Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Rzewuska Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland Author-Name: J. Jamrozik Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal and Poultry Science, Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada Author-Name: A. Żarnecki Author-Workplace-Name: National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland Author-Name: T. Strabel Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Animal Breeding and Biology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland Title: Genetic parameters of test-day somatic cell scores for the first three lactations of Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle Abstract: Genetic parameters for somatic cell score in the first three lactations of Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle were estimated. A multiple-lactation model was applied with random herd-test-day effect, fixed regressions for herd-year and age-season of calving, and random regressions for the additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. The large data set was used that included over one million test-day records and more than 58 000 cows. Estimates of covariance components and genetic parameters were obtained by Bayesian methods using the Gibbs sampler. Average daily heritabilities of somatic cell score (SCS) in the first three lactations were 0.11, 0.12 and 0.14 for the first, second and third lactation, respectively. Estimates of daily heritabilities were rather independent of days in milk (DIM), with no serious abnormalities at the beginning or the end of lactation. Average genetic correlations between SCS on the same DIM were 0.68, 0.62 and 0.70 for first and second, first and third, and second and third parities, respectively, and did not exceed 0.77. The low level of heritability estimates and relatively low genetic correlations between lactations would suggest that selection based on the first lactation only could limit a response in mastitis resistance for later lactations. Keywords: heritability, genetic correlation, somatic cell count, dairy cattle Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 381-389 Volume: 56 Issue: 9 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/1288-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1288-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201109-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:9:id:1288-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Król Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ichthyology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: R. Kowalski Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: K. Demska-Zakęś Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ichthyology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: P. Hliwa Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ichthyology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: J. Glogowski Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ichthyology, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland Title: Proteolytic and anti-proteolytic activity in the seminal plasma of Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) during the spawning period Abstract: The aim of this study was to describe possible changes in protease and anti-protease activity in the seminal plasma of European perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) during the spawning time. No significant difference in proteolytic activity was observed between the beginning and the late period of the spawning season in perch. Anti-protease activity significantly increased during the sampling time. Electrophoretic profiles of gelatinolytic activity in the seminal plasma of perch were characterized by four molecular forms, which depend on the presence of Ca2+ during incubation. We also found two forms of caseinolytic activity with low molecular weights, which were independent of calcium ions. However, both activities were fully stopped by the chelator of calcium ions (EDTA). In this study, non-typical profiles of gelatinolytic acti-vity were also observed. Profiles of protease activities in the perch seminal plasma are constant during the reproduction season indicating that the regulation of protease activity in seminal plasma occurs via protease inhibitors which are abundant in this fluid. Results concerning electrophoresis revealed at least seven forms of anti-proteases in the seminal plasma of perch. Concluded, anti-proteases comprise a high percentage of all proteins in the seminal plasma of perch, while the increase at the end of spawning season is probably protecting spermatozoa during the spawning time in perch testes. Keywords: European perch, seminal plasma, protease and anti-protease activity Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 390-397 Volume: 56 Issue: 9 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/1291-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1291-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201109-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:9:id:1291-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Skřivan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition Physiology and Animal Product Quality, Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Englmaierová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition Physiology and Animal Product Quality, Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: G. Dlouhá Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition Physiology and Animal Product Quality, Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: I. Bubancová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition Physiology and Animal Product Quality, Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Skřivanová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition Physiology and Animal Product Quality, Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Title: High dietary concentrations of methionine reduce the selenium content, glutathione peroxidase activity and oxidative stability of chicken meat Abstract: Three experiments (EXP) were conducted using two hundred seventy male chicks Ross 308 in each (90 cockerels per treatment; 3 replications, 30 chickens per pen) for 42, 38 and 35 days. The basal diets (treatment 1) for three EXPs contained the identical ingredients, and the concentration of selenium (Se), methionine (Met) and total sulphur amino acids (TSAA) in the control diet was 0.11 mg/kg, 5.65 g per kg and 9.25 g/kg, respectively. Chicks in dietary treatment 2 were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.3 mg/kg of Se (EXP 1, 2 and 3) and in dietary treatment 3 they were fed a basal diet with the addition of 0.3 mg/kg of Se and 1 g/kg (EXP 1 and 2) or 2.5 g/kg of dl-methionine (EXP 3). In EXP 1, sodium selenite and in EXP 2 and 3 Se-enriched yeast were used as sources of supplemental selenium, respectively. The results indicated that the addition of Se or Se and Met into the diet of broilers did not significantly affect the final live weight of chickens and the feed consumption. Moreover, the concentration of Met (P = 0.004), Cys (P = 0.01) and tyrosine (P < 0.001) in breast muscle increased with an increase in dietary Met content, and the isoleucine concentration decreased (P < 0.001). Moreover, the addition of inorganic and organic sources of Se increased the Se content of breast meat (P < 0.001). On the other hand, the addition of Met decreased the concentration of Se (P < 0.001) in breast meat and reduced glutathione peroxidase activity and oxidative stability of raw breast muscle (P = 0.019, P < 0.001) and breast meat stored for 3 days (P = 0.016, P = 0.006) in EXP 2 and 3. Keywords: surplus of methionine, selenium, chicken diet, meat quality, performance, male broiler Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 398-405 Volume: 56 Issue: 9 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/1289-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1289-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201109-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:9:id:1289-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Żyła Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Food Biotechnology, University of Agriculture, Krakow, Poland Author-Name: M. Mika Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Food Biotechnology, University of Agriculture, Krakow, Poland Author-Name: S. Świątkiewicz Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland Author-Name: J. Koreleski Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Balice, Poland Author-Name: J. Piironen Author-Workplace-Name: AB Enzymes Oy, Rajamäki, Finland Title: Effects of phytase B on laying performance, eggshell quality and on phosphorus and calcium balance in laying hens fed phosphorus-deficient maize-soybean meal diets Abstract: A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of phytase B (product of the Aspergillus niger phyB gene expressed in Trichoderma reesei) on feed intake, laying performance, eggshell quality, and on phosphorus and calcium balance in laying hens. Seventy-two, 40 weeks old Hy Line Brown hens were fed for 14 weeks the following four phosphorus-deficient (0.12% nonphytate phosphorus, NPP), maize-soybean meal-based diets: (1) calcium-deficient (2.8% Ca) control diet; (2) diet 1 + phytase B at the activity of 2.5 acid phosphatase units (AcPU/kg); (3) control diet (3.8% Ca); (4) diet 3 + phytase B at the activity of 2.5 AcPU/ kg. Each dietary treatment was fed to 18 cages of hens, 1 hen/cage kept in individual cages. Hens fed the NPP- and Ca-deficient diets consumed more feed (P < 0.01) and excreted less calcium (P < 0.01) than those receiving P-deficient diets with the standard calcium level. There were no effects of calcium level on feed utilization, egg mass, egg weight, and eggshell breaking strength. Egg production, although numerically higher in hens fed low Ca diets with no enzyme added, failed to be significantly different due to the low number of hens investigated and therefore the measurement should be considered as preliminary and supplementary. Phytase B increased mean egg weight by about 7% in layers fed the NPP- and Ca-deficient diet (Ca × phytase B interaction, P < 0.05), increased shell breaking strength, particularly at the standard calcium level, significantly enhanced amounts of calcium retained by layers and amounts of phosphorus retained by hens fed the Ca-deficient diets. Additionally, phytase B improved Ca retention at both dietary Ca levels and phosphorus retention in hens fed the Ca-deficient diets. Results of the study indicate that the efficacy of phytase B in NPP-deficient diets is strongly influenced by the dietary calcium level and the enzyme may modulate egg weight, eggshell quality, phosphorus and calcium retention in laying hens fed low-NPP, maize-soybean meal-based diets. Keywords: phytase B, laying hen, laying performance, eggshell quality, retention of P and Ca Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 406-413 Volume: 56 Issue: 9 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/1290-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1290-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201109-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:9:id:1290-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Z. Veselá Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Vostrý Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Šafus Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Title: Linear and linear-threshold model for genetic parameters for SEUROP carcass traits in Czech beef cattle Abstract: The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for the results of classifying of carcass traits by the SEUROP method in beef cattle in the Czech Republic using linear and linear-threshold models. Genetic parameters were calculated and evaluated in a set of 4276 animals of eleven beef breeds and crosses with dairy and dual-purpose breeds (Aberdeen Angus - 1376, Hereford - 994, Simmental - 651, Charolais - 524, Piemontese - 185, Galloway - 162, Blonde d'Aquitaine - 147, Limousine - 106, Highland - 53, Gasconne - 44, Belgian Blue - 34) in 2005-2008. Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, Charolais and beef Simmental were the most numerous breeds. Fixed effect of a classifier, fixed regression on age at slaughter by means of Legendre polynomial of the second degree separately for the each breed and sex and fixed regression on heterosis coefficient were included in a model equation. Genetic parameters were estimated by a multi-trait animal model using a linear model and a linear-threshold model in which carcass weight (CW) was considered as the linear trait and carcass conformation (CC) and carcass fatness (CF) grading as threshold traits. The heritability coefficient for CW differed only moderately according to the method of the genetic parameter estimation (0.295 in linear model and 0.306 in linear-threshold model). The heritability coefficient for CC was 0.187 in linear model and 0.237 in linear-threshold model. The heritability coefficient for CF grading was 0.089 in linear model and 0.146 in linear-threshold model. Genetic correlation between CW and CC was high (0.823 in linear model and 0.959 in linear-threshold model), the correlation between CW and CF was intermediate (0.332 and 0.328, respectively) and it was low between CF and CC (0.071 and 0.053). If CW was included in the model equation as fixed regression using Legendre polynomial, lower heritability coefficients for CC (0.077 and 0.078) and CF (0.086 and 0.123) were calculated and the correlation between CC and CF was negative (-0.430 and -0.429). Keywords: genetic parameters, heritability, genetic correlation, REML, EUROP Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 414-426 Volume: 56 Issue: 9 Year: 2011 DOI: 10.17221/1292-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/1292-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201109-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:56:y:2011:i:9:id:1292-CJAS