Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Gunal Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Author-Name: A. Ishlak Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA Author-Name: A.A. Abughazaleh Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA Title: Evaluating the effects of six essential oils on fermentation and biohydrogenation in in vitro rumen batch cultures Abstract: The effects of six essential oils (EO) on rumen fermentation and biohydrogenation were evaluated under in vitro conditions. Three doses (125, 250, and 500 mg/l) of EO were evaluated using in vitro 24 h batch culture of rumen fluid with a 55 : 45 forage : concentrate diet. Treatments were control (CON), control with Siberian fir needle oil (FNO), citronella oil (CTO), rosemary oil (RMO), sage oil (SAO), white thyme oil (WTO), and clove oil (CLO). Treatments were incubated in triplicate in 125 ml flasks containing 500 mg of finely ground total mixed ration (TMR), 25 mg of soybean oil, 10 ml of the strained ruminal fluid, 40 ml of media, and 2 ml of reducing solution. After 24 h, the pH was determined and samples were collected to analyze ammonia N, volatile fatty acids (VFA), and fatty acids (FA). Cultures pH was not affected by EO averaging 6.6 ± 0.2. In general, high EO doses reduced the total VFA concentration except for SAO and RMO. Relative to CON, all EO decreased (P < 0.05) ammonia N concentrations except for the highest dose of WTO. Except for SAO, EO did not modify acetate to propionate ratio. Relative to CON, the addition of CTO and FNO increased (P < 0.05) the proportions of isobutyrate and decreased (P < 0.05) the proportions of valerate and isovalerate. The concentrations (mg/culture) of C18:0 and C18:1 trans FA decreased (P < 0.05) with CTO, FNO, RMO, and SAO relative to CON. Most tested EO in this study had little to no effects on conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), and linoleic and linolenic acids concentrations. In conclusion, results from this study showed that except for effects on ammonia N, EO tested in this study had moderate effects on rumen fermentation. The reduction in the formation of trans FA and C18:0 with some EO may indicate shifts in the biohydrogenation pathways toward the formation of other unidentified intermediate FA. Keywords: plant extracts, volantile fatty acids, trans fatty acids, in vitro Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 243-252 Volume: 58 Issue: 6 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6822-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6822-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201306-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:6:id:6822-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: O.E. Del Razo-Rodriguez Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo, Mexico Author-Workplace-Name: Colegio de Postgraduados, Department of Animal Science, Montecillo Texcoco, Mexico Author-Name: J.E. Ramirez-Bribiesca Author-Workplace-Name: Colegio de Postgraduados, Department of Animal Science, Montecillo Texcoco, Mexico Author-Name: R. Lopez-Arellano Author-Workplace-Name: FES-C, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico Author-Name: A.L. Revilla-Vazquez Author-Workplace-Name: FES-C, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico Author-Name: S.S. Gonzalez-Munoz Author-Workplace-Name: Colegio de Postgraduados, Department of Animal Science, Montecillo Texcoco, Mexico Author-Name: M.A. Cobos-Peralta Author-Workplace-Name: Colegio de Postgraduados, Department of Animal Science, Montecillo Texcoco, Mexico Author-Name: L.M. Hernandez-Calva Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Tlaxcala, Mexico Author-Name: L.R. McDowell Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA Title: Effects of dietary level of selenium and grain on digestive metabolism in lambs Abstract: The objective was to evaluate the effect of different levels of selenium with two levels of grain corn in the diets on ruminal, postruminal, and total tract digestion of nutrients, ruminal fermentation characteristics, and selenium balance in lambs. A split-plot design was used in four periods with repeated Latin square using eight Suffolk × Dorset male lambs with four levels of selenium (sodium selenite, Na2SeO3), without adding selenium, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mg of selenium/kg dry matter (DM) with 70 and 50% of corn grain in the diet. The four selenium levels affected organic matter as follows: starch, neutral detergent fibre, nitrogen and selenium excretion; selenium ruminal digestion; organic matter, neutral detergent fibre, nitrogen and selenium postruminal digestion; and organic matter, neutral detergent fibre, nitrogen and selenium total tract digestion (P < 0.05). Starch and organic matter flow decreased with 0.6 and 0.9 mg of selenium with the 70% grain diet (P < 0.05). Selenium flow increased linearly with selenium levels (P < 0.01) with both levels of grain. Selenium supplementation increased linearly selenium concentration in ruminal fluid (P < 0.01), but did not affect other ruminal characteristics. Also, selenium absorption and retention was increased by selenium concentrations (P < 0.01). The apparent absorption of selenium increased (31%, P < 0.01) with the 70% grain diet. In conclusion, the high content of nonstructural carbohydrates improved the availability of selenium and 0.9 mg of selenium/kg DM improved the absorption and availability of selenium. Keywords: nutrient digestion, ruminal fermentation characteristics, balance selenium Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 253-261 Volume: 58 Issue: 6 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6823-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6823-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201306-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:6:id:6823-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Juszczuk-Kubiak Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Molecular Cytogenetics, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland Author-Name: K. Wicińska Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Molecular Cytogenetics, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland Author-Name: J. Oprządek Author-Workplace-Name: Deparment of Animal Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzębiec, Poland Title: Association of novel polymorphisms in the bovine myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D) gene with carcass traits of Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle Abstract: In the present study the polymorphism of the myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D) gene was analyzed as a genetic marker candidate for carcass traits in Polish Holstein-Friesian cattle. Four novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): HQ692911:g.93C>T in exon 8, JX088659:g.69C>T in intron 8, JX0692914:g.47C>T in intron 9 as well as JX088658:g.100G>A in the 3'flanking region were identified by DNA sequencing. By applying the PCR-RFLP method, the SNPs (g.93C>T/HaeIII and g.47C>T/Tsp45I) were genotyped in 401 Polish Holstein-Friesian bulls and their association with carcass traits was analyzed. Statistical analysis showed that the g.93C>T SNP was significantly associated with weight of lean (WLVC) and fat in valuable cuts (WFVC). Animals with the TT genotype had significantly higher WLVC (P < 0.05) and lower WFVC (P < 0.05) than those with the CC and CT genotypes. No significant relationship with carcass traits was found for the g.47C>T SNP (P > 0.05) in intron 9. Moreover, we found a significant effect of the combined genotypes onWFVC (P < 0.01), percent of lean (PLVC) (P < 0.05), and fat (PFVC) in valuable cuts (P < 0.01). This suggested that MEF2D is a strong candidate gene that affects carcass traits in cattle. Keywords: MEF2D gene, gene polymorphism, combined genotype, meat contents, bulls Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 262-269 Volume: 58 Issue: 6 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6824-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6824-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201306-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:6:id:6824-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D. Casamassima Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Food, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy Author-Name: M. Palazzo Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Food, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy Author-Name: F. Vizzarri Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture, Environment and Food, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy Author-Name: M. Cinone Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Valenzano Bari, Italy Author-Name: C. Corino Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technologies for Food Security, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milano, Milano, Italy Title: Effect of dietary phenylpropanoid glycoside-based natural extracts on blood parameters and productive performance in intensively-reared young hares Abstract: Two different doses of a dietary verbascoside-based supplement were evaluated on various blood parameters and on productive performance in young weaned hares reared intensively from 28 to 90 days of age. The study lasted for 62 days and it was conducted on 210 young hares divided into three homogeneous groups of 70 animals each, consisting of a control group and two experimental groups. Each group received the dietary supplement in the feed, titrated to 0.5% verbascoside, 1 kg/t of concentrate (LVB group) and 2 kg/t of concentrate (HVB group). The experimental reliefs included the measurement of blood parameters such as triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and bilirubin, along with some markers of oxidative status in plasma such as reactive oxygen metabolites, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, and vitamins A and E. Various productive parameters were also measured such as body weight and growth rate, food consumption, and feed conversion. The experimental treatment resulted in a significant decrease in triglycerides (P < 0.01) and bilirubin (P < 0.05) and an increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.01) both in the low verbascoside (LVB) and high verbascoside (HVB) experimental groups. In addition, the oxidative plasma stability in blood also improved, with a significant decrease in the concentration of reactive oxygen metabolites (P < 0.01) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (P < 0.01), along with increased levels of vitamin E (P < 0.05). The productive performance was not statistically influenced by the experimental treatment, except for the growth rate which increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the experimental LVB and HVB groups: 6.9% and 8.7% respectively compared with the control group. Keywords: leverets, plant extract, verbascoside, plasma metabolites, growth performances Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 270-278 Volume: 58 Issue: 6 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6825-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6825-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201306-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:6:id:6825-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 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: 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: 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. 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: L. Brzobohatý 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 dietary linseed supplementation on the performance, meat quality, and fatty acid profile of pigs Abstract: The effect of a dietary linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) supplement on the traits of fattening, carcass value, physical and chemical characteristics of meat quality, and the fatty acid composition of pig meat was evaluated. Seventy-two hybrids (Czech Large White (paternal) × (Czech Large White (maternal) × Czech Landrace)) were divided into four treatments according to diet (0 and 150 g/kg linseed) and sex (barrows and gilts). A significantly (P = 0.050) higher feed conversion value was ascertained in barrows fed with linseed compared with the other three groups. Most of the physical and chemical characteristics of the carcasses were not significantly influenced by dietary linseed addition or sex. The linseed supplement significantly (P < 0.001) increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content and PUFA/SFA (saturated fatty acid) ratio, especially through increasing the n-3 PUFA content, and decreased the monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content, the MUFA/PUFA, MUFA/SFA, and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios and the thrombogenic index. Supplementation of the diet with linseed modified the fatty acid composition and improved fatty acid ratios in both sexes, without any negative effect on performance, carcass value or physical and chemical indicators of pig meat quality. Keywords: pork meat, Linum usitatissimum, fattening, carcass value, physical and chemical characteristics, fatty acid composition Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 279-288 Volume: 58 Issue: 6 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6826-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6826-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201306-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:6:id:6826-CJAS