Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Wiedemann Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany Author-Name: K. Horstmann Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany Author-Name: M. Piechotta Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany Author-Name: U. Meyer Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute of Animal Health, Braunschweig, Germany Author-Name: G. Flachowsky Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Nutrition, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute of Animal Health, Braunschweig, Germany Author-Name: M. Kaske Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic for Cattle, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany Title: Intraday variation of metabolic key indicators in serum of dairy cows between week 2 antepartum and week 12 postpartum Abstract: Metabolic diseases during early lactation in dairy cows can be routinely diagnosed assessing key indicators in blood. The objectives of the present study were to characterize the impact of interindividual along with intraday variation on specific metabolites and to investigate the effect of the sampling time point relative to calving. Serum samples of four high-yielding, clinically healthy, multiparous dairy cows (body weight 589 ± 27 kg) were obtained in 3-h intervals during 24-h intervals throughout the transition period and early lactation (week -2 antepartum (ap), weeks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 12 postpartum (pp)). The lowest intraday variation (less than 15%) as indicated by relative coefficients of variation (CV) was found for glucose, cholesterol, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Intraday variation characterized by a CV between 15 and 30% was typical of urea, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), total bilirubin, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). The highest intraday variation (CV > 30%) was assessed for insulin. Week relative to calving had significant influence on interindividual means of BHB, NEFA, insulin, and cholesterol in blood, but did not affect the interindividual variation of all parameters investigated. No significant intraday variation patterns were found. It is concluded that the considerable intraday variation of especially BHB and NEFA has to be taken into account in herd health monitoring for estimating the proportional outcome in respect to animals exceeding thresholds for specific metabolic key parameters. Keywords: blood metabolites, lactation, twenty-four-hour pattern Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 343-350 Volume: 58 Issue: 8 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6900-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6900-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201308-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:8:id:6900-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Weiss Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany Author-Name: M. Eklund Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany Author-Name: A. Semaskaite Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania Author-Name: R. Urbaityte Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany Author-Name: B. Metzler-Zebeli Author-Workplace-Name: Clinic for Swine, Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: N. Sauer Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany Author-Name: A. Ratriyanto Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Science, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta, Indonesia Author-Name: R. Gruzauskas Author-Workplace-Name: Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania Author-Name: R. Mosenthin Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Nutrition, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany Title: Combinations of feed additives affect ileal fibre digestibility and bacterial numbers in ileal digesta of piglets Abstract: The study was performed to investigate the effect of combinations of feed additives consisting of either a combination of a probiotic and a prebiotic (synbiotic), or a combination of a probiotic and xylanase on ileal nutrient digestibility, ileal microbial metabolite concentrations, and microbial composition in ileal digesta of weaned piglets. In total, 12 six-week old barrows with an average initial body weight of 7.5 kg, fitted with an ileal T-cannula, were assigned to 3 dietary treatments. The basal diet was supplemented with a combination of 1 g probiotics (Pediococcus acidilactici, Bactocell®)and 20 g prebiotics (oligofructose) (Pro/Pre) or 1 g probiotics (Pediococcus acidilactici, Bactocell®) and 0.5 g xylanase (Pro/Xyl) per kg diet. The supplementation of Pro/Xyl increased ileal digestibility of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) by 41.6% (P < 0.05). The microbial metabolite concentrations, pH of ileal digesta as well as ileal lactobacilli populations were not affected (P > 0.05) by any of the treatments. Enterobacteriaceae were reduced (P < 0.05) upon supplementation of Pro/Pre, resulting in an increased (P < 0.05) ileal lactobacilli to Enterobacteriaceae ratio compared with piglets fed the control diet. In conclusion, NDF digestibility was increased following xylanase supplementation, while microbial activity and composition in the ileum were not affected. The synbiotic approach was effective in reducing ileal Enterobacteriaceae numbers. Keywords: synbiotic, feed enzyme, intestine, short-chain fatty acid, microbiota, pig Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 351-359 Volume: 58 Issue: 8 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6901-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6901-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201308-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:8:id:6901-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Velik Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Livestock Research, AREC Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Irdning, Austria Author-Name: I. Gangnat Author-Workplace-Name: Animal Nutrition Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands Author-Name: R. Kitzer Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Livestock Research, AREC Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Irdning, Austria Author-Name: E. Finotti Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Livestock Research, AREC Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Irdning, Austria Author-Name: A. Steinwidder Author-Workplace-Name: Institute for Organic Farming and Farm Animal Biodiversity, AREC Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Irdning, Austria Title: Fattening heifers on continuous pasture in mountainous regions - implications for productivity and meat quality Abstract: Economical and ecological issues as well as consumer demand for sustainably produced agricultural food rise the trends to fatten beef cattle on pasture during the grazing season. However, particularly for mountainous regions, implications of turning beef cattle on pasture remain unclear concerning animal performance and product quality. Therefore, the present study was conducted to compare short grass grazing with a semi-intensive indoor fattening system in the Alps. Charolais × Simmental heifers of about 300 kg live weight were either fattened on continuous pasture (3-6 mm sward height) and finished in barn (Pasture group) or solely raised in barn on a grass silage-based diet with 2 kg concentrates (Indoor group). Animals were slaughtered at 550 kg live weight. Results showed that continuous pasture with a finishing period in barn allowed as good growth and carcass performance as fattening in barn. Over the whole experiment, average daily gain was 993 g/day in the Pasture group and 1026 g/day in the Indoor group. During the growing period, daily gain was numerically lower in the Pasture group than in the Indoor group (767 g and 936 g, respectively). Carcass fatness of pasture fed animals was lower but within the desirable threshold. Water holding capacity, meat colour, and shear force, an indicator for beef tenderness, were unaffected by feeding practices, but fat colour was more yellow in the Pasture group. Furthermore, meat from animals fattened on pasture had lower intramuscular fat contents and enhanced proportions of nutritionally valuable omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acids. Keywords: beef cattle, Alpine pasture, daily gain, product quality, fatty acid Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 360-368 Volume: 58 Issue: 8 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6902-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6902-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201308-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:8:id:6902-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Untea Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania Author-Workplace-Name: National Research and Development Institute for Biology and Animal Nutrition, Balotesti, Ilfov, Romania Author-Name: R.D. Criste Author-Workplace-Name: National Research and Development Institute for Biology and Animal Nutrition, Balotesti, Ilfov, Romania Author-Name: I. Taranu Author-Workplace-Name: National Research and Development Institute for Biology and Animal Nutrition, Balotesti, Ilfov, Romania Author-Name: W.-B. Souffrant Author-Workplace-Name: Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany Author-Workplace-Name: Chair for Nutrition Physiology and Animal Nutrition, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany Author-Name: P. Janczyk Author-Workplace-Name: Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf, Germany Author-Workplace-Name: Chair for Nutrition Physiology and Animal Nutrition, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany Author-Name: L. Vladescu Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania Author-Name: C. Dragomir Author-Workplace-Name: National Research and Development Institute for Biology and Animal Nutrition, Balotesti, Ilfov, Romania Title: Availability of microelements in recently weaned piglets fed diet supplemented with inulin Abstract: The effects of inulin-supplemented diet on Cu, Mn, and Zn bioavailability in recently weaned piglets raised at an experimental and a commercial farm were studied. Piglets were weaned at 28 days of age, when all of them were fed a barley-wheat based starter diet supplemented with a usual vitamin-mineral premix for piglets. The reference diet group received additional 50 mg of zinc per kg diet, while the experimental inulin diet group was supplemented with 1.5% inulin (no additional zinc). Both diets, low in inorganic copper (provided only from forages), covered the demands for minerals of the growing piglets. Four piglets were sacrificed on days 28, 33, and 39 in each group at each farm and liver samples were collected and analyzed. The contents of Cu, Mn, and Zn were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The feeding experiments showed that the presence of inulin enhanced (P < 0.05) the biological availability of copper from the weaned piglets' diet despite its low content therein. No significant differences (P > 0.05) between experimental inulin diet group and reference diet group could be noticed for zinc and manganese concentrations in the liver. Biological availability of copper was higher in the piglets reared under high and standardized sanitary conditions than in those reared under commercial farm conditions (P < 0.05). Keywords: liver, bioavailability, copper, manganese, zinc Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 369-374 Volume: 58 Issue: 8 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6903-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6903-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201308-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:8:id:6903-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Socha Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ichthyobiology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Krakow, Poland Author-Name: M. Sokołowska-Mikołajczyk Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ichthyobiology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Krakow, Poland Author-Name: P. Szczerbik Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ichthyobiology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Krakow, Poland Author-Name: J. Chyb Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ichthyobiology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Krakow, Poland Author-Name: P. Epler Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Ichthyobiology and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Krakow, Poland Title: Effects of Aroclor 1254 on LH and 17,20β-P secretion in female Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio Bloch) in the spawning season Abstract: The effects of Aroclor 1254 on the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20β-P) in female Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio Bloch) at the time of their natural spawning were determined. Aroclor 1254 at doses of 0.01, 0.1, and 1 mg/kg body weight was dissolved in 500 ml of oil and was administered three times intraperitoneally or rectally to female Prussian carp every 24 h for three days. Blood samples were collected after 3 days of Aroclor 1254 administration to determine the LH and 17,20β-P concentrations using ELISA. At 6, 12, and 24 h after injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRH-A) blood samples were collected for stimulated LH secretion determination. Aroclor 1254 administered intraperitoneally (0.1 and 1 mg/kg)and rectally (0.01 and 1 mg/kg) significantly increased spontaneous LH secretion. In the case of GnRH-A-stimulated LH release, Aroclor 1254 (administered intraperitoneally only) at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mg/kg significantly decreased gonadotropin release. The intraperitoneal injections of the lowest tested concentration of Aroclor 1254 also significantly decreased 17,20β-P secretion. The results show that Aroclor 1254 can affect the reproductive system of Prussian carp by changing the secretion of two very important hormones, LH and 17,20β-P, at the time of natural spawning. Keywords: PCBs, cyprinids, gonadotropins, LH, steroids, reproduction Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 375-380 Volume: 58 Issue: 8 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6904-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6904-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201308-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:8:id:6904-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: X. Tao Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang, P.R. China Author-Name: X.M. Men Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang, P.R. China Author-Name: B. Deng Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang, P.R. China Author-Name: Z.W. Xu Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang, P.R. China Title: Effects of breed, postnatal development, and nutrition on mRNA expression of the FTO gene in porcine muscle and its relationship with intramuscular fat deposition Abstract: The effects of breed, development, and nutrition on mRNA expression of the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) and its relationship with intramuscular fat (IMF) content in porcine muscle (m. longissimus dorsi; m.l.d.) were estimated. Purebred Jinhua, Zhongbai, Yorkshire, Duroc, Duroc × Zhongbai (DZ), and Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace (DYL) pigs were used to investigate the effect of breed. Pigs weighing 2.5, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 100 kg were selected to study the effects of different stages of development. To study the effect of nutrition, four diets were selected: corn-soybean (CS), CS with 1.2% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or 0.05% creatine monohydrate (CMH), and barley-soybean (BS). All eighty animals were slaughtered, and m.l.d. samples were collected to examine FTO mRNA expression and IMF content. Results showed that breed significantly affected FTO mRNA expression and IMF content. FTO mRNA expression in the studied pigs was in the order: Zhongbai and Yorkshire > Duroc and DZ > Jinhua and DYL. The IMF content ordered by breed was Duroc > DZ > DYL > Jinhua > Zhongbai > Yorkshire. Both FTO mRNA expression and IMF content increased with age of the pigs, with the greatest difference seen between 100 kg pigs and all other weights. In the study, none of the four diets had a significant effect (P > 0.05) on FTO mRNA expression or IMF content. The study demonstrated that FTO mRNA expression increased with increasing body weight and was significantly affected by the breed of pigs. The results showed that FTO mRNA expression had an inconsistent correlation with IMF content between breeds and developmental ages. Keywords: pig breeds, development ages, FTO mRNA expression, IMF, pig Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 381-388 Volume: 58 Issue: 8 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/6905-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/6905-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201308-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:58:y:2013:i:8:id:6905-CJAS