Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Venglovská Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Ľ. Grešáková Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: I. Plachá Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: M. Ryzner Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic Author-Name: K. Čobanová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Physiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Košice, Slovak Republic Title: Effects of feed supplementation with manganese from its different sources on performance and egg parameters of laying hens Abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of feed supplementation of laying hens with manganese from its inorganic and organic sources on performance and some parameters of egg quality. Ninety-six hens at 20 weeks of age were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments, each consisting of 6 replicates (4 birds per replicate). The control group was fed unsupplemented basal diet (BD) with only natural background Mn level of 46.4 mg/kg feed. For the three experimental treatments, the BD was supplemented with 120 mg Mn/kg either from Mn-sulphate or Mn-chelate of protein hydrolysate (Mn-Pro) or Mn-chelate of glycine hydrate (Mn-Gly). After 8 weeks of dietary treatments the egg production, egg weight, feed intake, and feed efficiency were not affected by dietary treatments. Regardless of the sources, Mn supplementation to feed resulted in significantly decreased percentages of cracked eggs compared to the unsupplemented control group. The thickness, weight, proportion, and index of eggshell were significantly elevated in all groups supplemented with Mn. The intake of Mn-Gly resulted in considerably increased Mn deposition in egg yolk compared to the control eggs. In the control and Mn-sulphate groups yolk malondialdehyde (MDA) started to increase after 20 and 30 days of egg storage respectively, whereas in eggs from hens given organic Mn-sources this parameter was not affected up to 40 days. Although there were no significant differences in MDA values between the treatments until 20 days of storage, the Mn-sulphate group showed significantly higher MDA concentration in yolks compared to the control group after 30 days of storage. These results demonstrate that supplementation of hens' diet with Mn has positive effects on eggshell quality. Feed supplementation with Mn from organic sources appears to be more effective in preventing yolk lipid oxidation during cold storage of eggs than that from Mn-sulphate. Keywords: manganese chelates, layers, egg quality, laying performance, egg storage, lipid oxidation Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 147-155 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7338-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7338-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201404-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:4:id:7338-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Y. Xu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot, P.R. China Author-Name: B. Shi Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot, P.R. China Author-Name: S. Yan Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot, P.R. China Author-Name: J. Li Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot, P.R. China Author-Name: T. Li Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot, P.R. China Author-Name: Y. Guo Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot, P.R. China Author-Name: X. Guo Author-Workplace-Name: College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot, P.R. China Title: Effects of chitosan supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and digestive enzyme activity in weaned pigs Abstract: The present experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of dietary chitosan on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and digestive enzyme activities in weaned pigs. A total of 180 weaned pigs (35 days of age, 11.56 ± 1.61 kg of body weight (BW)) were selected and assigned randomly to 5 treatments containing 0, 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg chitosan per kg feed, respectively. Each treatment involved six replicate pens and six pigs per pen. On days 14 and 28, all pigs were weighed and six from each treatment (one from each replicate pen) were killed, and the contents of the stomach, jejunum, and rectum were collected and used for determining nutrient digestibility and digestive enzyme activity. The results showed that supplementation of chitosan improved quadratically average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.05). Moreover, dietary chitosan quadratically (P < 0.05) increased apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) on days 14 and 28, and quadratically increased apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM) on day 14 and of Ca and P on day 28, whereas decreased (P < 0.05) apparent digestibility of ether extract in comparison with the control diet. In addition, dietary chitosan quadratically increased (P = 0.062) amylase activity of proximal jejunum and decreased (P < 0.05) lipase activity of distal jejunum compared with the control. These data indicated that diets supplemented with increasing levels of chitosan (0, 100, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg chitosan per kg) quadratically improved ADG of weaned pigs. The growth-promoting action was achieved probably by improved digestibility of major nutrients (DM, CP, Ca, and P) and increased amylase activity of jejunum. Keywords: dietary chitosan, piglet, body weight gain, apparent digestibility, trypsin, amylase, lipase Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 156-163 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7339-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7339-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201404-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:4:id:7339-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Foltyn Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Lichovníková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Rada Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: A. Musilová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Animal Breeding, Faculty of Agronomy, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Title: Apparent ileal amino acids digestibility of diets with graded levels of corn DDGS and determination of DDGS amino acids digestibility by difference and regression methods in broilers Abstract: This study was conducted to determine apparent ileal amino acids digestibility (AIAAD) of diets with different levels of corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and to determine AIAAD of corn DDGS by difference and regression methods in broiler chickens. One hundred and fifty 30-day-old male broiler chickens were used in the experiment. The corn DDGS were incorporated into basal diets at graded levels (0, 4, 8, 12, and 16%). All birds were killed at the age of 35 days and the contents of the lower half of the ileum were collected. AIAAD was calculated using chromic oxide as the indigestible marker. For AIAAD of DDGS determination, difference and regression methods were used. AIAAD of Lys (78.6%) and Met (91.3%) were the significantly highest in the diet without DDGS in comparison with other diets (P < 0.01). AIAAD of the rest of essential and nonessential amino acids were the lowest in the diet with 8% of DDGS in comparison with the diets with 0 or 16% of DDGS (P < 0.01). The apparent ileal crude protein digestibility was also the lowest in the diet with 8% (61.8%) of DDGS (P < 0.01). The highest differences in AIAAD of DDGS determined by the difference method and in the diet without DDGS (basal diet) determined by the regression methods were found in Lys and Met. There were very low differences between DDGS and basal diet in AIAAD of nonessential amino acids, except Ala and Asp. These results show that higher levels of DDGS decrease AIAAD. Keywords: chickens, digesta, crude protein, lysine, methionine Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 164-169 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7340-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7340-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201404-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:4:id:7340-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Cigliano Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy Author-Name: M. Strazzullo Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Production Systems in Mediterranean Environments (ISPAAM), National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy Author-Name: C. Rossetti Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Production Systems in Mediterranean Environments (ISPAAM), National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy Author-Name: G. Grazioli Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Production Systems in Mediterranean Environments (ISPAAM), National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy Author-Name: G. Auriemma Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Production Systems in Mediterranean Environments (ISPAAM), National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy Author-Name: F. Sarubbi Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Production Systems in Mediterranean Environments (ISPAAM), National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy Author-Name: C. Iannuzzi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy Author-Name: L. Iannuzzi Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Production Systems in Mediterranean Environments (ISPAAM), National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy Author-Name: M.S. Spagnuolo Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Production Systems in Mediterranean Environments (ISPAAM), National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy Title: Characterization of blood redox status of early and mid-late lactating dairy cows Abstract: The effect of the stage of lactation on blood redox homeostasis of bovine and buffalo cows was evaluated. The investigation was carried out on early lactating and mid-late lactating cows, reared in a farm located in Campania (southern Italy). Plasma concentration of α-tocopherol and ascorbate, the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase activities were higher (P < 0.01) in mid-late lactating cows, thus suggesting a higher consumption of antioxidants during early lactation. Plasma concentration of protein-bound carbonyls (PC) and nitrotyrosine (N-Tyr), and the level of lipid hydroperoxides (LPO) were higher (P < 0.01) in early lactating cows, thus suggesting that lipid peroxidation and peroxynitrite production are crucial in determining oxidative modifications in plasma. TAC was positively correlated with ascorbate concentration (P < 0.03), and negatively correlated with PC concentration (P < 0.002), and ascorbate was negatively correlated with PC (P < 0.03) in mid-late lactating group. These findings demonstrate that circulating ascorbate plays a major role in preventing protein modifications induced by carbonyls, and that ascorbate scavenging effect is impaired during early lactation. We calculated a protein oxidative stress index as the ratio (PC + N-Tyr)/TAC multiplied by 100, and we found that this parameter was higher (P < 0.0001) in early lactating cows. Therefore, it could be useful for assessing the extent of protein oxidative damage in relation to the whole antioxidant status. Further, we suggest that the LPO/GPx ratio multiplied by 100 might be used as lipid oxidative stress index in lactating cows. This index was higher (P < 0.0001) in early lactating cows, and might represent a standard parameter for evaluating the lipid damage depending on a deficiency of the enzymatic antioxidant defence. These parameters are proposed for a possible effective description of physiological changes associated with lactation. Keywords: lactational status, antioxidant defence, oxidative damage, biomarkers, Mediterranean Italian buffalo, Italian Holstein Friesian bovine Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 170-181 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7341-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7341-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201404-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:4:id:7341-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: I. Nagy Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Animal Science, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Hungary Author-Name: J. Farkas Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economic Science, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Hungary Author-Name: I. Curik Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: G. Gorjanc Author-Workplace-Name: Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Domzale, Slovenia Author-Name: P. Gyovai Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Animal Science, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Hungary Author-Name: Zs. Szendrő Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Animal Science, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Hungary Title: Estimation of additive and dominance variance for litter size components in rabbits Abstract: Additive, dominance, and permanent environmental variance components were estimated for the number of kits born alive, number of kits born dead, and total number of kits born of a synthetic rabbit line (called Pannon Ka). The data file consisted of 11 582 kindling records of 2620 does collected between the years 1996-2013. The total number of animals in the pedigree files was 4012. The examined traits were evaluated using single-trait and two-trait (number of kits born alive-dead) animal models containing all or part of the following effects: additive genetic effects, permanent environmental effects, dominance effects. Heritability estimates calculated using the basic single-trait and two-trait models were 0.094 ± 0.018 and 0.090 ± 0.016 for number of kits born alive, 0.037 ± 0.010 and 0.041 ± 0.012 for number of kits born dead, and 0.117 ± 0.018 for total number of kits born, respectively. The relative significance of permanent environmental effects was 0.069 ± 0.014 and 0.069 ± 0.012 for number of kits born alive, 0.025 ± 0.011 and 0.023 ± 0.010 for number of kits born dead, and 0.060 ± 0.013 for total number of kits born, respectively. Using the extended single-trait and two-trait models, the ratios of the dominance components compared to the phenotypic variances were 0.048 ± 0.008 and 0.046 ± 0.007 for number of kits born alive, 0.068 ± 0.006 and 0.065 ± 0.006 for number of kits born dead, and 0.005 ± 0.0073 for total number of kits born, respectively. Genetic correlation coefficients between number of kits born alive and number of kits born dead were 0.401 ± 0.171 and 0.521 ± 0.182, respectively. Spearman's rank correlations between the breeding values of the different single-trait models were close to unity in all traits (0.992-0.990). Much lower breeding value stability was found for two-trait models (0.384-0.898), especially for number of kits born dead. Results showed that the dominance components for number of kits born alive and number of kits born dead were not zero and affected the ranking of the animals (based on the breeding values). Keywords: REML analysis, dominance effects, family class effect, genetic parameters Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 182-189 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7342-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7342-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201404-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:4:id:7342-CJAS Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D. Chodová 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. Tůmová 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. Martinec 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: Z. Bízková 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: V. Skřivanová Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: Z. Volek Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Animal Science, Prague-Uhříněves, Czech Republic Author-Name: L. Zita 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 housing system and genotype on rabbit meat quality Abstract: The effect of the housing system on the carcass characteristics, physical parameters of meat quality, fatty acid composition, and muscle fibre characteristics was studied in some Czech breeds. Ninety-six rabbits from seven different breeds of Czech genetic resources (Moravian Blue, Czech White, Czech Solver, Czech Spotted, Moravian White of Brown Eye, Czech Gold, and Czech Black Guard Hair) and one rabbit commercial hybrid (Hyplus), kept in two housing systems: intensive system (wire-net cages) or alternative (straw-bedded pen), were slaughtered at the age of 91 days. Alternatively housed rabbits had lower weight at slaughter, lower weight of loin, of hind legs meat, and of renal fat than rabbits from cages. The interactions between housing system and genotype were reflected significantly in pH value, and lightness and yellowness of biceps femoris. The highest (P ≤ 0.047) pH was observed in Hyplus (6.68) from cages, while the lowest value was noted in Moravian White of Brown Eye (6.26). The significantly (P ≤ 0.010) lightest meat was detected in Czech Solver (60.93) and the darkest in Czech Gold (47.81). Alternatively reared rabbits showed significantly (P ≤ 0.001) lower monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (26.63%) and higher (P ≤ 0.001) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (36.73%) contents than rabbits from cages (36.94% MUFA and 26.23% PUFA). The alternatively housed group had also higher n-3 and n-6 PUFA contents and higher PUFA : SFA ratio than the intensively housed one. Significant interactions (P ≤ 0.001) were observed in cross sectional area (CSA), diameter, and perimeter of muscle fibres of type I. The largest (P ≤ 0.001) CSA of type I muscle fibre had Czech Black Guard Hair from cages (2573.1 μm2), while in pens this breed exhibited the smallest CSA (1219.6 μm2), diameter (38.68 μm), and perimeter (130.2 μm). Fibre type distribution was not affected by any of the monitored parameters. The effect of interactions of the housing system and genotype was manifested mainly in physical and muscle fibre characteristics. Keywords: breed, carcass traits, fatty acids, muscle fibre characteristics Journal: Czech Journal of Animal Science Pages: 190-199 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2014 DOI: 10.17221/7343-CJAS File-URL: http://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/7343-CJAS.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/cjs-201404-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlcjs:v:59:y:2014:i:4:id:7343-CJAS