Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Strychalski Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: U. Czarnik Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: M. Pierzchała Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences in Jastrzębiec, Poland Author-Name: C.S. Pareek Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratory of Functional Genomics, Institute of General and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology and Earth Science, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Title: Relationship between the insertion/deletion polymorphism within the promoter and the intron 1 sequence of the PRNP gene and milk performance traits in cattle Abstract: Current studies on the prion protein (PRNP) gene polymorphism focus primarily on the causative mutations that influence BSE susceptibility in cattle. The specific genetic structure determined by the insertion/deletion (indel) polymorphism within the 23 bp promoter sequence and the 12 bp intron 1 sequence of the PRNP gene, and its genomic location suggest that this polymorphism can be a potential QTL marker. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the indel polymorphism within the promoter sequence (23 bp) and the intron 1 sequence (12 bp) of the PRNP gene can be used as a factor differentiating the values of milk performance traits. The experimental materials comprised 285 primiparous Polish Holstein-Friesian cows, daughters of two dihybrid (23ins-12ins/23del-12del) sires (progeny of sire 1 - 149 cows, progeny of sire 2 - 136 cows). The following milk performance traits were analysed: milk yield, milk fat yield, milk protein yield, fat and protein contents of milk during the first 305-day lactation. The polymorphism in the promoter region (23 bp) was found to have a significant (P = 0.040) effect on protein yield and a highly significant (P = 0.007) effect on the protein content of milk. The highest values of these traits were noted in 23 ins/del heterozygotes and the lowest in 23 del/del homozygotes. There was an interrelation between diplotype variants and the concentrations of milk components. The protein content of milk was highly significantly (P = 0.007) higher in 23ins-12ins/23del-12del heterozygotes and significantly (P = 0.028) higher in 23ins-12ins/23ins-12ins homozygotes, compared to 23del-12ins/23del-12del cows. 23ins-12ins/23del-12del heterozygotes were also characterized by a significantly (P = 0.046) higher fat content of milk, in comparison with 23del-12del/23del-12del homozygotes. Keywords: Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle, PRNP polymorphism, milk performance traits, QTL marker Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 151-156 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/1436-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1436-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201104-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:4:id:1436-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Němcová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science Praha Uhříněves, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Štípková Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science Praha Uhříněves, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Zavadilová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science Praha Uhříněves, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Genetic parameters for linear type traits in Czech Holstein cattle Abstract: The objectives of this study were to estimate genetic parameters for 18 currently recorded linear conformation traits in Czech Holstein cattle. The data set consisted of 78 886 first-lactating Holstein cows. Traits, all scored on a 9-point scale, were fore udder attachment, rear udder height, udder depth, rear udder width, central ligament, teat length, front teat placement, rear teat position, stature, angularity, chest width, body depth, rump angle, rump width, rear legs rear view, rear leg set (side view), foot angle, and bone quality. Uni- and bivariate animal models were used. The models included fixed effects of herd-date of classification-classifier, classifier, and season of calving, quadratic regressions on age at calving and on days in milk and the random effect of animal. Heritability estimates obtained in univariate and in bivariate analyses were of similar magnitude. Heritabilities ranged from 0.17 to 0.32 for udder traits, 0.10 to 0.16 for foot and leg traits, and 0.18 to 0.45 for traits related to body size. Genetic correlations among the currently recorded linear traits ranged from -0.67 between foot angle and rear leg set (side view) to 0.75 between fore udder attachment and udder depth. Substantial genetic correlations were found for the following pairs of traits: rear udder height and rear udder width (0.70), chest width and body depth (0.69), front teat placement and rear teat position (0.68), angularity and bone quality (0.67). Corresponding phenotypic correlations for most pairs of traits were similar in direction but smaller in magnitude than the genetic correlations. Keywords: linear type traits, genetic parameters, dairy cattle Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 157-162 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/1435-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1435-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201104-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:4:id:1435-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Vostrý Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Science Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science Praha Uhříněves, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: O. Kracíková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Science Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: B. Hofmanová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Science Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Czerneková Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science Praha Uhříněves, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: T. Kott Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science Praha Uhříněves, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Přibyl Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science Praha Uhříněves, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Breeding, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Science Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Intra-line and inter-line genetic diversity in sire lines of the Old Kladruber horse based on microsatellite analysis of DNA Abstract: The Old Kladruber horse is the oldest original Czech horse breed - gene resource, with pedigree records spanning three centuries. Because the population is closed, there is a concern about the loss of genetic variation. The genetic diversity within and amongst sire lines was evaluated using microsatellite markers and based on pedigree information. The DNA analysis, covering 16 microsatellite loci, revealed that the genetic diversity (observed heterozygosity = 0.637, genetic diversity = 0.678 and the mean number of alleles = 8.25) for the Old Kladruber horse is consistent with other populations of horses. Inter-line genetic difference in sire lines reached the mean value (the FST values ranged from 0.020 to 0.017). Differences amongst the sire lines were identified using genetic distances and principal component analysis. One gene cluster comprised black variation sire lines, while the second cluster included the sire lines of the grey variation. In the subjects monitored, the average inbreeding coefficient of 0.076 was estimated on the basis of pedigree information. The highest mean values of the coefficient of relationship were estimated within the colour variations. When comparing the genetic distance and the average coefficient of relationship, differences were found out. These results are useful for the development of breeding strategies which consider classical horse breeding as well as recent achievements of population and conservation genetics. Keywords: genetic variability, genetic structure, conservation, microsatellite DNA, Kladruber horse, line Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 163-175 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/1437-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1437-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201104-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:4:id:1437-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Dvořáková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: R. Stupka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Šprysl Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Čítek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Okrouhlá Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: E. Kluzáková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: H. Kratochvílová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Effect of missense mutation Asp298Asn in MC4R on growth and fatness traits in commercial pig crosses in the Czech Republic Abstract: The current knowledge of factors regulating voluntary feed intake in pigs is quite limited. The objective of this study was to test the influence of the missense mutation p.Asp298Asn (AF087937:c.746G>A) of the MC4R gene on selected production traits in pig crosses. These crosses are commonly used on commercial farms in the Czech Republic. The allele frequencies of c.746G>A were as follows: G allele - 0.59 and A allele - 0.41. We detected statistically significant differences in the content of intramuscular fat in the musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis, and a similar trend was observed in shoulder and neck. A allele correlated with higher values of fatness and G allele with a higher percentage of lean meat. However, we did not find any significant influence on either feed intake or growth rate in this study. For another mutation, p.Arg236His (NM_214173.1:c.707G>A), frequencies of alleles were disproportional (A allele - 0.02 and G allele - 0.98), only two genotypes were observed (AG and GG) and linkage disequilibrium was not detected. Therefore, we assume that the effect of this polymorphism on growth rate and fatness in the Czech population of pigs is negligible. Keywords: MC4R, growth, fatness, pig Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 176-180 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/1305-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1305-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201104-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:4:id:1305-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: X.J. Dai Author-Workplace-Name: China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, P. R. China Author-Name: C. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Q. Zhu Author-Workplace-Name: Xiuzhou Municipal Bureau of Livestock Veterinary, Jiaxing, P.R. China Title: Milk performance of dairy cows supplemented with rape seed oil, peanut oil, and sunflower seed oil Abstract: The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of supplementing different plant oils to the basal diet on milk yield and milk composition in mid-lactating dairy cows. Forty Chinese Holstein dairy cows averaging 120 days in milk (DIM) at the start of the experiment (body weight = 580 ± 18.2 kg; milk yield = 33.0 ± 2.00 kg/day) were used in a completely randomized block design. The animals were assigned to four dietary treatments according to DIM and milk yield, and supplemented with no oil (control), 2% rapeseed oil (RSO), 2% peanut oil (PNO) and 2% sunflower seed oil (SFO). Milk yield and milk composition (fat, protein, and lactose) were measured. Dry matter intake was similar in all treatments. The supplementation of plant oil increased milk yield, with the highest milk yield in RSO group. Percentages of milk fat, lactose, solids-not-fat and SCC were not affected by treatments except for an increase in milk protein content in oil supplemented groups. The fatty acid (FA) profile of milk was altered by fat supplementation. Feeding plant oils reduced the proportion of both short-chain (C4:0 to C12:0) and medium-chain (C14:0 to C16:1) fatty acids, and increased the proportion of long-chain (≥ C18:0) fatty acids in milk fat. The inclusion of vegetable oils increased the concentration of cis-9, trans-11 CLA. The cis-9, trans-11 CLA content in milk fat was higher from RSO to PNO and SFO was higher than the control. The TVA concentration was higher in the SFO diet, followed by PNO, RSO, and control diets. The results of this study indicated that linoleic acid was more effective in enhancing contents of TVA and CLA in milk fat than oleic acid. No significant effects of week and treatment by week interaction were found out in this study. Overall, feeding plant oils increased monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and decreased saturated fatty acids in milk fat. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of RSO increases milk yield the most, while SFO enhances the cis-9, trans-11 CLA content in milk fat more effectively. Keywords: conjugated linoleic acid, oleic acid, fatty acid, milk performance Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 181-191 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/1434-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1434-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201104-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:4:id:1434-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: B.Y. Liu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China Author-Name: Z.Y. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China Author-Name: H.R. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China Author-Name: P. Hu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China Author-Name: D. Xu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China Author-Name: Q. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, P.R. China Title: Molecular profiling of bacterial species in the geese cecum Abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyse the microbial diversity in the caecum of geese using a 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rRNA) clone library approach. A total of 160 clones and 124 clones were sequenced and phylogenetically analysed from the contents and mucosa of the caecum of Yang Zhou geese, respectively. The result indicated that there was a rich variety of bacteria in the caecum contents. Forty-six operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on a 98% similarity criterion were classified in the contents of goose caecum, as compared to 29 OTUs based on a 97% similarity criterion in the mucosa of goose caecum. The sequences were assigned to 7 and 5 groups in the contents and mucosa of goose caecum, respectively. Contents of goose caecum were dominantly occupied by Clostridia-related species (58.7%) with other abundant sequences being related to Bacteroidetes (26.9%) and Erysipelotrichi (11.2%). Gammaproteobacteria (59.6%) and Clostridia (20.1%) were predominant in the mucosa of goose caecum. Keywords: geese, caecum, microbiota, phylogenetic analysis Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 192-203 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/1433-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1433-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201104-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:4:id:1433-CJAS