methionine (Zn-Met) group with 1 200 zinc methionine/kg diet (equal to 200 mg Zn2+/kg diet), the zinc methionine/antibacterial peptide (Zn/AP) group containing 10 mg antibacterial peptide and 1 200 mg zinc methionine/kg diet, respectively, in a 4-week feeding experiment. Each of these groups consisted of six replications with 8 pigs per replication. Average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) both improved in the antibacterial peptide group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05), zinc methionine group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05) and zinc methionine/antibacterial peptide group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), as compared with the control. Dietary zinc methionine also significantly reduced the diarrhoea ratio of piglets (P < 0.05). The serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were increased (P < 0.05) and total cholesterol (TC) decreased (P < 0.05) in the antibacterial peptide group and zinc-methionine group, the high density lipoprotein (HDL) increased (P < 0.05) in the zinc methionine group, as compared with the control. The results indicated that antibacterial peptide and zinc methionine were effective in improving growth performance, enhancing immune function, blood vessel function and antioxidant enzyme activity of piglets. Keywords: antimicrobial peptide, zinc amino acid, growth performance, serum indexes, weaned piglets Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 30-36 Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/341/2009-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/341/2009-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201101-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:1:id:341-2009-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Křížová Author-Workplace-Name: Agriresearch Rapotín, Ltd., Department of Animal Nutrition and Quality of Livestock Products, Pohořelice, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Richter Author-Workplace-Name: Agriresearch Rapotín, Ltd., Department of Animal Nutrition and Quality of Livestock Products, Pohořelice, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Třináctý Author-Workplace-Name: Agriresearch Rapotín, Ltd., Department of Animal Nutrition and Quality of Livestock Products, Pohořelice, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Říha Author-Workplace-Name: Agriresearch Rapotín, Ltd., Department of Animal Nutrition and Quality of Livestock Products, Pohořelice, Czech Republic Author-Name: D. Kumprechtová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Czech Republic Title: The effect of feeding live yeast cultures on ruminal pH and redox potential in dry cows as continuously measured by a new wireless device Abstract: An experiment was carried out on four dry Holstein cows fitted with rumen cannulas that were divided into two groups. The crossover design experiment was divided into 4 periods of 3 weeks. Each period consisted of a 17-day preliminary period followed by a 4-day experimental period. Cows were fed twice daily the total mixed ration based on maize silage and concentrate. Control cows (Control) received the basal diets while experimental animals (Yeast) received the basal diet supplemented with 3.0 g of live yeast (BIOSAF Sc 47, Lesaffre, France) at each feeding. During each experimental period ruminal pH and redox potential (Eh) were monitored continuously using a developed wireless probe. Further, in each experimental period five samples of ruminal fluid were taken at 6:30, 8:30, 10:30, 13:30 and 16:30 h to determine the content of volatile fatty acids, lactic acids and ammonia. On the last day of each period, blood samples were taken for determination of blood parameters and acid-base balance. Average daily dry matter intake throughout the experiment was 8.2 kg/day and was not affected by the treatment. The average ruminal pH in Control was 6.16 that was significantly lower than in Yeast, being 6.26 (P < 0.001). The diurnal pattern of ruminal pH showed a similar trend in both groups. Mean Eh in Control (-210 mV) differed significantly from Yeast (-223 mV, P < 0.001). The mean value of rH (Clark's Exponent) calculated for Control (5.33) was higher than that calculated for Yeast (5.09, P < 0.001). Total VFA concentrations were on average 40.8mM in Control and 57.2mM in Yeast (P > 0.05). Lactate and ammonia concentrations at individual sampling times and overall mean did not differ significantly between treatments (P > 0.05). Blood pH and CO2 were not affected by the treatment. Keywords: rumen, physicochemical parameters, Clark's Exponent, wireless measurement Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 37-45 Volume: 56 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/39/2010-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/39/2010-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201101-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:1:id:39-2010-CJAS