Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: C.S. Pareek Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Workplace-Name: Functional Genomics in Biological and Biomedical Research, Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Name: J. Michno Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Workplace-Name: Functional Genomics in Biological and Biomedical Research, Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Name: R. Smoczynski Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Workplace-Name: Functional Genomics in Biological and Biomedical Research, Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Name: J. Tyburski Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Workplace-Name: Functional Genomics in Biological and Biomedical Research, Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Name: M. Gołębiewski Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Workplace-Name: Functional Genomics in Biological and Biomedical Research, Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Name: K. Piechocki Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Workplace-Name: Functional Genomics in Biological and Biomedical Research, Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Name: M. Średzińska Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Biology and Environment Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Workplace-Name: Functional Genomics in Biological and Biomedical Research, Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland Author-Name: M. Pierzchała Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Science, Jastrzębiec, 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: S. Ponsuksili Author-Workplace-Name: The Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany Author-Name: K. Wimmers Author-Workplace-Name: The Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany Title: Identification of predicted genes expressed differentially in pituitary gland tissue of young growing bulls revealed by cDNA-AFLP technique Abstract: Differentially expressed transcript derived fragments (TDFs) of bovine pituitary gland tissue at different developmental ages of Limousine and Hereford bulls were identified by cDNA-AFLP technique. Study revealed comparatively higher differentially expressed transcripts in 6-month Limousine bulls and 12-month Hereford bulls. The BLASTn/p analysis identified 3 and 21 predicted genes which gave significant e-values for Limousine and Hereford respectively, in assembled Bos taurus genome. The identified predicted genes expressed in bovine pituitary gland showed their mapped positions on bovine chromosomes: BTA2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15-23, 26, and 28, respectively. Results based on TDF annotation identified 10 sequences that have BLAST hits to known annotated bovine genes and 14 sequences to unannotated contig regions in the latest gene Ensembl database Btau_4.0. Two breed specific predicted target genes were validated by qRT-PCR. Within and between breeds, qRT-PCR results revealed highly significant differences in the expression levels of bovine euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) and NCK adaptor protein 2 (NCK2) predicted genes. Obtained results conclude that cDNA-AFLP is a reliable technique for studying within breed age dependent gene expression patterns. Keywords: Bos taurus, breeds, differential display, gene expression, Hereford, Limousine, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, restriction enzymes, developmental ages, real time PCR Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 147-158 Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6709-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6709-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201304-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:4:id:6709-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Kubelková Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Genetics, Improvement and Nutrition of Animals, Agricultural Faculty, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Author-Name: D. Jalč Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: P. Homolka Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: B. Čermák Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Genetics, Improvement and Nutrition of Animals, Agricultural Faculty, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic Title: Effect of dietary supplementation with treated amaranth seeds on fermentation parameters in an artificial rumen Abstract: The rumen simulating technique (RUSITEC) was used to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of amaranth seeds on the rumen fermentation and the concentration of fatty acids (FA) in fermentation fluid. Four fermentation vessels of the RUSITEC were used. The control diet (C) consisted of 70% meadow hay and 30% barley meal, whereas 10% of barley meal was replaced by milled (Amill), mechanically ground (Agr), and ground after heating in a microwave amaranth seeds (Aheat+gr) in other experimental vessels, respectively. All diets were isonitrogenous (11% of crude protein). With degradability of dry matter (DM) and acid-detergent fibre (ADF) not affected (P > 0.05), degradability of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was significantly decreased by the inclusion of Amill (P < 0.001) and Aheat+gr (P < 0.05). Heating, compared to milling, decreased degradation of crude protein (CP) and addition of amaranth seeds generally increased production of microbial nitrogen. Production of fermentation gasses, methane, and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) was not affected by changes in composition of diets. Addition of amaranth seeds in a milled form (Amill) caused a significant decrease in concentrations of acetate and propionate and growth in concentrations of butyrate, iso-valerate, and caproate. No effect (P > 0.05), compared to C, was found on the percentage of saturated or unsaturated FA, but changes in concentrations of some FA were observed. An absence of any detrimental effects on ruminal fermentation patterns indicated that grain amaranth seeds can partially substitute for the barley in ruminant nutrition. Keywords: pseudocereals, fatty acids, in vitro, Rusitec Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 159-166 Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6710-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6710-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201304-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:4:id:6710-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Che Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, P.R. China Author-Name: P. Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, P.R. China Author-Name: Z. Fang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, P.R. China Author-Name: Y. Lin Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, P.R. China Author-Name: D. Wu Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistant Nutrition of the Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, P.R. China Title: Effects of dietary arginine supplementation on reproductive performance and immunity of sows Abstract: Arginine (Arg) is considered to have beneficial effects on placental development and function, as well as reproductive performance. The well-developed placenta is highly required in late gestation for rapid fetal growth, however, it is unknown if there is a crucial role of Arg in late gestation. Likewise, the immunological response of sows to Arg needs to be determined. Therefore, this study is designed to investigate the effects of dietary Arg supplementation on reproductive performance and immunity of sows. At day 30 of gestation, sixty sows (Landrace × Large White) were allocated to 3 groups receiving corn and soybean-based control diet (control group, n = 20), control diet supplemented with 1% l-arginine HCl until day 90 of gestation (Arg90 group, n = 20), and control diet supplemented with 1% l-arginine HCl until day 114 of gestation (Arg114 group, n = 20), respectively. Litter performance was recorded at parturition. Blood samples (n = 6) collected at days 30, 90, and 110 of gestation were measured for metabolic and immunological parameters. At parturition, total litter size was not affected by dietary Arg supplementation. As a result of less pigs born dead, however, sows in Arg114 group had more pigs born alive than sows in control group (+1.6 pigs, P < 0.05), total and live litter weights were increased (+1.6~2.1 kg, P < 0.05) in Arg114 group relative to both control and Arg90 groups. Compared with control group, dietary Arg supplementation increased (+12~110%, P < 0.05) plasma levels of ornithine, proline, and arginine at either day 90 (Arg90 and Arg110 groups) or day 110 of gestation (Arg110 group). Moreover, immune response was enhanced in Arg-supplemented sows, as indicated by the increased levels of serum immunoglobulin and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) antibody. These findings indicate dietary Arg supplementation can improve litter performance and immune response, and the beneficial effect of Arg on fetal growth is evident in late gestation. Keywords: l-arginine, litter performance, placenta, humoral immune Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 167-175 Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6711-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6711-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201304-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:4:id:6711-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Z. Belachew Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia Author-Name: K. Yisehak Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia Author-Name: T. Taye Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia Author-Name: G.P.J. Janssens Author-Workplace-Name: Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium Title: Chemical composition and in sacco ruminal degradation of tropical trees rich in condensed tannins Abstract: The study was aimed at determining the chemical composition, in sacco ruminal dry matter and organic matter degradability of leaves and fruits of tropical condensed tannin rich multipurpose tree species (MPTS). The MPTS studied were Ekebergia capenesis, Ficus sycomorus, Maesa lanceolata, and Rhus glutinosa. Chemical composition of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude ash (CA), ether extract (EE), crude fibre (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), non-fibre carbohydrates (NFC), and condensed tannin (CT) was determined. In sacco rumen degradability was measured using three rumen fistulated Holstein Friesian-Boran cross steers at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. The DM and organic matter (OM) degradability data were fitted to the equation Y = a + b(1 - e-ct). The values for each chemical constituent ranged 5.43-11.49% (CA), 7.97-17.06% (CP), 1.57-31% (EE), 12.20-27.5% (CF), 5.84-39.30% (NFC), and 7.2-16.72% (CT). Ekebergia capensis leaves had the greatest values for slowly degradable fraction (b), effective degradability (ED), and rate of degradation (c) in DM (P < 0.001) whereas E. capensis fruit had significantly the greatest soluble fraction (a), potential degradability (b), and effective degradability (ED) values as compared to the a, PD, and ED values in the fruits of other plants(P < 0.001). Yet in OM degradation kinetics, the greatest and least values of potential degradability (PD) were recorded for F. sycomorus (89.89%) and E. capensis (55.90%) leaves (P < 0.001). Similar to the rapidly soluble fraction a, ED was found to be the greatest in fruits as compared to leaves of the plants (P < 0.001). Generally variation of plant parts led to significant differences in chemical composition, DM, and OM degradability and the degradable parameters. The leaves and fruits recorded more than 60% DM and OM degradability at 24 h, which implied that they were all greatly degradable in the rumen. Keywords: dry matter and organic matter degradability, chemical composition, in sacco rumen degradation, fruit, leaf, multipurpose trees, tannins Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 176-192 Volume: 58 Issue: 4 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6712-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6712-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201304-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:4:id:6712-CJAS